Outdoor garden post

• US 6,752,362 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/112,563
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 248/156, 248/530, 248/87, 248/85, 248/545, 362/431
• US Class Current: 248/156
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/003 Access covers or locks therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/12 capable of being elongated or shortened by the insertion or removal of intermediate pieces
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/50 Pedestal- or pad-mounted casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting and supporting fixtures and electrical devices in an outdoor setting. The apparatus includes an elongated body having side walls and a closed top. The top of the body includes an aperture and an electrically conductive bushing leading into a junction box that meets electrical codes. Integral radial projections extend from the lower portion of the elongated body for anchoring the apparatus to the ground. A wide cable entryway is provided in the lower portion to accept electrical feed cables. The cables are pulled into the junction box and the lower portion of the body buried in the ground. A fixture may be mounted to the bushing and an electrical device mounted in the junction box. After wiring connections are completed within the box and a cover or face plate inserted over the electrical device, the apparatus provides a stable, weatherproof platform for mounting fixtures and electrical devices in an outdoor setting.

Claims

1. An electrical service apparatus comprising:

a rigid hollow elongated body having side walls and a closed top;

said body including an upper, middle, and lower portion;

an opening formed in said side walls of said upper portion;

a separate shelf inserted into and secured to one or more of said side walls to close said hollow body at the lower end of said opening;

an electrical junction box at said opening formed by said side walls, said closed top, and said shelf;

said electrical junction box having secured thereto an electrical device with an associated faceplate;

a plurality of integral projections extending from one or more of said side walls of said middle portion;

one or more sections formed in said shelf to enable easy knockout of said sections as desired for passage of cables;

one or more bosses integral with said side walls at the periphery of said opening;

apertures in each of said bosses, said apertures capable of accepting fasteners of said electrical device; and

a removable cover secured across said opening

wherein said lower portion of said elongated body may be buried in the ground, electrical supply fed into said junction box, wiring leads completed between said electrical device and said supply, said fasteners fastened into said apertures to secure said electrical device within said junction box, and said faceplate secured to said electrical device to provide said electrical device in an outdoor location.

2. The electrical service apparatus of claim 1 wherein said closed top includes

an electrically conductive bushing having a bottom disposed within said electrical junction box; and

said bushing threaded internally to accept an electrical fixture whereby said fixture may be secured to said bushing by rotation therein and wiring from said supply to said fixture completed and contained completely within said junction box.

3. The electrical service apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lower portion is formed into a spike formed by removing the wall along an angled plane.

4. The electrical service apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical junction box is of a size to accept standard ground fault circuit interrupter devices.