Abstract:
A while-in-use cover assembly includes a hood and a base connected to the hood. The base includes a first side wall and a first back wall forming a first cavity with a first opening opposite the first back wall. The hood covers the first opening, the first side wall includes a first side wall edge and a second side wall edge opposite the first side wall edge. The first side wall edge is proximate to the first opening, and the second side wall edge is proximate to the first back wall. The first back wall includes a second opening to a second cavity. A second side wall defines the second cavity and extends from the first back wall from the first opening. The first cavity and the second cavity provide access through the first opening and the second opening to an electrical device coupled to the second side wall.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119, based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/881,047, filed on Sep. 23, 2013, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0002]    While-in-use (WIU) covers may be used to provide an enclosed housing for an electrical device, such as an electrical receptacle, and a related item, such as an electric plug inserted into the electrical device. The WIU cover may protect the electrical device and the plug from dust, moisture, and other environmental factors and may help prevent the electrical device and the related item from inadvertently contact. For example, a WIU cover may be used to cover an electrical receptacle on the outside of a house. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  provide, respectively, a cross-sectional view and an exploded perspective view of an exemplary while-in-use (WIU) cover assembly according to implementations described herein; 
           [0004]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  provide, respectively, a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of an exemplary base included in the WIU cover assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  according to implementations described herein; 
           [0005]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  provide, respectively, a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of an exemplary base included in the WIU cover assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  according to implementations described herein; 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  provides a front perspective view of an exemplary base included in the WIU cover assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  according to an implementation described herein; 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  provides an exploded side view of an exemplary WIU cover assembly according to an implementation described herein; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  provides a flow diagram for a process of positioning an electrical device within an electrical box using the WIU cover assembly of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  5  according to an implementation described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
         [0010]    A while-in-use (WIU) cover may extend a distance from a wall to which the WIU cover is mounted to provide a sufficient internal cavity space to accommodate an electrical device and related item, such as a plug. Because the WIU cover extends from the wall, the WIU cover may be aesthetically unpleasing and may interfere with a passing user. 
         [0011]    According to implementations described herein, a WIU cover assembly may include a base and a hood that opens and closes. The WIU cover assembly may be connected to an electrical box and/or a wall. The base may have a back wall that includes a recessed portion, and an electrical device may be connected to the recessed portion. The WIU cover assembly may enable electrical device to be positioned within the electrical box such that WIU cover assembly provides a sufficiently large cavity to accommodate an electrical device and/or a related item such as a cord while reducing an extent that the WIU Cover extends from the wall and/or the electrical box. 
         [0012]    In descriptions herein, the terms “front” or “forward” may generally refer to a direction from an electrical box, and the terms “back,” “rear,” or “rearward” may generally refer to a direction toward the electrical box. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  provide, respectively, a cross-sectional view and an exploded perspective view of exemplary WIU cover assembly  100  according to implementations described herein. As provided collectively in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , WIU cover assembly  100  may include base  110 , hood  120 , hinge pin  130  connecting base  110  and hood  120 , and electrical device  140  that is connected to base  110 . The WIU cover assembly  100  is configured with hood  120  being mateable with base  110  via a cooperative mating assembly formed at one or more separate locations thereon. WIU cover assembly  100  may be mounted to electrical box  10  (see, for example,  FIG. 5 ) and/or wall  20  by connectors  150 . Electrical device  140  may be connected to wires  40  within electrical box  10 . Electrical device  140  may include, for example, an electrical receptacle for receiving a plug. 
         [0014]    Base  110  may include recess portion  111  with a recess depth D 1 , and electrical device  140  may be connected to a back wall of recess portion  111 . When WIU cover assembly  100  is mounted to electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 , recess portion  111  may position electrical device  140  within electrical box cavity  11  of electrical box  10  and away from wall  20 . WIU cover assembly  100  may be structured to define an internal cavity that has a sufficiently internal depth D 2  to enable electric plug  30  to be mated to electrical device  140  within WIU cover assembly  100  when hood  120  is closed. Some of internal depth D 2  may be provided by recess depth D 1  associated with recess portion  111 . Thus, external depth D 3 , that WIU cover assembly  100  extends from electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 , may be smaller than internal depth D 2 . Electrical device  140  may be secured to base  110  and may not be connected to either electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 . 
         [0015]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  provide, respectively, a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of exemplary base  110  according to an implementation described herein. As provided collectively in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , base  110  may include base side walls  210  that extend forward to base edge  212  and may extend backwards to connect to a substantially flat back wall  220  to form a structure with an open front face that may mate to hood  120  (see  FIGS. 1A and 1B ). 
         [0016]    Base side walls  210  may include one or more opening  214  to receive, for example, a portion of electric plug  30 . Base side walls  210  may further include a side wall structure  216 . Side wall structure  216  may, for example, guide a portion of electric plug  30  toward opening  214  and/or may engage a portion of hood  120 . By engaging the portion of hood  120 , side wall structure  216  may prevent hood  120  from inadvertently opening, such as when a passing user contacts hood  120 . Base side walls  210  may further include base hinge mounts  230  to connect base  110  to hood  120  using, for example, hinge pin  130 . 
         [0017]    Back wall  220  may include an opening to recess portion  111 . For example, back wall  220  may attach to recess side walls  240  of recess portion  111 . Recess side walls  240  may extend backwards, from back wall  220 , to recess back wall  250 . In this way, recess portion  111 , as defined by recess side walls  240  and recess back wall  250 , may extend past back wall  220 . Back wall  220  may also include one or more attachment points  222  that allow base  110  to engage or attach to, for example, to electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 . As provided in  FIG. 1B , connectors  150  (e.g., screws, nails, etc.) may pass through attachment points  222  to connect based  110  to electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 . 
         [0018]    Recess back wall  250  may be structured to connect to electrical device  140 . For example, recess back wall  250  may include one or more recess openings  252  to receive a portion of electrical device  140 . In the particular implementation depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , recess openings  252  may be shaped to receive, as electrical device  140 , an electrical receptacle. Recess back wall  250  may include recess connection point  254 , and electrical device  140  may be connected to recess back wall  250  via recess connection point  254 . For example, as provided in  FIG. 1B , electrical device connector  160  (e.g., a screw) may be inserted into recess connection point  254  to connect electrical device  140  to recess back wall  250 . In this implementation, different types of electrical devices  140  may be connected to recess portion  111  for use with WIU cover assembly  100 , as desired. For example, electrical device  140  may be selected such that electrical device  140  and recess back wall  250  are composed of different materials, such as a metal material (e.g., bronze, stainless steel, zinc-coated steel, etc.) and/or a non-metal material (nylon, plastic, polycarbonate, composite, ceramic, etc.). For example, one of electrical device  140  may be constructed from a conductive material and recess back wall  250  may be constructed from a non-conductive material. The use of respective different materials for electrical device  140  and recess back wall  250  may prevent, for example, an undesired current between base  110  and electrical device  140 . 
         [0019]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  provide, respectively, a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of exemplary compound structure  300  according to an implementation described herein. As provided collectively in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , compound structure  300  may include base  110  and electrical device  140 . Compound structure  300  may include electrical device  140  connected to recess side walls  240  and/or recess back wall  250 . For example, electrical device  140  may be integrally formed with recess side walls  240  and/or back wall  250 . Alternatively, as provided in  FIG. 3B , strap  310  (or another type of connection structure such as a clamp, screw, etc. or a bonding material such as glue or epoxy) may connect electrical device  140  to base  110 . In this implementation, base  110  may not include back wall  250 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  provides a front perspective view of base  110  according to another implementation described herein. As provided in  FIG. 4 , base  110  may include composite structure  400 . In composite structure  400 , back wall  220  may include opening  412 . Insert  420  may include, for example, electrical device  140  and recess side walls  240 . Insert  420  may be that is sized to inserted through opening  412 . When positioned adjacent to back wall  220 , insert  420 , may pass electrical device  140  and recess side walls  240  through opening  412 . 
         [0021]    Different types of insert  420  may be used, for example, to enable different types of electrical devices  140  to be used. For example, different types of insert  420  may be associated with, respectively, different electrical receptacles, switches, etc. Furthermore, different types of insert  420  may be composed of various types of materials. For example, insert  420  and electrical device  140  may be composed of different materials (e.g., a conductive material and a non-conductive material) to minimize electrical conduction between insert  420  and electrical device  140 . Alternatively, insert  420  and electrical device  140  may be composed of similar materials, such as when insert  420  and electrical device  140  are integrally formed. Different inserts  420  may also include respective different sized recess side walls  240  that are associated with, respectively, different recess depths D 1 . A particular insert  420  may be selected as needed to position electrical device  140  to a desired position within electrical box  10 . For example, insert  420  may be selected to position electrical device  140  at a sufficient distance from a surface of electrical box  10  and/or to provide sufficient space to attach wires  40  to electrical device  140 . 
         [0022]    Insert  420  may further include flange  430 . Flange  430  may engage or connect to base back wall  220 . For example, flange  430  may include one or more flange openings  432  that may be used to mate insert  420  to base back wall  220 . For example, flange openings  432  may line up with attachment points  222 . Connectors  150 , when inserted into attachment points  222  to connect WIU cover assembly  100  to electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 , may also attach flange  430  of insert  420  to base back wall  220 . 
         [0023]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , hood  120  may have a substantially flat, rectangular front wall  122  and hood side walls  124  around the perimeter of front wall  122  that may extend from front wall  122  and may terminate in hood edge  126  (e.g., a flanged edge) to form the box-like structure with an open rear opposite front wall  122  of base  110 . The dimensions of the box-like structure associated with hood  120  may be selected such that part of hood edge  126  extends over base edge  212  when hood  120  is positioned over base  110 . By partially extending over base edge  212 , hood  120  may form an enclosed space that protects electrical device  140  and/or electric plug  30  from environmental factors. As previously described, a portion of the enclosed space associated with base  110  and hood  120  may be associated with recess portion  111  to reduce depth D 3  that WIU cover extends from wall  20 . 
         [0024]    Base  110  and hood  120  may be made from one or more of a metal material (e.g., bronze, stainless steel, zinc-coated steel, etc.) or a non-metal material (nylon, plastic, polycarbonate, composite, ceramic, etc.). 
         [0025]    Side wall  124  of hood  120  may include one or more hood hinge mounts  128  that engage base hinge mounts  230  of base  110  for pivotally attaching base  110  and hood  120 . For example, hood hinge mounts  128  and base hinge mounts  230  may be positioned at any side surface of WIU cover assembly  100  (e.g., a top, a side, or bottom side). Hood hinge mounts  128  and base hinge mounts  230  may physically couple base  110  and hood  120 . Hood hinge mounts  128  and base hinge mounts  230  may be connected using, for example, hinge pin  130 . 
         [0026]    Hinge pin  130 , may be separate from hood  120  and base  110 . Hinge pin  130  may include a cylindrical stem having a chamfered end at one end and a head at the other end of hinge pin  130 . Hinge pin  130  may be configured to be axially inserted into a mating assembly that includes hood hinge mounts  128  and base hinge mounts  230 . Hinge pin  130  may be made from a metal material (e.g., bronze, stainless steel, zinc-coated steel, etc.) and/or a non-metal material (nylon, plastic, polycarbonate, composite, ceramic, etc.). In one implementation, hinge pin  130  may be made of the same material as one or both of base  110  or hood  120 . In other implementations, hinge pin  130  may be made from a different material than hood  120  and base  110 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  provides a side exploded view of exemplary WIU cover assembly  100  according to an implementation described herein. In the implementation provided in  FIG. 5 , spacer plate  510  and/or gasket  520  may be included in WIU cover assembly  100 . Spacer plate  510  may be constructed from a rigid material, such as a metal material (e.g., bronze, stainless steel, zinc-coated steel, etc.) and/or a non-metal material (nylon, plastic, polycarbonate, composite, ceramic, etc.), and gasket  520  may be constructed from a pliable material such as silicon, rubber, or a non-rigid plastic. Spacer plate  510  and/or gasket  520  may be positioned between base  110  and electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 . For example, as provided in  FIG. 5 , connecters  150 , when attaching base  110  to electrical box  10  and/or wall  20 , may also pass through or otherwise engage spacer plate  510  and/or gasket  520 . Positioning spacer plate  510  and/or gasket  520  between base  110  and electrical box  10  and/or wall  20  may help seal WIU cover assembly  100  and electrical box  10  to prevent environmental contamination. Furthermore, spacer plate  510  and/or gasket  520  may have respective dimensions to space or otherwise position electrical device  140  as desired within electrical box  10 . For example, one or more spacer plates  510  and/or gaskets  520  may be used to position electrical device  140  within electrical box  10  with adequate space for wire  40  to connect to electrical device  140 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  provides an exemplary flow diagram for process  600  of positioning an electrical device within an electrical box using, for example, WIU cover assembly  100  of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  5 . A desired location for an electrical device within an electrical box may be determined (block  610 ). For example, the desired location may position electrical device  140  such that electrical device does not contact side walls of electrical box  10  or is at least a threshold distance from the sides of electrical box  10 . 
         [0029]    Electrical device may be attached to a WIU cover assembly, such as WIU cover assembly  100  described with respect to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  5  (block  620 ). For example, as described with respect to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  5 , electrical device  140  may integrally attached, connected using a screw, or connected using a strap to WIU cover assembly  100 . 
         [0030]    The WIU cover assembly, that includes the electrical device, may then be initially installed (block  630 ). For example, WIU cover assembly  100  may be directly connected to electrical box  10  (see  FIG. 5 ) or wall  20  associated with electrical box  10  (see  FIGS. 1A and 1B ). 
         [0031]    The position of the electrical device in electrical box  10  may be determined based on the installation of the WIU cover assembly (block  640 ), and the position of the electrical device may be compared to desired location (block  650 ). For example, electrical device  140  and electrical box  10  may be evaluated to determine whether electrical device  140  contacts any walls of electrical box  10  and/or is located at least the threshold distance from the sides of electrical box  10 . 
         [0032]    If the electrical device is positioned at the desired location, process  600  may end, and if electrical device is not positioned at the desired location, the position of the electrical device may be adjusted (block  660 ). For example, if WIU cover assembly  100  causes electrical device  140  to be positioned too far within electrical box  10 , one or more spacing elements, such as spacer plate  510  and/or gasket  520 , may be positioned between WIU cover assembly  100  and electrical box  10  to reposition electrical device  140 . (see  FIG. 5 ). If WIU cover assembly  100  causes electrical device  140  to be positioned an insufficient distance within electrical box  10 , the configuration of WIU cover assembly  100  may also be adjusted to reposition electrical device  140 . For example, different types of inserts  420  with different recess side walls  240  may be used to adjust an insertion depth of electrical device  140  into electrical box  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0033]    Although  FIG. 6  provides an exemplary process  600  for positioning electrical device  140  within an electrical box  10  using WUI cover assembly  100 , additional, fewer, or different steps may be used in other implementations that differ from exemplary process  600 . For example, in other implementations of process  600 , an internal cavity within WIU cover assembly  100  may be evaluated to determine whether the WIU cover assembly  100  provides a sufficiently deep internal cavity to accept electric plug  30 , and the configuration of WIU cover assembly  100  may be adjusted (e.g., by adjusting insert  420 ) to provide the sufficiently large internal cavity. 
         [0034]    The foregoing description of exemplary implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments described herein to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the embodiments. For example, although electrical device  140  is depicted as an electrical outlet in  FIGS. 1A-4 , WIU cover assembly may include a variety of different types of electrical devices  140 , such as a light switch, a ground fault circuit interruption (GFCI) device, a dimmer switch, a timer, a data/phone/cable connection, etc. 
         [0035]    Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims. 
         [0036]    No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.