Connector box for solar panel

• US 7,763,807 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumberg Connect GmbH (Lumberg Holding GmbH & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Lumberg Connect GmbH (Lumberg Holding GmbH & Company KG)
• Inventors: Richter, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Phuong K
• Application Number:
  US12/277,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20100068921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 439/718, 439/135, 439/136, 220200-380, 220/375, 174/138.F, 174/59, 174/60
• US Class Current: 174/138.00F
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An electrical connection box has a base adapted to be connected to a back face of a solar panel and a cover fittable with the base to form therewith a generally closed and weather-tight interior. The cover and base have inner surfaces that confront each other when the cover is fitted to the base. Respective eyes on the inner faces are each formed with an eye having a throughgoing hole of predetermined maximum diameter. A flexible tether cord has a pair of ends and is formed unitarily at each end with at least one arm extending back from the end along the cord at an acute angle to the cord and having a free end spaced from the cord and defining therewith a width greater than the maximum diameter. The tether passes through the holes with each arm engageable with a face of the respective eye.

Claims

1. An electrical connection box comprising:

a base adapted to be connected to a back face of a solar panel;

a cover fittable with the base to form therewith a generally closed and weather-tight interior, the cover and base having inner surfaces that confront each other when the cover is fitted to the base;

respective eyes on the inner faces and each formed with an eye having a throughgoing hole of predetermined maximum diameter; and

a flexible tether cord having a pair of ends and formed unitarily at each end with at least one arm extending back from the end along the cord at an acute angle to the cord at the arm end and having a free end spaced from the cord and defining at the end a width greater than the maximum diameter, the tether passing through the holes with each arm engageable with a face of the respective eye and preventing pulling of the respective end back through the respective hole, the tether cord being wholly contained in the interior when the cover and base are fitted together.

2. The electrical connection box defined in claim 1 wherein the eyes are respectively unitarily formed on the inner faces with the cover and base.

3. The electrical connection box defined in claim 1 wherein the cover and base are made of polycarbonate or polyphenylene oxide.

4. The electrical connection box defined in claim 1 wherein the tether cord is made of polyamide.

5. The electrical connection box defined in claim 1 wherein the ends of the tether chord are each formed with a pair of such arms forming a V and generally symmetrically flanking the respective strand end, the respective width being defined between the free ends.

6. The electrical connection box defined in claim 1 wherein the cover fits snugly with the base and is provided with fastening formations that resiliently lock the cover to the base.