Patent ID: 7244891
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: H02G

Abstract:
1. A wall plate and a wiring device, in combination, adapted for mutually co-acting to be in captive engagement wherein the wall plate comprises: a frame having a vertical axis along its length, a horizontal axis along its width, a front surface, a back surface, a top edge having an inside wall, a bottom edge having an inside wall, and an opening which extends through said frame from said front to said back surfaces for receiving at least one wiring device, wherein the bottom of the circumferential edges of said frame define a substantially flat datum plane for placement on a substantially flat wall, and said front surface of said frame is spaced from said substantially flat datum plane to provide a said frame having a progressively thinner profile from the edge of the opening for the at least one wiring device to the circumferential edges of the frame along its vertical axis and its horizontal axis, a first tooth shaped rack on the inside wall of the top edge of said frame, and a second tooth shaped rack on the inside wall of the bottom edge of said frame, an alignment plate having a centrally located opening for receiving the wiring device and having a set of alignment pins located along a vertical axis which defines the longitudinal center line for the wiring device; and wherein the wiring device comprises: a ground/mounting strap having first and second outwardly projecting ends; a first clip attached to the first outwardly projecting end of the ground/mounting strap and having a first opening with inwardly projecting members to frictionally receive and hold captive one of the set of alignment pins on the alignment plate, and a bent end which extends beyond the first end of the strap to engage the first tooth shaped rack on the frame, and a second clip attached to the second outwardly projecting end of the ground/mounting strap and having a second opening with inwardly projecting members adapted to frictionally receive and hold captive the other one of the set of alignment pins on the alignment plate, and a bent end which extends beyond the second end of the strap for engaging the second tooth shaped rack on the frame.