Electrical junction box and support bracket having sliding attachment

• US 6,384,334 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Cable Technologies Corporation (General Cable Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ronald D. Webb
• Inventors: Webb, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinkins, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US09/658,906
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/50, 174/58, 174/63, 248/300, 248/27.1, 248/906, 248/311.2, 248/205.1, 248/544, 248/225.21, 248/224.8, 220/3.9, 220/3.92, 220/3.6, 220/3.8, 220/3.3, 220/3.7
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

An electrical junction box includes a box enclosure having an open face supporting a pair of downwardly extending shorter length tabs on its upper edge and a pair of upwardly extending longer tabs on its lower edge. A riser having a base for attachment to a floor track within a wall or partition includes an opening formed therein to define a box mounting portion of the riser. The box mounting portion of the riser further includes a pair of upper slots having a spacing therebetween corresponding to the spacing between the upper tabs of the junction box. The box mounting portion of the riser further includes a pair of lower slots having a spacing therebetween corresponding to the upwardly extending lower tabs of the junction box. The slots are formed as generally rectangular punched U-shaped members having rear surfaces which define respective apertures therein. The upper tabs and lower tabs of the junction box define corresponding apertures. The junction box is assembled to the rear surface of the riser in a sliding attachment and secured following sliding attachment assembly by one or more conventional fasteners.

Claims

1. An electrical junction box and support assembly comprising:

a riser having a box mounting portion and means for supporting said riser within a wall space;

a pair of upper tab-receiving slots and a lower pair of tab-receiving slots formed in said box mounting portion;

a junction box having an open face including an upper edge and a lower edge;

a pair of upper tabs extending downwardly from said upper edge; and

a pair of lower tabs extending upwardly from said lower edge,

said lower tabs being longer than said upper tabs and having sufficient length to allow said junction box to be attached to said box mounting portion by sliding said lower tabs upwardly through said lower pair of tab-receiving slots and thereafter sliding said upper tabs downwardly through said upper tab-receiving slots while said lower tabs remain engaged within said lower tab-receiving slots.

2. The electrical junction box and support assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower slots each define forwardly open generally U-shaped members each defining a rear face.

3. The electrical junction box and support assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said upper and lower tabs each define a tab aperture and wherein each of said rear faces define a face aperture, said tab apertures and said face apertures aligning when said upper tabs are inserted into said upper tab-receiving slots.

4. The electrical junction box and support assembly set forth in claim 3 further including at least one fastener threadably engaging at least one of said upper tabs and upper tab-receiving slots within said tab aperture and face aperture thereof.

5. The electrical junction box and support assembly set forth in claim 4 further including at least one fastener threadably engaging at least one of said lower tabs and lower tab-receiving slots within said tab aperture and face aperture thereof.

6. The electrical junction box and support assembly set forth in claim 3 further including at least one fastener threadably engaging at least one of said lower tabs and lower tab-receiving slots within said tab aperture and face aperture thereof.

7. An electrical junction box and support assembly comprising:

a riser having a box mounting portion defining an opening, a pair of forwardly open generally U-shaped tab-receiving upper slots positioned above said opening and a pair of forwardly open generally U-shaped tab-receiving lower slots positioned beneath said opening and means for supporting said riser within a wall space;

a junction box defining an open front defining an upper edge and a lower edge;

first and second tabs extending downwardly from said upper edge each defining a first length; and

third and fourth tabs extending upwardly from said lower edge each defining a second length substantially greater than said first length,

said first and second lengths being selected to facilitate sliding attachment of said junction box to said box mounting portion by initially sliding said third and fourth tabs upwardly through said lower slots and thereafter sliding said junction box downwardly to insert said first and second tabs downwardly into said upper tab-receiving slots while maintaining said third and fourth tabs within said lower tab-receiving slots.