US2893345A - Indicating means for use with plastering - Google Patents

Description

y 7, 1959 H. E- KAUFMAN 2,893,345

INDICATING MEANS FOR USE WITH PLASTERING Filed May 19, 1958 QED MU ll .nll W" Ill NI/E/VTOR:

5 W 4 Mmm ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent INDICATING MEANS FOR USE WITH PLASTERING Harry E. Kaufman, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 19, 1958, Serial No. 736,388

14 Claims. (Cl. 116-114) This invention relates to an improved construction for a service receptacle and more particularly to a device for indicating the position of a service receptacle through the plaster of the wall in which the service receptacle is located.

In the construction of buildings and the like, the service receptacles, such as for electric service, are normally positioned within the wall framework, so that after the wall is plastered, the receptacle may be partially or completely hidden within the wall under the plaster. Frequently, after plastering is completed, and if the receptacle has been covered with plaster, it becomes diflicult to locate the exact position of the covered receptacle. Since the plaster must be broken through to obtain access to the receptacle, it will be understood that the wall is damaged during the search for the receptacles. Of course, the search for lost receptacles is costly, both in search time and in repair time for replastering erroneously made holes.

Another problem arises in that, normally, the service receptacles are open on their outer sides, as it is desired to have access to the interior of the receptacle after the wall has been plastered. It is, of course, undesirable if plaster gets into the receptacle through the open end thereof during the plastering operation, or if plaster gets into the tapped screw-receiving holes that are normally provided on the outer mounting face of the recep tacle, as much time and effort is consumed in retapping of plugged holes and in the cleaning out of plaster from such receptacles.

In the past, in an attempt to prevent plaster getting into the receptacle during the plastering operation, the electrical contactor has resorted to stufiing the recep tacle with waste, such as crumpled newspaper, or the like. However, the use of such an expedient is strictly a makeshift measure and generally still fails to prevent all plaster from getting into the receptacle, and frequently fails to prevent plugging of the tapped screwreceiving holes.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that at present the standard procedure for the electrician, after plastering has been completed, is to search for the receptacles, clean out the receptacles of waste stufiing and plaster, and re-tap the plugged screw holes in the receptacles.

One object of the present invention is to provide a position indicating device for use with service receptacles, which will indicate to the electrician, on the outer surface of the plaster, the exact location of the receptacles, thereby avoiding the costly searching for receptacles that presently is performed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel cover plate for receptacles which will prevent plaster from entering the receptacle or from plugging the screwreceiving holes thereof.

In the practice of this invention, it is contemplated that a receptacle will be provided with a cover plate which serves a dual function, in that it covers the open "ice side of the receptacle to prevent plaster from getting into the receptacle and into the screw-receiving holes thereof, and at the same time the cover plate will present thereon a liquid-soluble indicator which will respond to the liquid in the plaster which has been spread thereover, to effect a bleeding of the liquid-soluble indicator through the plaster to the outer surface thereof to indicate the position of the receptacle, which is then hidden under the coat of plaster. Toward the end of immediately locating the receptacles hidden under the plastering, a colored substance such as a dye is used for bleeding through the plaster.

Thus, a further object of this invention is to provide a service receptacle and cover therefor, in combination with a liquid-soluble colored indicator which will cooperate with the liquid in plaster to bleed through the plaster spread thereover, so as to positively locate the receptacle hidden under the plaster.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation view of a portion of a plastered wall having a service receptacle hidden thereunder.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the apertured face plate of a service receptacle that is equipped with one form of this invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cover plate shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of cover plate.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a segment of a wall 10 constructed in part of plaster and within which a service receptacle generally indicated at 12 is positioned. The manner of mounting the receptacle 12 within the wall is not shown, but it will be understood that the receptacle may be mounted either on the structural studding within the wall or on a tubular conduit which projects from a support within the wall.

As is well known in the art, the receptacle 12 includes a preformed box 14 which may be provided with a plurality of knock-out portions 16. A face plate, generally indicated at 18, is arranged to be mounted on the outer open side of the box 14, and includes a mounting flange 20 within which a plurality of slotted holes 21 are provided, which affords connection of the face plate 18 to mounting flanges (not shown) on the box 14. A typical construction of the face plate 18 is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and includes a dished portion which extends outwardly relative to the mounting flange 2t) and which provides an annular side wall 22, and an outermost side 23 within which is formed a relatively large rectangular aperture 24.

The outermost side 23 of the face plate 18 provides, in elfect, a pair of flanges having tapped holes 26 therein and to which a switch body may be connected in a manner that is well known in the art. The aperture 24 accommodates entrance of the switch body into the receptacle 12 when the switch body is appropriately mounted and connected to the receptacle 12 through the tapped holes 26. Thus far, what has been described is construction of a type that is standard in the art.

When the receptacle 12 is mounted in the wall 10, as is best seen in Figure 2, portions of the receptacle are embedded in a substantially thick layer of wall plaster 28, and a relatively thinner layer of finishing plaster 30 is generally provided which normally covers the outer most side 23 of the face plate 18. Of course, during the plastering operation, if the aperture 24 in the face plate 18 is uncovered, plaster would enter the receptacle 12, and the receptacle would later have to be cleaned out when the electrician completes his installation.

Now, in the instant invention, there is provided a cover plate, generally indicated at 32, which is of a general shape and conformation corresponding with the shape and conformation of the aperture 24, so that when the over plate 32 is mounted on the face plate 18, said cover plate occupies, and thereby covers, substantially the entire opening 24 in the outer side of the receptacle, so as to prevent plaster from entering the receptacle when the plaster is spread over the portion of the wall in which the receptacle 12 is mounted. In order to releasably maintain the cover plate 32 in position on the face plate 18, the cover plate 32 is preformed to provide a plurality of mounting tabs 34 which are generally rearwardly bent so as to project through the aperture 24 and to engage portions of the inner surface of side 23. The cover plate 32 is formed of a somewhat flexible construc tion, such as of thin metal or the like, so that the mounting tabs 34 may be press-fit through the aperture 24, and the resiliency of the plate 32 and tabs 34 will cause the tabs to spread outwardly thereafter to engage the inner surface of side 23 to releasably maintain plate 32 on face plate 18.

The cover plate 32 is also provided with a pair of outwardly extending cover tabs 36 which are adapted to engage the outer surface of the side 23 and to cooperate with the mounting tabs 34 to maintain the cover plate 32 properly in position on the face plate 18, and the cover tabs 36 serve the additional function of overlying and protecting the tapped holes 26, so as to prevent Wet plaster from entering the tapped holes during the plastering operation. The greater portion of cover plate 32 is disposed in edgewise alignment with the edges of side 23 surrounding aperture 24 and operates to restrain lateral movement of plate 32.

The cover plate 32 not only serves the function of preventing plaster from entering receptacle 12, but also serves as an indicator support means in a manner as now described. There is positioned centrally of the cover plate 32 a liquid-soluble indicator means which is adapted to respond to, and cooperate with, the liquid in the wet plaster that is spread thereover, so that the liquid-soluble indicator will bleed through the plaster to the outer surface thereof to indicate the position of the indicating means under the plaster finish coat 30. More specifically, the plate 32 is provided with a depression 38 centrally thereof, and positioned within the depression 38 is an indicator containing body 40, which is adapted to be contacted by the plaster spread thereover. The body 40 carries or contains a dye constituting a colored, liquid-soluble substance, and the body 40 also includes a carrier which is operative to inhibit instant bleeding of the liquid-soluble substance into the Wet plaster as the plaster is spread thereover. The carrier for the dye is further designed to be operative to permit gradual re lease of the colored liquid-soluble substance into the wet plaster spread thereover.

In one form of the indicating means here disclosed, which indicating means 40 includes the carrier. for the dye and the dye carried thereby, there is utilized, as the carrier, a gelatin of the type that is used in. hectographtype duplicators. To form the combination or mixture of carrier and dye carried thereby, the hectograph gelatin may be heated up to a liquid stage and may be mixed or impregnated with a suitable amount of liquid dye. After cooling, the gelatin firms up, and there exists an appropriate body of carrier with dye therein, which serves as the body 40. The body 40 is retained in depression 38 on plate 32 in any. appropriate manner, such .4 as by the gelatin adhering to the plate 32. The gelatin in body 40 does not go into immediate solution with the wet plaster that is spread thereover and, hence, it operates to inhibit the immediate release of the dye as the wet plaster contacts the gelatin body 40. However, the gelatin does react slowly with the liquid in the plaster so that there is a gradual release of the colored dye into the wet plaster. After the plaster has dried, the dye will have bled through the plaster finish coat 30, and is immediately visible to the electrician who is searching for the receptacle.

An alternate form of carrier for body 40 may consist of a wad of cotton or other dye-absorbing and carrying material. Again, the cotton with dye carried thereby operates to inhibit immediate release of the entire amount of dye carried by the mass 40 but, upon contact with the wet plaster over a period of time, there is a gradual leaking of the dye into the plaster, so that the dye will bleed to the outer surface of the plaster finish coat 30.

Hectograph gelatin, which has been used to make body 40, is understood to be gelatin tanned with dichromate. It is important that the dyes which are used be water-soluble, and may be of almost any color, as desired. One dye that has been successfully used is Du Pont Crocein Scarlet N, and there are many families of such Water-soluble dyes which could be used, including naphthol sulphonic acid dyes, such as Du Pont Crocein Scarlet N, triphenylmethanes, such as brilliant blue FCF or Guinea Green B, and monoazos, such as Orange I or Ponceau 3R.

In the alternate construction shown in Figure 5, the cover plate 32 is provided with a central aperture 50. A body of dye-releasing indicating material 52 is mounted on a pressure-sensitive tape segment 54 which may be adhered to the inner surface of the cover plate 32', so that the liquid-soluble dye-releasing body 52 protrudes through aperture 50, and so that the wet plaster which is spread over the cover plate 32' will engage the body 52 which contains the liquid-soluble substance.

After the electrician has located a hidden receptacle 12 by observing the place where the dye has seeped through the plaster finish coat 30, the electrician may chip away the plaster covering the face plate 32 and then remove the plate 32, or may alternatively push inwardly against the plaster coat 30 substantially centrally of the cover plate 32, thereby etfecting a deforma tion of cover plate 32 into the folded position shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 2. The deformed cover plate 32 may be then withdrawn from the receptacle 12 and discarded, leaving the receptacle 12 in condition to receive a switch body for which it is provided.

Alternatively, in the use of the device in Figure 5 the existence of the aperture 50 permits the electrician to push a tool through, the aperture 50 thereby rupturing or displacing tape 54, to permit him to engage the inner surface of cover plate 32' and then, by pulling outwardly, the cover plate 32' is removed from the receptacle 12, thereby leaving the receptacle 12 in proper condition to regeilve the switch body for which the receptacle is pro- -v1 e As best shown in Figure 2, the indicator containing body 40 is preferably flush with the outer side of cover plate 32, or may alternatively protrude just slightly outwardly of plate 32 so as to insure that the body 40 will contact the plaster coat 3!) spread thereover. It is important that the indicatorcontaining body 40 notsmear when the plaster is spread thereover, and it is important that the body 40 be positioned where the wet plaster will engage it so that the indicator will bleed through the plaster coat 3Q as is indicated by the dotted type shading seen in Figure 2 It will also be understood that plates 32 or 32' carrying an indicator containing body 40 or 52 may be. provided with removable coversheets for protecting the body 40 or 52 until itis desired to use. the device as hereinabovedescribed.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A position indicating device for use with a service receptacle that is positioned within plastered walls; said indicating device comprising, in combination, indicator support means positioned adjacent said service receptacle and presenting an outer face over which wet plaster is adapted to be spread when the wall is plastered, and an indicator carried on said indicator support means and having its outermost portion positioned substantially in the plane of the outer face of said indicator support means and operating to indicate the position of the indicating device on the outer surface of the plaster after the plaster has been spread thereover.

2. A position indicating device for use with a service receptacle that is positioned within plastered walls; said indicating device comprising, in combination, indicator support means positioned adjacent said service receptacle and presenting an outer face over which wet plaster is adapted to be spread when the wall is plastered, and a liquid-soluble indicator carried by said indicator support means and having its outermost portion positioned substantially in the plane of said outer face of said support means and positioned to be engaged by the wet plaster spread thereover.

3. A position indicating device for use with a service receptacle that is positioned within plastered walls; said indicating device comprising, in combination, indicator support means positioned adjacent said service receptacle and presenting an outer face over which wet plaster is adapted to be spread when the wall is plastered, and a liquid-soluble indicator carried by said indicator support means and having its outermost portion positioned sub stantially in the plane of said outer face of said support means and positioned to be engaged by the wet plaster spread thereover; and said liquid-soluble indicator responding to the liquid in said wet plaster to bleed through the plaster to the outer surface thereof to visually indicate the position of the indicating device after plaster has been spread thereover.

4. A position indicating device for use with a service receptacle that is positioned within plastered walls; said indicating device comprising, in combination, indicator support means positioned adjacent said service receptacle and presenting an outer face over which wet plaster is adapted to be spread when the wall is plastered, a liquidsoluble indicator carried by said indicator support means and having its outermost portion positioned substantially in the plane of said outer face of said support means and positioned to be engaged by the wet plaster spread thereover, said liquid-soluble indicator responding to the liquid in said wet plaster to bleed through the plaster to the outer surface thereof to visually indicate the position of the indicating device after plaster has been spread thereover, and said liquid-soluble indicator comprising a carrier impregnated with a colored liquid-soluble substance, said carrier being operative to permit gradual release of the colored liquid-soluble substance into the wet plaster spread thereover.

5. A position indicating device for use with a service receptacle that is positioned within plastered walls; said indicating device comprising, in combination, indicator support means positioned adjacent said service receptacle and presenting an outer face over which wet plaster is adapted to be spread when the wall is plastered, a liquidsoluble indicator carried by said indicator support means and having its outermost portion positioned substantially in the plane of said outer face of said support means and 6, positioned to be engaged by the wet plaster spread there over, and said liquid-soluble indicator responding to the liquid in said wet plaster to bleed through the plaster to the outer surface thereof to indicate the position of the indicating device after plaster has been spread thereover, said liquid-soluble indicator comprising a carrier containing a colored liquid-soluble substance, said carrier being operative to inhibit instant bleeding of the colored liquid-soluble substance into the wet plaster spread thereover, and said carrier being operative to permit gradual release of the colored liquid-soluble substance into the wet plaster spread thereover.

6. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said liquidsoluble indicator comprises a dye.

7. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said liquidsoluble indicator comprises an insoluble absorbent carrier carrying a colored liquid-soluble substance.

8. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said liquidsolulble indicator comprises a liquid-soluble carrier mixed with a colored liquid-soluble substance.

9, A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said liquidsoluble indicator comprises a liquid-soluble carrier mixed with a colored liquid-soluble substance, and said carrier being a gelatin.

10. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said service receptacle has an outwardly facing apertured side, and wherein said indicator support means is a cover plate which substantially covers the entire opening in said apertured side of the receptacle to prevent plaster from entering the receptacle when Wet plaster is spread thereover, and said cover plate having a mounting means formed centrally thereof whereat said indicator is positioned.

11. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the said service receptacle has an outwardly facing apertured side, and wherein said indicator support means is a cover plate which substantially covers the entire opening in said apertured side of the receptacle to prevent plaster from entering the receptacle when wet plaster is spread thereover, and said cover plate having a central depression wherein said liquid-soluble indicator is positioned.

12. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said service receptacle has an outwardly facing apertured side, and wherein said indicator support means is a single cover plate which substantially covers the entire opening in said apertured side of the receptacle to prevent plaster from entering the receptacle when wet plaster is spread thereover, and said cover plate having releasable mounting means formed from the material of said cover plate and engaging opposite surfaces of the apertured side of the receptacle.

13. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said service receptacle has an outwardly facing apertured side, and wherein said indicator support means is a cover plate which substantially covers the entire opening in said apertured side of the receptacle to prevent plaster from entering the receptacle when wet plaster is spread thereover, and said cover plate having a centrally located aperture through which a tool may be introduced to effect engagement between the tool and the cover plate to afford removing the cover plate with the said tool.

14. A shield for use with a service receptacle that is positioned within plastered walls, wherein said service receptacle has an outwardly facing apertured side provided with tapped attachment flanges thereon; said shield comprising a single cover plate that is releasably mounted on said receptacle and substantially covers the entire opening in said apertured side of the receptacle to prevent plaster from entering the receptacle when wet plaster is spread thereover, said cover plate having releasable mounting means including resilient mounting tabs integral with said cover plate on opposite edges of said cover plate and which may be press-fit through the aperture in said receptacle to engage the inside of the receptacle adjacent the edges of said aperture, and said cover plate References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fieberl i'ng iune 11, 1935

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