Electrical box voltage divider

• US 8,436,259 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Green, Russell Bryant, Clarke, Terence JaMal
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan T
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US12/714,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20110209913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 361/623, 361/727, 174/505, 174/504, 174/50.5, 174/50.51, 174/522, 174/520
• US Class Current: 174/520
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers

Abstract

An electrical box described herein allows for separate wire connection areas for low voltage and line voltage wiring within a single box. The electrical box includes a voltage divider positioned within the box that divides the box into two distinct portions, thereby providing a low voltage wiring connection area that is separate from the line voltage wiring connection area. The electrical box also includes multiple knockouts, each covering an opening that provides a passageway from the interior of the box to the exterior of the box. At least one knockout and associated opening are positioned to provide access to the low voltage wiring connection area and another knockout and associate opening is positioned along to the box to provide access to the line voltage wiring connection area. The box provides an electrical junction for a luminaire, such as a downlight, or other electrical device.

Claims

1. An electrical box comprising:

a back panel;

a plurality of walls, each wall comprising;

a first edge;

a second opposing edge; and

a substantially planar member disposed between the first and second edges, the first edge being disposed adjacent to the back panel and each wall extending out from the back panel in a substantially orthogonal direction such that the back panel and walls define an interior space;

a front panel removably disposed along the second edge of each of the walls, the back panel, walls, and front panel defining an enclosure; and

a divider that divides the interior space into exactly two portions, the two portions being a first portion disposed in one quadrant of the interior space and a second portion disposed in a remainder of the interior space, the divider coupled to or integrated with first and second walls of the plurality of walls extending substantially orthogonal to each other, the divider comprising exactly two divider walls, the divider walls being a first divider wall and a second divider wall, the first divider wall and the second divider wall being substantially orthogonal to each other.

2. The electrical box of claim 1, further comprising at least one opening in each of the first and second divider walls.

3. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls comprises:

an opening disposed along the wall, the opening providing a passageway therethrough; and

a removable knockout disposed over the opening,

wherein the knockout is movable from a first position to a second position,

wherein in the first position the knockout covers the opening and prevents passage through the opening, and

wherein in the second position the opening provides the passageway between the interior space and an exterior of the box.

4. The electrical box of claim 3, wherein the opening and the removable knockout are disposed adjacent to the second portion of the interior space and wherein, when the knockout is in the second position, the opening provides a passageway from the second portion of the interior space to the exterior of the box.

5. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the divider is further coupled to or integrated with the back panel.

6. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the divider is integral with at least one wall of the plurality of walls or to the back panel.

7. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the interior space comprises half or less than an entire space defined by the interior space.

8. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the interior space comprises a quarter or less than an entire space defined by the interior space.

9. A lighting system comprising:

an electrical enclosure comprising;

a back panel;

a plurality of walls, each wall comprising;

a first edge;

a second opposing edge; and

a substantially planar member disposed between the first and second edges, the first edge being disposed adjacent to the back panel and each wall extending out from the back panel in a substantially orthogonal direction such that the back panel and walls define an interior space;

a front panel removably disposed along the second edge of each of the walls, the back panel, walls, and front panel defining an enclosure; and

a divider that divides the interior space into exactly two portions, the two portions being a first portion disposed in one quadrant of the interior space and a second portion disposed in a remainder of the interior space, the divider coupled to or integrated with first and second walls of the plurality of walls extending substantially orthogonal to each other, the divider comprising exactly two divider walls, the divider walls being a first divider wall and a second divider wall, the first divider wall and the second divider wall being substantially orthogonal to each other;

low voltage load wires having a first connector position within the first portion; and

line voltage load wires having a second connector position within the second portion.

10. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls comprises:

an opening that provides a passageway therethrough; and

a removable knockout disposed over the opening,

wherein the knockout is movable from a first position to a second position,

wherein in the first position the knockout covers the opening and prevent passage through the opening, and

wherein in the second position the opening provides the passageway between the interior space and an exterior of the box.

11. The electrical box of claim 10, wherein the opening and the removable knockout are disposed adjacent to the second portion of the interior space and wherein, when the knockout is in the second position, the opening provides a passageway from the second portion of the interior space to the exterior of the box.

12. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the low voltage load wires are electrically coupled to a dimmer switch.

13. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls comprises:

an opening disposed along the wall, the opening providing a passageway therethrough;

an electrical conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the opening, the second end coupled to a portion of a lighting fixture.

14. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the low voltage source wires and the line voltage source wires are positioned in the electrical conduit and electrically coupled to the lighting fixture.

15. The electrical box of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the interior space comprises half or less than an entire space defined by the interior space.

16. The electrical box of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the interior space comprises a quarter or less than an entire space defined by the interior space.

17. An electrical box comprising:

a back panel;

a plurality of walls, each wall comprising a first edge a second opposing edge;

a substantially planar member disposed between the first and second edges, the first edge being disposed adjacent to the back panel and each wall extending out from the back panel in a substantially orthogonal direction such that the back panel and walls define an interior space; and

a divider that divides the interior space into exactly two portions, the two portions being a first portion disposed in one quadrant of the interior space and a second portion disposed in a remainder of the interior space, the divider comprising exactly two divider walls, the divider walls being a first divider wall and a second divider wall, the first divider wall and the second divider wall being substantially orthogonal to each other.