Enclosure plug

Abstract

An enclosure plug may be employed to block a wall aperture. The plug may have a spanning member and a retention apparatus. The retention apparatus may have two or more catch depths for accommodating differing wall thicknesses. The retention apparatus is movable into a deflected position for installation into the aperture, and is biased away from said deflected position.

1 . An electrical enclosure plug for obstructing an aperture in an electrical fitting box, said plug comprising: 
 a spanning member;    retention apparatus extending away from said spanning member;    said retention apparatus having at least a first catch depth and a second catch depth;    said retention apparatus being movable on insertion to a deflected condition; and    said retention apparatus being biased away from said deflected position.    
   
   
       2 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 1  wherein said retention apparatus includes an array of prongs.  
   
   
       3 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 2  wherein one prong of said array of prongs includes a first detent corresponding to a first catch depth, and one prong of said array of prongs includes a second detent corresponding to a second catch depth.  
   
   
       4 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 2  wherein said array of prongs includes a first set of prongs having detents corresponding to said first catch depth, and a second set of prongs having detents corresponding to said second catch depth.  
   
   
       5 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 4  wherein one of said sets of prongs has a radially outwardly facing set of detents, said prongs are spaced on a pitch circle, and clearance spacing between any two adjacent prongs on said pitch circle is less than 180 degrees.  
   
   
       6 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 4  wherein one of said sets of prongs includes at least three prongs, and said prongs are spaced on equal centers.  
   
   
       7 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 1  wherein said plug includes a skirt extending to one side of said spanning member, said retention apparatus extending to the same side of said spanning member.  
   
   
       8 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 1  wherein said spanning member includes at least one biased peripheral member, and, when said retention apparatus is at either said first or second catch depth in engagement with an electrical box, said peripheral member works in opposition to said retention member.  
   
   
       9 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 1  wherein said spanning member includes a peripheral spring, and, when said plug is at either said first clinch or said second catch depth relative to a wall of an electrical box, said peripheral spring engages one side of the wall of the electrical box, and said retention apparatus engages the other side of the wall of the electrical box, and said spring carries a pre-load.  
   
   
       10 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 1  wherein said spanning member includes a peripheral rim, and said retention apparatus is mounted to said spanning member adjacent to said peripheral rim.  
   
   
       11 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 10  wherein said rim includes a depending skirt that is operable in opposition to said retention apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 1  wherein said retention apparatus includes an array of legs, at least some of said legs have catches, and said plug includes a biasing member positioned to work in opposition to said catches.  
   
   
       13 . The electrical enclosure plug of  claim 12  wherein said plug has a direction of insertion designated as an axial direction, and a first catch is mounted to a first leg, and said first catch includes a first cam portion, a first wedge portion, and a second wedge portion, said cam being located to cause deflection of said first leg on insertion of said plug into an aperture of an electrical box, said first wedge portion having a first slope relative to said axial direction, said second wedge portion having a second slope relative to said axial direction, said first and second wedge portions acting in opposition to said biasing member, and said first slope being steeper than said second slope.  
   
   
       14 . The enclosure plug of  claim 12  wherein said plug has a direction of insertion designated as an axial direction, and said first catch includes a wedge region formed to operate in opposition to said biasing member, said wedge region having a varying slope, said slope varying from a steeper slope away from said spanning member to a shallower slope nearer to said spanning member.  
   
   
       15 . The enclosure plug of  claim 12  wherein said spanning member includes a peripheral skirt, and said peripheral skirt has a circumferential margin, and at least one relief formed in said circumferential margin.  
   
   
       16 . The enclosure plug of  claim 12  wherein said plug is a monolithic molded part.  
   
   
       17 . The enclosure plug of  claim 12  wherein 
 said biasing member is a peripheral skirt;    said array of legs includes a first set of at least three legs mounted on a pitch circle, each of said first set of legs having a first catch, each said first catch having a cammed run-in portion, and a wedging clinch portion;    each of said first catches being operable at said first catch depth;    said array of legs includes a second set of at least three legs mounted on a pitch circle, each of said second set of legs having a second catch;    each said second catch having a cammed run-in portion and a wedging clinch portion; and    each of said second catches being operable at said second catch depth.    
   
   
       18 . The enclosure plug of  claim 17  wherein said first and second sets of legs are mounted on the same pitch circle.  
   
   
       19 . The enclosure plug of  claim 17  wherein said first and second sets of legs are intermixed.  
   
   
       20 . The enclosure plug of  claim 17  wherein said first and second sets of legs are alternately intermixed on the same pitch circle.