Adjustable mounting assembly for electrical outlet box

• US 5,289,934 A
• Filed: 09/02/1993
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Benjamin H. Smith, Scott P. Pimley
• Inventors: Pimley, Scott P., Smith, Benjamin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/114,937
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• Field of Search: 248/906, 248/298, 248/224.2, 248/224.4, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.5, 220/3.7, 220/3.9, 220/3.92, 220/476, 220/477
• US Class Current: 220/3.7
• 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 adjustable mounting assembly for an electrical outlet box wherein a bracket is secured to a wall stud. One face of the bracket has a tongue having an axially extending threaded bore. A side wall of the outlet box has a longitudinally extending groove which receives the bracket tongue so that the box is slidably mounted on the bracket for movement forwardly and rearwardly relative to the wall stud. An adjustment bolt extends longitudinally of the groove and into a threaded bore in the tongue whereby an unlimited adjustment of the electrical box is obtainable so that the front of the box will be flush with the subsequently applied plaster or dry wall and paneling. The bolt not only functions during the adjustment of the box but also, once the desired adjusted position is obtained, it functions as a stop member to hold the box at the adjusted position.

Claims

1. An adjustable mounting assembly for an electrical outlet comprising, a bracket, said bracket having one portion fastened to a wall stud, said bracket having a second portion, a tongue secured to said second portion, a threaded bore provided in said tongue, a rectangular electrical outlet box having side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, a groove provided in one of the side walls of said box, said bracket tongue being slidably mounted in said groove, and said bracket tongue being completely enclosed within said groove, wherein the electrical box slides relative to said wall stud, and a bolt carried on said one side wall of said box, said bolt extending into said threaded bore in said tongue, whereby the position of the electrical outlet box is adjusted relative to the wall stud to thereby position a front of the box flush with a surface of a wall in which the box is mounted.

2. An adjustable mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a sheet of metal bent to provide a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinally extending side walls having upper edges and lower edges, an end wall extending transversely to each side wall and integral with corresponding sides of said side walls, said end wall being fastened to said wall stud, said tongue being fastened to one of said side walls and extending longitudinally therewith, and said threaded bore extending longitudinally within said tongue.

3. An adjustable mounting assembly according to claim 2, wherein a downwardly extending flange portion is provided at the upper edge of said one side wall of said bracket, an upwardly extending flange portion provided at the lower edge of said one side wall of said bracket, two additional, upper and lower longitudinally extending grooves provided in upper and lower exterior corners respective of said electrical box adjacent said one side wall of said box, said upper and lower longitudinally extending grooves receiving said upper and lower flange portions respectively.

4. An adjustable mounting assembly according to claim 2, wherein the groove in the box side wall extends longitudinally thereof in alignment with the longitudinally extending tongue, the cross-sectional configuration of said tongue corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of said groove.

5. An adjustable mounting assembly according to claim 4, wherein the bolt extends longitudinally through the groove and into the longitudinally extending threaded bore.

6. An adjustable mounting assembly according to claim 5, wherein the bolt is provided with a head and an integral collar spaced inwardly of said bolt head, an annular shoulder being integral with said one side wall of said electrical box adjacent one end of said groove, said annular shoulder being positioned in a bolt space between the bolt head and collar, whereby the bolt is held onto said one side wall of said electrical box.

7. An adjustable mounting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the annular shoulder is split, whereby the bolt can be inserted laterally with the bolt head and collar being snapped into position on opposite sides of the annular shoulder.