Wallplate retention device

Details Wallplate retention device Wallplate retention device

1999-09-02

2001-02-06

Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Boxes and housings

With electrical device

C174S054000, C174S055000, C439S538000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06184466

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is drawn to the field of electrical wiring devices and more particularly to a device which can be added to an electrical switch or receptacle to permit the quick assembly of a wallplate over such switch or receptacle or other wiring devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At the present time the mounting straps of known switches and receptacles have threaded apertures adjacent to their outwardly projecting apertured plaster ears on both ends of such strap. Once the wiring device is installed, the wallplate is attached to the wiring device itself. The shortness of the threaded fasteners used to mount the wallplates to the wiring devices makes them difficult to handle and easily lost. The use of plastic screws prevents the installation of these screws with magnetic screwdrivers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention modifies the wiring devices mounting straps by replacing a threaded wallplate mounting aperture with a thin, hard retainer which has an aperture through it. The retainer, about the aperture, is so configured that a wallplate threaded fastening screw can be forced into such retainer aperture without requiring rotation and advancement of the screw and which can only be withdrawn by rotating the screw with a screwdriver. It is an object of the instant invention to provide a novel wallplate mounting device.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a novel wallplate mounting device which employs a wallplate mounting ear added to each end of a mounting strap.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a novel wallplate mounting device which employs a wallplate mounting ear added at each end of a mounting strap, the wallplate mounting ear having an aperture which permits a wallplate mounting screw to be advanced through the aperture by pushing the wallplate mounting screw into the aperture.
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: 1875224 (1932-08-01), DesPard
patent: 3900238 (1975-08-01), Anderson
patent: 4422701 (1983-12-01), Anderson
patent: 5936199 (1999-08-01), Lutz
patent: 6102713 (2000-08-01), Todd, Jr.

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