GB2270015A

GB2270015A - Protective care for lightswitches

Info

Publication number: GB2270015A
Application number: GB9218104A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Richard Bowles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-26
Filing date: 1992-08-26
Publication date: 1994-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-26
Also published as: GB2270015B; GB9218104D0

Abstract

A simple protective cover for lightswitches, electrical power outlet sockets, television outlet sockets and telecommunications outlet sockets, comprises an elasticated Vinyl jacket with a rolled ring 10 on the mouth which slips over and clips around the back edge of a loosened wallplate of a lightswitch or electrical outlet socket etc. When fitted it will provide complete protection from water splashes and paint soiling by decorators. It has a loose front nose section 12 which facilitates normal use of the switch/socket while it is fitted. The nose can be slit open to allow entry of a screwdriver through the front to retighten the wallplate and compress the rolled ring 10 on the backedge of the wallplate. This will then provide a water protective seal. It can be fitted and removed in seconds to leave the switch/socket in original condition. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL. LIGMTSWITCH AND WALL OUTLET SOCKET PROTECTIVE COVER Electrical lightswitcs and wall outlet socket protective cover.

Through out tis texXt termed as "The SWITCNCOVER" This invention relates to a purpose made jacket to protect Electrical light switches and electrical wall outlet sockets of the tpe tat are in common use today.

Research of Painters and decorators merchants Builders merchants and DI. Y. suppliers has shown that there is no product on the market specifically made for this purpose.

Light switches and power sockets are very often not protected by painters and decorators which results in them getting soiled with paints etc. This is ey difficult to remove sometimes leaving the surfaces scratched or damaged. Worse still tey may require replacement as a result. This is both time consuming and costly to decorators or their clients.

The only product that is available is Masking tape. This is difficult to apply and sometimes nsucessful on plastic material.

This invention consists of an elasticated vinyl jacket, preformed to exactly slip over a light switch or socket. The switch/sDcket to be protected is first loosened from the wall.

The jacket has a rolled ring around the mouth which grips firmly around the back edge of the wall plate section of the switch/socket. A secondary feature is that the front of the jacket has a flexible nose which when supplied is sealed. The nose can be cut open at the end and a screwdriver inserted to retighten the switchZec--ket securely back to the wall This will then provide a waterproof protection to the entire switch/socket.

This is a very important safety feature when decorators are using water t clean walls or strip wallpaper near or around electric switch/sockets The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which-: Figure 1. Illustrates the front view of "The SWITCHCOVER" in place over a lightswitch, with the nose cut open.

Figure 2. Illustrates a side view of "The SWITCHCOVER" in place over a lightswitch which has been loosened from the wall. The nose is shown sealed as it will be supplied to the user.

Referring to the drawings Fig 1 illustrates "The SWITCHCOVER" viewed from the front fitted to a lightswitch. The lightswitch is shown for example in dotted lines behind "The SWITHCOVEH" The "The SWITCHCOVER" consists of a one piece elasticated preformed vinyl jacket. A rolled ring 10 illustrated in Fig 2 is moulded to the mouth edge rim, which is stretched to fit over the switch/sccket and grip neatly around the back edge of the wallplate section of the switch/socket.

In order to retighten the switch/sc,-^ket back to the wall while the jacket is fitted, the end of the nose is cut open.A scewdriver illustrated Fig 1 is inserted through the nose opening 12 and gently moved from side to side to locate the switch/socket fixing screws. This enables the switchplate to be retightened back to the wall and compresses the ring 10 between the wallplate and the wall. The switch will then te protected against water splashes.

Use of the switch while the jacket is on is in no way impaired, because the flexible nature of the vinyl fabric of the jacket allows easy operation of any type of switch control.

Fig.2 illustrates a side view of a lightswitch loosened from the wall with "The SWITCHCOVER" fitted. The rolled elasticated ring 10 is shown in position around the back edge of the lightswitch.

The lightswitch is again shown for example inside "The SWITCHCOVER" in dotted lines. "The SWITCHCOVER" in Fig 2 is shown with the nose 12 sealed as it will be supplied to the user.

After decorating etc.is completed "The SWITCHCOVER" is removed to leave the switch in its original condition.

Claims

1. "The SWITCHCOVER" is a purpose made vinyl jacket to cover lightswitches and electric power outlet sockets to protect them while they are in use against soiling bv deccrtc.rs etc.

2. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claim 1 with the incorporation of a flexible nose which allows normal operation of the switch.

3. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claim 1 or claim 2 which has . moulded ring on the rim of the mouth.

4. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claim 1 or claim s or claim 3 which can be cut open at the end of the nose to allow entry of a screwdriver to retighten the switchplate back to the wall, while "The SWITCHCOVER" is in use.

5. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a single lightswitch.

6 "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claims 1.2.3 and 4 to fit a two-gang lightswitch.

7. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a three-gang lightswitch.

8. "The SWITCHC.OVER" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a Four-gang lightswitch.

9. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 t fit a domestic 13amp power outlet socket.

10. "The SWITCHCOVEP" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a domestic 1Samp power double outlet socket.

11. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a domestic television outlet socket.

19. The SWITCHCOVER" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a domestic telecommunications outlet socket.

13. "The SWITCHCOVER" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a domestic continental type electrical single outlet rocket.

14. "The SWITCHCOVEP" as in claims 1,2,3 and 4 to fit a domestic continental type electrical double outlet socket.

15. "The SWITCHCOVER" as substantially described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.