Enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safety

• US 6,964,463 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hindlepower, Inc., Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hindlepower, Inc.
• Inventors: Hindle, William A., Infante, Carlos A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US10/439,473
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 312/291, 312/292, 312/326, 312/257.1, 312/329, 312/114
• US Class Current: 312/291
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/32 Mounting of devices therein
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Enclosure for holding an electrical device with dual access panels for safely limiting access to the device while allowing maintenance thereof. The housing defines an access opening with a limited accessing construction thereover. Interior and exterior panels are included each movable to be closed and opened. The interior panel is preferably transparent to facilitate viewing therethrough. The exterior panel is preferably metal and is hinged to the housing for movement between closed and opened positions. Individual accessing apertures can be defined in the interior and exterior panels to allow localized access by servicing personnel. Specific positioning of the access opening in the interior and/or exterior panels provides access to limited areas of the electrical device within the housing and prevents access to other areas for safety. The interior panel can have indicia imprinted thereon to facilitate servicing.

Claims

1. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing, said enclosure means comprising:

A. a housing means defining a housing chamber means adapted to receive an electrical device positioned therewithin, said housing means defining an access opening means therein to facilitate access to the electrical device positioned therein for servicing;

B. a limited accessing construction affixable movably with respect to said housing means adjacent said opening means and being positionable extending over and across said access opening means for controlling access therethrough to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said limited accessing construction comprising;

(1) an interior panel means detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over said access opening means for limiting access through said access opening means to an electrical device positioned therewithin, said interior panel means being movable between an interior closed position extending over said access opening means and an interior opened position not extending over said access opening means, said interior panel means defining an interior access aperture means for facilitating limited localized access through said interior panel means to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means;

(2) a exterior panel means detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over and across said interior panel means and over and across said access opening means for further restricting access to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means and for restricting access to said interior panel means located therebehind, said exterior panel means being movable between an exterior closed position extending over said access opening means and an exterior opened position not extending over said access opening means, said exterior panel means defining an exterior access aperture means for facilitating limited localized access therethrough to said interior panel means and to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said interior access aperture means and said exterior access aperture means being adjacently positioned to facilitate simultaneous access therethrough in order to allow access to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means from outside of said housing means, said interior access aperture means and said exterior access aperture means also being in registration with respect to one another responsive to said interior panel means being in the interior closed position and said exterior panel means being in the exterior closed position to further facilitate localized access to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means from outside of said housing means; and

(3) a peripheral lip means secured with respect to said exterior panel means around said exterior access aperture means thereof and extending inwardly therefrom through said interior access aperture means of said interior panel means into said housing chamber means responsive to said interior panel means being in the interior closed position and said exterior panel means being in the exterior closed position to facilitate access therethrough to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means.

2. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 1 wherein said interior panel means is at least partially transparent to facilitate safe viewing of an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means responsive to said exterior panel means being in the exterior open position and said interior panel means being in the interior closed position.

3. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 1 wherein said interior panel means includes informational indicia means positioned thereupon to provide servicing guidance and instructions to personnel servicing an electrical device through said access opening means of said housing means.

4. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 3 wherein said interior panel means defines an interior access aperture means for facilitating limited localized access through said interior panel means to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means while simultaneously viewing of said informational indicia means positioned thereupon.

5. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 1 wherein said limited accessing construction including an interior securement means adapted to detachably secure said interior panel means with respect to said housing means and to allow complete disengagement therebetween.

6. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing means includes a recessed ledge means extending along at least a portion of the periphery of said access opening means and adapted to receive said interior securement means detachably secured with respect thereto to facilitate detachable securement of said interior panel means with respect to said housing extending over and across said access opening means.

7. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 6 wherein said recessed ledge means is recessed within said housing chamber means to facilitate positioning of said exterior panel means in the exterior closed position extending thereover and immediately thereadjacent.

8. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 6 wherein said interior securement means includes plurality of screws positionable extending through said interior panel means and engageable with respect to said recessed ledge means to facilitate detachable securement of said interior panel means with respect to said housing means selectively.

9. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 1 wherein said limited accessing construction including an exterior securement means adapted to pivotally secure said exterior panel means with respect to said housing means adjacent said access opening means thereof to allow pivotal movement thereof between the exterior opened position and the exterior closed position.

10. An enclosure means for holding with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing an electrical device having a limited accessing construction as defined in claim 9 wherein said exterior securement means comprises a hinge means.

11. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 1 wherein said interior panel means is made of a transparent plexiglas material.

12. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 1 wherein said interior panel means and said exterior panel means each extend completely over said access opening means to prevent access therethrough to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means.

13. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 1 wherein said interior panel means is made of a transparent thermoplastic material and said exterior panel means is made of an opaque metallic material.

14. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing, said enclosure means comprising:

A. a housing means defining a housing chamber means adapted to receive an electrical device positioned therewithin, said housing means defining an access opening means therein to facilitate access to the electrical device positioned therein for servicing;

B. a limited accessing construction affixable movably with respect to said housing means adjacent said opening means and being positionable extending over and across said access opening means for controlling access therethrough to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said limited accessing construction comprising;

(1) an interior panel means detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over said access opening means for limiting access through said access opening means to an electrical device positioned therewithin, said interior panel means being movable between an interior closed position extending over said access opening means and an interior opened position not extending over said access opening means, said interior panel means defining an interior access aperture means for facilitating limited localized access through said interior panel means to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said interior panel means being at least partially transparent to facilitate safe viewing of an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means responsive to said interior panel means being in the interior closed position;

(2) a exterior panel means detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over and across said interior panel means and over and across said access opening means for further restricting access to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means and for restricting access to said interior panel means located therebehind, said exterior panel means being movable between an exterior closed position extending over said access opening means and an exterior opened position not extending over said access opening means, said exterior panel means defining an exterior access aperture means for facilitating limited localized access therethrough to said interior panel means and to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said interior access aperture means and said exterior access aperture means being adjacently positioned to facilitate simultaneous access therethrough in order to facilitate access to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means from outside of said housing means;

(3) an interior securement means adapted to detachably secure said interior panel means with respect to said housing means and to allow complete disengagement therebetween; and

(4) an exterior securement means adapted to pivotally secure said exterior panel means with respect to said housing means adjacent said access opening means thereof to allow pivotal movement thereof between the exterior opened position and the exterior closed position.

15. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing, said enclosure means comprising:

A. a housing means defining a housing chamber means adapted to receive an electrical device positioned therewithin, said housing means defining an access opening means therein to facilitate access to the electrical device positioned therein for servicing, said housing means including a recessed ledge means extending along at least a portion of the periphery of said access opening means and being recessed within said housing chamber means;

B. a limited accessing construction affixable movably with respect to said housing means adjacent said opening means and being positionable extending over and across said access opening means for controlling access therethrough to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said limited accessing construction comprising;

(1) an interior panel means detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over said access opening means for limiting access through said access opening means to an electrical device positioned therewithin, said interior panel means being movable between an interior closed position extending over said access opening means and an interior opened position not extending over said access opening means, said interior panel means defining an interior access aperture means for facilitating limited localized access through said interior panel means to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said interior panel means being of transparent thermoplastic material to facilitate safe viewing of an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means responsive to said interior panel means being in the interior closed position, said interior panel means including informational indicia means positioned thereupon to provide servicing guidance and instructions to personnel servicing an electrical device through said access opening means of said housing means;

(2) a exterior panel means of opaque metallic material detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over and across said interior panel means and over and across said access opening means for further restricting access to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means and for restricting access to said interior panel means located therebehind, said exterior panel means being movable between an exterior closed position extending over said access opening means and an exterior opened position not extending over said access opening means, said exterior panel means defining an exterior access aperture means for facilitating limited localized access therethrough to said interior panel means and to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said interior access aperture means and said exterior access aperture means being adjacently positioned and in registration with respect to one another in order to facilitate simultaneous access therethrough in order to facilitate access to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means from outside of said housing means;

(3) an interior securement means adapted to detachably secure said interior panel means with respect to said recessed ledge means of said housing means for facilitating complete disengagement therebetween selectively, said interior securement means includes plurality of screws positionable extending through said interior panel means and engageable with respect to said recessed ledge means to facilitate detachable securement of said interior panel means with respect to said housing means selectively;

(4) an exterior securement means comprising a hinge means adapted to pivotally secure said exterior panel means with respect to said housing means adjacent said access opening means thereof to allow pivotal movement thereof between the exterior opened position and the exterior closed position; and

(5) a peripheral lip means secured with respect to said exterior panel means around said exterior access aperture means thereof and extending inwardly therefrom through said interior access aperture means of said interior panel means into said housing chamber means responsive to said interior panel means being in the interior closed position and said exterior panel means being in the exterior closed position to facilitate access therethrough to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means.

16. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing, said enclosure means comprising:

A. a housing means defining a housing chamber means adapted to receive an electrical device positioned therewithin, said housing means defining an access opening means therein to facilitate access to the electrical device positioned therein for servicing, said housing means further including a recessed ledge means extending along at least a portion of the periphery of said access opening means;

B. a limited accessing construction affixable movably with respect to said housing means adjacent said opening means and being positionable extending over and across said access opening means for controlling access therethrough to the electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means, said limited accessing construction comprising;

(1) an interior panel means detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over said access opening means for limiting access through said access opening means to an electrical device positioned therewithin, said interior panel means being movable between an interior closed position extending over said access opening means and an interior opened position not extending over said access opening means; and

(2) an exterior panel means detachably securable with respect to said housing means and extending over and across said interior panel means and over and across said access opening means for further restricting access to an electrical device positioned within said housing chamber means and for restricting access to said interior panel means located therebehind, said exterior panel means being movable between an exterior closed position extending over said access opening means and an exterior opened position not extending over said access opening means;

(3) an interior securement means adapted to detachably secure said interior panel means with respect to said housing means and to allow complete disengagement therebetween, said interior securement means adapted to be detachably securable with respect to said recessed ledge means to facilitate detachable securement of said interior panel means with respect to said housing extending over and across said access opening means.

17. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 16 wherein said recessed ledge means is recessed within said housing chamber means to facilitate positioning of said exterior panel means in the exterior closed position extending thereover and immediately thereadjacent.

18. An enclosure means for holding an electrical device having a limited accessing construction with dual panels for safely providing limited access thereinto for servicing as defined in claim 16 wherein said interior securement means includes plurality of screws positionable extending through said interior panel means and engageable with respect to said recessed ledge means to facilitate detachable securement of said interior panel means with respect to said housing means selectively.