Patent ID: 7176380

Claim:
An alignment plate for a wall box mountable wiring device comprising: a frame having a horizontal axis and a first vertical axis to define a center for a first wiring device, said first wiring device having a mounting strap with first and second outwardly projecting ends, each outwardly projecting end is coupled to a clip having first and second apertures located in tandem along a center line of the projecting end and back from an end of the outwardly projecting end, each first aperture having inwardly projecting yieldable members to form openings for receiving alignment pins and each second aperture is a clearance opening for receiving a treaded fastener for attaching the mounting strap to the wall box, the frame further having a front surface and a back surface, a centrally located aperture for receiving said first wiring device and clearance apertures located along the first vertical axis for receiving the threaded fasteners for coupling the wiring device to the wall box, and first and second alignment pins projecting outward from the front surface of the frame for insertion into said openings formed by the ends of the inwardly projecting yieldable members, the diameter of each alignment pin being greater than the opening formed by the ends of said inwardly projecting yieldable members in each first aperture wherein said alignment pins, when inserted into said openings, engage and hold captive said mounting strap and withdrawal of said alignment pins from said openings is resisted by said inwardly projecting yieldable members.