Side-open outlet box arrangement

• US 7,964,794 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles N. Chung
• Original Assignee: Charles N. Chung
• Inventors: Chung, Charles N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R
• Application Number:
  US12/001,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20090145624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 174/480, 174/481, 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/61, 174/62, 174/63, 174/64, 174/559, 220 32- 39, 220/4.02, 220/3.94, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/58
• 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

An outlet box arrangement having an adjustable capacity for receiving electric outlets includes an outlet box having a side wall, a top wall and bottom wall extending therefrom defining an outlet socket. A top flange and bottom flange extending from the top wall and bottom wall, respectively, on which flange mounting holes are provided for enabling the outlet box to assemble with an outlet box cover for protecting the electric outlets installed in the outlet socket. Further, the outlet box is adapted to assemble with another in an edge-to-edge manner by securing the flange mounting holes of the two outlet boxes with fasteners, thereby expanding the outlet socket to receive additional electric outlets.

Claims

1. An outlet box arrangement for mounting at least an electric outlet on a supporter, comprising:

an outlet box having a mounting sidewall adapted for securely mounting on said supporter, a top wall extending from a top edge of said mounting sidewall and a bottom wall extending from a bottom edge of said mounting side wall, and defining an outlet socket within said mounting side wall, said top wall and said bottom wall, for receiving said electric outlet therein, wherein said outlet box defines a side opening between two side edges of the top and bottom walls to communicate with said outlet socket, and a front opening for allowing said electric outlet mounted thereat to communicate with outside; and

an outlet box cover, having a L-shaped cross section, having a side portion detachably attached to said side edges of said top and bottom walls of said outlet box to enclose said side opening thereof and a back portion integrally extended from said side portion covering at a back opening of said outlet socket, in such a manner that said front opening of said outlet box is remained uncovered for allowing said electric outlet mounted thereat to communicate with outside.

2. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 1, further comprising two gang adders, which defines an additional outlet socket therebetween, detachably mounted to said top and bottom walls of said outlet box respectively in an edge to edge manner, wherein said gang adders are mounted between said outlet box and said side portion of said outlet box cover while said additional outlet socket is communicating with said outlet socket so as to expand said outlet socket of said outlet box.

3. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a cavity divider detachably attached between said top and bottom walls of said outlet box to separate said outlet socket of said outlet box from said additional outlet socket of said two gang adders.

4. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said outlet box further comprises a top flange downwardly extended along said side edge of said top wall, a bottom flange upwardly extended along said side edge of said bottom wall, and means for detachably mounting said top and bottom flanges to said outlet box cover to cover said side opening of said outlet box.

5. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein said outlet box further comprises a top flange downwardly extended along said side edge of said top wall, a bottom flange upwardly extended along said side edge of said bottom wall, and means for detachably mounting said top and bottom flanges to said gang adders respectively.

6. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said outlet box further has at least a knockout hole formed at one of said top and bottom walls of said outlet box to communicate said outlet socket to outside, wherein said knockout hole is adapted for allowing electric cables extending into said outlet socket to electrically connect with said electric outlet from outside.

7. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein said outlet box further has at least a knockout hole formed at one of said top and bottom walls of said outlet box to communicate said outlet socket to outside, wherein said knockout hole is adapted for allowing electric cables extending into said outlet socket to electrically connect with said electric outlet from outside.

8. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 5, wherein said outlet box further has at least a knockout hole formed at one of said top and bottom walls of said outlet box to communicate said outlet socket to outside, wherein said knockout hole is adapted for allowing electric cables extending into said outlet socket to electrically connect with said electric outlet from outside.

9. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 6, wherein said outlet box further comprises at least two mounting tabs extended from said top and bottom walls at said front opening of said outlet box for securely mounting said electric outlet within outlet socket.

10. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 7, wherein said outlet box further comprises at least two mounting tabs extended from said top and bottom walls at said front opening of said outlet box for securely mounting said electric outlet within outlet socket.

11. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 8, wherein said outlet box further comprises at least two mounting tabs extended from said top and bottom walls at said front opening of said outlet box for securely mounting said electric outlet within outlet socket.

12. An outlet box arrangement for mounting at least an electric outlet on a supporter, comprising:

at least two outlet boxes, each of which having a mounting sidewall adapted for securely mounting on said supporter, a top wall extending from a top edge of said mounting sidewall and a bottom wall extending from a bottom edge of said mounting side wall, and defining an outlet socket within said mounting side wall, said top wall and said bottom wall, for receiving said electric outlet therein, and a side opening between two side edges of the top and bottom walls to communicate with said outlet socket, wherein said outlet boxes are detachably attached with each other in an edge-to-edge manner at said side openings of said outlet boxes to communicatively expand said outlet boxes so as to constitute said two outlet sockets for respectively receiving additional electric outlets; and

two gang adders, which defines an additional outlet socket therebetween, detachably mounted to said top and bottom walls of said outlet box respectively in an edge to edge manner, wherein said gang adders are mounted between said two outlet boxes while said additional outlet socket is communicating with said outlet sockets so as to expand said outlet sockets of said outlet boxes.

13. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 12, further comprising a cavity divider detachably attached between said top and bottom walls of said outlet boxes to separate said outlet sockets of said outlet boxes from said additional outlet socket of said two gang adders.

14. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 13, further comprising a back cover shaped and sized to detachably mount at rear sides of said outlet boxes to cover a back opening thereof.

15. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said outlet boxes further has at least a knockout hole formed at one of said top and bottom walls of said outlet box to communicate said respective outlet socket to outside, wherein said knockout hole is adapted for allowing electric cables extending into said outlet socket to electrically connect with said electric outlet from outside.

16. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said outlet boxes further comprises at least two mounting tabs extended from said top and bottom walls at said front opening of said outlet box for securely mounting said electric outlet within outlet socket.

17. The outlet box arrangement, as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said outlet boxes further comprises at least two mounting tabs extended from said top and bottom walls at said front opening of said outlet box for securely mounting said electric outlet within outlet socket.