Electricity: conductors and insulators – Covers or face plates
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-12-11
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Covers or face plates
C174S067000, C220S241000, C220S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329596
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to the field of electrical wiring devices and more particularly to wallplates placed over electrical wiring devices, their supports and adjacent wall surfaces to provide a finished appearance to the installation of the wiring device and prevent access to the device and its attendant electrical wiring.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At present mounting straps are provided with each electrical wiring device to permit such device to be mounted to a gang box or a support. The mounting straps are provided with threaded apertures to receive the threaded fasteners of standardized wallplates. The heads of the threaded fasteners are visible from the front of the wallplate. The size of the wallplates may be varied as long as the position and spacing of the threaded apertures in the mounting straps match the standardized mounting holes set for wallplates.
Special wallplates that are fastened to mounting straps with fastening systems that are not visible from outside of the wallplate require special adapters for use with the mounting straps. There are no known mounting strap devices or adapters which operate with multiple wallplate mounting systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A single mounting strap device which can be used with a number of different wallplates and wallplate mounting systems is provided. The mounting strap device has a generally rectangular body portion to which are attached a number of removable tabs and members each of which provides unique structures for the mounting of wallplates. The mounting tabs engage a first type of wallplate and hold it in position on a wiring device, support or the like. These first removable mounting tabs can be removed along prescored lines to expose a plurality of removable members each of which terminates in latch pawls. The removal of the mounting tabs shortens the length of the mounting strap device and permits the mounting strap device to be used with a shorter wallplate. The removal of the removable members along prescored lines also removes the latch pawls and shortens the length of the mounting strap device further. The mounting strap device, with the removable tabs and members removed, can now fit within a third, shorter length wallplate which can be anchored to the mounting strap device by threaded fasteners. It is an object of the instant invention to provide a novel mounting strap device which can be used with a number of different sized wallplates.
It is an object of the instant invention to provide a novel mounting strap which can be used with a number of differently configured wallplates.
It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide a novel mounting strap having a number of removable tabs and members each of which provides a different mounting means.
It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a novel mounting strap having a number of removable tabs and members each of which provides a different mounting means, and which exposes such different mounting means by the removal of such removable tabs and members.
Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention, and the best mode which is presently contemplated for carrying them out.
REFERENCES:
patent: 269427 (1882-12-01), Kil{overscore (e)}
patent: D. 269427 (1983-06-01), Doyle et al.
patent: 2231976 (1941-02-01), Von Holtz
patent: 2292084 (1942-08-01), Pistey
patent: 3059045 (1962-10-01), Swartwood
patent: 4025144 (1977-05-01), Thiebeault
patent: 5336979 (1994-08-01), Watson et al.
patent: 5484309 (1996-01-01), Howard et al.
patent: 5723817 (1998-03-01), Arenas et al.
Estanislao Danilo F.
Justiniano Joseph G.
Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc.
Patel Dhiru R
Reichard Dean A.
Sutton Paul J.
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