Face slide weatherproof electric enclosure

• US 7,915,528 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wenzhou MTLC Electric Appliances Co., LTD.
• Original Assignee: Wenzhou MTLC Electric Appliances Co., LTD.
• Inventors: Ni, Lidong
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R
• Application Number:
  US12/152,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20090283291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 174/480, 174/481, 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/66, 174/67, 220 32- 39, 220/4.02, 220/241, 220/242, 439/535, 439/536
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A weatherproof outlet enclosure is provided for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising: at least one rectangular slider plate for replacing existing receptacle face plate in a gentle sliding way; a base plate for mating with a predetermined number of the slider plates which lock into place by a single click stop, and a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover in its a lower latched position enclosing the electrical outlets leaving passages for up to four cords leading from the electric loads connected.

Claims

1. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls.

2. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has a grasp bar formed on the rear surface at the trailing edge to correctly hold the slider plate for pushing it up into the main body and a positional indicator consisting of the two opposite side edges slightly shifted toward the front surface with respect to a main middle portion to provide a deflected cross section that fits with the main body in one side only.

3. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, further comprising midway tabs formed on the base plate protruding into the at least one channel for further suppressing a middle portion of raised edges of slider plates when assembled with the at least one channel.

4. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls, and wherein the base plate further comprises four corner holes for receiving screws.

5. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has flat opposite side edges for making a parallel sliding assembly with the channel of the base plate and distinctive leading and trailing edges spanning the side edges, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls.

6. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has a grasp bar formed on the rear surface at the trailing edge to correctly hold the slider plate for pushing it up into the main body and a positional indicator consisting of the two opposite side edges slightly shifted toward the front surface with respect to a main middle portion to provide a deflected cross section that fits with the main body in one side only, further comprising midway tabs formed on the base plate protruding into the at least one channel for further suppressing a middle portion of raised edges of slider plates when assembled with the at least one channel.

7. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls, and wherein the base plate further comprises four corner holes for receiving screws, wherein the slider plate has a plurality of auxiliary screw holes that line up with at least one of four corner holes when the slider plate is introduced into the base plate.

8. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, wherein the base plate is vertically elongated, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate;

a rear rectangular edge lying flush on a flat wall surrounding the outlets and an opposite rectangular edge facing forward; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has a grasp bar formed on the rear surface at the trailing edge to correctly hold the slider plate for pushing it up into the main body and a positional indicator consisting of the two opposite side edges slightly shifted toward the front surface with respect to a main middle portion to provide a deflected cross section that fits with the main body in one side only, further comprising midway tabs formed on the base plate protruding into the at least one channel for further suppressing a middle portion of raised edges of slider plates when assembled with the at least one channel, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls, and wherein the base plate further comprises four corner holes for receiving screws, wherein the slider plate has a plurality of auxiliary screw holes that line up with at least one of four corner holes when the slider plate is introduced into the base plate.

9. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has a grasp bar formed on the rear surface at the trailing edge to correctly hold the slider plate for pushing it up into the main body and a positional indicator consisting of the two opposite side edges slightly shifted toward the front surface with respect to a main middle portion to provide a deflected cross section that fits with the main body in one side only.

10. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, further comprising midway tabs formed on the base plate protruding into the at least one channel for further suppressing a middle portion of raised edges of slider plates when assembled with the at least one channel.

11. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls, and wherein the base plate further comprises four corner holes for receiving screws.

12. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has flat opposite side edges for making a parallel sliding assembly with the channel of the base plate and distinctive leading and trailing edges spanning the side edges, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls.

13. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has a grasp bar formed on the rear surface at the trailing edge to correctly hold the slider plate for pushing it up into the main body and a positional indicator consisting of the two opposite side edges slightly shifted toward the front surface with respect to a main middle portion to provide a deflected cross section that fits with the main body in one side only, further comprising midway tabs formed on the base plate protruding into the at least one channel for further suppressing a middle portion of raised edges of slider plates when assembled with the at least one channel.

14. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls, and wherein the base plate further comprises four corner holes for receiving screws, wherein the slider plate has a plurality of auxiliary screw holes that line up with at least one of four corner holes when the slider plate is introduced into the base plate.

15. A weatherproof outlet enclosure for connections between a number of electrical outlets and various electric loads comprising:

at least one rectangular slider plate having a front and rear surface, openings in its middle area for allowing access from the front surface to the electrical outlets and a click stop integrally formed on the slider plate;

a base plate for slidably accommodating a predetermined number of the slider plates which are held in position by the click stop, the base plate including four-sided rectangular walls which form a generally rectangular opening;

at least one channel for guiding the slider plate; and

a cover having a hinged attachment to one of the side walls of the base plate and a latching connection with an opposite location of the side walls from the hinged attachment, the cover also having an ascended position to allow access to the slider plate and thus the electrical outlets and a lower latched position to enclose the electrical outlets leaving passages for cords leading from the electric loads connected, wherein the slider plate has a grasp bar formed on the rear surface at the trailing edge to correctly hold the slider plate for pushing it up into the main body and a positional indicator consisting of the two opposite side edges slightly shifted toward the front surface with respect to a main middle portion to provide a deflected cross section that fits with the main body in one side only, further comprising midway tabs formed on the base plate protruding into the at least one channel for further suppressing a middle portion of raised edges of slider plates when assembled with the at least one channel, wherein the slider plate is introduced into the base plate at a lower side of the four-sided rectangular walls, and wherein the base plate further comprises four corner holes for receiving screws, wherein the slider plate has a plurality of auxiliary screw holes that line up with at least one of four corner holes when the slider plate is introduced into the base plate.