Universal junction box
First Claim
1. A universal junction box comprising:
- (a) a continuous peripheral wall forming a top, a bottom and opposite sides of the junction box with the wall having an internal side and an external side, and defining an open planar front facet;
(b) an alignment tab (41) associated with one of the opposite sides, the alignment tab being set back from the open planar front facet and extending out at a right angle from a plane that includes the external side of the peripheral wall such that the alignment tab is oriented in a plane parallel to the planar front facet; and
(c) the box further including a plurality of alternative mounting structures for mounting the junction box to a structural member, the alternative mounting structures including at least two of(i) a mounting tab (40) connected by a frangible seam (45) to an edge of the box and extending vertically from the external surface in coplanar alignment with one of the opposite sides of the junction box, the mounting tab having openings to allow the passage of a fastener into the structural member,(ii) at least one elongated mounting aperture (42) in one of the opposite sides of the junction box to allow the passage of a fastener into the structural member, the elongated aperture extending generally normal to the plane of the open front facet of the box,(iii) a cavity (109) in one of the opposite sides of the junction box obliquely angled from the plane of the one opposite side to allow the angled entry of a fastener through the one opposite side and into structural member, and(iv) nail gripping passages (112, 118) in each of the opposite sides of the junction box to allow passage of a nail through the box and into the structural member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A universal junction box, which includes multiple methods for securing cables, various kinds of wires and conduits and multiple methods for securing the box within a wall cavity. The front side of the box which can be positioned flush with the installed wall covering includes fittings for attaching a wall plate, switches, plugs, connectors, and electrical/electronic devices to the box. The junction box allows the addition of an extension to the rear of the junction box for a between-wall design for the installation and attachment of similar devices on an opposing wall surface through the same junction box. The junction box also engages extensions to the side of the junction box allowing two or more ganged box configurations, which share the multiple methods for securing the junction box within a wall cavity.
62 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A universal junction box comprising:
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(a) a continuous peripheral wall forming a top, a bottom and opposite sides of the junction box with the wall having an internal side and an external side, and defining an open planar front facet; (b) an alignment tab (41) associated with one of the opposite sides, the alignment tab being set back from the open planar front facet and extending out at a right angle from a plane that includes the external side of the peripheral wall such that the alignment tab is oriented in a plane parallel to the planar front facet; and (c) the box further including a plurality of alternative mounting structures for mounting the junction box to a structural member, the alternative mounting structures including at least two of (i) a mounting tab (40) connected by a frangible seam (45) to an edge of the box and extending vertically from the external surface in coplanar alignment with one of the opposite sides of the junction box, the mounting tab having openings to allow the passage of a fastener into the structural member, (ii) at least one elongated mounting aperture (42) in one of the opposite sides of the junction box to allow the passage of a fastener into the structural member, the elongated aperture extending generally normal to the plane of the open front facet of the box, (iii) a cavity (109) in one of the opposite sides of the junction box obliquely angled from the plane of the one opposite side to allow the angled entry of a fastener through the one opposite side and into structural member, and (iv) nail gripping passages (112, 118) in each of the opposite sides of the junction box to allow passage of a nail through the box and into the structural member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A universal junction box comprising:
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(a) a continuous peripheral wall forming a top, a bottom and opposite sides of the box with the wall having an internal side and an external side, and at least one planar facet of the peripheral wall further defining a front opening; (b) a pair of spaced apart alignment tabs (41a, 41b) associated with one of the opposite sides of the box, the alignment tabs being set back from the front opening and extending out at a right angle from a plane that includes the external side of the peripheral wall such that the alignment tabs each are oriented in a plane parallel to the plane of the front opening; (c) an integral fastening lug, the fastening lug defining a cylindrical fastener-engaging cavity (34b) within the peripheral wall, extending from the peripheral wall and including an anchor slot (192) receiving and holding a pull string (196); (d) a mounting aperture means (42) comprising at least one set of parallel channels (92, 96) in at least one of the opposite sides allowing for the attachment of the box to a structural member, the channel terminating at an ending aperture (94, 98); and (e) the box having a wallboard attachment means (130) comprising at least one slot (132, 134) in the external side, a channel (138) and a clip (140a, 140b, 140c) sized to engage the slot and the channel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification