Patent Publication Number: US-2015076978-A1

Title: Self-Draining Gasket for an Enclosure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims priority to provisional patent application entitled “Free Draining Door Gasket Top Seal For Electrical Enclosures” filed on Sep. 16, 2013, having Ser. No. 61/878,051, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to sealing enclosures, and more particularly, to an apparatus for more effectively draining door seals on an enclosure. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Hygienic demands in the manufacturing practices of the food, dairy and pharmaceutical industries continue to increase. Part of these increasing demands includes improving the removal of collected water in the cleaning processes of electrical equipment enclosures used in these industries. One area of needed improvement involves designing electrical enclosures that do not allow puddles of water to collect on their components or structures. For example, the area between the access door and the access opening of an enclosure is an area where water can accumulate. If water does accumulate between the access door and the enclosure, water can also enter the enclosure when the door is opened which can result in damaged electrical equipment. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a more effective design for eliminating water accumulation on and around a seal between the access door and the access opening of an enclosure. 
     ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a self-draining gasket for a watertight enclosure. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a self-draining gasket that is attached to an access door of a watertight enclosure. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a self-draining gasket that is attached to an inner face of an access door of a watertight enclosure. 
     An additional aspect of the present invention is to strengthen a door of a watertight enclosure by providing additional support on the door to prevent the door from misshaping and thus breaching a watertight seal. 
     In order to achieve these aspects and others, the present invention provides a housing with a front wall and a back wall, and an access opening in the front wall. A door having a top and a bottom and an inner face and an outer face is rotatably attached to the housing. The door is configured to cover the opening when the door is in a closed position. A gasket is attached to the inner face of the door and located at least over a top of the opening of the housing when the door is in the closed position. The gasket is located closer to a top of the door in a center of the door, and the gasket is further from the top of the door as the gasket approaches opposing sides of the door. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an enclosure is provided having a housing with a front wall and a back wall, and an opening in the front wall. A door having a top and a bottom is rotatably attached to the housing, and the door is configured to cover the opening when the door is in a closed position. A gasket is attached to the front wall of the housing and is located at least over a top of the opening of the housing. The gasket is located closer to a top of the housing in a center of the housing, and the gasket is further from the top of the housing as the gasket approaches opposing sides of the front wall. 
     By pitching the gasket area on the top of the door or the front of the housing, water can be prevented from accumulating on the seal area. The apparatus of the present invention meets the requirements for UL50, UL 508A, and associations of: (1) Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL); (2) Canadian Standards Association (CSA); and (3) Association of Standardization and Certification (ANCE). This invention can be used on all types of electrical UL50 and UL 508A enclosures, including: (1) enclosures for indoor locations, Types and/or NEMA rated: 1, 2, 5, 12 and 13; and (2) enclosures for indoor and outdoor locations, Types and/or NEMA rated: 3, 3R, 3S, 4, 4X, 6 and 6P. 
     The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed invention and specific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention, and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a watertight enclosure having a door in the open position and configured in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   a  is a view of the portion “ 1   a ” shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a view of the portion “ 1   b ” shown in  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 1   c  is a side view of the door shown in and taken along line  1   c - 1   c  of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 1   d  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 1   d ” shown in  FIG. 1   c;    
         FIG. 1   e  is a cross-sectional view shown in and taken along line  1   e - 1   e  of  FIG. 1   d  looking downward on the door; 
         FIG. 1   f  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 1   f ” shown in  FIG. 1   e;    
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of an inner face of a door configured in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a view of the portion “ 2   a ” shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the door shown in and taken along line  2   b - 2   b  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 2   c  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 2   c ” shown in  FIG. 2   b;    
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of an inner face of a door configured in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a view of the portion “ 3   a ” shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a side view of the door shown in and taken along line  3   b - 3   b  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3   c  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 3   c ” shown in  FIG. 3   b;    
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of an inner face of a door configured in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a view of the portion “ 4   a ” shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 4   b  is a side view of the door shown in and taken along line  4   b - 4   b  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 4   c  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 4   c ” shown in  FIG. 4   b;    
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a watertight enclosure having a door in an open position and configured in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a view of the portion “ 5   a ” shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 5   b  is a cross-sectional side view of the housing shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 5   c  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the circled portion “ 5   c ” shown in  FIG. 5   b.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure  10 , such as a watertight enclosure, configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The enclosure  10  includes a housing  12  having a door  14  rotatably mounted to a front  16  of the housing  12 . The housing  12  has a top wall  18 , side walls  20 ,  21 , and a bottom wall  22 . A back panel  24  for mounting electronics is secured or mounted to a back wall  26  of the enclosure  10  using bolts  25 . Brackets  28  on the back wall  26  of the housing  12  are used for securing the enclosure  10  to a vertical wall or other mounting surface. 
     The access door  14  is rotatably mounted to the front  16  of the housing  12  using a hinge  30  or other rotatable mounting fixture. The door  14  has an outer or front face  32  and an inner or rear face  34 . Rotating levers or arms  35  on the inner face  34  of the door  14  function to lock the door  14  when the door  14  is in a closed the position. The levers  35  rotate to a position behind the front  16  to lock the door  14  in the closed position. A compartment  36  is located on the back face  34  of the door  14  for holding paper instructions. A grounding pin or post  37  is located on the inner face  34  of the door  14  for grounding electronics in the enclosure  10 . An access opening  40  is located on the front  16  of the housing  12 . The door  14  covers the opening  40  when the door  14  is in the closed position. The door  14  includes a top  42 , a bottom  43 , and sides  44  and  46 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, a gasket  50  is connected to inner face  34  of the door  14  and located at least over a top  41  of the opening  40  of the housing  12  when the door  14  is in the closed position. The gasket  50  is located closer to a top  42  of the door  14  in a first location  52 , and the gasket is located further from the top  42  of the door  14  in a second location  54  than the first location  52 . The gasket  50  also is further from the top  42  of the door  14  in a third location  56 . By angling the gasket  50  in a downward manner from a top  42  of the door  14 , water contacting the top  43  of the gasket  50  will not pool or remain on the gasket  50 , but will run off the gasket  50  to the sides  44  and  46  of the door  14  due to the force of gravity. By preventing water from accumulating or pooling on the gasket  50 , the chance of water penetrating a seal between the inner face  34  of the door  14  and the front  16  of the housing  12  is greatly reduced. Furthermore, water is less likely to enter the housing  12  when the door  14  is opened. 
       FIG. 1   a  is a view of the portion “ 1   a ” shown in  FIG. 1 . Illustrated is the rear or inner face  34  of the door  14 . The gasket  50  is shown adjacent to the periphery of the door  14 , except for being curved in the corners and angled downward at the top  42  of the door  14 . The rotating levers  35  and the compartment  36  also are illustrated. 
       FIG. 1   b  is an enlarged view of the portion “ 1   b ” shown in  FIG. 1   a  showing the top  42  of the door  14 . The gasket  50  is shown being angled downward toward the sides  44  and  46  of the door  14 . The first location  52 , the second location  54 , and the third location  56  of the gasket  50  on the top  42  of the door  14  are illustrated. 
       FIG. 1   c  is a view of the side  46  of the door  14  shown in and taken along line  1   c - 1   c  of  FIG. 1   b.  Shown are the rotating levers  35  of the inner face  34  of the door  14 , and the knobs  39  on the outer face  34  of the door  14  for rotating and locking the door by rotating levers  35 . The top  42  and the bottom  43  of the door  14  also are illustrated. 
       FIG. 1   d  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 1   d ” shown in  FIG. 1   c.    FIG. 1   d  is an enlarged view showing the gasket  50  connected to the inner face  34  of the door  14 . The top  42  of the door  14  is angled downward toward the outer face  32  of the door  14  to drain water away from the gasket  50 . 
       FIG. 1   e  is a cross-sectional view shown in and taken along line  1   e - 1   e  of  FIG. 1   d . Shown is a cross-sectional view of the door  14  looking downward showing the rotating levers  35  of the inner face  34  of the door  14 , and knobs  39  of the outer face  32  of the door  14  for turning the rotating levers  35 . The compartment  36  is shown for holding informational papers, and the grounding post  37  also is illustrated. 
       FIG. 1   f  illustrates an enlarged view of the cross-section shown in circled portion “ 1   f ” of  FIG. 1   e.  The gasket  50  is shown on a rim  53  connected to the top  42  on the inner face  34  of the door  14 . The gasket  50  includes a slot  51  for receiving the rim  53  to attach the gasket  50  to the door  14 . The slot  51  includes fingers  55  for preventing the gasket  50  from slipping off the rim  53 . The gasket  150  can be easily replaced if damaged or worn by sliding the gasket  50  off the rim  53 , and replaced with a new gasket  50  that is slid back onto the rim  53 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an inner face  64  of a door  60  configured in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The door  60 , like door  14 , is configured to seal an access opening of an enclosure in the closed position. The door  60  has an outer or front face and an inner or rear face  64 . Rotating levers or arms  67  on the inner face  64  of the door  60  function to lock the door  60  when the door  60  is in a closed position. The levers  67  rotate to a position behind a front of an enclosure to lock the door  60  in the closed position. A compartment  66  is located on the inner, back, or rear face  64  of the door  60  for holding paper instructions. The door  60  includes a top  72 , a bottom  73 , and sides  74  and  76 . A gasket  80  is shown adjacent to the periphery of the door  60 , except for being curved in the corners and angled downward at the top  72  of the door  60 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, a gasket  80  is connected to inner face  64  of the door  60  and located at least over a top of an opening of an enclosure when the door  60  is in the closed position. The gasket  80  is located closer to a top  72  of the door  80  in a first location  61 , and the gasket is further from the top  72  of the door  60  in a second location  63  than the first location  61 . The gasket  80  also is further from the top  72  of the door  60  in a third location  65 . As a slight variation from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the top section  81  of the gasket  80  is rounded downward towards the sides  74  and  76  of the door  60 . 
     By angling the gasket  80  in a downward manner from the top  81 , water contacting on the top of  81  of gasket  80  will not pool or remain on the gasket  80 , but will run off the gasket  80  to the sides  74  and  76  of the door  60  due to the force of gravity. By preventing water from accumulating or pooling on the gasket  80 , the chance of water penetrating a seal between the inner face  64  of the door  60  and the front of an enclosure are greatly reduced. Furthermore, water is less likely to enter an access opening of an enclosure when the door  14  covering the access opening is opened. 
       FIG. 2   a  is an enlarged view of the portion “ 2   b ” shown in  FIG. 2  showing the top  72  of the door  60 . The gasket  80  is shown being angled downward towards the sides  74  and  76  of the door  60 . The first location  61 , the second location  63 , and the third location  65  of the gasket  80  proximate the top  72  of the door  60  are illustrated. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the side  76  of the door  60  shown in and taken along line  2   b - 2   b  of  FIG. 2   a . Shown are the rotating levers  67  of the inner face  64  of the door  60 , and the knobs  68  on the outer face  62  of the door  60  for rotating and locking the rotating levers  67 . The top  72  and the bottom  73  of the door  60  also are illustrated. 
       FIG. 2   c  is an enlarged view of the circled portion  2   c  shown in  FIG. 2   b .  FIG. 2   c  is an enlarged view showing the gasket  80  connected to the inner face  64  of the door  60 . The top  72  of the door  60  is angled downward toward the outer face  62  of the door  60  to drain water away from the gasket  80 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an inner face  92  of a door  90  configured in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The door  90 , like door  14 , is configured to seal an access opening of an enclosure in the closed position. The door  90  has an outer or front face and an inner or rear face  92 . Rotating levers or arms  91  on the inner face  92  of the door  90  function to lock the door  90  when the door  90  is in a closed position. The levers  91  rotate to a position behind a front of an enclosure to lock the door  90  in the closed position sealing an opening on a front of an enclosure. A compartment  93  is located on the inner, back, or rear face  92  of the door  90  for holding paper instructions. The door  90  includes a top  94 , a bottom  96 , and sides  95  and  97 . A gasket  100  is shown adjacent to the periphery of the door  90 , except for being curved in the corners and angled downward at the top  94  of the door  90 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, a gasket  100  is connected to inner face  92  of the door  90  and located at least over a top of an access opening of an enclosure when the door  90  is in the closed position on the enclosure. The gasket  100  is located closer to a top  94  of the door  80  in a first location  102 , and the gasket is further from the top  94  of the door  90  in a second location  104  than the first location  102 . As a variation from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the gasket  100  is angled downwards towards the side  97  of the door  90 . 
     By angling the top of the gasket  100  in a downward manner, water contacting the top of the gasket  100  will not pool or remain on the gasket  100 , but will run off the gasket  100  to the side  97  of the door  90  due to the force of gravity. By preventing water from accumulating or pooling on the gasket  100 , the chance of water penetrating a seal between the inner face  92  of the door  90  and a front of an enclosure are greatly reduced. 
       FIG. 3   a  is an enlarged view of the portion “ 3   a ” shown in  FIG. 3  showing the top  94  of the door  90 . The gasket  100  is shown being angled downward towards the side  97  and away from hinges  107  on the door  90 . The first location  102  and the second location  104  of the gasket  100  proximate to the top  94  of the door  90  are illustrated. 
       FIG. 3   b  is a view of the side  95  of the door  90  shown in and taken along line  3   b - 3   b  of  FIG. 3   a . Shown are the rotating levers  91  of the inner face  92  of the door  90 , and the knobs  99  on the outer face  98  of the door  90  for rotating and locking the rotating levers  91 . The top  94  and the bottom  96  of the door  90  also are illustrated. 
       FIG. 3   c  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 3   c ” shown in  FIG. 3   b .  FIG. 3   c  is an enlarged view showing the gasket  100  connected to the inner face  92  of the door  90 . The top  94  of the door  90  is angled downward toward the outer face  98  of the door  90  to drain water away from the gasket  100 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an inner face  112  of a door  110  configured in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The door  110 , like door  14 , is configured to seal an access opening of an enclosure when the door  110  is in the closed position over the access opening. The door  110  has an outer or front face and an inner or rear face  112 . Rotating levers or arms  113  on the inner face  112  of the door  110  function to lock the door  110  when the door  110  is in a closed position. The levers  113  rotate to a position behind a front of an enclosure to lock the door  110  in the closed position sealing an opening on a front of an enclosure. A compartment  114  is located on the inner, back, or rear face  112  of the door  110  for holding paper instructions. The door  110  includes a top  116 , a bottom  117 , and sides  118  and  119 . A gasket  120  is shown adjacent to the periphery of the door  110 , except for being curved in the corners and angled downward towards a side  118  and hinges  121  on the door  110 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, a gasket  120  is connected to inner face  112  of the door  110  and located at least over a top of an access opening of an enclosure when the door  110  is in the closed position over the access opening. The gasket  120  is located closer to a top  116  of the door  110  in a first location  124 , and the gasket is further from the top  116  of the door  110  in a second location  122  than the first location  124 . As a variation from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the gasket  120  is angled downward towards the side  118  and the hinges  121  of the door  120 . 
     By angling the top of the gasket  120  in a downward manner, water contacting the top of the gasket  100  will not pool or remain on the gasket  100 , but will run off the gasket  100  to the side  97  of the door  90  due to the force of gravity. By preventing water from accumulating or pooling on the gasket  120 , the chance of water penetrating a seal between the inner face  112  of the door  110  and a front of an enclosure are greatly reduced. 
       FIG. 4   a  is an enlarged view of the portion shown in  FIG. 4  showing the top  116  of the door  110 . The gasket  120  is shown being angled downward towards the side  118  of the door  110 . The first location  124  and the second location  124  of the gasket  120  proximate to the top  116  of the door  110  are illustrated. 
       FIG. 4   b  is a view of the side  119  of the door  110  shown in and taken along line  4   b - 4   b  of  FIG. 4   a . Shown are the rotating levers  113  of the inner face  112  of the door  110 , and the knobs  125  on the outer face  126  of the door  110  for rotating and locking the rotating levers  113 . The top  116  and the bottom  117  of the door  110  also are illustrated. 
       FIG. 4   c  is an enlarged view of the circled portion “ 4   c ” shown in  FIG. 4   b .  FIG. 4   c  is an enlarged view showing the gasket  120  connected to the inner face  112  of the door  110 . The top  116  of the door  110  is angled downward towards the outer face  126  of the door  110  to drain water away from the gasket  120 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an enclosure  130 , such as a watertight enclosure, configured in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The enclosure  130  includes a housing  132  having a door  134  rotatably mounted to a front  133  of the housing  132 . The housing  132  has a top wall  138 , a bottom wall  139 , and side walls  140  and  141 . A back panel  142  for mounting electronics is secured or mounted to a back wall  144  ( FIG. 5   b ) of the enclosure  130  using mounting fasteners  145 . 
     The door  134  is rotatably mounted to the front  133  of the housing  132  using a hinge  146  or other rotatable mounting device. The door  134  has an outer or front face  135  and an inner or rear face  136 . Rotating levers or arms  137  on the inner face  136  of the door  134  function to lock the door  134  when the door  134  is in a closed the position. The lever  137  rotates to a position behind the front  133  to lock the door  134  in the closed position. A compartment  131  is located on the inner face  136  of the door  134  for holding paper instructions. An access opening  148  is located on the front  133  of the housing  132 . The access door  134  covers the opening  148  when the door  134  is in the closed position. The door  134  includes a top  152 , a bottom  154 , and sides  155  and  157 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, a gasket  150  is connected to a front  133  of a housing  132  and located at least over a top  158  of an access opening  148  of the housing  132 . The gasket  150  forms a watertight seal between the front  133  of the housing  132  and the inner face  136  of the door  134 . The gasket  150  is located closer to a top  138  of the housing  132  in a first location  160 , and the gasket  150  is located further from the top  138  of the housing  132  in a second location  162  than the first location  160 . The gasket  150  also is further from the top  138  of the housing  132  in a third location  164 . By angling the gasket  150  in a downward manner from a top  138  of the housing  132 , water contacting on the top of gasket  150  will not pool or remain on the gasket  150 , but will run off the gasket  150  to the sides  166  and  168  of the housing  132  due to the force of gravity. By preventing water from accumulating or pooling on the gasket  150 , the chance of water penetrating a seal between the inner face  136  of the door  134  and the front  133  of the housing  132  are greatly reduced. Furthermore, water is less likely to enter the access opening  148  of the enclosure  132  when the door  134  covering the access opening  148  is opened. 
       FIG. 5   a  is an enlarged view of the portion “ 5   a ” shown in  FIG. 5  showing the top  138  of the housing  132 . The gasket  150  is shown being angled downward toward the sides  166  and  168  of the housing  132 . The first location  160 , the second location  162 , and the third location  164  of the gasket  150  on the front  133  of the housing  132  are illustrated. 
       FIG. 5   b  is a cross-sectional side view of the housing  132  shown in  FIG. 5 . Illustrated are the top  138  and bottom  139  of the housing  132 . The rear wall  144  and the rear panel  142  are further illustrated. The gasket  150  is shown on the front  133  of the housing  132 . 
       FIG. 5   c  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the circled portion “ 5   c ” shown in  FIG. 5   b . Illustrated are the top  138  of the housing  130  and the gasket  150 . The gasket  150  includes a slot  172  for receiving a rim  170  of the opening  148  on the front  133  of the housing  132 . The slot  172  enables the gasket  150  to slide over the rim  170  to be secured to the rim  170 . The gasket  150  can be easily replaced if damaged or worn by sliding the gasket  150  off the rim  170 , and replaced with a new gasket  150  that is slid back onto the rim  170 . 
     While specific embodiments have been shown and described to point out fundamental and novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the invention illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.