A wall plate and system for covering an electrical component in an electrical box. The wall plate includes a base plate having a central aperture, and two trim pieces that join at the sides of the base plate to complete the wall plate. The base plate may include two side edges and wing portions exte
A wall plate and system for covering an electrical component in an electrical box. The wall plate includes a base plate having a central aperture, and two trim pieces that join at the sides of the base plate to complete the wall plate. The base plate may include two side edges and wing portions extending from the side edges, and the trim pieces slide onto the respective side wing portions. The trim pieces may have features to engage a mounting plate attached to the electrical box or the electrical component, to capture the wall plate over the electrical box. A locking mechanism may be provided to lock the trim pieces in their inward positions against the base plate. The wall plate may be attachable without the use of tools or fasteners.
대표청구항▼
1. A wall plate system for covering an electrical component in an electrical box, the wall plate system comprising: a base plate defining a central aperture and having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, and at least one first wing portion extending from the first
1. A wall plate system for covering an electrical component in an electrical box, the wall plate system comprising: a base plate defining a central aperture and having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, and at least one first wing portion extending from the first side edge and at least one second wing portion extending from the second side edge;first and second trim pieces, the first trim piece defining a first channel having a shape complementary to the shape of part of the at least one first wing portion, the first trim piece shaped and sized to slide onto the at least one first wing portion as the at least one first wing portion is received into the first channel, and the second trim piece defining a second channel having a shape complementary to the shape of part of the at least one second wing portion, the second trim piece shaped and sized to slide onto the at least one second wing portion as the at least one second wing portion is received into the second channel; anda plurality of retaining mechanisms for attaching the two trim pieces to the base plate, wherein each retaining mechanism comprises at least one feature on the respective trim piece and at least one cooperating feature on the respective wing portion, wherein when the cooperating features of each retaining mechanism are engaged, the respective trim piece is attached to the base plate and is constrained to slide between an inward position and an outward position on the respective wing portion of the base plate. 2. The wall plate system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of retaining mechanisms is a plurality of first retaining mechanisms, the wall plate system further comprising: a plurality of second retaining mechanisms that, when engaged, retain the two trim pieces in the inward positions relative to the base plate. 3. The wall plate system of claim 2, wherein when the plurality of second retaining mechanisms are engaged, a front face of the base plate and front faces of the two trim pieces combine to form a decorative front face of the wall plate system. 4. The wall plate system of claim 2, wherein the first and second retaining mechanisms are snap-fit connections. 5. The wall plate system of claim 2, further comprising a mounting plate defining a central aperture and having first and second generally flat side portions extending from the central aperture;wherein the mounting plate and the two trim pieces include complementary features that engage when the base plate and trim pieces are placed on the mounting plate and the trim pieces are moved to the inward positions, such that the base plate and trim pieces are retained to the mounting plate. 6. The wall plate system of claim 5, wherein the complementary features comprise (i) a first tab formed in an outside edge of the first side portion of the mounting plate and a second tab formed in an outside edge of the second side portion of the mounting plate, the first and second, tabs being offset from the side portions of the mounting plate and (ii) a first pocket provided in the first trim piece and a second pocket provided in the second trim piece, each pocket shaped and sized to receive a respective one of the tabs of the mounting plate when the trim pieces are moved to the inward positions. 7. The wall plate system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first retaining mechanisms comprises (i) a first hook on the first side wing of the base plate and a second hook on the second side wing of the base plate and (ii) a first tab on the first trim piece and a second tab on the second trim piece, wherein the first hook is shaped and sized to snap over the first tab and the second hook is shaped and sized to snap over the second tab when the trim pieces are engaged with the base plate. 8. The wall plate system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of second retaining mechanisms comprises (i) a first lip on the first side wing portion of the base plate and a second lip on the second side wing portion of the base plate and (ii) a first ridge on the first trim piece and a second ridge on the second trim piece, wherein the first lip is shaped and sized to snap over the first ridge and the second lip is shaped and sized to snap over the second ridge when the trim pieces are moved to the inward positions. 9. The wall plate system of claim 1, further comprising at least one latch including an arm, wherein the arm can be used to move the latch between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the at least one latch and the arm are in the locked position one of the two trim pieces is locked to the base plate, and when the at least one latch and the arm are in the unlocked position the one of the two trim pieces is movable outward from the base plate. 10. The wall plate system of claim 9, wherein (i) a slot is defined in the at least one wing portion extending from one of the side edges of the base plate, (ii) the at least one latch includes a partial disc, and (iii) the one of the two trim pieces includes a post feature, wherein, when the latch is in the unlocked position, the post feature of the trim piece is moveable through the slot to permit inward motion of the trim piece, and, when the latch is in the locked position, the partial disc blocks motion of the post feature through the slot, preventing outward motion of the trim piece. 11. The wall plate system of claim 10, further comprising at least one detent feature that holds the at least one latch in the locked position or in the unlocked position. 12. A method of installing a wall plate over an electrical component in an electrical box, the method comprising: attaching a mounting plate to the electrical component or to the electrical box, the mounting plate including tabs that engage with the wall plate;providing the wall plate, the wall plate comprising a base plate having first side edge with a first wing portion extending from the first side edge and having a second side edge with a second wing portion extending from the second side edge and the wall plate including first and second trim pieces, the first trim piece defining a first channel having a shape complementary to the shape of part of the first wing portion and the first trim piece shaped and sized to slide onto the first wing portion as the first wing portion is received into the first channel, and the second trim piece defining a second channel having a shape complementary to the shape of part of the second wing portion and the second trim piece shaped and sized to slide onto the second wing portion as the second wing portion is received into the second channel, the trim pieces movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the base plate, and the trim pieces including features for engaging with the tabs of the mounting plate;placing the wall plate over the mounting plate with the trim pieces in outward positions with respect to the base plate; andmoving the two trim pieces to inward positions with respect to the base plate such that the one or more features of the trim pieces engage with the one or more tabs of the mounting plate. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the features of the trim pieces for engaging with the mounting plate are pockets formed in the trim pieces, and wherein moving the trim pieces to the inward positions comprises capturing the tabs in the pockets. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein moving the trim pieces to the inward positions comprises snapping the trim pieces to the base plate in the inward positions. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the wall plate comprises at least one latch for locking the trim pieces to the base plate, and wherein the method further comprises actuating the at least one latch to lock the trim pieces to the base plate. 16. A wall plate for covering an electrical component in an electrical box, the wall plate comprising: a base plate defining a central aperture, the base plate having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge and at least one first wing portion extending from the first side edge and at least one second wing portion extending from the second side edge;first and second trim pieces, the first trim piece defining a first channel having a shape complementary to the shape of part of the at least one first wing portion, the first trim piece shaped and sized to slide onto the at least one first wing portion as the at least one first wing portion is received into the first channel, and the second trim piece defining a second channel having a shape complementary to the shape of part of the at least one second wing portion, the second trim piece shaped and sized to slide respectively onto the at least one second wing portion as the at least one second wing portion is received into the second channel, wherein the first and second trim pieces slide between inward and outward positions with respect to the two side edges respectively such that when the two trim pieces are in the inward positions against the base plate, a front face the base plate and front faces of the two trim pieces combine to form a front face of the wall plate; anda plurality of retaining mechanisms for attaching the two trim pieces to the base plate, wherein each retaining mechanism comprises at least one feature on the respective trim piece and at least one cooperating feature on the respective wing portion wherein when the cooperating features of each retaining mechanism are engaged, the respective trim piece is attached to the base plate and is constrained to slide between an inward position and an outward position on the respective wing portion of the base plate. 17. The wall plate of claim 16, wherein each of the trim pieces includes one or more engagement features for engaging a mounting plate attached to the electrical box, and wherein the engagement features capture the wall plate to the mounting plate when the trim pieces are in the inward positions against the base plate. 18. The wall plate of claim 17, in combination with the mounting plate. 19. The wall plate of claim 17 wherein the plurality of retaining mechanisms is a plurality of first retaining mechanisms, the wall plate further comprising: a plurality of second retaining mechanisms that, when engaged, retain the trim pieces in the inward positions. 20. The wall plate of claim 19, further comprising at least one latch having an arm, wherein the arm can be used to move the latch between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the at least one latch and the arm are in the locked position the respective trim piece is locked to the base plate, and when the at least one latch and the arm are in the unlocked position the respective trim piece is movable outward from the base plate.
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