Electrical wiring box with attached mounting elements

• US 4,019,647 A
• Filed: 10/14/1975
• Issued: 04/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Challenger Electrical Marterials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Union Insulating Company
• Inventors: Arnold, William O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US05/621,772
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3.2, 220/3.94, 174/54, 174/58, 248/27 R, 248/27 A, 248/DIG. 6, 24/73 B, 151/41.75
• US Class Current: 220/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/97 Resilient retainer

Abstract

An electrical wiring box having a pair of mounting elements attached thereto for use in mounting the wiring box within an opening in a supporting structure such as wallboard or panelling. The wiring box includes first and second mounting portions each having a pair of spaced slots therein. Each of the mounting elements includes a pair of locking tabs and a flat portion having openings therein connected with the locking tabs. The locking tabs are adapted to be inserted into the pair of slots in the corresponding one of the mounting portions for attaching the mounting element to the wiring box. The flat portion is adapted to receive fasteners in the openings therein for mounting the wiring box to a supporting structure.

Claims

1. A box assembly adapted to be mounted to a supporting structure, comprising:

A box including a plurality of walls arranged to define a space for receiving a device in said space, said box further including a mounting portion extending generally transversely from one of the walls and having a first surface and a second surface, said mounting portion having an opening extending therethrough from the first surface to the second surface, said opening having a predetermined height in the direction of the mounting portion and being surrounded by the material of the mounting portion; and

a mounting member comprising;

a unitary bowed locking element having a maximum height essentially equal to the height of the opening in the mounting portion, said locking element being disposed within the opening in the mounting portion with a point along its bowed surface abutting against an inner surface of the opening thereby to retain the locking element within the opening;

a projection extending outwardly from the bowed surface of the locking element at an acute angle and having a free end, said projection being outside of the opening in the mounting portion with the free end thereof abutting angularly against the second surface of the mounting portion along a line generally transverse to the aforesaid one of the walls of the box following the insertion of the locking element into the opening, said free end of the projection facing in a direction toward the first and second surfaces of the mounting portion; and

a portion connected with the locking element for use in mounting the box to a supporting structure.

2. A box assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the opening in the mounting portion of the box is generally rectangular in configuration

3. A box assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the portion connected with the locking element is generally normal to the locking element and includes an opening for receiving a fastener for use in mounting the box to a supporting structure.

4. A box assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the box is of a plastic composition.

5. A box assembly adapted to be mounted to a supporting structure, comprising:

a box including a plurality of walls arranged to define a space for receiving a device in said space, said box further including first and second mounting portions extending generally transversely from predetermined walls of the box and each mounting portion having a front surface and a rear surface, each mounting portion having an opening extending therethrough from the front surface to the rear surface, said openings having a predetermined height in the direction of the mounting portions and being surrounded by the material of the mounting portions;

a first mounting member including;

a unitary bowed locking element having a maximum height essentially equal to the height of the opening in the first mounting portion, said locking element being disposed within the opening in the first mounting portion with a point along its bowed surface abutting against an inner surface of the opening thereby to retain the locking element within the opening; and

a projection extending outwardly from the bowed surface of the locking element at an acute angle and having a free end, said projection being outside of the opening in the first mounting portion with the free end thereof abutting angularly against the rear surface of the first mounting portion along a line generally transverse to the wall of the box from which the first mounting portion extends following the insertion of the locking element into the opening, said free end of the projection facing in a direction toward the front and rear surfaces of the first mounting portion; and

a second mounting member including;

a unitary bowed locking element having a maximum height essentially equal to the height of the opening in the second mounting portion, said locking element being disposed within the opening in the second mounting portion with a point along its bowed surface abutting against an inner surface of the opening thereby to retain the locking element within the opening; and

a projection extending outwardly from the bowed surface of the locking element at an acute angle and having a free end, said projection being outside of the opening in the second mounting portion with the free end thereof abutting angularly against the rear surface of the second mounting portion along a line generally transverse to the wall of the box from which the second mounting portion extends following the insertion of the locking element into the opening, said free end of the projection facing in a direction toward the front and rear surface of the second mounting portion;

said first and second mounting members further including first and second portions connected with the locking elements of the first and second mounting members, respectively, for use in mounting the box to a supporting structure.

6. A box assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

the openings in the first and second mounting portions of the box are generally rectangular in configuration.

7. A box assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein:

the portions connected with the locking elements are generally normal to the locking elements and include openings for receiving fasteners for use in mounting the box to a supporting structure.

8. A box assembly adapted to be mounted to a supporting structure, comprising:

a box including a plurality of walls arranged to define a space for receiving a device in said space, said box further including first and second mounting portions extending generally transversely from predetermined walls of the box and each mounting portion having a front surface and a rear surface, each mounting portion having first and second spaced openings extending therethrough from the front surface to the rear surface, said openings having a predetermined height in the direction of the mounting portions and being surrounded by the material of the mounting portions;

a first mounting member including;

first and second unitary bowed locking elements having maximum heights essentially equal to the heights of the openings in the first mounting portion, said first and second locking elements being disposed, respectively, within the first and second openings in the first mounting portion with points along the bowed surfaces of the locking elements abutting against inner surfaces of the first and second openings thereby to retain the locking elements within the first and second openings; and

projections extending outwardly from the bowed surfaces of the first and second locking elements at acute angles and having free ends, said projections being outside of the first and second openings in the first mounting portion with the free ends thereof abutting angularly against the rear surface of the first mounting portion along lines generally transverse to the wall of the box from which the first mounting portion extends following the insertion of the locking elements into the first and second openings of the first mounting portion, said free ends of the projections facing in a direction toward the front and rear surfaces of the first mounting portion; and

a second mounting member including;

first and second unitary bowed locking elements having maximum heights essentially equal to the heights of the openings in the second mounting portion, said first and second locking elements being disposed, respectively, within the first and second openings in the second mounting portion with points along the bowed surfaces of the locking elements abutting against inner surfaces of the first and second openings thereby to retain the locking elements within the first and second openings; and

projections extending outwardly from the bowed surfaces of the first and second locking elements at acute angles and having free ends, said projections being outside of the first and second openings in the second mounting portion with the free ends thereof abutting angularly against the rear surface of the second mounting portion along lines generally transverse to the wall of the box from which the second mounting portion extends following the insertion of the locking elements into the first and second openings of the second mounting portion, said free ends of the projections facing in a direction toward the front and rear surfaces of the second mounting portion;

said first and second mounting members further including portions connected with the locking elements thereof for use in mounting the box to a supporting structure.

9. A box assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein:

the first and second openings in the first and second mounting portions of the box are generally rectangular in configuration.

10. A box assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein:

the portions connected with the locking elements of the first and second mounting members are generally normal to the locking elements and include openings for receiving fasteners for use in mounting the box to a supporting structure.