Insulating gasket

Details Insulating gasket Insulating gasket

1999-10-15

2001-11-27

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Seal for a joint or juncture

Seal between fixed parts or static contact against...

C277S917000, C277S628000, C277S630000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06322083

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an insulating gasket for preventing drafts from passing through a wall at the location of an electrical fixture. In particular, it relates to a gasket which has a plurality of overlapping removable cut-outs, such that the same gasket may fit different fixtures depending on which cut-outs are removed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical fixtures such as outlets and switches are commonly placed in walls, where they are hard-wired within junction boxes to connect them to an electrical supply network. For safety and decorative reasons, the junction boxes are covered with cover plates, which have openings to permit the exposure of only those parts of a fixture to which everyday access is necessary. Typically, a cover plate opening is sized and shaped to receive a particular fixture, such as a duplex outlet fixture, a toggle switch, or a decorator switch. Most commonly, a duplex outlet requires one configuration of opening, a toggle switch requires another configuration, and decorator switch requires yet another configuration. Duplex outlets are provided in pairs, one above the other at a standard distance apart, and the cover plate for a duplex fixture accordingly has two openings, one for each outlet.
Frequently, electrical requirements are such that it is necessary to provide multiple switches, or outlets, or both at a particular location. For such cases, junction boxes are appropriately sized to accommodate the required number of fixtures. Such boxes most commonly provide for multiple fixtures to be disposed in a single, horizontal row of perhaps two, three or four. Such arrangements are referred to as double-ganging, triple-ganging and so on, depending on the number of fixtures; in fact, a single fixture can be referred by the term of single-ganging. Most commonly, a multiple ganging situation has a plurality of switches, perhaps with one duplex outlet. The separation of adjacent fixtures in a multiple ganging situation is normally governed by industry standards, and thus standard cover plates are available to correspond to the most common combinations. In addition to the fixture openings, cover plates also have screw holes which allow them to be screwed to threaded receiving holes in a fixture or fixtures in the junction box. Industry standards provide for correct alignment between the screw holes and the receiving holes.
It frequently happens that in a finished electrical installation, there is sufficient air space in a junction box and a nearby wall to allow drafts to pass into a room. Frequently, the clearances between the cover plate and the fixture, and the cover plate and the wall, are not tight enough to provide a good seal against these drafts. Particularly in a cold climate, these drafts can be a source of expense and environmental degradation because of wasted energy, as well as being a source of discomfort and perhaps aggravation.
Various strategies can be employed to impede the passage of wind currents through a junction box. These can include the use of caulking or gaskets to seal against air passage. Caulking is undesirable since it inhibits subsequent removal of the cover plate should subsequent work be necessary; it may also necessitate some repair and repainting of the wall before the cover plate is put back in place. Because of the aforementioned variety of apertures needed to conform to different outlets, switches and combinations thereof, it can be appreciated that while a different gasket can be made for each situation, there is a need to provide a single pattern of gasket which be used in every or many situations.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an insulating and impervious gasket which can be configured to conform with an electrical fixture selected from a plurality of fixtures.
It is further an object of the invention to provide an insulating and impervious gasket which can be configured to conform to a selected electrical fixture disposed at any position in a multi-gang assembly.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned need, representing a great advantage to the manufacturer and a significant saving to the customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an insulating gasket for installation between a cover plate and an electrical junction box at a recess in a wall. The gasket is intended to increase the energy efficiency of electrical device installations such as switch boxes and outlet boxes. The gasket is installed after the installation of a device and before the cover plate is applied. The gasket is preferably made of an elastomeric foam rubber or plastic which creates an insulating barrier between the cover plate and the recess wherein the box is located, blocking the flow of air and moisture. This eliminates cool, damp drafts from entering a building through the recess in the wall.
The gasket is pre-cut with the overlapping, removable shapes of a duplex fixture, a toggle switch and a decorator switch, so that any shape can be removed to provide the appropriate aperture for a given fixture. One gasket can be used for any fixture, simply by removing the appropriate shape. Preferably, each aperture is slightly undersized relative to the part of the fixture with which the gasket is engaged. This provides a snug fit and allows the gasket to remain in place without being manually held while the cover plate is being installed. The pre-cut shapes corresponding to different fixtures have portions in common. In other words, the pre-cut areas overlap and a given portion of the gasket may be removed in providing the apertures for different fixtures.
The gasket is also pre-cut down both sides to allow the optional removal of a strip of material at either side. This allows a given gasket to be accommodated anywhere in a multi-gang installation, either at the left outside position, the right outside position, or an interior position, depending on which strip or strips are removed; the insulation for a multi-gang assembly is simply provided by using a suitable combination of appropriately configured gaskets.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4265365 (1981-05-01), Boteler
patent: 4385504 (1983-05-01), Perrone et al.
patent: 4484021 (1984-11-01), Schaefer
patent: 4690413 (1987-09-01), Adkins
patent: 4794207 (1988-12-01), Norberg
patent: 4803307 (1989-02-01), Shotey
patent: 5003130 (1991-03-01), Danforth et al.
patent: 5433455 (1995-07-01), Nelson
patent: 5449860 (1995-09-01), Buckshaw
patent: 5626346 (1997-05-01), Gavin
patent: 5882014 (1999-03-01), Gavin
patent: 6075205 (2000-06-01), Zhang

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Insulating gasket does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Insulating gasket, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Insulating gasket will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2580862