Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SIDE-OPEN WET-LOCATION ELECTRICAL BOX AND COVER
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0001] Electrical outlets with covers may be used in areas that are exposed
to water or that
require wash-down of all equipment on a regular basis, such as the food and
beverage industry.
These electrical outlets typically are mounted with spacers to set them away
from the wall to
provide access for cleaning and to prevent collection of contaminants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an electrical
box assembly, comprising a base including a box-like structure with an open
side face for
mounting an electrical device, the open side face being configured to receive
the electrical device
facing essentially perpendicular to a plane of a mounting surface, a standoff
configured to
provide a mounting structure and to position the box-like structure away from
the mounting
surface, a first hinge pin mount configured to receive a hinge pin when the
base is installed to the
mounting surface with the open side face on a left side, and a second hinge
pin mount configured
to receive the hinge pin when the base is installed to the mounting surface
with the open side
face on a right side, the hinge pin configured to be removably inserted in
either of the first hinge
mount or the second hinge mount, and a hood configured to engage the hinge pin
and to cover
the open side face of the base, wherein the electrical box assembly is
configured to provide a top-
hinged orientation of the hood when the electrical box is installed with the
open side face facing
either of the left side or the right side.
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[0002.1] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an
electrical box, comprising a back wall and a front wall configured to be
essentially parallel to a
mounting surface when the electrical box is installed to the mounting surface,
a pair of
interchangeable top and bottom walls, each interchangeable top and bottom wall
connected to the
back wall and the front wall, a side wall connected to the back wall, the
front wall, and the pair
of interchangeable top and bottom walls, an open end, opposite the side wall,
configured to
receive an electrical device therein, and a standoff extending laterally from
the back wall, the
standoff configured to provide a mounting structure and to position the
electrical box away from
the mounting surface, wherein the electrical box is configured to receive a
top-mounted hood to
cover the open end when the electrical box is installed with the open end
positioned to face either
of a right side or a left side.
[0002.2] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an
electrical box, comprising a box-like structure with an open side face for
mounting an electrical
device, the open side face being configured to receive the electrical device
facing essentially
perpendicular to a plane of a mounting surface, and a standoff configured to
position the box-like
structure away from the mounting surface, wherein the standoff includes an
aperture extending
longitudinally theredu-ough and a top reinforcing rib and a bottom reinforcing
rib each extending
longitudinally along a length of the standoff, wherein the electrical box is
configured to receive a
top-mounted hood to cover the open side face when the electrical box is
installed with the open
side face positioned toward either of a right side or a left side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Fig. 1 provides a front perspective view of a side-open electrical
box assembly with
an open hood according to an implementation described herein;
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[0004] Fig. 2 provides a front perspective view of the side-open electrical
box assembly of
Fig. 1 with a closed cover;
[0005] Fig. 3 provides a rear perspective view of the side-open electrical
box assembly of
Fig. 1;
[0006] Fig. 4 provides an exploded front perspective view of the side-open
electrical box
assembly of Fig. 1;
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[0007] Fig. 5A provides a front view of the side-open electrical box
assembly of Fig. 1 in a
left-side-open configuration;
[0008] Fig. 5B provides a front view of the side-open electrical box
assembly of Fig. 1 in a
right-side-open configuration;
[0009] Fig. 6 provides a front perspective view of the base of the
electrical box assembly of
Fig. 1;
[0010] Fig. 7 provides a side view of the side-open electrical box assembly
of Fig. 1; and
[0011] Fig. 8 provides a cutaway front view of the side-open electrical box
assembly of Fig.
5B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying
drawings. The same
reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar
elements.
[0013] In food service areas and other areas that require regular wash-down
of equipment,
standoffs for electrical boxes are required to provide a space between the
electrical box and the
wall (e.g., to allow for cleaning). Covers (or hoods) are mounted to the
electrical boxes.
Typically, the electrical boxes are mounted facing outward from a wall. The
combination of the
standoff and outward-facing electrical box causes a significant protrusion
into a workspace,
which can subject the electrical box to knocks and/or cause a safety hazard.
Furthermore,
existing electrical box arrangements are susceptible to condensation inside
the electrical box,
causing a potential for a short in an electrical device that is installed in
the electrical box.
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[0014] According to implementations described herein, a side-facing
electrical box
assembly with standoffs is provided. The electrical box assembly may include a
base and a hood
that are joined by a hinge for opening and closing the hood. The electrical
box may be mounted
with either a left- or right-side facing opening and provides a low-profile
installation (e.g., in
comparison with front-facing installations). The electrical box may be
configured with a separate
conduit area and device mounting area to drain moisture from condensation on
the conduit and to
prevent moisture from migrating to installed devices.
[0015] In descriptions herein, the term "front" may generally refer to a
position toward a
room's interior, and the term "back" generally refer to a position toward a
wall or exterior of the
room.
[0016] Fig. 1 provides a front perspective view of a side-open electrical
box 100 with an
open hood according to an implementation described herein. Fig. 2 provides a
front perspective
view of side-open electrical box assembly 10 with the hood in a closed
position. Fig. 3 provides
a rear perspective view of side-open electrical box assembly 10 with an open
cover. Referring
collectively to Figs. 1-3, electrical box assembly 10 may include a base 100
and a hood 200.
Hood 200 may be secured to base 100 by a hinge pin 300. Hood 200 may pivot
about hinge pin
300 between an open position (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) and a closed position
(shown in Fig. 2).
[0017] Base 100, hood 200, and hinge pin 300 may be made from non-corrosive
materials
suitable, for example, in food service industry environments. Suitable
materials may include, for
example, stainless steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, nylon 6-6,
etc. Depending on
a selected material, base 100, hood 200, and hinge pin 300 may be manufactured
using an
investment casting process, injection molding, etc. In one implementation,
base 100, hood 200,
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and hinge pin 300 may all be made from the same material. In other
implementations, one or
more of base 100, hood 200, and hinge pin 300 may be made from different
materials.
[0018] Fig. 4 provides an exploded front perspective view of electrical box
assembly 10.
Figs. 5A and 5B provide front views of electrical box assembly 10 in a left-
side-open and right-
side-open configuration, respectively. Fig. 6 provides a front perspective
view of base 100.
Referring collectively to Figs. 1-6, base 100 may generally form a box-like
structure to receive
an electrical device 12, such as an outlet or a switch. Base 100 may include a
back wall 102, a
front wall 104, top/bottom walls 106A and 106B (referred to herein
collectively as "top/bottom
walls 106" or generically as "top wall 106" or "bottom wall 106"). Back wall
102, front wall
104, and top/bottom walls 106 may be joined by a closed-side wall 108 at one
end. Back wall
102, front wall 104, and top/bottom walls 106 may also form a side opening 110
at an opposite
end. More particularly, a back wall edge 112, a front wall edge 114, and
top/bottom wall edges
116A and 116B (referred to herein collectively as "top/bottom wall edges 116")
may define side
opening 110 that is configured to receive electrical device 12. Side opening
110 may be
configured to receive the electrical device 12 facing essentially
perpendicular to a plane of the
mounting surface.
[0019] When base 100 is installed, back wall 102 may extend essentially
parallel to a
mounting surface (e.g., a wall, stud, or another surface). Wall 102 may
include multiple
standoffs 120, extending laterally from wall 102, for mounting base 100 to the
mounting surface.
Fig. 7 provides a side view of electrical box assembly 10, and Fig. 8 provides
a cross-sectional
view of electrical box assembly 10. As shown, for example, in Fig. 7,
standoffs 120 may provide
a distance, D, between mounting surface 14 and back wall 102 as required by
industry standards
for particular types of environments. The standoff may also provide clearance
from the
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mounting surface 14 to permit opening/closing movement of hood 200 (e.g.,
without scraping the
mounting surface 14).
[0020] As shown, for example, in Figs. 3 and 7, each of standoffs 120 may
include
top/bottom reinforcing ribs 121 and an aperture 122. Top/bottom reinforcing
ribs 121 may
generally extend along the length of standoff 120 on a top and bottom portion
standoff 120 (in
either a left-side open or right-side open orientation of base 100). In one
implementation, the
width and/or thickness of top/bottom reinforcing ribs 121 may gradually taper
as top/bottom
reinforcing ribs 121 extend from back wall 102 toward a distal end of standoff
120. Top/bottom
reinforcing ribs 121 provide an increased surface area to engage mounting
surface 14 and
stabilize base 100 against vertical forces. The inclusion of top/bottom
reinforcing ribs 121 on
each of standoffs 120 allows for installation of base 100 to the mounting
surface 14 with
minimum mounting hardware. Each aperture 122 may be configured to receive the
mounting
hardware, such as a screw, bolt, nail, or another fastening device for
mounting base 100 to the
mounting surface 14. Each aperture 122 may generally extend longitudinally
along standoff 120
from an interior surface of back wall 102 to a distal end of standoff 120.
[0021] Referring generally to Figs. 1-8, front wall 104 may extend
essentially parallel to
back wall 102 and may include an access aperture 124 with mounting lugs 126
configured to
secure a cover plate 130. Cover plate 130 may be removably attached to base
100 to permit access to
the interior of base 100 for connecting cables and/or installing mounting
hardware through apertures
122. Cover plate 130 may be secured to front wall 104 by fasteners 128, such
as screws, bolts,
etc. In one implementation, cover plate 130 may be configured to be secured to
base 100 in
either a left- or right-side orientation (e.g., to orient a label,
instructions, etc.). Cover plate 130
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may be made of the same or different material than that of base 100. In one
implementation,
cover plate 130 may include a gasket (not shown) to ensure a water-tight seal
between front wall
104 and cover plate 130. The gasket may be made, for example, from a rubber
material.
[0022] Top/bottom walls 106 may be configured similarly (e.g., as mirror
images) to
accommodate installation of base 100 in either a right-facing or left-facing
orientation. For
example, as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, electrical box assembly 10 may be
rotated at installation
such that top/bottom walls 106A and 10613 may be interchangeably oriented as
top or bottom
surfaces, depending on the desired orientation of side opening 110 (e.g., a
right-facing or left-
facing). As shown, for example, in Fig. 7, top/bottom walls 106A and 106B both
include sloped
surfaces configured to shed liquid when installed in a top position (e.g.,
wall 106A when
electrical box assembly 10 is in a right-open orientation and wall 106B when
electrical box
assembly 10 is in a left-open orientation). As described further herein, hood
200/hinge pin 300
may then be secured to base 100 to provide a top-mounted hinge location for
electrical box
assembly 10 in either the right-open or left-open orientation.
[0023] Top/bottom wall 106 may include a conduit opening 132 (e.g., so that
conduit may be
led into electrical box 100). In one implementation, conduit opening 132 may
include internal
threads to receive a polymer conduit seal 134. Conduit seal 134 may include an
opening 136 to
accept conduit therethrough and threads to engage conduit opening 132 of
top/bottom wall 106.
Conduit seal 134 may be formed from a different material than that of base
100. For example,
conduit seal 134 may be formed from nylon, senoprene, or another corrosion-
resistant material.
Conduit seal 134 may further include a sloped surface 138 to permit tun-off of
water away from
the interface of conduit seal 134 and the conduit.
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100241 Top/bottom wall 106 may further include a channel 140 to receive
hinge pin 300.
Channel 140 may permit hinge pin 300 to be removably inserted through base 100
and
corresponding mounting holes 202 (described further below) in hood 200. Hinge
pin 300 may
extend, for example, the full width of hood 200 (e.g., from back wall 102 to
front wall 104) so as
to engage mounting holes 202 on either side of hood 200 when hinge pin 300 is
inserted into
base 100/hood 200. In one implementation, hinge pin 300 may include a groove
302 to secure
hinge pin 300 within base 100. Top/bottom wall 106 may include a threaded
opening 142 that is
configured to receive a set screw 144. Threaded opening 142 may align set
screw 144 with
groove 302. When hinge pin 300 is installed within channel 140, set screw 144
may be inserted
through threaded opening 142 to engage groove 302 and prevent removal of hinge
pin 300 from
channel 140. Hinge pin 300 may be inserted into channel 140 associated with
top/bottom wall
106A when a right-open orientation of electrical box assembly 10 is desired.
Alternatively, hinge
pin 300 may be inserted into channel 140 associated with top/bottom wall 106B
when a left-open
orientation of electrical box assembly 10 is desired.
100251 Back wall edge 112, front wall edge 114, and top/bottom wall edges
116 may have
different configurations to form a shape of opening 110. A flange 150 may be
set back from
opening 110. Flange 150 may extend laterally from a portion of each of back
wall 102, front
wall 104, and top/bottom walls 106. When hood 200 is in a close position,
flange 150 may fit
under at least a portion of hood 200. More particularly, in one
implementation, the portion of
flange 150 along back wall 102, front wall 104, and top wall 106 may fit under
hood 200 when
hood 200 is closed. Flange 150 may act as a splash guard to prevent liquid
from creeping under
hood 200 past opening 110.
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[0026] Back wall edge 112, front wall edge 114, and top/bottom wall edges
116 may
generally extend a distance beyond flange 150. Front wall edge 114 may include
a recess 152 to
allow a person to view an installed electrical device 12 (e.g., an installed
switch or outlet)
without having to look straight into opening 110 when hood 200 is in an open
position.
[0027] Each of top/bottom wall edges 116 may include a latch clip 154 and
one or more cord
exit recesses 156. Latch clip 154 may be configured to engage hood 200 to
releasably secure
hood 200 in a closed position. Cord exit recesses 156 may provide an exit port
for a cord (e.g.,
associated with a plug that is inserted into an outlet installed in base 100)
when hood 200 is in a
closed position. Lower cord exit recesses 156 associated with top/bottom wall
edges 116A
would be used in a left-open orientation of electrical box assembly 10.
Alternatively, lower cord
exit recesses 156 associated with top/bottom wall edges 116B would be used in
a right-open
orientation of electrical box assembly 10.
[0028] Hood 200 may include a set of generally oval mounting holes 202 and
an opening
204. Mounting holes 202 may be located on opposite sides of hood 200 and may
be configured
to secure hood 200 onto hinge pin 300. Hood 200 may be configured to cause
opening 204 to
engage latch clip 154 of base 100 (e.g., when hood 200 is in a closed
position). Hood 200 may
generally be sized to close over an electrical plug/cord inserted into an
electrical device (e.g., an
outlet) installed in base 100. For example, in one implementation, hood 200
may be sized to
close over an electrical plug with room for an associated cord to bend to exit
through cord exit
recess 156 of top/bottom wall 106. Electrical box assembly 10 may be
configured to require
both a lifting and pivoting motion to release hood 200 from a closed position.
The oval shape of
mounting holes 202 allows hood 200 to lift slightly to allow hood 200 to clear
latch clip 154 at
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opening 204 before pivoting about hinge pin 300 to open hood 200. In one
implementation,
electrical box assembly 100 may be self-closing, such that the weight of hood
200 would cause
an open hood 200 to fall and pivot on hinge 300 to so that opening 204 may
engage latch clip
154.
100291 On the inside of base 100, each of top/bottom walls 106 may further
include a
partition 160. Partition 160 may be integrally formed on the inside surface of
top/bottom walls
106 and may span between inside surfaces of back wall 102 and front wall 104,
respectively.
Generally, partition 160 may define base 100 into a conduit area 162 and a
device mounting area
164. Partition 160 may prevent moisture/condensation in conduit area 162
(e.g., that enters
through conduit opening 132 of top/bottom walls 106 and opening 136 of conduit
seal 134) from
migrating to device mounting area 164. Also, when conduit opening 132 of
top/bottom wall 106
is positioned on the bottom of an installed electrical box assembly 10,
conduit opening 132 may
provide an exit path for moisture within conduit area 162.
100301 Implementations described herein provide an electrical box assembly
with a universal
fit that can be mounted with either a right-side or left-side orientation. The
electrical box
assembly may include a base, a hood, and a hinge pin. The base may have box-
like structure
with an open side face for mounting an electrical device therein. The open
side face may be
configured to receive the electrical device facing essentially perpendicular
to a plane of a
mounting surface. The base also includes one or more standoffs configured to
provide a
mounting structure and to position the box-like structure away from the
mounting surface. The
base further may include a first hinge pin mount to receive the hinge pin when
the base is
installed to the mounting surface with the open side face on a left side and a
second hinge pin
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mount configured to receive the hinge pin when the base is installed to the
mounting surface with
the open side face on a right side. The hinge pin may be configured to be
removably inserted in
either of the first hinge mount or the second hinge mount. The hood may be
configured to
engage the hinge pin and to cover the side opening of the base. The electrical
box assembly is
configured to provide a top-hinged orientation of the hood when the electrical
box is installed
with the side opening facing either of the left side or the right side. Thus,
a single part (or stock-
keeping unit) may be provided for both left- and right-facing orientations.
[0031] The foregoing description of exemplary implementations provides
illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments
described herein to
the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light
of the above
teachings or may be acquired from practice of the embodiments.
[0032] Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is
expressly understood
that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the
invention may be modified.
Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention.
The scope of
the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the
examples, but
should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as
a whole.
[0033] No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the
present application
should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless
explicitly described as such.
Also, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to include one or more
items. Further, the phrase
"based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly
stated otherwise.
