Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/215,823, filed on Sep. 9, 2015 and titled “Secured Power Distribution Cover Latch,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of electrical devices, and more particularly to a power distribution housing having a cover that can be conveniently secured to, and removed from, a base without requiring the use of tools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Power distribution housings, also referred to as “junction boxes,” have traditionally been used to house electrical components such as fuse blocks, fuses, relays, and the like. Typically, these electrical components are collectively capable of distributing power in an electrical system to one or more electrical loads, such as a refrigeration unit in a tractor/trailer combination. Mating harness connectors or ring terminals may be plugged into one or more of the electrical components within the housing to enable power distribution to the one or more electrical loads. Exposure of the power distribution housing to adverse environments and weather conditions can damage or destroy electrical components within the housing. 
         [0004]    Various power distribution housings have been developed that are intended to protect internal electrical components from adverse external conditions. However, such power distribution housings generally include complex mechanical configurations that require the use of tools to open and close the housings, such as for gaining access to the internal electrical components for service, replacement, adjustment, etc. Requiring the use of tools renders the task of opening and closing a power distribution housing time- consuming and inconvenient. 
         [0005]    It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present improvements may be useful. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0007]    An exemplary embodiment of a power distribution housing in accordance with the present disclosure can include a base, a cover adapted to fit onto the base, and a latch member adapted to removably secure the cover to the base, the latch member having a first end pivotably connected to the base and a second end having a latch detent extending therefrom, the latch detent configured to securely engage a catch formed in the cover when the latch member is pivoted to a latched position in which the cover is secured to the base by the latch member. 
         [0008]    Another exemplary embodiment of a power distribution housing in accordance with the present disclosure can include a base, a cover adapted to fit onto the base, a latch member adapted to removably secure the cover to the base, the latch member having a first end pivotably connected to the base and a second end having a latch detent extending therefrom, the latch detent configured to securely engage a catch formed in the cover when the latch member is pivoted to a latched position in which the cover is secured to the base by the latch member, and a locking member slidably coupled to the latch member, the locking member movable between a locked position, in which a locking member extension of the locking member engages a locking member recess in the cover and prevents the latch member from being moved from the latched position to an unlatched position, and an unlocked position in which the locking member extension does not engage the locking member recess in the cover. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    By way of example, various embodiments of the disclosed device will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary power distribution housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is an isometric view of an exemplary power distribution housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a side cut-through view of the exemplary power distribution housing of  FIG. 2A  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is an isometric view of an exemplary power distribution housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a side cut-through view of the exemplary power distribution housing of  FIG. 3A  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a side cut-through view of an exemplary power distribution housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is an isometric view of the exemplary power distribution housing of  FIG. 4A  in an unlocked position in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4C  is an isometric view of the exemplary power distribution housing of  FIG. 4A  in a locked position in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The present embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments are shown. The subject matter of the present disclosure, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side view of a power distribution housing  100  consistent with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The power distribution housing  100  can include a cover  104 , a base  108 , and one or more latch members  112  for removably securing the cover  104  to the base  108  as further described below. Each of the one or more latch members  112  can have a first end  112 A that is pivotably connected to the base  108  and a second end  112 B that is adapted to extend over or into the cover  104 . In some embodiments, one or more of latch members  112  may have a curved geometry. The first end  112 A may be connected to the base  108  via one or more pivotable connections  116 . The pivotable connections  116  can enable the latch members  112  to rotate relative to the base  108 . In some embodiments, the pivotable connections  116  may include pin and bushing sets. Embodiments are not limited in this context. 
         [0020]    The cover  104  may be configured to fit over the base  108  in mating engagement therewith and may be secured to the base  108  by the one or more latch members  112 . When the cover  104  is secured, or “latched,” to the base  108  by the latch members  112 , the interior of the power distribution housing  100  may be sealed such that any components within the power distribution housing  100  are effectively protected from adverse environments and weather conditions. The contents of the power distribution housing  100  may include one or more power distribution modules, relays, fuse blocks, fuse holders, disconnect switches, and the like. In some embodiments, an O-ring, gasket or similar sealing member may be compressed between the cover  104  and the base  108  when the cover  104  is secured to the base  108  by the one or more latch members  112 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a detail view of a power distribution housing  200  consistent with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The power distribution housing  200  may be similar to the power distribution housing  100  described above and may include a cover  204 , a base  208 , and a latch member  212  for securing the cover to the base  208 . The latch member  212  can have a first end  212 A that is pivotably connected to the base  108  and a second end  212 B that is adapted to extend over or into the cover  104 . The first end  212 A may be connected to the base  208  by a pivotable connection  216 . The pivotable connection  216  may be similar to the pivotable connection  116  described above and may enable the latch member  212  to rotate relative to the base  208  in a manner similar to the latch member  112  described above. 
         [0022]    The latch member  212  can include a grip  220  proximate the second end  212 B. The grip  220  can be configured to enable a user to manually grasp the latch member  112  to facilitate convenient manipulation when latching and un-latching the cover  204  to/from the base  208 . For example, the grip  220  may include a raised portion defining an underlying cavity for a user&#39;s fingers. In some embodiments, the underlying cavity may include a concave surface. In various embodiments, the grip  220  can provide a user with a mechanical advantage. In various such embodiments, the mechanical advantage may remove the need for tools to un-latch cover  204  from base  208 . For instance, an underlying cavity for a user&#39;s finger in grip  220  may provide leverage for un-latching cover  204  from base  208 . Embodiments are not limited in this context. Not requiring the use of tools to secure/unsecure the cover  204  to/from the base  208  can simplify access to the interior of the power distribution housing  200 . As will be described in greater detail below, the latch member  212  may allow a user to conveniently secure the cover  204  to the base  208  and remove the cover  204  from the base  208  without requiring the use of any tools. This may greatly simplify and expedite access to the interior of the power distribution housing  200  (such as for maintenance, reconfiguration of components, etc.) and subsequent re-fastening of the cover  204  to the base  208 . 
         [0023]    The cover  204 , base  208 , and latch member  212  can be formed from one or more materials. In various embodiments, the materials may include, but are not limited to, various plastics, metals, composites, polymers, alloys, organic matter, or the like. The materials can be selected to achieve desired properties including rigidity, durability, resilience, electrical insulation, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  204  and the base  208  may be formed of a first material and the latch member  212  may be formed of a second material. In some embodiments, the first material can be selected for its rigidity and durability in order to protect the contents of the power distribution housing  200  from adverse conditions such as an impact. The second material can be more resilient than the first material for enabling the latch member  212  to flex and establish “snap-fit” type engagement with the cover  204  as further described below. In some embodiments, different materials can be used for different portions of one or more of the cover  204 , base  208 , and latch member  212 . For example, the latch member  212  may be constructed using a two shot molding process wherein one portion of the latch member  212  is flexible relative to a second portion of the latch member  212 . In some embodiments, latch member  212  may have a curved geometry. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2B , a side cut-through view of the portion of the power distribution housing  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2A  is shown. As described above, the power distribution housing  200  may include a cover  204 , a base  208 , and a latch member  212 . The base  208  may include one or more base grooves  234  and/or base ridges  236  adapted to matingly engage one or more corresponding cover grooves  230  and/or cover ridges  232  formed in the cover  204 . Engagement of the cover grooves  230  and/or cover ridges  232  with the base grooves  234  and/or ridges  236  may align cover  204  relative to the base  208  in a desired, predefined manner to facilitate proper alignment of the latch member  212  without requirement manual adjustment or repositioning of the cover  204 . In some embodiments, one or more O-rings, gaskets, or similar sealing members may be disposed in the base grooves  234  and/or in the cover grooves  230  and may be compressed between the cover  204  and the base  208  when the cover  204  is secured (e.g., latched) to the base  208 . The sealing member(s) may prevent the ingress of potentially damaging liquids and/or particulate matter into the power distribution housing  200 . Embodiments are not limited in this context. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 2B , a latch detent  240  may extend from a lower surface of latch member  212  proximate the grip  220 . When the cover  204  is latched to the base  208 , the latch detent  240  may be retained within a recess or catch  242  formed in the cover  204  via latch retention ridge  241 , resulting in a snap fit engagement there between. For example, when latch member  212  is pivoted toward the locked position, latch member  212  may flex to enable latch detent  240  to clear latch retention ridge  241 . When fully pivoted to the locked position, latch detent  240  may clear latch retention ridge  241  and snap into catch  242 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . The grip  220  may include a relief  243  that allows room for finger access below the grip and facilitate convenient removal of the latch detent  240  from the catch  242  by manually gripping and pulling the grip  220 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a power distribution housing  300  consistent with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The power distribution housing  300  may be similar to the power distribution housings  100 ,  200  described above and may include a cover  304 , a base  308 , and a latch member  312  for securing the cover  304  to the base  308 . The latch member  312  can have a first end  312 A and a second end  312 B. The first end  312 A may be connected to the base  308  by a pivotable connection  316 . The pivotable connection  316  may enable the latch member  312  to rotate relative to the base  308 . The latch member  312  can be configured to secure the base  308  to the cover  304 , thereby protecting any contents of the power distribution housing  300  from hostile environmental conditions. In some embodiments, the latch member  312  may have a curved geometry. The latch member  312  can include a grip  320  proximate the second end  312 B. The grip  320  can be configured to enable a user to secure and unsecure the cover  304  to/from the base  308  without the use of tools. Not requiring the use of tools to secure/unsecure the cover  304  to/from the base  308  can simplify access to the interior of the power distribution housing  300 . The grip  320  may be configured to increase the contact area accessible to a user attempting to secure and/or unsecure the cover  304  to/from the base  308 . In some embodiments, the grip  320  can include one or more curves, lips, flanges, or the like configured to allow the cover  304  to be unsecured from the base  308 . Embodiments are not limited in this context. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a side cut-through view of the power distribution housing  300  consistent with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The power distribution housing  300  may include a cover  304 , a base  308 , and latch member  312 . In the illustrated embodiment, the latch member  312  secures the cover  304  to the base  308  when a latch detent  340  is received by a catch  342 . The grip  320  may include an extended rib that allows for more grip room for finger access facilitating easier removal of the latch detent  340  from the catch  342  while still maintaining a high retention force of the cover  304  when it is secured to the base  308 . In some embodiments, the grip  320  may include a compound curved surface. Embodiments are not limited in this context. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 4A , a side cut-through view of a power distribution housing  400  consistent with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The power distribution housing  400  may be similar to the power distribution housings  100 ,  200 ,  300  described above and may include a cover  404 , a base  408 , a latch member  412 , and may further include a locking member  450 . The cover  404  may be configured to fit over the base  408  in mating engagement therewith. The cover  404  can include a catch  442 , a locking member recess  463 , and a locking member guide channel  464 . The catch  442  may receive a latch detent  440  on the latch member  412  to removably retain cover  404  to base  408 . The locking member recess  463  may receive a locking member extension  461  on the locking member  450  to removably secure the cover  404  to the base  408 . The locking member guide channel  464  may contact or be positioned around the locking member ridge  460  when the latch detent  440  is received by the catch  442 . In various embodiments, latch member  412  may removably retain cover  404  to base  408  and locking member  450  may removably secure cover  404  to base  408 . Embodiments are not limited in this context. 
         [0029]    The latch member  412  can include a latch member opening  454 . The latch member opening  454  may receive at least a portion of the locking member  450 . The latch member ridge  458  may contact or be substantially surrounded by the locking member groove  462  when the locking member  450  is received by the latch member  412 . The locking member  450  can be configured to move or slide between at least two positions relative to the latch member  412 . The locking member  450  can be maintained in a first position when a position retention protrusion  466  is received by a first position retention recess  468 . The locking member  450  can be maintained in a second position when the position retention protrusion  466  is received by a second position retention recess  470 . In various embodiments, the first position may be an unlocked position and the second position may be a locked position. In various such embodiments, in the unlocked position, locking member extension  461  may not be received by locking member recess  463  (illustrated in  FIG. 4A ) and in the locked position, locking member extension  461  may be received by locking member recess  463 . When locking member extension  461  is received by locking member recess  463 , cover  404  may be removably secured to base  408 . 
         [0030]    The locking member  450  can include a grip  420  to enable a user to adjust the locking member  450  between the first and second positions without the use of tools. In some embodiments, grip  420  may provide leverage for moving the locking member  450  between the first and second positions. Not requiring the use of tools to secure/unsecure the cover  404  to/from the base  408  can allow easy removal of the cover  404  from the base  408  in the first position while still enabling robust retention of the cover  404  to the base  408  in the second position. In the illustrated embodiment, the first position can be an unlocked position  400 B (See  FIG. 4B ) and the second position can be a locked position  400 C (See  FIG. 4C ). 
         [0031]    In various embodiments, the cover  404  and base  408  may be formed from a first material, the latch member  412  may be formed from a second material, and the locking member  450  may be formed from a third material. In various such embodiments, the second material may have a flexibility greater than the flexibility of the first and/or third materials. In some embodiments, one or more of the first, second, and third materials may be the same material. In various embodiments, latch member  412  and locking member  450  may be formed from a two shot molding process. In various embodiments, latch member  412  may have a curved geometry. In some embodiments, the materials may include, but are not limited to, various plastics, metals, composites, polymers, alloys, organic matter, or the like. The materials can be selected to achieve desired properties including rigidity, durability, resilience, electrical insulation, and the like. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4B , the power distribution housing  400  in the unlocked position  400 B consistent with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In the unlocked position  400 B the locking member  450  may be received by the latch member opening  454 . In some embodiments, in the unlocked position  400 B the locking member  450  may protrude out of the latch member opening  454 . In the unlocked position  400 B, the locking member  450  may be located such that the locking member  450  is unable to prevent the latch member  412  from pivoting relative to the base  408 . For example, locking member extension  461  may not be received by locking member recess  463 . The latch member  412  can retain contact with the cover  404 , thereby connecting the base  408  to the cover  404 . In unlocked position  400 B the latch member  412  may maintain contact between the cover  404  and the base  408 . However, the unlocked position  400 B may not completely protect the contents of the power distribution housing  400  from adverse environments because the cover  404  is not secured to the base  408  in the unlocked position  400 B. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 4C , the power distribution housing  400  in the locked position  400 C consistent with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In the locked position  400 C the locking member  450  may be received by the latch member opening  454 . In some embodiments, the locking member  450  may be flush with or below the latch member opening  454  in the locked position  400 C. In other embodiments, the locking member  450 , in the locked position  400 C, may protrude out of the latch member opening  454  an amount less than when the power distribution housing  400  is in the unlocked position  400 B. In the locked position  400 C, the locking member  450  may be located such that the locking member  450  is able to prevent the latch member  412  from pivoting relative to the base  408 . For example, locking member extension  461  may be received by locking member recess  463 . In the locked position  400 C, the latch member  412  and the locking member  450  can secure the cover  404  to the base  408 . When the cover  404  is secured to the base  408  by the latch member  412  and the locking member  450  the interior of the power distribution housing  400  can be protected from adverse environments exterior to the power distribution housing  400 . 
         [0034]    Providing unlocked and locked positions  400 B,  400 C may allow a user to ensure the cover  404  is properly aligned and/or received by the base  408  prior to securing the cover  404  to the base  408 . Ensuring the cover  404  is properly aligned and/or received by the base  408  can enable a user to readily discern whether the power distribution housing  400  is properly assembled to protect contents of the power distribution housing  400  from adverse environmental conditions. 
         [0035]    It will be appreciated that while components of the power distribution housing  400  can molded or formed in the manners described above, other methods of forming components of the power distribution housing  400  can additionally or alternatively be implemented. It is further contemplated that one or more components of power distribution housings  100 ,  200 ,  300  described above can be molded or formed from one or more materials without departing from the present disclosure. 
         [0036]    It will be appreciated that while the illustrated embodiment of the power distribution housing  400  can be locked, unlocked, and maintained in the locked or unlocked positions in the manners described above, other arrangements of locking, unlocking, and maintaining the locked and/or unlocked positions of the power distribution housing  400  can additionally or alternatively be implemented. For example, a spring may bias the locking member  450  in the unlocked position  400   a  and a clip or latch may retain the locking member  450  in the locked position  400 C. It is further contemplated that one or more components of power distribution housings  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  may be assembled from a plurality of discrete components without departing from the present disclosure. 
         [0037]    As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. 
         [0038]    The present disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, other various embodiments of and modifications to the present disclosure, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, although the present disclosure has been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present disclosure as described herein.

Technology Category: h