Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-05-29
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S063000, C220S003300, C248S906000, C439S535000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239369
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to devices for mounting a terminal housing in an electrical connection enclosure. More particularly, the present invention relates to mounting brackets for mounting a terminal housing in an underground utility enclosure, such as a splice box, a handhole, or a grade level box enclosure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,374 discloses a terminal housing for buried communications lines having a waterproof housing. In one embodiment, the housing is mounted to the ground with a ground stake. In another embodiment, the housing is mounted to a wall bracket on an underground utility enclosure by a terminal bracket. The terminal bracket can be secured to an upper portion of the wall bracket in a temporary position until installation of the electrical connections are completed, after which the terminal bracket can be moved to a lower position and rigidly affixed in that position.
The patent does not disclose how the terminal bracket is moved from the upper position to the lower position. The commercial product which includes this terminal housing employs a rotating shaft to mount the terminal housing to the underground utility enclosure. The terminal housing is rotated to an upright, vertical position during the installation of the electrical connections. Splines on the shaft allow the terminal housing to be locked in the upright position. Upon completion of the electrical connection installation, the shaft is unlocked and the terminal housing is rotated to a substantially horizontal or inclined position. The shaft does not lock in the inclined position and therefore, the terminal housing rests on the ground surface disposed within the utility enclosure. It is likely that the spline locking mechanism of the shaft would be unable to support the terminal housing and the electrical connections contained therewithin due to the weight of the terminal housing, the cables, and electrical connectors and the moment arm that is formed between the terminal housing and the shaft. Contact between the terminal housing, the ground surface, and ground water results in mechanical and electrical deterioration of the terminal housing. In addition, the spline locking mechanism of the shaft is easily jammed by dirt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention in a preferred form is a bracket assembly for mounting a terminal housing in an utility enclosure which includes a base having first and second laterally spaced base side walls. Each of the side walls has a rear end portion, a front end portion, and a top portion. At least a part of each rear end portion may be mounted to the utility enclosure. The top portion of each base side wall has a downwardly extending notch and an inwardly extending wing and the front end portion of each base side wall has an opening. A rotator arm is disposed within the gap formed between the first and second base side walls. The rotator arm has a longitudinally extending mounting member and first and second laterally spaced arm side walls which extend from the mounting member. The mounting member may be mounted to the terminal housing. Each arm side wall has an outwardly extending locking tab. Each arm side wall also has a mounting tab which extends outwardly into the opening of the adjacent base side walls to mount the rotator arm within the base such that the rotator arm may be rotated between an upright position and a substantially horizontal or inclined position. The locking tabs of the arm side walls are received in the notches of the base side walls when the rotator arm is in the upright position to lock the rotator arm in the upright position. The mounting tabs engage the lower edge of the openings of the base side walls and the mounting member of the rotator arm engages the wings of the base side walls to support the rotator arm when the rotator arm is in the inclined position.
In one preferred embodiment, the locking tabs extend outwardly from a front end portion of the arm side walls, the mounting tabs extend outwardly from a bottom portion of the arm side walls, and each of the wings is positioned in the top portion of the base side wall. Preferably, the openings of the base side walls each have an upper portion and a lower portion. The width of the upper portion is greater than the width of the lower portion, forming a shoulder defining the lower edge of the opening. The thickness of each mounting tab is less than the width of the lower portion of the openings such that at least a portion of each mounting tab is received in the lower portion of the opening when the rotator arm is in the upright position.
It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved bracket assembly for mounting a terminal housing within a utility enclosure.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a bracket assembly which supports a terminal housing mounted within a utility enclosure in an inclined position and which locks the terminal housing in an upright position for the installation of electrical connections.
It is further an object of the invention to provide a bracket assembly for mounting a terminal housing within a utility enclosure which is inexpensive to manufacture and install.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and specification.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 367464 (1996-02-01), Jones et al.
patent: D. 430849 (2000-09-01), Leschinger et al.
patent: 3557299 (1971-01-01), Dienes
patent: 3848074 (1974-11-01), Channell
patent: 4243834 (1981-01-01), Logioco
patent: 4542437 (1985-09-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5210374 (1993-05-01), Channell
patent: 5308923 (1994-05-01), Puigcerver et al.
patent: 5942726 (1999-08-01), Reiker
patent: 6008452 (1999-12-01), Lux, Jr.
patent: 712668 (1965-06-01), None
Alix Yale & Ristas, LLP
Electric Motion Company, Inc.
Patel Dhiru R
Reichard Dean A.
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