Abstract:
An in-use outlet cover includes a base configured to be positioned over an electrical receptacle. The base having a recessed portion at least partially defining a chamber configured to receive a plug to connect a load to the outlet. A cover assembly is pivotally connected to the base. An expandable member can positioned in a central opening of the base and moveable between a first position where the expandable member has a first volume and a second position where the expandable member has a second volume greater than the first volume, and wherein movement of the expandable member varies the size of the chamber. The cover assembly can additionally or alternatively include a lower cover pivotally connected to the base and an upper cover pivotally connected to the lower cover.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    Various exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to weather resistant outlet covers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electrical outlets may be exposed to rain, snow, debris, and other contaminants when mounted in outdoor locations, such as exterior walls. In such locations, the electrical outlet can be protected with a cover that can be closed while a plug is plugged into the outlet. Such outlet covers are called while-in-use covers. Typical while-in-use covers include a base surrounding an outlet and a cover connected to and extending from the base. A plug can be inserted into the outlet and the cover has an interior dimension sufficient to allow the cover to be closed while the plug is inserted. A cord can extend through an opening in the cover. 
         [0003]    In-use covers conventionally fall two categories—bubble covers and flush mount covers. Bubble covers are generally used where the sockets for the outlet are mounted near the outer surface of the wall. The outlet is covered by an in-use cover by providing a cover that creates a bubble around the cords plugged into the outlet. Flush mount covers are generally used where the sockets for the outlet are mounted recessed into the wall with the cover closing against the wall. The outlet is covered by an in-use cover by the spacing between the cover and the sockets allowing for a plug to be plugged into the socket while the cover is closed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to an exemplary embodiment, an in-use outlet cover includes a base configured to be positioned over an electrical receptacle. The base having a recessed portion at least partially defining a chamber configured to receive a plug to connect a load to the outlet. A cover assembly is pivotally connected to the base and includes a central opening. An expandable member is positioned in the central opening and moveable between a first position where the expandable member has a first volume and a second position where the expandable member has a second volume greater than the first volume, and wherein movement of the expandable member varies the size of the chamber. 
         [0005]    According to another exemplary embodiment, an in-use outlet cover includes a base configured to be positioned over an electrical receptacle. The base has a substantially rectangular configuration with first and second short sides and first and second long sides. A lower cover includes a substantially rectangular configuration with first and second short sides and first and second long sides. The first short side of the lower cover is pivotally connected to the first short side of the base. An upper cover has a substantially rectangular configuration with first and second short sides and first and second long sides. The first long side of the upper cover is pivotally connected to the first long side of the lower cover. 
         [0006]    According to another exemplary embodiment, an in-use outlet cover includes a base configured to be positioned over an electrical receptacle. The base has a substantially rectangular configuration with first and second short sides and first and second long sides. A lower cover has a substantially rectangular configuration with first and second short sides and first and second long sides. The first short side of the lower cover is pivotally connected to the first short side of the base. An upper cover has a substantially rectangular configuration with first and second short sides and first and second long sides. The first long side of the upper cover is pivotally connected to the first long side of the lower cover. An expandable member is connected to the upper cover and has an outer wall and a collapsible side wall. The expandable member is moveable between a first position where the outer wall is positioned a first distance from the upper cover and a second position a second distance from the upper cover, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The aspects and features of various exemplary embodiments will be more apparent from the description of those exemplary embodiments taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an outlet housing and outlet cover; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  with the outlet cover opened in a first direction; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  with the outlet cover opened in a second direction; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the outlet cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the outlet cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the expandable member; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the expandable member; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the lower cover; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the base; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]      FIGS. 1-3  show an exemplary embodiment of a while-in-use electrical outlet cover  10  connected to an outlet housing  12 . The outlet cover  10  includes a base  14 , a cover assembly  16 , and an expandable member  18 . The cover assembly  16  can be oriented either horizontally or vertically and pivoted about a first axis along a short side of the cover and a second axis along a long side of the cover, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The cover assembly  16  is a low profile cover so that it does not extend from the outlet a sufficient distance to permit a standard plug  20  to be inserted and the cover  10  closed. 
         [0022]    To permit the outlet to be used while the cover  10  is closed, the expandable member  18  moves between a first, or collapsed, position where the expandable member is positioned near an outer surface of the cover assembly  16  and a second, or extended, position where the expandable member  18  is spaced from the outer surface of the cover assembly  16 . Accordingly, the expandable member  18  has a first volume in the collapsed position and a second, larger volume in the extended position. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show an exemplary embodiment of the outlet cover  10  in more detail. The cover assembly  16  includes a lower cover  22  pivotally connected to the base  14  and an upper cover  24  pivotally connected to the lower cover  22 . The expandable member  18  extends through an opening in the upper cover  24 . A first hinge member  26  pivotally connects the lower cover  22  to the base  14  and a second hinge member  28  pivotally connects the upper cover  24  to the lower cover  22 . The base  14  and cover assembly  16  are shown having a substantially rectangular configuration with a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, although other configurations can be used depending on the type of outlet and outlet housing. 
         [0024]    One or more openings are provided for cords to extend through the outlet cover  10 . For example, a first set of openings  30  is at least partially defined by apertures in the base  14  and the lower cover  22  along the short side and a second set of openings  32  is at least partially defined by apertures in the lower cover  22  and the upper cover  24  along the long side, as best shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . A seal or gasket can be provided between one or more of the components, as best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . A first seal  34  is positioned between the upper cover  24  and lower cover  22  to provide water resistance to the first set of openings  30  and any cords extending therethrough. A second seal  36  is positioned between the lower cover  22  and the base  14  to provide water resistance to the second set of openings  32  and any cords extending therethrough. The first and second seals  34 ,  36  are sized to cover the openings  34 ,  36  when no cord is present and be compressible around a cord to seal any open space between the cord and the openings  34 ,  36 . A first gasket  38  can be provided between the expandable member  18  and the upper cover  24  and a second gasket  40  can be provided between the base  14  and the outlet housing  12 . 
         [0025]    As best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the expandable member  18  includes an outer wall  42 , a moveable or collapsible portion  44 , a flange  46 , and a recessed portion  48 . The moveable portion  44  can include a flexible, corrugated material allowing the outer wall to move between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The flange  46  includes a series of openings to receive fasteners. In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the expandable member  48  can also be transparent, allowing a user to see inside of the outlet cover  10 . The outer wall  42 , moveable portion  44 , flange  46 , and recessed portion  48  can all be transparent, or any combination of components can be transparent. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show an exemplary embodiment of the upper cover  24 . The upper cover  24  has a substantially rectangular configuration with a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. An opening in the upper cover  24  receives the expandable member  18 . A series of bosses  50  extend from a lower surface of the upper cover  24 . The bosses  50  can align or extend into the openings in the expandable member flange  46 . The upper cover  24  includes a first hinge portion  52  on one of the long sides and a set of apertures  54  and a latch  56  are positioned on the opposite long side. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show an exemplary embodiment of the lower cover  22 . The lower cover  22  has a substantially rectangular configuration with a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides surrounding a central opening. A channel  58  extends around the lower cover  22  defined by an outer side wall and an inner side wall to receive the first seal  34 . The lower cover  22  includes a first hinge portion  60  on one of the long sides and a first set of apertures  62  are positioned on the opposite long side. The first hinge  60  portion mates with the upper cover first hinge portion  52  and the first set of apertures  62  are aligned with the upper cover apertures  54 . The lower cover  22  also includes a second hinge portion  64  on one of the short sides and a second set of apertures  66  and a latch  68  positioned on the opposite short side. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show an exemplary embodiment of the base  14 . The base  14  has a substantially rectangular configuration with a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides surrounding a central opening. A channel  70  extends around the base  14  defined by an outer side wall and an inner side wall to receive the second seal  36 . The base  14  includes a first hinge portion  72  on one of the short sides and a first set of apertures  74  are positioned on the opposite short side. The first hinge portion  72  mates with the lower cover second hinge portion  64  and the first set of apertures  74  are aligned with the lower cover second set of apertures  66 . 
         [0029]    The base  14  includes a recessed portion  76  configured to receive one or more plugs. The exemplary embodiment shows a lower wall of the recessed portion  76  having dual, three-prong receptacle openings, although other embodiments can utilize different outlet openings as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The base  14  has a bottom portion  78  that is configured to snap-fit to a portion of an electric receptacle although other configurations can be used. The second gasket  40  is positioned on the bottom of the base  14  to help form a seal between the base and an outlet housing. 
         [0030]    The foregoing detailed description of the certain exemplary embodiments has been provided for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiments disclosed. Any of the embodiments and/or elements disclosed herein may be combined with one another to form various additional embodiments not specifically disclosed. Accordingly, additional embodiments are possible and are intended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope of the appended claims. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. 
         [0031]    As used in this application, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and other orientational descriptors are intended to facilitate the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the structure of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention to any particular position or orientation. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.