Cover assembly for an electrical box
AssigneeThomas & Betts International, Inc.
InventorMark R. Drane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover assembly for an electrical box including a frame having an opening positionable over the electrical box and a cover selectively positionable over the opening and rotatable between a closed position and an open position. A hinge rotatably secures the cover to the frame and permits rotational and translational movement of the cover relative to the frame. The hinge includes a biasing device for urging the cover toward a first translational direction. A latch including a locking element is disposed between the cover and the frame for retaining the cover in the closed position. The biasing device deflects upon movement of the cover into the closed position and urges the locking element into a retaining position such that the locking element restricts movement of the cover to the open position.
Claims30
A cover assembly for an electrical box comprising:
- a frame having an opening positionable over the box;
- a cover selectively positionable over said opening and rotatable between a closed position and an open position;
- a hinge rotatably securing said cover to said frame, said hinge permitting rotational and translational movement of said cover relative to said frame, said hinge including a biasing device for urging said cover toward a first translational direction;
- a latch including a locking element disposed between said cover and said frame for retaining said cover in said closed position, said biasing device deflecting upon movement of said cover into said closed position and urging said locking element into a retaining position such that said locking element restricts movement of said cover to said open position.
A cover assembly for an electrical box comprising:
- a frame having an opening positionable over the box;
- a cover selectively positionable over said opening and rotatable between a closed position and an open position;
- a hinge rotatably securing said cover to said frame, said hinge permitting rotational and translational movement of said cover relative to said frame, said hinge including a biasing device for urging said cover toward a first translational direction;
- a locking element disposed between said cover and said frame for retaining said cover in said closed position.
A hinge for an electrical box cover including a cover and frame comprising:
- a resilient elongate member supported at each end thereof on either the cover or the frame;
- a retainer, positionable over said elongate member, said retainer being attachable to either the cover or the frame, said retainer including a first section for preventing deflection of said elongate member and a second section configured to permit deflection of said pin, said hinge permitting rotation and translation of the cover relative to the frame.
A cover assembly for an electrical box comprising:
- a frame having an opening positionable over the box;
- a cover selectively positionable over said opening and rotatable between a closed position and an open position;
- a hinge rotatably securing said cover to said frame, said hinge permitting rotational and translational movement of said cover relative to said frame, said hinge having a resilient elongate member secured at its ends to said cover, said elongate member forming a biasing device for urging with a biasing force said cover toward a first translational direction;
- a latch including a locking element disposed between said cover and said frame for retaining said cover in said closed position, said biasing device deflecting upon movement of said cover into said closed position and urging said locking element into a retaining position such that said locking element restricts movement of said cover to said open position;
- and
- said cover being movable in a second translational direction opposed to said first translational direction and against said biasing force, whereby said locking element is moved into an unretained position permitting said cover to be rotated to said open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.