Patent Publication Number: US-2023140416-A1

Title: Cover plate with concealable panel

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/274,974, filed Nov. 3, 2021, entitled “COVER PLATE WITH CONCEALABLE PANEL”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of a cover plate with a concealable panel in a first position, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of the cover plate with the concealable panel in a second position, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a section view along a length of a middle of the cover plate excluding the concealable panel, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a section view along a width below a center of the cover plate excluding the concealable panel, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a front view of the concealable panel, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a side view of the concealable panel, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a rear view of a second embodiment of the concealable panel, according to aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a rear view of the second embodiment of the concealable panel, according to aspects of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  9    is an isometric view of the cover plate with the concealable panel in an open position installed on a wall with associated hardware, according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     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 to  FIG.  1   , an embodiment of a cover plate  100  with a concealable panel  102  in a first position (e.g., a stowed position) is shown. The cover plate  100  includes a fastener aperture  104  on a face  106  so an associated fastener can be used to mount the cover plate  100  to 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 plate  100  described herein). 
     Moreover, the cover plate  100  includes at least one aperture  108  that corresponds to the associated hardware of the associated receptacle. As shown in the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , the cover plate  100  includes two apertures  108  for 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 plate  100  includes different sized apertures  108  (e.g., for a switch). In numerous embodiments, the cover plate  100  includes different shaped apertures  108  (e.g., for a higher voltage). 
     As mentioned above, the cover plate  100  includes the concealable panel  102  that may be placed in a first position and a second position. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the concealable panel  102  is in the first position, which (in the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 2   ) is a stowed position. In  FIG.  2   , the concealed panel  102  of the cover plate  100  is in the second position, which (in the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 2   ) is an open position. While the embodiment of  FIGS.  1 - 2    illustrates the concealable panel  102  at a bottom of the cover plate  100 , the concealable panel  102  may be at a top of the cover plate  100 , on either side of the cover plate  100 , or combinations thereof. Further, more than one concealable panel  102  may be present on embodiments of the cover plate  100 . 
     Referring to both  FIGS.  1 - 2   , the concealable panel  102  includes a lip  110  that conforms to a shape of the cover plate  100  such that when the concealable panel  102  is in the stowed position, the lip  110  aligns with an edge  112  of the cover plate  100 . For example, if the cover plate  100  includes a beveled edge  112 , then the lip  110  will include a beveled edge. Further, in many embodiments, the concealable plate  102  includes two projections  114  that interact with corresponding catches on the cover plate  100  to counteract gravity when the concealable panel  102  is in the stowed position (as shown in  FIG.  1   ), preventing the concealable panel  102  from transitioning to the open position. In some embodiments, the cover plate  100  includes the projections and the concealable panel includes the catches. In numerous embodiments (e.g., where the concealable panel  102  is somewhere other than the bottom of the cover plate  100 ), there are no projections and corresponding catches. Further, the projections  114  may be located anywhere along the concealable panel  102 . 
     Moreover, the concealable panel  102  includes a writing surface  116 . The writing surface  116  may 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 plate  100  includes a recess  118  to allow a person to place a finger on the lip  110  of the panel  102  to transition the panel  102  from the stowed position to the open position. 
     Turning now to  FIG.  3   , a side section view of the cover plate  100  is shown. As discussed in reference to  FIG.  1   , the cover plate  100  includes a fastener aperture  104 , two apertures  108  for associated hardware, and a catch  130 . Further, the cover plate includes a pocket  132  into which the concealable panel ( 102 ,  FIGS.  1 - 2   ) slides when the concealable panel is placed into the stowed position. Thus, the pocket  132  should correspond to the concealable panel  102 . 
       FIG.  4    is a bottom section view of the cover plate  100  cut widthwise across the cover plate  100  through the pocket  132 . The pocket  132  includes guide spaces  134  that allow guide tabs (see  FIGS.  5 - 7    below) of the concealable panel  102  to slide when the concealable panel  102  is transitioned between the first position and the second position. 
     Turning now to  FIGS.  5 - 6   , a front elevation view and a side elevation view of the concealable panel  102  are shown, respectively. As discussed above, the concealable panel  102  includes the lip  110 , the projections  114 , and the writing surface  116 . Further, the concealable panel  102  includes guide tabs  136  that fit into the guide spaces of the pocket to allow the concealable panel  102  to slide when the concealable panel  102  is transitioned between the first position and the second position. 
       FIGS.  7 - 8    illustrate a rear view of another embodiment of the concealable panel  102 . Similar to the concealable panel  102  of the embodiments of  FIGS.  5 - 6   , the concealable panel  102  of  FIGS.  7 - 8    includes a lip  110  (seen from behind) and projections  114 , which are moved closer to guide tabs  136 . In this embodiment, the projections and guide tabs work together to provide a space  142  for a projection  143  (i.e., an embodiment of the catch  130  of  FIG.  1    for use with the spaces  142  of the present embodiment) within an embodiment of the cover plate to keep the concealable panel from transitioning between the first and second positions. Notches  144  allow to the sides  146  to bend in and use friction to remain in place as the when the concealable panel  102  is in different positions. A cutout  146  allows for a fastener (not shown, see  FIG.  9   ) to be easily applied and removed. 
     Any of the features of the embodiments of the concealable panel of  FIGS.  5 - 8    can be replaced with other features of the other embodiments. For example, the shape of the concealable panel of  FIG.  5    can include the projections  114  closer to the guide tabs  136  of  FIG.  8   . 
       FIG.  9    is an isometric view of the cover plate  100  coupled to associated hardware  150  of an electrical receptacle. The cover plate  100  couples to the electrical receptacle by a fastener  152  via the fastener aperture. A person may transition the concealable panel  102  from a first position (e.g., a stowed position) to a second position (e.g., an open position) by pulling on the lip  110  of the concealable panel  102 . If the panel  102  is on a bottom of the cover plate  100 , then the person pulls down; if the panel  102  is on a top of the cover plate  100 , then the person pulls up; if the panel  102  is on a side of the cover plate  100 , 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. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Aspects of the disclosure were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.