Self cutting electrical outlet box

• US 20080149360A1
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh, Whipple, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,667,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a self-cutting electrical outlet box. The electrical outlet box is self cutting, allowing the box to be installed through an existing building surface. The box includes teeth or cutting members to assist in self-cutting. The box also includes features to assist in placement and securement of the box to a wall.

Claims

1. A self cutting electrical outlet box assembly comprising:

an electrical outlet box having an open front face, an opposed rear wall and a perimetrical side wall therebetween defining a box interior; and

a cutting member formed at least partially along said perimetrical wall and extending exteriorly of said rear wall for cutting an opening in a wall surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cutting member is formed integrally with said box.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cutting member extends along at least two opposed extents of said perimetrical wall.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cutting member includes a serrated edge.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said perimetrical wall is generally cylindrical.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said box includes a central punch extending externally of said rear wall about which said box may be rotated.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cutting member includes a cutting element having an attachment portion for attachment to said rear wall and a cutting edge extending from said attachment portion at a location at least partially along said peremetrical wall.

8. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said rear wall in said box interior includes a tool engagement hub for accommodating a power tool attachment for rotating said box with respect to said wall surface.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cutting member includes a cutting edge that has been reinforced with a harder substance.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said cutting edge is overlaid with a harder substance.

11. A self cutting electrical outlet box assembly comprising:

an electrical outlet box having an open front face, an opposed rear wall and a perimetrical side wall therebetween defining a box interior; and

a cutting member having at least one tooth formed integrally with said side wall and extending exteriorly of said rear wall for cutting an opening in a wall surface.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said cutting member extends along at least two opposed extents of said perimetrical wall.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said cutting member includes a row of teeth.

14. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said perimetrical wall is generally cylindrical.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said box includes a central punch extending externally of said rear wall about which said box may be rotated.

16. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said rear wall in said box interior includes a tool engagement hub for accommodating a power tool attachment for rotating said box with respect to said wall surface.

17. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said cutting member includes a cutting edge that has been reinforced with a harder substance.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said cutting edge is overlaid with a harder substance.

19. A self cutting electrical outlet box assembly comprising:

an electrical outlet box having an open front face, an opposed rear wall and a perimetrical side wall therebetween defining a box interior;

a pair of deflectable mounting ears extending externally from said sidewalls, said ears include lead-in geometry portion and forwardly directed securement surface portion having gripping teeth to secure the box to a wall; and

a cutting member having at least one tooth formed integrally with said side wall and extending exteriorly of said rear wall for cutting an opening in a wall surface.