US3634598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molded plastic electrical enclosure with a ground strap
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-20
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1990-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A weatherproof electrical enclosure which is formed of a molded electrically insulating plastic material. The enclosure includes a grounding strap which is maintained in position in a box portion of the enclosure when electric conduit connections through a pair of conduits are made to the box and maintains the integrity of a ground circuit through the conduit connections after the enclosure is installed in an electrical installation.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold W Stanfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:19
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
An enclosure for electrical equipment comprising: a box formed of electrical insulating material to have a rear wall and four upright sidewalls extending from the rear wall to provide the box with an exterior, and interior and an open top, a cover made of electrical insulating material secured to the box to close the open top and provide the box with a closed interior, a metal strap having a main portion juxtaposed to the rear wall, a pair of opposed edges on the main portion frictionally engaging opposite sides of a raised projection on the rear wall for maintaining the main portion in its juxtaposed position on the rear wall, and a pair of arms extending from the main portion to be adjacent and in spaced parallel relation to two of the sidewalls, each of said arms having an opening therein aligned with an opening in its adjacent sidewall, a pair of metal conduit fittings with each of said fittings having a threaded portion extending through the aligned openings in one of the arms and its adjacent sidewall to present a threaded end to the interior of the box and an outer portion disposed externally of the box sealingly engaging portions of the sidewall surrounding the opening through which the threaded portion extends, and pair of nuts threadedly engaging the threaded portions of the respective conduit fittings, a first one of the nuts of each pair positioned between a sidewall and an arm to engage the sidewall for maintaining the sealing engagement between the outer portion of its associated one of the pair of fittings and the external surface of the box and a second one of the nuts of each pair threadedly engaging the threaded end to engage the arm to press the arm into tight engagement with said first nut to provide a good electrical connection between the metal strap and its associated one of the pair of fittings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
An enclosure for electrical equipment comprising: a box formed of electrical insulating material to have a rear wall and four upright sidewalls extending from the rear wall to provide the box with an exterior, and interior and an open top, a cover made of electrical insulating material secured to the box to close the open top and provide the box with a closed interior, a metal strap having a main portion juxtaposed to the rear wall, a pair of opposed edges on the main portion frictionally engaging opposite sides of a raised projection on the rear wall for maintaining the main portion in its juxtaposed position on the rear wall, and a pair of arms extending from the main portion to be adjacent and in spaced parallel relation to two of the sidewalls, each of said arms having an opening therein aligned with an opening in its adjacent sidewall, a pair of metal conduit fittings with each of said fittings having a threaded portion extending through the aligned openings in one of the arms and its adjacent sidewall to present a threaded end to the interior of the box and an outer portion disposed externally of the box sealingly engaging portions of the sidewall surrounding the opening through which the threaded portion extends, and pair of nuts threadedly engaging the threaded portions of the respective conduit fittings, a first one of the nuts of each pair positioned between a sidewall and an arm to engage the sidewall for maintaining the sealing engagement between the outer portion of its associated one of the pair of fittings and the external surface of the box and a second one of the nuts of each pair threadedly engaging the threaded end to engage the arm to press the arm into tight engagement with said first nut to provide a good electrical connection between the metal strap and its associated one of the pair of fittings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 1 wherein an electric switch is included within the closed interior and a pair of slides carried on the rear wall positions the switch within the interior and portions of the strap on the rear wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 2 wherein the projection that extends from the rear wall has a cylindrical shape and the opposed edges that engage the projection are provided by a truncated conically shaped portion on the main portion of the strap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 2 wherein the box includes a pair of raised bosses at opposite ends of the rear wall and the slides and portions of the strap are positioned on the raised bosses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 4 wherein the switch is provided with terminals at its opposite ends and the slides have portions extending between barriers that separate the terminals to position the switch on the rear wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 1 wherein the sidewalls and arms at opposite ends of the box have the pair of aligned openings so that the conduit fittings extend from the opposite ends of the box.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 6 wherein the strap has a U-shape with arm portion of the U-shaped strap disposed in the parallel-spaced relation with the sidewalls at opposite ends of the box and the bight portion of the U-shaped strap is juxtaposed to the rear wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 1 wherein the projection that extends from the rear wall has a cylindrical shape and the opposed edges that engage the projection are provided by a truncated conically shaped portion on the main portion of the strap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The enclosure as recIted in claim 1 wherein the box has a rectangular shape and partitions extending between the adjacent walls at opposite corners of the interior provide passages for screws that are provided to mount the enclosure on a support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The enclosure as recited in claim 9 wherein the interior and the passages are closed by the cover when the cover is secured to the box.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |