Mounting bracket for electrical or communication device

• US 9,935,439 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Witherbee, Martin Lee, Khairnar, Lalit Subhash, Patil, Sagar Ashok
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US15/456,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20170187174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 174 61, 174 57, 174 58, 174 53, 174 63, 220 32, 220 33, 220 37, 220 39, 220 392, 220 394, 2482287, 2482286, 24823171, 24823181, 2483161, 2483167, 248343, 248342, 2482274, 2482281, 24822611
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/245 external, i.e. with contracting action
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/32 Mounting of devices therein
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/125 with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame

Abstract

A stud mounting bracket for a junction box includes a mounting extension extending outward from a longitudinal end margin of a main body. The mounting extension includes a mounting body connected to the longitudinal end margin of the main body and an extension tab connected to the mounting body. The extension tab is pivotable relative to the mounting body about an axis from a compact configuration to an extended configuration to increase the length of the mounting extension. A box mounting bracket for mounting a junction box on a stud mounting bracket includes first and second jaws. The first and second jaws engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket. The first and second jaws are resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket.

Claims

1. A box mounting bracket for mounting a junction box on a stud mounting bracket, the box mounting bracket comprising:

a base having a front face, a rear face, an upper edge margin and a lower edge margin, the base constructed for attaching a junction box to the front face thereof;

a first upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the first upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket; and

a second upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the second upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

a first lower jaw extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the base, the first lower jaw being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of each of the first and second upper jaws when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

wherein the first and second upper jaws are resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

wherein the first lower jaw comprises an outer jaw arm and an inner jaw arm, the outer and inner jaw arms being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another.

2. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second upper jaws comprises a hook configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

3. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tang extending from the first lower jaw and configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

4. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second lower jaw extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the base, the second lower jaw being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of each of the first upper jaw, the second upper jaw, and the first lower jaw when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket.

5. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 4, further comprising a tang extending from each of the first and second lower jaws and configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

6. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 4, wherein second lower jaw comprises an outer jaw arm and an inner jaw arm, the outer and inner jaw arms of the second lower jaw being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another.

7. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 6, further comprising a connecting member interconnecting the outer arms of the first and second lower jaws.

8. A box mounting bracket for mounting a junction box on a stud mounting bracket, the box mounting bracket comprising:

a base having a front face, a rear face, an upper edge margin and a lower edge margin, the base constructed for attaching a junction box to the front face thereof;

a first upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the first upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket; and

a second upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the second upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

a first lower jaw extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the base, the lower jaw being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of each of the first and second upper jaws when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

a second lower jaw extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the base, the second lower jaw being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of each of the first upper jaw, the second upper jaw, and the first lower jaw when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket

wherein the first and second upper jaws are resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket.

9. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the first and second upper jaws comprises a hook configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

10. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 9, further comprising a tang extending from each of the first and second lower jaws and configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

11. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the first and second lower jaws comprises an outer jaw arm and an inner jaw arm, each of the outer and inner jaw arms being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another.

12. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 11, further comprising a connecting member interconnecting the outer arms of the first and second lower jaws.

13. A box mounting bracket for mounting a junction box on a stud mounting bracket, the box mounting bracket comprising:

a base having a front face, a rear face, an upper edge margin and a lower edge margin, the base constructed for attaching a junction box to the front face thereof;

a first upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the first upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket;

a second upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the second upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket;

a first lower jaw extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the base, the first lower jaw being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of each of the first and second upper jaws when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket; and

a tang extending from the first lower jaw and configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket,

wherein the first and second upper jaws are resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket.

14. A box mounting bracket for mounting a junction box on a stud mounting bracket, the box mounting bracket comprising:

a base having a front face, a rear face, an upper edge margin and a lower edge margin, the base constructed for attaching a junction box to the front face thereof;

a first upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the first upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket; and

a second upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the second upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

wherein the first and second upper jaws are resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

wherein each of the first and second upper jaws comprises a hook configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

15. A box mounting bracket for mounting a junction box on a stud mounting bracket, the box mounting bracket comprising:

a base having a front face, a rear face, an upper edge margin and a lower edge margin, the base constructed for attaching a junction box to the front face thereof;

a first lower jaw extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the base, the first lower jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket; and

a second lower jaw extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the base, the second lower jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

wherein the first and second lower jaws are resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another when attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket,

wherein each of the first and second lower jaws comprises an outer jaw arm and an inner jaw arm, each of the outer and inner jaw arms being resiliently deflectable both relative to the base and independent of one another.

16. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 15, further comprising a connecting member interconnecting the outer arms of the first and second lower jaws.

17. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 15, further comprising a tang extending from the first lower jaw and configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

18. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 17, further comprising a tang extending from the second lower jaw and configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.

19. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 15, further comprising a first upper jaw extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the base, the first upper jaw configured to engage the stud mounting bracket for use in attaching the box mounting bracket to the stud mounting bracket.

20. The box mounting bracket as recited in claim 19, wherein the first upper jaw comprises a hook configured to prevent inadvertent removal of the box mounting bracket from the stud mounting bracket.