Weatherproof outlet cover

• US 4,803,307 A
• Filed: 06/29/1987
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Shotey
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Shotey
• Inventors: Shotey, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, A. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tone, David A.
• Application Number:
  US07/066,993
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 174/67, 220/242, 439/133, 439/135, 439/136, 439/142, 439/144, 439/147
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets

Abstract

A weatherproof outlet cover is provided for fitting over an outdoor electric outlet. The cover comprises a mouting plate which is demountably secured to the outlet housing in place of a conventional face plate, and a lid member which is demountably and pivotably mounted over the mounting plate. At least one access slot is provided in the bottom of the lid member for enabling a corresponding number of electrical cords to be extended therethrough. A first sealing member is disposed between the mounting plate and the wall which surrounds the outlet housing, and a second sealing member is disposed between the lid member and the mounting plate, in order to prevent foreign matter from entering the outlet.

Claims

1. A weatherproof cover for an outdoor electrical outlet, said cover comprising:

(a) a waterproof, corrosion-resistent, and electrically non-conductive mounting plate;

(b) fastener means for demountably securing said mounting plate to the outlet;

(c) said mounting plate including a top edge and a lip formed in said top edge;

(d) a waterproof, corrosion-resistant lid member for enclosing the outdoor electrical outlet and the plug of at least one electrical cord mountable therein, said lid member being movably attached to said mounting plate and having at least one access slot formed therein for allowing the electrical cord portion of the plug to extend from said lid member;

(e) said lid member including a top wall and a hook portion depending from said top wall for engaging said lip to pivotally engage said lid member with said mounting plate;

(f) a first sealing member for disposition between said mounting plate and the outlet for preventing passage of foreign elements therebetween; and

(g) a second sealing member disposed between said mounting plate and said lid member for preventing passage of foreign elements therebetween.

2. The weatherproof cover according to claim 1, further comprising a latching mechanism for releasably maintaining said lid member in a closed position over said mounting plate.

3. The waterproof cover according to claim 1, in which said first sealing member comprises a gasket for placement between the outlet and said mounting plate.

4. The weatherproof cover according to claim 1, in which said second sealing member comprises a strip of weatherstripping material mounted inside said lid member.

5. A weatherproof cover for an outdoor electrical outlet, said cover comprising:

(a) a waterproof, corrosion-resistant, and electrically non-conductive mounting plate;

(b) fastener means for demountably securing said mounting plate to the outlet;

(c) a waterproof, corrosion-resistant lid member for enclosing the outdoor electrical outlet and the plug of at least one electrical cord mountable therein, said lid member being movably attached to said mounting plate and having at least one access slot formed therein for allowing the electrical cord portion of a mountable electrical cord to extend from said lid member;

(d) a first sealing member for disposition between the mounting plate and the outlet for preventing passage of foreign elements therebetween;

(e) a second sealing member disposed between said mounting plate and said lid member comprising a strip of weatherstripping material inside said lid member for preventing passage of foreign elements therebetween; and

(f) a raised ridge formed on said mounting plate for cooperating with said second sealing member to improve its sealing ability and prevent foreign elements from passing between said mounting plate and said lid member.

6. A weatherproof cover for an outdoor electrical outlet of the type including an outlet housing contained within an opening in a building wall and at least one plug-in receptacle, with a hole being provided in the center of the outlet for receiving a fastener which ordinarily secures a conventional face plate to the housing, said cover comprising:

(a) a waterproof, corrosion-resistant, and electrically non-conductive mounting plate for mounting to the outlet housing in place of the conventional face plate, said mounting plate including a base member having at least one cut-out defined therein for exposing the at least one plug-in receptacle of the outlet and at least one hole alignable with the hole in the outlet housing for receiving a fastener;

(b) fastener means for extending through the alignable holes in the outlet and said mounting plate for demountably securing said mounting plate to the outlet housing;

(c) a waterproof, corrosion-resistant, open-backed lid member for covering said mounting plate, said lid member including,

(I) a closed front wall,

(II) a pair of spaced apart side walls,

(III) a top wall,

(IV) a bottom wall, said bottom wall having at least one rearwardly opening access slot defined therein for allowing at least one electrical cord to be extended therethrough, and

(V) a rim structure extending around the perimeter of said lid member so as to closely encircle said mounting plate when said lid member is mounted in a closed position on said mounting plate;

(d) a first sealing member for disposition between said mounting plate and the building wall surrounding the outlet for preventing passage of foreign materials therebetween; and

(e) a second sealing member for disposition between said lid member and said mounting plate.

7. The weatherproof cover of claim 6, further comprising cooperating elements of a demountable interconnection on said mounting plate and said lid member for pivotably securing said lid member to said mounting plate.

8. The weatherproof cover of claim 7, in which said cooperating elements of a demountable interconnection comprise:

(a) an elongated flange member extending upwardly along the upper edge of said base member of said mounting plate; and

(b) an inturned hook portion on said rim structure of said lid member for fitting over said elongated top flange of said mounting plate to form a pivotable connection therewith.

9. The weatherproof cover of claim 8, in which said rim structure on said lid member comprises:

(a) a peripheral flange extending normally and outwardly from the rearmost edges of said top, bottom and side walls of said lid member, said peripheral flange defining a ldge for supporting said second sealing member; and

(b) a lip element extending normally and rearwardly from the outer edge of said peripheral flange, said inturned hook portion of said rim structure being formed along the rear edge of said lip element.

10. The weatherproof cover of claim 9, in which said second sealing member comprises a strip of weatherstripping material affixed to the inner surface of said ledge and extending continuously along the top and side portions of the lip element and partially along the bottom portion thereof.

11. The weatherproof cover of claim 10, further comprising means on said mounting plate for cooperating with said second seal member to improve its sealing ability and prevent foreign matter from passing between said mounting plate and said lid member when said lid member is in a closed position over said mounting plate.

12. The weatherproof cover of claim 11 in which said means on said mounting plate comprises a raised ridged formed on the front surface of said base member, and circumscribing said at least one cut-out.

13. The weatherproof cover of claim 6, in which said first sealing member comprises a gasket for disposition between the outlet and said mounting plate.

14. The weatherproof cover of claim 6, further comprising a latching mechanism for releasably maintaining said lid member in a closed position over said mounting plate.

15. The weatherproof cover of claim 14, in which said latching mechanism comprises:

(a) a resilient leaf spring having one end fixedly secured in said front wall of said lid member;

(b) a hook formed at the opposite end of said leaf spring;

(c) a push button depending from said leaf spring;

(d) an aperture formed in the bottom of said mounting plate for releasably receiving said hook at the end of said leaf spring; and

(e) a hole formed in said bottom wall of said lid member for exposing said push button.

16. A weatherproof electrical outlet comprising:

(a) an outlet housing contained within an opening in a building wall;

(b) at least one plug-in receptacle in said outlet housing;

(c) a waterproof, corrosion resistant, and electrically non-conductive mounting plate demountably secured to said outlet housing, said mounting plate including,

(I) a base member having at least one cut-out defined therein for exposing said at least one plug-in receptacle,

(II) a raised ridge formed on the front surface of said base member, circumscribing said at least one cut-out, and

(III) an elongated flange member extending upwardly along the upper edge of said base member of said mounting plate;

(d) a waterproof, corrosion-resistant, open-backed lid member for covering said mounting plate, said lid member including,

(I) a closed front wall,

(II) a pair of spaced apart side walls,

(III) a top wall,

(IV) a bottom wall, said bottom wall having at least one rearwardly opening access slot defined therein for allowing at least one electrical cord to be extended therethrough,

(V) a peripheral flange extending normally and outwardly from the rearmost edges of said top, bottom and side walls of said lid member, said peripheral flange defining a ledge;

(VI) a lip element extending normally and rearwardly from the outer edge of said peripheral flange; and

(VII) an inturned hook portion formed along the rear edge of the top of said lip element, for fitting over said elongated top flange of said mounting plate and forming a pivotable demountable interconnection therewith;

(e) a gasket for disposition between said mounting plate and the building wall surrounding said outlet for preventing passage of foreign materials therebetween; and

(f) a strip of weatherstripping material affixed to the inner surface of the ledge of said peripheral flange of said cover member and extending continuously along the top and side portions of said lip element and partially along the bottom portion thereof, said strip being disposed for cooperation with said raised ridge on said mounting plate to form a tight seal preventing entry of foreign material when said lid member is in a closed position over said mounting plate.

17. The weatherproof outlet of claim 16, further comprising a latching mechanism for releasably maintaining said lid member in a closed position over said mounting plate.

18. The weatherproof outlet of claim 17, in which said latching mechanism comprises:

(a) a resilient leaf spring having one end fixedly secured in said front wall of said lid member;

(b) a hook formed at the opposite end of said leaf spring;

(c) a push button depending from said leaf spring;

(d) an aperture formed in the bottom of said mounting plate for releasably receiving said hook at the end of said leaf spring; and

(e) a hole formed in said bottom wall of said lid member for exposing said push button.