Gasket retainer for mating an electrical device enclosure

The present application is related to, claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefits under 35 USC § 119(e) for provisional patent applications), and incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of the following listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the present application also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/459,487, entitled “Sealing Assembly For Mating an Electrical Device Enclosure”, naming Victor V. Aromin as inventor, filed 15 Mar. 2017.

This invention relates to waterproof sealing of enclosures for electrical devices. The present invention relates to a gasket with integral stub retainers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gasket including a plurality of locating and retaining stubs formed on peripheral edges of the gasket to locate and retain the gasket on a mating surface of a mating component.

Electrical equipment such as transformers, relays, GFCIs, etc. which may be used outdoors, or may be used in an environment that has a risk of water contact, must be protected. This is not only to prevent the electrical equipment from electrically shorting, for example when it rains, but also to increase their useful life which would otherwise by shortened by constant exposure to the elements, ultraviolet and solar radiation, and so forth. Accordingly, there have long been protective enclosures in which this type of equipment has been housed. And, the enclosures must be accessed for service, repair, or replacement of the equipment.

It is well known that when connecting housing components of electronic or electrical devices together, gaskets must be used to ensure a secure and tight seal, to form a proper watertight connection. Furthermore gaskets have a tendency to twist or dislocate during assembly of the electrical housing thereby preventing a watertight seal. Therefore, there is a need for a locating and holding means to retain the shape of gaskets and to aid in keeping them flush against connector bodies during compression.

Known devices for keeping gaskets in position during compression, such as in the coupling of conduits, or the like, usually include some type of compression fitting that forces the gasket inwardly as the conduits are being secured together. Such compression fittings usually include threaded portions and/or tapered portions on the inside of the conduits that force or urge the gasket against an inside diameter or wall when the conduits are screwed or otherwise secured together.

The known compression fittings are useful in many situations; however, they do not act to properly hold round or semi-circular gaskets in a position flush against a connector body when securing components together in electrical devices, wherein the sealing effectiveness may be compromised if the gaskets bow or are otherwise pushed outwardly, away from the connector body.

Furthermore, known compression fittings use compressive forces that can over-stress or wear-out gaskets. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a holding or retaining device that is easy to use and which more accurately and securely holds or retains in place a sealing gasket used when sealing components of electrical devices, without unduly stressing or compressing such gaskets.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure;

FIG. 2 is top view of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially assembled;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the assembled GFCI enclosure of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the sealing assembly of the present invention as implemented in the GFCI enclosure of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the sealing assembly of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a multi stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially disassembled;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the multi stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially assembled;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a single stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially disassembled; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a single stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially disassembled.

Referring to FIG. 1 , is illustrated a sealing assembly implemented in an enclosure for a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). However, the sealing assembly of the present invention can be applied to any structure suitable for housing an electrical device, or structure for sealing against moisture and the elements. Although, in the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the sealing assembly, or arrangement is illustrated as implemented along the periphery of the enclosure sections, the assembly may be implemented in any arrangement/position to facilitate the mating of two sections.

Sealing assembly 12 is integrated in the periphery of both the top cover 15 and bottom cover 10 of the GFCI enclosure 401 of FIG. 4 . Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 , the sealing mechanism 12 in this example is for mating the top 15 and bottom 10 covers of an electrical enclosure, the electrical enclosure illustrated as being GFCI enclosure 401 .

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , top cover 15 includes a sidewall 18 having a first upper projecting lip 20 including a top surface 20 A and interior side surface 20 B. A second upper lip projection 22 formed interior to sidewall 18 includes a top surface 22 A and side surfaces 22 B and 22 C. First upper projecting lip 20 top surface 20 A extends higher than second upper lip projection 22 top surface 22 A. First upper projecting lip 20 interior side surface 20 B opposes second upper lip projection 22 first side surface 22 B forming a channel 25 therebetween. Second side surface 22 C of second upper lip projection 22 extends downward to a orthogonal base 22 C 1 that sits lower than the base of channel 25 .

Referring to FIG. 6 , bottom cover 10 includes a sidewall 27 having a first downward projecting lip 28 . The downward projecting lip 28 includes a bottom surface 28 A that projects inward from sidewall 27 to a first downward lip extension 30 to form an edge recess. Downward lip extension 30 includes opposing side surfaces 30 A and 30 B and a top surface 30 C. The edge recess is formed by bottom surface 28 A and side surface 30 A. Side surface 30 B is opposite a third opposing side surface 35 extending to an orthogonal extension surface 37 , which forms a downward projecting lip. Side surface 30 B and opposing side surface 35 form a channel 38 therein. Orthogonal extension surface 37 , forming a downward projecting lip extends beyond top surface 30 C, of downward lip extension 30 , which extends beyond bottom surface 28 A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 , when top 15 and bottom covers 10 are mated lip extension 20 top surface 20 A is in substantial alignment with bottom surface 28 A, and downward lip extension 30 is received in channel 25 . Also, channel 38 receives upper lip projection 22 , and orthogonal lip extension surface 37 of bottom cover 10 is in substantial alignment with orthogonal base 22 C 1 of top cover 15 . Upper lip extension 22 rests below the top surface of channel 38 to leave an opening 40 for the placement of a sealing gasket 42 therein (See FIG. 7 ). Top surface 22 A of upper lip projection 22 may include a curved seating surface to seat sealing gasket 42 . Furthermore, channel 38 may include a rounded top surface for better sealing and compression of a gasket 42 located within opening 40 .

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7 , the mated enclosure includes a compressible gasket 42 (See FIG. 1 / FIG. 7 ) in opening 40 that is sized appropriately to compress within the opening 40 . The gasket is utilized for the prevention of moisture and seepage within the enclosure. The sealing arrangement provides a path for seepage/moisture even before the seepage/moisture reaches the interior of the sealing assembly at the gasket point. The compressible gasket can be made from molded silicone or similar materials that are less degradable over time. By not exposing the gasket 42 , UL regulations allow for more choices for gasket materials.

Referring also to FIGS. 8 and 9 there are shown a perspective view of a multi stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially disassembled; and a perspective view of the multi stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially assembled. Shown in FIG. 8 is stubbed gasket 83 with locating stubs 83 A, 83 B, and 83 C. FIG. 9 shows corresponding stub receiver slots 93 A, 93 B, and 93 C. It will be appreciated that gasket stubs 83 A, 83 B, and 83 C fitted into corresponding stub receiver slots 93 A, 93 B, and 93 C help to properly locate and hold gasket 83 during mating assembly of cover 10 A onto cover 10 (shown in FIG. 8 ).

Referring also to FIGS. 10 and 11 there are shown a partial perspective view of a single stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure 110 partially disassembled; and a perspective view of the single stubbed sealing gasket arrangement for a GFCI enclosure partially assembled. Shown in FIG. 10 is stubbed gasket 830 with locating stub 830 B. FIG. 11 shows corresponding stub receiver or receptacle slot 1101 B. It will be appreciated that gasket stub 830 B fitted into corresponding stub receiver slot 1101 B helps to properly locate and hold gasket 830 during mating assembly of housings 1101 , 1102 , and 1103 .

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Thus, various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.