Enclosure having an extension member

Abstract

An electronics enclosure includes a base having a mounting hole, an extension member having a matching mounting hole, and a cover having a matching mounting hole. The base, cover, and extension member are designed so that the cover is mountable to the base in a first enclosure assembly and the extension member is mountable between the base and the cover in a second enclosure assembly. The electrical enclosure can include a base member having a tongue and a cover having a groove dimensioned to mate with the tongue. The groove can have a cross-section having a full radius arc profile and have a foam-in-place gasket mounted therein.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronics enclosure comprising: 
 a base having a base mounting hole;    an extension member having an extension member mounting hole which matches the base mounting hole; and    a cover having a cover mounting hole which matches the base mounting hole;    wherein the cover is mountable to the base in a first enclosure assembly using a first fastener which engages a portion of the cover and which fastens to the base mounting hole, and wherein the extension member is mountable to the base and the cover is mountable to the extension member in a second enclosure assembly using a second fastener which engages a portion of the cover, extends through the extension mounting hole, and fastens to the base mounting hole.    
     
     
         2 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a tongue located on an upper edge of the base and wherein the cover includes a groove, wherein the tongue mates with the groove.  
     
     
         3 . The enclosure of  claim 2 , wherein the extension member includes an extension member groove on a lower surface of the extension member which is substantially the same dimension as the groove on the cover and the extension member includes an extension member tongue on an upper surface of the extension member which has substantially the same dimension as the tongue of the base.  
     
     
         4 . The enclosure of  claim 2 , wherein the groove of the cover has a cross-section having a full radius arc profile.  
     
     
         5 . The enclosure of  claim 4 , further comprising a foam-in-place gasket located within the groove.  
     
     
         6 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the extension member both include internal space for holding one or more electronic components.  
     
     
         7 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting hole of the cover includes an upper section and a lower section separated by an extending portion.  
     
     
         8 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a tab for aligning the cover with the base when the cover is mounted on the base.  
     
     
         9 . The enclosure of  claim 8  wherein the extension member includes an extension member tab for aligning the extension member with the base when the extension member is mounted on the base.  
     
     
         10 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a stand-off located on a top surface of the base which is dimensioned to prevent the cover from being over-tightened upon the base, and wherein the extension member includes a stand-off located on a top surface of the extension member which is dimensioned to prevent the cover from being over-tightened upon the extension member.  
     
     
         11 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the base mounting hole comprises a threaded hole and the extension member mounting hole includes a non-threaded hole, wherein the fastener passes through the extension member mounting hole and fastens to the base member mounting hole in the second enclosure assembly.  
     
     
         12 . An electrical enclosure comprising: 
 a base member having a wall which defines an inner space for holding electronic components, wherein at least a portion of an upper edge of the wall includes a tongue;    a cover having a groove dimensioned to mate with the tongue;    wherein the groove has a cross-section profile wherein a bottom surface of the groove includes a full radius arc profile.    
     
     
         13 . The enclosure of  claim 12 , further comprising foam-in-place gasket material within the groove.  
     
     
         14 . The enclosure of  claim 12 , further comprising a stand-off located on a top surface of the base to prevent the tongue from fully entering the groove when the cover is mounted on the base.  
     
     
         15 . The enclosure of  claim 12 , wherein the base includes a removable faceplate having one or more optional knock-outs in a surface thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The enclosure of  claim 12 , further comprising an extension member mountable between the cover and the base, wherein the extension member includes a top surface having a tongue thereon and a bottom surface having a groove.  
     
     
         17 . The enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein the base includes a base mounting hole, the extension member includes an extension member mounting hole which matches the base mounting hole, and the cover includes a cover mounting hole which matches the base mounting hole; 
 wherein the cover is mountable to the base in a first enclosure assembly using a fastener located within the base mounting hole and the cover mounting hole, and wherein the extension member is mountable to the base and the cover is mountable to the extension member in a second enclosure assembly using a second fastener located within the base mounting hole, the extension member mounting hole, and the cover mounting hole.    
     
     
         18 . A method of assembly of an electrical enclosure, the method comprising: 
 placing an extension member on a base and placing a cover on the extension member, wherein the extension member, the base, and the cover each include matching mounting holes which define a mounting point; and    fastening the extension member between the cover and the base using a single fastening member at the mounting point.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising removing the extension member from the enclosure assembly and mounting the cover to the base using the same mounting point in a second enclosure assembly.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising placing a foam-in-place gasket within a groove in the cover, the groove having a full radius profile.