Weatherproof cover plate
View Patent ↗A weatherproof cover plate is disclosed. A continuous ridge on the base is disclosed in association with a gasket and a biased hinge to provide additional protection against the weather. Particular implementations include an opening in the gasket and the lid. In a weatherproof bubble cover plate, a biased hinge is provided to bias the lid closed upon the base. Additionally, one or more cord catches in the base and knock-outs in the lid are disclosed. Other embodiments include bubble cover plates having gaps between the lid and the base to allow a cord to pass therethrough when the lid is close.
1. A cover plate for an electrical outlet, the cover plate comprising:
a base having a box mounting screw aperture therethrough for mounting the base to an electrical outlet box;
a lid coupled to the base by a hinge, the lid comprising a gasket comprising a reentrant opening on a side of the gasket, the reentrant opening positioned to expose at least a portion of the box mounting screw aperture when the lid is closed on the base.
2. The cover plate of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a continuous ridge thereon surrounding at least one opening in the base large enough to receive an electrical outlet.
3. The cover plate of claim 2 , wherein the gasket is configured such that when the lid is in a closed position, the lid presses the gasket against the continuous ridge on the base.
4. The cover plate of claim 3 , wherein the lid comprises an opening and wherein the gasket borders at least a portion of at least three sides of the opening.
5. The cover plate of claim 4 , wherein the lid opening extends to an edge of the lid.
6. The cover plate of claim 1 , wherein the base is adaptable to alternatively accommodate at least one of a single round electrical socket, a duplex electrical socket and a GFCI electrical socket.
7. The cover plate of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of removable tabs, and wherein the base is adaptable to accommodate at least one of a single round electrical socket, a duplex electrical socket and a GFCI electrical socket through removal of at least one of the removable tabs.
8. The cover plate of claim 1 , wherein the box mounting screw aperture is a keyhole slot aperture.
9. The cover plate of claim 8 , wherein the reentrant opening in the gasket exposes a box mounting screw when the cover plate is mounted by the box mounting screw through the keyhole slot aperture.
10. A cover plate for an electrical outlet, the cover plate comprising:
a base having a box mounting screw aperture and an electrical device aperture therethrough, the box mounting screw aperture positioned to align with a mounting screw aperture of an electrical outlet box when the base is mounted to the electrical outlet box;
a lid coupled to the base by a hinge; and
a gasket coupled to the lid, the gasket configured to cover a portion of the electrical device aperture of the base, the gasket comprising a opening therein, the opening positioned to expose at least a portion of the box mounting screw aperture when the lid is closed on the base.
11. The cover plate of claim 10 , wherein the opening in the gasket is a reentrant opening.
12. The cover plate of claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a continuous ridge thereon surrounding at least one opening in the base large enough to receive an electrical outlet.
13. The cover plate of claim 12 , wherein the gasket is configured such that when the lid is in a closed position, the lid presses the gasket against the continuous ridge on the base.
14. The cover plate of claim 13 , wherein the lid comprises an opening and wherein the gasket borders at least a portion of at least three sides of the opening.
15. The cover plate of claim 14 , wherein the lid opening extends to an edge of the lid.
16. The cover plate of claim 10 , wherein the base is adaptable to alternatively accommodate at least one of a single round electrical socket, a duplex electrical socket and a GFCI electrical socket.
17. The cover plate of claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of removable tabs, and wherein the base is adaptable to accommodate at least one of a single round electrical socket, a duplex electrical socket and a GFCI electrical socket through removal of at least one of the removable tabs.
18. The cover plate of claim 10 , wherein the box mounting screw aperture is a keyhole slot aperture.
19. The cover plate of claim 18 , wherein the reentrant opening in the gasket exposes a box mounting screw when the cover plate is mounted by the box mounting screw through the keyhole slot aperture.
20. A cover plate for an electrical outlet, the cover plate comprising:
a base having a box mounting screw aperture therethrough, the box mounting screw aperture positioned to align with a mounting screw aperture of an electrical outlet box when the base is mounted to the electrical outlet box;
a lid coupled to the base by a hinge and comprising an opening therethrough, the opening positioned to align with the box mounting screw aperture of the base when the lid is closed on the base, the lid comprising a gasket comprising a opening therein, the opening in the gasket bordering at least a portion of at least three sides of the opening in the lid.
21. The cover plate of claim 20 wherein the opening in the gasket is a reentrant opening.
22. The cover plate of claim 21 , wherein the reentrant opening in the gasket is on a side of the gasket and the lid and gasket are configured such that at least a portion of the box mounting screw aperture is exposed through the gasket and the lid when the lid is closed on the base.
23. The cover plate of claim 20 , wherein the lid opening extends to an edge of the lid.