WEATHERPROOF JUNCTION BOX

Abstract

A weatherproof electrical box assembly may include a cover portion, a center portion and a bottom portion. The cover portion and bottom portion are configured to be integrated as a single piece. The cover portion is removably attached to one side of the center portion, and an adapter plate is removably secured to a recessed portion of the center portion. In one embodiment, the back wall of the bottom portion includes one or more bottom openings for receiving and attaching an electrical wire to an electrical component installed in the bottom portion. One advantage of securing the center portion onto the outer edges of the bottom portion, is that electrical components are thereby recessed in the bottom portion and not positioned adjacent the cover portion. As a result, electrical components may be further protected from any moisture accumulating on the inside cover area of the cover portion.

Claims

1. A weatherproof electrical box assembly comprising a bottom portion having flat back wall with a continuous sidewall member upstanding therefrom; the sidewall member having a pair of oppositely disposed end wall portions and a pair of oppositely disposed sidewall portions to define a planar bottom opening and receiving space for the bottom portion; a center portion having a substantially planar rectangular top surface that is perimetrically bounded by an outer wall with dimensions suitable for attaching onto an outer edge of the opening of the bottom portion; and a cover portion removably and pivotally attached to one side of the center portion, wherein the cover portion along with the center portion and bottom portion are configured to be integrated as a single unit to better protect the electric component and cables received in the receiving space of the bottom portion.

2. The weatherproof electrical box assembly of claim 1, wherein an adapter plate is configured to be removably secured onto a recessed portion of the center portion.

3. The weatherproof electrical box assembly of claim 1, wherein the back wall of the bottom portion includes one or more bottom openings for receiving and attaching an electrical wire to an electrical component installed in the bottom portion.

4. The weatherproof electrical box assembly of claim 1, wherein the center portion includes one or more openings for attaching an electronic component to the center portion.

5. The weatherproof electrical box assembly of claim 4, wherein the adapter plate is configured to cover both the electrical component and opening(s) of the center portion to protect the electrical components from any moisture accumulating near the cover portion.

6. The weatherproof electrical box assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a substantially planar rectangular inner surface that is perimetrically bounded by an outer wall.

7. The weatherproof electrical box assembly of claim 6, wherein the outer wall of the cover portion includes a plurality of vertical cover hinge pins and horizontal cover hinge pins for pivotal engagement with the vertical hinge socket and the horizontal hinge socket of the center portion, respectively

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art disclosing an electrical connector box cover and attached faceplate in a horizontal position, the cover and faceplate being in a closed position.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the weatherproof junction box in the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the weatherproof junction box in the present invention when the cover portion is opened.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the adapter plates of the weatherproof junction box in the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the cover portion having a plurality of vertical cover hinge pins and horizontal cover hinge pins for pivotal engagement with the vertical hinge socket and the horizontal hinge socket of the center portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0022] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.

[0023] All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

[0024] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes reference to the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the terms “comprise or comprising”, “include or including”, “have or having”, “contain or containing” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0025] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0026] In one aspect, referring to FIGS. 2-4, a weatherproof electrical box assembly 200 may include a cover portion 210, a center portion 220 and a bottom portion 230. The cover portion 210 is removably and pivotally attached to one side of the center portion 220, and an adapter plate 240 can be removably secured to a recessed portion 222 of the center portion 220. It is important to note that the cover portion 210 along with the center portion 220 and bottom portion 230 in the present invention are configured to be integrated as a single unit when in use, so the user does not have to bother to engage the cover portion with base connector box as described in the prior arts.

[0027] The bottom portion 230 of the present invention is a generally rectangular box-like member that includes a generally flat back wall 231 with a continuous sidewall member 232 upstanding therefrom. The sidewall member 232 includes a pair of oppositely disposed end wall portions 2321 and 2321′, and a pair of oppositely disposed sidewall portions 2322 and 2322′. The front edges of the end wall portions 231, 231′ and sidewall portions 232, 232′ preferably define a generally planar opening and a receiving space for the bottom portion 230.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the back wall 231 of the bottom portion 230 includes one or more bottom openings 233 for receiving and attaching an electrical wire to an electrical component installed in the bottom portion 230. In one embodiment, the bottom portion 230 includes one or more V-shaped slot that also may be adapted to receive electrical wires for attachment to electrical components positioned in the bottom portion 230. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that one or more bottom openings and V-shaped slots may be included on the bottom portion 230.

[0029] Still referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the center portion 220 is a generally rectangular member having a substantially planar rectangular top surface that is perimetrically bounded by an outer wall. The outer wall of the center portion 220 is of dimensions suitable for attaching onto an outer edge of the opening of the bottom portion 230. As shown in FIG. 3, the center portion 220 includes one or more openings 221 for attaching an electronic component (not shown) to the center portion 220. For example, in one embodiment, openings 221 are provided on the center portion 220 that are adapted to accept a screw to fasten an electronic component to the center portion 220. Preferably, the electronic component lies on top of the center portion 220. Afterwards an adapter plate 240 is configured to cover both the electrical component and opening(s) of the center portion 220 in the normal fashion.

[0030] One advantage of securing the center portion 220 onto the outer edges of the bottom portion 230 is that electrical components are thereby recessed in the bottom portion 230 and not positioned adjacent the cover portion 210. As a result, electrical components may be further protected from any moisture accumulating on the inside cover area of the cover portion 210. Of course, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other techniques may be used to secure the center portion 220 onto the edges of the bottom portion 230. For example, the center portion 220 may be secured to an internal portion of the bottom portion 230 via screws or via incorporating mechanical structure located on both the plate and the internal wall of the box.

[0031] The center portion 220 of the present invention is configured to accommodate any number of electrical components. For example, the center portion 220 can accommodate a single duplex receptacle mounted to a threaded opening. Of course, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the center portion 220 can also accommodate a variety of different components including GFCI receptacles or switches secured atop the center portion 220. To finish installation, the adapter plate 240 is configured to cover the electrical component in the usual manner.

[0032] The cover portion 210 of the present invention is a generally rectangular box-like member having a substantially planar rectangular inner surface that is perimetrically bounded by an outer wall 211. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer wall 211 may include four substantially planar side walls having two sets of substantially parallel sides. The outer wall extends around and helps define inner surface and includes an outwardly flanged rim extending from an end thereof. Preferably, the rim is integrally formed on the cover portion 210 as a single piece component and operates to channel away any water that may fall on the cover portion 210 when the cover portion 210 is in the closed position.

[0033] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the outer wall of the cover portion 210 may include a plurality of vertical cover hinge pins 212 and horizontal cover hinge pins 213 for pivotal engagement with the vertical hinge socket and the horizontal hinge socket of the center portion 220, respectively. By mounting the vertical hinge socket, the vertical cover hinge pin can be rotatably engaged to the hinge socket. The cover portion 210 can thereby be pivoted to rotate into an open or closed position.

[0034] Comparing with the conventional weatherproof box, the present invention is advantageous because the cover portion 210 along with the center portion 220 and the bottom portion 230 are configured to be integrated as a single piece so that the user does not spend extra effort to engage the cover portion 210 with the bottom portion 230 as described in the prior arts. Furthermore, the center portion 220 is received inside the weatherproof box and the adapter plates 240 can be disposed thereon to protect and accommodate different configurations of electrical wires, cables and/or components.

[0035] Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents.