# US 9,437,983 B2 · Electrical connection box > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,983 B2 - Document ID: US9437983B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/605,575 - Filed: 2015-01-26 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-26 - Assignees: Progressive Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Joseph Casale - Inventors: Joseph Casale - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437983B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6666: {with built-in overvoltage protection} - H01R 13/5205: {Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet (H01R13/5221 takes precedence)} - H01R 13/533: Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure (H01R13/52 takes precedence) - H01R 25/003: {the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables} - H01R 27/02: for simultaneous co-operation with two or more {dissimilar} counterparts - H02G 3/0675: {with bolts operating in a direction parallel to the conductors} - H02G 3/083: {Inlets} - H02G 3/088: {Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets} - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - H02G 3/10: for surface mounting on a wall - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connection box of claim 1, wherein the second set of positioning tabs are removable when the electrical connection receptacle has a length equal to the first length. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical connection box of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sets of positioning tabs may comprise one positioning tab or multiple positioning tabs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical connection box of claim 1, wherein a distance that the first set of positioning tabs extends outward from the inner surface of the back section is less than a distance that the second set of positioning tabs extends outward from the inner surface of the back section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical connection box of claim 1, further comprising a third set of positioning tabs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrical connection box of claim 5, wherein a distance that the first set of positioning tabs extends outward from the inner surface of the back section is less than a distance that the second set of positioning tabs extends outward from the inner surface of the back section, and the distance that the second set of positioning tabs extends outward from the inner surface of the back section is less than a distance that the third set of positioning tabs extends outward from the inner surface of the back section. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical connection box of claim 7, wherein the third seating surface contacts the at least one of the interconnected surfaces when the locking nut engages the power cord receiver, thereby urging the other two of the three interconnected surfaces into contact with the first and second seating surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electrical connection box of claim 7, wherein the three interconnected surfaces comprise at least a portion of an outer surface of the gasket and the fourth surface comprises at least a portion of an inner surface of the gasket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The electrical connection box of claim 7, wherein two of the at least three interconnected surfaces are each oriented at an angle relative to the third of the at least three interconnected surfaces, each of the angles ranging from about 110 degrees to about 170 degrees. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrical connection box of claim 11, wherein the gasket contacts the power cord when the locking nut engages the power cord receiver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electrical connection box of claim 11, wherein the first angle ranges from about 110 degrees to about 170 degrees. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electrical connection box of claim 11, wherein the second angle ranges from about 110 degrees to about 170 degrees. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The electrical connection box of claim 11, wherein the first and second angles are essentially the same angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The electrical connection box of claim 11, wherein the first and second angles are different angles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The electrical connection box of claim 11, wherein the first seating surface and the second seating surface are oriented relative to one another at a third angle approximately equal to the first angle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The electrical connection box of claim 11, wherein the third seating surface and the second seating surface are oriented relative to one another at a fourth angle approximately equal to the second angle when the locking nut engages the power cord receiver.