Method for making an enclosure

• US 10,112,339 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ExteNet Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ExteNet Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Stahl, Gary D., Klosowski, Gregory L., Conklin, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSON, MONICA ANNE
• Application Number:
  US15/374,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20170151705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/006 Using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/10 Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/267 Two sheets being thermoformed in separate mould parts and joined together while still in the mould B29C49/0691 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/562 using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined using plastic snap elements B29C65/58; using plastic rivets B29C65/601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0003 having particular electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3481 Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements

Abstract

An enclosure for housing electrical equipment is disclosed. The enclosure is produced by thermoforming four separate pieces or bodies together to form the top and bottom of the enclosure. The enclosure is made of a moldable material, such as plastic or fiberglass.

Claims

1. An apparatus for housing at least one electrical component, the apparatus comprising:

a top part being comprised of a first plastic inner body attached to a first plastic outer shell;

a bottom part being comprised of a second plastic inner body attached to a second plastic outer shell;

wherein the second inner body comprises a base with upwardly extending side walls and the second outer shell comprises a base with upwardly extending side walls;

wherein the second inner body is positioned within the second outer shell such that the walls of the second inner body are positioned within the side walls of the second outer shell;

wherein the second inner body includes a lip that extends downwardly from the upwardly extending side walls; and

wherein the lip is positioned within the upwardly extending side walls of the base of the second outer shell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inner body comprises a base with downwardly extending side walls and the first outer shell comprises a base with downwardly extending side walls;

and

wherein the first inner body is positioned within the first outer shell such that the walls of the first inner body are positioned within the walls of the first outer shell.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein there is a first space located between the first inner body and the first outer shell and a second space located between the second inner body and the second outer shell.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inner body and first outer shell are vacuum formed, and the second inner body and second outer shell are vacuum formed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein adhesive is used to attach the first inner body to the first outer shell and the second inner body to the second outer shell.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inner body comprises a base with downwardly extending side walls and the first outer shell comprises a base with downwardly extending side walls, and wherein the first inner body is positioned within the first outer shell such that the walls of the first inner body are positioned within the walls of the first outer shell.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lip is also positioned within the downwardly extending walls of the first outer shell when the first outer shell is in a closed position with respect to the second outer shell.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lip is exposed to an exterior of the enclosure when the when the first outer shell is in a closed position with respect to the second outer shell.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inner body is positioned within the first outer shell to form a double-walled top part of the enclosure;

and

wherein the second inner body is positioned within the second outer shell to form a double-walled bottom part of the enclosure.