Universal wall plate for electrical devices

Abstract

The invention discloses a smaller Universal Wall Plate (5) to fit and cover a device-hole (10) in a bigger outer wall plate (6). A device-hole exposes the front-end of an electrical device (such as a switch), installed behind the wall plate, for access by the user. The outer wall plate (6) is used for covering and mounting electrical switches, outlets and other devices on walls or other flat surfaces.

Claims

1. A Wall Plate System for mounting one or more electrical devices on a wall, the system comprising: an outer wall plate (6) and a Universal Wall Plate (5), wherein the outer wall plate (6) is bigger than the Universal Wall Plate (5); the outer wall plate (6) comprising one or more rocker switch holes (10) to accommodate one or more rocker switches (4) installed behind the holes (10), wherein the dimensions of the hole (10) are substantially the same as the dimensions of the rocker switch (4) area accessible to the user; the outer wall plate (6) is mountable on the wall without installing the universal wall plate (5); the outer wall plate (6) covers the wall area around the holes (10) while mounted on the wall; one or more universal wall plates (5) mountable on the outer wall plate (6) to cover one or more rocker switch holes (10), wherein the outer dimensions of the universal wall plate (5) are substantially the same as the dimensions of the rocker switch hole (10); and the universal wall plate (5) comprising a toggle switch hole (9) to accommodate a toggle switch (3) installed behind it, wherein the dimensions of the hole (9) are substantially the same as the dimensions of the toggle switch (3) area accessible to the user; or the universal wall plate (5) comprising one or more holes (11) to accommodate one or more electrical devices, smaller than the Rocker Switch (4), and installed behind it, wherein the dimensions of the one or more holes (11) are substantially the same as the dimensions of the areas accessible to the user of the one or more smaller electrical devices.

2. The universal wall plate (5) of claim 1 is mounted on the Outer wall plate (6) by pushing in the rocker switch hole (10); or mounted with screws in screw holes (12).

3. The universal wall plate (5) of claim 1 is used as a decorative wall plate.

4. The universal wall plate (5) of claim 1 is used for low voltage devices or high voltage devices.

5. The universal wall plate (5) of claim 1 is used for AC (Alternating Current) or DC (Direct Current) devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an existing wall plate for a Toggle switch.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates an existing wall plate for a Rocker switch.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates the Universal Wall Plate (UWP) and an Outer wall plate.

(4) TABLE-US-00004 Reference Numerals (1) Toggle Switch (2) Rocker Switch (3) Toggle Switch Wall Plate Wall Plate (4) Rocker Switch (5) Universal Wall (6) Outer Plate Plate (UWP) (7) Wall Screw Hole (8) Wall Screw (9) Toggle Switch Hole (10) Rocker (11) Device-Hole (12) Device Switch Hole Screw Hole

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates a Toggle switch (3) covered by a wall plate (1) specifically designed for the Toggle switch. FIG. 2 illustrates a Rocker switch (4) covered by a wall plate (2) with a bigger hole to accommodate the Rocker switch. When a home owner needs to upgrade his switch from older Toggle to newer Rocker switch, the home owner also has to buy a new wall plate for the Rocker switch. The UWP (5) overcomes this shortcoming.

(6) FIG. 3 illustrates a bigger Outer wall plate (6) with four device-holes (10). Each hole can accommodate one larger electrical device such as a Rocker switch (4), or more than one smaller devices that would fit within the same space, such as two electrical outlets. A UWP with a Toggle switch hole (9), and one with three smaller holes (11) is also shown in FIG. 3. The UWP may be mounted on the outer wall plate by simply pushing in the device-hole (push-fit type UWP), or inserting screws through holes (12). Typically, an Outer wall plate (6) is mounted on the wall by inserting wall screws (8) through the wall screw holes (7).

(7) At the time of new construction, if all outer wall plates (6) with bigger device holes (10) are installed in the building, upgrading/replacing electrical devices later would be easily and cost effectively done by installing UWPs with appropriate device holes (9), (11). Thus, UWPs will reduce the overall cost of the upgrade project. In case decorative wall plates, which are more expensive, are used in a building such as a luxury home/commercial building, the cost savings will be much higher.