Enclosure for housing operating equipment

Abstract

An enclosure for housing operating equipment, includes a base having a mounting surface on which equipment is to be positioned. At least one shell is pivotally secured to the base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open access position. The shell has side walls and a top forming an enclosure which overlies the mounting surface of the base when the shell is in the closed position. The shell is positioned adjacent to the base leaving the mounting surface of the base completely uncovered when in the open access position.

1 . An enclosure for housing operating equipment, comprising: 
 a base having a mounting surface on which equipment is to be positioned; and    at least one shell pivotally secured to the base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open access position, the at least one shell having side walls and a top forming an enclosure which overlies the mounting surface of the base when the at least one shell is in the closed position, the at least one shell being positioned adjacent to the base leaving the mounting surface of the base completely uncovered when in the open access position.    
   
   
       2 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is a substantially horizontal pivot axis.  
   
   
       3 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein stops are provided to limit pivotal movement of the at least one shell in the open access position.  
   
   
       4 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the stops are tether lines which extend from the base to the at least one shell.  
   
   
       5 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein there are two shells, a first shell covering a first portion of the base and a second shell covering a second portion of the base, the first shell and the second shell collectively covering all of the mounting surface of the base.  
   
   
       6 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the base has a bottom and a shallow peripheral side wall.  
   
   
       7 . An enclosure for housing operating equipment, comprising: 
 a base having a bottom, a shallow peripheral side wall and a mounting surface within the peripheral side wall on which equipment is to be positioned; and    at least two cooperating shells pivotally secured to the base for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis between a closed position and an open access position, each shell having side walls and a top forming an enclosure which overlies a portion of the mounting surface of the base when the shells are in the closed position, a first of the shells covering a first portion of the base and a second of the shells covering a second portion of the base, the first shell and the second shell collectively covering all of the mounting surface of the base, the shells being positioned adjacent to the base leaving the mounting surface of the base completely uncovered when in the open access position.    
   
   
       8 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 7 , wherein stops are provided to limit pivotal movement of the at least two shells in the open access position.  
   
   
       9 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the stops are tether lines which extend from the base to the at least two shells.