Abstract:
A mounting device for supplying both high and low voltage services in an outdoor setting. One end of the mounting device is adapted to be anchored securely in the ground. A post extending from the ground includes a first electrical box for housing high voltage electrical connections and devices and a second electrical box for housing low voltage connections and devices. If desired by the installer, the mounting device can be configured to provide a single electrical box, which can include either high or low voltage. The top of the mounting device is adapted to accept a light fixture. The ground-anchored portion of the mounting device includes a large entryway to allow a large passageway for lead in of electrical cables. Integral projections extending from the mounting device enable secure anchoring to the ground. The mounting device is molded in one-piece and includes a knockout plate for providing a large electrical enclosure and a voltage separator for dividing the enclosure into separate high and low voltage electrical boxes.

Description:
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/755,936 filed Jan. 13, 2004 and still pending, which was a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/328,318 filed Dec. 23, 2002 and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,764, which was a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/253,185 entitled “Garden Post”, filed Sep. 24, 2002 and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,221, which in turn is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/112,563 entitled “Outdoor Garden Post”, filed Mar. 28, 2002 and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,362, which in turn is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/860,064 entitled “Landscape Fixture Support Post”, filed May 17, 2001 and now abandoned. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of outdoor ground-level fixtures and electrical devices, and more particularly to an in-ground support post that enables mounting of both high and low voltage components in a single mounting post. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In-ground outlet posts have been disclosed in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/755,936 and 09/860,064 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,779,764, 6,585,221, and 6,752,362, commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention, the contents of which are referred to herein and incorporated herein in this specification in their entirety. 
   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/860,064, entitled “Landscape Fixture Support Post”, filed May 17, 2001 and now abandoned, disclosed a mounting device for mounting a lighting fixture in an outdoor setting. The mounting device included a hollow cylindrical post. The lower portion of the post included integral projections to enable easy anchoring in the ground and a wide entryway for electrical supply cable. The radial projections, being integral with the post body, were less likely to separate from the post than stabilizer devices held by fasteners, as is typical of prior art posts. The post provided a top fitting for mounting a light fixture and a side port to provide access to the interior of the post for completing wiring connections. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,362 improved upon the design of an outdoor mounting device by providing an electrical junction box having a top wall and four side walls integral with the post. The mounting device provided a secure junction box for mounting an electrical device, such as an outlet receptacle in addition to a lighting fixture. Wiring connections to both the electrical device and the lighting fixture could therefore be completed within a secure electrical junction box. By isolating the internal wiring connections to both the device and fixture within a secure junction box, the wiring connections were thus better protected from ground moisture and other environmental hazards. The mounting device also enabled the junction box to accept all standard wall-mounted electrical devices, increasing its functionality. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,221 improved upon the functionality of the outdoor garden post by disclosing a mounting device for mounting a fixture at a user-selectable height in an outdoor setting. The mounting device was modular in nature, with the installer able to add various modules to raise the height of a light fixture and electrical device to a desired level. The mounting device also included a secure electrical junction box for enclosing and protecting wiring connections. 
   U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/328,318 and 10/755,936 improved the functionality of in-ground outlet posts by disclosing mounting devices that provided an elongated electrical box capable of accommodating several electrical devices. 
   Although the aforementioned disclosures improved upon prior art in-ground mounting devices, the mounting device was limited to supporting either a high voltage or low voltage device. The electrical code specifies that high and low voltage devices cannot be installed in the same box. Thus, although two high voltage devices or two low voltage devices could be supported by those mounting devices having an elongated electrical box, the mounting devices were inadequate in those situations in which the user wished to install both high and low voltage services in one mounting device. 
   What is needed therefore, is a device that is capable of anchoring in the ground and supporting both high and low voltage electrical devices. Additionally, the mounting device should provide the improved features of the aforementioned commonly owned disclosures, including a secure electrical junction box for isolating wiring connections from environmental hazards, integral projections to improve anchoring to the ground, and a wide lower cable entryway to allow easy access for underground cables. The mounting device should also be stable, durable, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, and easy to maintain. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   A first advantage of the present invention is that it provides a mounting device that will accept both high and low voltage electrical devices. 
   A second advantage exhibited by the mounting device of the present invention is that it can be easily anchored to the ground. 
   Additionally, the fixture-mounting device is stable, durable, easily maintained and accessed after installation, and is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
   These, and other objects, will become readily apparent to one of skill in the art having regard for this disclosure. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is a mounting device for supplying both high and low voltage services to an outdoor area. One end of the mounting device is anchored in the ground. A post extending from the ground includes a first electrical box for housing high voltage electrical connections and devices and a second electrical box for housing low voltage connections and devices. If desired by the installer, the mounting device can be configured to provide only one electrical box, which can include either high or low voltage. The top of the mounting device is adapted to accept a light fixture. The ground-anchored portion of the mounting device includes a large entryway to allow a large passageway for lead in of electrical cables. Integral projections extending from the mounting device enable secure anchoring to the ground. The mounting device is molded in one-piece and includes a knockout plate for providing a large electrical enclosure and a voltage separator for dividing the enclosure into high and low voltage electrical boxes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the mounting device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the mounting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the mounting device taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of a knockout plate used with the mounting device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an end view of the knockout plate taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the knockout plate taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the voltage separator member shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the voltage separator of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the voltage separator taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the mounting device of  FIG. 3  with a knockout plate and voltage separator in alignment to be installed therein. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a mounting device with a knockout plate secured therein and a voltage separator and high voltage electrical device in alignment to be installed therein. 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view of a mounting device with a voltage separator and high voltage electrical device secured therein. 
       FIG. 12A  is a detailed view of a light fixture secured to the top portion of the mounting device of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12B  is a detailed view of the high and low voltage electrical enclosures of the mounting device of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a mounting device with a knockout plate, voltage separator, and high voltage electrical device exploded away and in alignment to be installed therein. 
   

   REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE SPECIFICATION AND DRAWINGS 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               Part Number 
               Description 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
                20 
               mounting device 
             
             
                 
                22 
               tubular body 
             
             
                 
                24 
               side wall 
             
             
                 
                26 
               top portion 
             
             
                 
                28 
               bottom portion 
             
             
                 
                30 
               opposing openings 
             
             
                 
                30A 
               first opening 
             
             
                 
                30B 
               second opening 
             
             
                 
                32 
               lower end of opening 
             
             
                 
                34 
               stabilizer bar 
             
             
                 
                36 
               light fixture 
             
             
                 
                38 
               knockout plate 
             
             
                 
                40 
               electrical box or enclosure 
             
             
                 
                42 
               voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                44 
               integral fillet 
             
             
                 
                46 
               joint 
             
             
                 
                48 
               top wall 
             
             
                 
                50 
               bushing 
             
             
                 
                52 
               nipple 
             
             
                 
                54 
               thick wall portion 
             
             
                 
                56 
               bore 
             
             
                 
                57 
               top edge of stabilizer bar 
             
             
                 
                58 
               stiffening rib 
             
             
                 
                60 
               outer portion of knockout plate 
             
             
                 
                62 
               guiding aperture 
             
             
                 
                64 
               inner portion of knockout plate 
             
             
                 
                65 
               boss integral with knockout plate 
             
             
                 
                66 
               receiving aperture 
             
             
                 
                68 
               outer horizontal portion of knockout plate 
             
             
                 
                70 
               channel 
             
             
                 
                72 
               inner horizontal portion of knockout plate 
             
             
                 
                74 
               first knockout portion 
             
             
                 
                76 
               second knockout portion 
             
             
                 
                78 
               side wall of voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                80 
               top wall of voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                82 
               back wall of voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                84 
               open bottom of voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                86 
               front edge of voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                87 
               downward depending tab 
             
             
                 
                88 
               integral lip of voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                89 
               slot 
             
             
                 
                90 
               fastening arrangement 
             
             
                 
                92 
               fastener for knockout plate 
             
             
                 
                94 
               aperture 
             
             
                 
                96 
               cover member 
             
             
                 
                98 
               fastener for cover of low voltage electrical box 
             
             
                 
               100 
               aperture 
             
             
                 
               102 
               first electrical box 
             
             
                 
               104 
               second electrical box 
             
             
                 
               106 
               duplex outlet 
             
             
                 
               108 
               fastener for electrical device 
             
             
                 
               110 
               faceplate 
             
             
                 
               112 
               fastener for faceplate 
             
             
                 
               114 
               cable TV jack 
             
             
                 
               116 
               coax cable 
             
             
                 
               118 
               high voltage cable 
             
             
                 
               120 
               bottom end of mounting device 
             
             
                 
               122 
               opening in bottom end 
             
             
                 
               124 
               boss 
             
             
                 
               126 
               top end of opening in tubular body 
             
             
                 
               128 
               aperture in lip of voltage separator 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As this invention may be more easily explained by reference to the attached drawings, it should be noted that the figures are representative and exemplary of the invention only, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. 
   The present invention consists of a mounting device for providing electrical services in an outdoor area. The mounting device or garden post provides a secure platform for housing both high and low voltage electrical devices therein. A house owner may, for example, wish to provide lighting, high voltage electrical service, and cable TV service in an outdoor setting, such as a patio. The mounting device of the present invention allows a homeowner to satisfy these needs by mounting a high voltage light fixture, a high voltage outlet, and a low voltage cable TV connection in a single mounting device. The mounting device can be easily anchored in the ground near the patio, high and low voltage electrical supply run to the mounting device, and the high and low voltage components secured therein. The mounting device provides a weatherproof housing for enclosing the various electrical devices therein. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of a mounting device  20  according to the present invention includes an elongated one-piece tubular body  22  with side walls  24 , a top portion  26 , and a bottom portion  28 . The side walls  24  include two opposing openings  30 , one of which is in view in the figure, in the top portion  26  of the mounting device  20 . Each of the openings include lower ends  32 . The bottom portion  28  of the mounting device  20  includes integral stabilizer bars  34 , which are typically formed as part of the one-piece body  22  in a molding operation. A light fixture  36  can be secured to the top portion  26  of the mounting device  20 . The mounting device includes a knockout plate  38  that is inserted into one of the openings  30  to span substantially the distance between the opposing openings at the lower ends  32  and define an electrical box  40  within the top portion  26 . A voltage separator  42  is in alignment with the opening (not shown) on the opposite side of the mounting device  20 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , the stabilizer bars  34  include integral fillets  44  which are formed in the molding of the mounting device  20 . The integral fillets  44  increase the strength of the joint  46  between the stabilizer bar  34  and the tubular body  22 . The mounting device  20  further includes a top wall  48  and an internally threaded bushing  50  for accepting a light fixture (not shown). The one-piece tubular body  22  includes a substantially square cross section. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the light fixture  36  typically includes an externally threaded nipple  52  for engagement with the threaded bushing on the mounting device. 
   The sectional view of  FIG. 3  depicts the one-piece tubular body  22  portion of the mounting device  20 . The tubular body  22  is preferably molded of plastic in one-piece. Two opposing openings  30 A,  30 B are formed in the top portion  26  of the mounting device  20 , including a first opening  30 A and a second opening  30 B. The side walls  24  include thick wall portions  54 , which have a plurality of bores  56 , formed therein. Each stabilizer bar  34  includes a top edge  57  and an integral stiffening rib  58  extending along the top edge  57 . The integral stiffening rib  58  strengthens the stabilizer bar  34  and reduces the possibility of the stabilizer bars being bent in a sideways direction. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the knockout plate  38  includes an outer portion  60  including a guiding aperture  62  therein, an inner portion  64  including an integral boss  65  having a receiving aperture  66  therein, an outer horizontal portion  68  connecting the outer portion  60  and the inner portion  64  and defining a channel  70  therebetween, and an inner horizontal portion  72 . The guiding apertures  62  are at an angle to allow any fasteners inserted therein to be countersunk within the outer portion  60 . The knockout plate  38  further includes first knockout portions  74  and a second knockout portion  76  that may be removed from the knockout plate  38  to allow passage of electrical wiring therethrough. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 7-9 , the voltage separator  42  includes two side walls  78 , a top wall  80 , a back wall  82 , an open bottom  84 , and a front edge  86 . The voltage separator  42  further includes an integral lip  88  extending from the top wall  80 , a downward depending tab  87  at the front edge  86  of the open bottom  84 , and a slot  89  in the downward depending tab  87 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , the knockout plate  38  is inserted into the second opening  30 B of the tubular body  22  with the channel  70  of the knockout plate  38  placed over a thick wall portion  54  of the tubular body  22 . The knockout plate  38  is then secured thereto by the fastening arrangement  90 . The fastening arrangement  90  for securing the knockout plate  38  to the tubular body  22  includes a fastener  92 , which is threaded through the guiding aperture  62  in the knockout plate  38 , the aperture  94  at the lower end  32  of the second opening  30 B of the tubular body  22 , and the receiving aperture  66  in the knockout plate  38 . With the knockout plate  38  secured to the tubular body  22 , the inner horizontal portion  72  of the knockout plate  38  substantially closes the tubular body  22  and defines an electrical box  40 . The electrical box  40  is bound by the side walls  24  of the tubular body  22 , the top wall  48  of the tubular body  22 , and the knockout plate  38 . The large electrical box  40  thus formed may be used for high voltage devices and their wiring connections or for low voltage devices and their wiring connections, but as a consequence of the electrical code, would not be appropriate for housing both high and low voltage components and connections. If the installer prefers to mount both high and low voltage components, a voltage separator  42  would be secured at the first opening  30 A as shown. The voltage separator  42  is secured to the tubular body  22  by a cover member  96 , which in turn is secured to the tubular body  22  by fasteners  98  secured into apertures  100  as shown. 
   After the knockout plate  38  and voltage separator  42  are secured to the tubular body  22  as shown in  FIG. 11 , the voltage separator  42  divides the large electrical enclosure  40  into a first or low voltage electrical box  102  and a second or high voltage electrical box  104 . The first electrical box  102  is defined as the enclosure bounded by the side walls  78 , top wall  80 , and back wall  82  of the voltage separator  42  and on the bottom by the knockout plate  38 . The second electrical box  104  is defined as the enclosure bounded by the side walls  24  and top wall  48  of the tubular body  22 , the knockout plate  38 , and the back wall  82  of the voltage separator  42 . The second opening  30 B of the tubular body  22  is adapted to accept a wall-mount high voltage electrical device, such as the duplex outlet  106  shown in  FIG. 11 . Fasteners  108  are tightened into the bores  56  in the thick wall portions  54  of the tubular body  22  to secure the duplex outlet  106  thereto. A standard wall-mount faceplate  110  is secured by fasteners  112  over the duplex outlet  106  to seal second opening  30 B over the second electrical box  104 . 
   With the duplex outlet  106  secured to the tubular body  22 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , any typical low voltage electrical device, such as a cable phone jack, computer data jack, or cable TV jack  114 , could be installed within the first or low voltage electrical box  102 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 12A , a light fixture  36  can be secured to the mounting device  20  by screwing the nipple  52  on the light fixture  36  into the bushing  50  secured in the top wall  48  of the tubular body  22 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 12B , with the voltage separator  42  secured in the first opening  30 A, the open bottom  84  of the voltage separator  42  overlaps the second knockout portion  76  in the knockout plate  38 . Low voltage line such as the coax cable  116  shown is routed through the second knockout portion  76  and through the open bottom  84  of the voltage separator  42  to the cable TV jack  114  that is secured within the first electrical box  102 . High voltage cable  118  is routed through the first knockout portion  74  and into the second electrical box  104  to supply line current to the duplex outlet  106 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 13 , the mounting device  20  includes the tubular body  22  and the knockout plate  38 , duplex outlet  106 , and faceplate  110  in alignment with the second opening  30 B and ready to be secured therein to create a high voltage electrical box therein. In alignment with the opposing opening (not shown) on the opposite side of the mounting device  20  are shown the voltage separator  42  with the back wall  82  facing the tubular body  22 , the low voltage device  114 , and a cover member  96 . A light fixture  36  is shown secured to the top of the mounting device. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the bottom portion  28  of the tubular body  22  includes an open bottom end  120  that is at a sharp angle to the side walls  24 . The bottom end  120  of the mounting device  20  is cut at a sharp angle to provide a substantially wide and long bottom opening  122  therein for receipt of cables. As further shown in  FIG. 13 , a boss  124  is included at the thick wall portion  54  on the tubular body  22  at the top end  126  of the second opening  30 B, the boss  124  including a bore  56  therein. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , the integral lip  88  extending from the top wall  80  of the voltage separator  42  includes an aperture  128  therein. When aligned with the tubular body  22 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , the bore  56  in the boss  124  on the tubular body  22  is aligned with the aperture  128  in the lip  88  of the voltage separator  42 . After the voltage separator  42  is inserted within the first opening  30 A, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the front edge  86  is flush with the side wall  24  of the tubular body  22 . 
   While the invention has been described by reference to the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the invention is subject to considerable modification and may be tailored to fit the needs of many suitable mounting needs without departing from the scope or spirit of the claims which are appended hereto.