Clip for mounting objects on a wall stud

• US 4,971,280 A
• Filed: 08/01/1989
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: B-Line Systems, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rinderer, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/388,652
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 248/229, 248/225.31, 248/228, 248/231.8, 248/316.5, 248/205.1, 248/906, 248/27.1, 248/201, 174/58, 220/3.9, 220/3.92
• US Class Current: 248/228.7
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A clip for mounting an object such as an electrical box on a metal stud of generally channel shape having a web and a pair of generally parallel flanges. The clip includes a first clip part engageable with the stud for securement of the clip to the stud. The first pair has a relatively flat leg. A second clip part holds the object and has a relatively flat leg extending in generally parallel face-to-face relation with the leg of the first clip part. The leg of the second clip part is slidable relative to the leg of the first clip part lengthwise of the leg of the first clip part for adjusting the position of the object being held by the second clip part relative to the stud. Flanges define a guideway for maintaining the leg of the second clip part in longitudinal alignment with the leg of the first clip part as the leg of the second clip part is slidably adjusted relative to the leg of the first clip part. Detents on the leg of one of the clip parts are receivable in notches on the leg of the other clip part for locking the leg of the second clip part in selected positions of lengthwise adjustment relative to the leg of the first clip part.

Claims

1. A clip for mounting an object such as an electrical box on a metal stud of generally channel shape having a web, a pair of generally parallel flanges and inwardly turned lips on the flanges, said clip comprising

a first clip engageable with the web of said stud and with one of said lips for securement of the clip to said stud, said first part having a relatively flat leg,

a second clip part adapted to hold said object, said second clip part having a relatively flat leg extending in generally parallel face-to-face relation with the leg of the first clip part,

the leg of the second clip part being slidable relative to the leg of the first clip part lengthwise of the leg of the first clip part thereby to adjust the position of the object being held by the second clip part relative to said stud,

means for maintaining the leg of the second clip part in longitudinal alignment with the leg of the first clip part as the leg of the second clip part is slidably adjusted relative to the leg of the first clip part, and

cooperable detent means on the legs of said first and second clip parts for locking the leg of the second clip part in selected positions of lengthwise adjustment relative to the leg of the first clip part.

2. A clip as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining the leg of the second clip part in longitudinal alignment with the leg of the first clip part comprises flange means on the leg of one clip part defining a guideway for receiving the leg of the other clip part and for guiding the leg of said other clip part lengthwise of the leg of said one clip part.

3. A clip as set forth in claim 1 wherein the leg of each clip part has opposite side edges extending lengthwise of the leg, said cooperable detent means comprising a series of notches at spaced intervals along at least one side edge of one leg, each notch corresponding to a position of lengthwise adjustment of the leg of the second clip part relative to the leg of the first clip part, and at least one detent integrally formed with the other leg and receivable in a selected notch to lock said legs against longitudinal movement relative to one another.

4. A clip for mounting an object such as an electrical box on a metal stud of generally channel shape having a web and a pair of generally parallel flanges, said clip comprising

a first clip part engageable with said stud for securement of the clip to said stud, said first part having a relatively flat leg,

a second clip part adapted to hold said object, said second clip part having a relatively flat leg extending in generally parallel face-to-face relation with the leg of the first clip part,

the leg of the second clip part being slidable relative to the leg of the first clip part lengthwise of the leg of the first clip part thereby to adjust the position of the object being held by the second clip part relative to said stud,

a pair of flanges along opposite sides of the leg of the second clip part defining a guideway for receiving the leg of the first clip part and for guiding the leg of the second clip part lengthwise of the leg of the first clip part for maintaining the leg of the second clip part in longitudinal alignment with the leg of the first clip part as the leg of the second clip part is slidably adjusted relative to the leg of the first clip part,

cooperable detent means on the legs of said first and second clip parts for locking the leg of the second clip part in selected positions of lengthwise adjustment relative to the leg of the first clip part.

5. A clip for mounting an object such as an electrical box on a metal stud of generally channel shape having a web and a pair of generally parallel flanges, said clip comprising

a first clip part engageable with said stud for securement of the clip to said stud, said first part having a relatively flat leg,

a second clip part adapted to hold said object, said second clip part having a relatively flat leg extending in generally parallel face-to-face relation with the leg of the first clip part,

the leg of the second clip part being slidable relative to the leg of the first clip part lengthwise of the leg of the first clip part thereby to adjust the position of the object being held by the second clip part relative to said stud,

means for maintaining the leg of the second clip part in longitudinal alignment with the leg of the first clip part as the leg of the second clip part is slidably adjusted relative to the leg of the first clip part,

cooperable detent means on the legs of said first and second clip parts for locking the leg of the second clip part in selected positions of lengthwise adjustment relative to the leg of the first clip part, the leg of each clip part having opposite side edges extending lengthwise of the leg, said cooperable detent means comprising a series of saw-tooth notches at spaced intervals along at least one side edge of one leg, each notch corresponding to a position of lengthwise adjustment of the leg of the second clip part relative to the leg of the first clip part, and at least one detent on the other leg receivable in a selected notch to lock said legs against longitudinal movement relative to one another, said detent comprising a relatively short protuberance integrally formed with said other leg and receivable in a selected saw-tooth notch, and

fastener means for holding said first and second clip parts in assembly, said fastener means being adapted to be loosened to permit said legs to be pulled apart a relatively short distance sufficient for withdrawal of said relatively short protuberance from a selected notch thereby to allow the leg of the second clip part to be slidably adjusted relative to the leg of the first clip part, and tightened to draw the legs together for insertion of said relatively short protuberance into a selected notch to lock the legs in a selected position of adjustment.

6. A clip for mounting an object such as an electrical box on a metal stud of generally channel shape having a web and a pair of generally parallel flanges, said clip comprising

a first clip part engageable with said stud for securement of the clip to the stud, said first part having a relatively flat leg,

a second clip part adapted to hold said object, said second clip part having a relatively flat leg extending in generally parallel face-to-face relation with the leg of the first clip part,

the leg of the second clip part being slidable relative to the leg of the first clip part lengthwise of the leg of the first clip part thereby to adjust the position of the object being held by the second clip part relative to said stud,

means for maintaining the leg of the second clip part in longitudinal alignment with the leg of the first clip part as the leg of the second clip part is slidably adjusted relative to the leg of the first clip part,

cooperable detent means on the legs of said first and second clip parts for locking the leg of the second clip part in selected positions of lengthwise adjustment relative to the leg of the first clip part, and

a plurality of markings spaced at intervals along the leg of said first clip part, each marking corresponding to a position of said object, and window means in the leg of the second clip part, said window means being so sized and positioned relative to said markings that, when the leg of the second clip part is in a position of adjustment relative to the leg of the first clip part, the only marking visible through said window means is a marking corresponding to a single position of the object.

7. A clip as set forth in claim 6 wherein said markings comprise two sets of markings along the leg of the first clip part adjacent opposite sides of the leg, said window means comprising two openings in said second leg adjacent opposite sides of the leg, said openings and said markings being so arranged that for each position of adjustment of the legs relative to one another, only one marking of the two sets of markings is visible through a respective opening.

8. A clip as set forth in claim 6 wherein the leg of said first clip part is of substantially uniform width along substantially its entire length.