Snap fit screw plug

• US 7,501,575 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Jolly, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/893,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20080179071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/53, 174/54, 174 55- 58, 174/64, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.4, 220/3.8, 220/3.94, 405/70, 405/80, 362/20, 362/183, 994/53, 361/704, 361/719, 439/535, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An electrical outlet box includes fastening hardware to secure the box to a wall structure. A cover overlies the fastening hardware. The box has a flange with mounting apertures therethrough to receive the fastening hardware. The apertures may be formed in a recess in the flange. The cover may be formed as a plug that is inserted into the recess to provide a flush surface with said flange.

Claims

1. A recessed electrical outlet box comprising:

a body having a back surface, an open front surface and a perimeter surface therebetween defining a box interior;

an outwardly extending flange formed around said perimeter surface;

a plurality of recesses provided on said outwardly extending flange, each of said plurality of recesses adapted to receive at least one mounting screw; and

a plug for covering each of said plurality of recesses;

wherein said plug includes a side wall having a resilient tang for releasably securing said plug in one of said plurality of recesses; and

one of said plurality of recesses includes a recess side wall including an opening therethrough for releasably receiving said resilient tang of said plug.

2. The recessed electrical outlet box of claim 1, wherein said plug includes a generally planar surface [and a depending plug side wall extending therefrom], said plug side wall being received in one of said plurality of recesses [said recess] for placing said planar surface of said plug in flush relatively with said flange.

3. The recessed electrical outlet box of claim 1, wherein said plug is attached to said flange by a tether.

4. The recessed electrical outlet box of claim 3, wherein said flange, said plug and said tether are integrally formed.

5. The recessed electrical outlet box of claim 3, wherein said flange includes a groove adjacent said tether for accommodating said tether when said plug in inserted into one of said plurality of recesses.

6. The recessed electrical outlet box of claim 3, wherein one of said plurality of recesses includes a bottom surface and a screw aperture therethrough for accommodating said mounting screw.

7. The recessed electrical outlet box of claim 1, wherein a plurality of bosses are situated within said box interior, each of said bosses having at least one mounting hole for mounting at least one electrical fixture.

8. An electrical outlet box for supporting an electrical fixture comprising:

a box housing having a back wall, a perimetrgal side wall, an open front face and a generally planar flange surrounding said open front face for supporting said box to a wall surface;

said flange including a mounting aperture therethrough having a recess for releasably receiving a fastening hardware therewith for securing said flange to said wall surface; and

a cover for overlying said mounting aperture and said inserted fastening hardware;

said cover having a surface therewith in flush relationship with said planar flange;

wherein said cover includes a plug, said plug having a planar surface and depending resilient tang for releasably resiliently securing said tang in said recess; and

wherein said flange includes a tether for attaching said plug to said flange.

9. An electrical outlet box of claim 8, wherein said cover is insertable into said recess.

10. An electrical outlet box of claim 8, wherein said cover is releasably insertable into said recess.

11. An electrical outlet box of claim 10, wherein said planar surface is flush with said flange, wherein said tang is inserted into said recess.

12. An electrical outlet box of claim 10, wherein said recess includes a side wall and when said side wall includes an opening for releasably receiving said tang.

13. An electrical outlet box of claim 10, wherein said plug, said tether and said flange are integrally formed.

14. An electrical outlet box of claim 10, wherein said flange includes a channel for receipt of said tether.