Abstract:
A detachable cover and base for housing open standard electrical wiring, the cover and the base having shoulders portions which readily engage and disengage. When coupled the shoulder portions form tubular projections that hold electrical conduits containing electrical wiring. A gasket is provided between the base and the cover to form a waterproof barrier. The tubular projections are perpendicular to walls of the cover and the base, and allow electrical wiring to be connected from multiple directions within a residence.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an access box assembly for coupling open lines in a residence. More particularly, relating to an access box having a top and bottom housing which attach via coupled shoulder portions making the assembly of the box, and containment of the open lines, easier and faster. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The use of a hinged or two piece junction box is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,340 which issued to Florentine discloses a waterproof container for electrical plugs and sockets having an upper and lower housing attached by a hinge. A latch and catch comprise the locking arrangement. U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,213 which issued to Georgopulos discloses a hinged electrical component container with a catch and latch closing mechanism. 
   Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,870 which issued to Abat, wherein there is disclosed an electrical component housing with two plastic shrouds that mate via hooks and openings. 
   To comply with local and state electrical codes open lines in a residence are covered with a junction box, also known in many circumstances as a conduit body. Currently tools are a necessity when installing wiring running from electrical conduits, for example in most conduit bodies a plate held by screws is removed from the top of the conduit body prior to positioning wiring within the box. Two persons are needed, one to shut down the electrical power supply to the electrical line being accessed (at the breaker/fuse box), and another person at the line to measure the voltage. When installing the box (conduit body), the lines within the electrical conduits need to be disconnected and feed into the cavity of the box through openings formed as part of the box. The lines are wired back together and power is restored. Many times the wires become tangled or are difficult fitting into the junction box. Open lines without proper junction box coverage (in violation of safety codes) are present in many homes. Before closing on a house during a resale, this situation needs to be corrected. 
   While all of the inventions described in the above patents fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, none of the aforementioned patents illustrate or describe an access box serving as an aftermarket junction box on existing homes or during new construction to comply with local and state electrical codes. 
   In this respect, one person, with no tools or without disconnecting the power, can position the two sections of the assembly around electrical conduits holding open lines, and engage the sections together. Thus, with a minimum of effort, a waterproof junction box that complies with building codes is provided. 
   Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved electrical wiring access box. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of electrical junction boxes for use in electrical wiring now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved apparatus for encapsulating electrical wiring in residences and businesses. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved junction box to place electrical connections, and methods of assembly and use, which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
   To attain this, the present invention comprises an access box assembly that includes a cover having at least two C-shaped shoulder portions formed with the walls of the cover, and extending perpendicularly at opposing ends. A base, also having at least two C-shaped shoulder portions formed with its side walls, is dimensioned in concert with the cover to hold open connected electrical wires connected via a wire connector. The cover is securely engaged with the base by engagement of the shoulder portions. After engagement, the shoulder portions form tubular projections. The tubular projections form around electrical conduits which hold insulated wire coverings sheathing electrical wires. A gasket, to provide a water proof barrier, is positioned between the perimeter ridge of the cover and the perimeter edge of the base prior to engagement. Complimentary raised edges within the inner wall form a stop ring near the proximal end of the tubular projections to prevent electrical conduits, containing insulated electrical wires, from entering the cavity formed by the cover and the base. Connected electrical wires are isolated from the electrical conduits by the raised edges, thus allowing for code compliance. 
   Additional embodiments include a four way assembly with four tubular projections formed, a three way assembly and an assembly with two projections formed at 90 degrees separation. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting the scope and intent of the invention. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a two way access box constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the access box of  FIG. 1  assembled. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the access box of  FIG. 1  showing electrical wiring connected and disposed within the base. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the cover of the access box of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the cover of the access box of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an additional embodiment constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the access box of  FIG. 6  assembled. 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the access box of  FIG. 6  assembled. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the access box of  FIG. 9  assembled. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the access box of  FIG. 9  showing electrical wiring connected and disposed within the base. 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of an additional embodiment constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of the access box of  FIG. 6  showing electrical wiring connected and disposed within the base. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The electrical wiring access box  10  is molded with the preferred material being polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The access box  10  comprises a cover  12 , a gasket  34  and a base  14 . 
     FIGS. 1–4  illustrate one embodiment of the invention. The cover  12  and base  14  have a generally rectangular configuration. An open cavity  20 , common to both the cover  12  and the base  14 , is defined by side walls  16  and end walls  18 . First shoulder portions  26 , generally C-shaped and bending adjacent to their center, and having an outer surface and an inner surface, are integrally formed with the end walls  18  of the cover  12 . The first shoulder portions  26  further comprise a pair of arms  28  extending in a generally common direction from the major bend for defining a space there between for engagement. In the first embodiment of the invention, as referenced in  FIGS. 1–3 , two first shoulder portions  26  extend perpendicularly outwardly of the cover  12  at opposed ends. A rim  36  is disposed on the proximal end of the first shoulder portion  26 . In the preferred embodiment, a ridge  22  is formed at the bottom perimeter edge of the cover  12 . It is recognized that the bottom perimeter edge can also be manufactured without a ridge formed, and consist of a flat surface. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1–4 , second shoulder portions  30 , being generally C-shaped and bending adjacent to their center, extend perpendicularly outwardly from the end walls  18  of the base  14 . The second shoulder portions  30  have an inner and outer surface, a top perimeter edge  24  and a rim  38  disposed on the outer surface proximally. To allow for a tight connection between the cover  12  and the base  14  in the preferred embodiment, the inner diameter of the top perimeter edge  24  of the base  14  has a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the bottom perimeter ridge  22  of the cover  12 . A circumferential lip  40  is formed on the outer surface distally. A groove  42  is defined between the rim  38  and the lip  40 . 
   A continuous gasket  34  is optionally provided to be a substantially water-excluding barrier between the cover  12  and the base  14 . However, the gasket  34  is not necessary to use the access box  10 . The gasket  34  is preferably made of rubber, although other materials with the same properties of water exclusion can be used. 
   On the inner surface of the shoulder portions  26 ,  30  near their proximal ends are complimentary arcuate raised edges  44  which form an opening of sufficient size to allow entry of the insulated wire coverings  46  and electrical wires  48  into the cavity  20 , yet prevent the entry of an electrical conduit (not shown) into the cavity  20  of the cover  12  and the base  14 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , in assembly, electrical conduits (not shown) containing insulated wire coverings  46 , encasing electrical wires  48 , are positioned on the inner surface of the second shoulder portion  30  of the base  14 , either before or after the electrical wires  48  are connected with wire nuts. The electrical wires  48  are placed in the open cavity  20  of the base  14 . If used, the gasket  34  is mounted on the top perimeter edge  24  of the base  14 . The base  12  and the cover  14  are brought together with the outer diameter of the perimeter ridge  22  fitting within and abutting the inner diameter of the top perimeter edge  24 . A tight fit is thus assured between the cover  12  and the base  14 , with the gasket  34  providing a water proof barrier protecting electrical wiring. When the cover  12  and the base  14  are being brought together, the arms  28  of the first shoulder portions  26  are inserted into the groove  42  of the second shoulder portions  30 , and engaged. The rim  38  of the second shoulder portions  30 , which aligns with the rim  36  of the first shoulder portions  26 , and the lip  40  of the second shoulder portions  30  are spaced apart substantially to provide a snug fit with the arms  28 . The arms  28  are prevented from moving, and thus the first shoulder portions  26  and second shoulder portions  30  are securely engaged. The tubular projections formed after the engagement of the shoulder portions  26 ,  30  house electrical conduits containing insulated wire coverings  46 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , after the shoulder portions  26 ,  30  are connected, the raised edges  44  form substantially a circular barrier which prevents electrical conduits from entering the cavity of the base  14  or cover  12 . 
   To remove the access box  10  from around electrical conduits, the cover  12  and the base  14  can be separated by pulling the arms  28  of the first shoulder portions  26  away from each other and dismounting the cover  12  from the base  14 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 5–8  and  FIG. 13  another embodiment of an electrical wiring access box  10  is disclosed. First shoulder portions  26  are formed at opposing end walls  18  and side walls  16  of a cover  50 . Second shoulder portions  30  are formed at opposing end walls  18  and side walls  16  of a base  52 . The cover  50  and the base  52  have a generally square configuration. The first shoulder portions  26  and the second shoulder portions  30  at opposing walls extend outwardly along the same longitudinal axis. A gasket  34  is preferably provided for a water proof barrier.  FIG. 13  illustrates the electrical wiring  48  after being connected, prior to the cover  50  and the base  52  being in the closed position. This embodiment of the invention  10  allows for insulated wire coverings  46 , contained within electrical conduits, to enter from four different directions. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11  another embodiment is disclosed. As illustrated in  FIG. 11  one first shoulder portion  26  is formed with one side wall  16  of a cover  60  and another first shoulder portion  26  is formed with one end wall  18  of the cover  60 . The second shoulder portions  30  are formed similarly on a base  62 . The tubular projections formed extend perpendicular to each other at an approximate 90 degree angle. The insulated wire coverings  46  are also aligned perpendicular to each other when the cover  60  and the base  62  are in a closed position. This embodiment is useful in corner of walls in a residence where the electrical wiring within walls meet at a 90 degree angle. 
     FIG. 12  discloses another embodiment of the invention  10 . A cover  70  has first shoulder portions  26  formed at opposing end walls  18  and one first shoulder portion  26  formed with one side wall  16 . A base  72  has second shoulder portions  30  formed at opposing end walls  18  and one second shoulder portion  30  formed with one side wall  16 . Electrical wiring can thus be connected in the cavity of the cover  70  and the base  72  from three different directions. The cover  70  and the base  72  have a generally square configuration. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, if is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.