Outdoor protective housing for storing and connecting a portable generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963289-B2
Application number	US-201615010481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2016
Priority date	Feb 3, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A portable generator housing is operable to house a generator. An enclosure of the portable generator housing includes a bottom, a top, and a movable side. The movable side may be removably connected with the top. The movable side is configured to move between a first position where a top edge of the movable side is adjacent to the top and a second position where the top edge of the movable side is in communication with a ground adjacent to the bottom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable generator housing comprising:
an enclosure including:
a bottom;
a movable top; and
a movable side removably connected with the movable top, where the movable side is configured to move between a first position where a top edge of the movable side is adjacent to the movable top and a second position where the top edge of the movable side is in communication with a ground adjacent to the bottom.

2. The portable generator housing of claim 1 , where the movable side includes a bottom edge permanently affixed to the bottom.

3. The portable generator housing of claim 2 , where the movable side is configured to move between the first position and the second position by pivoting along a line formed where the bottom edge of the movable side is permanently affixed to the bottom.

4. The portable generator housing of claim 1 , where in the first position, the movable side is substantially vertically oriented.

5. The portable generator housing of claim 1 , where in the second position, the movable side is substantially horizontally oriented.

6. The portable generator housing of claim 1 , where the movable side forms a flat or rounded ramp from the ground adjacent to the bottom.

7. The portable generator housing of claim 1 , where the movable side includes at least one groove extending from the movable top edge to the bottom edge and configured to fit a wheel of a portable generator.

8. The portable generator housing of claim 1 , where the enclosure is sufficiently weatherproof for a portable generator.

9. The portable generator housing of claim 1 , where the bottom has grooves for guiding wheels on a portable generator when the portable generator is moved into or out of the enclosure.

10. A portable generator housing comprising:
an enclosure configured to removably receive a portable generator, the enclosure including a bottom, a movable top, and a movable side removably connected with the movable top; and
a quick connection module connected to the enclosure and configured to facilitate a transfer of at least one of fuel, power, or data between the quick connection module and the portable generator housing.

11. The portal generator housing of claim 10 , where the enclosure is positioned adjacent to a building, wherein the quick connection module is permanently affixed to the portable generator housing and configured to facilitate a transfer of at least one of fuel, power, or data between the housing and the building.

12. A portable generator housing comprising:
an enclosure including:
a bottom;
a movable top;
a plurality of sides, wherein at least one side of the plurality of sides is movable and removably connected with the movable top, wherein the at least one side is configured to move between a first position where a top edge of the at least one side is adjacent to the movable top and a second position where the top edge of the at least one side is in communication with a ground adjacent to the bottom; and
a control panel connected to the enclosure and configured to control the operation of a portable generator removably positioned within the enclosure.

13. The portable generator housing of claim 12 , further comprising:
a sensor that sends a signal to the control panel upon detection that the portable generator housing has been opened.

14. The portable generator housing of claim 13 , where the control panel is configured to shut down the portable generator when the control panel receives the signal.

15. The portable generator housing of claim 13 , where the control panel is configured to initiate an audio or visual alert when the control panel receives the signal.

16. The portable generator housing of claim 12 , further comprising:
a light positioned adjacent to an interior surface of the top, the bottom, or one of the sides, where the control panel configured to power the light when the control panel receives the signal.

17. The portable generator housing of claim 12 , further comprising:
at least one light, where the control panel is configured to control the operation of the at least one light.

18. The portable generator housing of claim 17 , where the operation of the at least one light is programmed by the control panel.

19. The portable generator housing of claim 12 , further comprising
a solar panel connected to the housing and configured to provide power to a battery within the housing.

20. The portable generator housing of claim 19 , where the battery is a battery for starting the portable generator.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Hudak Eric B
• Rumao Manuel
• Andren Travis
• Oxtoby Steve
• Brandenburg Billy

Classifications

• F02N11/0803

  characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/35 Primary

  with light sensitive cells · CPC title

• H02K5/10

  with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers · CPC title

• B65D85/68 Primary

  for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form · CPC title