Weatherproof cover assembly for electrical wiring devices

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to the present invention, these and other objects and advantages are achieved in a weatherproof cover assembly for electrical wiring devices comprising a housing, cover means and means for pivotally attaching the cover means to the housing.
The housing includes a base having at least one aperture therethrough for access to the wiring device, a plurality of interconnected outer walls and a plurality of interconnected inner walls.
The outer walls extend frontwardly from the base and include a top outer wall and opposing side outer walls, each of the side outer walls having a front surface.
The inner walls extend frontwardly from the base and have front surfaces.
The inner walls and the base define a chamber.
The cover means, which is pivotally attached to the side outer walls, encloses the chamber when the cover means is closed and provides access to the wiring device when the cover is open.
The cover means includes a rear surface which bears against the front surfaces of the inner walls and against the front surfaces of the side outer walls when the cover means is closed, and a plurality of interconnected flanges extending rearwardly from the cover means.
The flanges are disposed between the inner and outer walls when the cover means is closed.
When the cover means is closed, the outer walls, the inner walls, the flanges and the cover means together inhibit entry of moisture and dust into the chamber with no requirement for a resilient gasket between the cover means and the housing.
The cover means can be a single piece cover which encloses the chamber or can be two covers each of which encloses a portion of the chamber.
The assembly can include means for locking the cover means in the closed position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spring loaded hinge construction for attachment of a cover to a housing so that the cover pivots about an axis of rotation.
The hinge construction includes a hinge portion of the cover, a cylindrical torsion spring and a pivot insert having a base portion coupled to the housing