Electrical box mounting bracket

• US 8,702,047 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Nuernberger, Eric R., Tally, Brandon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US13/749,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20130140415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 248/74.1, 248/57, 248/228.7, 248/906, 248/226.26, 248/229.16, 248/231.81, 248/200.1, 248/316.7, 248/300, 174/58, 24/31.2, 244/89, 245/17, 245/18, 245/27, 245/28
• US Class Current: 248/200.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44615 with position locking-means for gripping members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44624 Integral locking-means

Abstract

A bracket is disclosed for mounting an electrical box on a mounting bar. The bracket comprises a front jaw and a rear jaw. The jaws are movable toward an open position for allowing movement of the bracket relative to the mounting bar and toward a closed position for gripping the mounting bar at a selected position along the mounting bar. The jaws are biased toward the closed position. An electrical box is attached to the front jaw. In one embodiment, the front jaw, rear jaw and a spring for urging the jaws closed are integrally formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

Claims

1. A bracket for mounting an electrical box on a mounting bar of generally channel shape comprising a web and generally parallel flanges extending from the web, said bracket comprising

front and rear jaws movable between open and closed positions,

a spring member extending from the front jaw to the rear jaw for biasing the jaws toward a closed position for gripping the mounting bar between the jaws, and

a device for attachment of an electrical box to the bracket, said device comprising a tab on the front jaw for engaging the electrical box and a fastener hole in the front jaw for receiving a fastener to attach the electrical box to the front jaw,

wherein said front and rear jaws are formed as a single piece of bent sheet metal,

wherein the front jaw is configured for contact with said web on a front side of the mounting bar and the rear jaw is configured for positioning at a rear side of the mounting bar,

wherein said rear jaw comprises at least one clamping formation configured for clamping contact with the mounting bar at the rear side of the bar, and wherein the at least one clamping formation is positioned below the spring member when the bracket is oriented with the fastener hole above the tab,

wherein the front jaw comprises a front jaw body and a front jaw extension extending upward from the front jaw body, wherein the rear jaw comprises a rear jaw body and a rear jaw extension extending upward from the rear jaw body, and wherein the front jaw extension and rear jaw extension are squeezable against the bias of the spring member for moving the front jaw body and rear jaw body away from one another toward said open position.

2. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rear jaw body comprises a pair of spaced apart legs disposed adjacent opposite sides of the front jaw body when the front and rear jaws are in said closed position.

3. A bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein the front jaw body is substantially planar and the front jaw extension is generally co-planar with the front jaw body.

4. A bracket for mounting an electrical box on a mounting bar of generally channel shape comprising a web and generally parallel flanges extending from the web, said bracket comprising

front and rear jaws movable between open and closed positions,

a spring member extending from the front jaw to the rear jaw for biasing the jaws toward a closed position for gripping the mounting bar between the jaws, and

a device for attachment of an electrical box to the bracket, said device comprising a tab on the front jaw for engaging the electrical box and a fastener hole in the front jaw for receiving a fastener to attach the electrical box to the front jaw,

wherein said front and rear jaws are formed as a single piece of bent sheet metal,

wherein the front jaw is configured for contact with said web on a front side of the mounting bar and the rear jaw is configured for positioning at a rear side of the mounting bar,

wherein the front jaw comprises a front jaw body and a front jaw extension extending upward from the front jaw body, wherein the rear jaw comprises a rear jaw body and a rear jaw extension extending upward from the rear jaw body, and wherein the front jaw extension and rear jaw extension are squeezable against the bias of the spring member for moving the front jaw body and rear jaw body away from one another toward said open position.

5. A bracket as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rear jaw body comprises a pair of spaced apart legs disposed adjacent opposite sides of the front jaw body when the front and rear jaws are in said closed position.

6. A bracket as set forth in claim 5 wherein the front jaw body is substantially planar and the front jaw extension is generally co-planar with the front jaw body.