Connection box stabilizer

• US 7,049,511 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheetah USA Corp, Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quixemble, Inc.
• Inventors: Gledhill, Dale C., Kidman, Brent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US10/811,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 439/538, 439/539, 439/57, 439/58, 439/571, 439/572, 439/569, 439/527, 220/3.9, 174/58
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A connection box assembly comprising a connection box having a proximal end shaped to receive a fastener and a distal end, spaced in the lateral direction from the proximal end, having a stop and a slide. The assembly may include a spacer shaped to be inserted, without the use of tools, within the slide until the spacer abuts the stop. The spacer may be adjustable in length. The spacer may be arranged to extend from the proximal end of the connection box in the transverse direction when inserted into the slide and abutted against the stop.

Claims

1. An assembly defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another, the assembly comprising;

a connection box having a proximal end shaped to receive a fastener to support the connection box and a distal end, spaced in the lateral direction from the proximal end and having a stop and a slide;

a spacer shaped to insert exclusively by linear translation, without tools, within the slide to the stop;

the spacer extending from the distal end to support the connection box in the transverse direction when inserted into the slide against the stop; and

the spacer having at least one fracture region providing controlled fracture, in response to bending stress, to adjust the length thereof.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the stop extends in the lateral direction from an exterior surface of the distal end of the connection box to register the connection box with respect to a wall panel.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the slide is positioned on the exterior surface of the distal end of the connection box.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection box is further provided with an aperture to receive transmission lines from a signal source and terminating therewithin.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the connection box is a multi-gang connection box.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the connection box is homogeneously molded of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer and a reinforced polymer.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one fracture region comprises a source of a stress concentration riser.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the source of stress concentration riser comprises a scored line extending across the spacer.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the spacer is homogeneously molded of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer and a reinforced polymer.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the slide has a frictional engagement with the spacer providing a resistance value selected to resist inadvertent removal of the spacer from the slide.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the spacer comprises an extension portion projecting in the transverse direction flow proximate the connection box to a foot portion extending in at least one of the lateral direction and longitudinal direction to resist penetration of the spacer into a solid material positioned thereagainst.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the scored line is positioned on the spacer to promote fracture at a location selected to space the foot from the stop a distance corresponding to the width of a building stud of a first standard size.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the extension has an unbroken length selected to space the tot from the stop a distance corresponding to the width of a building stud of a second standard size.

14. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising a fixture for delivery of a signal to a consuming device.

15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising an anchor, removably secured to the fixture and having a first engagement mechanism.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the connection box further comprises a receiver to receive the anchor and having a second engagement mechanism to engage the first engagement mechanism without tools.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the connection box is generally rectangular in shape, having an open face on one side thereof.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the stop registers the open face of the connection box.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the building stud of a first standard size comprises a two-by-four and the building stud of a second standard size comprises a two-by-six.

20. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection box is further provided with an aperture to receive transmission lines from a signal source and terminating therewithin.

21. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection box is a multi-gang connection box.

22. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection box is homogeneously molded of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer and a reinforced polymer.

23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one fracture region comprises a source of a stress concentration riser.

24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the source of stress concentration riser comprises a scored line extending across the spacer.

25. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer is homogeneously molded of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer and a reinforced polymer.

26. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the slide has a frictional engagement with the spacer providing a resistance value selected to resist inadvertent removal of the spacer from the slide.

27. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises an extension portion projecting in the transverse direction from proximate the connection box to a foot portion extending in at least one of the lateral direction and longitudinal direction to resist penetration of the spacer into a solid material positioned thereagainst.

28. The assembly of claim 27, wherein teat least one fracture region comprises a scored line positioned on the spacer to promote fracture at a location selected to space the foot portion from the stop a distance corresponding to the width of a building stud of a first standard size.

29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the extension portion has an unbroken length selected to space the foot portion from the stop a distance corresponding to the width of a building stud of a second standard size.

30. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fixture for delivery of a signal to a consuming device.

31. The assembly of claim 30, further comprising an anchor, removably secured to the fixture and having a first engagement mechanism.

32. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the connection box further comprises a receiver to receive the anchor and having a second engagement mechanism to engage the first engagement mechanism without tools.

33. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the connection box is generally rectangular in shape, having an open face on one side thereof.

34. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the stop registers the open face of the connection box.

35. A connection box assembly defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another, the assembly comprising:

a connection box having an aperture shaped to receive transmission lines to terminate therewithin, having a proximal end provided with an aperture to receive a fastener to support the connection box, and having a distal end, spaced in the lateral direction from the proximal end and formed to have a stop and a slide;

a spacer matingly insertable into the slide, without the use of tools, to engage the stop and sized to frictionally engage the slide to resist removal therefrom;

the spacer having at least one fracture region extending longitudinally thereacross to provide directed stress concentration fracture in response to bending, to adjust the length thereof; and

the spacer extending from the distal end of the connection box in the transverse direction when inserted into the slide and abutted against the stop.

36. A method for applying a connection box to a structural member defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another, the method comprising:

providing a connection box having a proximal end and a distal end spayed from one another, the distal end having a stop and a slide;

selecting a structural member extending in the longitudinal direction and having a width in the transverse direction;

providing a spacer shaped to be received by the slide and characterized by a length;

fracturing the spacer to adjust the length thereof to correspond to the width of the structural member;

securing the spacer to the connection box without the use of tools by inserting the spacer within the slide unit the spacer contacts the stop; and

securing the proximal end of the connection box to the structural member.