Recessed electrical box

• US 7,518,061 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• 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; Dhiru R
• Application Number:
  US12/286,711
• Time in Patent Office: 195 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/53, 174/480, 174/481, 174 57- 59, 174 61- 63, 174/66, 174/67, 174/135, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/241, 220/242, 439/535, 439/536, 439/537, 439/538, 248/906, D13/152, D13/177, 335/28, 361/600, 361/642, 361/826
• US Class Current: 174/58
• 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 3/121 in plain walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A recessed electrical box with a closeable cover member and at least one outward extending flange. The flange serves as a positioning arrangement to recess the electrical box at the correct depth with respect to the surface in which it will be mounted. The recessed electrical box is comprised of two pieces, including a one-piece electrical box and a one-piece cover member. An inner flange may be included for positioning the recessed electrical box with respect to the outer surface of the substrate on an unfinished building. The inner flange is removable to facilitate installation on a finished building, in which the finish layer such as siding or stucco is installed. The recessed electrical box may include a second, outer flange, for recessing the box at the correct depth with respect to a wall surface.

Claims

1. A one-piece electrical box for recessing an electrical device within a wall comprising:

a first box including an inner cavity having peripheral side walls for receiving the electrical device and a front opening;

said peripheral side walls including a front edge;

a transverse wall portion extending laterally from said front edge of said first box;

an outer box including peripheral side walls extending outward from said transverse wall portion of said inner cavity to a front edge and adapted to be recessed at least in part into the wall and provide an outer enclosure;

at least one flange extending outwardly from said peripheral side walls of said outer box;

a front opening at said front edge of said outer box for enabling access to said front opening of said inner cavity;

a mounting arrangement adapted to receive the electrical device within said front opening in said inner cavity; and

a cover pivotally attached to said outer box.

2. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein said peripheral side walls of said first box are smaller than said peripheral side walls of said outer box.

3. The electrical box of claim 1 including

an inner flange extending outward laterally from said peripheral side walls of said outer box;

and

said inner flange positioned between said flange and said transverse wall portion.

4. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein

said electrical box is molded;

and

said flange is molded as one piece with the remainder of said electrical box.

5. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein at least one part of said mounting arrangement is molded with said inner cavity.

6. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein said transverse wall portion forms a partial back wall of said outer box.

7. The recessed electrical box of claim 1 wherein said mounting arrangement includes

a top boss integral with said peripheral side wall of said first box;

a bottom boss integral with said peripheral side wall of said first box; and

bores in each of said bosses.

8. The recessed electrical box of claim 1 wherein said electrical box includes

integral posts on said peripheral side walls of said outer box;

and

said cover is pivotally attached to said posts.

9. The recessed electrical box of claim 8 including

ears extending from said cover;

apertures in said ears; and

said apertures of said ears received on said posts.

10. The recessed electrical box of claim 8 wherein said cover includes

a front wall;

and

a stiffening side wall orthogonal to said front wall.

11. The recessed electrical box of claim 10 wherein

said outer box includes one or more U-shaped slots in said peripheral side walls connecting with said front opening;

said cover includes one or more U-shaped slots in said stiffening side wall; and

closure of said cover on said opening of said outer box mates said U-shaped slots of said outer box with said U-shaped slots of said cover thereby providing a cord opening therein.

12. The recessed electrical box of claim 8 wherein

said first box and said outer box are integrally molded of plastic in one-piece;

and

said cover is molded of plastic in one-piece.