INSERTION-TYPE MOUNTING FOR AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET

• US 3,803,341 A
• Filed: 02/20/1973
• Issued: 04/09/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Klinkman, Robert E. Lee
• Inventors: Klinkman, Richard A., Lee, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilheany, Bernard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tone, David A.
• Application Number:
  US05/333,864
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48,49,98 52/220,221
• US Class Current: 174/483
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/185 Floor outlets and access cups

Abstract

An insertion-type mounting, for an electrical outlet, can be inserted within an aperture that has been formed in a portion of a building; and that mounting includes a closure which is insertable within that aperture to effectively close that aperture. An abutment extends laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of the aperture to engage the surface of the portion of the building adjacent one end of that aperture, and that abutment will fix the extent to which that closure can be moved inwardly and away from that one end of that aperture. Securing means are provided to fix the extent to which the closure can be moved toward that one end of the aperture; and that securing means coacts with the abutment to hold the closure at a fixed distance from that one end of that aperture. An opening in the closure and a short length of electrical conduit, which communicates with that opening, coact to provie a passage, for an electrical conductor, which extends from one face of the closure to and through that closure to the opposite face of that closure. Once the insertion-type mounting has been installed within the aperture, a suitable electrical outlet can be secured to it.

Claims

1. An insertion-type mounting, for an electrical outlet, which is insertable within an aperture that has been formed through a portion of a building and which comprises a closure that has at least a portion thereof disposable within said aperture, said portion of said closure being spaced inwardly of and away from one end of said aperture, said closure being transverse of the axis of said aperture and substantially closing said aperture, an opening in said closure, a short section of electrical conduit that is secured to said closure so it is in communication with said opening in said closure, said short section of electrical conduit coacting with said opening in said closure to provide a passage, for an electrical conductor, which extends from one face of said closure through said closure to the opposite face of said closure, an abutment that is disposable adjacent said one end of said aperture and that is dimensioned to extend laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said aperture to engage one surface of said portion of said building, spacing means interconnecting said closure and said abutment but holding said abutment spaced away from said closure, said abutment coacting with said one surface of said portion of said building to limit movement of said closure through said aperture away from said one end of said aperture, and further means coacting with said portion of said building to limit movement of said closure through said aperture toward said one end of said aperture, whereby said abutment and said further means coact to hold said portion of said closure within said aperture at a predetermined, fixed distance from said one end of said aperture, said further means being spaced from said abutment and also being spaced from said one end of said aperture.

2. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said short length of electrical conduit has one end thereof passing through said opening in said closure, and wherein said short length of electrical conduit has the opposite end thereof extendable outwardly and beyond said opposite end of said aperture.

3. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure has a planar portion and fingers that are displaced angularly from said planar portion, wherein said fingers coact to effectively define an annulus, and wherein said fingers directly engage those parts of said portion of said building which define said aperture.

4. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure has a planar portion and annulus-defining means angularly displaced from said planar portion, and wherein said annulus-defining means directly engages those parts of said portion of said building which define said aperture.

5. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure engages those parts of said portion of said building which define said aperture at a number of circumferentially-spaced points, and wherein said further means includes surfaces on said closure at said circumferentially-spaced points.

6. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further means include circumferentially-spaced surfaces on said closure that directly engage those parts of said portion of said building which define said aperture.

7. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further means include an elongated stop that spans said aperture and that projects laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said aperture to engage the opposite surface of said portion of said building.

8. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further means include an elongated stop that spans said aperture and that projects laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said aperture to engage the opposite surface of said portion of said building, and also includes adjustable fasteners that extend between said closure and said elongated stop and that can be tightened to urge said elongated stop into intimate engagement with said opposite surface of said portion of said building.

9. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein fire-resistant material is disposed within that portion of said aperture which is between said closure and said one end of said aperture.

10. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein fire-resistant material is disposed within that portion of said aperture which is between said closure and said one end of said aperture, and wherein said fire-resistant material is a ceramic fiber product.

11. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insertion-type mounting includes dividing means that subdivides said aperture into separate areas, wherein said short section of electrical conduit communicates with one of said separate areas, wherein said closure has a second opening therein, wherein a second short section of electrical conduit is secured to said closure so it is in communication with said second opening in said closure, wherein said second short section of electrical conduit coacts with said second opening in said closure to provide a second passage, for a second electrical conductor, which extends from said one face of said closure through said closure to said opposite face of said closure, and wherein said second short section of electrical conduit communicates with the other of said separate areas.

12. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insertion-type mounting includes dividing means that subdivides said aperture into separate areas, wherein said short section of electrical conduit communicates with one of said separate areas, wherein said closure has a second opening therein, wherein a second short section of electrical conduit is secured to said closure so it is in communication with said second opening in saiD closure, wherein said second short section of electrical conduit coacts with said second opening in said closure to provide a second passage, for a second electrical conductor which extends from said one face of said closure through said closure to said opposite face of said closure, and wherein said dividing means and said spacing means are a plate-like bracket which is angularly-displaced from said closure.

13. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure has a second opening therein, wherein a second short section of electrical conduit is secured to said closure so it is in communication with said second opening in said closure, wherein said second short section of electrical conduit coacts with said second opening in said closure to provide a second passage, for a second electrical conductor, which extends from said one face of said closure through said closure to said opposite face of said closure, and wherein said spacing means includes a plate-like bracket which is angularly-displaced from said closure and which is interposed between said openings in said closure.

14. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein points on said closure constitute said further means, and wherein said points directly engage those parts of said portion of said building which define said aperture.

15. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure is made of springy material, and wherein said closure has portions thereof which directly engage those parts of said portion of said building which define said aperture.

16. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further means bite into those parts of said portion of said building which define said aperture.

17. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spacing means receives and holds adjustable fasteners which secure a support, for an electrical outlet, to said mounting.

18. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further means include an elongated stop that spans said aperture and that projects laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said aperture to engage the opposite surface of said portion of said building, and wherein said elongated stop is releasably securable to said closure with its axis generally parallel to the axis of said short section of electrical conduit, whereby said elongated stop can be telescoped through said aperture as one end of said short section of electrical conduit is telescoped through said aperture.

19. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spacing means has a large surface-to-volume ratio to enable it to radiate appreciable amounts of heat that reach it.

20. An insertion-type mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure has a second opening therein, wherein a second short section of electrical conduit is secured to said closure so it is in communication with said second opening in said closure, wherein said second short section of electrical conduit coacts with said second opening in said closure to provide a second passage, for a second electrical conductor, which extends from said one face of said closure through said closure to said opposite face of sald closure, and wherein said second short section of electrical conduit has one end thereof displaced a substantially greater distance from said closure than the corresponding end of the first said short section of electrical conduit is displaced from said closure.

21. A method of safely passing an electrical conductor through a floor, wall or ceiling of a building that comprises forming an aperture through said wall, floor or ceiling, solidly locking a short section of electrical conduit adjacent said aperture with one end of said short section of electrical conduit projecting outwardly beyond one end of said aperture, and effectively filling the opposite end and a substantial portion of the axial area of said aperture with fire-resistant material.

22. A method of safely passing an Electrical conductor through a floor, wall or ceiling of a building that comprises forming an aperture through said wall, floor or ceiling, solidly locking a closure adjacent one end of said aperture, passing an electrical conductor through a short section of electrical conduit which is supported by said closure and which has one end thereof projecting outwardly beyond said one end of said aperture, and effectively filling the opposite end and a substantial portion of the axial area of said aperture with fire-resistant material.

23. A mounting, for an electrical outlet, which is disposable adjacent an aperture that has been formed through a portion of a building and which comprises a closure that is disposable adjacent said aperture, said closure being transverse of the axis of said aperture and substantially closing said aperture, an opening in said closure, a short section of electrical conduit that is secured to said closure so it is in communication with said opening in said closure, said short section of electrical conduit coacting with said opening in said closure to provide a passage, or an electrical conductor, which extends from one face of said closure through said closure to the opposite face of said closure, an abutment that is disposable adjacent one of said ends of said aperture and that is dimensioned to extend laterally outwardly beyond the periphery of said aperture to engage one surface of said portion of said building, spacing means interconnecting said closure and said abutment but holding said abutment spaced away from said closure, said abutment coacting with said one surface of said portion of said building to limit movement of said closure away from said one end of said aperture, and further means coacting with said portion of said building to limit movement of said closure toward said one end of said aperture, whereby said abutment and said further means coact to hold said closure at a fixed distance from said one end of said aperture.

24. A mounting as claimed in claim 23 wherein said closure is cup-like in configuration and wherein said closure has at least a part of the annular portion thereof disposed within said aperture.