Electrical block

• US 20010015281A1
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boral Building Products Inc. (Seven Group Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aundrea Nurenberg, Charles E. Schiedegger, Clyde D. Allen, Logan J. Richard, Michael C. Clark
• Inventors: Allen, Clyde D., Clark, Michael C., Schiedegger, Charles E., Nurenberg, Aundrea, Logan, J. Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,359,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls

Abstract

An electrical block trim assembly that has a mount, a decorative ring, and a separate electrical box is provided. The mount has a base adapted to be secured to an exterior surface of a structure. The mount also has a housing extending from the base with a top portion that has an opening. Exterior covering, or siding, is attached to the exterior surface to surround a portion of the mount. A decorative ring is secured to the mount over the siding to conceal the edges of the siding that are adjacent to the mount. The decorative ring has an inner perimeter that is adjacent to the housing. An electrical box having walls with an upper portion is securely received and retained within the opening. The electrical box is interposed between the exterior surface and the top portion. The electrical box may be constructed of a different material than the mount and decorative ring.

Claims

1. A multi-piece electrical block device for attaching to a surface of a structure comprising:

a mount having a base adapted to abut the surface and a housing extending from said base, said housing having an opening; and

an electrical box having walls with an upper portion, said opening sized to receive and adapted to securely retain said upper portion.

2. The device as set forth in

claim 1

wherein said base has a flange extending therefrom, said flange having a plurality of holes adapted to accommodate fasteners to attach said mount to the surface.

3. The device as set forth in

claim 1

further comprising, a decorative ring having an inner perimeter sized to receive said housing.

4. The device as set forth in

claim 3

wherein said housing has an exterior surface with opposing portions, one of said opposing portions and said inner perimeter of said ring having opposing grooves and the other of said opposing portions and said inner perimeter having opposing protrusions that are aligned with said opposing grooves wherein said protrusions are adapted to interlock with said grooves when said decorative ring receives said housing.

5. The device as set forth in

claim 4

wherein said opposing portions have said opposing grooves and said inner perimeter has said opposing protrusions.

6. The device as set forth in

claim 1

wherein said inner perimeter has a rectangular shape and said housing has a complementary rectangular shape adapted to be received by said inner perimeter.

7. The device as set forth in

claim 1

wherein said mount has a first interlocking member and said electrical box has a second interlocking member adapted to coact with said first interlocking member and secure said electrical box to said mount when said mount receives said electrical box.

8. The device as set forth in

claim 7

wherein said housing has a top portion with said opening in said top portion, said top portion having a ledge about said opening, and said upper portion has a lip adapted to abut said ledge when said opening receives said electrical box.

9. The device as set forth in

claim 8

wherein said upper portion has at least one tab proximate to said lip, said ledge forming said first interlocking member and said lip and said at least one tab forming said second interlocking member, said at least one tab being adapted to secure said electrical box to said mount by receiving said ledge between said lip and said at least one tab.

10. The device as set forth in

claim 1

wherein said mount is constructed from a first plastic material and said electrical box is constructed from a second plastic material that is different from said first plastic material.

11. An electrical block trim assembly for use on an exterior surface of a structure comprising:

a mount having a base adapted to be secured to the exterior surface and a housing extending from said base, said housing having top portion with an opening;

exterior covering surrounding a portion of said mount;

a decorative ring secured to said mount over said siding, said decorative ring having an inner perimeter adjacent to said housing; and

an electrical box having walls with an upper portion that is securely received and retained within said opening, said electrical box interposed between the exterior surface and said top portion.

12. The assembly as set forth in

claim 11

wherein said base has a flange extending therefrom, said flange having a plurality of holes adapted to accommodate fasteners to attach said mount to the exterior surface.

13. The assembly as set forth in

claim 11

wherein said housing has an outer surface with opposing portions, one of said opposing portions and said inner perimeter of said ring having grooves and the other of said opposing portions and said inner perimeter of said ring having opposing protrusions that are aligned with said grooves wherein said protrusions interlocks with said grooves.

14. The assembly as set forth in

claim 13

wherein said opposing portions have said opposing groove and said inner perimeter has said opposing protrusions.

15. The assembly as set forth in

claim 11

wherein sad inner perimeter has a rectangular shape and said housing has a complementary rectangular shape.

16. The assembly as set forth in

claim 11

wherein said mount has a first interlocking member and said electrical box has a second interlocking member that coacts with said first interlocking member and secures said electrical box to said mount.

17. The assembly as set forth in

claim 16

wherein said top portion of the mount has a ledge about said opening, and said upper portion of said electrical box has a lip that abuts said ledge.

18. The assembly as set forth in

claim 17

wherein said upper portion has at least one tab proximate to said lip, said ledge forming said first interlocking member and said lip and said at least one tab forming said second interlocking member, said at least one tab secures said electrical box to said mount by receiving said ledge between said lip and said at least one tab.

19. The assembly as set forth in

claim 11

wherein said mount is constructed from a first plastic material and said electrical box is constructed from a second plastic material that is different from said first plastic material.

20. The assembly as set forth in

claim 11

wherein said exterior covering is siding.