Electricity: conductors and insulators – Covers or face plates
Reexamination Certificate
2007-10-09
2007-10-09
Patel, Dhiru R. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Covers or face plates
C174S067000, C220S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
10852816
ABSTRACT:
The instant invention overcomes the difficulties encountered with respect to mounting electrical wiring devices to a common box and then positioning the devices relative to each other prior to attaching a wall plate. Some of the difficulties encountered are positioning the wiring devices to be in alignment with each other, locating the wiring devices to be parallel to each other, adjusting the spacing between the different devices to be equal and uniform and fixing all of the devices to be flat against the wall. In the prior art, the wiring devices are first loosely attached to a box and then moved back and forth, and up and down to fit within cut outs in a wall plate which is then attached to the wiring devices with screws. A time consuming and tedious job. This invention overcomes these deficiencies by providing wiring devices that have locating openings for engaging alignment pins located on a plate that is subsequently attached to a box. The alignment pins, when engaged by the close clearance locating openings, accurately positions the wiring devices to allow a wall plate to be placed around the wiring devices without requiring any initial or subsequent adjustment. Each set of alignment pins on the alignment plate can be located on a vertical axis which accurately defines the center for the wiring device. The opening in the wiring device receives and holds captive a set of alignment pins. The alignment pins accurately position, align and locate all of the wiring devices mounted to the alignment plate, and the plate allows the wiring devices to be positioned against a flat surface. Thereafter, a wall plate can be positioned around the wiring devices without requiring any adjustment.
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Lindenstraus Leslie
Oddsen Dennis A.
Tufano Anthony
Zacharevitz Steve
Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc.
Patel Dhiru R.
Sutton Paul J.
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