Claims:We claim:

1. An enclosure (100) for multiple circuit breakers, the enclosure (100) comprising:
• an enclosure base (10);
• a profile (20) embossed on the enclosure base (10), the profile (20) having
a slot (15) configured thereon;
• at least two studs / screws (30) fixed to the profile (20);
• a plurality of nuts (50) fixing the at least two studs / screws (30) to the profile (20); and
• a mounting plate (40) mounted on the enclosure base (10) by the at least two studs / screws (30) so as to be sandwiched between the plurality of nuts (50), the mounting plate (40) being capable of sliding vertically in any one of upward and downward directions in any one of height-wise and width-wise manners through the slot (15) of the profile (20) in response to any one of the loosening and tightening of the at least four nuts (50) of the plurality of nuts (50) to fix the circuit breaker at a desired depth and mounting location thereon.

2. The enclosure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two studs /
screws (30) are fixed to the profile (20) by at least four nuts (50).
, Description:ENCLOSURE FOR MULTIPLE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to enclosures of circuit breakers and more particularly, to a single enclosure capable of being used for multiple circuit breakers having different depths and different mounting locations.

Background of the invention

Electrical components used for industrial, commercial, or residential applications require enclosures to meet applicable code requirements, improve safety by preventing insertion of foreign objects, and slow deterioration of the components caused by dust, oils and other elements. Enclosure for circuit breakers is designed for indoor use in commercial buildings, apartment buildings and other areas where a general purpose enclosure is applicable to offer solutions for any environment, to speed up installation of factory assembled circuit breakers and to provide lock out provisions for preventing tampering by unauthorized personnel.

An enclosure for a circuit breaker includes a housing sized to support at least one circuit breaker and to permit electrical connections to be made to the circuit breaker. The breaker is front operable and is capable of being padlocked in the off position. A housing cover or lid has one opening through which circuit breaker is accessible. An electrical enclosure assembly comprises an enclosure having walls defining an interior space for housing electrical components and having a front flange surrounding a front operating. The cover is, sometimes, hingeably mounted to the enclosure using screws, for selectively closing the front opening.

Electrical enclosures must be designed to provide the necessary protection for the environment surrounding the panel, while minimizing occupied space to meet dimensional constraints and reduce manufacturing costs. At present, different enclosures are being offered for different circuit breakers having different depths. This increases inventory at factory / stockiest / distributors and also respectively space has be allocated for storing these units.

Accordingly, there is a need of a single enclosure for multiple circuit breakers that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to utilize minimum number of components to provide an arrangement suitable for circuit breakers with variable depths.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize the minimum no of components in such an arrangement suitable for circuit breakers with variable mounting locations.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide saving in inventory, storage space and energy resources that are otherwise required to produce a variety of enclosures for circuit breakers having different depths.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an enclosure for multiple circuit breakers. The enclosure comprises an enclosure base, a profile, at least two studs / screws, a plurality of nuts and a mounting plate.

The profile is embossed on the enclosure base. The profile includes a slot configured thereon. The at least two studs / screws are fixed to the profile by the plurality of nuts for example at least four nuts. The mounting plate is mounted on the enclosure base by the at least two studs / screws so as to be sandwiched between the plurality of nuts. The mounting plate is capable of sliding vertically in any one of upward and downward directions in any one of height-wise and width-wise manners through the slot of the profile in response to any one of the loosening and tightening of the plurality of nuts to fix the circuit breaker at a desired depth and mounting location thereon.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features as well as the advantages of the invention will be clear from the following description.
In the appended drawings:
Figures 1 and 2 show an enclosure base with a fixed mounting plate, in accordance with the prior art;

Figure 3 shows a left hand side view of an enclosure base assembly – mounting plate at top side – depth-wise, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 shows the left hand side view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at bottom side – depth-wise, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a front side view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at bottom side – height-wise, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 shows the front side view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at top side – height-wise, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is the front side view of the enclosure base showing detailed view of a profile made in the enclosure for assembling the mounting plate and a stud/screw, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 shows an isometric view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at top side – depth-wise, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 9 shows the isometric view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at bottom side – depth-wise, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 10 shows the isometric view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at bottom side – height-wise, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 11 shows the isometric view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at top side – height-wise, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 12 shows the isometric view of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate is at bottom side – height-wise and top side – depth wise, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figures 13A – 13B show exploded views of the enclosure base assembly – mounting plate, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides an enclosure for multiple circuit breakers. The enclosure includes a feature that utilizes minimum components arranged suitably to make the single enclosure usable for various circuit breakers having different depths and different mounting locations. The single enclosure of the present invention provides saving in inventory, storage space and energy resources that are otherwise required to produce a variety of enclosures for circuit breakers having different depths.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to figures 3-13B, an enclosure (100) for multiple circuit breakers in accordance with the present invention is shown. Specifically, the circuit breakers (not shown) are variable depth circuit breakers with different mounting location inside the enclosure (100). The enclosure (100) comprises an enclosure base (10), a profile (20), at least two studs / screws (30), a plurality of nuts (50) and a mounting plate (40).

The profile (20) is embossed on the enclosure base (10) (refer figure 7) by an embossing process. The profile (20) includes a slot (15) configured thereon. The slot (15) is configured to allow the mounting plate (40) to slide there through vertically upwards or downwards height-wise or depth-wise on the enclosure base (10) to suite required location of the circuit breaker. Thus, the profile (20) is adapted to assist in smooth movement of the mounting plate (40).

The at least two studs / screws (30) are fixed to the profile (20) by the plurality of nuts (50). In a preferred embodiment, the at least two studs / screws (30) are fixed to the profile (20) by at least four nuts (50). The plurality of nuts (50) is fixed on the enclosure base (10).

The mounting plate (40) is mounted on the enclosure base (10) by the at least two studs / screws (30) so as to be sandwiched between the plurality of nuts (50). Specifically, the mounting plate (40) is sandwiched between the at least four nuts (50) of the plurality of nuts (50) to get stability during operation of the circuit breaker. The present invention talks about the arrangement of the mounting plate (40) required to fix the circuit breaker, according to depth and mounting location thereof.

The mounting plate (40) is capable of sliding vertically in any one of upward and downward directions in any one of height-wise and width-wise manners through the slot (15) of the profile (20) in response to any one of the loosening and tightening of the plurality of nuts (50) to fix the circuit breaker at a desired depth and mounting location thereon.

Advantages of the invention

1. The enclosure (100) reduces the consumption of raw material by utilizing minimum number of components in such an arrangement that becomes suitable for circuit breakers with variable depths and variable mounting locations.
2. The enclosure (100) provides saving in inventory otherwise required.
3. The enclosure (100) provides saving in storage space.
4. The enclosure (100) reduces the energy / power lost in the device.
5. The enclosure (100) saves energy resources otherwise required to produce variety of enclosures for circuit breakers having different depths. Thus, the enclosure are produced with maximum saving in energy as the number of components and number of inventory option requirements to meet criteria of circuit breakers having different depth is very less.
6. The enclosure (100) uses materials/components that require least energy for production thereof.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.