ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOX

• US 3,690,501 A
• Filed: 12/29/1969
• Issued: 09/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gordon K. Ware
• Original Assignee: Gordon K. Ware
• Inventors: Ware, Gordon K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowrance, George E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garrett, James R.
• Application Number:
  US04/888,258
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3,6,3.7,3.92,3.94,4A,8 174/57
• US Class Current: 220/3.94
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Abstract

A box including a first portion for receiving electrical outlets, switches, cover plates and the like of standard size and a second portion connectable with the first portion for increasing the interior volume of the box for accommodating electrical wires.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet box structure comprising a first box member including a first wall, side walls extending from and at an angle to said first wall in one direction from said first wall, margins of said side walls oppositely from said first wall terminating substantially in a predetermined plane and defining an open side of said box member opposite from said first wall, said box member also having an open side oppositely from one of said side walls, and a separate second box member assembled with said first box member and disposed in a position extending through said second mentioned open side and laterally outwardly from said first box member, said second box member being in open communication with said first box member, said second box member having a substantially closed wall in a position corresponding to the position of the first mentioned open side of the first box member, said first box member including marginal side wall portions substantially completely defining said first mentioned open side of said first box member, opening means in said first box member communicating with said second mentioned open side and retaining elements on said second box member insertable through said opening means in said first box member and interengageable with elements of said first box member for retaining the second box member in said position.

2. An electrical outlet box structure, as defined in claim 1, which includes oppositely extending flanges projecting from a pair of oppositely disposed side walls and defining opposite margins of said second mentioned open side of the first box member, said flanges providing said elements on said first box member in interengagement with the retaining elements on said second box member.

3. An electrical outlet box structure, as defined in claim 2, wherein said elements on said second box member comprise oppositely projecting flanges located within said first box member and in engagement with said first mentioned flanges when the box members are in assembled relationship.

4. An electrical outlet box structure, as defined in claim 3, wherein said first wall comprises a free edge in a plane offset inwardly from inner surfaces of said first mentioned flanges and partially defining said opening means through which said flanges on said second box member may be inserted during assembly of the second box member with the first box member.

5. The box structure, as defined in claim 4, wherein said first mentioned flanges include notch means adjacent said edge and defining therewith a relatively wide opening for facilitating initial entry of said second box member flanges during assembly of the second box member with the first box member.

6. A box structure, as defined in claim 4, wherein said first box member includes a side wall element extending between and joining ends of said first flanges adjacent said plane, said second box member including flange means engageable behind said side wall element when the second box member is fully assembled with the first box member.

7. A box structure, as defined in claim 4, wherein one of said box members includes protuberance means engageable with the other of said box members for resisting removal of the second box member from the first box member.

8. A box structure, as defined in claim 7, wherein said protuberance means comprises ratchet tooth elements on and projecting from said second box member for engaging said first wall of the first box member.