Abstract:
A two-way cover for protecting electrical devices in either horizontally or vertically oriented exterior electrical junction boxes. The two-way cover includes an assembly comprised of a base member, middle member, and outer member. An arrangement is included for securing the base member to an electrical box. The outer member is rotatably attached to the assembly to form a first rotational cover unit. The middle member is also rotatably attached to the assembly such that the outer member and the middle member form a second rotational cover unit. The first rotational cover unit is capable of rotation in a first direction with respect to the assembly and the second rotational cover unit is capable of rotation in a second direction with respect to the assembly. When the assembly is secured to a vertically oriented junction box, the first rotational cover unit may be opened and closed to provide access to the box. When the assembly is secured to a horizontally oriented junction box, the second rotational cover unit may be opened and closed to provide access to the box. The two-way cover therefore provides a simple and convenient assembly for covering an outdoor electrical box oriented either vertically or horizontally without the need for separate inserts or removable tabs and hinges to accommodate the separate orientations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cover assembly for outdoor electrical junction boxes and specifically to a two-way opening electrical box cover that can be used to provide a weatherproof cover for an electrical junction box mounted in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electrical junction boxes are commonly mounted on the exterior vertical walls of buildings to provide electrical devices such as duplex receptacles or outlets to service various outdoor appliances. Some of the appliances are of the type, such as pumps and mosquito traps, that are commonly left plugged into the outlet for extended periods of time and through all types of weather conditions. It is therefore desirable in this situation to keep the electrical cord for the appliance plugged into the outlet while providing protection to the receptacle against rain, water spray, and other inclement conditions that may be encountered in a typical outdoor setting. 
     Various attempts have therefore been made to provide weatherproof covers for exterior junction boxes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,407 (hereinafter the &#39;407 patent), for example, provided an electrical outlet safety cover having a top dimensioned to fit over an electrical outlet and define a closed space of sufficient size to include a plug inserted therein. The top included an opening through which an electrical cord could pass. 
     Although the safety cover of the &#39;407 patent provided protection for an outlet mounted in a vertically mounted electrical junction box, it was limited to protecting a vertically mounted box. If the safety cover of the &#39;407 patent were installed on a horizontally-mounted electrical junction box, the plug openings in the cover would be oriented to the side, therefore allowing rain or water spray to enter the cover. The safety cover of the &#39;407 patent was therefore inadequate for protecting a horizontally oriented electrical junction box. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,135 (hereinafter the &#39;135 patent) attempted to solve this problem by providing an outdoor weatherproof protecting electrical outlet cover adapted to be attached in weatherproof connection to an electrical outlet. It included a gasket, a base plate, an insert, and a protective housing with gaps for accommodating electrical cords. The insert was sized and adapted to fit within an aperture in the base plate in one of two orientations, depending on the orientation of the electrical junction box it was used in conjunction with. The insert was capable of being rotated 90° to accommodate either a vertically or horizontally oriented box while the protective housing remained oriented vertically to allow the gaps to be positioned downward. Although the &#39;135 patent provided a protective cover capable of accommodating both vertical and horizontal electrical junction boxes, the design was mechanically complex, relying upon a gasket, a base plate, an insert, and a protective housing to provide the desired protection. 
     Another attempt to provide protection to exterior electrical junction boxes was that proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,831 (hereinafter the &#39;831 patent). This patent provided a method and apparatus for converting a universal cover plate for an electrical outlet to any desired specific cover plate. The apparatus included a base having a long and short side and removable tabs and hinges on both the long and short sides. Depending on the orientation of the electrical junction box, tabs were removed on the appropriate side to accommodate the box. A cover was provided with removable hinges that allowed the cover to open along more than one axis. To accommodate a horizontally oriented electrical junction box, the tabs on the short side of the base and the hinges on the short side of the cover are removed by prying, sawing, or cutting. Alternatively, to accommodate a vertically oriented electrical junction box, the tabs on the long side of the base and the hinges on the long side of the cover are removed. Although the &#39;831 patent provided a protective cover for an electrical junction box in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, it was quite complex to install, requiring the installer to pry, saw, or cut two tabs on the base and two hinges on the cover in order to create a base and cover assembly that would cooperate to enclose an electrical junction box of a given orientation. 
     The complexity of the aforementioned prior art indicates a need for a simpler device for protecting electrical devices installed in exterior electrical junction boxes orientated either horizontally or vertically. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a two-way cover for protecting electrical devices in exterior electrical junction boxes oriented either horizontally or vertically. The two-way cover includes an assembly comprised of a base member, middle member, and outer member. An arrangement is included for securing the base member to an electrical box. The outer member is rotatably attached to the assembly to form a first rotational cover unit. The middle member is also rotatably attached to the assembly such that the outer member and the middle member form a second rotational cover unit. The first rotational cover unit is capable of rotation in a first direction with respect to the assembly and the second rotational cover unit is capable of rotation in a second direction with respect to the assembly. When the assembly is secured to a vertically oriented junction box, the first rotational cover unit may be opened and closed to provide access to the box. When the assembly is secured to a horizontally oriented junction box, the second rotational cover unit may be opened and closed to provide access to the box. The two-way cover therefore provides a simple and convenient assembly for covering an outdoor electrical box oriented either vertically or horizontally without the need for separate inserts or removable tabs and hinges to accommodate the separate orientations. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     The two-way electrical box cover assembly of the present invention provides a cover for protecting an electrical junction box mounted in an exterior vertical wall in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. 
     One advantage of the two-way cover assembly is that it provides a simple device that is easily installed on either a vertically or horizontally oriented electrical junction box. All that is required is a simple rotation of the cover assembly to match the orientation of the junction box whereupon fasteners are applied to secure the cover assembly to the junction box. 
     The two-way cover therefore provides an advantage over prior art electrical box covers by eliminating the need for separate inserts or removable tabs and hinges, as are required on several prior art covers, to accommodate the separate possible orientations of the electrical junction box. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following description along with reference to the drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a two-way electrical box cover assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is plan view of the base member of the two-way electrical box cover assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the middle member of the two-way electrical box cover assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the outer member of the two-way electrical box cover assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the outer member of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the two-way electrical box cover assembly of FIG. 1 with the first rotational cover unit, comprised of the outer member rotatably attached to the middle member, depicted in the open position. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tab insert according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the two-way electrical box cover assembly of FIG. 1 with the second rotational cover unit, comprised of the outer member and middle member rotatably attached to the base member, depicted in the open position. 
     FIG. 9 is a elevation view of a closed two-way electrical box cover according to the present invention mounted to a vertically-oriented electrical junction box and with a portion of the cover broken away to depict the duplex receptacle mounted therein. 
     FIG. 10 is a elevation view of a closed two-way electrical box cover according to the present invention mounted to a horizontally-oriented electrical junction box and with a portion of the cover broken away to depict the duplex receptacle mounted therein. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the tab insert according of FIG.  7 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Table of Nomenclature 
               
               
                 The following is a listing of part numbers used in the drawings along with 
               
               
                 a brief description: 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Part Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 20 
                 two-way electrical box cover assembly 
               
               
                 22 
                 base member 
               
               
                 24 
                 middle member 
               
               
                 26 
                 outer member 
               
               
                 28 
                 securement arrangement 
               
               
                 30 
                 aperture in base member 
               
               
                 32 
                 vertically-oriented electrical junction box 
               
               
                 34 
                 horizontally-oriented electrical junction box 
               
               
                 36 
                 mounting plate of FS box 
               
               
                 38 
                 threaded apertures in mounting plate of FS box 
               
               
                 40 
                 threaded fasteners 
               
               
                 42 
                 back wall of base member 
               
               
                 44 
                 continuous peripheral side wall of base member 
               
               
                 46 
                 long side wall of base 
               
               
                 48 
                 short side wall of base 
               
               
                 50 
                 device-mounting aperture on base 
               
               
                 52 
                 central opening of base 
               
               
                 54 
                 latch-receiving tab of base 
               
               
                 56 
                 post on base member 
               
               
                 57 
                 first locking aperture on base 
               
               
                 58 
                 locking bar on base 
               
               
                 60 
                 second locking aperture on base 
               
               
                 62 
                 continuous peripheral side wall of middle member 
               
               
                 64 
                 long side wall of middle member 
               
               
                 66 
                 short side wall of middle member 
               
               
                 68 
                 top edge of middle member side wall 
               
               
                 70 
                 bottom edge of middle member side wall 
               
               
                 72 
                 latch on middle member 
               
               
                 74 
                 posts on middle member 
               
               
                 76 
                 groove in short side wall of middle member 
               
               
                 78 
                 post-engaging extensions on middle member 
               
               
                 80 
                 post apertures of middle member 
               
               
                 82 
                 cord openings in middle member 
               
               
                 83 
                 locking tab of middle member 
               
               
                 84 
                 locking aperture in tab of middle member 
               
               
                 85 
                 latch-receiving tab of middle member 
               
               
                 86 
                 projections from inner wall of middle member 
               
               
                 87 
                 top of outer member 
               
               
                 88 
                 continuous peripheral side wall of outer member 
               
               
                 92 
                 bottom edge of outer member side wall 
               
               
                 94 
                 long side wall of outer member 
               
               
                 96 
                 short side wall of outer member 
               
               
                 98 
                 post-engaging extensions on outer member 
               
               
                 100 
                 post apertures of outer member 
               
               
                 102 
                 locking bar 
               
               
                 103 
                 aperture in locking bar of outer member 
               
               
                 106 
                 cord openings in outer member 
               
               
                 107 
                 latch on outer member 
               
               
                 108 
                 tab insert 
               
               
                 110 
                 outer surface of tab insert 
               
               
                 112 
                 inner surface of tab insert 
               
               
                 114 
                 wings on tab insert 
               
               
                 116 
                 channel 
               
               
                 120 
                 first rotational cover unit 
               
               
                 121 
                 first latching arrangement 
               
               
                 122 
                 fastener 
               
               
                 124 
                 second rotational cover unit 
               
               
                 125 
                 second latching arrangement 
               
               
                 126 
                 fastener 
               
               
                 128 
                 aperture in outer member 
               
               
                 130 
                 aperture in middle member 
               
               
                 132 
                 electrical device or duplex receptacle 
               
               
                 134 
                 electrical cord 
               
               
                 135 
                 electrical outlet 
               
               
                 136 
                 bottom vertically of first rotational cover unit 
               
               
                 138 
                 bottom vertically of second rotational cover unit 
               
               
                 140 
                 tab on tab insert 
               
               
                 142 
                 cavity at top of cord openings 
               
               
                 V 
                 vertical axis 
               
               
                 H 
                 horizontal axis 
               
               
                 D 
                 downward direction vertically 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a two-way electrical box cover assembly for protecting an electrical junction box mounted in an exterior vertical wall in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. 
     With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown an exploded view of the components that comprise a preferred embodiment of a two-way electrical box cover assembly  20  according to the present invention. The two-way cover assembly  20  includes a base member  22 , a middle member  24 , and an outer member  26 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 , and  9 , the base member  22  includes a securement arrangement  28  for securing the cover assembly  20  to an electrical junction box  32  (see FIG.  9 ). The securement arrangement includes one or more apertures  30  in the base member  22 , threaded apertures  38  in the mounting plate  36  of the electrical junction box  32  and one or more threaded fasteners  40 . 
     A standard electrical junction box for use on a vertical exterior wall is commonly referred to in the industry as a field service or FS box. The two-way electrical box cover assembly  20  of the present invention can be easily mounted to either a vertically-oriented FS box  32 , of which a portion is shown in FIG. 9, or a horizontally-oriented FS box  34 , of which a portion is shown in FIG.  10 . The apertures  30  in the base member  22  are of a spacing to match the apertures  38  in a standard FS box. The center portion of the two-way electrical box cover assembly  20  in FIG. 9 is broken away and a portion of the back wall  42  of the base member  24  is broken away to depict the mounting plate  36 , which is an integral portion of a standard FS box  32 . The mounting plate  36  of the standard FS box includes threaded apertures  38  to accept threaded fasteners  40  which are typically #6-32×½″. To fit the two-way electrical box cover assembly  20  to a vertically-oriented FS box  32  such as depicted in FIG. 9, the cover assembly  20  is simply rotated until the apertures  30  in the base member  22  are in alignment with the threaded apertures  38  in the mounting plate  36  of the vertically-oriented FS box  32 . To fit the two-way electrical box cover assembly  20  to a horizontally-oriented FS box  34  such as depicted in FIG. 10, the cover assembly  20  is simply rotated until the apertures  30  in the base member  22  are in alignment with the threaded apertures  38  in the mounting plate  36  of the horizontally-oriented FS box  34 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base member  22  is of generally rectangular shape and includes a back wall  42 , a continuous peripheral side wall  44  consisting of two long side walls  46  and two short side walls  48 , box mounting apertures  30  and device mounting apertures  50  in the back wall  42 , a central opening  52 , a latch-receiving tab  54  projecting from one of the long side walls  46 , two posts  56  projecting from the exterior of each of the short side walls  48 , a first locking aperture  57  in one of the long side walls  46 , and a locking bar  58  with a second locking aperture  60  therein. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the middle member  24  is of rectangular shape and includes a continuous peripheral side wall  62  consisting of two long side walls  64 , two short side walls  66 , and a top  68  and bottom edge  70 . The middle member  24  also includes a latch  72  extending from one long side wall  64 , two posts  74  projecting from each of the long side walls  64 , a groove  76  in one of the short side walls  66 , and two post-engaging extensions  78  projecting from the bottom edge  70  with post apertures  80  therein. Also included on one of the long side walls  64  of the middle member  24  are two cord openings  82 . The cord openings  82  are located on the long side wall  64  opposite the long side wall  64  containing the two post-engaging extensions  78 . A locking tab  83  extends from one of the short side walls  66  of the middle member  24  at the bottom edge  70  and includes a locking aperture  84  therein. A latch-receiving tab  85  extends from one of the short side walls  66  of the middle member  24 . Two projections  86 , one of which is visible in FIG. 1, extend from the inner surface of the short side walls  66  of the middle member  24 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  4  and  5 , the outer member  26  includes a top  87 , a continuous peripheral side wall  88  having a bottom edge  92 , two long side walls  94 , and two short side walls  96 . Two post-engaging extensions  98  project from the bottom edge  92  of the long side walls  94  and include post apertures  100  therein. A locking bar  102  having an aperture  103  therein extends from one short side wall  96  at its bottom edge  92  and a latch  107  extends from one short side wall  96  at the bottom edge  92 . Two cord openings  106  and a latch  107  are included in one short side wall  96  of the outer member  26 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the cover assembly  20  of the present invention includes a tab insert  108 . The tab insert  108  includes an outer  110  and inner  112  surface with two wings  114  projecting from the inner surface  112  and a channel  116  situated between the outer surface  110  and the wings  114 . 
     The operation of the two-way cover assembly  20  when secured to a vertically oriented junction box will become apparent with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6. The cover assembly  20 , composed of the base member  22 , middle member  24 , and outer member  26  is capable of opening two ways depending on the orientation of the junction box that it will be secured to. When the cover assembly  20  is used with a vertically aligned junction box, the cord openings  82  in the middle member  24  will not be utilized, and two tab inserts  108  can be snapped into the cord openings  82  of the middle member  24  to close off the openings  82 . FIG. 6 depicts the cover assembly  20  with tab inserts  108  snapped into the cord openings  82  of the middle member  24 . For use with a vertically oriented junction box  32 , the outer member  26  is rotatably attached to the assembly  20  to form a first rotational cover unit  120 . The post apertures  100  in the post-engaging extensions  98  on the outer member  26  engage the posts  74  of the middle member  24  to make the outer member  26  rotatable with respect to the middle  24  and base  22  of the cover assembly  20  and thereby create the first rotational cover unit  120 . As shown in FIG. 6, for use with a vertically oriented electrical junction box, the middle member  24  can be latched to the base member  22  by snapping the latch  72  of the middle member  24  onto the latch-receiving tab  54  of the base member  22 . The latch  72  of the middle member  24  and the latch-receiving tab  54  of the base member  22  function as a first latching arrangement  121  to latch the middle  24  and base  22  members together and thereby allow them to remain secured to the vertically-oriented electrical junction box  32  while the first rotational cover unit  120  is able to rotate from an open to a closed position. Additionally, when the cover assembly  20  of the present invention is used to cover a vertically-oriented junction box, a fastener  122 , such as that shown in FIG. 6, can be driven through the locking aperture  84  of the middle member  24  and into the first locking aperture  57  on the base member  22  to further secure the middle member  24  to the base member  22 . 
     The operation of the two-way cover assembly  20  when secured to a horizontally oriented junction box  34  will become apparent with reference to FIGS. 1 and 8. When the cover assembly  20  is used to protect a horizontally aligned junction box  34 , the cord openings  106  in the outer member  26  will not be utilized, and two tab inserts  108  can be snapped into the cord openings  106  of the outer member  26  to close off the openings  106 . FIG. 8 depicts the cover assembly  20  with tab inserts  108  snapped into the cord openings  106  of the outer member  26 . For use with a horizontally oriented junction box, the middle member  24  is rotatably attached to the cover assembly  20  to form a second rotational cover unit  124 . The post apertures  80  in the post-engaging extensions  78  on the middle member  24  engage the posts  56  of the base member  22  to make the outer  26  and middle  24  members rotatable with respect to the base  22  member of the cover assembly  20  thereby forming a second rotational cover unit  124 . As shown in FIG. 8, for use with a horizontally oriented electrical junction box  34 , the outer member  26  can be latched to the middle member  24  by snapping the latch  107  of the outer member  26  onto the latch-receiving tab  85  of the middle member  24 . The latch  107  of the outer member  26  and the latch-receiving tab  85  of the middle member  24  function as a second latching arrangement  125  to latch the outer  26  and middle  24  members together and thereby allow them to remain secured to the horizontally-oriented electrical junction box  34  while the second rotational cover unit  124  is able to rotate from an open to a closed position. Additionally, when the cover assembly  20  of the present invention is used to cover a horizontally oriented junction box  34 , a fastener  126 , such as that shown in FIG. 8, can be driven through the an aperture  128  in one long side wall  94  of the outer member  26  and into an aperture  130  in one long side wall  64  of the middle member  24  to further secure the outer member  26  to the middle member  24 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 9 illustrate the use of the two-way cover assembly  20  according to the present invention to provide a rainproof cover for an exterior electrical outlet mounted in an FS box  32  in a vertical orientation. To fit the two-way electrical box cover assembly  20  to a vertically-oriented FS box  32  such as depicted in FIG. 9, the cover assembly  20  is simply rotated until the apertures  30  in the base member  22  are in alignment with the threaded apertures  38  in the mounting plate  36  of the vertically-oriented FS box  32 . Threaded fasteners  40  are then driven through the apertures  30  in the back wall  42  of the base member  22  and into the threaded apertures  38  in the mounting plate  36  of the FS box  32  to secure the cover assembly  20  to the vertically oriented FS box  32 . The middle member  24  can then be latched to the base member  22  and, if desired, a fastener  122  can be driven through the locking aperture  84  of the middle member  24  and into the first locking aperture  57  on the base member  22  to further secure the middle member  24  to the base member  22 . With the middle  24  and base  22  members locked together, the first rotational cover unit  120  can then be rotated to the open or closed position as desired. In the open position, as depicted in FIG. 6, the first rotational cover unit  120  is lifted to the open position to access the electrical device therein, which in FIG. 9 is a duplex receptacle  132 . Alternatively, the first rotational cover unit  120  can be closed to protect the electrical device  132  therein from rain, water spray, or other environmental elements. The “V” axis denotes vertical orientation and the arrow marked “D” denotes a downward direction with respect to the exterior of a house. The FS box  32  of FIGS. 6 and 9 is therefore oriented vertically and the long side  94  of the outer member  26  is also oriented vertically. Thus, when the first rotational cover unit  120  is closed, with the latch  107  on the outer member  26  snapped onto the latch-receiving tab  85  of the middle member  24 , any rainfall or water spray will run off of the closed cover assembly  20  and not enter the FS box  32  or electrical device  132  mounted therein. The final closed cover assembly  20  secured to a vertically oriented FS box  32  is shown in FIG.  9 . Any rainfall or water spray would typically fall vertically, in the direction of the arrow “D”, and run off of the closed cover assembly  20 . With the first rotational cover unit  120  closed, as in FIG. 9, any electrical cords  134  plugged into the electrical outlets  135  can remain plugged in without any danger of rain or water entering the FS box  32 , as the cord openings  106  will be situated on the bottom  136  of the first rotational cover unit  120 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 10 illustrate the use of the two-way cover assembly  20  according to the present invention to provide a rainproof cover for an exterior electrical outlet mounted in an FS box  34  in a horizontal orientation. To fit the two-way electrical box cover assembly  20  to a horizontally-oriented FS box  34  such as depicted in FIG. 10, the cover assembly  20  is simply rotated until the apertures  30  in the base member  22  are in alignment with the threaded apertures  38  in the mounting plate  36  of the horizontally-oriented FS box  34 . Threaded fasteners  40  are then driven through the apertures  30  in the back wall  42  of the base member  22  and into the threaded apertures  38  in the mounting plate  36  of the FS box  34  to secure the cover assembly  20  to the horizontally-oriented FS box  34 . The outer member  26  can then be latched to the middle member  24  and, if desired, a fastener  126  can be driven through the aperture  128  in the outer member  26  and into the aperture  130  (see FIG. 1) in the middle member  24  to further secure the outer member  26  to the middle member  24 . With the outer  26  and middle  24  members locked together, the second rotational cover unit  124  can then be rotated to the open or closed position as desired. In the open position, as depicted in FIG. 8, the second rotational cover unit  124  is lifted to the open position to access the electrical device therein, which in FIG. 8 is a duplex receptacle  132 . Alternatively, the second rotational cover unit  124  can be closed to protect the electrical device  132  therein from rain, water spray, or other environmental elements. The “H” axis denotes horizontal orientation and the arrow marked “D” denotes a downward direction with respect to the exterior of a house. The FS box  34  of FIGS. 8 and 10 is therefore oriented horizontally and the long side  94  of the outer member  26  is also oriented horizontally. Thus, when the second rotational cover unit  124  is closed, with the latch  72  on the middle member  24  snapped onto the latch-receiving tab  54  of the base member  22 , any rainfall or water spray will run off of the closed cover assembly  20  and not enter the FS box  34  or electrical device  132  mounted therein. The final closed cover assembly  20  secured to a horizontally-oriented FS box  34  is shown in FIG.  10 . Any rainfall or water spray would typically fall vertically, in the direction of the arrow “D”, and run off of the closed cover assembly  20 . With the second rotational cover unit  124  closed, as in FIG. 10, any electrical cords  134  plugged into the outlets  135  can remain plugged in without any danger of rain or water entering the FS box  34 , as the cord openings will be situated on the bottom  138  of the second rotational cover unit  124 . 
     Thus, the first rotational cover unit  120  is capable of rotation in a first direction with respect to the cover assembly  20 , or capable of opening and closing in a direction parallel to the “V” axis, which is parallel with the long side  94  of the cover assembly in FIG.  9 . As shown in FIG. 10, the second rotational cover unit  124  is capable of rotation in a second direction with respect to the cover assembly  20 , or capable of opening and closing in a direction parallel to the axis of the “D” arrow, which is parallel with the short side  96  of the cover assembly  20  in FIG.  10 . 
     The separate members that comprise the two-way cover assembly of the present invention, including the base member  22 , middle member  24 , outer member  26 , and tab insert  108 , are typically molded in one piece of plastic. Suitable plastics that can be used to produce the molded pieces are polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polystryrene, or acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene. 
     Being molded of plastic, the separate pieces, as shown in FIG. 1, are s omew hat flexible, thereby allowing the post-engaging extensions  78  on the middle member  24  to slip over and engage the posts  56  on the base member  22  and the post-engaging extensions  98  on the outer member  26  to slip over and engage the posts  74  on the middle member. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, the tab insert  108  further includes a tab  140  extending into the channel  116 . As shown in FIG. 1, a cavity  142  is located in the side wall  62  and  88  at the top of each cord opening  82  and  106  in the middle  24  and outer  26  members respectively. The width of the channel  116  is typically 0.135 inch and the tab  140  extends 0.015 inch into the channel thereby creating a gap of 0.120 inch between the end of the tab  140  and the opposite side of the channel. The cavity typically is of a height and width to accept the tab  140  and is typically 0.030 inch in depth. The thickness of the side wall  62  of the middle member  24  and side wall  88  of the outer member  26  is typically 0.125 inch. The side walls  62  and  88  of the two members  24  and  26  taper in thickness at their bottom edges  70  and  92  respectively, to a lesser thickness of approximately 0.625 inch. Therefore, the tab inserts  108  can easily be snapped into the cord openings  82  and  106  in the middle member  24  and outer member  26  respectively by slipping the channel  116  portion of the tab insert  108  around the bottom edges  70 ,  92  of the side walls  62 ,  88 . The channel  116 , being 0.135 inch in width, eventually tightens upon the side walls  62 ,  88  as it slides beyond the thinner bottom edges  70 ,  92 . Eventually, the tab  140  snaps into the cavity  142  thereby locking the tab insert  108  into the cord openings  82  and  106 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the outer  26 , middle  24 , and base  22  members are all generally rectangular shaped and each have a peripheral side wall. The peripheral side wall  88  of the outer member  26  is typically sized to fit over the peripheral side wall  62  of the middle member  24 . The outer dimension of the outer member  26  as measured across the outer surfaces of the side wall  88  is typically 5.550 inch length by 3.728 inch width and the inner dimension as measured across the inner surfaces is typically 5.335 inch by 3.550 inch. The outer dimension of the middle member  24  as measured across the outer surfaces of the side wall  62  is typically 5.230 inch length by 3.504 inch width and the inner dimension as measured across the inner surfaces is typically 4.956 inch by 3.284 inch. The outer dimension of the base member  22  as measured across the outer surfaces of the peripheral side wall  44  is typically 4.886 inch length by 3.146 inch width and the inner dimension as measured across the inner surfaces is typically 4.690 inch by 2.950 inch. Therefore, as shown by these dimensions, the first rotational cover unit  120  comprised of the outer member  26  rotatably attached to the two-way cover assembly  20 , as shown in FIG. 6, will fit over the middle member  24  of the cover assembly  20 . The peripheral side wall  88  of the outer member  26  will therefore nest over the peripheral side wall  62  of the middle member  24  when the first rotational cover unit  120  is closed upon the assembly  20 . Likewise, the second rotational cover unit  124  comprised of the outer  26  and middle  24  members rotatably attached to the base member  22  of the two-way cover assembly  20 , as shown in FIG. 8, will fit over the base member  22  of the cover assembly  20 . The peripheral side wall  62  of the middle member  24  will therefore nest over the peripheral side wall  44  of the base member  22  when the second rotational cover unit  124  is closed upon the assembly  20 . The depth of the side wall  88  of the outer member  26  is typically 1.813 inch, the depth of the side wall  62  of the middle member  24  is typically 1.625 inch, and the depth of the peripheral side wall  44  of the base member  22  is typically 1.250 inch. When the first  120  and second  124  rotational cover units are closed, the side wall  88  of the outer member  26  typically overlaps the side wall  62  of the middle member  24  by 0.5 inch, and the side wall  62  of the middle member  24  typically overlaps the side wall  44  of the base member  22  by 0.5 inch. This overlap furthermore acts to seal the cover assembly  20  and the FS box it is secured to against rain and water spray, as the nested nature of the side walls encourages water to run off of the closed assembly. 
     Having thus described the invention with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited by the description herein but is defined as follows by the appended claims.