Hinged assembly for cover arrangement in power inlet box

Abstract

A hinge construction for pivotably connecting a pair of members together, such as for connecting the access cover of a power inlet box used in connecting an auxiliary generator to the electrical system of a building. The construction includes a mounting member including a knuckle fixed to the power inlet box. An access member includes a pair of spaced apart, pivot lugs disposed one on each side of the knuckle for movement between a closed position in which the access cover engages the mounting member to prevent access to the power inlet box, and an open position for providing access to the power inlet box. A hinge pin passes through aligned apertures in the mounting member knuckle and the access cover lugs, and forms a rotational axis about which the access cover pivots. A torsion spring surrounds the hinge pin and has a first end retained in the mounting member knuckle and a second end disposed outside the access cover lugs. An end cap is attached to one end of the hinge pin and has tab structure for retaining the second end of the spring, and a notched, peripheral structure enabling the end cap, the hinge pin and the spring to be rotated together as a unit such that the second end of the spring is placed in a retaining slot formed in the one access cover lug. The spring is thus wound so that the access cover is normally biased in the closed position against the mounting member.