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A base for an electrical outlet cover, an electrical outlet, and manufacturing method, the base including a backing member containing various mounting apertures designed to permit the passage of fastening devices, other apertures to allow access to portions of the electrical outlet, and sidewalls ad

A base for an electrical outlet cover, an electrical outlet, and manufacturing method, the base including a backing member containing various mounting apertures designed to permit the passage of fastening devices, other apertures to allow access to portions of the electrical outlet, and sidewalls adapted to support and strengthen the base and to provide a place of attachment for hinges to which a cover may be attached. At least a portion of the backing member adjacent to a mounting aperture is flexible, whereby upon the application of pressure the mounting aperture can expand to receive a screw head therethrough and upon the release or discontinuation of such pressure the mounting aperture can return to its relaxed state, thus allowing the base to be installed over an existing electrical outlet without the need to remove any mounting screws. An alternate embodiment includes a base mounting aperture backed by a retaining device. The retaining device is sized so as to permit the passage of the body but not the head of a fastening device. Access to the fastening device is obtained by inserting a screwdriver or other tool through the base mounting aperture.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A base for an electrical outlet cover, the base comprising:a backing member having a front surface and a back surface; at least one opening extending through the backing member from the front surface to the back surface, the at least one opening having a size large enough to receive at least one

1. A base for an electrical outlet cover, the base comprising:a backing member having a front surface and a back surface; at least one opening extending through the backing member from the front surface to the back surface, the at least one opening having a size large enough to receive at least one socket face; at least one base mounting aperture extending through the backing member and sized to admit a body of a mounting device but not a head of the mounting device; a receiving area adjacent to the base mounting aperture, the receiving area having a recess on the back surface of the backing member sized to admit the head of the mounting device at least partially through the backing member; wherein a portion of the mounting aperture extends laterally into the receiving area recess such that once the head of the mounting device body is admitted into the receiving area with the body of the mounting device extending from the back surface, the base may be laterally move such that a portion of the body of the mounting device shifts into and extends through the base mounting aperture. 2. The base of claim 1, further comprising at least one hinge member coupled to a side of the base.3. The base of claim 2, further comprising at least a second hinge member coupled to a second side of the base.4. The base of claim 3, further comprising a cover selectively coupled to at least one of the first hinge and the second hinge.5. The base of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is sized large enough for a GFCI outlet.6. The base of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening comprises at least two openings, each opening being large enough for a socket face of a duplex outlet.7. The base of claim 1, further comprising a recess cover adjacent to the base mounting aperture on the front surface of the backing member corresponding to the recess on the back surface, the recess cover hiding at least a portion of the receiving area from view on the front surface.8. The base of claim 1, wherein the at least one base mounting aperture comprises at least one of: a center mounting aperture, a GFCI mounting aperture, and a box screw knockout.9. The base of claim 1, further comprising:a) a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly away from the backing member; b) at least one hinge attached to the sidewall; and c) a ledge positioned between the backing member and a top edge of the sidewall. 10. The base of claim 9, further comprising a cover coupled to the at least one hinge.11. The base of claim 1, wherein the base mounting aperture is configured so as to align with a box mounting aperture of an electrical outlet box.12. An electrical outlet cover comprising:a cover plate having a front surface, a back surface and at least one opening extending through the front and back surfaces, the opening sized large enough to receive at least one socket face; at least one mounting aperture through the cover plate and sized to admit a body of a mounting device but not a head of the mounting device; a receiving area adjacent to the mounting aperture, the receiving area comprising a recess on the back surface of the cover plate sized to admit the head of the mounting device at least partially through the cover plate; wherein a portion of the mounting aperture extends laterally into the receiving area recess such that once the head of the mounting device body is admitted into the receiving area, the cover may be laterally moved so that the body of the mounting device extends through the base mounting aperture. 13. The electrical outlet cover of claim 12, wherein the at least one opening is sized large enough for a GFCI outlet.14. The electrical outlet cover of claim 12, wherein the at least one opening comprises at least two openings, each opening being large enough for a socket face of a duplex outlet.15. The electrical outlet cover of claim 12, further comprising a recess cover adjacent to the mounting aperture on the front surface of the cover plate corresponding to the recess on the back surface, the recess cover hiding a majority of the receiving area from view on the front surface.16. The electrical outlet cover of claim 12, wherein the at least one base mounting aperture comprises at least one of: a center mounting aperture, a GFCI mounting aperture, and a box screw knockout.17. The electrical outlet cover of claim 12, further comprising:(a) a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly away from the cover plate; (b) at least one hinge attached to the sidewall; and (c) a ledge positioned between the cover plate and a top edge of the sidewall. 18. A base for an electrical outlet cover, the base comprising:a backing member having a front surface and a back surface; an opening extending through the backing member sized large enough to receive at least one socket face; a mounting aperture extending through the backing member and sized large enough to receive and pass a body of a mounting device through the backing member, but sized small enough to prevent passage of a head of the mounting device therethrough; a receiving area adjacent to the mounting aperture, the receiving area having a recess on the back surface of the backing member sized large enough to admit the head of the mounting device into the recess; wherein a portion of the mounting aperture extends laterally into the receiving area recess such that the head of the mounting device may be placed into the recess with the mounting device body adjacent to the mounting aperture and the backing member may be moved laterally with respect to the mounting device so that the mounting device moves into the mounting aperture and the mounting device head is adjacent the front surface of the backing member with the mounting device extending through the backing member. 19. The cover of claim 18, further comprising at least one hinge member coupled to a side of the base.20. The electrical outlet cover of claim 18, wherein the at least one opening comprises at least two openings, each opening being large enough for a socket face of a duplex outlet.