Folded electrical junction boxes and associated methods of use and manufacture

• US 8,789,256 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Southwire Company
• Inventors: Temblador, Richard, Dixon, Mark Doughty, Kummer, Randy Deon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, John C
• Application Number:
  US13/232,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20120067609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 295/05, 295/21, 294/28, 294/11, 294/12, 294/13, 294/15, 220/3.3, 220/3.6, 174/50, 723/24
• US Class Current: 29/505
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 51/52 boxes, cigarette cases, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

Abstract

Folded electrical junction boxes and associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an electrical junction box can be provided. The method can include receiving a single sheet or roll of metal. The method can further include initiating a plurality of operations to form at least two electrical junction boxes from the single sheet or roll of metal. The operations can include forming at least one extruded threaded hole in a wall of one of the boxes; cutting the sheet or roll of metal to form a plurality of walls for the boxes; scoring a centerline in at least one surface of one of the boxes; and cutting at least one knockout in at least one wall of one of the boxes. Further, the method can include folding the plurality of walls to form at least one folded electrical junction box.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an electrical junction box, comprising:

receiving a single sheet or roll of metal;

initiating a plurality of operations to form at least two electrical junction boxes from the single sheet of metal, wherein the operations comprise;

forming at least one extruded threaded hole in a wall of one of the boxes;

cutting the sheet or roll of metal to form a plurality of walls for the boxes;

scoring a centerline in at least one surface of one of the boxes;

cutting at least one knockout in at least one wall of one of the boxes; and

folding the plurality of walls to form at least one folded electrical junction box.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extruded threaded hole is an extruded threaded ground bump.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein cutting at least one knockout comprises cutting two aligned knockouts.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the two aligned knockouts are concentrically aligned.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the two aligned knockouts are eccentrically aligned.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

forming at least one protrusion in one wall of at least one box and a corresponding indentation in an adjacent wall of the at least one box, wherein the at least one protrusion and corresponding indentation are aligned in substantial contact with each other when the one wall overlaps the adjacent wall.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the extruded threaded hole comprises an extruded threaded ground bump comprising plurality of screw threads.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein forming the extruded threaded ground bump comprises embossing the extruded threaded ground bump in the wall.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the extruded threaded ground bump comprises additional metal material that engages the screw threads.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the centerline is scored in at least one surface of the electrical junction box prior to folding the plurality of walls to form the folded electrical junction box.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one extruded threaded hole is formed in the wall of the junction box prior to folding the plurality of walls to form the folded electrical junction box.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of walls comprises a rear wall and a plurality of side walls and wherein the centerline is scored on a surface of the rear wall.

13. A method for manufacturing an electrical junction box, comprising:

receiving a single sheet of metal;

initiating a plurality of operations to form at least two electrical junction boxes from the single sheet of metal, wherein the operations comprise;

forming at least one extruded threaded hole in a wall of one of the boxes, wherein the extruded threaded hole comprises an extruded threaded ground bump and wherein the extruded threaded ground bump comprises additional metal material disposed on a surface of the wall that engages the screw threads;

cutting the sheet or roll of metal to form a plurality of walls for the boxes;

scoring a centerline in at least one surface of one of the boxes; and

cutting at least one knockout in at least one wall of one of the boxes, wherein the at least one knockout comprises two aligned knockouts;

forming at least one protrusion in one wall of at least one box and a corresponding indentation in an adjacent wall of the at least one box, wherein the at least one protrusion and corresponding indentation are aligned in substantial contact with each other when the one wall overlaps the adjacent wall; and

folding the plurality of walls to form at least one folded electrical junction box.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the centerline is scored in at least one surface of the electrical junction box prior to folding the plurality of walls to form the folded electrical junction box.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the extruded threaded ground bump is formed in the wall of the junction box prior to folding the plurality of walls to form the folded electrical junction box.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the two aligned knockouts are concentrically aligned.