COVER PLATE WITH CONCEALABLE PANEL

An outlet cover plate comprises a fastener aperture for a fastener to mount the outlet cover to a receptacle that includes associated hardware. Further, the outlet cover plate includes a face with a pocket that includes a catch along with an aperture for access to the associated hardware. A concealable panel has a writing surface and a projection that corresponds to the catch. The concealable panel fits in the pocket where it can be positioned in a first position where the concealable panel is stowed within the pocket and a second position where the writing surface is viewable outside the pocket. The pocket is located below the aperture such that a user can pull down on the concealable panel to put the concealable panel from the first position to the second position. The protrusion and catch keep the concealable panel in the first position until the concealable panel is pulled.

BACKGROUND

Various aspects of the present invention relate generally to cover plates for electrical receptacles or switches, and more specifically to being able to store information on cover plates for electrical receptacles or switches.

Electrical power receptacles are placed throughout buildings to distribute power to devices requiring electrical power. These devices include a plug that corresponds to hardware on the receptacle. For example, some devices require a positive terminal and a negative terminal for power and are not concerned with ground. Such devices will have plugs that only include positive and negative terminals and can be plugged into a receptacle that includes only positive and negative slots or a receptacle that includes a positive slot, a negative slot, slot and an aperture for ground. Other devices require all three: positive, negative, and ground.

To help prevent a power surge from destroying electrical devices plugged into receptacles or to remove power from a group of receptacles, circuit breakers or fuses are placed in series with the group of receptacles. Thus, if someone needs to work on a receptacle, the person can remove the fuse or turn off the circuit breaker associated with that receptacle.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various aspects of the present disclosure, an outlet cover plate comprises a fastener aperture for a fastener to mount the outlet cover to a receptacle that includes associated hardware. Further, the outlet cover plate includes a face with a pocket that includes a catch along with an aperture for access to the associated hardware. A concealable panel has a writing surface and a projection that corresponds to the catch. The concealable panel fits in the pocket where it can be positioned in a first position where the concealable panel is stowed within the pocket and a second position where the writing surface is viewable outside the pocket. The pocket is located below the aperture such that a user can pull down on the concealable panel to put the concealable panel from the first position to the second position. The protrusion and catch keep the concealable panel in the first position until the concealable panel is pulled.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, outlet cover plate comprises a fastener aperture for an associated fastener to mount the outlet cover a receptacle that includes associated hardware. The outlet cover plate further includes a face including a pocket and an aperture for access to the associated hardware. A concealable panel fits in the pocket and is selectably positionable between a first position where the concealable panel is stowed within the pocket and a second position where the writing surface is viewable outside the pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cover plate with a concealable panel allows users to place information on the cover plate about electrical wiring/systems associated with an electrical receptacle, switch, or other device that the cover plate covers or other information as may be desired. The user may then stow the concealable panel, so the writing on the concealable panel is not seen. When a person desires to read the information on the stowed concealable panel, the person just needs to slide the panel out from the stowed position, read the information, and re-stow the concealable panel.

Existing solutions include writing information on a front of a cover, but this solution can be unsightly and not aesthetically pleasing. Other solutions include writing the information on a back of the cover, but this solution requires a user to remove the cover to gain access to that information.

Turning now to the figures, and in particular toFIG.1, an embodiment of a cover plate100with a concealable panel102in a first position (e.g., a stowed position) is shown. The cover plate100includes a fastener aperture104on a face106so an associated fastener can be used to mount the cover plate100to a wall with associated hardware. For example, in a typical 120-volt electrical receptacle (e.g., a duplex receptacle), there are two electrical outlets that each have a positive receptacle and a negative receptacle (and an optional ground receptacle) that are contained in an outlet box, which includes a threaded aperture to couple to a cover plate (e.g., embodiments of the cover plate100described herein).

Moreover, the cover plate100includes at least one aperture108that corresponds to the associated hardware of the associated receptacle. As shown in the embodiment ofFIG.1, the cover plate100includes two apertures108for the associated hardware. However, any number of apertures may be included based on a configuration of the hardware associated with the receptacle. In some embodiments, the cover plate100includes different sized apertures108(e.g., for a switch). In numerous embodiments, the cover plate100includes different shaped apertures108(e.g., for a higher voltage).

As mentioned above, the cover plate100includes the concealable panel102that may be placed in a first position and a second position. As shown inFIG.1, the concealable panel102is in the first position, which (in the embodiment ofFIGS.1-2) is a stowed position. InFIG.2, the concealed panel102of the cover plate100is in the second position, which (in the embodiment ofFIGS.1-2) is an open position. While the embodiment ofFIGS.1-2illustrates the concealable panel102at a bottom of the cover plate100, the concealable panel102may be at a top of the cover plate100, on either side of the cover plate100, or combinations thereof. Further, more than one concealable panel102may be present on embodiments of the cover plate100.

Referring to bothFIGS.1-2, the concealable panel102includes a lip110that conforms to a shape of the cover plate100such that when the concealable panel102is in the stowed position, the lip110aligns with an edge112of the cover plate100. For example, if the cover plate100includes a beveled edge112, then the lip110will include a beveled edge. Further, in many embodiments, the concealable plate102includes two projections114that interact with corresponding catches on the cover plate100to counteract gravity when the concealable panel102is in the stowed position (as shown inFIG.1), preventing the concealable panel102from transitioning to the open position. In some embodiments, the cover plate100includes the projections and the concealable panel includes the catches. In numerous embodiments (e.g., where the concealable panel102is somewhere other than the bottom of the cover plate100), there are no projections and corresponding catches. Further, the projections114may be located anywhere along the concealable panel102.

Moreover, the concealable panel102includes a writing surface116. The writing surface116may be of any suitable material (e.g., paper (e.g., a sticker), plastic, a matte coating, etc.) to receive written and/or printed information. Thus, the person may place useful information on the writing surface such as a breaker associated with the electrical receptacle, a fuse associated with the electrical receptacle, a pattern for operation of a two-way switch, a color identity of a paint used on walls around the electrical receptacle, etc.

In various embodiments, the cover plate100includes a recess118to allow a person to place a finger on the lip110of the panel102to transition the panel102from the stowed position to the open position.

Turning now toFIG.3, a side section view of the cover plate100is shown. As discussed in reference toFIG.1, the cover plate100includes a fastener aperture104, two apertures108for associated hardware, and a catch130. Further, the cover plate includes a pocket132into which the concealable panel (102,FIGS.1-2) slides when the concealable panel is placed into the stowed position. Thus, the pocket132should correspond to the concealable panel102.

FIG.4is a bottom section view of the cover plate100cut widthwise across the cover plate100through the pocket132. The pocket132includes guide spaces134that allow guide tabs (seeFIGS.5-7below) of the concealable panel102to slide when the concealable panel102is transitioned between the first position and the second position.

Turning now toFIGS.5-6, a front elevation view and a side elevation view of the concealable panel102are shown, respectively. As discussed above, the concealable panel102includes the lip110, the projections114, and the writing surface116. Further, the concealable panel102includes guide tabs136that fit into the guide spaces of the pocket to allow the concealable panel102to slide when the concealable panel102is transitioned between the first position and the second position.

FIGS.7-8illustrate a rear view of another embodiment of the concealable panel102. Similar to the concealable panel102of the embodiments ofFIGS.5-6, the concealable panel102ofFIGS.7-8includes a lip110(seen from behind) and projections114, which are moved closer to guide tabs136. In this embodiment, the projections and guide tabs work together to provide a space142for a projection143(i.e., an embodiment of the catch130ofFIG.1for use with the spaces142of the present embodiment) within an embodiment of the cover plate to keep the concealable panel from transitioning between the first and second positions. Notches144allow to the sides146to bend in and use friction to remain in place as the when the concealable panel102is in different positions. A cutout146allows for a fastener (not shown, seeFIG.9) to be easily applied and removed.

Any of the features of the embodiments of the concealable panel ofFIGS.5-8can be replaced with other features of the other embodiments. For example, the shape of the concealable panel ofFIG.5can include the projections114closer to the guide tabs136ofFIG.8.

FIG.9is an isometric view of the cover plate100coupled to associated hardware150of an electrical receptacle. The cover plate100couples to the electrical receptacle by a fastener152via the fastener aperture. A person may transition the concealable panel102from a first position (e.g., a stowed position) to a second position (e.g., an open position) by pulling on the lip110of the concealable panel102. If the panel102is on a bottom of the cover plate100, then the person pulls down; if the panel102is on a top of the cover plate100, then the person pulls up; if the panel102is on a side of the cover plate100, then the person pulls to the side. The concealable panel then slides from the first position to the second position. To transition the concealable panel between the second position back to the first position, the person applies a force to the lip in an opposite direction that was used to transition from the first position to the second position.

With the information written (e.g., by a user with a pen, pencil, marker etc.; typed; printed; etc.) on the writing surface of the concealable tab, a person would know which breaker/fuse is associated with the receptacle to which the cover plate is coupled. Thus, there is less time and energy required to determine which breaker/fuse is associated with the receptacle, yet the cover plate is still aesthetically pleasing. When information written on the writing surface needs to be changed/updated, a user can erase the old information, just place a sticker over the outdated information, or remove an old sticker and replace with a new one.

In embodiments of the cover plate discussed above, there is a separate aperture for a fastener to couple the plate to the receptacle and another separate aperture (or more) for associated hardware (e.g., electrical outlets, light switch, etc.). However, other embodiments of the cover plate have a single larger aperture for both the hastener and the associated hardware (i.e., a decorator-type cover plate). In embodiments of decorator-type plates or other cover plates where the fasteners are above or below the aperture, the pocket and concealable panel may be to a side of the aperture, as opposed to being above or below.