Patent ID: 7432444
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H02G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A protective cover for an electrical outlet box of the type having a frontal access opening and attachment ears with mounting holes at the top and bottom of the box, wallboard is mounted over an electrical outlet box with a protective cover thereon, the wallboard is cut to expose the electrical outlet box and spackling is then applied, the protective cover protecting wiring inside the outlet box and preventing spackling from entering the outlet box, the protective cover comprising: a flat plate having front and rear surfaces; a keyhole shaped hole through the plate, the keyhole shaped hole having a wider, circular portion and a narrower elongated portion adjoining the wider, circular portion; a mounting pin attached to the rear surface of the flat plate, the mounting pin being inserted into one of the mounting holes of the outlet box when the protective cover is affixed over the frontal access opening of the outlet box; and a protrusion pin, the protrusion pin being inserted through the wider, circular portion of the keyhole shaped hole from the rear surface of the flat plate, the protrusion pin then being slid into the narrower elongated portion of the keyhole shaped hole where it is retained to the flat plate before the protective cover is affixed over the frontal access opening of the outlet box; wherein, the protrusion pin indicates the presence of the electrical outlet box over which the protective cover is affixed when wallboard is mounted over the outlet box, to remove the protrusion pin after the wallboard is cut to expose the outlet box the protrusion pin is slid from the narrower elongated portion of the keyhole shaped hole to the wider, circular portion of the keyhole shaped hole and the protrusion pin is pushed inside the outlet box over the frontal access opening of which the protective cover is affixed, and the removal of the protrusion pin makes it easier to spackle, sand and paint the wallboard before the cover is removed to mount electrical devices such as outlets and switches to the outlet box.