초록 ▼

A weatherproof cover assembly for an electrical device such as an electrical outlet has a base and hinged cover that encloses the base when a cord or plug is connected to the electrical outlet. The base has a cord access opening to allow the cord to pass between the base and the cover when the cover

A weatherproof cover assembly for an electrical device such as an electrical outlet has a base and hinged cover that encloses the base when a cord or plug is connected to the electrical outlet. The base has a cord access opening to allow the cord to pass between the base and the cover when the cover is closed. An outer guard partially encloses the access opening in the base to inhibit water, dirt and insects from entering the internal cavity of the base. The outer guard has an open portion with a center axis that is misaligned with the axis of the access opening to form a diverging path through the open portion of the guard and the access opening in the base. The open portion in the guard has a closure member that can move between a closed position when not in use and an open position to allow a cord to pass through the guard to the access opening in the base.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cover assembly for an electrical box, comprising: a base adapted for coupling to the electrical box, said base having a wall with a cord access opening;an outer guard coupled to said wall and having an outer wall extending from said wall of said base to define an outer chamber between said acce

1. A cover assembly for an electrical box, comprising: a base adapted for coupling to the electrical box, said base having a wall with a cord access opening;an outer guard coupled to said wall and having an outer wall extending from said wall of said base to define an outer chamber between said access opening and said outer wall, said outer wall having an opening for a cord;a movable closure member coupled to said outer guard by a pivot pin, said movable closure member being pivotable about said pivot pin relative to said outer guard between an open position spaced from said opening in said outer wall and a closed position blocking said opening in said outer wall to close said opening in said outer wall of said outer guard, said closure member being pivotally coupled to said outer guard in said open position and coupled to said outer guard in said closed position; anda cover hinged to said base, said cover having a dimension to overlie said base and outer guard. 2. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said outer guard has a bottom wall coupled to said wall of said base and an open top end, said bottom wall and outer wall of said outer guard defining said outer chamber; andsaid closure member is pivotally coupled to said bottom wall to pivot between said open position and closed position. 3. The cover assembly of claim 2, wherein said outer wall forms a continuous curved wall extending from said wall of said base and has a substantially concave inner surface and a substantially convex outer surface, andwhere said movable closure member has a bottom portion pivotally coupled to said bottom wall about an axis perpendicular to a plane of said bottom wall and a curved side wall complementing said curved wall of said outer guard. 4. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said closure member pivots about said pivot pin and slides to overlap said outer wall between said open position and said closed position to close said opening. 5. The cover assembly of claim 4, wherein said outer guard has a bottom wall defining an outer chamber between said cord access opening and said base, and where said closure member is pivotally coupled to said bottom wall. 6. The cover assembly of claim 5, further comprising a catch member to hold said closure member in said open position and to hold said closure member in said closed position. 7. The cover assembly of claim 6, wherein said catch member comprises a first detent on one of said bottom wall of said outer guard or said movable closure and where the other of bottom wall of said outer guard or said closure member has a recess for receiving said detent to hold said closure member in said closed position. 8. The cover assembly of claim 6, wherein said catch member comprises a first detent on a bottom portion of said movable closure, andsaid bottom wall of said outer guard has a first recess for receiving said detent to hold said closure in an open position and a second recess for receiving said detent and holding said closure member in said closed position. 9. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said base includes a first hinge member and said cover includes a second hinge member and a hinge pin coupling said first hinge member and second hinge member together,at least one of said first hinge member or said second hinge member has a tab, and said hinge pin has an annular recess receiving said tab to couple said hinge pin to said base and cover. 10. A cover assembly for an electrical box, comprising: a base adapted for coupling to the electrical box, said base having a wall defining an inner cavity, said wall having a cord access opening to said inner cavity, and an outer guard having a bottom wall, a side wall extending from said wall of said base defining an outer chamber, said side wall of said outer guard having a free end defining an opening in said outer guard;a cord hook extending from said free end of said wall;a closure coupled to said outer guard, said closure being pivotable relative to said outer guard between an open position with respect to said opening in said outer guard and a closed position blocking said opening in said outer guard, said closure member having a catch member to hold said closure member in said open position and to hold said closure member in said closed position; anda cover hinged to said base, said cover having a dimension to mate with said first wall and second wall to close said internal cavity and said outer chamber. 11. The cover assembly of claim 10, wherein said cord hook extends from a top edge of said wall of said outer guard toward said base and where said cord hook has a free end spaced from said base; andsaid opening in said outer guard is spaced laterally from said access opening in said base. 12. The cover assembly of claim 10, wherein said outer chamber has a bottom wall extending between said base and outer guard, and where said closure is pivotally coupled to said bottom wall whereby said closure member pivots about an axis perpendicular to said bottom wall of said outer guard. 13. The cover assembly of claim 10, wherein said closure has a bottom portion pivotally coupled to said bottom wall of said outer chamber, and a side wall extending substantially perpendicular from said bottom portion. 14. The cover assembly of claim 13, wherein said bottom portion of said closure pivots about an axis substantially perpendicular to said bottom portion and said bottom wall of said outer chamber. 15. The cover assembly of claim 10, wherein said wall of said outer guard has a concave inner surface and said closure has a side wall complementing the shape of said concave inner surface, andwhere said closure is pivotally mounted to pivot between the open position substantially adjacent said wall of said outer guard and the closed position to extend between the free end of the wall of said outer guard to said base. 16. A cover assembly for an electrical box, comprising: a base adapted for coupling to the electrical box, said base having a wall with a cord access opening;an outer guard coupled to said wall of said base, said outer guard having an outer wall with an end wall portion spaced outwardly from said cord access opening to limit access to said cord access opening, and said outer guard having an opening for accessing said cord access opening in said base;a movable closure coupled to said cover assembly, wherein said closure slides relative to said opening in said outer guard between a first open position where said opening in said outer guard is open and a closed position blocking said opening in said outer guard, where said closure in the open position overlaps a portion of said outer wall of said outer guard, and where said closure is coupled to said cover assembly in said open position and said closed position;a cover hinged to said base, said cover having a dimension to overlie said base and outer guard. 17. The cover assembly of claim 16, wherein said wall of said base comprises a first end wall having a hinge member for coupling to said cover;a first and a second side wall;a second end wall opposite said first end wall, said cord access opening being provided in said second end wall, andwhere said opening in said outer wall is spaced transversely from said cord access opening toward said first side wall. 18. The cover assembly of claim 17, wherein said opening of said outer guard is oriented substantially perpendicular to said second end wall. 19. The cover assembly of claim 16, wherein said closure is pivotably coupled to said outer guard and pivoting movement of said closure slides said closure to the open position to overlap said outer wall of said outer guard. 20. The cover assembly of claim 16, wherein said closure has a bottom portion pivotally coupled to a bottom wall of said outer guard to pivot about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to a plane of said bottom wall. 21. The cover assembly of claim 16, wherein said outer wall of said outer guard has an arcuate shape, andsaid wall portion of said closure has an arcuate portion, said wall portion being concentric with said outer wall, where said outer wall and wall portion overlap one another when the closure is in the open position. 22. The cover assembly of claim 16, further comprising a cord hook extending from said outer wall and overlying said opening portion and extending toward said wall of said base. 23. The cover assembly of claim 16, wherein said base has a first hinge member, and said cover has a second hinge member coupled to said first hinge member by a hinge pin,at least one of said first hinge member or second hinge member have a detent, and said hinge pin has an annular recess receiving said detent to couple said hinge pin to said hinge members.