Abstract:
The present invention is an electrical panel filler plate with an adjustable length construction, which allows panel grips on the opposite ends of the filler plate to increase the size of the filler plate to fit snugly inside an electrical panel aperture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The invention addresses the circuit breaker and electrical panel industry. 
         [0007]    (2) Description of the Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0008]    The electrical construction industry has developed boxes and panels that have partially pre-stamped holes to allow for quick assembly of circuit breakers and other equipment onto circuit panels using minimal or no tools, as an electrician can press on the pre-stamped area with a manageable amount of force and then twist the material to be removed, leaving a rough hole of the appropriate size that easily allows switches, circuit breakers, conduit, and other electrical components to be easily mounted on the panel, and some portion of the component to be visible or exist on the reverse side of the panel. 
         [0009]    As the configuration of the panel changes and different components are mounted in different ways, an electrical panel can develop an excessive number of unused holes. Panels may be mounted in such a way that users might endanger themselves if left uncovered, leaving a panel owner with the choice of replacing an expensive panel, or covering the panel hole, typically with an impromptu cover, or leaving an unused component on the panel that “fills” a hole. 
         [0010]    These existing approaches to filling an unused hole are unsatisfying, as they either a) cost an inordinate amount of money, b) are esthetically displeasing, or c) require unused components to remain present in a panel. The present invention eliminates these shortcomings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention is an adjustable filler plate constructed with grips that clasp the internal edges of an existing rectangular aperture. The grips are part of a sliding element that, when compressed, allows the grips to fit inside the aperture, but then slide out to fit the dimensions of the hole so the grips hold the plate in place inside the aperture. Because the distance between the grips can be changed to fill varying aperture lengths, a single filler plate can be reused in different-sized holes as the equipment mounted on a panel is changed and unfilled holes result. 
       Objects of the Invention 
       [0012]    One object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive means for eliminating openings in circuit panels, circuit boxes, and other similar surfaces. 
         [0013]    Another object is to provide a reusable product to eliminate the aforementioned openings. 
         [0014]    Still another object is to create a product to fit a variety of aperture sizes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0015]    FIG.  1 —Top view of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]    FIG.  2 —Bottom view of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]    FIG.  3 —Side view of one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    According to the present invention, the foregoing objects and other advantages are attainted by an adjustable-length filler plate  11 , which would allow a single plate to fit a number of panel openings. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows an orthogonal view of the invention  11  in a typical construction with one extension, showing the main body  13 , the extension  21  in the closed position, with optional handle projections  15 .  FIG. 2  is a view of the bottom of the device, and shows panel grip  17   a  fixed on one end of the main body  19 , with another panel grip  17   b  fixed on the extension  21  in a closed position, such that it grips point in the opposite direction as the main-body panel grip  17   a.    
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention, showing the aforementioned with handle grips  15 , panel grips  17   a    17   b  and extension  21 . 
         [0021]    The extension  21  is constructed such that it can be pushed or pulled from the main body  13  to make the assembly  11  physically longer and thus able to cover holes in a panel of varying lengths. 
         [0022]    To employ the invention, a user holds the handle projections  15  and maneuvers the main body  13  so that the fixed-end panel grip  17   a  sits with the panel edge hole in the gripping section, and then, while holding the main body  13  parallel to the panel aperture, pulls on the extension  21  by using the handle projections  15  and guides the extension end panel grip  17   b  so it engages with the panel on the opposite end as the fixed-end panel grip  17   a.  In this way, the panel cover is held in place by the two opposite-facing panel grips. 
         [0023]    To remove the device and use it elsewhere, a user need only maneuver the handle projections  15  so shorten the length of the device and disengage the panel grips  17   a    17   b  from the panel, allowing the panel cover to be simply lifted away and the device to be used elsewhere. 
         [0024]    The extension  21  requires some method of maintaining its length. One method would be a simple construction providing a tight fit between the main body  13  and the extension  21 . Another method might include a serrated slide that allows for the extension  21  to slide when sufficient force is applied, but only then. 
         [0025]    The device is currently constructed of a plastic mold, but could be constructed of any substance capable of maintaining the shape. 
         [0026]    The handle projections  15  are optional, but helpful to maneuver the device. Electrical panels are often in areas where space and movement is limited, so the handles provide a way of easily putting the panel cover in place.