Air and moisture barrier for electrical outlet boxes

This invention consists of a transparent non-inflammable plastic container the purpose of which is to enclose an electrical outlet box to prevent air and water or moisture from entering into or passing through such box. The container is in the form of a rectangular box for use with rectangular outlet boxes, and is round for use with round or octagonal outlet boxes. Each of the containers is provided with a flange around the open rim of it, and said flange extends outwardly and at a small angle to the wall of the container.

This invention consists of a container which is used to cover electrical 
outlet boxes, for the purposes of preventing cold air from entering, and 
heated air from escaping, from the interior of buildings in which such 
boxes are installed; and to prevent water or moisture from entering such 
boxes. 
The present method of installing outlet boxes allows air which is activated 
by winds to enter the building from the outside and permits the escape of 
warm air from the building through these boxes. Furthermore, many building 
fires and electrocutions are caused by short circuits originating in these 
outlet boxes because moisture can enter into them quite easily. 
It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a means for 
making electrical outlet boxes as air and moisture proof as possible 
without the necessity of redesigning such boxes nor radically changing the 
established method of installation. 
This is accomplished by the invention by providing a cover for the outlet 
box, which is air and water proof for all practical purposes, and which 
can be installed concurrently with the installation of the outlet box.

In the drawings the invention is shown consisting of a rectangular, 
transparent plastic container 1 having an open top, the rim of which is 
provided with a flange 2 which slants upwardly or away from the box 1 at a 
small angle. 
The container 1 is made large enough to fit freely over a standard 
electrical outlet box 4, and this outlet box together with irs plastic 
cover 1 is nailed to a building stud 3, in the usual manner of 
installation, with nails 5,5. The insulated electrical wires 6,6, are led 
from the box 4 through punched holes in the container 1. These holes can 
be made small enough to provide a tight fit for the insulated wires 6, to 
prevent any air or moisture from entering into the container 1. If 
required, and as a further precaution, a sealing compound can be pasted 
around the said wires at their exit from the container 1. 
In FIG. 3, is shown a variation 7 in which the container 1 is changed to a 
round shape in order to conform with electrical outlet boxes which are 
round or octagonal in shape. 
The installation of the outlet box with its container is shown in FIG. 2. 
The box 4 is placed into the container 1 or 7, as the case may be, so that 
the open face of the outlet box 4 is flush with the face of the interior 
wall of a building; the flange 2 or 8 of the container 1 or 7, 
respectively, is pressed tightly against the said building wall; and both 
the outlet box and its container are nailed to a stud 3. By pressing the 
flanges of the said containers against the wall before nailing, the said 
flanges assume a position almost at rightangles to the container walls, 
and thereby form a tight seal which stops air or moisture to pass through 
the container and into the outlet box. 
It is preferable to fabricate the containers 1 or 7 out of a transparent 
plastic material, and particularly of a plastic which is fireproof or fire 
retarding, so that the interior can be observed and so that any flash due 
to a short circuit occurring within the container will be prevented from 
igniting any adjacent structural wood.