Recessed outlet box assembly

• US 7,667,145 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh, Jolly, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R
• Application Number:
  US11/888,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20080017413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 174/480, 174/481, 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/521, 174/59, 174/61, 174/63, 174/66, 174/67, 174/503, 174/489, 220 32- 39, 220/4.02, 220/241, 220/242, 439/535, 439/536, 439/136, 439/147, 439/142, 439/135, 248/906, 248/200, 248/343, D13/152, D13/177, 361/642, 361/600, 361/641, 335/28
• US Class Current: 174/480
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

The present invention provides an outlet box assembly including an outlet box having a bottom wall bounded by an outwardly extending perimeter wall forming a housing for receiving a first receptacle. An attachment structure is disposed in the housing for securing the first receptacle to the outlet box. The perimeter wall includes a first portion extending from the bottom wall and a second portion extending at an oblique angle from the first portion. The second wall portion includes an opening for supporting a second receptacle. The assembly includes a cover movable between open and closed positions and between retracted and un-retracted positions.

Claims

1. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outlet box including a bottom wall bounded by an outwardly extending perimeter wall forming a housing for receiving a first receptacle;

an attachment structure disposed in said housing for securing the first receptacle to the outlet box;

said perimeter wall including a first wall portion extending from said bottom wall and a second wall portion extending at an oblique angle from said first wall portion; and

said second wall portion including an opening for supporting a second receptacle.

2. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first wall portion extends generally perpendicularly from said bottom wall.

3. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said perimeter wall has an upper portion and a flange extending outwardly from said upper portion.

4. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said second wall portion includes a plurality of opening for supporting a plurality of second receptacles.

5. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, further including a cover supported on said outlet box and selectively movable between an open position and a closed position.

6. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said cover is selectively movable between a retracted and un-retracted positions.

7. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover is disposed adjacent said perimeter wall when in said retracted position.

8. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 6, further including a guide for guiding the movement of the cover relative to the box between the retracted and un-retracted positions.

9. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 5, further including a hinge for permitting rotation of the cover between said open and closed positions, and wherein said hinge permits rotation when said cover is in an un-retracted position.

10. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said perimeter wall has an upper portion and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and said flange includes a slot adapted to receive therein said cover, when said cover is in said retracted position.

11. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said guide includes a groove on said perimeter side wall and a rail on said cover, and said rail translates within said groove.

12. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover is rotatable between said open and closed positions and translatable between said retracted and un-retracted positions.

13. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said perimeter wall includes a support surface for supporting a face plate.

14. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said perimeter wall includes a plurality of walls surrounding all sides of said bottom wall, and each of said plurality of walls extend from said bottom wall in a generally perpendicular direction.

15. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first wall portion has an upper end displaced from said bottom wall, and said second wall portion extends from said upper end.

16. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said perimeter wall has an upper portion and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein at least a portion of said cover is moved below said flange when said cover is in said retracted position.

17. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outlet box including a bottom wall bounded by an outwardly extending perimeter wall forming a housing adapted to receive a first receptacle;

a first attachment structure disposed in said housing for securing the first receptacle to said outlet box in a first plane, said first attachment structure being disposed on said perimeter wall above said bottom wall; and

at least one of said plurality of perimeter walls including a second attachment structure for securing a second receptacle in said outlet box in a second plane, and said first plane being angularly offset from said second plane.

18. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein said first attachment structure is vertically offset from said second attachment structure.

19. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein said second attachment structure includes a portion of said perimeter wall.

20. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 19, wherein the first attachment structure includes first and second spaced posts adapted to receive fasteners for securing the first receptacle to said outlet box.

21. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 19, wherein said second attachment structure includes at least one opening formed in said perimeter wall for receiving the second receptacle.

22. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 17, further including a cover for selectively permitting and restricting access to said first and second receptacles.

23. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said cover is rotatably and translatably secured to said outlet box.

24. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 22, further including a face plate securable to said first attachment structure and wherein said face plate isolates said housing from said second attachment structure.

25. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said cover is movable into a retracted position wherein said cover is in opposed spaced relation to said perimeter wall.

26. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said cover is movable between an un-retracted and retracted position, and said cover is movable downwardly toward the bottom wall when moved toward said retracted position.

27. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outlet box including a bottom wall bounded by an outwardly extending perimeter wall forming a outlet box interior, said outlet box having an opening for receiving a first electrical receptacle;

a first attachment structure disposed in said outlet box interior for securing the first electrical receptacle to the outlet box; and

a cover rotatable between an open and closed position to selectively cover and uncover said opening, and said cover being translatable to a retracted position wherein said opening is uncovered and said cover is disposed adjacent said perimeter wall.

28. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein said perimeter wall terminates in an outwardly extending flange, and a portion of said perimeter wall and said flange define a slot there-between, and said cover is translatable within said slot.

29. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 27, further including a guide for guiding the translation of said cover.

30. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 29, wherein said guide includes a cooperating groove and rail, said groove formed on said perimeter wall and said rail disposed on said cover.

31. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein said outlet box includes an abutment wall spaced from said perimeter wall, said abutment wall and said perimeter wall forming a space in which said cover is disposed when in said retracted position.

32. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein said perimeter wall supports said cover when in said closed position.

33. The outlet box assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein said perimeter wall includes a second attachment structure for securing a second electrical receptacle.

34. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outlet box including a bottom wall bounded by an outwardly extending perimeter wall forming a housing adapted to receive a first receptacle;

a first attachment structure disposed in said housing for securing the first receptacle to said outlet box in a first plane;

at least one of said plurality of perimeter walls including a second attachment structure for securing a second receptacle in said outlet box in a second plane, and said first plane being angularly offset from said second plane; and

a cover for selectively permitting and restricting access to said first and second receptacles, said cover being movable into a retracted position wherein said cover is in opposed spaced relation to said perimeter wall.

35. An outlet box assembly comprising:

an outlet box including a bottom wall bounded by an outwardly extending perimeter wall forming a housing adapted to receive a first receptacle;

a first attachment structure disposed in said housing for securing the first receptacle to said outlet box in a first plane;

at least one of said plurality of perimeter walls including a second attachment structure for securing a second receptacle in said outlet box in a second plane, and said first plane being angularly offset from said second plane; and

a cover for selectively permitting and restricting access to said first and second receptacles, said cover being movable between an un-retracted and retracted position, and said cover is movable downwardly toward the bottom wall when moved toward said retracted position.