Universal electrical cover

• US 5,773,760 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J., Stark, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US08/468,017
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 220/241, 220/242, 220/3.8
• US Class Current: 174/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets

Abstract

A rain tight universal electrical box cover that will attach to most pre-existing, standard sized, flush or surface mounted electrical boxes and convert it into a rain tight outdoor electrical enclosure. The box cover accepts pre-existing standard electrical devices such as receptacles, switches, timers, and other similar devices and their pre-existing cover plates thereby eliminating the need to provide special provisions or numerous designs to accommodate the variety of electrical devices as is required with many of the popular electrical box covers that are commonly used in the industry today.

Claims

1. A universal electrical box cover for a pre-existing electrical outlet box which pre-existing electrical outlet box has a front face with screw receiving holes therein comprising:

an open front enclosure having four side walls surrounding a chamber and having a back plate that has an opening surrounded by a solid periphery, said opening allowing passage of wiring from the pre-existing box to said enclosure chamber, said periphery having a front surface and a rear surface adapted to having a pre-existing electrical device mounted on said front surface of said periphery which attaches said enclosure and said periphery and said electrical device to said pre-existing electrical outlet box and further adapted to having a pre-existing receptacle plate mounted thereon by being attached to said electrical device;

a gasket of a size to overlay a substantial portion of said rear surface of said periphery of said back plate; and

a front cover member mounted on said enclosure to cover said electrical device, said cover having at least one cord outlet for allowing closure of said cover while one or more cords are installed.

2. The universal electrical cover of claim 1 wherein said enclosure has holes in said back plate, some of said holes adapted to accept pre-existing screws from said pre-existing electrical device and some of said holes are in alignment with pre-existing holes in said pre-existing electrical device and mounting holes or bosses in said pre-existing electrical outlet box.

3. The universal electrical cover of claim 2 wherein said gasket contains holes that align with said holes in said back plate.

4. The universal electrical cover of claim 1 wherein said front cover member has a recess permitting said cord or cords to be folded and passed through said cord outlet.

5. The universal electrical cover of claim 1 wherein an outer edge of said enclosure has an outward extending tab, said tab aligning with an edge of said cover member when said cover member is closed, said tab furthermore causing said cover member to snap fit upon said tab when said cover member is closed, said snap fit furthermore being overridable by pressure applied to pull said cover member open.

6. A method of converting a pre-existing outdoor electrical box to a rain tight outdoor electrical box comprising the steps of:

removing a pre-existing electrical device from said pre-existing outdoor electrical box;

providing a gasket and aligning said gasket with an opening in said pre-existing outdoor electrical box;

providing an open front enclosure having a pivoted cover member and having an integral back plate with an opening surrounded by a solid periphery and aligning said back plate against said gasket aligned with said pre-existing outdoor electrical box, said periphery having holes aligning with threaded screw holes in said pre-existing outdoor electrical box;

passing wiring from said pre-existing outdoor electrical box to said enclosure;

fastening by means of screws said enclosure and said electrical device to said pre-existing outdoor electrical box with said gasket sandwiched therebetween; and

fastening by means of a screw a pre-existing receptacle plate to said electrical box.