Wall mounting assembly attachable to an electrical box

• US 5,603,424 A
• Filed: 08/01/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Sims, Oliver, Bordwell, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Castellano, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US08/509,907
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3.6, 220/3.5, 220/3.4, 220/3.3, 220/3.2, 220/3.9, 220/3.7
• US Class Current: 220/3.5
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls

Abstract

A mounting assembly is attachable to a pre-manufactured electrical box. The box which includes a pair of opposed side walls, is insertable into an opening cut into a mounting wall. A pair of clip-on securement members are mountable onto each of the opposed side walls. Each securement member includes a bracket positioned on an external surface of the side wall and a brace supported by the bracket. The brace is movable on the bracket so as to clamp the box to the mounting wall.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly attachable to a pre-manufactured electrical box having opposed side walls, top and bottom walls, and a pair of mounting flanges disposed adjacent to a front face of said box and extending outwardly from said top and bottom wall, said mounting assembly comprising:

a pair of securement members, each securement member being mountable onto one of said opposed side walls in a snap-fit manner, each of said securement members further including;

a bracket;

a brace supported by said bracket; and

actuatable brace securement means for movably securing said brace to said bracket, said brace securing means being actuatable to cause progressive movement of said brace toward said front face of said box to a position of engagement with a wall surface;

whereby said wall surface is clamped between said braces of each of said securement members and said mounting flanges of said box.

2. In an electrical box having an open front face, opposed side walls, and mounting flanges extending outwardly from said box, a mounting apparatus for securing said box between an inside and outside surface of a wall about an opening into which said box is inserted, said mounting apparatus comprising:

an elongate actuatable screw captively retained externally on each side wall;

a plate-like brace supported by each screw, each said brace being movable under the actuation of each screw to place a first surface thereof into engagement with said inside surface of said wall for clamping said wall between said braces and said mounting flanges;

said brace being pivotally movable about said screw such that upon rotation of said screw said brace is moved from a closed position wherein said first surface is parallel to said side wall to an open position wherein said first surface is perpendicular to said side wall; and

said brace further including a recess for accommodating said screw in said closed position to maintain said first surface in substantial contact with said side wall.

3. The mounting apparatus of claim 2 wherein each said brace is an elongate member extending transversely to said elongate screw.

4. A mounting assembly attachable to a pre-manufactured electrical box defined by opposed side walls, top and bottom walls, a rear wall and an opposed open face, said box further including a pair of mounting flanges extending outwardly from said top and bottom wall for engagement with one surface of a mounting wall about a wall opening into which said box is positionable, said mounting assembly comprising:

a pair of clip-on securement members, each securement member being mountable onto one of said opposed side walls, each said clip-on securement member further including;

an elongate bracket positioned on an external surface of said side wall;

said bracket including means to for attachably clamping said bracket to said side wall in a snap-fit manner;

a brace supported by said bracket, said brace having a mounting wall engagement surface for engagement with a surface of said mounting wall opposite said one surface;

actuatable brace securement means for movably securing said brace to said bracket, said brace securing means being actuatable to cause progressive movement of said brace from a first position spaced from said front face of said box to a second position adjacent said front face of said box to place said mounting wall engagement surface of said brace in engagement with said opposite surface of said mounting wall;

whereby said mounting wall is clamped between said braces of each of said securement members and said mounting flanges of said box.

5. A mounting assembly of claim 4 wherein said actuatable brace securement means includes:

an elongate screw captively attached to said bracket, said screw having a head positioned adjacent said open face of said box and a threaded shaft extending along said bracket; and

wherein said brace includes an aperture through which said threaded shaft of said screw extends to movably retain said brace on said bracket;

wherein screw actuation of said screw causes said progressive movement of said brace.

6. A mounting assembly of claim 5 wherein said bracket extends longitudinally between said back wall and said open face of said box and wherein said brace is generally an elongate planar member extending transverse to said bracket with said brace having opposed ends and elongate side edges and wherein said aperture is centrally located with respect to said ends.

7. A mounting assembly of claim 6 wherein said brace aperture is located adjacent one longitudinal side edge of said brace.

8. In an electrical box having an open front face, opposed side walls, and mounting flanges extending outwardly from said box, a mounting apparatus for securing said box between an inside and an outside surface of a wall about an opening into which said box is inserted, said mounting apparatus comprising:

an elongate actuatable screw captively retained externally on each side wall;

a plate-like elongate brace supported by each screw and extending transversely to said elongate screw, each said brace being movable under the actuation of each screw to place a first surface thereof into engagement with said inside surface of said wall for clamping said wall between said braces and said mounting flanges;

said brace being pivotally movably about said screw to move upon rotation of said screw said brace from a closed position wherein said first surface is parallel to said side wall to an open position wherein said first surface is perpendicular to said side wall upon rotation of said screw; and

each said brace further including a centrally located hump-like ridge, said ridge defining a recess for accommodating said screw in said closed position to maintain said first surface in substantial contact with said side wall.

9. The mounting apparatus of claim 8 wherein each said brace includes an aperture through said ridge for passage of said screw therethrough.

10. The mounting apparatus of claim 9 wherein each said brace has a transverse extent between opposite longitudinal edges and wherein said aperture is located adjacent one of said longitudinal edges.

11. A mounting assembly attachable to a premanufactured electrical box defined by opposed side walls, top and bottom walls, a rear wall and an opposed open face, said box further including a pair of mounting flanges extending outwardly from said top and bottom wall for engagement with one surface of a mounting wall about a wall opening into which said box is positionable, said mounting assembly comprising:

a pair of clip-on securement members, each securement member being mountable onto one of said opposed side walls, each said clip-on securement member further including;

an elongate bracket positioned on an external surface of said side wall, said bracket extending longitudinally between said back wall and said open face of said box;

said bracket including means for attachably clamping said bracket to said side wall;

a generally elongate planar brace supported by and extending transverse to said bracket, said brace having a mounting wall engagement surface for engagement with a surface of said mounting wall opposite said one surface, and said brace having opposed ends and elongate side edges;

an elongate screw captively attached to said bracket, said screw having a head positioned adjacent said open face of said box and a threaded shaft extending along said bracket wherein said brace includes an aperture through which said threaded shaft of said screw extends to movably retain said brace on said bracket, and wherein said aperture is centrally located with respect to said brace ends and is located adjacent one longitudinal side edge of said brace and said brace aperture having a transverse dimension which is substantially wider than said threaded shaft of said screw and wherein;

screw actuation of said screw causes progressive movement of said brace from a first position wherein said mounting wall engagement surface is positioned against said external surface of said side wall and spaced from said front face of said box to a second position rotated approximately 90°

from said first position wherein said mounting wall engagement surface is perpendicular to said side wall, to a third position adjacent said front face of said box to place said mounting wall engagement surface of said brace in engagement with said opposite surface of said mounting wall;

whereby said mounting wall is clamped between said braces of each of said securement members and said mounting flanges of said box.

12. A mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein said brace includes a central hump-like raised location for accommodating said screw shaft in said brace first position.

13. A mounting assembly of claim 12 wherein said actuatable brace securement means further includes:

an internally-threaded nut supported on said shaft of said screw, said nut being capable of movement along said shaft upon said screw actuation, said nut being positioned rearward of said brace, said movement of said nut along said shaft causing movement of said brace from said first position to said third position.

14. A mounting assembly of claim 13 including means for rotationally confining said nut preventing rotation thereat upon said screw actuation.

15. A mount assembly of claim 14 wherein said rotationally confining means includes:

said bracket having a longitudinal slot therein, said slot being configured to retain and rotationally confine said nut therein, said slot extending along said bracket to permit longitudinal movement of said nut therealong.

16. A mounting assembly of claim 15 wherein said brace includes a tab extending from adjacent said aperture into said bracket slot for maintaining said brace in a position perpendicular to said bracket.

17. A mounting assembly of claim 16 wherein said brace tab is angled toward said screw head.

18. A mounting assembly attachable to a pre-manufactured electrical box defined by opposed side walls, top and bottom walls, a rear wall and an opposed open face, said box further including a pair of mounting flanges extending outwardly from said top and bottom wall for engagement with one surface of a mounting wall about a wall opening into which said box is positionable, said mounting assembly comprising:

a pair of clip-on securement members, each securement member being mountable onto one of said opposed side walls, each said clip-on securement member further including;

an elongate bracket positioned on an external surface of said side wall;

said bracket having a rear wall engaging element at one end thereof and a side wall engaging element at the other end thereof;

a brace supported by said bracket, said brace having a mounting wall engagement surface for engagement with a surface of said mounting wall opposite said one surface; and

actuatable brace securement means for movably securing said brace to said bracket, said brace securing means being actuatable to cause progressive movement of said brace from a first position spaced from said front face of said box to a second position adjacent said front face of said box to place said mounting wall engagement surface of said brace in engagement with said opposite surface of said mounting wall;

whereby said mounting wall is clamped between said braces of each of said securement members and said mounting flanges of said box.

19. A mounting assembly of claim 18 wherein said side wall engaging element includes a reversely bent end portion adapted to wrap around an edge of said side wall adjacent said open face.

20. A mounting assembly of claim 18 wherein said rear wall engaging element includes a lance for securement adjacent to said rear wall of said box.