Multi-functional mounting bracket with integral electrical box

• US 7,025,314 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2004
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tammy Thomas, Thomas R. Herren
• Original Assignee: Tammy Thomas, Thomas R. Herren
• Inventors: Thomas, Tammy, Herren, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US10/841,732
• Time in Patent Office: 703 Days
• Field of Search: 248/205.1, 248/544, 248/906, 174/58, 174/50, 220/3.3, 220/3.6, 220/3.9, 523/17
• US Class Current: 248/205.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a multi-functional mounting bracket. The mounting bracket described comprises an integral electrical box obviating the need to mount the electrical box to the mounting bracket at the construction site. Furthermore, the mounting bracket as described can be attached to metal or wooden studs without the need for modification of the mounting bracket. The bracket provides for a simple, efficient installation of electrical boxes, ensuring that the electrical box is installed in the proper configuration.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for attachment to a pair of supports, said mounting bracket comprising:

a. An elongated base member, said base member comprising a first end and a second end and a first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge extending between said first end and said second end;

b. a first flange in communication with said first end and extending along at least a portion of said first end and a second flange in communication with said second end and extending along at least a portion of said first end, said first and second flanges being in a generally perpendicular relationship to said base member;

c. a rear flange in communication with said second horizontal edge, said rear flange extending along at least a portion of said second horizontal edge;

d. a face plate in communication with said first horizontal edge, said face plate extending along at least a portion of said first horizontal edge, said face plate comprising an electrical box, the electrical box adapted to receive a utility and an article; and

e. at least one of said first end or second end incorporates a notch, said notch located at a position selected from the group consisting of;

the first horizontal edge and the second horizontal edge, said notch extending in a horizontal direction along the base member.

2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein both the first end of said bracket incorporates a first notch and the second end of said bracket incorporates a second notch, said first notch and second notch located at a position selected from the group consisting of:

the first horizontal edge and the second horizontal edge, said first notch and said second notch extending in a horizontal direction along the base member.

3. The bracket of claim 1 where the base member has a length, said length being determined by the distance between said pair of supports.

4. The bracket of claim 1 where the bracket is manufactured from a rigid, high-strength material.

5. The bracket of claim 4 where the metal is galvanized steel.

6. The bracket of claim 1 where the bracket is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a metal, a plastic, a polymer and a composite.

7. The bracket of claim 1 where said electrical box is formed as an integral part of the face plate.

8. The bracket of claim 1 where the face plate comprises an opening therein and the electrical box is secured in said opening with at least one weld.

9. The bracket of claim 1 where the face plate comprises an opening therein and said opening has at least one flange portion associated therewith and the electrical box is secured in said opening by attachment to said at least one flange.

10. The bracket of claim 1 where the electrical box comprises a plurality of punchouts.

11. The bracket of claim 1 where the article is selected from the group consisting of a light switch, a convenience plug, an electrical outlet, a cable outlet and a phone outlet, said article being capable of connection to the utility.

12. The bracket of claim 1 where the base member further comprises at least one retaining clip to secure the utility.

13. The bracket of claim 1 where the base member further comprises a pre-formed opening to allow passage of the utility through the base member.

14. The bracket of claim 1 where said pair of supports are a first and a second metal stud, and each stud comprises a U-shaped channel formed by a central base having a front side and a back side, two side portions extending outwardly at right angles from the front side of said central base with each of said side portions having a lip portion extending outwardly from said side portions in the same plane as said central base and into said U-shaped channel.

15. The bracket of claim 14 where the front side of the central base of the first metal stud faces the back side of the central base of the second metal stud.

16. The bracket of claim 15 where the notch is located on the first end of said base member and receives one of the side portions and lip portions of the first metal stud so that the first end of the bracket is received in the U-shaped channel of the first metal stud and the first flange on the first end contacts the front side of the central base of the first metal stud.

17. The bracket of claim 16 where notch has a length and a width, said length selected from the group consisting of 2 inches, 2.5 inches and 3 inches, and said width selected from the group consisting of 0.3 inches, 0.5 inches and 0.75 inches.

18. The bracket of claim 16 where the second flange on the second end contacts the back side of the central base of the second metal stud.

19. The bracket of claim 18 where the face plate comprises a first end and a second end and the face plate has a length such that the first end of the face plate contacts one of the side portions of the first metal stud and the second end of the face plate contacts one of the side portions of the second metal stud.

20. The bracket of claim 19 where the first flange is attached to the front side of the central base of the first metal stud, the second flange is attached to the back side of the central base of the second metal stud, the first end of the face plate is attached to one of the side portions of the first metal stud and the second end of the face plate is attached to one of the side portions of the second metal stud.

21. The bracket of claim 18 where the face plate comprises a first end and a second end and the face plate has a length such that neither the first end or the second end of the face plate contacts a side portion of the first or second metal studs.

22. The bracket of claim 21 where the first flange is attached to the front side of the central base of the first metal stud and the second flange is attached to the back side of the central base of the second metal stud.

23. The bracket of claim 14 where the front side of the central base of the first metal stud faces the front side of the central base of the second metal stud.

24. The bracket of claim 23 comprising a first notch and a second notch and the first notch is located on the first end of said base member and receives one of the side portions and lip portions of the first metal stud so that the first end of the bracket is received in the U-shaped channel of the first metal stud and the first flange on the first end contacts the front side of the central base of the first metal stud and the second notch is located on the second end of said base member and receives one of the side portions and lip portions of the second metal stud so that the second end of the bracket is received in the U-shaped channel of the second metal stud and the second flange on the second end contacts the front side of the central base of the second metal stud.

25. The bracket of claim 24 where the first notch and the second notch each have a length and a width, said length selected from the group consisting of 2 inches, 2.5 inches and 3 inches, and said width selected from the group consisting of 0.3 inches, 0.5 inches and 0.75 inches.

26. The bracket of claim 24 where the face plate comprises a first end and a second end and the face plate has a length such that the first end of the face plate contacts one of the side portions of the first metal stud and the second end of the face plate contacts one of the side portions of the second metal stud.

27. The bracket of claim 26 where the first flange is attached to the front side of the central base of the first metal stud, the second flange is attached to the back side of the central base of the second metal stud, the first end of the face plate is attached to one of the side portions of the first metal stud and the second end of the face plate is attached to one of the side portions of the second metal stud.

28. The bracket of claim 24 where the face plate comprises a first end and a second end and the face plate has a length such that neither the first end or the second end of the face plate contacts a side of the first or second metal studs.

29. The bracket of claim 28 where the first flange is attached to the front side of the central base of the first metal stud and the second flange is attached to the back side of the central base of the second metal stud.

30. The bracket of claim 1 where said pair of supports are a first and a second wooden stud, and each stud comprises a front side and a back side, and two side portions joining said front side and back side.

31. The bracket of claim 30 where the first flange on the first end contacts the front side of the first wooden stud and the second flange on the second end contacts the back side of the second wooden stud.

32. The bracket of claim 31 where the face plate comprises a first end and a second end and the face plate has a length such that the first end of the face plate contacts one of the side portions of the first wooden stud and the second end of the face plate contacts one of the side portions of the wooden metal stud.

33. The bracket of claim 32 where the first flange is attached to the front side of the first wooden stud, the second flange is attached to the back side of the second wooden stud, the first end of the face plate is attached to one of the side portions of the first wooden stud and the second end of the face plate is attached to one of the side portions of the second wooden stud.

34. The bracket of claim 31 where the face plate comprises a first end and a second end and the face plate has a length such that neither the first end or the second end of the face plate contacts a side portion of the first or second wooden studs.

35. The bracket of claim 34 where the first flange is attached to the front side of the first wooden stud and the second flange is attached to the back side of the second wooden stud.