Variable depth load center enclosure

• US 5,463,533 A
• Filed: 06/24/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Donnerstag, deceased, Leonard, Donnerstag, executor, Rory
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald P.
• Application Number:
  US08/265,487
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.1, 248/224.2, 248/906, 220/3.7, 220/3.9, 220/3.92, 174/57, 361/622, 361/641, 361/644, 361/645, 361/652, 361/657, 361/658, 361/807, 361/809, 361/825, 200/296
• US Class Current: 361/825
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/015 Boards, panels, desks; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame

Abstract

An adjustable depth electrical enclosure is taught. Briefly stated, a load center housing has inverted T shaped slots provided along its exterior. A bracket having an adjusting screw swagged thereto is extended through the T slot so that the bracket can ride back and forth in the vertical portion of the T slot. The adjusting screw is rotatably attached to a flange on the enclosure such that rotation of the screw causes the adjusting bracket to move with respect to the front/rear direction of the enclosure. Thereafter, when the brackets are attached to wall studs, mere adjustment of the adjusting screw allows the enclosure to be moved perpendicular to the wall thereby allowing the enclosure to be accurately flush mounted with the wall material utilized.

Claims

1. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure, comprising:

an enclosure having an interior and opposing sides, a back and a front;

at least two mounting brackets for affixing said enclosure to a wall element, each of said mounting brackets slidably attached to said enclosure and each said bracket extending from outside said enclosure through an enclosure side and extending into the interior of said closure such that when said brackets are attached to the wall element, said enclosure is moveable with respect to said brackets in a direction between said back and said front of said enclosure; and

an adjustment mechanism rotatably attached to said enclosure and adjacent each said mounting bracket, whereby rotation of said adjustment mechanism moves said enclosure with respect to said mounting brackets.

2. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment mechanism is comprised a threaded bolt having a first head at one end thereof, said head rotatably attached about its axial length thereof to said enclosure, and a second end of said bolt further being rotatably attached about its axial length thereof to one end of each said mounting brackets.

3. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure has two slots in at least one side thereof, and having a mounting bracket slidably disposed in each of said slots.

4. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 3 wherein said mounting bracket has a narrow portion which is slidably disposable in said slot.

5. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 3 wherein said slot is "T" shaped having its length extending from said front to said back of said enclosure.

6. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 5 wherein said mounting bracket has a narrow portion which is slidably disposable in said length of said slot.

7. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure is comprised of an electrical junction box.

8. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure is comprised of an a panelboard load center.

9. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 5 wherein said slot is a formed-in-place knockout.

10. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 6 wherein each said mounting bracket is elongate and wherein said narrow portion is comprised of at least two opposing notches.

11. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 2 wherein said threaded bolt has a second head axially disposed from said first head.

12. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 11 wherein said enclosure has a flange disposed on at least one of said opposing sides and adjacent said front, said flange have an interior side facing said back of said enclosure and an opposing second side, said flange further having at least one recess therein, wherein said threaded bolt is disposable in said recess such that said second head is adjacent said interior side of said flange and said first head is adjacent said opposing second side of said flange such that said threaded bolt is rotatably retained by said recess.

13. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket is disposed on the exterior of said enclosure.

14. A adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising circuit breakers disposed in said enclosure.

15. An adjustable depth electrical enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said each of said mounting brackets are opposite each other in said sides of said enclosure.

16. An adjustable depth load center electrical enclosure, comprising:

a load center enclosure having opposing sides, a back and a front, said enclosure having a "T" shaped formed-in-place knockout slot in at least two of said opposing sides thereof, said "T" shaped slots having their length extending from said front to said back of said enclosure, said enclosure further having a flange disposed on at least one of said opposing sides and adjacent said front, said flange have an interior side facing said back of said enclosure and an opposing second side, said flange further having at least one recess therein;

at least two elongate mounting brackets each of which extends through each said "T" shaped slots and having a first portion at one end thereof for affixing said enclosure to a wall element, an opposing end and a narrow portion disposed intermediate of said first one end and said opposing end, said narrow portion comprised of at least two opposing notches, wherein said opposing notches are slidably disposable in said slot such that when said brackets are attached to the wall element, said enclosure is moveable with respect to said brackets in a direction between said back and said front of said enclosure; and

an adjustment mechanism comprised of a threaded bolt having a first head at one end thereof and a second head axially disposed from said first head, said second head disposed adjacent said interior side of said flange and said first head is adjacent said opposing second side of said flange such that said threaded bolt is rotatably retained by said recess and wherein the end of said bolt axially disposed from said first head being rotatably attached to said opposing end of each said bracket whereby rotation of said adjustment mechanism moves said enclosure with respect to said mounting brackets.

17. A adjustable depth load center electrical enclosure according to claim 16 further comprising circuit breakers disposed in said enclosure.

18. An adjustable depth load center according to claim 16 wherein said second slot and said mounting bracket are disposed in sides which are opposite to each other in said enclosure.