Mounting foot for electrical enclosure and electrical enclosure including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11005246-B2
Application number	US-201816154482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2018
Priority date	Oct 6, 2017
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

An electrical enclosure for an electrical device or instrument includes an enclosure body defining an interior that receives the electrical device or instrument, the enclosure body including a back wall. A mounting foot is disposed outside the enclosure body and attached to the back wall. The mounting foot includes a generally planar body defining a mounting fastener opening that receives a fastener to secure the mounting foot to a wall or other support structure. A panel fastener is attached to and extends forward from the mounting foot, through the back wall, and into the interior of the enclosure body. The panel fastener is used to secure an internal panel to the enclosure body within the interior of the enclosure body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical enclosure for an electrical device or instrument, the electrical enclosure comprising:
an enclosure body defining an interior sized and shaped to receive the electrical device or instrument, the enclosure body including a back wall;
a mounting foot outside the enclosure body and attached to the back wall of the enclosure body, the mounting foot including a generally planar body defining a mounting fastener opening configured to receive a fastener to secure the mounting foot to a wall or other support structure;
a panel fastener attached to and extending forward from the mounting foot, through the back wall, and into the interior of the enclosure body, wherein the panel fastener is configured to be used in securing an internal panel to the enclosure body within the interior of the enclosure body;
a panel spacer received on the panel fastener in the interior of the enclosure body; and
a panel secured to the enclosure body by the panel fastener.

2. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 1 , wherein the panel fastener is welded to the generally planar body of the mounting foot.

3. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 1 , wherein the generally planar body of the mounting foot defines at least one panel fastener opening spaced apart from the mounting fastener opening, wherein the panel fastener comprises an externally threaded fastener extending through the panel fastener opening.

4. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 3 , wherein the externally threaded fastener comprises a bolt.

5. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 1 , wherein the panel spacer is threaded on the panel fastener and secures the mounting foot to the back wall of the enclosure body.

6. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 1 , further comprising the internal panel opposing the back wall and located in front of the panel spacer, wherein the internal panel includes a fastener opening, wherein the panel fastener extends through the fastener opening of the internal panel.

7. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 6 , wherein the panel spacer engages the panel and the back wall of the enclosure body such that the panel is separated from the back wall by a distance equal to a thickness of the panel spacer.

8. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 6 , further comprising a panel retainer attached to the panel fastener in front of the panel to secure the panel on the panel retainer between the panel spacer and the panel retainer.

9. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 8 , wherein the panel retainer is threaded on the panel fastener.

10. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mounting foot overlaps the back wall of the enclosure body.

11. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 10 , wherein the mounting foot extends past an edge margin of the back wall.

12. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 10 , wherein the mounting foot includes at least one tab engaging the enclosure body to inhibit rotation of the mounting foot relative to the enclosure body.

13. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 12 , wherein the at least one tab engages the back wall.

14. The electrical enclosure set forth in claim 13 , wherein the at least one tab comprises two tabs, each tab engaging the back wall to inhibit rotation of the mounting foot relative to the enclosure body.

15. An integrated enclosure/panel mounting system for an electrical enclosure for an electrical device or instrument, the integrated enclosure/panel mounting system comprising:
a mounting foot including a generally planar body defining a planar section and a mounting fastener opening configured to receive a fastener to secure the mounting foot to a wall or other support structure; and
a panel fastener extending from the mounting foot and configured to pass through a back wall of the electrical enclosure and into an interior of the electrical enclosure, wherein the panel fastener is configured to be used in securing an internal panel to the enclosure body within the interior of the electrical enclosure;
wherein the mounting foot defines a panel fastener opening, the mounting fastener opening and the panel fastener opening extending through the planar section of the planar body such that the mounting fastener opening and panel fastener opening extend through the same planar section of the planar body.

16. The integrated enclosure/panel mounting system of claim 15 , wherein the generally planar body of the mounting foot defines at least one panel fastener opening spaced apart from the mounting fastener opening, wherein the panel fastener comprises an externally threaded fastener extending through the panel fastener opening.

17. The integrated enclosure/panel mounting system of claim 15 , wherein the panel fastener is welded to the generally planar body of the mounting foot.

18. The integrated enclosure/panel mounting system of claim 17 , wherein the panel fastener includes internal threads configured to receive an externally threaded fastener.

19. The integrated enclosure/panel mounting system of claim 15 , wherein the mounting foot includes at least one tab extending outward from a face of the mounting foot and configured to engage the enclosure body to inhibit rotation of the mounting foot relative to the enclosure body.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Mevius Jason S
• Garbacik Timothy Alan
• Sloan Timothy Joseph

Classifications

• H02B1/40

  Wall-mounted casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• H02G3/08 Primary

  Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes · CPC title

• H02B1/14

  Shutters or guards for preventing access to contacts (shielding of isolating-contacts in withdrawable switchgear H02B11/24) · CPC title

• H02B1/066

  with hinged covers (covers for distribution boxes H02G3/14) · CPC title

• H02B1/44

  Hinged covers or doors · CPC title