Rework bracket for electrical outlet boxes

• US 20070164183A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Michaud, Alain, DiLillo, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/300
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A bracket for electrical outlet boxes that includes: a first end section, a middle section and a second end section, wherein each section has a substantially planar surface, a first side, a second side, a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the middle section is offset from and substantially parallel to the first and second end sections; first and second offset portions connecting the middle section to the first and second end sections; first and second opposing ends extending upwardly and substantially perpendicular to the first and second end sections; a first tab and a second tab extending in opposing relation to each other from the first side of the first and second ends; a first leg and a second leg extending downwardly from the second side of the first and second end sections; and a bendable member extending from the first side of the middle section.

Claims

1. A bracket for an electrical outlet box comprising:

a first end section, a middle section and a second end section, wherein each section has a top surface and a first side and a second side, and wherein the end sections are substantially planar;

first and second opposing ends extending upwardly from the top surfaces of the first and second end sections and substantially perpendicular to the first and second end sections, respectively, wherein the opposing ends have first and second sides which correspond to the first and second sides of the first, second and middle sections;

a first tab and a second tab extending in opposing relation to each other from the first side of the first and second ends; and

a first leg and a second leg extending downwardly from the second side of the first and second end sections to a first and a second bottom edge, respectively.

2. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 1, further comprising a bendable member extending from the first side of the middle section.

3. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 1, wherein the middle section is offset from the top surfaces of the first and second end sections.

4. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 3, further comprising a first offset portion and a second offset portion, wherein the middle section is substantially planar and is offset from the first end section by the first offset portion and from the second end section by the second offset portion.

5. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the first and second end sections are in substantially the same plane.

6. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 1, wherein the first and second legs are substantially flat.

7. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 5, wherein each of the first and second bottom edges comprises a notch.

8. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end sections have a first and a second length, respectively, and wherein the first and second legs extend downwardly along more than one half of the first and second lengths.

9. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 2, wherein the bendable member has an aperture.

10. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is made from non-ferrous or steel sheet metal.

11. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 4, wherein the middle section is substantially parallel to the first and second end sections.

12. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 3, wherein the middle section is arcuately shaped.

13. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 1, wherein the middle section has tangs which extend outwardly from the top surface.

14. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 13, further comprising a bendable member extending outwardly from the first side of the middle section.

15. A bracket for an electrical outlet box comprising:

a first end section, a middle section and a second end section, wherein each section has a first side, a second side, a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the end sections are substantially planar, and wherein the top surface of the middle section is offset from the top surfaces of the first and second end sections;

first and second opposing ends extending upwardly from the top surfaces of the first and second end sections and substantially perpendicular to the top surfaces of the first and second end sections, respectively, wherein the opposing ends have first and second sides which correspond to the first and second sides of the first, second and middle sections;

a first tab and a second tab extending in opposing relation to each other from the first side of the first and second ends;

a first leg and a second leg extending downwardly from the second side of the bottom surfaces of the first and second end sections to a first and a second bottom edge, respectively; and

a bendable member extending from the first side of the middle section.

16. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 15, wherein the bendable member has an aperture.

17. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 15, further comprising a first portion and a second offset portion, wherein the middle section is substantially planar and is offset from the first end section by the first offset portion and from the second end section by the second offset portion.

18. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 15, wherein the surfaces of the first and second end sections are in substantially the same plane.

19. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 15, wherein the first and second legs are substantially flat.

20. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 19, wherein each of the first and second bottom edges comprises a notch.

21. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 15, wherein the first and second end sections have a first and a second length, respectively, and wherein the first and second legs extend downwardly along more than one half of the first and second lengths.

22. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 15, wherein the bracket is made from non-ferrous or steel sheet metal.

23. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 17, wherein the middle section is substantially parallel to the first and second end sections.

24. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 15, wherein the middle section is arcuately shaped.

25. A bracket for an electrical outlet box comprising:

a first end section, a middle section and a second end section, wherein each section has a first side, a second side, a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the end sections are substantially planar, and wherein the top surface of the middle section is offset from the top surfaces of the first and second end sections;

a first offset portion and a second offset portion, wherein the middle section is substantially planar and is offset from the first end section by the first offset portion and from the second end section by the second offset portion;

first and second opposing ends extending upwardly and substantially perpendicular to the top surfaces of the first and second end sections, respectively, wherein the opposing ends have first and second sides which correspond to the first and second sides of the first, second and middle sections;

a first tab and a second tab extending in opposing relation to each other from the first side of the first and second ends;

a first leg and a second leg extending downwardly from the second side of the bottom surfaces of the first and second end sections to a first and a second bottom edge, respectively; and

a bendable member extending from the first side of the middle section, wherein the bendable member has an aperture.

26. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 25, wherein the first and second legs are substantially flat and wherein each of the first and second bottom edges comprises a notch.

27. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 25, wherein the bracket is made from non-ferrous or steel sheet metal.

28. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 25, wherein the middle section is substantially parallel to the first and second end sections.

29. The bracket for an electrical outlet box according to claim 25, wherein the middle section is arcuately shaped.