Electrical box with safety door

• US 8,739,997 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott A. Ploof
• Original Assignee: Scott A. Ploof
• Inventors: Ploof, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew, Fenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOLZ, ELIZABETH J
• Application Number:
  US13/794,892
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3.2, 220/3.8, 220/835, 439/133, 174/50, 174/58, 174/66, 174/67, 162/82, 162/87, 163/67
• US Class Current: 220/3.8
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An apparatus providing an enclosure being recessed within a wall structure and containing a plurality of electrical outlets includes a locking access door to cover the electrical outlets. The apparatus mounts flush to wall surface. The door slides upwardly to access the electrical outlets and can be locked in a lowered position using a locking mechanism and includes at least one cord slot to allow cords to be outwardly routed.

Claims

1. An electrical box comprising:

an enclosure having sidewalls forming a front opening, said sidewalls being configured to mount at least one electrical outlet;

a front frame extending perpendicularly outward from a perimeter edge of said sidewalls;

a plurality of frame clamps mechanically connected to said front frame and configured to secure said enclosure to a wall surface; and

,

a door slidably connected to said enclosure behind said front frame, said door being movable between an open and a closed position to cover said front opening;

wherein said door comprises at least one cord slot disposed therethrough and being configured to permit a power cord to extend through when said door is in said closed position.

2. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein said sidewalls comprise at least one knock-out section defined by a plurality of intersecting perforations;

wherein said at least one knock-out section is removable about said perforations to form an opening, said opening configured to receive at least one electrical outlet.

3. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein said sidewalls comprise at least one generally rectangular opening configured to receive said at least one electrical outlet.

4. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein said enclosure further comprises a plurality of mounting apertures, each mounting aperture configured to receive a fastener to secure said enclosure to a support structure.

5. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein said enclosure further comprises a rectangular perimeter shape.

6. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of frame clamps is disposed at each corner of said front frame.

7. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of frame clamps comprises a tab threadably attached to said front frame by a threaded fastener;

wherein rotation of said threaded fastener extends and retracts said tab relative to said front frame.

8. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein said door comprises a locking mechanism operably connectable to said enclosure to lock said door in said closed position.

9. The electrical box of claim 8, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a key actuated lock and a latch extending from said lock, said latch being movable between an engaged and a disengaged position.

10. An electrical box comprising:

an enclosure configured to be recessed within an opening in a wall surface and having a rear wall, an upper wall, a lower wall, and lateral sidewalls forming a front opening, said rear wall and said sidewalls being configured to mount a plurality of electrical outlets;

a front frame extending perpendicularly outward from a perimeter edge of said sidewalls to contact an exterior of said wall surface;

a door slot disposed through said upper wall;

a plurality of frame clamps configured to secure said enclosure to an edge of said opening in said wall surface, wherein one of said plurality of frame clamps is mechanically connected to each corner of said front frame; and

,

a door extending between said sidewalls and slidably connected within said door slot, said door being movable between an open and a closed position to cover said front opening.

11. The electrical box of claim 10, wherein said door comprises at least one cord slot disposed about a lower edge and being configured to permit a power cord to extend through when said door is in said closed position.

12. The electrical box of claim 10, wherein said sidewalls and said rear wall each comprises a knock-out section defined by a plurality of intersecting perforations;

wherein said knock-out sections are removable about said perforations to form openings, said openings configured to receive one of said plurality of electrical outlets.

13. The electrical box of claim 10, wherein said sidewalls and said rear wall each comprises a generally rectangular opening configured to receive one of said plurality of electrical outlets.

14. The electrical box of claim 11, wherein said enclosure further comprises a plurality of mounting apertures, each mounting aperture configured to receive a fastener to secure said enclosure to a support structure behind said wall surface.

15. The electrical box of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of frame clamps comprises a tab spaced away from said front frame and threadably attached by a threaded fastener;

wherein rotation of said threaded fastener extends and retracts said tab relative to said front frame.

16. The electrical box of claim 15, wherein said tab comprises a first end threadably attached to said threaded fastener, a second end opposite said first end, and a flat surface extending from said first end to said second end to contact an interior of said wall surface.

17. The electrical box of claim 10, wherein said door comprises a locking mechanism having a key actuated lock and a latch extending from said lock, said latch being movable between an engaged position to lock said door in said closed position and a disengaged position.

18. The electrical box of claim 17, wherein said lower wall comprises a latch aperture to operatively receive said latch in said engaged position.

19. The electrical box of claim 18, wherein said latch comprises a hook shape.