Load supporting variable positioning electrical box suited for attaching to a joist

• US 6,207,897 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reiker Enterprises of Northwest Florida Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Reiker Enterprises of Northwest Florida Incorporated
• Inventors: Reiker, Kenneth H.
• Primary Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/221,862
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/58, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.9, 248/205.3, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/20 Ceiling roses or other lighting sets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An electrical fixture mounting assembly includes a junction box having a wall defining a junction box cavity therein. There are provided one or more members on the wall for attaching the junction box to a support. The attachment members include spaced apart mounting brackets which are configured for engaging various sizes and shapes of supports. In addition, there may be provided adhesive members for supplementing and/or replacing the attachment members so that the fixture mounting assembly can be readily attached to a variety of surfaces. Additional features include features which transfer static and dynamic loads directly from a supported fixture to the mounting bracket and substantially without transferring such forces to the associated junction box. Depth indicators for various drywall thicknesses may be provided, as well as movable elements for accommodating different drywall thicknesses.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly, comprising:

a) a junction box;

b) the junction box including a wall defining a junction box cavity therein;

c) a mounting bracket disposed on the wall for engaging a joist;

d) a pre-attached fastener provided on the mounting bracket for attaching the bracket to a joist; and

,

e) the pre-attached fastener is a screw which may be detachably attached to a joist, so that the mounting bracket may be detachably attached to a joist.

2. A mounting assembly, comprising:

a) a junction box;

b) the junction box including a wall defining a junction box cavity therein;

c) a mounting bracket disposed on the wall for engaging a joist;

d) a pre-attached fastener provided on the mounting bracket for attaching the bracket to a joist; and

,

e) means is provided on the mounting bracket for supporting a fixture, the fixture supporting means transferring forces exerted on said fixture supporting means substantially without exerting such forces on the junction box.

3. A mounting assembly, comprising:

a) a junction box;

b) the junction box including a wall defining a junction box cavity therein;

c) a mounting bracket disposed on the wall for engaging a joist;

d) a pre-attached fastener provided on the mounting bracket for attaching the bracket to a joist; and

e) a stud provided on the mounting bracket for supporting a fixture, the stud transferring forces exerted on said stud substantially without exerting such forces on the junction box.

4. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein:

a) the stud includes female threads.

5. A mounting assembly, comprising:

a) a junction box;

b) the junction box including a wall defining a junction box cavity therein;

c) a mounting bracket disposed on the wall for engaging a joist;

d) a pre-attached fastener provided on the mounting bracket for attaching the bracket to a joist; and

,

e) a thickness gauge is provided on the mounting bracket.

6. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a) a fixture fastener is attached to the mounting bracket for supporting a fixture adjacent to the junction box.

7. A mounting assembly, comprising:

a) a junction box;

b) the junction box including a wall defining a junction box cavity therein;

c) a mounting bracket disposed on the wall for engaging a joist; and

d) a thickness gauge provided on the mounting bracket.

8. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a) the thickness gauge includes a notch in the bracket.

9. A mounting assembly as in claim 7, wherein:

a) a pre-attached fastener is provided on the mounting bracket for attaching the bracket to a joist.

10. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a) said wall includes a top wall and a downwardly extending side wall; and

,

b) said mounting bracket is disposed on said top wall.

11. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein:

a) said wall includes a top wall and a downwardly extending side wall; and

,

b) said mounting bracket is disposed on said side wall.

12. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a) the thickness gauge includes a plurality of holes in the wall of the junction box; and

b) a fastener is provided on the mounting bracket for attaching the bracket to the box.

13. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein:

a) the mounting bracket is detachably attached to the junction box; and

b) the fastener attaches the mounting bracket to a selected one of the plurality of holes for varying the distance between the mounting bracket and an outer face of the junction box.

14. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein:

a) the junction box has an outer face;

b) a first one of the plurality of holes is spaced at a first distance from the outer face of the junction box; and

c) a second one of the plurality of holes is spaced at a second distance from the outer face of the junction box.

15. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein:

a) the mounting bracket is detachably attached to the junction box; and

b) the fastener attaches the mounting bracket to a selected one of the plurality of holes, for varying the distance between the mounting bracket and the outer face of the junction box.

16. A mounting assembly, comprising:

a) a junction box;

b) the junction box including a wall defining a junction box cavity therein;

c) a mounting bracket disposed on the wall for engaging a joist;

d) a pre-attached fastener provided on the mounting bracket for attaching the bracket to a joist; and

,

e) a fixture fastener is attached to the mounting bracket for supporting a fixture adjacent to the junction box.

17. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) the bracket is configured for attaching the junction box to opposite sides of a joist.

18. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) the mounting bracket is a U-shaped bracket.

19. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) the mounting bracket includes a first mounting bracket spaced apart from a second mounting bracket.

20. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein:

a) the mounting bracket has an outer free edge, and the outer free edge is flared.

21. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) the pre-attached fastener is a screw which may be detachably attached to a joist, so that the mounting bracket may be detachably attached to a joist.

22. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) an adhesive is provided on the junction box.

23. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein:

a) the adhesive includes double-sided tape.

24. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) means is provided on the mounting bracket for supporting a fixture, the fixture supporting means transferring forces exerted on said fixture supporting means substantially without exerting such forces on the junction box.

25. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 24, wherein:

a) said fixture supporting means includes a stud.

26. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) the fixture fastener is configured for transferring forces from a fixture to the mounting bracket substantially without transferring forces to the box.

27. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 26, wherein:

a) the fastener includes a stud with internal female threads.

28. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein:

a) a thickness gauge is provided on the mounting bracket.

29. A mounting assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein:

a) the thickness gauge includes a notch in the bracket.