Electrical receptacle mounting preventive of water ingress

• US 10,177,509 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2018
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Gilstrap
• Original Assignee: Mark Gilstrap
• Inventors: Gilstrap, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Herring, Brent W
• Application Number:
  US15/900,113
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 52 60, 52 61, 523026, 522208, 522201, 521262, 521264, 174 50, 174 54, 174 53, 174 58, 174 66, 174 57, 174481, 220 402
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/625 Sheets or foils allowing passage of water vapor but impervious to liquid water; house wraps
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/70 with elongated members of wood
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/107 of the exterior of buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/083 Inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls

Abstract

An electrical receptacle mounting apparatus, having a base portion, made of insulating material, and including a partial enclosure, defining a cavity having a mouth and a through-hole, and being positioned and shaped to prevent water flowing through the through-hole out of the cavity. Also, a panel, extends outwardly for more than 4 cm about the mouth and a telescoping tubular extension, made of insulating material, is fitted into the cavity, so that cavity and extension together are sized to fit a one, two or three electrical receptacles. Additionally, a bolt has a longitudinal segment that is rotatably engaged to a first one of the base portion and the extension, and has a threaded portion being in threaded engagement to a second one of the base portion and the extension, so that rotation of the threaded element causes the extension to move in telescoping manner relative to the cavity.

Claims

1. A method of providing an electrical unit, on the exterior of a structure having a frame, supporting a secondary weather barrier, and a primary weather barrier having an exterior surface and wherein a prospective location of said exterior surface is unknown prior to construction of said primary weather barrier, the method comprising:

providing an electrical unit mounting apparatus, having;

a base portion, including a partial enclosure defining a cavity having a mouth, one or more through-holes, opposed to said mouth, leading to said cavity and a panel, extending outwardly about said mouth;

wherein said partial enclosure includes an inner frame, and a set of outer walls;

a telescoping tubular extension fitted into said cavity, between said inner frame and said outer walls;

a single adjustment bolt, having a longitudinal segment that is rotatably engaged to a first one of said base portion and said extension, and having a threaded portion being in threaded engagement to a second one of said base portion and said extension, so that rotation of said adjustment bolt causes said extension to move in telescoping manner relative to said cavity;

after said frame has been built, but before said primary weather barrier has been installed, attaching said panel, and thereby said mounting apparatus, to said frame;

forming said secondary weather barrier on said frame;

passing an insulated wire through said through-hole defined by said base portion, and electrically connecting said insulated wire to said electrical unit so as to supply electricity to said electrical unit, then attaching an electrical unit into said cavity; and

building said primary weather barrier having an exterior surface, and leaving a through-hole in it, to accommodate said extension; and

rotating said adjustment bolt to move said extension to a level coincident to said exterior surface of said primary weather barrier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical unit is an electrical receptacle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical unit is an electrical lighting fixture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said bolt has a head and extends to a tip that is rotatably attached to said base portion, and said threaded portion is between said head and said tip, and is in threaded engagement to a threaded through-hole defined in said extension.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said bolt has a head and extends to a tip, and wherein said threaded portion that is in threaded engagement to a threaded hole defined in said extension portion, and including a nonthreaded portion, between said head and said threaded portion, that is rotatably engaged to a through-hole in said base.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said secondary weather barrier is formed of sheets of liquid impermeable material, and in said forming of said secondary weather barrier a first sheet of liquid impermeable material is placed so that it extends from above, over a top portion of said panel, and a second sheet of liquid impermeable material is placed so that a bottom portion of said panel extends over a top portion of said second sheet of liquid impermeable material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein every one of said through-holes of said partial enclosure is positioned and shaped to prevent water flowing through said through-hole, out of said cavity.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said tubular extension defines a tube that houses said adjustment bolt, and wherein said adjustment bolt is recessed in said tube, to protect said adjustment bolt.

9. A method of providing an electrical unit, on the exterior of a structure having a frame, supporting a secondary weather barrier, and a primary weather barrier having an exterior surface and wherein a prospective location of said exterior surface is unknown prior to construction of said primary weather barrier, the method comprising:

providing an electrical unit mounting apparatus, consisting of;

a base portion, including a partial enclosure defining a cavity having a mouth, one or more punch-outs, opposed to said mouth, leading to said cavity, every one of said punch-outs being positioned and shaped to permit the creation of a through-hole that prevents water flowing through said through-hole, out of said cavity; and

a panel, extending outwardly about said mouth;

a telescoping tubular extension fitted into said cavity;

a single adjustment bolt, having a longitudinal segment that is rotatably engaged to a first one of said base portion and said extension, and having a threaded portion being in threaded engagement to a second one of said base portion and said extension, so that rotation of said adjustment bolt causes said extension to move in telescoping manner relative to said cavity;

after said frame has been built, but before said primary weather barrier has been installed, punching out at least one of said punchouts, to create one or more through-holes and attaching said panel, and thereby said mounting apparatus, to said frame;

forming said secondary weather barrier on said frame;

passing an insulated wire through said through-hole defined by said base portion, and electrically connecting said insulated wire to said electrical unit so as to supply electricity to said electrical unit, then attaching an electrical unit into said cavity; and

building said primary weather barrier having an exterior surface, and leaving a through-hole in it, to accommodate said extension; and

rotating said adjustment bolt to move said extension to a level coincident to said exterior surface of said primary weather barrier.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said secondary weather barrier is formed of sheets of liquid impermeable material, and in said forming of said secondary weather barrier a first sheet of liquid impermeable material is placed so that it extends from above, over a top portion of said panel, and a second sheet of liquid impermeable material is placed so that a bottom portion of said panel extends over a top portion of said second sheet of liquid impermeable material.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said mounting apparatus is clearly marked to indicate a preferred orientation.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said tubular extension defines a tube that houses said adjustment bolt, and wherein said adjustment bolt is recessed in said tube, to protect said adjustment bolt.