Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02654682 2011-08-12
ELECTRICAL BOX COVER WITH LATCHING DEVICE
FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates to a cover for an electrical box, and more
particularly, to a cover for an electrical box having a selectively
positionable latch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Electrical box covers are typically attached to an electrical box to enclose a
receptacle, such as an electrical device or a switch, housed in the box.
Covers that
are designed for outdoor use typically include a lid, also referred to as a
hood,
which is selectively moveable between a closed and open position to provide
access
to the receptacle. Certain of these covers, known as while-in-use covers,
provide
the ability to leave an electrical plug inserted into an electrical receptacle
while the
lid is in the closed position. Such electrical box covers typically include a
slot or
notch in a side wall of the housing or in the lid in order to accommodate the
cord
while the lid is closed.
Electrical boxes may be mounted in a generally vertical or horizontal
position. It is desirable to have the hinge at the top of the cover so that
gravity will
tend to move the lid into the closed position. Certain prior art covers are
designed
to be used only in either the horizontal or vertical orientation. Therefore,
the final
installation of the electrical box would dictate which cover would be used.
Some
covers are designed to permit mounting in both the horizontal and vertical
positions. This is typically achieved by including hinges along two sides of
the
cover housing and along two sides of the lid. The lid may then be attached to
the
housing side which is positioned upwardly.
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It is also desirable to include a latch near the bottom of the lid, opposite
the
hinge, so that the lid may be retained in the closed position. For covers that
permit
hinging along two sides, two latches are included. This can lead to a cover
which
includes extra components increasing its size and cost of manufacture.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an electrical box cover which
accommodates an electrical plug and cord and provides an efficient device for
latching the cover in a closed position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention provides to an electrical box cover.
The present invention further provides an electrical box cover including a
hood pivotally secured to a housing.
The present invention still further relates to an electrical box cover
including
a hood pivotally secured to a housing and a latch selectively securable to the
housing at a plurality of locations.
The present invention also provides an electrical box cover including a
housing having a base wall adapted to be attached to an electrical box. The
base
wall is surrounded by an outwardly extending side wall. A hood is pivotally
attached to the housing and moveable between an open and closed position. A
latch
is selectively attachable to the side wall at one of a first and second
position. The
latch, when attached to said side wall, is engagable with the hood to retain
the hood
in the closed position.
The present invention further provides an electrical box cover including a
housing having a base wall and a side wall extending therefrom. A hood is
pivotally
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secured to the housing and movable between an open and closed position. A
latch is
selectively securable to the housing at a plurality of positions. The latch
cooperates
with the hood to retain the hood in the closed position.
The present invention still further provides an electrical box cover including
a housing having a base wall adapted to be attached to an electrical box. The
base
wall is surrounded by an outwardly extending side wall. The side wall includes
a
first portion and a second portion. The first and second side wall portions
are
angularly offset from each other. A hood is selectively pivotally attached to
either of
the first and second housing side wall portions. The hood is moveable between
an
open and closed position. A latch is selectively attachable to the side wall
at one of
a first and second position, the latch being engagable with the hood to retain
the
hood in the closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the electrical box cover of the
present
invention showing the cover in the horizontal position with a hood in the open
position.
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the cover of Figure 1 showing the
cover
in the vertical position.
Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the horizontally oriented cover of
Figure 1 showing the hood in the closed position.
Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the vertically oriented cover of
Figure 2
showing the hood in the closed position.
Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing the cover attached to an
electrical box.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the horizontally oriented cover with the hood
removed.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the vertically oriented cover with the hood
removed.
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Figure 8 is a perspective view of a latch of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a side perspective view of the cover showing the latch prior to
attachment.
Figure 10 is a side perspective view of the cover with the latch attached.
Figure 11 is a detail view of the latch of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is top plan view of the cover with the hood in the closed and
latched
position.
Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the cover of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
With reference to Figures 1-5, the present invention relates to a while-in-use
electrical box cover 10 which is securable to an electrical box 12. Electrical
box 12
may be an outlet box, junction box, termination box, switch box or any other
type of
container for housing an electrical element or terminating an electrical
connection.
The electrical box 12 may house an electrical receptacle 13 such as a switch
or
outlet.
Electrical box cover 10 may include a housing 14 and a hood 16 pivotally
secured thereto. The housing 14 may include a base wall 18 which includes an
opening 20 there through to accommodate the electrical receptacle 13. The
opening
may also accommodate one or more adapter plates and/or wall plates (not shown)
which are configured to accommodate different receptacles, e.g., duplex
outlet, GFCI
and light switch. Base wall 18 may further include through holes 22 in order
to
allow fastening hardware to attach the cover 10 to the electrical box 12
and/or
electrical receptacles or components secured therein. The base wall 18 is
perimetrically bounded by an outwardly extending side wall 24 having a front
end
25. The base wall 18 and side wall 24 form a cover interior 26. The cover
interior
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26 may accommodate a plug 27 and a portion of its cord 28 when the hood 16 is
in
the closed position as shown in Figure 5.
The electrical box cover 10 may be generally a rectangular box-like
configuration having a first 29, second 30, third 32, and fourth 34 wall
portions,
with the first and third wall portions being shorter in length than the second
and
fourth wall portions. However, it is within the contemplation of the present
invention that the electrical box cover 10 may be formed in a wide variety of
configurations in order to accommodate various applications. Housing 14 may be
formed of a plastic material or metal using processes well known in the art.
The
housing may further include one or more first hinge members 36 extending
therefrom which cooperate with the hood 16, in a manner described in more
detail
below, to permit the hood to be pivotally secured to the housing.
In a preferred embodiment, hood 16 may include a central portion 40 which
may be generally flat or have a curvature thereto. Bounding the perimeter of
the
center portion 40 is a rim 42. Rim 42 may include an L-shaped cross-sectional
profile as shown in Figure 5. It is within the contemplation of the present
invention
that rim 42 may be formed in a variety of configurations. The hood 16 at a
position
adjacent the rim 42 abuts a perimeter ledge 43 extending from the upper
portion of
the housing side wall 24 when the hood is in the closed position. Rim 42
further
includes a recess 44, and when the hood 16 is in the closed position, the
recess 44
extends around the side wall front end 25. Accordingly, the cover interior 26
and
the electrical receptacle 13 are isolated from precipitation, dust and other
contaminants. The hood 16 may be formed of a plastic or metallic material.
When
formed of plastic, the hood 16 may be transparent, translucent or opaque.
Electrical boxes 12 may be installed in a variety of orientations. Rectangular
electrical boxes are typically installed in either generally vertical or
horizontal
orientations. In a preferred embodiment, cover 10 may be secured to an
electrical
box 12 in the two general positions. One position, shown for example in
Figures 2
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and 4, would be for a generally vertically positioned electrical box and the
other
position, shown for example in Figures 1 and 3, would accommodate a generally
horizontally oriented electrical box.
Hood 16 may be pivotally secured to the side wall 24 of the housing 14. In
order to accommodate the various mounting orientations of the cover, hood 16
is
preferably pivotally mountable to cover housing 14 along either one of two
side wall
portions. With further reference to Figures 2, 6 and 7, one of the side wall
portions,
for example the first side wall portion 29, may include the one or more
housing first
hinge members 36 thereon. The hinge members 36 may be spaced from each other
and disposed adjacent the side wall front end 25.
With reference to Figures 2 and 7, the housing first hinge members 36
cooperate with hood first hinge members 45 disposed on and extending from the
rim
42 of the hood. The hood first hinge members 45 may include C-shaped clips 46.
Housing first hinge members 36 may include generally round posts 47 supported
above the side wall 24. Clips 46 may resiliently engage and snap around posts
47
such that a rotatable connection is made. The housing first hinge members 36
and
hood first hinge members 45 may be disposed along one side of their respective
structures such that the hood 16 may be attached to the top of the housing 14
when
the cover 10 is mounted in the vertical orientation. The clips 46 may also be
removable from the posts 47 so that the hood 16 could be selectively attached
and
removed from the housing 14. It is also within the contemplation of the
present
invention that as an alternative, C-shaped clips could be mounted on the
housing 14
and the posts mounted on the hood 16.
With reference to Figures 1, 6, and 13, the housing 14 may further include
one or more housing second hinge members 48 disposed on a side wall portion
adjacent the first side wall portion 29, such as second side wall portion 30.
Housing
second hinge members 48 may be formed including a generally round post 50
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supported above the second side wall portion 30 similar to housing first hinge
members 36.
As shown in Figures 1, and 2, hood 16 may further include hood second hinge
members 52 extending from an adjacent side of the hood edge as the hood first
hinge members 45. Hood second hinge members 52 may be formed similar to the
hood first hinge members 45 and include clips 53. Hood second hinge members 52
may resiliently engage posts 50 of housing second hinge members 48 to form a
rotatable connection. Posts 50 may include flats 55 (Figure 13) to facilitate
insertion of the clips 53 onto the posts 50. The posts 47 of the housing first
hinge
members 36 may also include flats thereon. This connection accommodates the
cover 10 when mounted in the horizontal orientation. The resilient cooperation
between the hood second hinge members 52 and the housing second hinge members
48 permits the hood to be attached and removed.
When it is desired to mount the electrical box cover 10 in a generally
vertical
position, hood 16 may be attached to the first side wall portion 29 through
the
cooperation of housing first hinge members 36 and hood first hinge members 45
as
shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, if the electrical box is desired to be
mounted in a
generally horizontal orientation such as that shown in Figure 1, the hood 16
may be
attached to the second wall portion 30 through the cooperation of housing
second
hinge members 48 and hood second hinge members 52. The mounting flexibility of
the hood 16 permits the hinge to be located at the top of the cover housing 14
regardless of the orientation. Therefore, the hood will tend to fall to the
closed
position via gravity when left unattended.
Once the electrical box cover 10 is installed onto the electrical box 12, the
plug 27 may be inserted into the receptacle 13 as shown in Figure 5. The plug
cord
28 would therefore extend out from the cover 10. In order to permit the hood
16 to
be rotated to the fully closed position when the cord 28 is extending from the
cover,
a cord opening may be preferably provided in the housing side wall 24 or a
cord
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opening can be provided in rim 42 of hood 16, or both. It is desirable to have
the
cord to extend out from the bottom of the cover. Since the cover has two
different
orientations, either third wall portion 32 or fourth wall portion 34 will be
the
bottom wall. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, both the third 32 and
fourth 34 side wall portions include a knockout 66 formed therein (Figures 1
and 2).
However, only one of them needs to be removed. The knockouts 66 may be formed
in a manner known in the art such as by thinning the knockout or thinning
material surrounding the knockout such that it is easy to remove. The knockout
66
in the third side wall portion 32 may be removed forming an opening 68 (Figure
5)
when the electrical box cover 10 is in the generally vertical direction as
shown in
Figure 2. The knockout 66 on the fourth side wall portion 34 may be removed to
form an opening when the electrical box is in the generally horizontal
position as
shown in Figure 1. When the final orientation of the cover is determined for
installation, the appropriate knockout 66 may be removed. Accordingly, no
unnecessary openings need to be formed in the cover.
With reference to Figures 2, and 7-11, in order to retain the hood 16 in the
closed position, the present invention preferably includes a latch 70. Latch
70 is
preferably attached to cover housing 14, and selectively positionable thereon.
Latch
70 may be selectively positioned at different locations on the housing 14 in
order to
accommodate the mounting orientation of the hood 16 with which it cooperates.
The latch may be attached in such a manner that it may be removed after being
attached. Alternatively, the attachment between the latch 70 and the housing
14
may be such that the latch cannot be removed from the housing. In this
alternative
embodiment, the latch could be integrally formed with the housing 14 or be
attached in a manner which prevents removal.
In order to secure the latch 70 to the cover housing 14, cover housing 14 may
include first and second latch keepers, 72 and 74. The first and second latch
keepers
may be disposed on different side wall portions. Preferably first keeper 72 is
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disposed on second side wall portion 30 adjacent one of the housing second
hinge
members 48 as shown in Figure 7. Second keeper 74 may be disposed on fourth
side
wall portion 34 adjacent a corner of the housing 14. First and second keepers
72
and 74 may have a configuration similar to the housing hinge members, and
include
a post 76 supported above the housing side wall. The posts 76 may include a
flat 77
thereon (Figure 14.)
With specific reference to Figures 8 and 14, latch 70 may include a resilient
clip element 78 which resiliently engages the keepers 72 and 74. Clip element
78
may include a slot 80 having a generally C-shaped cross-sectional profile as
shown
in Figure 14. Bounding one side of slot 80 is a catch 82 having a
longitudinally
extending semicircular depression 84 which receives post 76. Disposed opposite
to
the catch 82 is an abutment member 86. A longitudinally extending projection
88
extends upwardly from the bottom of the slot 80. When the keeper post 76 is
inserted into clip slot 80, the catch and/or abutment member 86 deflects
outwardly.
Once the post 76 passes into the slot 80 such that it sits within the
depression 84
and against projection 88, the post is captured, as a lip 89 on the end of the
catch 82
sits above flat 77.
In order to install the latch 70, the latch is positioned adjacent one of the
latch keepers 72, 74. Which latch keeper to choose will depend upon to which
side
wall the hood 16 is mounted. The latch 70 is slid along the side wall 24 in
the
direction shown, for example, by the arrow in Figure 9, until the clip element
78
engages and clips onto the post 76. The latch 70 may also include a guide 90
which
has a planar surface 92 that abuts the cover housing side wall 24. As shown in
Figures 9 and 11, adjacent the keepers 72 and 74, the side wall 24 may include
spaced ridges 94 between which the guide 90 extends. Guide 90 helps the latch
70
to be properly positioned with respect to the side wall and latch keeper so
that the
latch 70 can be clipped to the keeper (72, 74) as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
It is
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within the contemplation of the present invention that the latch 70 could be
formed
having other configurations.
With reference to Figure 8, latch 70 further includes a resilient hood
engaging element 96 extending upwardly from clip element 78. Hood engaging
element 96 extends through an opening 98 in hood 16 when the hood is in the
closed
position as shown in Figures 2 and 14. A hood engaging element distal end 100
may include a curved surface 102 and lip 104. Upon closing of the hood 16, the
curved surface 102 engages a ramped structure 106 on the hood causing the hood
engaging element 96 to deflect and extend through the hood opening 98. When
the
lip 104 extends past the hood opening 98, the hood engaging element 96 snaps
back
or returns to its original position to engage and retain the hood 16. To open
the
hood 16, a user may urge the distal end 100 toward the side wall thereby
clearing it
from the edges of opening 98. The hood 16 may then be pivoted to the open
position.
The latch 70 may be removed from the housing 14 after being attached so
that its location on the housing may be changed as desired. In order to remove
the
latch 70, the clip element 78 may be deflected to disengage the post 76 and
the latch
can then be slid away from the housing. When the hood 16 is mounted in the
vertical position, the latch 70 may be attached to the first keeper 72
disposed on the
second side wall portion 30. When the hood 16 is mounted in the horizontal
position
as shown in Figure 1, the latch 70 may be attached to the second keeper 74
located
on the fourth side wall portion 34. Accordingly, the latch 70 is selectively
positionable on cover housing 14 so that it is properly aligned with the hood
opening
98 whether the hood 16 is mounted in the vertical or horizontal orientation.
Referring to Figures 3 and 14, hood 16 may include a lift tab 110 adjacent
opening 98 to assist a user in moving the cover between the open and closed
positions. Hood 16 may also include a pair of spaced ribs 112 positioned
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the opening 98. Ribs 112 act as a guard to protect the hood engagement element
96
from impact when the hood 16 is in the closed position.
It may be desirable to lock the hood 16 in the closed position such that
access
to the interior is restricted. Accordingly, hood 16 may include a lock opening
120
(Figure 12) in a corner thereof. With reference to Figure 7, the cover housing
14
may include a first and second lug 122, 124 extending from opposed corners of
the
housing adjacent the side wall front end 25. The lugs 122 and 124 may each
include
an opening 126 there-through. When the hood is attached to the housing 14 when
in the vertical orientation, the lock opening 120 aligns with the opening in
lug 122.
When the hood 16 is mounted on the housing in the horizontal position, the
lock
opening 120 aligns with the opening in lug 124. A lock or securement band (not
shown) may be placed through the aligned openings 120 and 126 to keep the hood
16 secured in the closed position.
When the hood 16 is in the closed position, its rim 42 extends beyond the
front end of the housing side wall 25 as shown in Figure 13. Therefore, the
hood 16
obscures the housing hinge members and lugs 122, 124 when viewed from the
front,
such as in Figure 12. Additionally, the hood hinge members preferably do not
extend beyond the perimeter of the rim when viewed from the front of the
cover.
Accordingly, no obstructions are created beyond the perimeter of the hood rim.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and
that
various other changes and modifications may be affected herein by one skilled
in
the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and that
it is
intended to claim all such changes and modifications that fall within the
scope of
the invention.
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