Electrical box assembly with internal mounting arrangement and flange to seal against air infiltration

• US 7,307,212 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US11/701,906
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 174/480, 174/481, 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/503, 174/500, 174/17.R, 220 32- 39, 220/4.02, 439/535, 439/536, 439/537, 439/538, 248/906, 248/343
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

An electrical box with sidewalls having a front edge and a flange extending transversely from the sidewalls at a set distance from the front edge. Knockouts in the sidewalls include multiple removable sections, which can be removed selectively as desired to create large or small openings for electrical cables. The sidewalls of the electrical box include an opening therein and a panel that can be inserted into the opening. The panel includes an internal mounting arrangement with captive fasteners for securing the electrical box to a stud. The flange provides a sealing surface for contacting the vapor barrier surrounding the box and thereby seals around the periphery of the electrical box. Duct seal is applied around the periphery of the cables at the knockout areas to provide an airtight seal for the electrical cables entering the electrical box.

Claims

1. An electrical box assembly comprising:

a box member including sidewalls having an outer periphery;

an opening in a first of said sidewalls of said box member;

a panel secured in said opening, said panel including an inner surface;

a first rail extending along a first edge of said opening;

a second rail extending along a second edge of said opening;

a channel in said box member formed between said rails and said sidewall including said opening;

a flange extending outward transversely from said outer periphery of said sidewalls of said box member; and

a mounting arrangement on said panel for securing said box member to a stud.

2. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting arrangement includes

a boss integral with and extending from said inner surface of said panel;

and

a captive fastener partially inserted and frictionally held within said boss.

3. The electrical box assembly of claim 2 wherein

said boss includes a bore;

and

said bore in said panel is at an angle with respect to said sidewall.

4. The electrical box assembly of claim 3 wherein

said box member includes a front edge;

said bore includes a distance from said front edge of said box member;

said bore in said boss is at an angle with respect to said sidewall of said box member; and

said distance of said bore and said angle of said bore position said fastener clear of said sidewalls and said front edge of said box member.

5. The electrical box assembly of claim 3 wherein

said opening is in transverse alignment with said bore of said panel;

and

said fastener of said mounting arrangement locks said panel to said box member when said fastener is advanced through said opening.

6. The electrical box assembly of claim 3 wherein said angle of said bore with respect to said sidewall of said box member is 50 degrees.

7. The electrical box assembly of claim 2 wherein said fastener frictionally held within said boss is completely contained within said enclosure;

said sidewalls of said box member include a front edge; and

said fastener does not extend beyond said front edge of said sidewalls of said box member.

8. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein said panel includes edges and tabs extending from each of said edges.

9. The electrical box assembly of claim 8 wherein said edges of said panel are received in said channel of said box member.

10. The electrical box assembly of claim 9 wherein

said panel includes an inner surface and an outer surface;

and

said panel includes a rib extending vertically along said outer surface.

11. The electrical box assembly of claim 10 wherein

said rib of said panel seats flush against said flange of said box member when said panel is seated within said channel;

and

said rib forms a seal against said flange at said opening of said box member.

12. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein said flange enables rapid alignment with the front edge of a framing member.

13. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 including

electrical component contact points extending from said sidewalls of said box member into said enclosure;

and

said electrical component contact points capable of receiving fasteners of an electrical device therein.

14. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein

said box member includes a back wall;

and

a removable wall portion in said back wall of said box member.

15. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein

said removable wall portion in said back wall includes a first removable wall portion and a second removable wall portion;

and

said first removable wall portion is of a smaller diameter than said second removable wall portion.

16. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 including

a pair of rails extending along opposite sides of said opening in said first sidewall;

a channel in said box member formed between said rails and said first sidewall; and

said tabs guiding said panel toward frictional engagement with said channel of said box member.

17. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein said box member is of single wall construction.

18. An electrical box assembly comprising:

a box member including sidewalls having an outer periphery;

an opening in a first of said sidewalls of said box member;

a panel secured in said opening, said panel including an inner surface;

a flange extending outward transversely from said outer periphery of said sidewalls of said box member;

a mounting arrangement on said panel for securing said box member to a stud;

a boss integral with and extending from said inner surface of said panel;

a captive fastener partially inserted and frictionally held within said boss;

said boss includes a bore;

said bore in said panel is at an angle with respect to said sidewall; and

said angle of said bore with respect to said sidewall of said box member is between 45 and 55 degrees.

19. An electrical box assembly comprising:

a box member including sidewalls defining an enclosure;

an opening in a first of said sidewalls of said box member, said first sidewall including an inner surface;

a panel secured against said inner surface of said first sidewall of said box member in alignment with said opening, said panel including two sides;

tabs extending outward from each side of said panel;

a captive fastener frictionally held in said panel, said fastener including a central axis; and

said central axis of said fastener in alignment with said opening in said first sidewall whereby tightening of said fastener secures said panel to said box member and said box member to a framing member.