Electrical outlet box and plate therefor incorporating a rear support bracket

• US 5,646,371 A
• Filed: 04/13/1994
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Fabian, Mark Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/227,748
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 248/906, 174/58, 174/48, 220/3.3, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.9
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An outlet box for a conventional electrical receptacle or like includes a rear support bracket extending rearwardly from one side thereof. The bracket is generally L-shaped and can include a weakened portion, to enable it to be bent. The bracket abuts an inner face of a wall panel, to prevent rearward movement of the outlet box. At the front, a frame can be attached to or integral with the side wall of the outlet box, for the mounting of communication cables. For this purpose, the frame can include one or more tabs to which communication cables can be initially secured. The tabs are deflectable internally, to abut the inner face of a wall panel around the outlet box and the frame, to prevent forward movement of the outlet box.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet box having a top, bottom, first and second sides and a back, and defining a rectangular front opening, the outlet box including a rear support bracket secured to one of the sides thereof and extending rearwardly from the front opening for supporting the outlet box against one wall panel thereby limiting rearward movement thereof, one of the sides including a means for securing said outlet box to a structural wall member;

and

a means for abutting a second wall panel, said abutment means being provided adjacent to the front opening of the outlet box and being disposed on the other of the sides, said abutment means limiting forward movement of the outlet box relative to the second wall panel.

2. An outlet box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear support bracket is generally L-shaped.

3. An outlet box as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rear support bracket comprises a side panel and a rear panel which are perpendicular to one another, with the side panel being secured to the said one side of the outlet box, and wherein the side panel includes a weakened portion, to facilitate bending of the bracket.

4. An outlet box as claimed in claim 3, wherein the side panel is weakened by at least one of a slot therein and a score line across the side panel.

5. An outlet box as claimed in claim 4, which includes a slot in the rear panel.

6. An outlet box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear support bracket is separate from said one side of the outlet box and attached thereto.

7. An outlet box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one side of the outlet box and the rear support bracket are integral with one another and formed from sheet material.

8. An electrical outlet box having a top, bottom, first and second sides and a back, and defining a rectangular front opening, the outlet box including a rear support bracket secured to one of the sides thereof and extending rearwardly from the front opening for supporting the outlet box against one wall panel to limit rearward movement thereof, and

a device for holding a communication cable beside the outlet box, said device comprising a frame having a main portion attached to one of the sides of the outlet box, substantially at a fight angle thereto and at least one tab, the at least one tab providing a means for securing the communication cable thereto, the at least one tab further providing abutment means, such that the at least one tab is deflectable to a position abutting a second wall panel to limit forward movement of the outlet box relative to the second wall panel.

9. An outlet box as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one tab comprises a neck portion extending inwardly from the main portion of the frame and adapted to permit deflection of the at least one tab, and a head portion adapted to be secured to the communication cable.

10. An outlet box as claimed in claim 9, wherein the neck portion includes an aperture adjacent the main portion, to facilitate deflection of the at least one tab.

11. An outlet box as claimed in claim 10, wherein the neck portion includes a weakened portion including at least one of a slot and a score line, to facilitate deflection of the at least one tab to a position abutting the inner face of the second wall panel.

12. An outlet box as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the head portion of the at least one tab has a hole to receive and secure the communication cable.

13. An outlet box as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the head portion has a hole to receive the communication cable, and includes a first slot extending between the hole and a periphery of the head portion, and a second slot spaced from the first slot and extending from said hole part way through the head portion to form a zone of weakness, whereby the at least one tab is easily manually bendable between open and closed positions, to facilitate securing the communication cable.

14. An outlet box as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one tab is integral with the frame.

15. An outlet box as claimed in claim 14, wherein the frame is integral with said one side of the outlet box.

16. An outlet box as claimed in claim 15, wherein the rear support bracket is integral with said one side of the outlet box.

17. An outlet box as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said device is made of metal and said main portion defines a central opening in which the at least one tab is initially located, and said metal has been folded around said central opening to provide a smooth surface so as not to damage the communication cable.

18. An outlet box as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said device is made of metal and said main portion defines a central opening in which the at least one tab is initially located, which metal has been folded around said central opening to provide a smooth surface so as not to damage the communication cable and wherein said device is formed from sheet metal.

19. An outlet box as claimed in claim 16, wherein said main portion of the frame is substantially rectangular and has threaded holes through which to receive screws for securing a wall plate.

20. An outlet box as claimed in claim 16, wherein the rear support bracket is generally L-shaped having a side panel and a rear panel, with the side panel attached to said one side of the outlet box and the rear panel being generally perpendicular thereto, and wherein the side panel includes a weakened portion provided by at least one of a score line and a slot, to enable bending of the rear support bracket.

21. A plate for use in forming an outlet box, the plate comprising:

a side portion including means for attachment to top, bottom, and back portions of an outlet box; and

a rear support bracket comprising a side panel and a rear panel, the side panel being substantially coplanar with said one side portion and attached thereto, and the rear panel being generally perpendicular to the side panel, the rear panel of the rear support bracket being provided to abut a wall panel; and

a device for holding a communication cable beside the outlet box, said device comprising a frame attached to the side portion, the frame defining a central opening, the frame extending generally perpendicularly to the side portion, and at least one tab extending from the frame into the central opening, the at least one tab providing a means for securing the communication cable thereto and being deflectable to a position abutting an inner face of a wall panel surrounding the frame to prevent forward movement of the frame relative to the wall panel.

22. The plate as claimed in claim 21, wherein the side panel of the rear mounting bracket includes a weakened portion comprising at least one of a slot and a score line.

23. The plate as claimed in claim 22, which includes a slot in the rear panel of the rear support bracket.

24. The plate as claimed in claim 23, in which the at least one tab comprises a neck portion and a head portion defining an opening for receiving and securing the communication cable.

25. The plate as claimed in claim 22, wherein each tab comprises a neck portion and a head portion, said means for securing the communication cable including a hole in said head portion for receiving and securing the communication cable, and a weakened portion comprising at least one of a slot and a score line to enable the at least one tab to be deflected to a position closely abutting the inner face of the wall panel around the frame.

26. The plate as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one tab includes an aperture adjacent the frame to facilitate deflection of the at least one tab.

27. The plate as claimed in claim 26, wherein the at least one tab includes a first slot extending between the hole in the head portion and the periphery of the head portion, and a second slot, generally opposite the first slot extending part way through the head portion, to enable the head portion to be easily manually bendable between opened and closed positions.

28. The plate as claimed in claim 27, wherein the side portion, the rear support bracket and the frame are integrally formed from sheet material.

29. The plate as claimed in claim 27, wherein the side portion, the rear support bracket and the plate are integrally formed from sheet metal, and wherein the metal is folded back around the central opening to provide a smooth surface, to prevent damage to communication cables.

30. A cable holding device for holding a communication cable beside an electrical power outlet box, said device comprising:

a frame having a main portion connected to a side of an outlet box substantially at a right angle thereto, said frame having at least one tab, the at least one tab providing a means for securing the communication cable, the at least one tab further providing abutment means, the at least one tab being deflectable to a position abutting an inner face of a wall panel surrounding the frame, to prevent forward movement of the frame relative to the wall panel.

31. A cable holding device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the frame further includes a side portion, the side portion being continuous with the main portion, the side portion of the frame including means for attachment to a top, a bottom and a back of the outlet box, to complete the outlet box.

32. A cable holding device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the at least one tab comprises a neck portion extending inwardly from the main portion of the frame and including the deflection means, and a head portion adapted to be secured to the communication cable and continuous with the neck portion.

33. A cable holding device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the deflection means includes an aperture, in the neck portion, adjacent to the main portion, to facilitate deflection of the at least one tab.

34. A cable holding device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the deflection means includes in the neck portion, a weakened portion including at least one of a slot or a score line, to facilitate deflection of the at least one tab to the position abutting the inner face of the wall panel. adapted to permit deflection of the at least one tab, and a head portion adapted to be secured to the communication cable.