# US 10,483,737 B2 · Electrical box with dual-hinged cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,737 B2 - Document ID: US10483737B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/250,086 - Filed: 2019-01-17 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-17 - Applicants: Norman R. Byrne; Joel T. Ruiter; Peter Bergendahl; Joseph D. Ward; Juan Carlos Angulo - Inventors: Norman R. Byrne; Joel T. Ruiter; Peter Bergendahl; Joseph D. Ward; Juan Carlos Angulo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483737B2 ## CPC - H02G 3/081: {Bases, casings or covers} - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract An electrical box supports one or more electrical or electronic data outlets in a cavity, with a dual-hinged door at least partially covering an opening to the cavity when the door is closed. The door is openable in either of two directions by pivoting it about either of two spaced-apart pivot axes that are defined by respective pivot arms coupled to opposite ends and opposite sides of the door, the pivot arms being further coupled at their respective proximal ends to opposite walls of the housing. A retaining feature releasably secures the door in the closed position and may provide sensory feedback to a user upon closing the door. Optionally, the door has a floating appearance in the opening to the cavity, with no direct contact existing between the door and the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An outlet box with dual-hinged cover, comprising: a housing defining an opening and comprising a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls; a cover coupled to said housing and positionable inside said opening; a pair of spaced-apart pivot arms at opposite sides of said cover, said pivot arms having respective distal end portions pivotably coupled to said cover at opposite ends of said cover, and said pivot arms having proximal end portions pivotably coupled to respective ones of said sidewalls; and a retaining element at each of said first and second pivot arms and a corresponding retaining element at each of said sidewalls, wherein each of said corresponding retaining elements is configured to interact with a corresponding one of said retaining elements to releasably secure said cover in a closed position, and to provide sensory feedback to a user as said cover moves from an open position to the closed position; wherein said cover is openable from the closed position in a first direction about a first pivot axis extending through said proximal end portion of a first of said pivot arms, and said cover is openable from the closed position in a second direction about a second pivot axis extending through said proximal end portion of a second of said pivot arms. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The outlet box of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises respective first and second overhang regions at opposite sides thereof, said first and second overhang regions positioned directly over the entireties of respective ones of said first and second pivot arms when said cover is in the closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The outlet box of claim 1, wherein each of said retaining elements is positioned between said proximal end and said distal end of a respective one of said first and second pivot arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The outlet box of claim 3, wherein each of said retaining elements and each of said corresponding retaining elements comprises a magnet or a magnetically permeable material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The outlet box of claim 4, wherein said first and second pivot arms define respective cavities for receiving respective ones of said retaining elements, wherein said cavities are larger than said retaining elements, and wherein said retaining elements are movable within said cavities in response to close proximity with a respective one of said corresponding retaining elements upon closing of said cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The outlet box of claim 1, wherein said corresponding retaining elements comprise respective protrusions and said retaining elements comprise respective catches formed in said pivot arms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The outlet box of claim 1, wherein said cover is sized and shaped to fit within said opening without said cover directly contacting any portion of said housing when said cover is in the closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The outlet box of claim 7, wherein said cover is coupled to said housing only via said first and second pivot arms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The outlet box of claim 8, wherein said cover is continuously coupled to said housing via said first and second pivot arms in said closed position, when opened in the first direction, and when opened in the second direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The outlet box of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a snap-on hook at each opposite end thereof, wherein said distal ends of said pivot arms are pivotably coupled to respective ones of said snap-on hooks via respective pivot pins. ### Claim 11 An outlet box with dual-hinged cover, comprising: a housing defining an opening having first and second sides opposite one another and first and second ends opposite one another; a cover coupled to said housing at said opening and having first and second sides opposite one another and positioned adjacent said first and second sides of said housing, respectively, when said cover is in a closed position; an outlet support coupled to said housing below said opening, wherein access to said outlet support is limited by said cover in the closed position; a first pivot arm at said first side of said cover and a second pivot arm at said second side of said cover, said first pivot arm having a proximal end pivotably coupled to said first side of said housing and a distal end pivotably coupled to said first side of said cover, and said second pivot arm having a proximal end pivotably coupled to said second side of said housing and a distal end pivotably coupled to said second side of said cover; wherein said cover is pivotably openable from the closed position in a first direction about a first pivot axis defined through said proximal end of said first pivot arm and said distal end of said second pivot arm; wherein said cover is pivotably openable from the closed position in a second direction about a second pivot axis defined through said proximal end of said second pivot arm and said distal end of said first pivot arm; wherein said first and second pivot arms are configured to preclude pivoting of said cover about said second pivot axis when said cover is opened in said first direction, and said first and second pivot arms are configured to preclude pivoting of said cover about said first pivot axis when said cover is opened in said second direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The outlet box of claim 11, wherein said cover comprises respective first and second overhang regions at said first and second sides, said first and second overhang regions positioned directly over the entireties of respective ones of said first and second pivot arms when said cover is in the closed position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The outlet box of claim 11, further comprising a retaining element at each of said first and second pivot arms, and a corresponding retaining element at each of said first and second sides of said housing, wherein each of said corresponding retaining element is configured to interact with a corresponding one of said retaining elements to releasably secure said door in the closed position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The outlet box of claim 13, wherein each of said retaining elements is positioned between said proximal end and said distal end of a respective one of said first and second pivot arms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The outlet box of claim 13, wherein each of said retaining elements and each of said corresponding retaining elements comprises a magnet or a magnetically permeable material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The outlet box of claim 15, wherein said first and second pivot arms define respective cavities for receiving respective ones of said retaining elements, wherein said cavities are larger than said retaining elements, and wherein said retaining elements are movable within said cavities in response to close proximity with a respective one of said corresponding retaining elements, to provide sensory feedback to a user when said cover is moved from an open position to the closed position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The outlet box of claim 13, wherein said corresponding retaining elements comprise respective protrusions and said retaining elements comprise respective catches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The outlet box of claim 11, wherein said cover is sized and shaped to fit within said opening without said cover directly contacting any portion of said housing when said cover is in the closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The outlet box of claim 11, wherein said cover is coupled to said housing only via said first and second pivot arms. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The outlet box of claim 19, wherein said cover is continuously coupled to said housing via said first and second pivot arms in said closed position, when opened in the first direction, and when opened in the second direction.