Floor box cover assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9035182-B2
Application number	US-201313833866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2015
Grant date	May 19, 2015

Abstract

A cover assembly for a floor box includes a base with a central opening and a cover pivotally connected to the base by a hinge member. The hinge member has a hinge body with a first end pivotally connected to the base for pivoting with respect to the base and second end pivotally connected to the cover for pivoting with respect to the cover. A tab extends from the second end of the hinge body to contact a bottom surface of the cover to limit pivoting movement of the cover with respect to the hinge body. A slide surface is provided on the base that contacts an end of the cover during pivoting movement of the cover to prevent wear on a gasket with the opening of the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cover assembly for a floor box comprising:
a base defining a central opening for accessing the floor box;
a cover having a dimension to close said central opening, said cover having an outer face and an inner face opposite said outer face, said inner face facing inwardly with respect to a cavity of said floor box; and
a hinge having a hinge body with a longitudinal dimension, a first longitudinal end pivotally coupled to said base at a first pivot axis and a second longitudinal end pivotally coupled to said cover at a second pivot axis, said second longitudinal end of said hinge body having a tab extending longitudinally from said second longitudinal end to contact said inner face of said cover to limit pivoting of said cover with respect to said second pivot axis of said hinge body.

2. The cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein
said cover is pivotable between a first closed position and a second open position substantially 180° from said closed position.

3. The cover assembly of claim 2 , wherein
said base has a top face, said top face of said cover aligned with and coplanar with said top face of said base when said cover is in the closed position, and
said top face of said cover lying flat against said top face of said base when said cover is in an open position.

4. The cover assembly of claim 3 , wherein
said first longitudinal end of said hinge body is pivotally connected to said base at a pivot axis positioned below said top face of said base, and where said second longitudinal end of said hinge body is positionable with respect to said base between a first position below said top face of said base and a second position above said top face of said base.

5. The cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein
said hinge body has a transverse dimension and where said first pivot axis is spaced apart from said second pivot axis along said longitudinal dimension and along said transverse dimension of said hinge body.

6. The cover assembly of claim 5 , wherein
said tab on said hinge body extends in said longitudinal dimension of said hinge body in a longitudinal plane spaced from a longitudinal plane of said first pivot axis.

7. The cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises
a recess defining said opening, said recess having a ledge, a gasket support on said ledge for forming a seal between said base and cover, and said base having a raised surface spaced from said ledge and positioned next to a top face of said gasket, said raised surface configured for contacting said cover during opening and closing of said cover with respect to said base.

8. The cover assembly of claim 7 , wherein
said hinge body is coupled to a first end of said base and to a first end of said cover, said raised surface being positioned at said first end of said base to contact an edge of said cover during opening and closing of said cover, and where said edge of said cover slides on said raised surface to minimize sliding contact of said edge of said cover on said gasket.

9. The cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein
said cover has a first end pivotally coupled to said hinge body and second end having a latch assembly, said latch assembly comprising:
a slide latch coupled to said cover for sliding in a plane of said cover between a retracted position and an extended latching position,
an actuating member pivotally coupled to said cover, said actuating member having a pivot axis parallel to said plane of said cover and a first detent engaging a first side of said slide latch and a second detent engaging a second side of said slide latch, whereby pivoting said actuating member causes sliding movement of said slide latch.

10. The cover assembly of claim 9 , wherein
said slide latch has a first arm extending outwardly from a first side of said slide latch engaging said first detent and a second arm extending outwardly from a second side of said slide latch, and where said detents of said actuating member engages said arms to pivot said slide latch by pivoting of said actuating member.

11. The cover assembly of claim 1 , said cover further comprising
a cord access opening, and
an access door pivotally coupled to said cover to close said cord access opening, said access door having two opposing pivot pins pivotally coupled to said cover to pivot said access door between a closed position to close said egress door and an open position, a compression spring washer on at least one said pivot pin and positioned between said cover and said access door to apply an axial force against said access door to retain said access door in said open position and said closed position.

12. The cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein
said hinge body has a top face and a bottom face extending in said longitudinal dimension between said first longitudinal end and said second longitudinal end, and where said tab extends along said bottom face of said hinge body in said longitudinal dimension.

13. The cover assembly of claim 12 , wherein
said first pivot axis of said hinge body is oriented in a first plane extending in said longitudinal dimension, and
said second pivot axis of said hinge body is oriented in a second plane extending in said longitudinal dimension and spaced from said first plane.

14. A cover assembly for a floor box, comprising
a base defining a central opening for accessing said floor box, said base having a first end and second end, a flange extending into said central opening and spaced from a top face of said base to define a recess, and a first raised member at said first end and extending upwardly from said flange, said raised member having a top face defining at least one slide surface in said opening at said first end;
a gasket on said flange and surrounding said central opening;
a cover having a dimension to close said central opening and contacting said top surface of said raised member during opening and closing of said cover with respect to said base; and
a hinge having a hinge body with a first end pivotally coupled to said base at a first pivot axis, and a second end pivotally coupled to said cover at a second pivot axis.

15. The cover assembly of claim 14 , wherein
said raised member is provided on said flange extending into said central opening and spaced from a top face to define a recess, and
said raised member extends upwardly from said flange to define said slide surface spaced from a top face of said flange and said raised member being positioned next to said gasket.

16. The cover assembly of claim 14 , wherein
said top surface of said raised member is substantially flush with a top surface of said gasket.

17. The cover assembly of claim 16 , wherein
said base has a first end coupled to said hinge body, and said first raised member is positioned at said first end of said base to contact a first end of said cover during opening and closing of said cover.

18. The cover assembly of claim 17 , wherein
said base has a first side and second side extending between said first end and second end of said base, said first raised member positioned on said first side of said base at said first end and a second raised member on said second side at said first end of said base, and
said cover having a first edge at a first end of said cover to slide on said first and second raised members during opening and closing of said cover, and where said first and second raised members are oriented outwardly from said gasket.

19. A cover assembly for a floor box, comprising:
a base defining a central opening fo

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Scanzillo Thomas L
• Marchetti Michael J
• Carbone Christopher A
• Papageorge Ryan G

Classifications

• H02G3/081

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/088

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets · CPC title

• H02G3/185

  Floor outlets and access cups · CPC title

• H02G3/12

  for flush mounting · CPC title

• H02G3/14 Primary

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title