Multi-use electrical box

• US 8,558,110 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Shotey, Marcus J., Budahazi, Gabor, Klein, John, Miserendino, Thomas A., Baldwin, Jeffrey P., Cleghorn, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOPEZ CRUZ, DIMARY S
• Application Number:
  US12/897,244
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/53, 174/54, 174/58, 174/59, 174/64, 174/520, 220/3.6, 220/3.92, 220/3.94, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.5, 220/3.7, 220/3.9, 220/4.02, 220/23.83, 220/500, 220/501, 439/535, 439/536, 439/949, 248/906, 361/679.01, 361/752
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• 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 electrical box including a peripheral wall defining an outer perimeter and having a first end opposite a second end along a central axis, a first opening in the first end, a second opening in the second end, a dividing wall located between the first opening and the second opening, and wherein the first opening is arranged to secure a first electrical device on a first side of a structural wall and the second opening is arranged to secure a second electrical device on a second side of the structural wall.

Claims

1. An electrical box comprising:

a peripheral wall extending between a first end and a second end, the peripheral wall comprising a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, and at least one side portion extending between the bottom portion and the top portion;

a first opening in the first end sized to house a first electrical device at least partially within a first chamber of the peripheral wall when the first electrical device is coupled to the first end of the peripheral wall;

a second opening in the second end sized to house a second electrical device at least partially within a second chamber of the peripheral wall when the second electrical device is coupled to the second end of the peripheral wall; and

a dividing wall located between the first opening and the second opening and separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the dividing wall comprising a plurality of cord clamps.

2. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall is located halfway between the first opening and the second opening.

3. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cord clamps allows communication between the two chambers.

4. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cord clamps comprise a first cord clamp that permits travel of electrical wire from the first chamber into the second chamber and prevents travel of electrical wire from the second chamber into the first chamber, and at least a second cord clamp that permits travel of electrical wire from the second chamber into the first chamber and prevents travel of electrical wire from the first chamber into the second chamber.

5. The electrical box of claim 4, wherein the first the first cord clamp is biased to permit travel of electrical wire from the first chamber into the second chamber and prevent travel of electrical wire from the second chamber into the first chamber, and the second cord clamp is biased to permit travel of electrical wire from the second chamber into the first chamber and prevent travel of electrical wire from the first chamber into the second chamber.

6. The electrical box of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cord clamps in the peripheral wall.

7. The electrical box of claim 6 wherein the plurality of cord clamps are in a top portion and a bottom portion of the peripheral wall.

8. The electrical box of claim 1 further comprising a pair of mounting apertures for securing the electrical box to the structural wall.

9. The electrical box of claim 8 wherein the mounting apertures are located on a top portion and a bottom portion of the peripheral wall and are angled with respect to the top and bottom portions.

10. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall includes a predetermined depth from the first opening to the second opening approximately equal to the structural wall thickness.

11. The electrical box of claim 10 wherein the predetermined depth is approximately 4.25 inches.

12. The electrical box of claim 1 further comprising electrical device mounting tabs integral with the peripheral wall.

13. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall is composed of a metal or a plastic.

14. The electrical box of claim 1 wherein the first chamber receives a high voltage supply and the second chamber receives a low voltage supply.

15. A system for providing access to electrical devices on two sides of a structural wall comprising:

a housing having a central passage therein and terminating in a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end;

a central divider separating the first end and the second end;

a plurality of cord clamps positioned on the central divider;

a pair of mounting tabs integral to the housing at the first end and the second end;

a first electrical device secured to the mounting tabs at the first end and extending into the first opening; and

,

a second electrical device secured to the mounting tabs at the second end and extending into the second opening.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first electrical device is electrically connected to the second electrical device through at least one of the plurality of cord clamps.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of cord clamps.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a pair of mounting apertures for securing the electrical box to the structural wall.

19. An electrical box, comprising:

a peripheral wall comprising a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, two side portions opposite one another and extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, two chambers on opposing open ends of the peripheral wall, and at least one mounting tab positioned proximate each of the open ends, the two chambers each being sized to at least partially house a different electrical device when the electrical device is coupled to the mounting tab; and

a divider positioned between the opposing ends of the peripheral wall and separating the two chambers, the divider comprising;

a first cord clamp that permits travel of electrical wire from a first chamber of the two chambers into a second chamber of the two chambers and prevents travel of electrical wire from the second chamber into the first chamber; and

a second cord clamp that permits travel of electrical wire from the second chamber into the first chamber, and prevents travel of electrical wire from the first chamber into the second chamber.

20. The electrical box of claim 19, wherein the first and the at least second cord clamps comprise biased cord clamps and the electrical box further comprises at least one biased cord clamp on the top portion of the peripheral wall and at least one biased cord clamp on the bottom portion of the peripheral wall.