Quick grip electrical box

• US 7,214,876 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Rohmer, Richard M., Haberek, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/159,432
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/60, 174/135, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/4.02, 439/535
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an integrally molded wall box unit that includes an electrical box configured to receive at least one electrical device. The electrical box includes a front face portion configured to accommodate the at least one electrical device and an opposing back wall portion configured to accommodate electrical wiring. A gripper member includes a flange member, an arm member and a tooth member. The flange member is connected to a first side of the electrical box and extends outwardly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first side. The arm member is connected to the flange member at a first end and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flange member. The electrical box, the flange member, and the arm member are configured to receive a structural member disposed therebetween. The tooth member is disposed at a second end of the arm member. The tooth member extending in a direction toward the electrical box. The tooth member is configured to removably secure the unit to the structural member.

Claims

1. An integrally formed wall box unit comprising:

an electrical box configured to receive at least one electrical device, the electrical box including a front face portion configured to accommodate the at least one electrical device and at least one other wall portion configured to accommodate electrical wiring; and

a gripper member including a flange member, an arm member and a tooth member, the flange member being connected to a first side of the electrical box and extending outwardly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first side, the arm member being connected to the flange member and extending from the flange member, the electrical box, the flange member, and the arm member being configured to receive a structural member disposed therebetween, and the tooth member being disposed on the arm member, the tooth member extending in a direction toward the electrical box, the tooth member being configured to removably secure the unit to the structural member.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the flange is connected to the electrical box at a predetermined distance from the front face portion such that a finished wall surface is substantially flush with the front face portion.

3. The unit of claim 2, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately one-half inch.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein the front face portion includes a plurality of openings for mounting the at least one electrical device to the electrical box.

5. The unit of claim 1, wherein the flange member includes a plurality of fastener openings, each of the plurality of openings being configured to accommodate a fastener for securing the flange member to the structural member.

6. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizing leg connected to the back wall portion, the stabilizing leg extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the back wall portion.

7. The unit of claim 6, wherein a dimension extending from a back surface of the flange member to a distal end of the stabilizing leg is substantially equal to a width of the structural member.

8. The unit of claim 7, wherein the dimension is selected to accommodate a 2×

4 wall stud.

9. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizer flange extending outwardly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a second side surface of the electrical box, the first side and the second side being parallel and opposing sides of the electrical box.

10. The unit of claim 9, wherein the stabilizer flange is connected to the electrical box at a predetermined distance from the front face portion such that a finished wall surface is substantially flush with the front face portion.

11. The unit of claim 10, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately one-half inch.

12. The unit of claim 1, wherein the tooth member includes a tooth configured to extend toward the first side of the electrical box and removably secure the unit to the structural member when the structural member is received by the first side, the flange member and the arm member.

13. The unit of claim 12, wherein the arm member is configured to flex when the structural member is received by the first side, the flange member and the arm member.

14. The unit of claim 1, wherein the integrally formed wall box unit is formed by a casting process.

15. The unit of claim 1, wherein the integrally formed wall box unit is formed by a injection molding process.

16. The unit of claim 1, wherein the integrally formed wall box unit is comprised of a plastic resin material.

17. The unit of claim 1, wherein the integrally formed wall box unit is comprised of a thermoplastic material.

18. The unit of claim 1, wherein the integrally formed wall box unit is comprised of a thermoset material.

19. The unit of claim 1, wherein the integrally formed wall box unit is comprised of a metallic material.

20. The unit of claim 1, wherein the flange member includes a slotted opening.

21. An integrally formed wall box unit comprising:

an electrical box configured to receive at least one electrical device, the electrical box including a front face portion configured to accommodate the at least one electrical device and at least one other wall portion configured to accommodate electrical wiring; and

a gripper member including a flange member, an arm member and a tooth member, the flange member being connected to a first side of the electrical box and extending outwardly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first side, the arm member being connected to the flange member and extending from the flange member, the electrical box, the flange member, and the arm member being configured to receive a structural member disposed therebetween, and the tooth member being disposed in at least one of the arm member, flange member, or first side wall, the tooth member extending in a direction toward the structural member, the tooth member being configured to removably secure the unit to the structural member.