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Enclosure for interfacing electrical and control or communication devices

  • US 6,091,023 A
  • Filed: 03/23/1998
  • Issued: 07/18/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A combined enclosure for an electrical device and a control device for controlling the electrical device, the electrical device of the type having two spaced apertures for screws for mounting the electrical device in an electrical power outlet box having two spaced holes for securing the screws and the control device having both controlled connectors and controlling connectors, the combined enclosure comprising:

  • an electrical device enclosure comprised of a top, a bottom, two sides, and a back and defining a rectangular front opening, an opening in the bottom defining two side ledges, and the top having a first mounting tab adjacent to the front opening, the first mounting tab having a hole for securing a screw for mounting the electrical device in the electrical device enclosure;

    a control components enclosure having a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, and two side walls and defining a rectangular top opening, the side walls bent over to form flanges along each side of the top opening, the outside dimensions of the control components enclosure selected to allow the control components enclosure to be moved through the front opening of the electrical device enclosure and bottom wall first down through the opening in the bottom of the electrical device enclosure with minimal clearance so as to hang by the flanges from the side ledges;

    a dividing plate for completing the electrical device enclosure, the plate having an underside for installation flat against the bottom of the electrical device enclosure and providinga second mounting tab having a hole for securing a screw for mounting the electrical device to the plate so that the electrical device may not be mounted in the combined enclosure unless the plate is installed,a mating interference element for securing the plate against movement relative to the electrical device enclosure when the divider is placed against the bottom of the electrical device enclosure and an electrical device is mounted to the mounting tabs; and

    an aperture in the plate for mounting the control device so that when the control device is mounted to the underside of the divider plate the controlled connectors are accessible from the upper side of the divider and the controlling connectors are accessible from the underside of the divider plate.

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