Abstract
A lockout frame arrangement for an electrical outlet box arrangement, comprising an electrical outlet box arranged for receipt of electrical outlets, a cover plate attachable to an open side of the electrical outlet box, for securement of electrical sockets therewithin, with a rectilinear outer cover capturing frame securely sandwiched between the cover plate and the open side of the electrical outlet box. An outer protective cover plate is matingly attached to and securable within a perimeter of the outer cover capturing frame.
Claims
1. An electrical outlet box cover assembly arrangement for attachment to an electrical outlet box, which outlet box has a cover plate attachable to an open side thereof, for securement of electrical sockets therewithin, the cover assembly arrangement enabling the safe captured enclosure of an electrical plug selectably and protectively enclosed therewithin in an electrically unconnected configuration, the cover assembly arrangement comprising: a rectilinear outer-cover-capturing frame for sandwiched inclusion between the cover plate and the open side of the electrical outlet box; an outer protective cover plate matingly attached to and securable within a perimeter of the outer cover capturing frame.
2. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer cover capturing frame has a plurality of spaced apart notches in adjacent shoulder portion thereof.
3. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer cover capturing frame has at least one hasp extending outwardly from the frame portion thereof.
4. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer cover capturing frame has a set of notches on the frame across from the at least one hasp extending outwardly from the frame portion thereof.
5. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer cover capturing frame has a further plurality of spaced apart notches in an adjacent shoulder frame portion thereof.
6. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the outer protective cover has a pair of foot tabs extending therefrom on a first side.
7. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the outer protective cover has a hasp extending therefrom on a second side opposite from the first side.
8. An electrical outlet box cover assembly arrangement for attachment to an electrical outlet box, which outlet box has a cover plate attachable to an open side thereof, for securement of electrical sockets therewithin, the cover assembly arrangement enabling the safe captured enclosure of an electrical plug selectably and protectively enclosed therewithin in an electrically unconnected configuration, wherein the cover assembly arrangement comprises a rectilinear outer-cover-capturing frame for sandwiched inclusion between the cover plate and the open side of the electrical outlet box; an outer protective cover plate matingly attached to and securable within a perimeter of the outer cover capturing frame; and wherein the outer protective cover has an inner surface shaped and the dimensioned so as to prevent mating of a plug with an outlet when that outer protective cover is secured in place on the outer cover capturing frame.
9. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the outer protective cover plate comprises a pair of U-shaped pivotable lockout frame members pivotally attached by spaced apart pivot axes, to an inside shoulder of the outer cover capturing frame.
10. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein each of the U-shaped pivotable lockout frame members have a hasp on their outermost ends.
11. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the distance apart between adjacent spaced apart pivot axes is smaller than the diameter of an electrical plug to be utilized therewith.
12. The electrical outlet box cover assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover capturing frame has a single hasp extending peripherally therefrom.
13. An electrical junction box lockout system arranged to be attachable to an electrical junction box, the lockout system arranged to prevent misuse of the electrical junction box comprising: a double-hasp configured outer protective cover-capturing-frame positioned onto an open end of the junction box; a standard junction box cover plate secured to the electrical junction box, sandwiching the outer protective cover-capturing-frame therebetween; and a hasp-configured, electrical-plug-crowding, outer protective cover secured from a first side thereof to a side of the cover-capturing frame.
14. The electrical junction box lockout system as recited in claim 13, wherein the outer protective cover has an internal electrical plug interfering surface thereon.
15. The electrical junction box lockout system as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer protective cover has an external scratch resisting pattern of raised ribs thereon.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a junction box, a cover capturing frame and a standard cover prior to a protective outer cover being assembled therewith;
(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the junction box, the cover capturing frame and the standard cover assembled together exposing an electrical outlet centrally therewithin;
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the junction box shown in FIG. 2, displaying other standard covers which may be adaptable and mated to the junction box;
(5) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a junction box with the cover capturing frame, a standard cover plate and an outer protective cover, with portions cut away, secured to a hasp in the 6 o'clock orientation;
(6) FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a junction box similar to that shown in FIG. 4A with the hasp of the protective cover secured to a hasp of the cover capturing frame at the 9 o'clock orientation;
(7) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a cover receiving frame and a protective outer cover showing the exemplary structural details thereof;
(8) FIG. 6 is a plan view of the protective outer cover and cover capturing frame, represented in FIG. 5, now shown assembled there together;
(9) FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of the hasps of the protective cover and the cover capturing frame;
(10) FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 6;
(11) FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the edge of a pair of hasps between the cover capturing frame and the protective cover;
(12) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a protective cover and protective cover capturing frame prior to their assembly, showing a rear side of the protective cover frame;
(13) FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a lockout arrangement with an outer protective cover oriented with a plug wire extending into a side direction therefrom;
(14) FIG. 9B is a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 9A with the protective cover oriented 90 away from that shown in FIG. 9A;
(15) FIG. 10 is a view showing a cover capturing frame and a number of exemplary outer protective covers which may be matable therewith;
(16) FIG. 11A is a perspective view of an outer protective cover snapped onto the cover capturing frame in a vertical orientation;
(17) FIG. 11B is a perspective view of an outer protective cover snapped onto the cover receiving frame in a horizontal orientation;
(18) FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a junction box with a power cable therewith in a series of outlets therewithin surrounded by a cover receiving or capturing frame and a standard box cover plate and an outer protective cover therewith;
(19) FIG. 13A is an assembly similar to that shown in FIG. 12 with the protective cover in a horizontal orientation;
(20) FIG. 13B is a view similar to that of FIG. 13 a with the protective cover in a vertical orientation;
(21) FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a junction box with a pair of U-shaped pivot lockout frames attached therewith;
(22) FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the junction box with the U-shaped pivot lockout frames blocking out a plug from a receptacle within that junction box;
(23) FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the frame and U-shaped pivot assembly shown in an open configuration; and
(24) FIG. 15B is a perspective view of the U-shaped pivot assembly shown closed upon one another.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(25) Referring now to the drawings in detail, beginning particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown the present invention which comprises a safety lockout arrangement for handy-box type junction boxes 20 and other electrical enclosures typically found in many industrial applications today. The safety lockout arrangement comprises a rectilinear outer protective-cover-capturing frame 22 which mates against the opened side 24 of a rectilinear junction box housing 20. The cover capturing frame 22 has a recessed, radially inwardly directed inner flange 26 having a central opening 28 therewithin, as may be seen in FIGS. 1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15A and 15B. A standard outlet cover 30 is arranged to mate against the recessed inner flange 26, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2. The standard outlet cover 30 typically has a pair of cover securement bolts 32 which are received through corner openings 34 thereon, which securement bolts 32 pass through openings 36 in the recessed inner flange 26 of the cover capturing frame 22, and are threadedly secured into a threaded securement bolt receiving hole 38 typically located on diagonal corners of the junction box 20, as represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
(26) The cover capturing frame 22 may have one or preferably at least two cover receiving plate hasps 40 and 42 arranged on adjacent sides of the cover capturing frame 22, as may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9A, 9B, 10, 11A, 11B, 12, and 13A. The cover capturing frame 22 has a peripheral shoulder 44 disposed therearound. The peripheral shoulder 44 has a plurality of spaced apart protective cover frame engagement slots 46 on at least two sides thereof for engagement with an outer protective cover 50.
(27) The assembly of a standard (typical) cover plate 30 onto a standard (typical) junction box 20 sandwiches the cover capturing frame 22 therebetween, as represented in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 7, 9B and 13A. The outermost protective cover 50, is then insertably mated and pivotably attachable and lockable to the face of the perimeter shoulder 44 of the cover capturing frame 22, as represented in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9A, 9B.
(28) The protective outer cover 50, will preferably have a pair of spaced apart protective cover-engagement feet 52 extending from one side thereof, as may be seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, and that outer protective cover 50 will have a protective cover hasp 54, extending from an opposite side thereof, as exemplarily represented in FIG. 5. The spaced apart protective cover engagement feet 52 will mate with the spaced apart protective cover frame engagement slots 46 arranged on the shoulder 44 of the cover capturing frame 22. The hasp 54 on the protective outer cover 50 will be matable with one of the at least two hasps 40 or 42 arranged on adjacent sides of the cover capturing frame 22. By virtue of having two hasps 40 and 42 extending outwardly from adjacent sides of the sandwiched cover frame 22 as shown in FIG. 1, permits selecting the securement orientation (eg. 6 o'clock or 9 o'clock) of the protective outer cover 50 relative to the sandwiched cover frame 22 and its associated junction box 20.
(29) The entire assembly for such a handy box lockout arrangement thus comprises the standard junction box 20 which may be securable to a wall or planar surface, with the cover capturing frame 22 arranged against its open face 24, and held at that location by a standard cover plate 30, which typically exposes the electrical outlets 58, as may be seen in FIG. 4B. The assembly also includes a pivotably securable protective outer cover 50 which is anchored to the cover capturing frame 22 along one edge thereof and is lockable to that cover frame 22 on an opposite edge thereof by a padlock 60 securing the hasp 54 of the protective outer cover 50 to one of the selected hasps 40 or 42 on the sandwiched (outer) cover capturing frame 22, as represented in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 9A, 9B, 13A, and 13B.
(30) It is to be noted that in FIG. 3, three separate standard cover plates are shown which could be individually attachable to the cover capturing frame 22. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show the outer protective cover 50 in a cutaway representation. It is also be noted that in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the hasp 54 from the protective outer cover 50 is attached to respectively different hasps 42 and 40 respectively on the cover capturing frame 22. FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the feet 52 of a protective cover 50 about to be inserted into the slots 46 on the shoulder portion 44 of a cover capturing frame 22. The opposite side of the outer protective cover 50 from the feet 52, is shown with a hasp 54 thereon with a side tab 55 for engagement with a notch on either flange 40 or 42 of the cover capturing frame 22. FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the edge representation of FIG. 7 showing the outer protective cover 50 with a hasp and its shoulder engaging finger engaging a shoulder on the hasp 42 of the outer cover capturing frame 22.
(31) FIG. 6 represents a planar outer protective cover 50 with a plurality of elongated ribs 58 disposed thereon. The ribs 58 minimize any scratching that the outer cover 50 may otherwise encounter, which is particularly desirable if that outer cover 50 is transparent. FIG. 8 is an exploded representation of an outer protective cover 50 about to engage the cover capturing frame 22, wherein the protective cover 50 may have a gasket 62 around its perimeter for sealing purposes. A further gasket 64 may be arranged on the inwardly directed side of the flange 26 of the cover capturing frame 22.
(32) FIG. 9A shows a protective cover 50 mounted against a cover capturing frame 22 with a cord or plug wire 66 extending from a side opening 68 of the outer protective cover 50. FIG. 9B shows the protective cover 50 with a cutaway portion showing a plug 70 captured within the outer protective cover 50 and being prevented from electoral connection with an outlet 72 arranged within the cover plate 30. The dimension of the outer protective cover 50 is such as to deny the ability of an electrical plug 70 to be electrically utilized within that cover 50 while that cover 50 is secured to the cover capturing frame 22.
(33) FIG. 10 represents a cover receiving or capturing frame 22 shown with a variety of utilizable protective covers 50, which could be matable therewith, one at a time. FIGS. 11A and 11B show the protective cover 50 snapped onto the cover capturing frame 22 in two different orientations, so as to permit electrical cord, not shown, to exit for example, from the top or bottom, or from the left or the right.
(34) FIG. 13A shows a protective outer cover 50 with a portion cut away, showing electric plug 70 within the protective outer cover 50, yet also maintained without electrical contact with the electrical outlets 72 within the inner cover plate 30.
(35) FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B represent a further embodiment of the present invention wherein a pair of U-shaped pivotable lockout frame members 80 and 82 are pivotally attached to the shoulder portion 44. The representation shown in FIG. 14A has the U-shaped lockout frame members 80 and 82 opened 180 apart from one another. The distance between the respective pivot axes 84 and 86 is less than the diameter of the electrical plug 88 disposed into an electrical outlet 90. The diameter of a plug 88 which would mate into the outlet 90 is greater than the distance d1 between the pivot axes 84 and 86, so that when those U-shaped lockout frames 80 and 82 are rotated toward one another and locked together, they effectively prevent electrical plug 88 from being inserted into an outlet socket 90 within the assembly. The length of the arms 91 on the U-shaped lockout frame members 80 and 82 of course no longer than the diameter d2 of the electrical plug 88. Each of the U-shaped lockout frame members 80 and 82 preferably have a hasp 93 extending therefrom to enable a padlock 94 to be secured therethrough. FIGS. 15 A and 15 B shows a U-shaped frame members 80 and 82 without any electrical cords and plug therebetween, for clarity of viewing.
