Electrical outlet box assembly

• US 4,612,412 A
• Filed: 08/02/1984
• Issued: 09/16/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hubbell Premise Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brand-Rex Ltd. (Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnston, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tone, D. A.
• Application Number:
  US06/637,145
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 174/53, 174/58, 174/57, 174/65 R, 220/3.2, 220/3.7, 220/3.9, 220/3.94, 220/3.92, 339/103 R
• US Class Current: 174/661
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

A non-metallic outlet box assembly attached to an associated wall stud includes a pair of substantially identical, generally rectangular outlet boxes and a mounting bracket molded from resilient, high-impact, plastic material. Each outlet box is open at its front end and has top, bottom and side walls, at least portions of which converge toward one end of the box. The boxes are connected to each other and to the mounting member, by substantially parallel coengaging rails and channel members. The two outlet boxes are connected in snap-together assembly with each other and are incrementally adjustable in unison relative to the mounting member and a wall stud to which the mounting member is attached. Clamping members associated with cable receiving openings in each outlet box are adjustable to clamping positions wherein associated cables are clamped to the box to resist separation therefrom and to closed positions wherein each clamping member forms a substantial closure for an associated cable receiving opening.

Claims

1. A non-metallic electrical outlet box assembly comprising at least one outlet box and a mounting member for releasably securing said one outlet box to an associated stud, said one outlet box having a plurality of walls including a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls connected to and extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, and a rear end wall cooperating with said top wall, said bottom wall and said side walls to define a generally rectangular outlet box for receiving an electrical fixture therein and having a frontal opening, a cable receiving opening defined at least in part by one of said walls, and a cable clamping member supported on said outlet box and associated with said cable receiving opening, said clamping member having a body portion and including an air cap attached to said body portion at region of weakening, said cable clamping member being movable relative to said outlet box from a cable receiving position to a clamping position wherein said clamping member clampingly engages a cable extending through said cable receiving opening to resist separation of the cable from said outlet box in response to force applied to the cable in a direction away from said outlet box, said air cap forming a closure for said cable receiving opening when said clamping member is in its cable receiving position, said air cap being adapted to break away from said body portion in response to inwardly directed force applied to said air cap, securing means for retaining said clamping member in said clamping position, fastening means for releasably securing an electrical fixture to said one outlet box, connecting means for attaching said one outlet box to said mounting member for movement to a plurality of positions relative to said mounting member and an associated stud to which said mounting member may be attached, and retaining means for releasably securing said one outlet box to said mounting member in a selected one of said positions.

2. A non-metallic electrical outlet box as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a threaded fastener extending through said clamping member and threadably engaging a wall of said outlet box.

3. An electrical outlet box comprising a plurality of walls including a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls connected to and extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, and a rear end wall cooperating with said top wall, said bottom wall and said side walls to define a generally rectangular box for receiving an electrical fixture therein and having a frontal opening, a cable receiving opening defined at least in part by one of said walls, and a cable clamping member supported on said outlet box and associated with said cable receiving opening, said clamping member having a body portion and including an air cap attached to said body portion at a region of weakening, said cable clamping member being movable relative to said outlet box from a cable receiving position to a clamping position wherein said clamping member clampingly engages a cable extending through said cable receiving opening to resist separation of the cable from said outlet box in response to force applied to the cable in a direction away from said outlet box, said air cap forming a closure for said cable receiving opening when said clamping member is in its cable receiving position, said air cap being adapted to break away from said body portion in response to inwardly directed force applied to said air cap.

4. An electrical outlet box as set forth in claim 3 including securing means for retaining said clamping member in said clamping position.

5. An electrical outlet box as set forth in claim 4 wherein said securing means is further characterized as means for moving said clamping means to said clamping position.

6. An electrical outlet box as set forth in claim 5 wherein said securing means comprising a threaded fastener threadably engaged with a wall of said outlet box.