Abstract:
The present invention relates to wall plates for electrical wiring, and more specifically, to a plate including an opening for securing a connector or plurality of connectors therein. The plate includes a dual use opening at its center including cutouts that allow for a connector to be rotated at increments of 45 degrees up to 360 degree rotation at an angle in line to the angle of its receiving connector. Such angular mating requirements may originate from audio, video, and telecommunications applications where equipment is positioned at different elevations and distances away from an installed connector plate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/007,939 filed 17 Dec. 2007. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to wall plates for electrical wiring, and more specifically, to a plate including an opening for securing a connector or plurality of connectors therein, the connector having an engagement recess for slideably engaging the opening. The plate is capable of being separated, then reconnected and securely interlocked at its mating end to allow for angular adjustment of the secured connector. The plate also includes a breakaway panel to facilitate the attachment of a plurality of connectors when a single angular adjustable connector is not required. The plate may be secured to standard gem boxes. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Wall plates to cover electrical devices mounted in gem boxes are well known in the art. Wall box mounted devices such as switches and receptacles are commonly provided with a wall plate serving both as a decorative cover for the device and to prevent access to the areas which contain the electrical wiring. Such wall plates are usually mounted upon the device by one or more screws passing through openings in the plate and received in a threaded aperture in the device. In some installations, two or more devices are mounted in side-by-side relation with a corresponding wall plate for each device. 
   Other types of wall plates include plates that can be interlocked at their sides to provide for interchangeable wall panel assemblies for each configuration of electrical devices in any number of ganged gem boxes. Each wall plate includes specific openings or apertures to accommodate various electrical devices secured therein. 
   However, there exists a need for a plate that allows for the aperture to be split then reconnected, to allow for the adjustment of a secured connector at different&#39; angles. There also exists a need for a dual use split plate that includes breakaway pieces to facilitate the attachment of a plurality of connectors when a single angular adjustable connector is not required. Furthermore, there exists a need for the connected plate to withstand the pulling forces of wires and connectors that would otherwise separate the connected plate. By utilizing “overmolded” connectors comprising engagement channels, the joined split plate halves that engage the connector channels&#39; hold the complete plate together and reinforce its mating strength. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The foregoing and other problems are overcome, and other advantages are realized, in accordance with the disclosed, alternative embodiments of these teachings. 
   The present invention relates to wall plates for electrical wiring, and more specifically, to a plate including an opening for securing a connector or plurality of connectors therein. The plate includes a dual use opening at its center including cutouts that allow for a connector to be rotated, in the preferred embodiment, at increments of 45 degrees up to 360 degree rotation at an angle in line to the angle of its receiving connector. Such angular mating requirements may originate from audio, video, and telecommunications applications where equipment is positioned at different elevations and distances away from an installed connector plate. 
   The plate can be easily separated then reconnected and interlocked at its center to achieve a different angular orientation of the connector therein. The plate also includes a breakaway panel to facilitate the attachment of a plurality of connectors when a single angular adjustable connector is not required. The breakaway panels form part of the center of the plate sections and are at a reduced thickness for easy detachment of the panels when securing a plurality of connectors. For a single angularly adjustable connector, the breakaway panels are retained and contribute to maintaining the structural integrity of the secured connector. 
   The plate can be interlocked and secured to standard gem boxes and may include extender sections to increase the size of the opening. The plate interlocking, means is designed to withstand the pulling forces of wires and connectors passing through the opening. By utilizing “overmolded” connectors comprising engagement channels the joined split plate halves that engage the connector channels hold the complete plate together and reinforce its mating strength. The invention comprises a first plate section and identical second plate section that are mateable for easy separation and attachment. In the preferred embodiment, both first and second plate sections include cantilever tab-like elements known in the art that extend from the ends of each plate section to join the plates. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of subject invention in a single-connector configuration illustrating the center cutout and breakaway members, the plate illustrated having a first and second plate joined together, the plate not including an installed connector. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the plate section utilized in subject invention, the plate sections being mirror images of one another. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the plate of  FIG. 1 , with a connector installed. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the plate of  FIG. 1 , with a connector installed. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the plate of  FIG. 1 , with a connector installed. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a typical connector utilized in subject invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the connector of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the plate of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a separated view of the plate of  FIG. 1  illustrating a connector secured to a plate half prior to each plate being secured to form a complete plate. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom view of the separated plate of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the plate of  FIG. 1  having multiple connectors installed therein. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the plate of  FIG. 1  with the breakaway panel removed. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the plate of  FIG. 1  separated prior to being interlocked. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   While certain embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the present invention should not be limited to such illustrations and descriptions. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied as part of the present invention and are within the scope of the claims. 
   Referring to the drawings ( FIGS. 1-13 ) of the invention in detail,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention comprising a connected first plate section  10  and second plate section  20 , prior to having a connector  5  installed.  FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of the assembled plate sections  10  and  20  of  FIG. 1 . These first and second plate sections are constructed for easy separation and engagement with each other. Plate sections  10  and  20  utilize engagement tabs known in the art for separating and attaching plate sections to form a complete plate. In one illustrative embodiment, one example of engagement tabs  2 A and  2 B is disclosed in  FIGS. 1-13 . In this example, engagement tabs  2 A and  2 B are identical for plate sections  10  and  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Another example of engagement tabs is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,744, issued Sep. 26, 2006, to applicant. 
   In the preferred embodiment, Plate sections  10  and  20  include a bottom surface  25  that includes a sidewall extension  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Extension  22  projects outward from bottom surface  25  extending around the periphery of the plate sections  10  and  20  forming a lip thereround. First plate section  10  includes an end section  10 A that engages an end section  20 A of second plate section  20 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 13 , end sections  10 A and  20 A each include an opening  2 C ( FIG. 13 ) to form a complete opening  2 CA ( FIG. 1 ) for the insertion of a mateable connector  5  when plate sections  10  and  20  are interlocked. Breakaway panel  2 C 1  can be broken away from plates  10  and  20  to achieve an alternate opening  2 D, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 10 , breakaway panels  2 C 1  form part of the mold of plate sections  10  and  20 . In the preferred embodiment, panels  2 C 1  are flush with plate section  10  and  20  top surface  25 A, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The thickness of breakaway panel  2 C 1  is determined to allow for easy breakaway for expansion of opening  2 CA when desired and allowing for expansion forces of an inserted connector in an embodiment where breakaway panel  2 C 1  is left in place, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 10 . In the preferred embodiment, breakaway panel  2 C 1  is recessed a distance “d” from bottom surface  25  due to its thickness, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 10 , breakaway panel  2 C 1  includes an end section  2 C 12  that includes angled cutouts  2 C 12 A and  2 C 12 B that are repeated along the periphery of opening  2 C and include angled cutouts on both breakaway panel  2 C 1  and plate end section  10 A. The cutout sections define the opening  2 C ( FIG. 13 ), which in the preferred embodiment, is in the center of end sections  10 A and  20 A. In the preferred embodiment, end section  10 A and end section  20 A are identical as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
   A complete opening includes angular cutouts  2 C 12 A and  2 C 12 B repeated along the periphery of opening  2 CA when plates  10  and  20  are joined as illustrated, in  FIG. 1 . Angular cutouts  2 C 12 A and  2 C 12 B may have different angular patterns depending on the desired adjustability of a connector inserted within opening  2 CA. In the preferred embodiment the angled cutouts are 45 degrees with respect to each other. Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , a connector  5  is disclosed for use in the present invention. 
   It is understood that any type or shape of connector  5  may be utilized with the present invention provided it includes a channel or recess for attachment to the plate as herein described. The connector  5  is designed to include a channel  5 A cut within its body as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Channel  5 A is of sufficient width to slideably engage and snugly fit angled cutouts  2 C 12 A and  2 C 12 B, repeated along the periphery of opening  2 C, into channel  5 A up to a point where connector  5  bottom surface  5 A 1  contacts the periphery of opening  2 C, and depending on the angular orientation of the inserted connector  5 , fixes connector  5  at a desired angular orientation. The connector  5  becomes fixed when the angle of bottom surface  5 A 1  is at the same angle as the contacting angular cutouts of opening  2 C. The channel  5 A of connector  5  may be made by any means known in the art including over-molding an existing connector. 
   It is understood that any angular configuration of connector  5  bottom surface  5 A 1  and opening  2 CA may be utilized in subject invention to provide an angularly adjustable connector that may be rotated in angular increments to a desired orientation. 
   In practice, the connector  5  would first be engaged with plate section  10  or  20  at a desired angular orientation ( FIG. 10 ). Next, connector  5  would engage plate section  10  and  20  up to a point&#39; where the plates are interlocked and the connector  5  slideably engages and snugly fits end section  2 C 12  of both plate sections  10  and  20 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   Connector  5  may be angularly rotated to a different installation angle by separating plates  10  and  20 , disengaging connector  5  from plates  10  and  20 , rotating connector  5  to another angular orientation defined by cutouts  2 C 12 A and  2 C 12 B, then reengaging as previously described. For applications where a plurality of connectors is required, breakaway panels  2 C 1  are removed and multiple connectors  5  slideably engage plates  10  and  20  in a single angular orientation as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
   It is understood that the size of the plate sections and openings therein may be configured for a single or multiple gang connector configurations and various sized connectors, according to a particular application. It is understood that these variations are within the scope of the present invention. It is further understood that although preferred embodiments have been disclosed it is understood that changes and/or variations or equivalents to the preferred embodiments are within the scope of the claims.