Electrical termination component bracket

• US 7,151,218 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/764,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/63, 220/3.7, 220/3.8, 439/535, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An electrical box bracket is positionable in one of two reversible positions to accommodate wall boards of two different thicknesses. The bracket includes a flange and an access member for providing access therethrough. In one of the two reversible positions, the access member accommodates wall board of one thickness and in the other reversible position the access member accommodates wall board of the other thickness. The bracket may be mounted directly to a stud or can be mounted to an outlet box which is attached to the stud.

Claims

1. A reversible bracket for attachment to an open front face of an outlet box comprising:

a planar flange having opposed surfaces having a first position with one of said opposed surfaces being attachable to said open front face of said box and a reversible second position with the other of said opposed surfaces being attachable to said open front face of said box; and

a bounded access member extending through said flange, said access member having an opening extending through said flange between opposite extending rims of said access member, one of said rims being located a first distance from said open front face of said box when said flange is in said first position, and the other of said rims being located at a second distance from said open front face of said box when said flange is in said reversible second position, and said first distance being different from and said second distance.

2. A reversible bracket of claim 1 where said first and second distance are approximately equal distance of different thickness of wall board.

3. In combination a bracket and an electrical junction box comprising:

said electrical outlet box having a back wall, a side wall upstanding from and perimetrically bounding said back wall so as to define a box interior and an open face opposite said back wall,; and

said bracket having a generally planar flange reversibly positionable on an upper edge of said side wall for spanning said open face of said box, said planar flange having an opening therethrough for accessing said box interior, said opening being bounded by a first extending boundary wall, said first boundary extending wall extending a first distance and in a first direction from said planar flange and a second extending boundary wall extending a second distance and in a second direction from said planar flange, said first distance being different from said second distance and said first direction being opposite said second direction, said first and second boundary walls being alternately insertable into said box interior upon said reversible positioning of said planar flange.

4. A bracket of claim 3 where said first distance approximates the thickness of a first wall board and said second distance approximates the thickness of a second wall board of different thickness.

5. A bracket of claim 3 wherein one of said first and second extending walls is positioned to extend into said box interior.

6. A method of attaching an electrical outlet box, having a box interior and an open front face, to a stud comprising the step of:

providing a bracket having a generally planar flange and an opening therethrough, said opening being bounded by a first extending wall extending from said flange a first direction, and a second extending wall extending from said flange a second distance in a second opposite direction, and first distance being different from said second distance;

attaching said bracket to said electrical outlet box over said open front face with one of said first or second extending walls extending into said box interior; and

attaching said box to said stud such that said other of said first or second extending wall extends outwardly from said face of said stud.

7. A method of claim 6 when said order of said first or second extending wall extends a distance which approximates the thickness of a wall board.