ZA200802472B - Electrical connection box - Google Patents

Description

NINN #:2008/ 02472

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ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BOX

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electrical connection box and, more particularly, an electrical connection box of the type having a circular lid with a screw thread at or towards its periphery for cooperating with a cooperant screw thread on the box itself such that the lid may be installed on the box by rotating it about its own axis.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The installation of electrical components such as electrical connection boxes and other cable termination products is often carried out, of necessity, in awkward or difficult to reach locations, typically elevated. The various parts of such electrical connection boxes, if they are loose components, may be dropped and need to be retrieved with considerable inconvenience or, indeed, small components may even become lost. This can lead to delays in the installation procedure or, more seriously, the electrical components not being installed properly-as-a result of the omission of a lost component.

More particularly as regards electrical connection boxes, one common way in which a lid is attached to the connection box is using four screws at the corners of a generally rectangular box. One or more of the screws may become lost which can lead to the lid not being properly secured in its closed position. On the other hand, one advantage of the use of such an arrangement is the fact that the lid can be loosely held to the box by a single screw when the box is open for installation or maintenance purposes to thereby avoid the lid itself being dropped, particularly if the work is being

P1630ZA00CCGBox 2008/03/14 carried out over a body of water or other material from which it would be difficult or impossible to recover the lid.

In order to obviate the need for screws to attach the lid to an electrical connection box, applicant favours an arrangement in which the lid of the electrical-connection box is circular and has a screw thread cooperating with a screw thread on the box that may also be circular. The arrangement operates highly effectively and also affords enhanced security against unauthorised-opening of the electrical connection box by shaping the exterior of the lid for engagement-by a dedicated tool for rotating the lid.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical connection box having a circular lid wherein difficulties that may be occasioned by loose components is further addressed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided an electrical connection box and lid assembly wherein the lid is a circular lid with a screw thread at or near its periphery for cooperation with a cooperant screw thread on the connection box itself such that the lid may be installed and removed from the box by rotation of the lid about its own axis relative to the box, the assembly being characterized in that the lid is held captive relative to the box in the open condition by means of an elongate element anchored at a first end to the box and at a second end to the lid and wherein means are provided for accommodating rotation of the lid relative to the box for the purpose of opening and closing it.

Further features of the invention provide for the first end of the elongate element to be anchored to the interior of the box, preferably at a position at or

P1630ZA00CCGBox 2008/03/14 :

CN towards the periphery of the box and adjacent the access opening thereof; for the second end of the elongate element to be attached to the centre of the interior of the lid preferably in relatively rotatable manner so that the attachment of the second end constitutes the means for accommodating rotation of the lid relative to the box; for the elongate element to include an arm rotatably: attached at one end to the centre of the interior of the lid so-as to be rotatable generally in a plane close to the inner surface of the lid and wherein the other end of the arm has attachment means for attaching it to the box; and for the attachment means to include a short length of a articulated or flexible chain or cord.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:- : Figure 1 illustrates schematically, in isometric view, the general type of electrical connection box with which the invention is concerned;

Figure 2 is a partly sectioned exploded elevation of one embodiment of electrical connection box according to the invention; and,

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view showing the inside of the lid of the electrical connection box illustrated in Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

As indicated above, the invention is concerned with electrical connection boxes of the general type illustrated in Figure 1 wherein an electrical

P1630ZA00CCGBox 2008/03/14 connection box (1) of generally squat circular shape and has an external screw thread (2) surrounding an open access aperture (3) and adapted to cooperate with an internal screw thread (4) (see Figure 2) provided on the inner periphery of a domed circular lid (5). The lid may thus be installed and removed from the box simply by engaging the cooperating screw threads and rotating: the lid relative to the box about its own axis that is indicated -by numeral (6). The electrical connection box has, in the usual way, lugs (7) for securing it to a mounting surface and openings (8) in the sidewall for receiving electrical cable glands (not shown) or closure plugs (not shown), as the case may be. :

As provided by this invention, and with particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, the lid is held captive relative to the box by way of an elongate element, - composed of a generally rigid arm (9) and a flexible chain (10). The arm has one end (11) rotatably attached to the centre of the inside of the lid by means of an axially extending screw (12) in a manner that substantially restricts. the arm to rotation generally in a plane at right angles to the axis and positioned a short distance inwards of the inner surface of the lid.

The other end of the arm is positioned a short distance inwards of the periphery of the lid and has attached to it one end of the flexible chain (10).

The other end of the flexible chain is anchored to an anchorage post (13) moulded integral with the box such that the chain is anchored immediately inside the inner periphery of the box adjacent the access opening. The length of the chain is limited to that sufficient to enable the lid to be moved out of the way adequately to provide access to the interior of the electrical connection box and to terminal arrangements that are illustrated schematically and indicated by numeral (14).

It will be understood that by using the arrangement described above it is ensured that the chain does not contact any terminals within the electrical connection box with possible deleterious results. The arm is positively

P1630ZA00CCGBox 2008/03/14 maintained out of contact with any components within the electrical connection box by virtue of its restricted plane of rotation and shortness of the chain.

It will be understood that the arm and chain effectively holds the lid captive relative to the electrical connection box during installation or maintenance procedures when the box is open and, accordingly, obviates any possibility of the lid itself being dropped in circumstances such as are indicated above.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. For example, the elongate element could be a single strip of rigidly flexible plastics material anchored to the centre of the interior of the lid in rotatable manner at one end and at the other end to the periphery of the : box. Numerous other arrangements are possible.

P1630ZA00CCGBox 2008/03/14

Claims (8)

BL] — CLAIMS:

1. An electrical connection box and lid assembly wherein the lid is a circular lid with a screw thread at or near its periphery for cooperation with a cooperant screw thread on the connection box itself such that the lid may be installed and removed from the box by rotation of the-lid about its own axis relative to the box, the assembly being characterized in that the lid is held captive relative to the box in the open-condition by means of an elongate element anchored at a first end to the box and at a second end to the lid and wherein means are provided for accommodating rotation of the lid relative to the box for the purpose of opening and closing it.

2. An electrical connection box and lid assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the first end of the elongate element is anchored to the interior of the box.

3. An electrical connection box and lid assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the elongate element is anchored to the interior of the box at a position at or towards the periphery of the box and adjacent the access opening thereof.

4, An electrical connection box and lid assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the second end of the elongate element is attached to the centre of the interior of the lid.

5. An electrical connection box and lid assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the second end. of the elongate element is attached to the centre of the interior of the lid in relatively rotatable manner so that the attachment of the second end constitutes means for accommodating rotation of the lid relative to the box. P1630ZA00CCGBox 2008/03/14

6. An electrical connection box and lid assembly as claimed in claim § in which the elongate element includes an arm rotatably attached at one end to the centre of the interior of the lid so as to be rotatable generally in a plane close to the inner surface of the lid and wherein the other end of the arm has attachment means for attaching it to the box.

7. An electrical connection box and lid assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the attachment means includes a short length of articulated or flexible chain or cord.

8. An electrical connection box and lid assembly substantially as herein described and exemplified with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 14" day of March 2008 VON SEIDELS Intellectual Property Attorneys for the applicant P1630ZA00CCGBox 2008/03/14