Two-gang recessed electrical box assembly

• US 7,485,805 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/903,721
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/53, 174/54, 174/58, 174/61, 174/64, 174/135, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.7, 220/3.8, 220/3.94, 220/4.02, 220/529, 220/530, 220/545, 248/906, 439/535, 312/348.3
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, 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 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A two-gang recessed electrical box assembly for recessing a plurality of high or low voltage electrical components within a wall. The recessed electrical box assembly includes an electrical box with an electrical enclosure therein and a trim plate. The electrical enclosure can accommodate two high voltage components or two low voltage components or an optional voltage separator can be installed to divide the enclosure and enable the mounting of both a high voltage and low voltage component in the resultant subdivided enclosures. The trim plate includes a laterally extending flange and a peripheral flange that is received within the sidewalls of the electrical box. Alignment tabs are provided on the sidewalls of the electrical box to enable easy alignment against a stud. A mounting arrangement is provided on the outer sidewalls of the electrical box for securing the two-gang electrical box assembly to a stud or similar support.

Claims

1. A recessed electrical box assembly comprising:

an electrical box including an open front, two pairs of opposing sidewalls, and a rear wall defining an electrical enclosure therein;

said sidewalls including a forward portion, a rearward portion, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a front edge;

said forward portion of said sidewalls extending wider laterally than said rearward portion of said sidewalls;

a lateral wall extending between said rearward and forward portions of said sidewalls;

a dividing arrangement for dividing said electrical enclosure into two smaller electrical enclosures;

said dividing arrangement including a channel on said inner surface of a first pair of said opposing sidewalls;

said dividing arrangement including a panel for sliding within said channel;

connection points for securing an electrical device in one or both of said smaller electrical enclosures; and

said connection points offset a distance rearward from said front edge of said sidewalls, whereby said offset distance recesses the electrical devices from said open front of said electrical box.

2. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 1 including

said two pairs of opposing sidewalls including vertical sidewalls;

and

one or more ribs extending outward from and longitudinally along said outer surface of said vertical sidewalls.

3. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 2 including one or more alignment tabs extending along said outer surface of at least one of said vertical sidewalls, said alignment tabs extending rearward from said front edge of said electrical box.

4. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 3 wherein

said alignment tabs include a rear edge;

and

said rear edges of said alignment tabs are planar with said front edge of said electrical box.

5. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 1 including a trim plate for securing to said open front of said electrical box.

6. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 5 including

a flange extending laterally from said front edge of said sidewalls of said electrical box;

and

a fastening arrangement for securing said trim plate to said electrical box.

7. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 6 wherein said fastening arrangement includes

an aperture in said trim plate;

a bore in said flange of said electrical box; and

a fastener for securing through said aperture of said trim plate into said bore of said electrical box whereby said trim plate is secured flush against said front edge of said sidewalls of said electrical box.

8. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 5 wherein

said trim plate includes a peripheral sidewall and a flange;

and

said peripheral sidewall of said trim plate is of a slightly smaller size than said forward portion of said sidewalls of said electrical box, said peripheral sidewall of said trim plate thereby capable of being telescopically received within said forward portion of said sidewalls of said electrical box.

9. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein one or more of said opposing sidewalls include one or more recessed areas therein, said recessed areas including a recessed peripheral wall.

10. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein said connection points include bosses molded integrally within said electrical box.

11. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 1 including a mounting arrangement for securing said electrical box to a stud.

12. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 11 wherein said mounting arrangement includes

one or more fastener retaining bosses on said flange of said electrical box;

and

a captive fastener held frictionally within each of said fastener retaining bosses.

13. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 12 wherein

said captive fasteners include an axial orientation;

and

said axial orientation orients said captive fasteners outward of said front edge of said sidewalls.

14. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 13 wherein said captive fasteners are at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees with respect to said front edge of said electrical box.

15. The recessed electrical box assembly of claim 1 wherein

said panel includes two sides and outer corners;

and

said panel includes tabs extending outward from said sides of said panel at said outer corners.