Abstract:
A combination enclosure and electrical apparatus includes an electronic control circuit which provides multiple modes of operation of electrically operated devices connected thereto. The electrical apparatus is connected to a power supply, such as a common residential alternating current power source, and includes receptacles for connecting the electrical apparatus to electrical devices to be controlled thereby. The control circuit is electrically disposed intermediate the power supply and the receptacles and controls the operation of connecting the power supply with the receptacles for powering the connected electrical devices. A rotary switch permits a user to select from multiple preselected modes of operation, which are stored or effected by the control circuit, to effect the desired operation of the connected electrical devices.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under Title 35, U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/046,449, entitled ELECTRICAL MULTI-STRIP RECEPTACLE WITH TIMER AND RAIN TIGHT ENCLOSURE, filed on May 14, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electrical devices in general and in particular to electrical devices for use in areas exposed to the elements, such as rain. Often power is supplied to receptacles at outdoor locations, such as for outdoor lawn and garden equipment, lighting, recreation, etc., and is controlled in an on/off manner from inside a residence or other building. It is often desirable for a user to have greater and more versatile control over the operation of electrically operated devices connected to an outdoor power supply. 
     Often use of electricity outdoors gives rise to safety concerns for individuals and to concerns of damage to equipment. Many prior art devices are merely enclosures for being secured to separate receptacle boxes and providing shielded access to a separate receptacle, and offer no enhanced control over the operation of the receptacle or devices connected thereto. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an electrical device for use in areas exposed to the elements, which includes a weatherproof enclosure for housing the electrical components of the device and for shielding such components from the elements. The present invention utilizes enhanced operational control to permit a user to easily choose between a variety of operational settings for selecting a desired predetermined automatic mode of operation for electrically operated devices connected to the device of the invention. 
     The enclosure of the present invention is designed in such a way to prevent water from sprinklers or rain, or other liquids or debris from getting inside the cavity surrounding the electrical devices. The top and bottom housings have a deep safety lap joint to help seal the joint. A step at the bottom of the female (bottom) portion is provided to stop and seal the male (top) housing, further, a small bead is provided on the step to trap the male lap rim. Openings in the housing for mounting screw are sealed by tubular walls with caps, bonded in place inside to prevent water from entering the housing. Similar openings are provided for an optional support stake and are sealed internally with rectangular plates. 
     As little or no moisture should enter the cover, no particular seal is necessary for the timer/control selection knob or circuit breaker openings in the front face of the housing. The only remaining opening in the housing is for the electrical cord and faces downward for draining purposes. The at least partially transparent cover is attached via a hinge joint comprising tubular pins on the housing (lower) and corresponding holes in the cover. A step interface between the cover and the housing helps seal the joint from water which may seek to run down and along the joint rather than to cross it and enter the enclosure cavity. The top housing edge has a transverse blade which seals against the inside of the cover. A snap latch is provided at the bottom of the enclosure to maintain closure. The step design of the cover-to-housing joint should protect from all but a concentrated blast of water from the rear, which is normally positioned against a wall or other support. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a combination electrical apparatus and enclosure. The electrical apparatus is connected to a power supply and includes at least one receptacle for receiving an electrical plug for connecting the power supply to an electrical device. An electronic control circuit is connected electrically intermediate the receptacle and the power supply and includes an input and an output. A photo-sensitive device is connected to the control circuit input and is adapted to generate a signal that generally indicates a threshold level of darkness. The control circuit is adapted to connect the receptacle to the power supply based upon the signal. The enclosure includes a base which supports and houses the control circuit, and a cover that is hingeably mounted to the base. The cover is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The base includes a front face that supports the receptacle. 
     In a second embodiment of the present invention the enclosure base comprises front and rear faces, a top, a bottom, and side portions which define an interior space that is adapted to receive electrical components. The base front face supports at least one receptacle, and the base rear face is adapted to mount the enclosure to a support. Each of the base sides include a hinge projection. The enclosure cover comprises a front face, a top, a bottom and side portions. The cover bottom is adapted to receive at least one cord. The cover and base are adapted in combination to form a cavity for receiving electrical components. The cover top and side portions are configured to at least partially overlap the base top and side portions when attached thereto, whereby the electrical components contained within said cavity are substantially isolated from environmental conditions. Each of the cover side portions includes an opening for receiving the base hinge projection and a channel adjacent the cover opening to guide and facilitate positioning of the base projections into the cover openings when mounting the cover onto the base. The cover sides are made of a material that permits deflection of the cover sides to allow mounting of the cover onto the base, whereby the cover may be removed from the base when mounted to a support. Each combination of cover opening and base hinge projection is adapted to form a hinge, whereby the cover may be pivoted between open and closed positions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a left-front perspective view of the enclosure of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a left side view of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a right side of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the enclosure of FIG. 1 showing the cover in an open position; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of a second embodiment of the enclosure of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a cutaway perspective view showing the interior of the cover of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 11 is a cutaway frontal perspective view of the base portion of the enclosure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 12 is a cutaway rear perspective view of the base portion of the enclosure of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the electronic timing and switching circuit of one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form thereof, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the present invention includes weatherproof enclosure  20  having base portion  22  and cover  24  hingeably connected to base  22 , such as by hinges  26 . Cover  24  may be transparent or opaque and, if opaque, may be provided with transparent window  28  to permit visual inspection of interior components housed within enclosure  20 . Enclosure  20  is intended for use with electrical components, such as receptacles  30 , rotary control switch  32 , reset switch  34 , light sensitive switch or sensor  36 , indicator light  38 , etc., such as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     Openings or notches  40  are provided in cover  24  to receive and accommodate electrical cords with plugs inserted into receptacles  30  to supply power to electrically operated devices, such as outdoor lighting, flood lamps, lawn and garden equipment, including sprinkling or watering systems, televisions, stereo-equipment, etc. The operator must examine the electrical ratings of the electrical components to ensure that such electrically operated devices are proper for use with the device. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, openings  40  are sized so as to receive and accommodate two electrical cords and are sloped so as to provide optimal cord accommodation. With a plug inserted into a receptacle, the cord generally loops outwardly toward the cover and then back inwardly toward the base and out the sloped opening  40 . 
     Projection  42  extends from base portion  22  and is provided with screw receiving opening  50 . Openings  44  are provided in back wall  46  of base portion  22  such that screw heads, once secured to a structure to which enclosure  20  is to be attached, are received therethrough and into base portion  22 . Openings  44  include smaller opening portion  48  that is sized large enough to receive the stem portion of a screw or nail but small enough not to permit a nail or screw head to pass therethrough. Accordingly, enclosure  20  may be mounted flush to a structure, such as a wall, post, etc., by locating mounting screws or nails so that they are received in preferably a recess formed in backwall  46  with the heads of the nails or screws engaging the interior surface of the recess formed in backwall  46  to thereby support enclosure  20 . A third screw or nail is then received through opening  50  such that the head of the nail or screw engages projection  42  about opening  50  so as to secure the lower portion of base portion  22  to the support structure. 
     Cover  24  is provided with lower projection  52  having pad lock receiving opening  54  and clasp receiving aperture  56 . Base portion  22  is provided with clasp member  58  and a second projection  60  having pad lock receiving opening  62 . With cover  24  in a closed position, lower projection  52  of cover  24  is flush against second projection  60  of base portion  22 , with respective openings  54  and  62  aligned so as to receive a padlock member for locking cover  24  in a closed position. In the closed position, clasp member  58  is received in clasp receiving aperture  56 . When transitioning cover  24  from an open position to a closed position, clasp member  58  is initially deflected by and eventually rests upon and engages shelf portion  64  of lower projection  52 . To open cover  24  from a closed position, clasp member  58 , made of resilient material, must be deflected upwards and moved backwards and over shelf portion  64  to become disengaged therefrom, thereby permitting the free hinged movement of cover  24  about hinges  26 . 
     Hinges  26  include a hinge or pivot pin  66  which is received in pivot pin receiving openings  68  formed in opposite sides of cover  24 . Although a particular hinge arrangement having a pair of pivot pins and openings are shown in the drawings and described herein, the particular means for providing a hinged or pivoting relationship between the cover and the base is not a critical component of the invention and any one of numerous known methods for accomplishing this function is fully comprehended by the present invention. Thinned pivot pin guides  96  are provided adjacent openings  68  to aid in mounting cover  24  onto base portion  22 . Cover  24  is preferably made of a material, such as plastic, that is sufficiently resilient to permit deflection along sides  98  and  100  to receive pivot pins  66  into openings  68 . 
     Cover  24  and base portion  22  are configured optimally to prevent rain, water, or other liquids from entering the enclosed area formed by the base and cover with the cover in the closed position. In this manner, the electrical devices in front wall  70  of the base portion are protected from damage and the possibility of electrical shock caused by wet conditions is minimized. Cover  24  includes first portion  72  having a first circumference and second inset portion  74  having a second circumference of lesser value than the first circumference. Ridge  76  is formed along the inner surface of cover  24  between first portion  72  and second portion  74 . Base portion  22  is provided with first rear portion  78  having a circumference and second enlarged front portion  80  having a larger circumference. Shoulder  82  is formed intermediate rear portion  78  and front portion  80 . 
     Projection  84  extends upwards along the length of front portion  80  from first ear  86  to second ear  88 , on which are provided pivot pins  66 . Front  90  of projection  84  is curved slightly from front to back and mates with ridge  76  formed along the interior of cover  24  with the cover in a closed position. First portion  72  of the cover is sized to matingly fit over and receive enlarged front portion  80  of base portion  22  with the cover closed. Ridge  76  abuts or is at least in close adjacent relationship with circumferential edge  92  of base portion  22 , including projection  84 . Upraised projection  84  acts, in cooperation with cover  24 , as a shield to prevent liquids collected along upper surface  94  from entering the area enclosed by cover  24  and base portion  22  with the cover in a closed position. Further, upper surface  94  may be angled from front to back to help direct liquid collected thereupon away from the front of the enclosure, toward and upon rear portion  78 , which may also be sloped from front to rear, and ultimately off the rear of the enclosure and down back wall  46 . With screw receiving recesses  44  completely sealed off to the interior of the base portion, no liquids are permitted into the interior of the base portion where the electrical components are housed, thereby preventing damage thereto. 
     The convergence of cover portions  72  and  74  that forms inner ridge  76  also forms outer ridge  102 , which prevents liquids that collect along outer and upper surface  104  of cover  24  from communicating in a rearward direction toward base portion  22 . Water is thereby directed in a forward direction to flow over and along sloped upper surface  106  and off the front of cover  24 . 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an electronic control/switching circuit, generally referenced at  108 , housed by enclosure  20 . Electric cord and plug assembly forming a power supply, shown diagrammatically at  110 , is adapted to be connected to a power source, such as by a common residential 120 VAC wall receptacle. The alternating current is connected to the input of bridge rectifier circuit  112 , which converts the alternating current source to a 12 volt direct current source at the output of the rectifier, such as seen at node  118 . To protect the circuit from extreme conditions, e.g., such as caused by turning off power flood lights, the input of rectifier circuit  112  is coupled to bidirectional transient voltage suppressor  114  and the direct current output is coupled to bidirectional transient voltage suppressor  116 . In addition, thermistors  115  are connected to the power supply on the input side of rectifier  112 . 
     Indicator light  38  is connected between the output side of the rectifier and circuit breaker  120  to provide user indication that power is available to receptacles  30  through the switching circuit. Rotary switch  32  provides user selection of a desired operation from a plurality of predetermined selections, such as timed operation in two, four, and six hour periods of time from the onset of nighttime, as sensed by photocell  36 . A timing mechanism, such as a crystal, is utilized as a means for effecting the selected time period of operation. Integrated chips  122  and  124  accomplish the timer functions of the circuit illustrated in FIG. 13. A dusk-to-dawn selection is also available for providing power to receptacles  30  from dusk to dawn every day or until the user chooses a new selection. The control circuit, via switch  34 , selectively connects receptacles  30  to the power supply. 
     In the above-described manner, a user may select a desired operation and, unlike many timers which must be reset for each operation, the unit will function each and every night according to that selection until being disconnected from the power source, undergoing a selection change, or tripping of the circuit breaker. The rotary switch provides a user-friendly method of selecting between the operation selections, as compared to the more cumbersome locking pins associated with typical electro-mechanical timers. Continuous “on” and “off” selections are also provided. Although a particular combination of selections is described herein, the present invention fully comprehends any of a wide variety of possible selections and combinations thereof. The electronic components that comprise the above described first embodiment of the invention are provided in Table 1. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 CB1 
                 Circuit Breaker, HWAWON 
               
               
                   
                 # HW-15MB, 15 A, 125 VAC 
               
               
                 C1 
                 1.5 uF, 250 VDC, Metallized Film Cap 
               
               
                   
                 PANASONIC # ECQ-E2105KF 
               
               
                 C2 
                 470 uF, 25 V, Aluminum Electrolytic 
               
               
                   
                 PANASONIC # ECE-A1EU471 
               
               
                 C3 
                 100 uF, 25 V, Aluminum Electrolytic 
               
               
                   
                 PANASONIC # ECE-A10Z100 
               
               
                   
                 (Low Leak) 
               
               
                 C4 
                 .01 uF, 50 V, Ceramic Disc 
               
               
                   
                 Cap +80%, −20% 
               
               
                 C5 
                 4700 pF, 50 wvdc, 
               
               
                   
                 Polypropylene Cap +/−2%, 
               
               
                   
                 PANASONIC # ECQ-P1H472GZ 
               
               
                 D1 
                 Bridge Rectifier, 600 V, 50 A Surge; 
               
               
                   
                 4-Pin Dip, 
               
               
                   
                 GENERAL INSTRUMENT # DF06SGI 
               
               
                 D2 
                 Zener Diode 12 V, 1 W, IN5349 
               
               
                 D3 
                 Rectifier Diode 1N4001 
               
               
                 D4, D5, D6, D8, D9, D10, 
                 Signal Diode 1N914 
               
               
                 D11, D12 
               
               
                 J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6 
                 Outlet Contact Rails, 115 VAC; Bronze 
               
               
                 K1 
                 Relay SPST, 12 V Coil, 720 Ohm; 
               
               
                   
                 125 VAC, 15 A 
               
               
                   
                 Contact, 801H-1A-C 
               
               
                 LP1 
                 Lamp Neon, Mouser # NE-2E .3 MA, 
               
               
                   
                 1/25 W, 65/90 
               
               
                   
                 VAC/VDC Breakdown 
               
               
                 P1 
                 Plug, 115 VAC 
               
               
                 Q1 
                 PNP Power Transistor, MPSA64 
               
               
                 Q2, Q3 
                 NPN Power Transistor, 2N3904 
               
               
                 R2, R3, R5, R7 
                 100 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5% Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R4 
                 Cds Photocell, CDS 8005 
               
               
                 R6, R15 
                 2.2 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5% Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R8 
                 4.70 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R9 
                 22 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R10 
                 120 ohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R11 
                 220 ohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R12 
                 1 Mohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R13 
                 20 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R14 
                 150 KOhm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 R16 
                 2.7 MOhm Resistor, ¼ W, 
               
               
                   
                 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                 U1, U2 
                 14 Bit Binary Counter, 16 Pin Dip, 
               
               
                   
                 MC14060BCP 
               
               
                 SW 1 
                 8 Position Rotary Switch, Common 
               
               
                   
                 Terminal, RCP16-1-1-8 
               
               
                 TVS1 
                 MOV, 201KD05 
               
               
                 TVS2 
                 500 W Bidirectional Transient 
               
               
                   
                 Voltage Suppressor, 12 V Nominal 
               
               
                   
                 DK # SA12ADICT 
               
               
                 RT1, RT2 
                 51 ohm Resistor, 2 W, 5%, 
               
               
                   
                 METAL FILM 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As shown in FIG. 14, a second embodiment electronic control/switching circuit, referenced generally at  130 , is connected to a power supply  132 , such as an electrical cord adapted to be connected to a common residential 120 VAC wall receptacle. The alternating current power source is connected to the pole of three-position switch  134 , which includes a constant “ON” position, a “DUSK-DAWN” position, and a center “OFF” position. When in the “ON” position, the power supply is connected directly to the receptacles of outlet strip  136 . When in the center “OFF”position, no power is delivered to the outlet strip. When in the “DUSK-DAWN” position, control circuit  138  operates to place switch  140  in either an open or closed position. With switch  140  in a closed position, power is delivered to the outlet strip and ultimately to the electrically operated devices connected thereto. 
     Indicator light  142  is connected across the output to the outlet strip to provide user indication that power is available to the receptacles through the switching circuit. Switch  134  provides user selection of a desired operation which commences upon the onset of nighttime, or some threshold level of light, as sensed by photo-sensitive cell  144 . Although a particular combination of selections is described herein, the present invention fully comprehends any of a wide variety of possible selections and combinations thereof. The various components are connected to the circuit board at terminals T 1 -T 8 . The electronic components that comprise the above described second embodiment of the invention are provided in Table 2. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 BR1 
                 Bridge, Recitifier 600 V, 50 A Surge, 4-Pin Dip; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DF06SGI 
               
               
                   
                 CB1 
                 Circuit Breaker, 15 A, 125 VAC; HW-15MB; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 E94774 
               
               
                   
                 C1 
                 470 uf, 25 V, Electrolytic 
               
               
                   
                 C2 
                 1.5 uf, 250 VDC, Metallized Film Cap 
               
               
                   
                 C3, C4 
                 0.1 uf, 50 V Ceramic Cap, 100 V, .25 Lead Spacing 
               
               
                   
                 C6 
                 47 uf, 25 V, Electrolytic 
               
               
                   
                 CDS1 
                 Cds Photocell; VT831V1 
               
               
                   
                 D1 
                 Diode, Zener; 1N4742 
               
               
                   
                 D2 
                 Diode; 1N4002 
               
               
                   
                 D3 
                 Diode; IN4148 
               
               
                   
                 K1 
                 Relay, SPST, 12 V COIL, 15 A, 125 VAC; 801H- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1A-C; E88991(S) 
               
               
                   
                 LP1 
                 Lamp, Neon, .3 MA, 1/25 W, 65/90 VAC/VDC 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Breakdown; NE-2E 
               
               
                   
                 Q2 
                 Transistor; 2N3906 
               
               
                   
                 Q1, Q3 
                 NPN Power Transistor; 2N3904 
               
               
                   
                 R1 
                 100 ohm Resistor, 2 W, Metal Film 
               
               
                   
                 R2 
                 2 M ohm Resistor, ¼ W, 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 R4, R5 
                 47 K ohm Resistor, ¼ W, 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 R6 
                 7.5 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 R7 
                 1.5 Mohm Resistor, ¼ 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 R8 
                 20 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 5% Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 R9 
                 100 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 R10 
                 510 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 R11 
                 1 Kohm Resistor, ¼ W, 5%, Carbon Film 
               
               
                   
                 S1 
                 SPDT (ON-OFF-ON) Rocker Switch, 15 A; Panel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mount 
               
               
                   
                 ZNR1 
                 Varistor, 200 V; SAS201KD07 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.