IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0967729
(2010-12-14)
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등록번호 |
US-8476540
(2013-07-02)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Dahl, Frederick Alan
- Koberg, James Jerome
- Amacher, Brian Allen
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
24 |
초록
▼
A shelter for protecting a portable electrical inlet/outlet (PEIO) includes a base and a cover. In some examples, the base includes a platform to support a body of the PEIO, and the platform is configured to segregate the PEIO body from water that may accumulate. In some examples, the cover configur
A shelter for protecting a portable electrical inlet/outlet (PEIO) includes a base and a cover. In some examples, the base includes a platform to support a body of the PEIO, and the platform is configured to segregate the PEIO body from water that may accumulate. In some examples, the cover configured to mate with the base to substantially enclose the platform. Upon being inserted into the shelter, the PEIO may be protected from unwanted elements, such as rain, snow, unintended contact by humans or animals, or the like.
대표청구항
▼
1. A shelter for protecting a portable electrical inlet/outlet (PEIO) from unwanted elements, the PEIO including a PEIO body, first and second PEIO cables, and at least two PEIO-component connectors, the shelter comprising: (a) a base that includes (i) a platform to support the PEIO body, the platfo
1. A shelter for protecting a portable electrical inlet/outlet (PEIO) from unwanted elements, the PEIO including a PEIO body, first and second PEIO cables, and at least two PEIO-component connectors, the shelter comprising: (a) a base that includes (i) a platform to support the PEIO body, the platform including a main area and a raised rib structure configured to segregate the PEIO body from water that may accumulate in the main area, and(ii) at least one sidewall extending substantially around at least a portion of a perimeter of the platform; and(b) a cover configured to mate with the base to substantially enclose the platform,wherein the shelter defines at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes configured to permit component cables to extend from an exterior of the shelter to the at least two PEIO-component connectors within the shelter, andwherein the shelter defines a first PEIO-cable hole and a second PEIO-cable hole, the first and second PEIO-cable holes being configured to permit the first and second PEIO cables to extend from the PEIO body within the shelter to an exterior of the shelter. 2. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the base further defines a drain aperture, and at least a portion of the main area of the platform is sloped toward the drain aperture to drain water that may accumulate in the main area out of the base. 3. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises at least one elevating portion extending downwardly from the platform, the at least one elevating portion configured to elevate the platform and maintain the platform in a generally parallel relationship with a surface on which the shelter is set. 4. The shelter of claim 3, wherein the at least one elevating portion comprises at least four legs extending downwardly from the platform. 5. The shelter of claim 3, wherein the at least one elevating portion is configured to elevate the platform at least 3 inches above the surface on which the shelter is set. 6. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the main area of the platform defines the at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes. 7. The shelter of claim 6, wherein the main area of the platform defines a first portion, and a second portion separated from the first portion by the raised rib structure, and wherein the main area of the platform defines at least four PEIO-component-connector-cable holes, at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes defined in the first portion of the main area, and at least two different PEIO-component-connector-cable holes defined in the second portion of the main area of the platform. 8. The shelter of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of PEIO-component-connector-cable-hole covers, wherein a separate one of the plurality of PEIO-component-connector-cable-hole covers is configured to cover at least a portion of each of the at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes. 9. The shelter of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of PEIO-component-connector-cable-hole covers is configured to slide between a first position in which a PEIO-component-connector-cable hole is open for receiving a component cable and a second position in which the PEIO-component-connector-cable hole is substantially closed. 10. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the cover is hingedly mounted to the base. 11. The shelter of claim 10, wherein the cover is configured to pivotally rotate at least 180 degrees between a closed position and an open position. 12. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidewall of the base comprises at least four base-sidewalls extending upwardly, with a first base-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in a first base-sidewall, and a second base-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in an opposed second base-sidewall, and wherein the cover comprises at least four cover-sidewalls extending downwardly, with a first cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in a first cover-sidewall, and a second cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in an opposed second cover-sidewall, wherein when the cover mates with the base, the first cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole aligns with the first base-PEIO-cable partial-hole to create the first PEIO-cable hole and the second cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole aligns with the second base-PEIO-cable partial-hole to create the second PEIO-cable hole. 13. The shelter of claim 12, wherein the base further comprises a hinge pin permanently affixed to a base-sidewall and extending parallel to the base-sidewall, and the cover further comprises a hinge pin receptacle permanently affixed to a cover-sidewall and extending parallel to the cover-sidewall, wherein the hinge pin receptacle is configured to receive the hinge pin to define a hinged connection between the cover and the base. 14. The shelter of claim 13, wherein the hinge pin extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the first end projecting from a first hinge-pin-support structure connecting the hinge pin to the base-sidewall, and the second end projecting from a second hinge-pin-support structure connecting the hinge pin to the base-sidewall, and wherein the hinge pin receptacle of the cover comprises a first receptacle-support structure defining a first projection receptacle opening in a first direction, a second receptacle-support structure defining a second projection receptacle opening in the first direction, and a third receptacle-support structure defining a third receptacle opening in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the first projection receptacle opening is configured to receive the first end of the hinge pin, the second projection receptacle opening is configured to receive the second end of the hinge pin, and the third receptacle opening is configured to receive a portion of the hinge pin extending between the first end of the hinge pin and the second end of the hinge pin. 15. The shelter of claim 14, wherein the first receptacle-support structure defines a first channel configured to receive the first end of the hinge pin during assembly of the hinged connection, the second receptacle-support structure defines a second channel configured to receive the second end of the hinge pin during assembly of the hinged connection, and the first channel and the second channel are each tapered such that the first receptacle-support structure and the second receptacle-support structure are displaced in opposing directions during assembly of the hinged connection. 16. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises a latching member configured to frictionally engage with at least a portion of the base, wherein the latching member is configured to substantially resist separation between the cover and the base when the cover is mated with the base. 17. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the base defines a first locking aperture extending through the base, and the cover defines a second locking aperture extending through the cover, wherein the first locking aperture is positioned to align with the second locking aperture when the cover is mated with the base so as to define a locking aperture extending through the cover and the base that is configured to receive a locking member to lock the cover to the base. 18. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a first PEIO-cable support surface extending substantially orthogonally from the at least one sidewall of the base, and a second PEIO-cable support surface extending substantially orthogonally from the at least one sidewall of the base in an opposing direction from the first PEIO-cable support surface. 19. The shelter of claim 18, at least one of the first PEIO-cable support surface or the second PEIO-cable support surface defines a first diameter a first distance from the PEIO body, and a second diameter less than the first diameter at a second distance from the PEIO body greater than the first distance. 20. The shelter of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the first PEIO-cable support surface or the second PEIO-cable support surface defines a first portion that defines the first diameter and a second portion that defines the second diameter, and wherein the second portion is configured to fracture from the first portion upon application of a force without substantially affecting a length or a diameter of the first portion. 21. A system comprising: (a) a portable electrical inlet/outlet (PEIO) that includes a PEIO body, a first PEIO cable, a second PEIO cable, and at least two PEIO-component connectors;(b) a shelter comprising: (i) a base that includes (A) a platform to support the PEIO body, the platform including a main area and a raised rib structure configured to segregate the PEIO body from water that may accumulate in the main area, and(B) at least one sidewall extending substantially around at least a portion of a perimeter of the platform; and(ii) a cover configured to mate with the base to substantially enclose the platform,wherein the shelter defines a first PEIO-cable hole, a second PEIO-cable hole, and at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes; and(c) a component cable,wherein the PEIO is positioned such that the PEIO body is adjacent the raised rib structure of the shelter, the first PEIO cable extends from the PEIO body through the first PEIO-cable hole to an exterior of the shelter, the second PEIO cable extends from the PEIO body through the second PEIO-cable hole to the exterior of the shelter, and the component cable extends from one of the at least two PEIO-component connectors through one of the at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes to the exterior of the shelter. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the shelter further comprises at least one elevating portion extending downwardly from the platform, the at least one elevating portion configured to elevate the platform and maintain the platform in a generally parallel relationship with a surface on which the shelter is set. 23. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one sidewall of the base comprises at least four base-sidewalls extending upwardly, with a first base-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in a first base-sidewall, and a second base-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in an opposed second base-sidewall, and wherein the cover comprises at least four cover-sidewalls extending downwardly, with a first cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in a first cover-sidewall, and a second cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole being defined in an opposed second cover-sidewall, wherein when the cover mates with the base, the first cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole aligns with the first base-PEIO-cable partial-hole to create the first PEIO-cable hole and the second cover-PEIO-cable partial-hole aligns with the second base-PEIO-cable partial-hole to create the second PEIO-cable hole. 24. A method comprising: (a) providing a shelter that includes: (i) a base comprising (A) a platform having a main area and a raised rib structure and (B) at least one sidewall extending substantially around at least a portion of a perimeter of the platform; and(ii) a cover,wherein the shelter defines a first PEIO-cable hole, a second PEIO-cable hole, and at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes;(b) providing a portable electrical inlet/outlet (PEIO) that includes a PEIO body, a first PEIO cable, a second PEIO cable, and at least two PEIO-component connectors;(c) inserting the PEIO into the shelter, which includes: (i) placing the PEIO body on the raised rib structure to segregate the PEIO body from water that may accumulate in the main area,(ii) positioning the first PEIO cable in the shelter's first PEIO-cable hole, and(iii) positioning the second PEIO cable in the shelter's second PEIO-cable hole; and(d) mating the shelter's cover to the shelter's base to substantially enclose the PEIO body within the shelter. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising (e) extending a component cable from the exterior of the shelter through one of the at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes of the shelter and connecting the component cable to one of the at least two PEIO-component connectors. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the shelter further comprises at least one PEIO-component-connector-cable-hole cover, and wherein extending the component cable from the exterior of the shelter through one of the at least two PEIO-component-connector-cable holes of the shelter and connecting the component cable to one of the at least two PEIO-component connectors comprises sliding the at least one PEIO-component-connector-cable-hole cover to a first position to open a PEIO-component-connector-cable hole, inserting the component cable through the opened PEIO-component-connector-cable hole, and sliding the at least one PEIO-component-connector-cable-hole cover to a second position to substantially close the at least one PEIO-component-connector-cable-hole cover around the component cable. 27. The method of claim 24, wherein the shelter further comprises at least one PEIO-cable support surface extending substantially orthogonally from at least one of the cover or the at least one sidewall of the base, the at least one PEIO-cable support surface defining a first portion that defines a first diameter a first distance from the PEIO body, and a second portion that defines a second diameter less than the first diameter at a second distance from the PEIO body greater than the first distance, the method further comprising fracturing the second portion from the first portion. 28. The method of claim 24, wherein the shelter further comprises at least one elevating portion extending downwardly from the platform, the at least one elevating portion configured to elevate the platform and maintain the platform in a generally parallel relationship with a surface on which the shelter is set.
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