Box

• US 5,621,387 A
• Filed: 08/08/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elk Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Elk Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Steele, David C., Strong, Patrick K., Phillips, Kirk B., McRee, J. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/512,664
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/568, 340/572, 340/693, 340/686, 340/687, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/337, 361/600, 361/641, 361/246, 174/52.1, 174/50, 206/701
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/10 Monitoring of the annunciator circuits

Abstract

A box for covering components or the like and for preventing unwanted access thereto. The box comprises a mounting panel having a pair of opposed sides, a top portion, a bottom portion and a back portion. The back portion is adapted to receive a fastener for mounting the mounting panel to a mounting surface. A cover fastener is received within the mounting panel. A slot is formed in the mounting panel and a corresponding tang is located within the cover which is adapted to receive an alarm device therein and removably envelop the mounting panel. A second opening is located in the cover for receiving the cover fastener when said mounting panel is enveloped within the cover. The slot and the tang selectively movably cooperate with each other to enable the cover to initially envelop the mounting panel and subsequently secure the cover to the mounting panel as the cover fastener draws the cover toward the mounting panel, preventing the cover from being removed from the mounting panel without removal of the cover fastener. A circuit board is mounted within one of the mounting panel and the cover and is biased toward an ARMED position. The circuit board and the cover fastener cooperate to detect unauthorized tampering or attempts to remove the cover from the wall. When such activity is detected, an alarm electrically connected to the circuit board is activated.

Claims

1. A box for housing components and for preventing unwanted access thereto, said box comprising:

a mounting panel adapted to be secured to a mounting surface;

a cover cooperating with said mounting panel to form an enclosure;

a cover fastener engaging said mounting panel and said cover for securing said cover to said mounting panel;

an alarm device mounted within said enclosure; and

a trigger mechanism operably connected to said alarm device for activating said alarm device in response to tampering, said trigger mechanism including a trigger member mounted for movement within said enclosure and a switch carried by said trigger member and operatively connected to said alarm device for activating said alarm device responsive to attempted removal of said cover fastener and also responsive to attempted detachment of said mounting panel from a mounting surface.

2. A box in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switch is positioned for engagement by said cover fastener;

and wherein said trigger mechanism further comprises

a biasing member carried by said trigger and having a portion thereof projecting from said mounting panel for engaging the mounting surface to which said mounting panel is secured and biasing said movable trigger to a position in which said switch is engaged by said cover fastener so that either detachment of said mounting panel from its mounting surface or movement of said cover fastener away from said switch will result in disengagement of said switch and resulting activation of said alarm device.

3. A box in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cover fastener comprises a threaded fastener threadably securing said cover to said mounting panel, and wherein said threaded fastener is oriented so that an end portion of the fastener engages said switch and so that unthreading of the fastener produces movement of the fastener away from the switch.

4. A box in accordance with claim 2 wherein said biasing member comprises an adjustment screw threadably engaging said trigger and having an end portion thereof projecting outwardly from said mounting panel for engaging the mounting surface to which said mounting panel is secured and biasing said trigger.

5. A box in accordance with claim 4 wherein said trigger comprises a circuit board positioned in generally parallel, spaced apart relation from said mounting panel, a fastener cooperating with one end portion of said circuit board for mounting said circuit board for pivotal movement to said mounting panel, said switch being mounted to said circuit board adjacent an opposite end portion of said circuit board, and wherein said adjustment screw passes through said circuit board and is threadably connected thereto so that rotation of said adjustment screw moves said end portion of said adjustment screw outwardly from the mounting panel for pivotally biasing the circuit board away from said mounting panel.

6. A box in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mounting panel comprises a pair of opposed sides, a top portion, a bottom portion, a back portion, and a mounting means for securing said mounting panel to its mounting surface, and a first opening defined in said mounting panel for receiving said mounting means, and wherein said cover comprises a pair of opposed sides, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a front portion, a second opening defined in said cover for receiving said mounting means when said mounting panel is connected to said cover.

7. A box in accordance with claim 6 including connecting means provided on said mounting panel and said cover for releasably connecting said cover to said mounting panel.

8. A box in accordance with claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprises a tang located in one of said mounting panel and said cover and a corresponding slot formed in the other of said mounting panel and said cover, said slot having a first portion for receiving said tang and providing interconnection between said cover and said mounting panel upon movement of said cover in a first direction, and said slot having a second portion connected to said first portion for slidably receiving said tang from said first portion for permitting movement of said cover in a second direction into a locked position preventing said cover from being removed from said mounting panel.

9. A box for housing components and for preventing unwanted access thereto, said box comprising:

a mounting panel having a back portion adapted to be secured to a mounting surface;

a cover cooperating with said mounting panel to form an enclosure;

connecting means for releasably connecting said cover and said mounting panel, said connecting means comprising a tang located in one of said mounting panel and said cover and a corresponding slot formed in the other of said mounting panel and said cover, said slot having a first portion extending generally perpendicular to said back portion of said mounting panel for receiving said tang and providing interconnection between said cover and said mounting panel upon movement of said cover in a first direction generally toward said back portion of said mounting panel, and said slot having a second portion connected to said first portion for slidably receiving said tang from said first portion, said second portion of said slot extending generally parallel to said back portion of said mounting panel for permitting movement of said cover in a second direction generally parallel to said back portion of said cover and into a locked position preventing said cover from being removed from said mounting panel; and

a threaded cover fastener threadably engaging said mounting panel and said cover for securing said cover to said base, said cover fastener being so oriented as to cause said cover to be moved relative to said base in said second direction toward said locked position upon rotation of the threaded fastener in a predetermined direction of rotation.

10. A box in accordance with claim 9 wherein said mounting panel comprises a pair of opposed sides, a top portion, a bottom portion, a back portion, and a fastener for securing said mounting panel to its mounting surface, and a first opening defined in said mounting panel for receiving said cover fastener, and wherein said cover comprises a pair of opposed sides, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a front portion, a second opening defined in said cover for receiving said cover fastener when said mounting panel is connected to said cover.

11. A box in accordance with claim 9 wherein said connecting means comprises a pair of said slots provided on opposing sides of said mounting panel, and a corresponding pair of said tangs provided on opposing sides of said cover.

12. A box for housing components and for preventing unwanted access thereto, said box comprising:

a mounting panel having a back portion adapted to be secured to a mounting surface, a pair of opposed side portions extending generally perpendicular from said back portion along opposite sides thereof, and opposing top and bottom portions extending generally perpendicular from said surface along the top and bottom thereof;

a cover having a front, a pair of opposing side portions extending generally perpendicular from said front along opposite sides thereof, and opposing top and bottom portions extending generally perpendicular from said front along the top and bottom thereof, said cover having dimensions such that said side portions and top and bottom portions surroundingly envelop the corresponding side portions and top and bottom portions of said mounting panel to form an enclosure;

connecting means for releasably connecting said cover and said mounting panel, said connecting means comprising a pair of tangs located on opposite side portions of said cover and a corresponding pair of slots located on opposite side portions of said mounting panel, each said slot having a first portion extending generally perpendicular to said back portion of said mounting panel for receiving said tang and providing interconnection between said cover and said mounting panel upon movement of said cover in a first direction generally toward said back portion of said mounting panel, and having a second portion connected to said first portion for slidably receiving said tang from said first portion, said second portion of said slot extending generally parallel to said back portion of said mounting panel for permitting movement of said cover in a second direction generally parallel to said back portion of said cover and into a locked position preventing said cover from being removed from said mounting panel; and

a threaded cover fastener threadably engaging said mounting panel and said cover for securing said cover to said panel, said threaded fastener being so oriented as to cause said cover to be moved in said second direction toward said locked position upon rotation of said threaded fastener in a predetermined direction of rotation;

an alarm device mounted within said enclosure; and

a trigger mechanism operably connected to said alarm device for activating said alarm device in response to tampering, said trigger mechanism including means responsive to attempted removal of said cover fastener and also responsive to attempted detachment of said mounting panel from a mounting surface for activating said alarm device.

13. A box in accordance with claim 12 wherein said trigger mechanism comprises:

a trigger mounted for movement within said enclosure;

a switch carried by said trigger and operatively connected to said alarm device for activating the alarm device, said switch being positioned for engagement by said cover fastener; and

a biasing member carried by said trigger and having a portion thereof projecting from said mounting panel for engaging the mounting surface to which said mounting panel is secured and biasing said movable trigger to a position in which said switch is engaged by said cover fastener so that either detachment of said mounting panel from its mounting surface or movement of said cover fastener away from said switch will result in disengagement of said switch and resulting activation of said alarm device.