Back to results
US 9,437,983 B2Granted
Electrical connection box
AssigneeProgressive Industries, Inc.
InventorJoseph Casale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrical connection boxes for use in recreational vehicle and marine applications must be adapted for a variety of electrical services and electrical connection styles. In order to standardize electrical connection boxes for these uses, a plurality of positioning tabs may be mounted within the connection box to accommodate electrical connection receptacles of various sizes. Unused positioning tabs may be removed during assembly. Further standardization can be achieved through the use of gaskets adapted for use with power cords of different sizes but having common design features to mate with a common seating surface design.
Claims18
An electrical connection box, comprising:
- a front section and a back section forming a hollow space therebetween, the front section having an outer surface and a mounting hole in the outer surface, and the back section having an inner surface;
- an electrical connection receptacle having a front face and a length, the electrical connection receptacle positioned within the mounting hole;
- a portion of the electrical connection receptacle extending into the hollow space forming a gap between the electrical connection receptacle and the inner surface of the back section;
- a portion of the electrical connection receptacle extending out of the mounting hole such that the front face of the electrical connection receptacle is positioned a predetermined distance above the outer surface of the front section;
- a first set of positioning tabs extending outward from the inner surface of the back section across the gap and contacting the electrical connection receptacle thereby maintaining the predetermined distance when the electrical connection receptacle has a first length;
- and
- a second set of positioning tabs having a length greater than that of the first set of positioning tabs and extending outward from the inner surface of the back section across the gap and contacting the electrical connection receptacle thereby maintaining the predetermined distance when the electrical connection receptacle has a second length less than the first length.
4 more elements
An electrical connection box, comprising:
- a power cord receiver extending outward from an electrical connection box and forming an opening into the electrical connection box, the opening further comprising first and second seating surfaces;
- a power cord positioned within the power cord receiver and extending through the opening into the electrical connection box;
- a locking nut having a third seating surface, the locking nut engaging the power cord receiver;
- and
- a gasket disposed about the power cord and positioned at least partially within the opening, the gasket comprising at least three interconnected surfaces, at least two of the interconnected surfaces in contact with the power cord receiver and at least one of the interconnected surfaces in contact with the locking nut, the gasket further comprising a fourth surface in contact with the power cord;
- wherein the gasket further comprises one or more extension sleeves to fill gaps within the opening when a diameter of the power cord is less than a diameter of the opening.
3 more elements
An electrical connection box, comprising:
- a power cord receiver extending outward from an electrical connection box and forming an opening into the electrical connection box, the opening further comprising first and second seating surfaces;
- a power cord positioned within the power cord receiver and extending through the opening into the electrical connection box;
- a gasket disposed about the power cord and positioned at least partially within the opening, the gasket having first, second, and third side surfaces, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface are oriented relative to one another by a first angle, and the third side surface and the second side surface are oriented relative to one another by a second angle;
- and
- a locking nut having a third seating surface, the locking nut engaging the power cord receiver;
- wherein the third seating surface contacts the third side surface of the gasket when the locking nut engages the power cord receiver, thereby urging the first side surface of the gasket into contact with the first seating surface and urging the second side surface of the gasket into contact with the second seating surface;
- wherein the gasket further comprises one or more extension sleeves to fill gaps within the opening when a diameter of the power cord is less than a diameter of the opening.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.