ELECTRICAL BOX MOUNTING BRACKET WITH RAILS

• US 20140103180A1
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ERICO International Corporation (nVent Electric Plc)
• Original Assignee: ERICO International Corporation (nVent Electric Plc)
• Inventors: Laughlin, Raymond Scott, Olle, Raymond Michael, Birli, Mary Ellen, Jones, Ronald Adam
• Granted Patent: US 9,397,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/274.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/10 protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/12 for flush mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/183 support rails therefor

Abstract

An electrical installation bracket includes a body that may telescope to allow the length of the bracket to be changed to accommodate installation in different configurations, for example to accommodate different spacing between mounting studs. The bracket has rails on a face that allow an electrical box to be positioned, by sliding, at any of a variety of locations along the length of the body. The body has holes in it for securing the box to the bracket at a desired location along the body, with a front of the box for example protruding through an opening in the body. The body includes ears on opposite sides of the opening, with mounting holes for mounting the bracket to studs or other structure (or other hardware or devices). The electrical installation bracket advantageously provides more flexibility in placement of electrical boxes, with pre-prepared holes available for securing boxes.

Claims

17. An electrical installation bracket comprising:

a body having a front face and a back face on opposite sides; and

rails on one of the faces;

wherein the rails extend on opposite sides of an opening in the bracket;

wherein the rails are folded-over parts of the body;

wherein the bracket secures an electrical box in at least one location along the bracket;

wherein the bracket includes a pair of bracket parts that together make up the body;

wherein the bracket parts are in a telescoping relationship that allows the bracket to be selectively changed in length;

wherein the body has legs on opposite sides of the opening;

wherein the legs have with respective rows of the holes for securing the electrical box to the legs; and

wherein the body is made of metal or plastic.

1. An electrical installation bracket comprising:

a body having a front face and a back face on opposite sides; and

rails on one of the faces;

wherein the rails extend on opposite sides of an opening in the bracket; and

wherein the rails are able to receive an electrical box that may be secured to the bracket in at least one location along the bracket, when the electrical box is engaged with the rails.

2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket has holes therein for securing the electrical box to the bracket in the at least one location along the bracket, when the electrical box is engaged with the rails.

3. The bracket of claim 1,

wherein the bracket includes a pair of bracket parts that together make up the body;

and

wherein the bracket parts are in a telescoping relationship that allows the bracket to be selectively changed in length.

4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the bracket parts are made of metal or plastic.

5. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the bracket parts are each single monolithic pieces of material.

6. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the bracket parts are each multiple pieces of material.

7. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket is a single-piece bracket made of a unitary, continuous single piece of material.

8. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the opening is a substantially rectangular opening.

9. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the body has legs on opposite sides of the opening.

10. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the legs have respective rows of holes therein, for securing the electrical box to the legs.

11. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the legs have tabs in them that facilitate positioning the electrical box within the opening.

12. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the legs have markings on them that facilitate positioning the electrical box within the opening.

13. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the rails are folded-over parts of the body.

14. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the body has ears with mounting holes, for mounting the bracket to a stud or other structure.

15. The bracket of claim 14, wherein at least one of the ears includes fold-down tabs that are usable to aid in positioning the body relative to the stud or other structure.

16. The bracket of claim 1, in combination with the electrical box.

19. The bracket of claim 17, wherein the body has ears with mounting holes, for mounting the bracket to a stud or other structure;

and

wherein at least one of the ears includes fold-down tabs that are usable to aid in positioning the body relative to the stud or other structure.

19-1. The bracket of claim 17, in combination with the electrical box.

20. An electrical installation bracket comprising:

a body having a front face and a back face on opposite sides; and

rails on one of the faces;

wherein the rails extend on opposite sides of an opening in the bracket;

wherein the bracket secures an electrical box in at least one location along the bracket;

wherein the body has legs on opposite sides of the opening;

wherein the holes are in the legs;

wherein the legs have tabs in them that facilitate positioning the electrical box within the opening; and

wherein the bracket is a single-piece bracket made of a unitary, continuous single piece of metal or plastic.

21. The bracket of claim 20, in combination with the electrical box.