Zero profile while in-use electrical outlet cover
View Patent ↗An electrical outlet cover assembly with an electrical outlet mounting box having a front edge that does not extend beyond a front surface of a wall. An extendable base is coupled with the electrical outlet mounting box and is slideable between collapsed and extended positions. When collapsed, a leading edge of the extendable base does not extend beyond the front surface of the wall. One or more guides resist decoupling of the extendable base and the electrical outlet mounting box. A lid is pivotably coupled with the extendable base, and one of the lid and the extendable base has a cord port along their respective edges. The lid has a front surface and is positionable between open and closed positions. The lid's front surface is substantially flush with the front surface of the wall when the base is collapsed and the lid is closed with respect to the extendable cover.
1. An electrical device cover assembly for mounting over an electrical outlet, the electrical device cover assembly comprising:
an electrical outlet mounting box comprising a front edge, an opening large enough to receive an electrical outlet, and an inner surface formed by a plurality of side walls and a back wall, wherein the front edge of the electrical outlet mounting box is configured such that the front edge does not extend beyond a front surface of a wall when the electrical outlet mounting box is installed in the wall, and the inner surface of the electrical outlet mounting box comprising a plurality of guides;
a base comprising a plurality of side walls, and an outer surface positioned in direct contact with the inner surface of the electrical outlet mounting box and comprising a plurality of guides positioned to mechanically cooperate with the plurality of guides on the inner surface of the electrical outlet mounting box to permit the base to slide between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the electrical outlet mounting box;
a lid pivotably coupled to the base with a hinge and having a front surface, the lid being positionable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the base, wherein the front surface of the lid is substantially flush with the front surface of the wall when the lid is in the closed position with respect to the base.
2. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the lid extends beyond the wall front surface when the lid is in the open position with respect to the base.
3. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the lid is wholly within the base when the lid is in the closed position with respect to the base.
4. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical outlet mounting box comprises at least two box mounting screw apertures on an inside surface of the box recessed at least one inch behind the front edge of the electrical outlet mounting box.
5. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical outlet mounting box comprises at least two box mounting screw apertures on an inside surface of the box less than one inch behind the front edge of the electrical outlet mounting box.
6. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical outlet mounting box comprises an external mounting flange.
7. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the hinge is mounted on an inner surface of the base.
8. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 7 wherein the hinge extends from the edge of the lid and is coupled with the inner surface of the base.
9. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 7 wherein the hinge is biased in the closed position.
10. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein sliding the base forward creates an enlarged cavity between the lid and the opening large enough to receive the electrical outlet.
11. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the enlarged cavity is at least partially defined by a base inner surface.
12. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 10 wherein the enlarged cavity is sized to receive at least one electrical plug.
13. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one guide comprises one or more guide rails or guide rail stops.
14. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 13 wherein the guide rail stops limit sliding movement of the base.
15. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a front surface that limits pivotable movement of the lid in a closed direction.
16. The electrical device cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cord port between the base and the lid for receiving an electrical cord when the lid is in the closed position.