Position-adjustable receptacle and fasteners therefor

• US 9,859,696 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrical Improvement Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Electrical Improvement Products LLC
• Inventors: Jack, Robert W., Dimas, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Pete
• Application Number:
  US15/381,081
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/12 for flush mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A fastener assembly for joining a first part to a second part, and comprising an adjustment fastener and a screw. The adjustment fastener comprises a body including opposed first and second planar and parallel side walls, and a threaded hole extending along a central axis through the body from the first side wall to the second side wall; and a tang joined to the flat body adjacent to the threaded hole and extending outwardly from the first side wall in a direction parallel to the central axis. The screw comprises a head and an elongated threaded shank. The head of the screw is disposable against an ear of the first part. The threaded shank extends through an oblong hole of the ear of the first part, and engages with and extends through the threaded hole of the adjustment fastener, and is engageable with threads in a tab of the second part.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly for joining a first part comprised of an ear having an oblong hole therethrough to a second part comprising a tab having a threaded hole therethrough, the fastener assembly comprising:

a) an adjustment fastener comprised of a body including opposed first and second planar and parallel side walls and a threaded hole extending along a central axis through the body from the first side wall to the second side wall, and a tang joined to the flat body adjacent to the threaded hole and extending outwardly from the first side wall in a direction parallel to the central axis; and

b) a screw comprising a head and an elongated threaded shank, the head of the screw disposable against the ear of the first part, and the threaded shank extending through the oblong hole of the ear of the first part, and engaged with and extending through the threaded hole of the adjustment fastener, and engageable with threads in the threaded hole of the tab of the second part;

wherein when the position of the adjustment fastener on the threaded shank of the screw is adjusted to a desired location, the tang of the adjustment faster is engageable with the oblong hole of the ear with the first side wall of the adjustment fastener contiguous with the ear of the first part, thereby immobilizing the adjustment fastener against the ear, and locating the first part at a fixed distance from the second part.

2. The fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the opposed first and second side walls of the adjustment fastener terminate at a perimeter wall, and wherein the perimeter wall is comprised of recessed notches and protruding teeth.

3. The fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein the position of the adjustment fastener on the threaded shank of the screw is adjustable by rotation of the body around the threaded shank of the screw by engagement of a tool with one of the teeth of the adjustment fastener.

4. The fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the opposed first and second side walls of the adjustment fastener are perpendicular to the central axis of the body.

5. An electrical fixture mountable to a box comprising a side wall terminating at an outer edge defining a planar opening, a first tab extending outwardly from a first side region of the side wall along the plane of the planar opening and including a first threaded hole therethrough, and a second tab extending outwardly from an opposed second side region of the side wall along the plane of the planar opening and including a second threaded hole therethrough;

the electrical fixture comprising;

a) a planar plate comprising a first end region including a first ear with a first oblong hole therethrough, and an opposed second end region including a second ear with a second oblong hole therethrough;

b) first and second adjustment fasteners, each of the adjustment fasteners comprised of a first body including opposed first and second planar and parallel side walls and a threaded hole extending along a central axis through the body from the first side wall to the second side wall, and a tang joined to the flat body adjacent to the threaded hole and extending outwardly from the first side wall in a direction parallel to the central axis;

c) a first screw comprising a first head and a first elongated threaded shank, the first head of the first screw disposable against the first ear of the planar plate of the electrical fixture, and the first threaded shank extending through the first oblong hole of the first ear, and engaged with and extending through the threaded hole of the first adjustment fastener, and engageable with threads in the first threaded hole of the first tab of the box;

d) a second screw comprising a second head and a second elongated threaded shank, the second head of the second screw disposable against the second ear of the planar plate of the electrical fixture, and the second threaded shank extending through the second oblong hole of the second ear, and engaged with and extending through the threaded hole of the second adjustment fastener, and engageable with threads in the second threaded hole of the second tab of the box;

wherein when the position of the first adjustment fastener on the first threaded shank of the first screw is adjusted to a first desired location, the tang of the first adjustment faster is engaged with the oblong hole of the first ear with the first side wall of the first adjustment fastener contiguous with the first ear of the planar plate of the electrical fixture, thereby immobilizing the first adjustment fastener against the first ear, and locating the first ear of the planar plate of the electrical fixture at a fixed distance from the first tab of the box; and

wherein when the position of the second adjustment fastener on the second threaded shank of the second screw is adjusted to a second desired location, the tang of the second adjustment faster is engaged with the oblong hole of the second ear with the first side wall of the second adjustment fastener contiguous with the second ear of the planar plate of the electrical fixture, thereby immobilizing the second adjustment fastener against the second ear, and locating the second ear of the planar plate of the electrical fixture at a fixed distance from the second tab of the box.

6. The electrical fixture of claim 5, wherein the opposed first and second side walls of each of the first and second adjustment fasteners terminate at a perimeter wall, and wherein the perimeter wall is comprised of recessed notches and protruding teeth.

7. The electrical fixture of claim 6, wherein the positions of the each of the adjustment fasteners on the threaded shanks of the screws are adjustable by rotation of the body around the threaded shank of the screw by engagement of a tool with one of the teeth of the adjustment fastener.

8. The electrical fixture of claim 5, wherein the fixed distance between the planar plate of the electrical fixture and the first tab of the box differs from the fixed distance between the planar plate of the electrical fixture and the second tab of the box.

9. The electrical fixture of claim 5, wherein the electrical fixture is an electrical receptacle comprised of at least one electrical plug body.

10. The electrical fixture of claim 5, wherein the electrical fixture is selected from the group consisting of an electrical receptacle, a lighting fixture, an alarm, a doorbell, a smoke detector, a thermostat, a telephone jack, a cable TV jack, and an Ethernet cable jack.

11. The electrical fixture of claim 5, wherein the opposed first and second side walls of the adjustment fastener are perpendicular to the central axis of the body.