Slim line while in use cover and methods for making and using the same

1. A while in use cover assembly ( 10 ), comprising:

a lid ( 14 ) hingedly attached to a base ( 12 ) having a back wall ( 64 ); and

socket assembly ( 52 , 152 ) comprising a receiver socket ( 20 ) attached to the lid ( 14 ) and/or the base ( 12 ), and located between the lid ( 14 ) and the base ( 12 );

wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) comprises a face ( 122 ) with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug ( 86 );

wherein the socket face ( 122 ) changes orientation with respect to the back wall ( 64 ) when the lid is opened; and

wherein the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) is configured to be attached to an outlet socket ( 50 ).

2. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the back wall ( 64 ) further comprises an aperture ( 70 ) that enables access to an interrupter switch ( 124 ) when the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) is installed on a junction box.

3. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) has a depth in use and with the lid closed that is less than or equal to 1.5 inches.

4. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the socket assembly ( 52 ) further comprising an adapter plug ( 22 ) connected to the receiver socket ( 20 ) by an adapter plug cord ( 24 ), wherein the adapter plug ( 22 ) is configured to electrically connect to the outlet socket ( 50 ); and wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) is attached to the lid ( 14 ).

5. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the adapter plug ( 22 ) comprises an adapter plug head ( 60 ) that is rotatable.

6. The while in use cover assembly of claim 4 , wherein the adapter plug head ( 60 ) comprises a rotatable face comprising plug elements ( 62 ).

7. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) is irremovably attached to the lid ( 14 ).

8. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) is removably attached to the lid ( 14 ).

9. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the base ( 12 ) has a longer side ( 126 ) and a shorter side ( 128 ), and wherein the longer side ( 126 ) can be oriented on horizontally or vertically, and wherein the lid opens away from the ground in the open position regardless of whether the longer side ( 126 ) is oriented on horizontally or vertically.

10. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the socket face ( 122 ) is non-perpendicular to the back wall ( 64 ), when the lid ( 14 ) in an open position.

11. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the socket face ( 122 ) forms an angle Φ with the back wall ( 64 ) when the lid ( 14 ) is in an open position, and wherein the angle Φ is 150 to 180 degrees.

12. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the back wall ( 64 ) comprises removable tabs ( 100 ).

13. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the back wall ( 64 ) comprises an extension ( 74 ) sized and shaped to cover the outlet socket ( 50 ) when the adapter plug ( 22 ) is attached to the outlet socket ( 50 ).

14. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the back wall ( 64 ) further comprises an access port ( 76 ) oriented and sized to allow access to an outlet socket interrupter switch ( 124 ) when the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) is attached to the outlet socket ( 50 ).

15. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the base ( 12 ) has a lip ( 118 ) extending from the back wall ( 64 ) away from the lid ( 14 ), wherein the lip ( 118 ) is sized and shaped to extend around an outer periphery of a junction box opening.

16. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the base ( 12 ) further comprises a channel around a perimeter of the base ( 12 ), wherein an outside perimeter of the lid ( 14 ) is positioned within the channel when the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) is closed.

17. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) is attached to the lid ( 14 ) and connected to socket terminals ( 132 ), wherein the socket terminals ( 132 ) are in physical contact with base terminals ( 130 ).

18. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) is attached to the lid ( 14 ), and wherein the socket face ( 122 ) has an angle such that, when a power cord plug ( 86 ) is inserted into the receiver socket ( 20 ) such that the power cord plug ( 86 ) forms a plug angle θ with the lid of greater than 0 degrees.

19. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein the plug angle θ is 5 to 45 degrees.

20. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 1 , further comprising

an arm ( 142 ) extending from the socket assembly ( 152 ) to the lid ( 14 );

wherein the socket assembly ( 152 ) has socket terminals ( 132 ) that are in direct contact with base terminals ( 130 ) when the lid ( 14 ) is in a closed position;

wherein, when the lid is opened, the arm causes the socket face ( 122 ) to change positions and form angle Φ with the back wall ( 64 ); and

wherein the angle Φ is greater than 90 degrees.

21. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 20 , wherein the arm ( 142 ) further comprises access hole ( 154 ) that enables access to a junction box attachment portion ( 66 , 68 ) on the back wall ( 64 ).

22. The while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) of claim 20 , wherein the angle Φ is 150 to 180 degrees.

23. A while in use cover assembly ( 10 ), comprising:

a lid ( 14 ) connected to a base ( 12 ) having a power cord exit ( 106 ) and a back wall ( 64 ); and

socket assembly ( 52 , 152 ) comprising a receiver socket ( 20 ) located between the lid ( 14 ) and the base ( 12 );

wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) comprises a socket face ( 122 ) with blade apertures configured to receive a power cord plug ( 86 );

wherein the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) has a constant depth, when the lid ( 14 ) is closed, when in use and when not in use; and

wherein, when the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) is in use, a power cord plug ( 86 ) is attached to the receiver socket ( 20 ), and a power cord ( 98 ) extending from the power cord plug ( 86 ) extends through the power cord exit ( 106 ) while bending toward the back wall ( 64 ) or the lid by less than or equal to 15 degrees as measured from an angle parallel with an axis A.

24. A socket assembly ( 52 ), comprising:

a receiver socket ( 20 ) having blade apertures ( 82 ) for receiving a power cord plug; and

an adapter plug cord ( 24 ) extending from the receiver socket ( 20 ) to an adapter plug ( 22 );

wherein the adapter plug ( 22 ) has plug elements ( 62 ) extending therefrom and configured to be received in an outlet socket ( 50 ); and

wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) comprises a first surface ( 94 ) configured to engage with an attachment mechanism ( 48 ) on a lid ( 14 ) of a while in use cover assembly ( 10 ).

25. The socket assembly ( 52 ) of claim 24 , wherein the attachment mechanism ( 48 ) comprises an adhesive pad, a snap fit engagement, a pressure fit engagement, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

26. The socket assembly ( 52 ) of claim 24 , wherein the adapter plug ( 22 ) comprises a rotatable adapter plug head ( 60 ).

27. The socket assembly ( 52 ) of claim 26 , wherein the adapter plug ( 22 ) further comprises a rotatable face comprising the plug elements ( 62 ).

28. A method of using a while in use cover assembly ( 10 ), comprising:

opening a lid of the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ), wherein the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) comprises

a lid ( 14 ) hingedly attached to a base ( 12 ) having a back wall ( 64 ) with a junction box attachment portion ( 66 , 68 ); and

socket assembly ( 52 , 152 ) comprising a receiver socket ( 20 ) physically attached to the lid ( 14 ) and/or the base ( 12 ), and located between the lid ( 14 ) and the base ( 12 );

wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) comprises a face ( 122 ) with blade apertures ( 82 ) configured to receive a power cord plug ( 86 );

wherein as the lid is opened, the socket face ( 122 ) changes orientation with respect to the back wall ( 64 ); and

attaching the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) to a junction box via the junction box attachment portion ( 66 , 68 ).

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) further comprises an arm ( 142 ) extending from the socket assembly ( 152 ) to the lid ( 14 );

wherein the socket assembly ( 152 ) has socket terminals ( 132 ) that are in direct contact with base terminals ( 130 ) when the lid ( 14 ) is in a closed position;

wherein the change in orientation of the of the socket face ( 122 ) is caused by the arm; and

further comprising using an access hole ( 154 ) through the arm to access the junction box attachment portion ( 66 , 68 ).

30. A method of using a while in use cover assembly ( 10 ), comprising:

opening a lid of the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ), wherein the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) comprises

a lid ( 14 ) hingedly attached to a base ( 12 ) having a back wall ( 64 ) with a junction box attachment portion ( 66 , 68 ); and

socket assembly ( 52 , 152 ) comprising a receiver socket ( 20 ) physically attached to the lid ( 14 ) and/or the base ( 12 ), and located between the lid ( 14 ) and the base ( 12 );

wherein the receiver socket ( 20 ) comprises a face ( 122 ) with blade apertures ( 82 ) configured to receive a power cord plug ( 86 );

changing an orientation of the socket face ( 122 );

inserting the male socket ( 84 ) into the blade apertures ( 82 ); and

attaching the while in use cover assembly ( 10 ) to a junction box via the junction box attachment portion ( 66 , 68 ).