DESC:A MODULAR COVER PLATE STRUCTURE

FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a modular cover plate structure adapted to be disposed on base plate having an electrical device and in particular, to a modular cover plate structure adapted to be disposed on base plate having an electrical device to provide a comprehensive coverage, support, enclosure and smooth shaped coverage profile to electrical switch or socket boards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention.
[0003] In general, cover plates or wall plates also known as switch plates, cover electrical outlets and light switches, keeping wires out of sight and away from fingers. These cover plates are available in a variety of configurations depending on the number of switched and sockets in the electrical outlet. Usually two types of cover plates are being used now days i.e. conventional cover plates required to be screwed with matching screw on the base of the electrical outlet and a screwless cover plate comprising of a two pieces structure wherein a screw attaches the wall plate adapter to the switch, outlet or jack, and then the cover plate is snapped on to the adapter.
[0004] However, in the existing cover plates offers certain limitations in terms of adaptability and fitting provisions due to the shape of the base plate to be covered. This in return leads to wastage of grid plates and therefore, increase the incurring costs and material requirements. Also, the existing cover plates are not able to deliver a smooth profile which thereby affects the aesthetic appearance on the complete electrical assembly. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of the existing provisions, there is need in the art to provide for a modular cover plate structure having adaptability to be disposed on base plate or grid plate such as a curved grid plate or a flat top plate.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] It is therefore the object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior structures used for modular cover plates of electrical devices.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide for an improved modular cover plate structure having adaptability to be disposed on base plate or grid plate such as a curved grid plate or a flat top plate.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide for a modular cover plate that is economic and cost-effective.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide for a modular cover plate having a good aesthetic appearance.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide for a modular cover plate having multiple adaptability in terms of shape profile of the base or grid plate.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a modular cover plate structure having adaptability to be disposed on base plate or grid plate such as a curved grid plate or a flat top plate.
[0012] The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0013] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a modular plate cover structure adapted to be disposed on base plate having an electrical device comprising a front face and a rear face which is vertical opposite to the front face, the front face defines an outer edge at perimeter, a lip extend away from the rear face from the outer edge and a plurality of openings provided inside the perimeter of the front face to receive the electrical device from the rear face while mounting. A plurality of ribs are provided on the rear face, extend from inner surface of the lip towards the plurality of openings and merges with vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings extending away from the rear face.
[0014] In an aspect, the height of the plurality of ribs gradually decreases towards the vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings and matches with the height of the vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings, the plurality of ribs defines a right angle triangle structure.
[0015] In an aspect, a protruding rib extending vertically away from the inner face at four corners of the modular cover plate structure.
[0016] In an aspect, the the protruding rib is provided in between two adjacent openings from the plurality of openings.
[0017] In an aspect, the plurality of ribs provided at the corners of the modular cover plate structure extend up to the protruding rib from the inner surface of the lip.
[0018] In an aspect, the protruding rib is in cylindrical or rectangular shape.
[0019] In an aspect, the modular plate cover structure is a curved grid plate, flat top plate or a curved top plate.
[0020] In an aspect, plurality of openings are provided inside the outer edge.
[0021] In an aspect, the plurality of openings adapted to receive the electrical devices selected from a switch or a socket or a combination of both switch and socket.
[0022] In an aspect, the modular cover plate structure is made of thermosetting plastic, plastic resin or Bakelite or similar materials.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
[0024] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0025] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0027] Figure 1 and 2 illustrate a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a single opening for a switch at the centre of the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] Figure 3 and Figure 4 illustrate a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a single opening for a socket at the centre of the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] Figure 5 and Figure 6 illustrate a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a single opening for a switch and a socket together at the centre of the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrates a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a pair of duplex openings on the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] Figure 9 and Figure 10 illustrates a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a set of three horizontal openings on the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] Figure 11 and Figure 12 illustrates a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a set of four horizontal openings on the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] Figure 13 and Figure 14 illustrates a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a set of four square shaped openings on the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0034] Figure 15 and Figure 16 illustrates a schematic view of a modular cover plate having six square shaped openings on the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0035] Figure 17 and Figure 18 illustrates a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a set of eight square shaped openings on the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0036] Figure 19 and Figure 20 illustrates a schematic view of a modular cover plate having a set of nine square shaped openings on the plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0037] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes, which may be substantially represented in a computer-readable medium and executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0039] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0040] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a", “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0041] In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
[0042] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0043] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0044] The present subject matter relates to a modular cover plate structure adapted to be disposed on base plate having an electrical device. The modular cover plate structure has the ability to be disposed on a variety of differently shaped base plates of electrical devices such as a curved or a flat shaped plate. The modular cover plate structure ensures firm locking features of the grid plates and cover plate thus providing a comprehensive coverage and enclosure on the electrical device.
[0045] Figure 1 to Figure 20 illustrates a schematic view of different embodiments of the modular cover plate having different set of openings for a switch or a socket or a combination of switched and sockets.
[0046] As illustrated in Figure 1 and 2 and in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the present modular cover plate structure 100 is adapted to be disposed on base plate having an electrical device. The modular cover plate structure 100 comprises a front face 101 and a rear face 102 which is vertical opposite to the front face 101. The front face 101 defines an outer edge 103 at perimeter and a lip 104 extend away from the rear face 102 from the outer edge 103. A plurality of openings 105 are provided inside the perimeter of the front face 101 to receive the electrical device from the rear face 102 while mounting and a plurality of ribs 106 are provided on the rear face 102. The plurality of ribs 106 extend from inner surface of the lip 104 towards the plurality of openings 105 and merges with vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings 105 extending away from the rear face 102. In the modular cover plate structure 100 the height of the plurality of ribs 106 gradually decreases towards the vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings 105 and matches with the height of the vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings 105, wherein the plurality of ribs 106 defines a right angle triangle structure.
[0047] The modular cover plate structure 100 further comprises of a protruding rib 107 extending vertically away from the rear face 102 at four corners 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d of the modular cover plate structure 100. The protruding rib 107 is provided in between two adjacent openings 1300a, 1300b as illustrated in Figure 13 and Figure 14 from the plurality of openings 105. Further, a plurality of ribs 106 provided at the corners of the modular cover plate structure 100 extend up to the protruding rib 107 from the inner surface of the lip 104.
[0048] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the protruding rib 107 is in cylindrical or rectangular shape providing enhanced adaptability features.
[0049] The modular plate cover structure 100 as the plurality of openings 105a, 105b are provided inside the outer edge 103. The plurality of openings 105a, 105b are adapted to receive the electrical devices selected from a switch or a socket or a combination of both switch and socket.
[0050] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 is a curved grid plate, flat top plate or a curved top plate.
[0051] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 is made of thermosetting plastic, plastic resin or Bakelite or similar materials.
[0052] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a single opening for a switch at the centre of the plate as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
[0053] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a single opening for a socket at the centre of the plate as illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 4.
[0054] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a set of opening for a switch and a socket together at the centre of the plate as illustrated in Figure 5 and Figure 6.
[0055] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a duplex pair of openings on the plate as illustrated in Figure 7 and Figure 8.
[0056] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a set of three openings on the plate as illustrated in Figure 9 and Figure 10.
[0057] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a set of four horizontal openings on the plate as illustrated in Figure 11 and Figure 12.
[0058] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a set of four square shaped openings on the plate as illustrated in Figure 13 and Figure 14.
[0059] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a set of six square shaped openings on the plate as illustrated in Figure 15 and Figure 16.
[0060] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a set of eight square shaped openings on the plate as illustrated in Figure 17 and Figure 18.
[0061] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modular plate cover structure 100 has a set of nine square shaped openings on the plate as illustrated in Figure 19 and Figure 20.
[0062] It is understood that implementing all of the illustrated components of the present structure is not a requirement, and that greater or fewer components may alternatively be implemented.
Technical advantages:
[0063] With the present disclosure, the modular cover plate structure has a multiple shape adaptability feature for a variety of base grid plates.
[0064] With the present disclosure, the modular cover plate structure reduces overall cost of grid and cover plate for electrical devices.
[0065] With the present disclosure, the modular cover plate structure prevents the wastage of grid plates used on the electrical devices.
[0066] With the present disclosure, the modular plate structure provides a comprehensive coverage, support, enclosure and smooth shaped coverage profile to electrical switch or socket boards.
[0067] With the present disclosure, the modular plate structure ensures enhanced aesthetic appealbility and functionality of firm lockability.
[0068] It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the discussion herein, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “receiving,” or “determining,” or “retrieving,” or “controlling,” or “comparing,” or the like, refer to the action and processes of an electronic control unit, or similar electronic device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the control unit’s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the control unit memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
[0069] Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0070] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
[0071] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0072] Reference Numerals:
Reference Numeral Description
100 Modular Cover plate structure
101 Front face
102 Rear face
103 Outer edge
104 Lip
105a, 105b Opening
106 Rib
107 Protruding rib
108 Inner face
108a, 108b, 108c, 108d Four corners
1300a, 1300b Two adjacent openings
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A modular cover plate structure (100) adapted to be disposed on base plate having an electrical device, the modular cover plate structure (100) comprising:
a front face (101) and a rear face (102) which is vertical opposite to the front face (101);
the front face (101) defines an outer edge (103) at perimeter, a lip (104) extend away from the rear face (102) from the outer edge (103);
a plurality of openings (105) provided inside the perimeter of the front face (101) to receive the electrical device from the rear face (102) while mounting;
a plurality of ribs (106) are provided on the rear face (102), the plurality of ribs (106) extend from inner surface of the lip (104) towards the plurality of openings (105) and merges with vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings (105) extending away from the rear face (102).
2. The modular cover plate structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein height of the plurality of ribs (106) gradually decreases towards the vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings (105b) and matches with the height of the vertical edge portion of the plurality of openings (105a), the plurality of ribs (106) defines a right angle triangle structure.
3. The modular cover plate structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a protruding rib (107) extending vertically away from the rear face (102) at four corners (108a, 108b, 108c, 108d) of the modular cover plate structure (100).
4. The modular cover plate structure (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protruding rib (107) is provided in between two adjacent openings (1300a, 1300b) from the plurality of openings (105).
5. The modular cover plate structure (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of ribs (106) provided at the corners of the modular cover plate structure (100) extend up to the protruding rib (107) from the inner surface of the lip (104).
6. The modular cover plate structure (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protruding rib (107) is in cylindrical or rectangular shape.
7. The modular cover plate structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modular plate cover structure (100) is a curved grid plate, flat top plate or a curved top plate.
8. The modular plate cover structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings (105) are provided inside the outer edge (103).
9. The modular plate cover structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings (105) adapted to receive the electrical devices selected from a switch or a socket or a combination of both switch and socket.
10. The modular cover plate structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modular cover plate structure (100) is made of thermosetting plastic, plastic resin or Bakelite or similar materials.