Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Switching systems – Condition responsive
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-14
2001-07-17
Fleming, Fritz (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Switching systems
Condition responsive
C307S140000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262496
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical devices in general and in particular to electrical devices for use in areas exposed to the elements, such as rain. Often power is supplied to receptacles at outdoor locations, such as for outdoor lawn and garden equipment, lighting, recreation, etc., and is controlled in an on/off manner from inside a residence or other building. It is often desirable for a user to have greater and more versatile control over the operation of electrically operated devices connected to an outdoor power supply.
Often use of electricity outdoors gives rise to safety concerns for individuals and to concerns of damage to equipment. Many prior art devices are merely enclosures for being secured to separate receptacle boxes and providing shielded access to a separate receptacle, and offer no enhanced control over the operation of the receptacle or devices connected thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an electrical device for use in areas exposed to the elements, which includes a weatherproof enclosure for housing the electrical components of the device and for shielding such components from the elements. The present invention utilizes enhanced operational control to permit a user to easily choose between a variety of operational settings for selecting a desired predetermined automatic mode of operation for electrically operated devices connected to the device of the invention.
The enclosure of the present invention is designed in such a way to prevent water from sprinklers or rain, or other liquids or debris from getting inside the cavity surrounding the electrical devices. The top and bottom housings have a deep safety lap joint to help seal the joint. A step at the bottom of the female (bottom) portion is provided to stop and seal the male (top) housing, further, a small bead is provided on the step to trap the male lap rim. Openings in the housing for mounting screw are sealed by tubular walls with caps, bonded in place inside to prevent water from entering the housing. Similar openings are provided for an optional support stake and are sealed internally with rectangular plates.
As little or no moisture should enter the cover, no particular seal is necessary for the timer/control selection knob or circuit breaker openings in the front face of the housing. The only remaining opening in the housing is for the electrical cord and faces downward for draining purposes. The at least partially transparent cover is attached via a hinge joint comprising tubular pins on the housing (lower) and corresponding holes in the cover. A step interface between the cover and the housing helps seal the joint from water which may seek to run down and along the joint rather than to cross it and enter the enclosure cavity. The top housing edge has a transverse blade which seals against the inside of the cover. A snap latch is provided at the bottom of the enclosure to maintain closure. The step design of the cover-to-housing joint should protect from all but a concentrated blast of water from the rear, which is normally positioned against a wall or other support.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a combination electrical apparatus and enclosure. The electrical apparatus is connected to a power supply and includes at least one receptacle for receiving an electrical plug for connecting the power supply to an electrical device. An electronic control circuit is connected electrically intermediate the receptacle and the power supply and includes an input and an output. A photo-sensitive device is connected to the control circuit input and is adapted to generate a signal that generally indicates a threshold level of darkness. The control circuit is adapted to connect the receptacle to the power supply based upon the signal. The enclosure includes a base which supports and houses the control circuit, and a cover that is hingeably mounted to the base. The cover is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The base includes a front face that supports the receptacle.
In a second embodiment of the present invention the enclosure base comprises front and rear faces, a top, a bottom, and side portions which define an interior space that is adapted to receive electrical components. The base front face supports at least one receptacle, and the base rear face is adapted to mount the enclosure to a support. Each of the base sides include a hinge projection. The enclosure cover comprises a front face, a top, a bottom and side portions. The cover bottom is adapted to receive at least one cord. The cover and base are adapted in combination to form a cavity for receiving electrical components. The cover top and side portions are configured to at least partially overlap the base top and side portions when attached thereto, whereby the electrical components contained within said cavity are substantially isolated from environmental conditions. Each of the cover side portions includes an opening for receiving the base hinge projection and a channel adjacent the cover opening to guide and facilitate positioning of the base projections into the cover openings when mounting the cover onto the base. The cover sides are made of a material that permits deflection of the cover sides to allow mounting of the cover onto the base, whereby the cover may be removed from the base when mounted to a support. Each combination of cover opening and base hinge projection is adapted to form a hinge, whereby the cover may be pivoted between open and closed positions.
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Undated Sales Brochure “Lamar Outdoor Outlets” provided by applicants.
Hornsby James J
Lamar Donald F.
Mackay Spencer L.
'Hubbell Incorporated
Fleming Fritz
Roylance Abrams Berdo & Goodman LLP
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