Electrical outlet box mounting assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical outlet box mounting assembly which includes:
- at least one generally flat sidewall portion on an electrical outlet box having a generally open front face;
a mounting bracket having an essentially flat attaching portion and a mounting portion adapted to be secured to a suitable support structure for mounting the box thereto;
slot means formed on said sidewall portion, said slot means adapted for slidably receiving and retaining said flat attaching portion of said bracket when inserted thereinto;
first stop means formed on said sidewall portion for preventing insertion of said attaching portion beyond a predetermined point;
restraining means formed on said sidewall portion, said restraining means providing a detent surface; and
receiving means formed in said attaching portion, said receiving means proportioned to generally surround said restraining means when said attaching portion is essentially fully seated in said slot means with said detent surface generally abutting an edge of said receiving means, said restraining means and said receiving means being proportioned to permit insertion of said attaching portion into said slot means yet substantially prevent withdrawal of said attaching portion from said slot means once said attaching portion is essentially fully seated in said slot means, such that said mounting bracket is lockably engageable in said slot means without threaded fasteners whereby the electrical outlet box can be mounted to the support structure by securing said mounting portion thereto.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
At least one sidewall of the electrical outlet box is formed with boss members defining slots for receiving and retaining the attaching portion of a generally L-shaped mounting bracket which also includes a mounting portion adapted to be secured to a suitable support structure. As preferably embodied, the outlet box is made of a moldable plastic material and includes wedge-like restraining means on the sidewall for ratcheting into an aperture formed in the attaching portion of the bracket when the bracket is fully seated in the slots in order to prevent removal of the bracket from the outlet box.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An electrical outlet box mounting assembly which includes:
-
at least one generally flat sidewall portion on an electrical outlet box having a generally open front face; a mounting bracket having an essentially flat attaching portion and a mounting portion adapted to be secured to a suitable support structure for mounting the box thereto; slot means formed on said sidewall portion, said slot means adapted for slidably receiving and retaining said flat attaching portion of said bracket when inserted thereinto; first stop means formed on said sidewall portion for preventing insertion of said attaching portion beyond a predetermined point; restraining means formed on said sidewall portion, said restraining means providing a detent surface; and receiving means formed in said attaching portion, said receiving means proportioned to generally surround said restraining means when said attaching portion is essentially fully seated in said slot means with said detent surface generally abutting an edge of said receiving means, said restraining means and said receiving means being proportioned to permit insertion of said attaching portion into said slot means yet substantially prevent withdrawal of said attaching portion from said slot means once said attaching portion is essentially fully seated in said slot means, such that said mounting bracket is lockably engageable in said slot means without threaded fasteners whereby the electrical outlet box can be mounted to the support structure by securing said mounting portion thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An electrical outlet box mounting assembly which includes:
-
at least one generally flat sidewall portion of a molded plastic electrical outlet box; a mounting bracket having an essentially flat attaching portion and a mounting portion adapted to be secured to a suitable support structure for mounting the box thereto, said attaching portion having an aperture formed therein; boss means formed on said sidewall portion, defining a pair of slots with said sidewall portion, said slots adapted to slidably receive said attaching portion, and said boss means providing a stop for restricting slidable insertion of said attaching portion into said slots beyond a predetermined position; detent means formed on said sidewall portion, said detent means comprising a generally wedge-shaped member inclined in the direction of insertion of said attaching portion, a detent surface formed at its rearward edge, generally perpendicular to said sidewall portion, said aperture in said attaching portion being positioned and dimensioned to generally surround said detent means when said attaching leg is fully seated in said slots, such that during insertion of said attaching portion into said slots, said sidewall portion generally resiliently yields inwardly as said attaching portion rides over said wedge-shaped detent means until said detent means snaps into said aperture when said attaching portion is essentially fully seated in said slots, with said detent surface generally abutting on edge of said aperture to substantially prevent removal of said attaching portion from said slots. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification