Outlet box with adjustable mounting positions

• US 5,253,831 A
• Filed: 03/14/1991
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panos C. Theodorides
• Original Assignee: Panos C. Theodorides
• Inventors: Theodorides, Panos C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN SHUE, ALVIN C
• Application Number:
  US07/669,360
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 248/906, 248/27.1, 248/27.3, 248/216.1, 248/297.3, 248/222.1, 248/221.3, 248/295.1, 248/298, 248/488, 248/490, 248/316.4, 248/231.4, 248/225.1, 220/3.3, 220/3.7, 220/3.9, 220/3.92
• US Class Current: 248/27.3
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An outlet box assembly in which the position of the box is slidably adjustable along an arm of the bracket which mounts the box to the wall. Slidably supported to one of the plurality of walls defining the outlet box is a bracket which has a support arm extending substantially parallel to the side wall of the box and a mounting arm extending substantially perpendicular thereto. The bracket support arm has a plurality of openings to engage the outlet box and the mounting arm secures the box to the wall in which the assembly is to be installed. An engagement tab extends from the side wall of the box and engages with one of the openings in the bracket support arm, thereby retaining the outlet box in a position. A flexible element coupled to the engagement tab biases the engagement tab to engage an opening in the support arm. Under finger pressure applied to the flexible member, the engagement tab may be released from engagement with a position on the arm, thereby releasing the bias and enabling the box, and the pin positioned thereon, to slide along the side wall of the box and engage with other openings in the support arm. The engagement of the outlet box with the plurality of openings on the support arm permits the outlet box to be positioned such that the open face of the outlet box is flush with the surface of the wall in which it is mounted.

Claims

1. An outlet box assembly comprising:

side, top, bottom and rear walls defining an outlet box,

a bracket slidably supported to the exterior of one side wall of the box, said bracket having a support arm substantially parallel to the side wall of the box and a mounting arm substantially perpendicular to the side wall of the box, said mounting arm being adapted to be secured by fastening means in a wall in which the assembly is to be installed,

said support arm having a plurality of holes,

a bracket engaging pin extending through the side wall of the box for engaging said plurality of holes to control the slidable movement of the box relative to the bracket,

flexible biasing means coupled to said pin for biasing said pin into engagement with said one of the plurality of holes in said support arm and further for retaining said bracket in engagement with said bracket engaging pin, wherein depression of said pin permits movement of said outlet box relative to said bracket, such that the bracket engaging pin can engage with any of the plurality of holes in said bracket engaging arm to properly position the outlet box with respect to the wall in which it is mounted,

and a stop tab extending from the side wall of said outlet box for preventing unintentional disengagement of said outlet box from said bracket, said stop tab being a flange formed from and integral with said biasing means.

2. An outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized by said biasing means being coupled to the interior of the side wall of said outlet box.

3. An outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized by said side wall having a pair of parallel and oppositely mounted ears for slidably retaining said support arm.

4. An outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized by said outlet box being mounted for movement by means substantially exterior of said outlet box whereby said outlet box is substantially free of inwardly extending projections from said bracket and the engaging pin.

5. An outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized by said bracket engaging pin being freely depressable through the side wall in the outlet box and permitting movement of the outlet box along a length spaced from and paralleling the support arm.

6. An outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized by said plurality of holes being formed to receive said pin and having a diameter that permits both the free depression and engagement of said pin therethrough.

7. An outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized by said biasing means being mounted to the interior of the outlet box side wall.

8. An outlet box assembly as defined in claim 7, further characterized by said biasing means extending through an opening in the side wall of said outlet box.