Weatherproof outlet cover

Claim 1

A weatherproof outlet cover comprising A. a stamped metal plate having an aperture therein; B. a generally U-shaped stamped metal bracket for positioning flush against the plate adjacent the aperture, said bracket having a pair of spaced-apart parallel legs and a bridging section connecting said legs; C. plural spaced-apart fastening means securing the bracket bridging section to the plate; D. a molded metal aperture cover, said aperture cover having 1. a shell-like main body shaped and sized to cover the plate aperture; and 2. an extension; a. projecting laterally from one side of the main body; b. being slightly narrower than the distance between the bracket legs so that the extension fits between said legs; and c. defining a pocket that is open at the underside of the aperture cover; E. coacting hinge means formed at the opposite sides of the aperture cover extension and on said bracket legs for hinging the aperture cover about a hinge axis that permits that cover to be swung between a closed position wherein it lies flush against the plate and covers the aperture therein to an open position wherein it lies more or less perpendicular to the plate exposing said aperture; F. a coiled wire spring positioned relatively snugly in said pocket so that it is positioned more or less on the hinge axis defined by the hinge means, one end segment of the wire spring engaging and being retained by a wall of the pocket, the opposite end segment of the wire spring projecting from the mouth of the pocket to the bracket bridging section; and G. means on the bracket bridging section for retaining said spring wire opposite end segment so that when the aperture cover is swung toward its open position, the spring is wound up so that it urges the aperture cover toward its closed position.