Electrical junction box cover system for use near water

• US 7,855,339 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: S.R. Smith LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Energy Focus, Inc.
• Inventors: Buelow, Roger F., Lin, David Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Dhiru R
• Application Number:
  US12/238,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20090078442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/50.51, 174/50.5, 174/520, 220/4.02, 439/535, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/50.51
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An electrical junction box cover system includes a waterproof dome-like covering lid allowing the system to be installed near water. The system also includes a manual power switch with a manual actuator installed on the outside of the covering lid and accessible to the user. The switch actuator has three positions, wherein the actuator in the first position turns an external load circuit on, in the second position it turns the external circuit off, and in the third position it enables the remotely controlled operation of the external circuit. A remote control receiver with an electronic control module and an electric power switch are included in the system as an assembly in order to allow a remotely controlled operation of the system.

Claims

1. An electrical junction box cover system capable of being safely used in a wet environment without submersion under water, comprising:

a. a covering lid having a looped side wall with first and second ends and a cover portion at the first end of the looped side wall;

said looped side wall and said cover portion forming a dome-like enclosure with an opening at the second end of the looped side wall;

b. means to mount the second end of the looped side wall to a base plate in a fixed, hermetically sealed and removable manner;

said second end comprising a coupling flange with a plurality of mounting apertures;

c. said covering lid being made of a waterproof material, wherein water reaching the covering lid is prevented from reaching electrical circuitry inside the enclosure through the covering lid;

d. a remote control receiver mounted inside the covering lid;

e. an electronic control module for controlling an electrical on-off power switch for an external load circuit, said electronic control module being mounted inside the covering lid and being responsive to the remote control receiver; and

f. a manual power switch having a manually accessible switch actuator located on the outside of the covering lid;

said switch actuator having first, second and third actuator positions;

the first actuator position corresponding to closing a circuit to supply power to the external load circuit;

the second actuator position corresponding to opening a circuit to cut off power to the external load circuit; and

the third actuator position enabling the electrical on-off power switch to remotely operate the external load circuit.

2. The electrical junction box cover system of claim 1, wherein the base plate has a mounting structure that does not significantly differ from planar.

3. The electrical junction box cover system of claim 1, wherein the base plate is fully supported by at least one conduit routing electrical wires into the box.

4. The electrical junction box cover system of claim 3, wherein the at least one conduit is upright.

5. The electrical junction box cover system of claim 1, wherein the means to mount the second end of the looped side wall to the base plate in a fixed, hermetically sealed and removable manner comprises a base adapter member having a closed-loop structure, a top mating portion configured to couple to the second end of the loop side wall of the covering lid, and a bottom mating portion configured to be mounted on the base plate.

6. The electrical junction box cover system of claim 1, wherein the waterproof material of the covering lid is metal or polymer.

7. The electrical junction box cover system of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator light configured to indicate the presence of electric current in the external load circuit and configured to be mounted on the outside of the covering lid.