US4955825A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical fixture
Assignee: Erico International Corp
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Filing: 1987-01-14
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Granted: 1990-09-11
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Expires: 2007-01-14
Abstract
Abstract An electrical fixture for mounting a cover plate over a wall opening which eliminates the necessity of installing an outlet box within such wall opening to facilitate the mounting of the cover plate. In a preferred embodiment the fixture comprises a rectangular plate having a front and rear surface, and a major opening and a pair of screw openings extending therethrough. Extending from the longer side edges of the major opening essentially perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces are a pair of flanges which serve to provide lateral support for the fixture within the wall opening. Extending from the center of the narrower top and bottom edges of the major opening are a pair of diametrically opposed deformable fingers which, upon insertion of the fixture within a wall opening, may be bent firmly to secure the fixture within the opening. Each of the deformable fingers includes a slot of sufficient size that upon attachment of the cover plate to the fixture with fasteners the deformable fingers do not interfere with the driving or placement of such fasteners.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Groth
- 👤 Martin F. Delmore
- 👤 Raymond S. Laughlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:13
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/12; H02G3/123; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/73; H01R13/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
An electrical fixture for mounting a cover plate upon a wall over a wall opening located in the panel of such wall with fasteners, comprising a plate having a front surface, a rear surface, a major opening and a pair of fastener openings extending from said front surface through to said rear surface, said major opening having top, bottom and side edges, and one of said fastener openings being located adjacent said top edge and the other of said fastener openings being located adjacent said bottom edge, said side edges of said major opening each including a protruding flange which serves to align and secure said electrical fixture within such wall opening, said top and bottom edges each including a deformable finger extending essentially normal thereto in the proximity of said respective fastener opening which is adapted for insertion and deformation within such wall opening, said deformable fingers each including a slot which upon deformation of the finger around such panel and within such wall opening aligns with said respective fastener opening through a range of thicknesses of such panel such that upon insertion and driving of such fasteners within said fastener openings such fasteners are not obstructed by said deformable fingers, said major opening being rectangular and said top and bottom edges of said major opening being narrow and said side edges of said major opening being longer, each of said deformable fingers including a reduced portion connecting said deformable fingers to the respective top or bottom edge which facilitates the bending thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
An electrical fixture for mounting a cover plate upon a wall over a wall opening located in the panel of such wall with fasteners, comprising a plate having a front surface, a rear surface, a major opening and a pair of fastener openings extending from said front surface through to said rear surface, said major opening having top, bottom and side edges, and one of said fastener openings being located adjacent said top edge and the other of said fastener openings being located adjacent said bottom edge, said side edges of said major opening each including a protruding flange which serves to align and secure said electrical fixture within such wall opening, said top and bottom edges each including a deformable finger extending essentially normal thereto in the proximity of said respective fastener opening which is adapted for insertion and deformation within such wall opening, said deformable fingers each including a slot which upon deformation of the finger around such panel and within such wall opening aligns with said respective fastener opening through a range of thicknesses of such panel such that upon insertion and driving of such fasteners within said fastener openings such fasteners are not obstructed by said deformable fingers, said major opening being rectangular and said top and bottom edges of said major opening being narrow and said side edges of said major opening being longer, each of said deformable fingers including a reduced portion connecting said deformable fingers to the respective top or bottom edge which facilitates the bending thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate is rectangular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastener openings each includes a fastener clip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said deformable fingers are diametrically opposed to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said diametrically opposed deformable fingers are positioned at the center of their respective top or bottom edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 5 wherein said slots in each of said deformable fingers form an elongated opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 6 wherein the configuration of said fixture is such as to allow the nested stacking thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said deformable fingers spans approximately half the length of said side edges of said major opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrical fixture as set forth in claim 6 wherein said flanges are not capable of being bent around such panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-10 | 1994-03-12 | 1994-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-10 | 1998-03-12 | 1998-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-10 | 2002-03-12 | 2002-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |