Mounting device for mounting an electrical component in a wall

• US 5,841,068 A
• Filed: 01/12/1995
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George H. Umstead, Steven M. Umstead
• Original Assignee: George H. Umstead, Steven M. Umstead
• Inventors: Umstead, Steven M., Umstead, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/372,077
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 174/59, 174/53, 174/58, 220/3.9, 220/3.6, 220/3.3, 248/205.1, 248/217.1, 248/217.2, 248/216.4, 52/220.1
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

A device for a mounting electrical component includes a bracket and an electrical box. The bracket includes a U-shaped portion for being securely disposed to a stud or beam. An electrical box is mounted on the bracket. In one embodiment, the bracket may be configured such that an electrical box may be disposed on one side of the bracket facing in a first direction and a second electrical box may be disposed on the other side of the bracket facing in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. Thus, the first opening may be disposed on one side of a wall, while the second opening may be disposed on the second side of the wall. In the alternative, an electrical box in accordance with the invention may be used. The electrical box in accordance with the invention includes a first chamber having a first opening facing in a first direction and a second chamber having second opening facing in a second direction. The first and second directions are opposed. The first opening may be disposed on one side of a wall, while the second opening may be disposed on the second side of the wall.

Claims

1. A device for mounting an electrical component, comprising:

a bracket having a base, a first leg including a flange which extends form said first leg in a substantially perpendicular manner, and a second leg; and

an electrical box for receiving at least one electrical component, said electrical box being attached to said flange of said first leg of said bracket;

wherein said bracket is adapted to be attached to conventional electrical boxes of various configurations and constructions and wherein said first leg and said second leg of said bracket are biased toward each other to securingly receive a wall stud therebetween and said bracket is slidably adjustable along a length of the wall stud when the wall stud is received between said first leg and said second leg of said bracket.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electrical box has a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber having a first opening facing in a first direction, said second chamber having a second opening facing in a second direction different from said first direction.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first direction opposes said second direction.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first chamber abuts said second chamber.

5. A device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an edge formed on a side of said electrical box and formed at a periphery of at least one of said first and second openings of said first and second chambers; and

an adjustable positioning tab having a flat plate-like configuration including first and second opposed planar surfaces, wherein one of said first and second opposed planar surfaces is disposed on said edge such that said adjustable positioning tab is disposed substantially perpendicular to said side.

6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture centrally disposed on said base.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a slot formed in said electrical box, and

an adjustable positioning tab including a tab base and a tab leg, wherein said tab base is substantially perpendicular to said tab leg, and

wherein said tab base of said adjustable positioning tab is disposed within said slot.

8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stationary positioning tab, said stationary positioning tab being disposed on a side of said electrical box.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electrical box has a first opening facing in a first direction, and

wherein a second electrical box is disposed adjacent said second leg, said second electrical box having a second opening facing in a second direction different from said first direction.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said second leg includes a second flange disposed substantially parallel to said base, and wherein said second electrical box is disposed on said second flange.

11. A bracket for mounting an electrical box, comprising:

a base, a first leg including a flange which extends from said first leg in a substantially perpendicular manner, and a second leg,

wherein said flange is adapted to receive the electrical box and said first leg and said second leg are biased toward each other to securingly receive a wall stud therebetween and the bracket is slidably adjustable along a length of the wall stud when the wall stud is received between said first leg and said second leg of the bracket.

12. A bracket according to claim 11, further comprising:

an aperture centrally disposed on said base.

13. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein said second leg includes a second flange extending substantially parallel to said base and wherein said second flange is adapted to receive a second electrical box.

14. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein said second leg includes a second flange extending substantially parallel to said base and wherein said second flange is adapted to receive a second box,

wherein said first leg has a first length and said second leg has a second length shorter than said first length.

15. An electrical box for mounting electrical components on opposite sides of a single wall, comprising:

a first chamber having at least a first top wall, a first bottom wall, a first back wall and a first open front facing in a first direction; and

a second chamber having at least a second top wall, a second bottom wall, a second back wall and a second open front facing in a second direction opposite to said first direction;

wherein said first open front of said first chamber lies in a first plane and said second back wall of said second chamber lies in a second plane which is offset from said first plane, such that said first open front of said first chamber opens and extends to a first side of the single wall and said second open front of said second chamber opens and extends to a second side opposite to the first side of the single wall to enable the mounting of electrical components on said first and second sides of the single wall when the box is attached to a single wall stud of the single wall, wherein the box is slidably adjustable along a length of the single wall stud.

16. An electrical box according to claim 15, wherein said first chamber abuts said second chamber.

17. An electrical box according to claim 15, wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are dimensioned to accommodate standard electrical components.

18. A molded, one-piece unit for mounting an electrical component to a wall stud, comprising:

a chamber for housing the electrical component, said chamber including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall having a first front edge, a second side wall having a second front edge, a rear wall, and an open front; and

means for attaching the unit to the wall stud, said means comprising a base extending from said first side wall of said chamber and a first leg extending from said base, wherein said first leg of said means is biased toward said first side wall to securingly receive the wall stud therebetween and wherein the unit is slidably adjustable along a length of the wall stud when the wall stud is received between said first side wall of said chamber and said first leg of said means.

19. The unit of claim 18, wherein the unit further comprises a second chamber monolithically molded to said first chamber, said second chamber including a second chamber top wall, a second chamber bottom wall ,a second chamber side wall, a second chamber rear wall and a second chamber open front.

20. The unit of claim 19, wherein said open front of said first chamber faces in a direction opposite to said second chamber open front of said second chamber.