Abstract:
A wall plate for engagement with an identical wall plate including an opening for the passage of wires or conduit therethrough. The plate is capable of being separated at its center to allow for the passage of oversized connectors and fittings and includes extender sections to increase the size of the opening. The invention includes a first plate section and identical second plate section that are mateable for easy separation and attachment. Both first and second plate sections include cantilever tab-like elements that extend from the ends of each plate section to join the plates.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/652,372 filed 14 Feb. 2005. 

   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 the passage of wires or conduit. The plate is capable of being separated, then reconnected and securely interlocked at its center to allow for oversized connectors and fittings to be passed therethrough. The plate is secured to standard gem boxes and includes extender sections to increase the size of the opening. 
   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 to accommodate various electrical device apertures. However, there exists a need for a plate that allows for the aperture to be split then reconnected, to allow for varying size wires and connectors to pass therethrough. 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. 
   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 a plate including an opening for the passage of wires or conduit. The plate is capable of being separated at its center to allow for oversized connectors and fittings to be passed therethrough prior to the plate being reconnected and mounted to a gem box. The plate can be interlocked and secured to standard gem boxes and includes 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. The invention comprises a first plate section and identical second plate section that are mateable for easy separation and attachment. Both first and second plate sections include cantilever tab-like elements that extend from the ends of each plate section to join the plates. The extender sections utilize the same cantilever tab-like elements as the first and second plate sections for extending and joining 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-gang configuration separated into first and second plate sections prior to being joined during installation. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the first plate section of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the first plate section of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top-view of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention for a single gang electrical box installation. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the invention in a dual-gang configuration with extender sections incorporated therein. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective top view of the invention of  FIG. 1  with the first and second plate sections joined together. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective bottom view of the invention of  FIG. 1  with the first and second plate sections joined together. 
   

   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. 1–8 ) of the invention in detail,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention separated into a first plate section  10  and second plate section  20 . These first and second plate sections are constructed for easy separation and engagement with each other. Plate sections  10  and  20  are identical in construction but are referred to separately to describe the separation and engagement of the plates. It is understood that any description of plate  10  applies to plate  20  and vice versa. It is further understood that extender plates  30 A and  30 B, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , utilize identical mating cantilever tab-like elements as described below for plate  10  and  20 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a dual-gang plate configuration for applications requiring larger openings. 
   Plate sections  10  and  20  include a bottom surface  25  that includes a side wall extension  22 . Extension  22  projects outward from bottom surface  25  extending around the periphery of the plate sections  10  and  20  forming a lip thereround. Referring to  FIG. 1 , first plate section  10  includes an end section  10 A that engages an identical end section  20 A of second plate section  20 . End sections  10 A and  20 A include a center flange rim  50  that extends outward from the top surface  28  of first and second plate sections  10  and  20 , the flange rim  50  defining the opening  50 A for the passage of wires or conduit. The rim  50  acts as a bend radius control to limit cable bending, radius kinking, and inward forces created by bending cables. Also, the rim is a leverage surface to prevent the plate end sections  10 A and  20 A from collapsing-in during engagement. The rim also serves as a surface area for attaching wire management wrap/cover. First plate section  10  and second plate section  20  further include cantilever tab-like elements  40 B and  40 C, the fixed ends of which are integral outward extensions or continuations of end sections  10 A and  20 A. Tab elements  40 B and  40 C are rigid and have limited flexibility for movement away from a normal position by application of force. This construction resists plate separation that can occur from cables tugging and pushing against the plate sections when cables are arranged for installation. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , Tab  40 B projects outward from a fixed end  40 D that is affixed to and extends between flange rim  50  and sidewall extension  22 . An area of fixed end  40 D is secured to and rests planar against an area of bottom surface  25 . The area of fixed end  40 D that is secured to bottom surface  25  is determined according to desired resistance requirements to bending or pulling forces. The thickness of fixed end  40 D and tab  40 B is determined to allow for structural integrity, but should not extend beyond sidewall extension bottom surface  22 A. In the disclosed embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , sidewall extension bottom surface  22 A is raised above fixed end bottom surface  40 D 1  and tab bottom surface  40 B 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , top surface  28  of plate sections  10  and  20  includes a cutout  55  extending the length l of fixed end  40 D and the width w of tab  40 B. Referring to  FIG. 1 , cutout  55  exposes top surface  40 B 2  of tab  40 B. 
   Tab  40 C comprises a stepped shaped member with an outwardly extending end portion  40 C 1  and generally perpendicular base portion  40 C 2 . Tab  40 C extends outward from the corners of end sections  10 A and  20 A, between flange  50  and sidewall extension  22 , and is integral to bottom surface  25  such that sidewall extension bottom surface  22 A extends beyond tab bottom surface  40 C 3 . Tab bottom surface  40 C 3  is raised slightly above bottom surface  25 , in the disclosed embodiment, up to 0.011 inches, for secure alignment of plate sections  10  and  20 . Cutout  55  provides an opening above tab top surface  40 B 2  for insertion of base portion  40 C 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a recess  55 A extends from the periphery of fixed end  40 D into bottom surface  25 . The recess  55 A is of sufficient dimension to allow for outwardly extending end portion  40 C 1  to slideably engage bottom surface  25  when plates  10  and  20  are mated together. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , first plate section  10  and second plate section  20  are brought together such that tabs  40 B and  40 C of each plate section engage the complete plate. End portion  40 C slideably engages bottom surface  25  up to a point where base portion  40 C 2  is secured into cutout  55 . Tab  40 B inserts below tab  40 C with tab top surface  40 B 2  slideably engaging tab bottom surface  40 C 3 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , a top view of a connected plate illustrates base portions  40 C 2  secured into cutouts  55 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , a bottom view of a connected plate illustrates tab bottom surfaces  40 B 1  and fixed end  40 D placement along bottom surface  25 .  FIG. 8  further illustrates bottom surface  40 C 3  of end portion  40 C 1 , which is secured within recess  55 A. For the single gang embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when both first plate section  0 . 10  and second plate section  20  are engaged, sidewall extensions  22  and flanges  50  are continuous and the wall port  60  can be secured to an electrical box  65 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
   Tabs  40 B and  40 C provide resistance to outward forces from cables bending or pulling against flange rim  50 . Pass through apertures  60 A allow screws  60 B to secure wire port  60  to electrical box  65  via threaded apertures  60 C. For applications where larger flange  50  openings  50 A are desired, extender plate&#39;s  30 A and  30 B can be utilized as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Plates  30 A and  30 B extend the flange  50  and sidewall extension  22  utilizing identical mating cantilever tab like elements described above. The plate sections  10  and  20  of subject invention may be manufactured through stamping, injection molding, metal casting or other available means known in the art. The plate sections may be made from a polymer based moldable material or other similar materials known in the art. 
   It is understood that the size of the plate sections including the extender sections may vary according to the particular application. Furthermore it is understood that the placement of cantilever tab-like elements  40 B and  40 C along end sections  10 A and  10 B may vary according to the size of the plate sections utilized. It is understood that these variations are within the scope of the present invention.