Electricity: conductors and insulators – Covers or face plates
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-18
2001-08-28
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Covers or face plates
C174S067000, C220S241000, C220S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281440
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of decorative articles or surrounds used in connection with wall mounted electrical cover plates, and more particularly to a decorative frame that may be mounted about a cover plate either by affixing the frame directly to the wall or by affixing the frame to a back plate mounted between the wall the cover plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Rooms in homes and personal work spaces such as offices tend to be initially rather austere. Typically, offices and rooms in homes have simple painted walls and electrical fixtures. Initially, rooms and offices are unfurnished and they may not have window treatments. Many people desire to add unique and distinctive decorative articles and treatments to their rooms and offices. For example, people may wish to change the color of the paint in their room or office or hang wallpaper.
One simple and relatively inexpensive way in which a person may add distinctive decorative accents to their environment is by placing a decorative frame or surround around electrical cover plates such as light switch plates and the like. Decorative surrounds are typically made of plastic or wooden molding, and they have the appearance of a picture frame. The decorative surround may be painted or have a surface treatment that provides a unique and pleasing aesthetic effect.
Decorative surrounds typically are adhered to the wall around the electrical cover plate by adhesive means. Usually, the adhesive means comprises a layer of adhesive that is protected by a peel-off cover. The layer of adhesive may be provided as a foam backup strip. The foam strip enables the surround to be mounted securely to a wall with an uneven or textured surface.
One of the drawbacks associated with presently existing surrounds is associated with their being affixed by adhesive to the wall. While some people do not mind sticking surrounds to the wall, other people would prefer not to. After the surround is adhered to the wall, it may not be removed without damaging the wall.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative frame for a cover plate that may be mounted without adhering the frame directly to the wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present application provides a decorative article for mounting about a wall mounted electrical cover plate of a switch or receptacle. The decorative article includes a frame having an inner periphery smaller than the cover plate and an outer periphery larger than the cover plate. The inner periphery defines a central opening. The frame includes a channel extending outwardly of the inner periphery. The channel has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the cover plate and the channel has an outer periphery substantially the same size as the cover plate. The frame is thus capable of surrounding the cover plate with the switch or receptacle being accessible through the central opening.
An adhesive strip is affixed to the frame so that the frame may be adhered directly to the wall around the cover plate or to a back plate positioned between the cover plate and the wall. The back plate has an inner periphery smaller than the cover plate and an outer periphery larger than the cover plate. The cover plate is trapped in the channel between the frame and the back plate.
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Baldwin Reginald A.
Ruecker Gregg A.
Dove Barry W.
Jackson Deerfield Manufacturing Corporation
Patel Dhiru R.
Reichard Dean A.
Thompson & Knight
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