Cover Assembly For Outdoor Equipment Enclosure

Abstract

A cover assembly for use with an outdoor equipment enclosure when the enclosure is opened up for access. The equipment enclosure includes a housing having an interior equipment chamber accessible via an opening in a side portion of the housing. A service entrance door is positionable between a closed position wherein the opening is covered and an open position wherein the opening is exposed. The cover assembly includes a frame positionable above a top portion of the housing. The frame is configurable between an open unfolded position and closed folded position. A cover is supportable on the frame in the unfolded position. The cover has a top and plural side portions that enclose the enclosure housing when the cover is deployed. This provides an area surrounding the enclosure housing that is sequestered from an outside environment when it is necessary to access the equipment chamber via the service entrance door.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover assembly for use with an outdoor equipment enclosure when the enclosure is opened up for access:
 said equipment enclosure comprising:
 an equipment enclosure housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, plural side portions, and an interior equipment chamber accessible via an opening in at least one of said housing side portions; and 
 a service entrance door associated with said opening, said door being positionable between a closed position wherein said opening is covered and an open position wherein said opening is exposed; 
   said cover assembly comprising:
 a frame positionable above said housing top portion, said frame being configurable between an open unfolded position and closed folded position; and 
 a cover supportable on said frame in said unfolded position, said cover having a top portion and plural side portions that enclose said enclosure housing side portions when said cover is deployed to provide an area surrounding said enclosure housing top and side portions that is sequestered from an environment outside of said cover when it is necessary to access said interior equipment chamber via said service entrance door. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said service entrance door is pivotally attached to one of said side portions of said enclosure housing, and said frame is sized so that said service entrance door can be fully opened when said cover is deployed. 
     
     
         3 . The cover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein there are a plurality of said service entrance doors that are pivotally attached to corresponding side portions of said enclosure housing, and said frame is sized so that all of said service entrance doors can be fully opened at the same time when said cover is deployed. 
     
     
         4 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said frame has a rectangular configuration in said unfolded position. 
     
     
         5 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said frame has a linear configuration in said folded position. 
     
     
         6 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a set of rigid frame members that are pivotally interconnected. 
     
     
         7 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises:
 a pair of pivotally interconnected rear frame members that open to form a rear side of said frame;   a pair of pivotally interconnected right side frame members that open to form a right side of said frame;   a pair of pivotally interconnected left side frame members that open to form a left side of said frame;   a pair of pivotally interconnected front frame members that open to form a front side of said frame; and   a pair of first and second diagonal frame members, said first diagonal frame member being pivotally connected to a first one of said rear frame members and to a pivotal junction of one of said right side frame members and a first one of said front frame members, said second diagonal frame member being pivotally connected to a second one of said rear frame members and to a pivotal junction of one of said left side frame members and a second one of said front frame members.   
     
     
         8 . The cover assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said frame members are channel shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The cover assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when said frame is said folded position:
 said right side frame members, a right-hand one of said diagonal frame members, and a right-hand one of said front frame members nest within a right-hand one of said rear frame members; and   said left side frame members, a left-hand one of said diagonal frame members, and a left-hand one of said front frame members nest within a left-hand one of said rear frame members.   
     
     
         10 . The cover assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when said frame is in said folded position:
 said right side frame members, said left side frame members, said front frame members and said diagonal frame members are disposed between said rear frame members;   said front frame members are disposed between said diagonal frame members;   said right side frame members are disposed between a right-hand one of said diagonal frame members and a right-hand one of said rear frame members; and   said left side frame members are disposed between a left-hand one of said diagonal frame members and a left-hand one of said rear frame members.   
     
     
         11 . The cover assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said frame further includes a wind latch to maintain said frame in said open position. 
     
     
         12 . The cover assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said wind latch extends between said right-hand one of said diagonal frame members and one of said right side frame members. 
     
     
         13 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said cover includes one or more view windows comprising light transmissive material. 
     
     
         14 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said cover comprises one or more seams that can be opened to allow access to a cover interior or to accommodate mounting structure for said equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said cover side portions are sized so that they extend from said frame to ground level when said cover assembly is deployed for use with said equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , further including a mounting bracket for removably mounting said assembly to said equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The cover assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said mounting bracket comprises a channel member that is configured to receive a frame member of said frame. 
     
     
         18 . The cover assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said mounting bracket includes a first clasp on said channel member that defines a first slot which slidably receives an end of said frame member, and wherein said frame member includes a second clasp that defines a second slot that opposes said first slot and slide ably receives an end of said channel member, said first and second clasps being operable to interconnect said frame member and said channel member and prevent said frame member from being pulled away from said channel member without sliding movement of said frame member relative to said channel member. 
     
     
         19 . The cover assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said channel member mounts a retractable pin that is operable to engage a pin-receiving opening in said frame member when frame member and said channel member are operably interconnected by said first and second clasps, said retractable pin preventing said frame member and said channel member from being slidably removed from their respective engagement with said first and second clasps. 
     
     
         20 . The cover assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said retractable pin is biased toward a position of engagement with said pin-receiving opening by a biasing member. 
     
     
         21 . An outdoor equipment enclosure, comprising:
 an enclosure housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, plural side portions, and an interior equipment chamber accessible via an opening in at least one of said housing side portions;   a service entrance door mounted on said housing and positionable between a closed position wherein said opening is covered and an open position wherein said opening is exposed;   a frame positioned above said housing top portion, said frame being configurable between an open unfolded position and closed folded position; and   a cover supported on said frame in said unfolded position, said cover having a top portion and plural side portions that enclose said enclosure housing side portions when said cover is deployed to provide an area surrounding said enclosure housing top and side portions that is sequestered from an environment outside of said cover when it is necessary to access said interior equipment chamber via said service entrance door.   
     
     
         22 . A method for maintaining a sequestered environment around an outdoor equipment enclosure when the enclosure is opened up for access:
 said equipment enclosure comprising:   an equipment enclosure housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, plural side portions, and an interior equipment chamber accessible via an opening in at least one of said housing side portions; and   a service entrance door mounted on said housing and positionable between a closed position wherein said opening is covered and an open position wherein said opening is exposed;   said method comprising:   removably mounting a frame above said housing top portion, said frame being configurable between an open unfolded position and closed folded position, said removable mounting being performed while said frame is substantially in said folded position;   opening said frame to said unfolded position; and   mounting a cover to said frame, said cover having a top portion and plural side portions that enclose said enclosure housing side portions when said cover is deployed to provide an area surrounding said enclosure housing top and side portions that is sequestered from an environment outside of said cover when it is necessary to access said interior equipment chamber via said service entrance door.