Lancing as a position locator in an electrical outlet box

• US 20030024927A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: MacDonald, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 6,715,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame

Abstract

An electrical receptacle has at least one side wall defining a receptacle interior, wherein the side wall includes an edge defining a receptacle opening and further includes at least one raised protrusion formed thereon and an aperture formed therein as a result of forming the protrusion. The protrusion has a banking surface substantially parallel with the opening edge for positioning the receptacle and the protrusion substantially occludes access to the receptacle interior through the aperture of the side wall.

Claims

1. An electrical receptacle comprising at least one side wall defining a receptacle interior, said side wall including an edge defining a receptacle opening and said side wall further including at least one raised protrusion formed thereon and an aperture formed therein as a result of forming said protrusion, said protrusion having a banking surface substantially parallel with said opening edge, and wherein said protrusion substantially occludes access to said receptacle interior through said aperture of said side wall.

2. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall and two side walls forming an open rectangular box.

3. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said banking surface of said protrusion is substantially perpendicular to said at least one side wall.

4. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said banking surface of said protrusion is spaced a predetermined distance from said opening edge.

5. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said protrusion is a substantially integral outwardly bent portion of said side wall.

6. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said protrusion substantially occludes said aperture whereby a 0.118 inch diameter rod can not be inserted through said aperture.

7. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said side wall includes two raised protrusions, each protrusion having a banking surface substantially parallel with said opening edge.

8. A receptacle as defined in claim 7, wherein the banking surfaces of the two raised protrusions are coplanar.

9. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, comprising first and second opposite side walls defining a receptacle interior, each of said side walls including an edge defining a receptacle opening and said first side wall further including a first raised protrusion formed thereon and said second side wall further including a second raised protrusion formed thereon, each of said first and second protrusions having a banking surface substantially parallel with said opening edge, and wherein said first and second protrusions substantially occlude access to said receptacle interior through said first and second side walls.

10. A receptacle as defined in claim 9, wherein said first side wall further includes a first aperture formed as a result of forming said first protrusion and said second side wall further includes a second aperture formed as a result of forming said second protrusion, wherein said first and second protrusions respectively substantially occlude access to said receptacle interior through said first and second apertures of said first and second side walls.

11. A receptacle as defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second protrusions respectively substantially occlude said first and second apertures whereby a 0.118 inch diameter rod can not be inserted through both said first and second side walls through said first and second apertures.

12. A receptacle as defined in claim 9, wherein said banking surface of said first protrusion is spaced a first predetermined distance from said opening edge and said banking surface of said second protrusion is spaced a second predetermined distance from said opening edge.

13. A receptacle as defined in claim 9, wherein said banking surface of said first protrusion is substantially perpendicular to said first side wall and said banking surface of said second protrusion is substantially perpendicular to said second side wall.

14. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said side wall further includes at least one convex boss formed thereon, said boss having a predetermined height for spacing said side wall a predetermined distance away from a structural mounting element.

15. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said protrusion is arcuate shaped.

16. , A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said protrusion is peak shaped.

17. A receptacle as defined in claim 1, wherein said protrusion is partially integral with said side wall.

18. An electrical receptacle comprising at least one side wall defining a receptacle interior, said side wall including an edge defining a receptacle opening and said side wall further including at least one aperture formed therein and a banking surface disposed over said aperture, said banking surface being substantially parallel with said opening edge, wherein said banking surface substantially occludes access to said receptacle interior through said aperture of said side wall.

19. An electrical receptacle as defined in claim 18, wherein said banking surface is formed from a portion of said side wall.

20. A method for forming a positioning protrusion for an electrical receptacle comprising the steps of:

cutting two substantially parallel slits in a side wall of said electrical receptacle, said slits being substantially parallel with an opening edge of said receptacle; and

bending a portion of said side wall between said slits outwardly to form said positioning protrusion, whereby said positioning protrusion has a banking surface substantially parallel with said opening edge, and wherein said positioning protrusion substantially occludes access to an interior of said receptacle through said side wall.