Extension ring for electrical junction box installations

• US 6,858,802 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Randl Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Randl Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Hagarty, Robert J., Whaley, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/459,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/53, 174/66, 174/67, 220/3.8, 220/3.2, 220/241, 220/242, 335/28, 340/287, 361/600
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/10 protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes

Abstract

A junction box assembly for weather-resistant installations is disclosed including a junction box (100) and an extension ring (116, 216) adapted to attach with an component such as an alarm signaling unit (118, 218). The junction box assembly enables a relatively uniform compressive force about the periphery of the alarm signaling unit, such that a good, weather resistant seal is produced between a sealing surface (159, 259) on the alarm signaling unit and a mounting surface (161). In an embodiment of the assembly the extension ring (216) includes a flange (244) that attaches to the junction box, an large aperture (247) providing access to the interior of the junction box, and a mounting plate (266) including a threaded aperture (254) that is centrally located to align with a mounting aperture (242) in the alarm signaling unit. A gasket (219) may be provided between the signaling unit and the sealing surface.

Claims

1. An alarm signal installation comprising, in combination:

a junction box comprising a square rear panel approximately five inches square, four sides extending forwardly from said rear panel, and an open front end;

an extension ring removably attachable to the junction box over the open front end of the junction box, the extension ring having a square outer flange portion and a center portion having a plurality of sidewalls defining a large aperture and a transverse plate covering a substantial portion of the large aperture, the transverse plate including a small threaded aperture that is located near the center of the large aperture;

an alarm signaling unit having a front panel with a centrally located aperture and a rearwardly extending portion;

a screw disposable through the aperture in the alarm signaling unit and threadably engaging the small threaded aperture in the transverse plate thereby removably attaching the alarm signaling unit to the extension ring.

2. The alarm signal installation of claim 1, wherein the extension ring is formed from a unitary panel.

3. The alarm signal installation of claim 1, wherein the rearwardly extending portion of the alarm signaling unit extends through the large aperture in the extension ring and into the junction box.

4. An extension ring having a square mounting flange approximately five inches square, a forwardly extending tube defined by four generally rectangular sides forwardly from the mounting flange, the sides defining a generally rectangular opening through the extension ring, the improvement comprising:

(a) a mounting panel coupled to at least one rectangular side and oriented substantially parallel to the mounting flange such that the mounting panel covers a substantial portion of the rectangular opening; and

(b) a threaded aperture in the mounting panel located near a center of the rectangular opening, and adapted to engage a threaded fastener for coupling an alarm signaling unit to the extension ring.

5. The improved extension ring of claim 4, wherein the mounting panel is coupled to at least three rectangular sides.

6. The improved extension ring of claim 4, wherein the extension ring is unitarily formed.