Abstract:
An apparatus includes an enclosure mountable to a wall, a strap coupled to an outer surface of the enclosure, and a holder mounted to the wall. The holder tautly pulls the strap toward the wall to hold the enclosure against the wall.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of enclosures, and more specifically to an electrical enclosure.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Electrical enclosures can be used to house assorted electrical equipment. The enclosure protects the electrical equipment from the environment and helps prevent access to the equipment. Sometimes it is desirable to mount the enclosure flush against a wall. However, it can be difficult to mount the enclosure against the wall without boring holes through parts of the enclosure, which can then lead to infiltration.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     A strap is coupled to an outer surface of an enclosure and a holder is mounted to a wall. The holder is configured to tautly pull the strap toward the wall to hold the enclosure against the wall. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an enclosure, mounted to a wall, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0006]      FIG. 3A  shows a side view of a holder for mounting an enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3B  shows a side view of the holder of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a bracket, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  shows a strap, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the holder of  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a door hinge for an enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of the door hinge of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a hinge body for an enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  shows a side, cross section view of the hinge body of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an enclosure  100  according to one embodiment. Enclosure  100  includes an enclosure body or housing  110  having a door  112 . Other embodiments can utilize multiple doors. Enclosure  100  is for holding electrical equipment, for example. Door  112  is attached to housing  110  by hinges  116  and  118 , respectively. Hinges  116 ,  118  can include a lift-off hinge and further details will be discussed below.  
         [0017]     Enclosure  100  is designed to be mounted flush and tight against wall  150 , with a flange  115  of the enclosure flushly facing the wall surface.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section side view of enclosure  100  mounted to wall  150 . Generally, enclosure  100  is mounted to the wall using one or more straps  210  coupled to or engaged to an outer surface  215  of enclosure  100 . For example, strap  210  can be coupled to a bracket  230 , that is mounted to an outer surface of the enclosure. This example shows a strap  210  on the bottom and a strap  210  on the top of the enclosure. Other embodiments utilize the side surfaces as well as or instead of the top and bottom surfaces. A holder  220  mounted to back of wall  150  engages strap  210 . As will be discussed below, as holder  220  is fastened to the wall, the holder pulls strap  210  towards the wall (e.g. towards the right in  FIG. 2 ) such that the enclosure is pulled tight against wall  150  such that flange  115  is flush and tight with the wall.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a side view of holder  220  and strap  210  as the holder is mounted to wall  150 . The strap  210  (after being coupled to the enclosure) is placed over the holder  220  and the holder is tightened into the wall using a fastener  310 , such as a screw. As the holder  220  is tightened, it rotates and pulls the strap  210  a distance D, and since the strap is coupled to the enclosure, the enclosure is thereby pulled snug against the front of the wall.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows enclosure bracket  230 , in accordance with one embodiment. Enclosure bracket  230  includes a flat back wall  420  and one or more engagement hooks  430 . This example includes two engagement hooks  430 , but fewer than two or more than two can be used. Enclosure bracket is welded or otherwise fastened to an enclosure with hooks  430  oriented such that the open end  435  of the hooks is facing towards the front of the enclosure. As will, be discussed below, one or more holes in strap  210  ( FIG. 2 ) can be placed over and engage to hooks  430 . In some embodiments, enclosure bracket  230  can be omitted and the strap is mounted directly to the enclosure, for example, by welding. In other embodiments, hooks, such as hooks  430 , can be integral members of the enclosure and formed on one or more surfaces of the enclosure as the enclosure is made.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows strap  210 , in accordance with one embodiment. In one embodiment, strap  210  is an elongated, flat metal strap having a plurality of spaced holes  510 . For example, strap  210  can be about one inch wide and about  11 . 6  inches long, with holes  510  spaced about ½″ apart from each other. In other examples strap  210  can be made of plastic or other material. Holes  510  engage with hooks on the enclosure and with the holder  220  ( FIG. 2 ). The installer places the strap onto a hook of the enclosure using a hole  510  proximate a first end  515  and then placing a hole  510  of a second end  520  (or anywhere along the strap, depending on the thickness of the wall) onto holder  220 . By providing a plurality of engaging holes  510 , the strap can be used on walls of differing thickness. For example holes in a middle section  530  of the strap can be used for thin wall and holes near the end  520  of the strap can be used for thicker wall. In some examples, strap  210  can be mounted to the enclosure in different manners. For example the strap can be welded directly to the enclosure or the strap can be fastened to the enclosure using bolts or other fastening means.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  show a perspective view of holder  220 , in accordance with one embodiment. Holder  220  generally includes a first wall  610 , a second wall  620 , and a tab  630 . First wall  610  and second wall  620  have an angle therebetween. In this example, the angle is about 150 degrees. Other embodiments can use different angles, for example anywhere between about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees. Holder  220  is made of metal so that it does not bend too much when it is being fastened to the wall. Tab  630  extends from second wall  620 . Tab  630  can be angled relative to second wall  620  so as to better engage strap  210  ( FIG. 5 ). Tab  630  is dimensioned to allow holes  510  of strap  210  to fit over the tab. First wall  610  includes an elongate slot  640 . Slot  640  allows the fastener to engage the wall in a generally straight manner when the holder is being fastened and as the holder rotates during the fastening, the slot rides along the fastener.  
         [0023]     Referring again to  FIGS. 2-6 , the enclosure mounting system is used by placing an enclosure  100  against a wall  150 . A strap  210  is engaged to the enclosure, for example, using hooks on enclosure brackets  230 . The strap  210  is then coupled to holder  220 , with holder  220  oriented such that its mounting wall  610  is tilted away from the wall surface and wall  620  and tab  630  are relatively closer to the wall. As a fastener  310  fastens holder  220  to the wall, the holder rotates such that wall  620  and tab  630  move away from the wall and holder wall  610  moves towards the wall, thereby pulling strap and enclosure  100  taut against the wall.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  showed hinges  116 ,  118 .  FIGS. 7-10  show further details of the hinges, in accordance with one embodiment. Hinge  116  includes a door mounted hinge portion  710  which includes a cylinder  712  to receive the enclosure body mounted hinge portion  910 . Hinge portion  710  further includes a flange  715  to engage to the enclosure door. Flange  715  includes a tapped, threaded hole in the back side (not shown) to mount to the door of the enclosure. A top surface  810  of hinge portion  710  is angled to better allow the enclosure to be washed down without the hinge collecting foreign matter. Hinge portion  910  includes a main body  915  to be mounted to the enclosure using a tapped hole  920 . An upper post  925  engages within cylinder  712  to allow the door to swing open and closed utilizing the hinge.  
         [0025]     It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.