Abstract:
An adapter plate for mounting an electrical device including an adapter having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, an outer perimeter, and an inner perimeter, a gasket for installing between a round electrical box and the second surface of the adapter, and wherein the adapter outer perimeter comprises two straight sides and two concave sides.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/248,311 entitled “ROUND BOX TO SINGLE GANG COVER ADAPTER” to Baldwin et al. which was filed on Oct. 2, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Aspects of this document relate generally to electrical outlet covers and adapters for the same. 
     2. Background Art 
     Electrical boxes are manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes. Electrical boxes may be rectangular with one, two, three, or more gangs, each arranged to receive an electrical device. Round electrical boxes may be used to support ceiling fans or other electrical devices. However, if a homeowner desires to locate a non-round electrical device within the round electrical box, he is unable to due to gaps on the side. Specifically, the round box is larger than the electrical device and could create openings which provide the potential for an electrical shock hazard. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of this document relate to adapter plates. In one aspect, an adapter plate for mounting an electrical device includes an adapter having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, an outer perimeter, and an inner perimeter, a gasket for installing between a round electrical box and the second surface of the adapter, and wherein the adapter outer perimeter includes two straight sides and two concave sides. 
     Particular implementations may comprise one or more of the following features. The straight sides may be arranged opposite one another and the convex sides are arranged opposite one another. The convex sides may define a diameter and the straight sides extend beyond the diameter. A mounting hole may be located in each of the straight sides. The inner perimeter may be generally rectangular in shape. The inner perimeter may be sized to receive an electrical device therein. The adapter plate may also include an outer gasket contacting the first surface of the adapter. The adapter plate may also include an in-use cover contacting the outer gasket. The adapter may be secured to the round electrical box with a plurality of screws. The adapter plate assembly may also include an electrical device, wherein the electrical device and the adapter are secured to the round electrical box with the plurality of screws. The electrical device, the adapter, and the gasket may be secured to the round electrical box with the plurality of screws. The outer perimeter may completely encompass the round electrical box. The inner perimeter may be completely within the round electrical box. 
     In another aspect, a system for mounting an electrical device includes a round electrical box having an outer diameter and mounted in a wall, a gasket having an outer diameter and an inner perimeter, an adapter having an outer diameter and an inner perimeter, and electrical device, wherein the electrical device, the adapter, and the gasket are secured to the round electrical box with a plurality of fasteners, and wherein the round electrical box, the gasket, and the adapter have equal outer diameters. 
     In particular implementations, the gasket and adapter inner perimeters may be sized to receive the electrical device. The gasket and the adapter may each include a pair of mounting tabs extending beyond the outer diameter. The system may further include a pair of convex sides. The system may further include a pair of straight sides adjacent the convex sides. The system may further include an outer gasket contacting a front side of the adapter and an in-use cover contacting the outer gasket. The system may also include a second adapter connected to the in-use cover, wherein the second adapter is arranged to fit a predetermined electrical device. 
     Aspects and applications of the disclosure presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventors&#39; intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims. 
     The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above. 
     The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a round electrical box with a single gang adapter plate, an electrical device, and a while-in-use cover. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended operation and assembly procedures for an electrical box adapter will become apparent for use with implementations of an electrical box adapter from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular components are disclosed, such components and other implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such implementing components, consistent with the intended operation of an electrical box adapter. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electrical box adapter assembly  10 . Assembly  10  includes an adapter plate  12  and an adapter gasket  14  to secure an electrical device  16  within round electrical box  18 . Finally, a while-in-use cover  20  with a gasket  22  may be used to protect electrical device  16  from rain and snow. Adapter plate  12  may include a top wall  24 , a right wall  26 , a bottom wall  28 , and a left wall  30  which surround an inner opening  32 . Adapter gasket  14  is preferably shaped similar, if not identical, to adapter plate  12  and includes a top wall  34 , a right wall  36 , a bottom wall  38 , and a left wall  40  which surround an inner opening  42 . 
     Adapter plate  12  also includes a first surface  44  facing away from the electrical box and a second surface  46  directed towards the electrical box and in contact with adapter gasket  14 . In top walls  24 / 34  and bottoms walls  28 / 38 , a mounting hole  48  is located on the straight walls and is preferably aligned with threaded holes  50  in electrical box  18 . Mounting holes  48  are arranged to receive screws  52  that are fastened within threaded holes  50 . Accordingly, adapter plate  12 , gasket  14 , and electrical device  16  may be secured together as a single assembly to electrical box  18  in one aspect and electrical device  16  fits within inner openings  32  and  42 . Further, screws  52  may extend through openings in yoke  54  of the electrical device. 
     Electrical box  18  is preferably mounted within wall  56  and is flush with a front surface of the wall. Electrical box  18  also includes a diameter D which is approximately equal to the diameter of adapter plate walls  26  and  30  as well as adapter gasket walls  36  and  40 . Due to adapter plate  12  and adapter gasket  14  having an outer perimeter diameter D approximately equal to, or even slightly larger in size than the electrical box diameter, the adapter plate and adapter gasket limit access to the internals of the electrical box while properly securing a single gang electrical device. 
     Top walls  24  and  34  and bottom walls  28  and  38  are preferably arranged opposite one another with straight sides in one aspect, while right walls  26  and  36  and left walls  30  and  40  are convex in shape with the curved portion directed outwards. 
     Thus it is seen that an adapter plate  12  and gasket  14  permit the user to install an electrical device within a round electrical box without having to replace the electrical box with a rectangular style box. 
     It will be understood that implementations are not limited to the specific components disclosed herein, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for an adapter plate may be utilized. Accordingly, for example, it should be understood that, while the drawing figures and accompanying text show and describe a generally rectangular adapter plate, an adapter plate of the present invention may contain any number of sides so long as it is complimentary shaped to the electrical box. Common electrical box shapes also include round, square, and octagonal. Components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for an adapter plate. 
     The concepts disclosed herein are not limited to the specific implementations shown herein. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the components included in a particular implementation of an adapter plate may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations that can readily be formed into shaped objects and that are consistent with the intended operation of an adapter plate. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; polymers and/or other like materials; plastics, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals and/or other like materials; alloys and/or other like materials; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
     Furthermore, embodiments of the adapter plate may be manufactured separately and then assembled together, or any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled or removably coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material(s) forming the components. 
     In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of an adapter plate, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other adapter plates. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.