Method for manufacturing electrical boxes

• US 7,368,661 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Lalancette, Daniel, Lupsa, Ioan Liviu
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/507,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/54, 174/58, 174/17, 174/18, 174/48, 174/49, 493/10, 493/126, 220/4.02, 220/3.6, 220/3.9, 439/535, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing an electrical box to reduce the amount of scrap material therefrom. More particularly, the present invention provides a metallic electrical outlet box that is formed from a sheet of material and folded into an electrical box.

Claims

1. A blank for forming an electrical box comprising two side wall portions attached to either side of a back wall portion at opposing folded edges by material continuity, and one end wall portion attached to each side wall portion by material continuity and extending in opposite directions from said side wall portion, said back wall portion being defined by two opposing free edges and said two opposing folded edges and each of said sidewall portion defined by two folded edges opposing two free edges.

2. The blank of claim 1 wherein each of said side wall portions are planar rectangular shape.

3. The blank of claim 1 wherein each of said end wall portions are planar square shaped.

4. The blank of claim 1 wherein said back wall portion is similar in shape to said side wall portions.

5. The blank of claim 1 wherein said back wall portion includes at least one receiving slot for attachment of said end wall portions.

6. The blank of claim 5 wherein at least one of said end walls includes a first tab protruding therefrom to provide engagement with said at least one receiving slot of said back wall.

7. The blank of claim 1 wherein said side wall portions include at least one coupling flap extending therefrom for attachment of said side wall to an opposing end wall.

8. The blank of claim 1 wherein said end wall includes at least one end coupling flap extending therefrom for attachment to an opposing side wall.