Deck Box Pivoting Door and Recessed Housing for Weatherproof Power Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outdoor decks lack a safe and convenient method to provide power for electrical devices without creating tripping hazards from long cords, and existing solutions do not adequately address the need for weatherproofing when used in wet conditions.
Innovation Solution
A weatherproof deck box with a pivoting door and recessed receptacle housing that allows the outlet to be accessed while maintaining a closed position, eliminating the need for extension cords and providing natural drainage to prevent water ingress, featuring a slot for cord exit and a drip loop to direct water away from the outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional wall outlet is used on an outdoor deck, then power access is provided, but cords must be draped across the deck floor creating a tripping hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is extracted from the traditional wall mounting location and relocated to a deck box mounted on the deck floor. The outlet is housed within a recessed compartment that can be accessed by opening a door, eliminating the need for cords to stretch across the deck surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet is nested within a recessed housing inside the deck box. The housing includes a door that pivots open to expose the outlet, allowing cord access through a controlled opening rather than requiring the cord to span the entire deck distance.
2Ease of operation
If the outlet is exposed for cord access, then power connection is enabled, but water can ingress into the electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The housing provides localized protection with different properties for different areas: the door and frame provide a sealed enclosure, the receptacle housing provides a protected cavity for the outlet, and the cord access slot provides a controlled opening. Each area has the specific quality needed for its function - sealed for protection, open for access.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet is oriented vertically within the recessed housing, with the outlet face pointing downward. This dimensional reorientation allows the outlet to be accessible from above when the door is open, while the housing structure protects it from water ingress from all directions when closed.
3Reliability
If the door remains closed for weatherproofing, then protection from moisture is maintained, but the outlet cannot be accessed for use
Solution Approach 1:
The door is designed to pivot between a closed position that seals the housing for weatherproofing and an open position that exposes the outlet for access. The dynamic movement allows the same structure to provide both protection and accessibility as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting door acts as an intermediary between the protected interior housing and the external environment. When opened, it provides controlled access to the outlet while the housing structure maintains the weatherproof seal around the opening.
Data Source
AI summary
A while-in-use electrical box, such as a deck box, for providing power to an electrical device includes a frame having a door pivotally mounted therein. The frame is adapted to be mounted in a hole formed in a floor or deck. The door includes a bottom surface on which a receptacle housing is coupled. The receptacle housing includes walls which define an opening to receive an electrical socket device, such as an outlet. When in the closed position, the walls of the receptacle housing enclose the electrical socket device and extend beyond a front face of the electrical socket device to protect the socket from the weather.