Electrical device box

• US 5,579,939 A
• Filed: 08/04/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell Pickering LP (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Temco Electric Products Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Bourassa, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US08/511,521
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3.3, 220/3.5, 220/3.9
• US Class Current: 220/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/105 in association with a plinth, channel, raceway or similar

Abstract

The electrical device box comprises four side walls and a rear wall, each side wall being connected to an adjacent side wall and to the rear wall for defining a generally rectangular housing having a front opening delimited by an edge. The box comprises a set of first tabs outwardly projecting from one of the side walls which is to be set against a side of an adjacent supporting structure. The first tabs are spaced apart and at an equal distance from the edge of the front opening for providing alignment of the box with a front surface of the supporting structure. The box also comprises a set of second tabs outwardly projecting from the same side wall. The second tabs are spaced-apart and at an equal distance from the edge of the front opening but farther from it than the first tabs. The second tabs have a sharp end for either penetrating the side of the supporting structure in case of an integral supporting structure, or providing alignment of the box with an intermediate surface between elements in case of a composite supporting structure. The present box is more versatile than the precedent ones.

Claims

1. An electrical device box comprising:

four side walls and a rear wall, each side wall being connected to an adjacent side wall and to the rear wall for defining a generally rectangular housing having a front opening delimited by an edge;

at least three bumps outwardly projecting from one of the side walls which is to be set against a side of an adjacent supporting structure, the bumps defining a resting plane substantially parallel to the corresponding side wall;

a set of first tabs outwardly projecting from the side wall provided with the bumps, the first tabs being spaced apart and at an equal distance from the edge of the front opening, the first tabs having a height extending above the resting plane for providing alignment of the box with a front surface of the supporting structure;

a set of second tabs outwardly projecting from the side wall provided with the bumps and the first tabs, the second tabs being spaced apart and at an equal distance from the edge of the front opening but farther from it than the first tabs, the second tabs having a sharp end and a height extending above the resting plane for either penetrating the side of the supporting structure in case of an integral supporting structure, or providing alignment of the box with an intermediate surface between elements in case of a composite supporting structure; and

substantially oblong bumps wherein;

said first and second tabs are provided in pairs, the tabs of each pair being aligned with each other; and

said first and second tabs are punched out of the oblong bumps.

2. An electrical device box according to claim 4, wherein the first and second tabs are punched out of the corresponding side wall.

3. An electrical device box according to claim 2, wherein the distance between each of the first tabs and the edge of the front opening is substantially equal to a drywall thickness.

4. An electrical device box according to claim 1, wherein the bumps are substantially hemispherical and are three in number.

5. An electrical device box according to claim 1, wherein the pairs are two in number.

6. An electrical device box according to claim 1, wherein the oblong bumps have a flat inclined end opposite the edge of the front opening, each of the second tabs being punched out of a respective flat end for leaving an inclined opening through which a fastening means is insertable for holding the box to the supporting structure.

7. An electrical device box according to claim 1, wherein the distance between each of the first tabs and the edge of the front opening is substantially equal to a drywall thickness.

8. An electrical device box comprising:

four side walls and a rear wall, each side wall being connected to an adjacent side wall and to the rear wall for defining a generally rectangular housing having a front opening delimited by an edge;

three hemispherical bumps outwardly projecting from one of the side walls which is to be set against a side of an adjacent supporting structure, the bumps defining a resting plane substantially parallel to the corresponding side wall;

two spaced-apart substantially oblong bumps outwardly projecting from the side wall provided with the hemispherical bumps, each oblong bump having one end and adjacent to the edge of the front opening;

two first tabs, each outwardly projecting from and punched out of a corresponding oblong bump, the first tabs being at an equal distance from the edge of the front opening, the first tabs having a height extending above the resting plane for providing alignment of the box with a front surface of the supporting structure, the distance between each of the first tabs and the edge of the front opening being substantially equal to a drywall thickness; and

two second tabs, each outwardly projecting from and punched out of a corresponding oblong bump, the second tabs being at an equal distance from the edge of the front opening but farther from it than the first tabs, the second tabs having a sharp end and a height extending above the resting plane for either penetrating the side of the supporting structure in case of an integral supporting structure, or providing alignment of the box with an intermediate surface between elements in case of a composite supporting structure.

9. An electrical device box according to claim 8, wherein the oblong bumps have a flat inclined end opposite the edge of the front opening, each of the second tabs being punched out of a respective flat end for leaving an inclined opening through which a fastening means is insertable for holding the box to the supporting structure.