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US5066832A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Plastic enclosure box for electrical apparatus

Assignee: Eaton Corp
•
Filing: 1989-10-26
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Granted: 1991-11-19
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Expires: 2009-10-26
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Abstract

Abstract A plastic load center box economically provided by duplicate molded end sections joined by an intermediate section of uniform cross-section which is readily provided in selected lengths in either molded or extruded form. End walls receive metal inserts electrically interconnected to provide grounding when attached to grounded conduit, or plastic inserts where the load center application does not require grounded conduit. Molded end sections have formed knockouts and wire clamping tabs.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert J. Clarey
  • 👤 Richard A. Reiner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 13:05
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/16; H02B1/26; H02B1/30; H02B1/305

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 151 words
A plastic enclosure box adapted to receive an electrical distribution panelboard therein comprising: first and second end sections each comprising a rear wall, side walls extending forwardly from opposite sides of said rear wall, and an end wall continuous with said side walls and said rear wall extending forwardly from said rear wall; an intermediate section of uniform cross-section comprising a rear wall and opposed side walls; said end sections disposed at opposite ends of said intermediate section wherein said rear wall and side walls of said intermediate section are contiguous with respective rear walls and side walls of said end sections thereby defining a box having an open front side; openings in said end walls; and rigid flat filler plates slidably attached to said end walls fully losing said openings, said filler plates having deflectable tab cable retainers or knockouts for attaching electrical conductor means directly to said filler plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 151 words
A plastic enclosure box adapted to receive an electrical distribution panelboard therein comprising: first and second end sections each comprising a rear wall, side walls extending forwardly from opposite sides of said rear wall, and an end wall continuous with said side walls and said rear wall extending forwardly from said rear wall; an intermediate section of uniform cross-section comprising a rear wall and opposed side walls; said end sections disposed at opposite ends of said intermediate section wherein said rear wall and side walls of said intermediate section are contiguous with respective rear walls and side walls of said end sections thereby defining a box having an open front side; openings in said end walls; and rigid flat filler plates slidably attached to said end walls fully losing said openings, said filler plates having deflectable tab cable retainers or knockouts for attaching electrical conductor means directly to said filler plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A plastic box as defined in claim 1 wherein said flat filler plates comprise electrically conductive metal plates having knockouts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
A plastic box as defined in claim 2 further comprising electrical conductor means interconnecting said metal plates of respective said end sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
A plastic box as defined in claim 3 wherein said electrical conductor means comprises wiring neutral connector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 166 words
A plastic enclosure box adapted to receive electrical apparatus therein comprising: first and second end sections each comprising a rear wall, side walls extending forwardly from opposite sides of said rear wall, and an end wall contiguous with said side walls and said rear wall extending forwardly from said rear wall, an intermediate section of uniform cross-section comprising a rear wall and opposed side walls; said end sections disposed at opposite ends of said intermediate section wherein said rear wall and side walls of said intermediate section are contiguous with respective rear walls and side walls of said end sections thereby defining a box having an open front side; openings in said end walls; and filler means attached to said end walls closing said openings, said filler means having means for attaching electrical conductor means thereto; wherein said end sections and said intermediate section are discrete elements, said box being provided in various predetermined lengths by selectively utilizing a said intermediate section of a specific length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 166 words
A plastic enclosure box adapted to receive electrical apparatus therein comprising: first and second end sections each comprising a rear wall, side walls extending forwardly from opposite sides of said rear wall, and an end wall contiguous with said side walls and said rear wall extending forwardly from said rear wall, an intermediate section of uniform cross-section comprising a rear wall and opposed side walls; said end sections disposed at opposite ends of said intermediate section wherein said rear wall and side walls of said intermediate section are contiguous with respective rear walls and side walls of said end sections thereby defining a box having an open front side; openings in said end walls; and filler means attached to said end walls closing said openings, said filler means having means for attaching electrical conductor means thereto; wherein said end sections and said intermediate section are discrete elements, said box being provided in various predetermined lengths by selectively utilizing a said intermediate section of a specific length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
A plastic enclosure box as defined in claim 5 wherein said end sections are molded and comprise a plurality of knockouts, deflectable tab cable retainers or combinations of each, in walls of said end sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
A plastic enclosure box as defined in claim 6 wherein said intermediate section is an extruded plastic member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
A plastic enclosure box as defined in claim 6 wherein said end sections are identical members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 44 words
A plastic enclosure box as defined in claim 6 wherein distal ends of said walls of said end sections overlap said opposite ends of said intermediate section, and means securing said end sections and said intermediate section together at overlapped ends of said sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
A plastic enclosure box as defined in claim 5 wherein said filler means comprise metal plates having knockouts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
A plastic enclosure box as defined in claim 10 further comprising electrical conductor means interconnecting said metal plates of respective said end sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
A plastic enclosure box as defined in claim 11 wherein said electrical conductor means comprises wiring neutral connector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 149 words
A multi-piece box for a distribution panelboard comprising: a pair of molded plastic end sections each having a rear wall, side walls extending forwardly from opposite sides of said rear wall, an end wall contiguous with said side and rear walls extending forwardly from said rear wall, and an opening in said end wall extending through a forward edge of said end wall; an intermediate section comprising a rear wall and side walls extending forwardly form opposite sides thereof and overlapped with corresponding rear and side walls of respective said end sections, said end sections being attached to opposite ends of said intermediate section at overlapped portions of respective said walls; and rigid filler plates slidable attached to said end walls from said forward edges fully closing said openings, said filler plates comprising deflectable tab cable retainers or knockouts for attaching electrical conductor means directly to said filler plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 149 words
A multi-piece box for a distribution panelboard comprising: a pair of molded plastic end sections each having a rear wall, side walls extending forwardly from opposite sides of said rear wall, an end wall contiguous with said side and rear walls extending forwardly from said rear wall, and an opening in said end wall extending through a forward edge of said end wall; an intermediate section comprising a rear wall and side walls extending forwardly form opposite sides thereof and overlapped with corresponding rear and side walls of respective said end sections, said end sections being attached to opposite ends of said intermediate section at overlapped portions of respective said walls; and rigid filler plates slidable attached to said end walls from said forward edges fully closing said openings, said filler plates comprising deflectable tab cable retainers or knockouts for attaching electrical conductor means directly to said filler plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
A multi-piece box as defined in claim 13 wherein said intermediate section is selectively provided in various predetermined lengths between its opposite ends, thereby providing a box of a selectively predetermined length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
A multi-piece box as defined in claim 14 wherein said intermediate section is an extruded plastic channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
A multi-piece box as defined in claim 14 wherein said intermediate section is a formed sheet metal channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 32 words
A multi-piece box as defined in claim 14 wherein said end sections comprise a plurality of knockouts, deflectable tab wire retainers or combinations of each in selected walls of said end sections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 19 words
A multi-piece box as defined in claim 14 wherein said filler plates comprise electrically conductive metal plates having knockouts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 23 words
A multi-piece box as defined in claim 18 further comprising electrical conductor means interconnecting said metal filler plates of respective said end sections.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
A multi-piece box as defined in claim 19 wherein said electrical conductor means comprises wiring neutral connector means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2924702A Cited
US3634598A Cited
US3728470A Cited
US3714369A Cited
US4710853A Cited
US4731501A Cited
US4708453A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-11-18 1995-05-20 1995-11-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-11-18 1999-05-20 1999-11-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-11-18 2003-05-20 2003-11-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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