ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT BRACKET FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES

• US 20170256928A1
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Korcz, Krzysztof, Johnson, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,958,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/06 Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing or channels, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame

Abstract

A bracket for supporting at least one electrical device includes a pair of legs engaging one another in an interlocking manner. Each of the legs includes an end portion and a pair of rails connected to the associated end portion, and each end portion is configured to be secured to a support member. Each pair of rails extends from the associated end portion in a parallel orientation, and the rails are laterally spaced apart from one another. The pair of rails of one leg is coupled to the pair of rails of the other leg and the pair of rails of the one leg is slidable relative to the pair of rails of the other leg to change the distance between the end portions.

Claims

1. A bracket for supporting at least one electrical device, the bracket comprising:

a first portion including a first flange and a pair of first rails, the first flange configured to be secured to a support member, the first rails extending from the first flange and spaced apart from one another, the first rails oriented parallel to one another; and

a second portion including a second flange and a pair of second rails, the second flange configured to be secured to another support member, the second rails extending from the second flange and spaced apart from one another, the second rails oriented parallel to one another, the second rails engaging and coupled to the first rails such that the second rails are slidable relative to the first rails.

2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein sliding movement of the second rails relative to the first rails changes a distance between the first flange and second flange.

3. The bracket of claim 1, wherein each of the first rails includes an end and at least one tab extending from the end, wherein the at least one tab extends around a portion of an associated one of the second rails to retain the first rail in contact with the associated second rail.

4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein each of the first rails includes an elongated protrusion protruding from a surface of the associated first rail in a direction opposite the at least one tab, each protrusion extending substantially between the first flange and an end of the rail.

5. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the at least one tab includes a pair of tabs, the associated second rail positioned between the pair of tabs.

6. The bracket of claim 5, wherein each second rail includes an elongated protrusion positioned between the pair of tabs, wherein the tabs of the first rail engage side portions of the associated second rail as the associated second rail slides relative to the first rail.

7. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the at least one tab of each first rail extends in the same direction relative to the first rails.

8. The bracket of claim 3, wherein each end is a first end and each tab is a first tab, wherein each of the second rails includes a second end and at least one second tab extending from the second end, wherein the at least one second tab extends around a portion of an associated one of the first rails to retain the second rail in contact with the associated first rail, thereby interlocking the each second rail with one of the first rails.

9. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the first rails and the second rails are configured to support at least one electrical device between the first flange and the second flange.

10. A bracket for supporting at least one electrical device, the bracket comprising:

a pair of legs engaging one another in an interlocking manner, each of the legs including an end portion and a pair of rails connected to an associated end portion, each end portion configured to be secured to a support member, each pair of rails extending from the associated end portion in a parallel orientation, the rails laterally spaced apart from one another,

wherein the pair of rails of one leg are coupled to the pair of rails of the other leg and the pair of rails of the one leg are slidable relative to the pair of rails of the other leg to change the distance between the end portion.

11. The bracket of claim 10, wherein each of the rails of the one leg includes an end and at least one tab extending from the end, wherein the at least one tab extends around a portion of an associated one of the rails of the other leg to retain the rail of the one leg in contact with the associated one rail of the other leg.

12. The bracket of claim 11, wherein each of the rails of the one leg includes an elongated protrusion protruding from a surface of the rail in a direction opposite the at least one tab, each protrusion extending substantially between the end portion and an end of the rail.

13. The bracket of claim 11, wherein the at least one tab includes a pair of tabs, the associated one rail of the other leg positioned between the pair of tabs.

14. The bracket of claim 13, wherein each of the rails of the other leg includes an elongated protrusion positioned between the pair of tabs, wherein the tabs of the one rail engage side portions of the one rail of the other leg as the rails slide relative to each other.

15. The bracket of claim 11, wherein the at least one tab of each rail of the one leg extends in a first direction, wherein each rail of the other leg includes an end and at least one tab extending from the associated end, wherein the at least one tab of the rail of the other leg extends around a portion of an associated rail of the one leg to retain the rails of the other leg in contact with the rails of the one leg, the at least one tab of each rail of the other leg extending in a second direction opposite the first direction.

16. The bracket of claim 11, wherein the rails of each leg are configured to support at least one electrical device between the end portions of each leg.

17. A method of forming a bracket for supporting at least one electrical device, the method comprising:

forming a pair of elongated members, each elongated member including a first portion adjacent a first end, a second portion adjacent a second end opposite the first end, and a connecting portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion;

deflecting the first portion of each elongated member relative to the connecting portion to form a first rail;

deflecting the second portion of each elongated member relative to the connecting portion to form a second rail, each second rail oriented parallel to and spaced apart from the associated first rail; and

interlocking the rails of the elongated members such that the rails are slidable relative to one another to adjust a distance between the connecting portions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein interlocking the rails includes,

interlocking a first rail of one of the elongated members with a second rail of the other of the elongated members, and

interlocking a second rail of the one elongated member with a first rail of the other elongated member.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein interlocking the rails includes

forming a pair of opposing tabs on an end of each rail of the elongated members,

positioning the rails of one of the elongated members between the tabs of the rails of the other of the elongated members, and

positioning the rails of other elongated member between the tabs of the rails of the one elongated member.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the pair of elongated members includes forming a pair of first tabs on the first end and a pair of second tabs on the second end,

the method further comprising deflecting the pair of first tabs of each elongated member relative to the first portion in a first direction and deflecting the pair of second tabs of each elongated member relative to the second portion in a second direction opposite the first direction,

wherein deflecting the first portion and the second portion causes the pair of first tabs and the second tabs of one of the elongated members to be oriented in the same direction.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein interlocking the rails includes positioning the elongated members such that the tabs of the one elongated member extend in one direction and the tabs of the other of the elongated members extend in another direction opposite the one direction.