# US 12,119,633 B2 · Tap off box > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,633 B2 - Document ID: US12119633B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/368,340 - Filed: 2021-07-06 - Published: 2023-01-12 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-06 - Assignees: Starline Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Starline Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Frank Joseph Stifter, Jr.; Douglas Raymond Moore; David Philip Marple; John Donald Berenbrok; Lucas Anthony Andrews; Edward James Schultz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119633B2 ## CPC - H02G 5/08: Connection boxes therefor - H01H 71/0264: {Mountings or coverplates for complete assembled circuit breakers, e.g. snap mounting in panel} - H02B 1/28: dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof - H05K 5/061: {sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing} - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An example tap off box is provided that includes a housing, a circuit breaker, a door, and a breaker actuator. The housing includes walls forming an internal enclosure. The circuit breaker is disposed within the housing. The door is secured to the housing to define a housing assembly, the housing assembly enclosing the circuit breaker. The breaker actuator includes a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end coupled to the circuit breaker within the housing assembly, and the proximal end extending outside of the housing assembly. The breaker actuator is capable of being moved at the proximal end to selectively toggle the circuit breaker from at least an ON position to an OFF position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tap off box, comprising: a housing including walls forming an internal enclosure; circuit breakers disposed within the housing; a door secured to the housing to define a housing assembly, the housing assembly enclosing the circuit breakers and forming a seal around the circuit breakers that is capable of restricting ingress of dust and liquid into the housing assembly; breaker actuators each including a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end coupled to the respective circuit breaker of the circuit breakers within the housing assembly, and the proximal end extending outside of the housing assembly; wherein the breaker actuators are capable of being moved at the proximal end to selectively toggle the respective circuit breaker associated with the breaker actuator from at least an ON position to an OFF position without compromising the seal formed by the housing assembly around the circuit breakers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, wherein the breaker actuators are capable of being moved at the proximal end to selectively toggle the respective circuit breaker of the circuit breakers from at least the ON position to the OFF position without removing the door from the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, wherein the seal formed by the door is capable of restricting ingress of the dust and the liquid according to a NEMA Type 3X rating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a rear wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tap off box of claim 4, wherein the top wall includes an opening configured to receive cables therethrough from a power distribution paddle head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, comprising a power distribution paddle head disposed outside of the housing assembly, and the power distribution paddle head including cables extending into the housing assembly, the cables electrically coupled to the circuit breakers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tap off box of claim 6, wherein the power distribution paddle head includes paddles extending laterally from a body, the paddles configured to electrically engage with phase conductors of a busway of a busway system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The tap off box of claim 6, comprising a ground plate disposed between the power distribution paddle head and a top wall of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, wherein the breaker actuators are capable of being moved in a vertical up and down direction to selectively toggle the respective circuit breaker of the circuit breakers from at least the ON position to the OFF position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, wherein the breaker actuators are capable of being moved to selectively toggle the respective circuit breaker of the circuit breakers from the ON position to a trip position, and from the OFF position to the trip position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, comprising an internal wall removably coupled to the housing to encase the circuit breaker within the internal enclosure formed by the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tap off box of claim 11, wherein the internal wall is configured and dimensioned complementary to internal walls of the housing to create a seal with the housing around a perimeter of the internal wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, comprising an actuator cover positioned at least partially on the proximal end of each of the breaker actuators. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tap off box of claim 1, comprising a cable seal assembly mounted to the door, the cable seal assembly including a body and one or more sections capable of being selectively removed from the body to accommodate passage of a cable therethrough. ### Claim 15 A method of controlling a tap off box, comprising: providing a tap off box including (i) a housing including walls forming an internal enclosure, (ii) circuit breakers disposed within the housing, (iii) a door secured to the housing to define a housing assembly, the housing assembly enclosing the circuit breakers and forming a seal around the circuit breakers that is capable of restricting ingress of dust and liquid into the housing assembly, and (iv) breaker actuators each including a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end coupled to the respective circuit breaker of the circuit breakers within the housing assembly, and the proximal end extending outside of the housing assembly; and moving the breaker actuators at the proximal end to selectively toggle the respective circuit breaker associated with the breaker actuator from at least an ON position to an OFF position without compromising the seal formed by the housing assembly around the circuit breakers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the breaker actuators are moved at the proximal end to selectively toggle the respective circuit breaker of the circuit breakers from at least the ON position to the OFF position without removing the door from the housing. ### Claim 17 A busway system, comprising: a busway; and a tap off box configured to be electrically and mechanically coupled to the busway, the tap off box including: a housing including walls forming an internal enclosure; circuit breakers disposed within the housing; a door secured to the housing to define a housing assembly, the housing assembly enclosing the circuit breakers and forming a seal around the circuit breakers that is capable of restricting ingress of dust and liquid into the housing assembly; breaker actuators each including a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end coupled to the respective circuit breaker of the circuit breakers within the housing assembly, and the proximal end extending outside of the housing assembly; wherein the breaker actuators are capable of being moved at the proximal end to selectively toggle the respective circuit breaker associated with the breaker actuator from at least an ON position to an OFF position without compromising the seal formed by the housing assembly around the circuit breakers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The busway system of claim 17, wherein the busway includes an open channel extending along a bottom surface of the busway, and wherein the tap off box includes a power distribution paddle head disposed outside of the housing assembly and including cables extending into the housing assembly, the cables electrically coupled to the circuit breakers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The busway system of claim 18, wherein the power distribution paddle head is configured to be at least partially inserted into the open channel of the busway, and the paddles are configured to electrically engage with phase conductors of the busway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The busway system of claim 19, comprising an end feed coupled to an end of the busway, the end feed supplying power to the busway and to the tap off box.