Self cutting electrical outlet box

• US 7,667,136 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh, Whipple, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US12/001,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/60, 174/58, 174/135, 174/64, 174/59, 174/61, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/4.02, 439/535, 439/536, 248/906, 52/16
• 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 includes a pair of cutting extents perpendicularly extending from said rear wall, each of said cutting extents having at least one tooth formed integrally with said cutting extents and extending exteriorly of said rear wall for cutting an opening in a wall surface;

wherein said cutting member further includes an elongated member extending across the diameter of said rear wall between said pair of cutting extents.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said cutting extents includes a row of teeth.

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

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said box includes a central punch extending externally of said rear wall about which said box may be rotated.

5. The assembly of claim 1 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.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one tooth includes a cutting edge that has been reinforced with a harder substance.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said cutting member is overlaid with said harder substance.

8. 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 perimetrical side wall, 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 perimetrical side wall and extending exteriorly of said rear wall for cutting an opening in a wall surface.