# US 9,883,602 B2 · Surround for electrical boxes

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- Number: US 9,883,602 B2
- Document ID: US9883602B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/947,927
- Filed: 2013-07-22
- Published: 2014-01-23
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-20
- Applicants: Gabe Coscarella
- Inventors: Gabe Coscarella
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883602B2

## CPC

- H05K 5/069: {Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft}
- H02G 3/088: {Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets}
- H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 428/13: Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
- Y10T 428/24281: Struck out portion type
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A surround for an electrical box has a sheet of flexible, weatherproof material having a skirt portion, and a flange extending at least outward relative to the skirt portion, the flange defining an opening within the skirt portion sized to provide access to an inner cavity of the electrical box.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surround for a utility box, the surround comprising:
a sheet of non-rigid, flexible, weatherproof material having a skirt portion, and a flange extending at least outward relative to the skirt portion, the skirt defining a continuous weatherproof surface between the flange and an outer perimeter of the skirt portion, the flange defining an opening within the skirt portion sized to provide access to an inner cavity of the utility box, the flange extending inward toward the opening and having an inner diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the utility box such that in use, the flange overlies a top edge of the utility box, the sheet being flexible and configured to allow the opening to change size or shape in order to accommodate different sizes or shapes of utility boxes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surround of claim 1, wherein the opening for the utility box is one of rectangular, circular and polygonal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surround of claim 1, wherein the flange doubles back within the opening after extending outward, the flange being sized to extend into the inner cavity of the utility box.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surround of claim 1, wherein the flange has one of a U-shaped cross-section, a V-shaped cross-section and an L-shaped cross-section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The surround of claim 1, wherein the flange has a first face that extends perpendicularly outward from the skirt portion to a top end above the skirt portion, the perpendicular face having an inner perimeter that is greater than an outer perimeter of the utility box, and a second face that extends inward toward the opening from the top end of the first face, the second face being parallel to and spaced from the skirt portion such that in use, the second face overlies the top edge of the utility box and is spaced outward from the inner cavity of the utility box relative to the skirt portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surround of claim 1, wherein the flange connects to a back portion that is spaced behind the skirt portion relative to the flange, the flange and the back portion being sized and shaped to line an inner surface of the utility box.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The surround of claim 5, wherein the flange further comprises an inner face that extends downward from the parallel face, the inner face being parallel to and spaced from the perpendicular face, such that the perpendicular face, the parallel face, and the inner face define a receptacle that receives and encloses the top edge of the utility box.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The surround of claim 5, wherein the flange connects to a back portion that is spaced behind the skirt portion relative to the flange, the flange and the back portion being sized and shaped to line an inner surface of the utility box.

### Claim 9

In combination, a utility box, a surround for the utility box, and a building wrap material for a building, wherein:
the surround comprises:
a sheet of non-rigid, flexible, weatherproof material having a skirt portion, and a flange extending at least outward relative to the skirt portion, the sheet being flexible and configured to allow an opening to change size or shape in order to accommodate different sizes or shapes of utility boxes, the skirt portion defining a continuous weatherproof surface between the flange and an outer perimeter of the skirt portion;
the surround is located over the utility box and the flange of the surround defines the opening within the skirt portion sized to provide access to an inner cavity of the utility box, the flange extending inward toward the opening and having an inner diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the utility box such that the flange overlies a top edge of the utility box; and
at least the outer perimeter of the skirt portion overlaps the building wrap material and is attached to the building wrap material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The combination of claim 9, wherein the opening in the surround for the utility box is one of rectangular, circular and polygonal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The combination of claim 9, wherein the flange of the surround doubles back within the opening after extending outward, the flange being sized to extend into the inner cavity of the utility box.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The combination of claim 9, wherein the flange of the surround has one of a U-shaped cross-section, a V-shaped cross-section and an L-shaped cross-section.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The combination of claim 9, wherein the flange of the surround has a first face that extends perpendicularly outward from the skirt portion to a top end above the skirt portion, the first face having an inner perimeter that is greater than an outer perimeter of the utility box, and a second face that extends inward toward the opening from the top end of the first face, the second face being parallel to and spaced from the skirt portion such that in use, the second face overlies the top edge of the utility box and is spaced outward from the inner cavity of the utility box relative to the skirt portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The combination of claim 9, wherein the flange of the surround connects to a back portion that is spaced behind the skirt portion relative to the flange, the flange and the back portion being sized and shaped to line an inner surface of the utility box.