Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     Electrical enclosures are used widely in residential and commercial applications. Electrical enclosures house devices that primarily communicate with an electrical system. However, many electrical enclosures include visible indicators that communicate a present operating status of the electrical system to a human user. Electrical enclosures are typically placed in areas where they will be out of the way of normal daily activity. Thus, an electrical enclosure may be difficult to find or read, especially when the electrical enclosure is installed in a dimly lit area, such as a closet or basement. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus for an illuminated electrical enclosure lid is provided. The lid has a lid body comprising a front face, a rear face, and at least one translucent edge. The translucent edge projects rearward from the rear face and is configured to be fit onto an electrical enclosure. The lid also has a reflective surface coincident with either the front face or the rear face. The reflective surface reflects light back into the electrical enclosure. The translucent edge is configured to direct light from the illuminated electrical enclosure lid at a plurality of angles. 
     A decal may be used to create the reflective surface. The decal may be configured to cause diffuse reflection within the electrical enclosure. The decal may be mounted to either an interior face or exterior face of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid. A cutout may be included in the decal. The cutout may allow light to escape from the face of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid. 
     The light within the illuminated electrical enclosure lid may be generated by status indicator lights housed in the electrical enclosure. The status indicator lights indicate the status of an electrical system or specific electrical device. The light of the status indicator lights is reflected at a plurality of angles through the translucent edge. Accordingly, light from the illuminated electrical enclosure lid may be perceived even from behind the electrical enclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example systems, methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of an illuminated electrical enclosure lid with a decal and translucent edges. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid of  FIG. 1  that has a circuit board. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section view of an example illuminated electrical enclosure lid of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an example embodiment of the decal of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a back view of the example embodiment of the decal of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In some circumstances, electrical enclosures are placed in dimly lit areas. For example, in a home, an electrical enclosure that includes status indicator lights may be installed in a basement. The electrical enclosure may house devices that monitor the home&#39;s electrical (e.g., sump-pump, furnace, water heater). The electrical enclosure should be easy to locate, even in darkness. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of an example embodiment of an electrical enclosure  10  is illustrated. The electrical enclosure  10  includes an electrical enclosure box  20  and an illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . The illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  includes a reflective decal  70  mounted to a front face and translucent edges  60 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  is frictionally fitted on or glued to the electrical enclosure box  20 . The illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  may also be attached to the electrical enclosure box  20  with fasteners (e.g., hinges). Alternatively, the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  may be molded or formed as a part of the electrical enclosure box  20 . 
     The electrical enclosure box  20  includes a conduit coupling  30 . The conduit coupling  30  is a threaded hollow cylindrical passageway protruding from the electrical enclosure box  20 . The conduit coupling  30  carries wiring from external systems to the electrical enclosure box  20  for connection to devices housed within the electrical enclosure box  20 . A threaded portion  40  of the coupling  30  is configured to be threaded into a mating conduit coupling (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the electrical enclosure  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown in an exploded view. The illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  has an exterior face  50   a  and interior face  50   b  that forms a portion of the interior of the electrical enclosure  10 . The illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  has a reflective interior surface. The reflective interior surface may be created by the decal  70 . 
     The decal  70  may be affixed to either the exterior face  50   a  or the interior face  50   b  of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . As will be described in greater detail below, the decal  70  provides a reflective interior surface that will redirect a portion of light within the electrical enclosure  20  to the translucent edges  60 . The decal  70  may be affixed to the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  with adhesive (e.g., glue) applied to an interior face  80  of the decal  70 . If the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  is transparent as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the decal  70  may be affixed to the exterior face  50   a  of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  so that the reflective surface created by the decal  70  is exposed to the interior of the electrical enclosure  10 . 
     The decal  70  blocks light from passing through the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  with two exceptions. The decal  70  allows passage of light through a cutout  90  and also through the translucent edges  60 . The illumination of the translucent edges  60  and the cutout  90  makes the electrical enclosure easier to find, especially in relative darkness. In other embodiments, other numbers and shapes of cutouts may be used or decal  70  may not include any cutout  90  so that light passes only through the translucent edges  60 . 
     A flat edge  55  of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  is fitted over the electrical enclosure box  20 . The electrical enclosure box  20  houses at least one status indicator light. Status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  are coupled to a back plate  22 . The back plate  22  may be a circuit board configured to receive power and signals from an external electrical system or an electrical device (e.g., sump-pump). The back plate  22  may be hardwired to receive power and signals from external electrical systems through conduit coupling  30 . Alternatively, the back plate  22  may merely be used as a mount for the status indicator lights  24 ,  26  and  28 . 
     The status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  may be LEDs that can be illuminated individually or in combination. Illumination of the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  individually may indicate a status of a specific electrical device. For example, if the sump-pump fails, at least one status indicator light may indicate this by illuminating a sump-pump status indicator light. Alternatively, the status indicator lights may be illuminated at a status “clear” color (e.g., green) when an electrical device is functioning within specified parameters. The status indicator light may be illuminated with a status “alert” color (e.g., red) when an electrical device is functioning outside of specified parameters. Conceivably, the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  may be illuminated any number of colors to indicate in any number of statuses for an electrical system or electrical devices. 
     The status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  may also be illuminated in combination. More than one of the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  may be illuminated to strengthen the light exiting the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . As discussed above, the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  may be illuminated any color to indicate the status of the electrical system or specific electrical devices. Additional luminary attributes may be used to indicate status. For example, the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  may flash or light up in sequence to indicate a status. 
     The illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  includes translucent edges  60 . The translucent edges  60  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  as being stair-stepped at approximately right (e.g., 90 degree) angles. Alternatively, the translucent edges  60  may include a plurality of non-right (e.g., oblique) angles. The plurality of angles in the translucent edges  60  cause light emanating from the interior of the electrical enclosure  10  to be refracted out of the electrical enclosure  10  through the translucent edges  60  at a plurality of angles enhancing visibility of the electrical enclosure box  10 . The emanating light may be from the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  or, and possibly in addition to, light from a source light (not shown). A source light may not indicate the status of a specific electrical device, but rather function to illuminate the translucent edges of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . 
     Accordingly, light leaves the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  in a plurality of directions from the translucent edges  60 . If the electrical enclosure  10  is located in a dimly lit area, the illumination will communicate status information at a distance. The translucent edges  60  allow light to exit at a plurality of angles such that the illumination of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  can be seen not only at a distance but even at an angle. For example, a human user standing at angle from behind the electrical enclosure  10  may note a red light emanating from the translucent edges  60  of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . The red light may alert the human user to more closely examine the status indicated by the electrical enclosure  10 . 
     In the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , the decal  70  is illustrated as a separate piece on the exterior of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . The decal  70  may instead be affixed on the interior of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . Alternatively, the decal  70  may not be a separate piece but fabricated as a part of or a treatment to the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . Additionally, the back plate  22  or the entire interior of the electrical enclosure box  10  may be configured to be reflective. 
     The cutout  90  in decal  70  may be an additional avenue for light to exit. The cutout  90  allows light to exit through the front face of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . The cutout  90  may be placed in the decal  70  to provide visual access to the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28 . Accordingly, the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  could be viewed individually as distinct sources of light rather than through the blending that occurs when light exits the translucent edges  60  at a plurality of angles. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross section view of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  with the decal  70  and translucent edges  60  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  is translucent and may be transparent. The decal  70  is opaque. Light from the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  is obstructed from leaving the electrical enclosure  10  by the decal  70 . The interior face  80  of the decal  70  is reflective. The interior face  80  of the decal  70  causes light in the electrical enclosure  10  to be reflected off the walls of the electrical enclosure  10  and the back plate  22 . Accordingly, light is reflected at a plurality of angles within the electrical enclosure  10 . 
     The light from the electrical enclosure  10  that is visible through the cutout  90  may allow at least one of the status indicator lights  24 ,  26 , and  28  to be distinguishable. The decal  70  may include markings to describe the meaning of the at least one status indicator light. For example, the decal may be labeled to describe that a status indicator light indicates that the sump-pump has failed. Therefore, not only is the electrical enclosure  10  easier to locate, but the markings make it easier to determine the meaning of the at least one status light. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates possible paths of light within the electrical enclosure  10 . Path  310  illustrates light exiting the electrical enclosure  10  through cutout  90 . Path  320  illustrates light exiting through the translucent edges  60 . 
     Referring to path  310 , Line A emanates from status indicator light  28 . Status indicator light  28  is mounted on back plate  22 . Line A is directed toward the interior face  80  of the decal  70 . The interior face  80  of the decal  70  directs the light back down Line B. The light along Line B strikes an interior wall of the electrical enclosure  10  and is reflected along Line C. Light traveling along Line C strikes the back plate  22 . Light from Line C is reflected along Line D and is directed out of the electrical enclosure  10  along Line D through the cutout  90 . Therefore, light in the electric enclosure  10  is reflected back inside the electrical enclosure  10  and toward the back plate  22  until the light is on a path directed at the cutout  90 . 
     The interior face  80  of the decal  70  may be configured to reflect light at a plurality of angles. Therefore, the interior face  80  of the decal  70  reflects light along Line A into a plurality of Line Bs rather than a single Line B. A plurality of Line Bs results in a plurality of Line Cs, and a plurality of Cs results in a plurality of Line Ds. Accordingly, more light paths would be created in the electrical enclosure  10 , and proportionally more light would be directed through cutout  90 . 
     Referring to path  320 , Line E emanates from status indicator light  22 . Line E is directed toward the interior face  80  of the decal  70 . The interior face  80  of the decal  70  directs the light along Line F. The light of Line F strikes the back plate  22  and is directed along Line G. The light along Line G strikes the translucent edges  60 . The stair-stepped angles of the translucent edges  60  cause the light to be refracted in a plurality of directions, illustrated as Lines H-K, out of the electrical enclosure  10 . While  FIG. 3  shows deflection of light from a status indicator light being directed out of the translucent edges  60 , a separate source light could be mounted within the electrical enclosure  10  to illuminate the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50 . 
     As illustrated with light paths  310  and  320 , light exits the electrical enclosure  10  through the translucent edges  60  and the cutout  90 . Elsewhere, light is obstructed from exiting the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  by decal  70 . Therefore, in darkness, the outline of the electrical enclosure  10  and the cutout  90  is illuminated. This makes the electrical enclosure easier to find and to read. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example embodiment of a decal  470 . The decal  470  is opaque. It is not necessary that an exterior face  485  of the decal  470  be reflective. The corners of the decal  470  are flattened to create a generally octagon shape. Therefore, the shape of the outline of light emanating from the translucent edges  60  of the illuminated electrical enclosure lid  50  can be changed by altering the shape of the decal  470 . Furthermore, the shape of the decal  470  can be changed to create a particular shape or allow more or less light to exit the electrical enclosure  10 . 
     Likewise, while cutout  490  is shown to be rectangular but can be any other shape or size. The cutout  490  can also be moved from the center of the decal  470  to anywhere else on the decal  470 . While a single cutout  490  is shown, multiple cutouts may be used. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the interior face  480  of the decal  470 . The interior face  480  of the decal  470  is reflective. The interior face  480  may be configured to cause diffuse reflection. Diffuse reflection is the reflection of light from a surface such that an incident ray is reflected at many angles rather than at just one angle. Therefore, the reflective interior surface may be configured to generate a plurality of reflected light rays. 
     To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 
     While example systems, methods, and so on have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the systems, methods, and so on described herein. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 5