Electrical activating assembly and closure member therefor

Claim 2

A closure member for an electrical outlet comprising: p1 a plate having perimeter edges, a plate outer face and a plate inner face; an access opening in said plate disposed between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges; a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening and being inwardly inset from said perimeter edges, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote from said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead; a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead; and a cover fitting within said cover socket and being supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface.

Claim 3

The closure member of claim 1 including a second access opening adjacent to and on the same side of the bilateral axis as the first said access opening and within said cover socket; and a second cover fitting within said cover socket and supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface, the first said cover and said second cover presenting confronting ends and remote ends.

Claim 4

The closure member of claim 1 or 2 including connecting means connecting each said cover to said perimeter bead for pivotal movement between a capping position covering said access opening and an upstanding position exposing said access opening.

Claim 5

The closure member of claim 3 wherein each said connecting means comprises first and second pins extending coaxially from opposite sides of said cover; and recesses, one formed in each of opposed interior faces of said perimeter bead, each of said recesses receiving one of said pins.

Claim 6

The closure member of claim 4 wherein one of said recesses has an open end at said bead outer surface permitting passage of one of said pins during removal and installation of the cover.

Claim 7

The closure member of claim 3 wherein said plate includes a fastener-receiving aperture provided within said cover socket.

Claim 8

The closure member of claim 3 wherein one said connecting means is provided at each of said remote ends.

Claim 9

The closure member of claim 1 or 2 wherein said plate is provided with a removable weakened area on that side of the bilateral axis opposite said access opening.

Claim 10

The closure member of claim 1 including: a central access opening in said cover; and second fastener-receiving openings in said cover adapting said cover for securement to structure adjacent to said plate inner face.

Claim 11

The closure member of claim 9 wherein said cover has a lengthwise depression in the undersurface thereof confronting that portion of said plate outer face within said cover socket.

Claim 12

An assembly for use with an electrical distribution system to provide an electrical receptacle substantially flush with the outer surface of a barrier, said assembly including rim means presenting a rim opening, support means adapted to support an electrical receptacle, and closure means for capping said rim opening, said closure means comprising: a substantially flat plate covering said rim opening and having perimeter edges and a plate outer face to be disposed flush with the outer surface of the barrier with which the assembly is used and a plate inner face, said plate having an access opening between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges providing access to the outlet of the receptacle to be supported by said support means, and a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote from said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead; a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead; a cover fitting within said socket and supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface; and fastening means for securing said plate to said support means.

Claim 13

An assembly for use with an electrical distribution system to provide an electrical receptacle substantially flush with the outer surface of a barrier, said assembly including rim means presenting a rim opening, support means adapted to support an electrical receptacle, and closure means for capping said rim opening, said closure means comprising: a substantially flat plate covering said rim opening and having perimeter edges and a plate outer face to be disposed flush with the outer surface of the barrier with which the assembly is used and a plate inner face, said plate having an access opening between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges providing access to the outlet of the receptacle to be supported by said support means, and a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote from said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead; a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead; a cover fitting within said socket and supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface; and fastening means for securing said plate to said support means.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 11 including a second access opening adjacent to and on the same side of the bilateral axis as the first said access opening and within said cover socket; and a second cover fitting within said cover socket and supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface, the first said cover and said second cover presenting confronting ends and remote ends.

Claim 15

The assembly of claim 11 or 12 including: connecting means connecting each said cover to said perimeter bead for pivotal movement between a capping position covering said access opening and an upstanding position exposing said access opening.

Claim 16

The assembly of claim 13 wherein said connecting means comprises: first and second pins extending coaxially from opposite sides of said cover; and elongated recesses, one formed in each of opposed interior surfaces of said perimeter bead, each of said recesses receiving one of said pins.

Claim 17

The assembly of claim 14 wherein one of said recesses has an open end at said bead outer surface permitting passage of one of said pins during removal and installation of said cover.

Claim 18

The assembly of claim 13 wherein said fastening means includes: an aperture in said plate within said cover socket; and a fastener extending through said aperture for threadedly engaging said support means.

Claim 19

The assembly of claim 11 or 12 wherein said plate is provided with a removable weakened area on that side of the bilateral axis opposite said access opening.

Claim 20

The assembly of claim 11 including: a central access opening in said cover; and second fastener-receiving openings in said cover adapting said cover for securement to structure adjacent to said plate inner face.

Claim 21

The assembly of claim 18 wherein said cover has a lengthwise depression in the undersurface thereof confronting that portion of said plate outer face within said cover socket.

Claim 22

A barrier including a layer of settable material presenting a barrier outer surface; a chamber in said barrier including a barrier opening at said barrier outer surface; an electrical receptacle presenting at least one outlet; support means supporting said receptacle within said barrier opening and proximate to and substantially parallel with said barrier outer surface; and closure means supported in capping relation with said barrier opening and providing access to said receptacle; said closure means comprising: a plate having perimeter edges and a plate outer face substantially flush with said barrier outer surface, said plate including an access opening between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges providing access to said outlet, and a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead; a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead; a cover fitting within said socket and being supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface; fastening means securing said plate to said support means; and a decorative covering overlying said barrier outer surface and that portion of said plate outer face presented exteriorly of said perimeter bead.

Claim 23

A barrier including a layer of settable material presenting a barrier outer surface; a chamber in said barrier including a barrier opening at said barrier outer surface; an electrical receptacle presenting at least one outlet; support means supporting said receptacle within said barrier opening and proximate to and substantially parallel with said barrier outer surface; and closure means supported in capping relation with said barrier opening and providing access to said receptacle; said closure means comprising: a plate having perimeter edges and a plate outer face substantially flush with said barrier outer surface, said plate including an access opening between the bilateral axis of said plate and one of said perimeter edges providing access to said outlet, and a perimeter bead surrounding said access opening, said perimeter bead extending outwardly from said plate outer face and having a bead outer surface remote said plate outer face, a portion of said plate outer face being enclosed by said perimeter bead; a cover socket formed by said portion and said perimeter bead; a cover fitting within said socket and being supported thereby substantially flush with said bead outer surface; fastening means securing said plate to said support means; and a decorative covering overlying said barrier outer surface and that portion of said plate outer face presented exteriorly of said perimeter bead.

Claim 24

The barrier of claim 20 including connecting means removably connecting said cover to said perimeter bead for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with said plate outer face between a capping position covering said access opening and an upstanding position exposing said access opening.

Claim 25

The barrier of claim 20 or 21 wherein said fastening means includes: an aperture in said plate within said cover socket; and a fastener extending through said aperture and threadedly engaged with said support means.

Claim 26

The barrier of claim 20 wherein said plate is provided with a removable weakened area on that side of the bilateral axis opposite said access opening.