QUICK CONNECT MOUNT FOR ELECTRICAL FIXTURE AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING A CEILING MOUNTED FIXTURE TO AN ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX

• US 20200136361A1
• Filed: 10/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Norris
• Original Assignee: Scott Norris
• Inventors: NORRIS, SCOTT
• Granted Patent: US 11,404,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/03 Ceiling bases, e.g. ceiling roses F21V21/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/002 Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/7664 having additional guiding, adapting, shielding, anti-vibration or mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/20 Ceiling roses or other lighting sets

Abstract

A quick-connect mounting device for mounting an electrical fixture to a junction box is provided. A first junction box mounting plate includes junction box mounting means for removably affixing the first junction box mounting plate to the junction box, and a first electrical connector positioned in a channel in a front face of the first junction box mounting plate. The second fixture mounting plate includes electrical fixture mounting means for removably affixing the second electrical fixture mounting plate to the electrical fixture, and a second electrical connector positioned in a slot in a projection extending upwardly from a front face of the second fixture mounting plate. The channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate is sized to slidably receive the projection extending from the front face of the second electrical fixture mounting plate, and the first electrical connector is configured to mate with the second electrical connector. A method for providing a removable quick-connect between a junction box and an electrical device is also provided.

Claims

1. A quick-connect mounting device for an mounting an electrical fixture to a junction box comprising:

a first junction box mounting plate having junction box mounting means for removably affixing said first junction box mounting plate to said junction box, and a first electrical connector positioned in a channel in a front face of said first junction box mounting plate; and

a second fixture mounting plate having electrical fixture mounting means for removably affixing said second electrical fixture mounting plate to said electrical fixture, and a second electrical connector positioned in a slot in a projection extending upwardly from a front face of the second fixture mounting plate;

said channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate being sized to slidable receive the projection extending from the front face of the second electrical fixture mounting plate, and said first electrical connector being configured to mate with said second electrical connector.

2. The quick-connect mounting device according to claim 1 wherein said means for removably affixing said first junction box mounting plate to said junction box comprises a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the junction box mounting plate and a plurality of bolts inserted through said bore holes and threadabtly engaging threaded bore holes in the junction box.

3. The quick connect mounting device according to claim 2 where said means for removably affixing said second electrical fixture mounting plate to said electrical fixture comprises a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the electrical fixture mounting plate and a plurality of bolts inserted through said bore holes and threadabtly engaging threaded bore holes in the electrical fixture.

4. The quick-connect mounting device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical wires passing through an opening in the first junction box mounting plate and having first ends connected to said first electrical connector and second ends coupled to power supply wires within the junction box.

5. The quick-connect mounting device according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of electrical wires passing through an opening in the second electrical device mounting plate and having first ends connected to said second electrical connector and second ends coupled to electrical terminals of the electrical fixture.

6. The quick-connect mounting device according to claim 1, wherein side walls of the channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate are angled inwardly to receive outwardly sloping walls of the mating projection on the second electrical fixture mounting plate.

7. The quick-connect mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector is a female connector and the second electrical connector is a male connector with male contacts configured to engage the female contacts of the first electrical connector when the first junction box mounting plate and second electrical device mounting plate are fully engaged.

8. The quick-connect mounting device according to claim 1 wherein the junction box is mounted in a ceiling of a structure.

9. A method for providing a removable quick-connect between a junction box and an electrical device comprising the steps of:

removably affixing a first junction box mounting plate to said junction box;

removably affixing a second electrical fixture mounting plate to an electrical fixture;

aligning a channel in a front face of said first junction box mounting plate with a projection extending upwardly from a front face of the second electrical fixture mounting plate;

said channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate being sized to slidable receive the projection extending from the front face of the second electrical fixture mounting plate;

sliding said projection extending from the front face of the second electrical fixture mounting plate into the channel of the first junction box mounting plate until a first electrical connector positioned in the channel in the front face of said first junction box mounting plate engages a second electrical connector positioned in a slot in the projection extending upwardly from the front face of said second fixture mounting plate.

10. The method for providing a removable quick-connect according to claim 9, wherein the step of removably affixing said first junction box mounting plate to said junction box comprises the steps of:

aligning a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the junction box mounting plate with threaded bore holes in the junction box;

inserting a plurality of bolts through said corresponding plurality of bore holes and threadabtly engaging said corresponding plurality of threaded bore holes in the junction box.

11. The method for providing a removable quick-connect according to claim 10, wherein the step of removably affixing said second electrical fixture mounting plate to said electrical fixture comprises the steps of:

aligning a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the electrical device mounting plate with threaded bore holes in the electrical device;

inserting a plurality of bolts through said corresponding plurality of bore holes and threadabtly engaging said corresponding plurality of threaded bore holes in the electrical device.

12. The method for providing a removable quick-connect according to claim 9, further comprising the step of connecting second ends of a plurality of wires passing through an opening in the first junction box mounting plate and having first ends connected to said first electrical connector to power supply wires within the junction box.

13. The method for providing a removable quick-connect according to claim 12, further comprising the step of connecting second ends of a plurality of wires passing through an opening in the second electrical device mounting plate and having first ends connected to said second electrical connector to electrical terminals of the electrical fixture.