With Box Supporting Means Patents (Class 174/63)
  • Patent number: 6303862
    Abstract: Mounting assembly includes a junction box having a top wall and a side wall. The side wall extends downwardly away from the top wall and defines a cavity therein. An auxiliary cavity may be provided adjacent to and outside of the cavity. A support may be provided that is at least partially within the auxiliary cavity. A dimpled hole may be provided in the top wall, and the supplemental fixture support extends into the dimpled hole for engaging at least a portion of the walls thereof. A threaded hole may be provided on the supplemental fixture support. The supplemental fixture support may be a stud or rivet. A rough surface or fluting may be provided on a portion of said support for engaging the walls of the dimpled hole. Preferably, the supplemental fixture support has exposed portions which are sufficiently smooth for preventing wear to plastic-coated electrical wire which engages such exposed surfaces of the fixture support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Reiker Enterprises of Northwest Florida, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Reiker
  • Patent number: 6291767
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a data/communications distribution box that forms an interior space which can be closed with a cover and a plurality of cable openings adapted to permit the passage of cable into and out of the interior space. Inside the interior space are a plurality of connector brackets which each include a plurality of mounting ports that are adapted to receive a variety of different types of connector modules which are used to connectorize data/communications wires and fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Rober L. Beecher, II, Ryan F. Hahn, William Charles MacKenzie, David Louis Reed, Stanley Everett Wright
  • Patent number: 6283690
    Abstract: An electrical box locating device is formed from a single piece of metallic material. The locating device has a forwardly extending fastening portion which is functionally adapted to be received within a threaded receptacle mounting hole of a typical electrical box. Rearwardly of the fastening portion is a drive portion which allows the device to be driven into the mounting hole and securely held within it. Rearwardly of the drive portion of the device is a drywall penetrating portion which extends outwardly of the electrical box and which is functionally adapted to penetrate and extend through a sheet of drywall when such is placed over the electrical box. The fastening portion, the drive portion and the penetrating portion of the device are made from a single piece of material and integrally formed in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Randall S. Belter
  • Patent number: 6278059
    Abstract: A housing for an electronics package that has a flexible mounting flange that conformably engages the housing to a variety of planar or contoured surfaces is described. The housing, also comprised of an enclosure attached to the flexible mounting flange, provides for the protection and orderly confinement of electronics packages, such as signal conditioning circuitry, disposed within the housing. The housing is inserted into an aperture in a surface, such as the side of acoustic stringed instrument, until the flexible mounting flange engages the planar or contoured surface. The housing is then removably attached to the surface of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Fishman Transducers, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Avram Lefton
  • Patent number: 6239369
    Abstract: A bracket assembly for mounting a terminal housing in an utility enclosure which includes a base and a rotator arm. The base has a pair of laterally spaced side walls forming a gap for receiving the rotator arm. At least a part of the rear end portion of each base side wall may be mounted to the utility enclosure. The rotator arm has a longitudinally extending mounting member and first and second laterally spaced side walls which extend from the mounting member. The mounting member may be mounted to the terminal housing. Each arm side wall also has a mounting tab which extends outwardly into an opening in the adjacent base side wall to mount the rotator arm within the base such that the rotator arm may be rotated between an upright position and an inclined position. Each arm side wall has an outwardly extending locking tab which is received in a notch in the top portion of the adjacent base side wall to lock the rotator arm in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Balfour
  • Patent number: 6207898
    Abstract: An electrical junction box or mounting assembly includes a box having a top wall and a side wall. The side wall extends downwardly away from the top wall and defines a cavity therein. A fixture support is disposed on the box. The fixture support may be disposed inside or outside the cavity of the box. By locating the fixture support outside the cavity of box, the user can see how strong the fixture support is. The fixture support may be made of metal, and the side wall and/or top wall may be made of plastic. A friction surface, such as fluting, may be provided on the fixture support for engaging with the junction box for preventing rotation and other relative movement of the fixture support relative to the box. An adhesive sufficiently strong to adhere the junction box to a support surface may be provided on one of the walls of the junction box. The adhesive may be in the form of double-sided tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Reiker Enterprises of Northwest Florida, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Reiker
  • Patent number: 6180879
    Abstract: The invention includes of a one-piece plastic molded box having an open face member, an open back, flanges coplanar with and extending from the face member, and four wings extending from the inward side of the face member. The extender can be inserted slidably into an existing electrical box with the four wings flexing toward each other to accommodate the box with flanges flush with the surface of newly installed sheet rock to form a box extender or with flanges flush with the existing electrical box to form a device insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 6158609
    Abstract: A housing for a device mountable on a mounting surface has a housing element provided with two mounting flanges each having a passage adapted to extend substantially perpendicularly to the mounting surface and formed to receive a mounting bolt, two bushings extending through the mounting flanges and surrounding the passages, the bushings being composed of metal and injection molded with a material of the housing element, each of the passages being formed as an elongated hole with a width adapted to correspond to a diameter of the bolts, the bushings corresponding to a contour of the passages and surrounding the passages with a radial distance therefrom, the bushings being provided with peripheral formations which are filled with the material of the housing element, and the bushings at an inner peripheral side being free from the material of the housing over a part of an axial length of the bushings and a lower side of the mounting flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Harry Kaiser
  • Patent number: 6147305
    Abstract: In an insulated mounting structure, a housing has a plurality of housing brackets and a platform for supporting the housing has a plurality of platform brackets. Each housing bracket is provided at a coupling portion of the housing and each having a notch. Each of the platform brackets is provided at a coupling portion of the platform corresponding to the housing bracket, each platform bracket having a screw hole for passing a mounting bolt. An insulating spacer is positioned on each of the platform brackets in a state of fitting into the notch of each of the housing brackets. The insulating spacer has a cylindrical member made of hard material inserted into the through hole of the insulating spacer to allow the mounting bolt to be tightened in a state of passing through the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Honma, Oji Mori
  • Patent number: 6107568
    Abstract: An electrical box and a holding device for use therewith is disclosed. The holding device can be a flexible plastic bag-like container having a first wall coupled to a second wall and forming a substantially enclosed inner receiving area. A mounting fastener such as fan or fixture mounting screws are temporarily secured within the receiving area of the container. A box mounting screw extends completely through the container and extends through a side of the electrical box to temporarily secure the container and the electrical box to a structure; such as a joist. The fan or fixture mounting screws are then accessible for removal from the container and can be used to further fix the electrical box and the fan or fixture to the joist. The electrical box also has a pair of slots for receiving the fan or fixture mounting screws. Each slot has two areas for receiving a screw with a knockout between the areas. The knockout can be removed if the screw must be positioned between the two areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Schnell, Gregory J. Kesler, Robert W. Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 6100469
    Abstract: An electrical box for supporting ceiling fans, the electrical box has a top portion and a side portion extending completely around the top portion and extending substantially perpendicularly to the top portion. The top portion has a substantially planar lower surface, and the side portion has two oppositely spaced tabs extending inwardly toward each other. Each of the tabs has an opening extending completely therethrough. At least one mounting hole is formed in either the top portion or the side portion or the corner formed between the top and side portions. The mounting hole or holes each have a hole axis inclined with respect to the lower surface of the top portion. Each mounting hole extends completely through the wall between an inner cavity of the electrical box and an area outside the wall. The electrical box can have various mounting brackets attached thereto for securing the electrical box to a support member such as a joist or a truss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert W. Jorgensen, Richard D. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6072121
    Abstract: A preset is provided for providing access at selected locations to an underfloor electrical distribution system of the type consisting of at least one raceway panel adapted to be positioned in a concrete floor. The raceway panel defines an interior passage adapted to carry service cables and has an exterior wall defining a preset opening that provides access to the interior passage. The presets can be located at any location where an opening is punched in the raceway panel, with 12 inch or 24 inch intervals being mostcommon. The preset includes a housing having an interior compartment, a concrete cap, and a knockout section. The concrete cap and the knockout section can be removed to provide access to the interior compartment of the preset housing. The knockout is positioned to align with and lockingly engage with the preset opening to secure the preset to the raceway panel during pouring of the concrete floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Walker Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Penczak, Thomas R. Russo
  • Patent number: 5981874
    Abstract: An electrical junction box or mounting assembly includes a box having a top wall and a side wall. The side wall extends downwardly away from the top wall and defines a cavity therein. A dimpled hole is provided in the top wall, and a supplemental fixture support extends into the dimpled hole for engaging at least a portion of the walls thereof. A threaded hole may be provided on the supplemental fixture support. The supplemental fixture support may be a rivet. A rough surface or fluting may be provided on a portion of support for engaging the walls of the dimpled hole. Preferably, the supplemental fixture support has exposed portions which are sufficiently smooth for preventing wear to plastic-coated electrical wire which engages such exposed surfaces of the fixture support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Reiker
  • Patent number: 5965844
    Abstract: A mounting plate and cover for a pair of spaced-apart electrical boxes. The mounting plate and cover has a pair of spaced-apart openings and a planar flange portion therebetween. At least one electrical box is fastened to one of the openings. The flange portion is secured to the front face of the wall stud with the at least one electrical box abutting the sidewall of the wall stud. The bottom edges of the openings in the mounting plate and cover are in the same horizontal plane. A method of installation is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Jerome M. Lippa
  • Patent number: 5959246
    Abstract: The invention consists of a one-piece plastic molded box having an open face member, an open back, flanges coplanar with and extending from the face member, and four wings extending from the inward side of the face member. The extender can be inserted slidably into an existing electrical box with the four wings flexing toward each other to accommodate the box with flanges flush with the surface of newly installed sheet rock to form a box extender or with flanges flush with the existing electrical box to form a device insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 5939671
    Abstract: A ceiling mounting assembly for holding electrical devices in place on a joist that includes an electrical box having a base of three planar surfaces, each planar surface at a different depth, a first fastener device for temporarily securing the electrical box in place, a ceiling medallion for covering the electrical box, a second fastener device for temporarily securing the ceiling medallion to the electrical box, and a fixation device for securely fastening the electrical box and the ceiling bezel to the joist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 5808871
    Abstract: A modular tower having a plurality of bays. The bays are fitted with rails upon which individual trays slide. The trays are detailed to carry electronic components. Each tray is fitted with electrical connectors which are connected to corresponding electrical connectors on a backplane in the tower. The tower can be employed vertically and horizontally. The tower has easily removable top and side panels and has a two component base that may be adjustably secured to one or more of the towers. The front thereof is fitted with a removable frame which carries a hinged door. The frame can be removed and rotated 180.degree. in order to change the swing of the door from left to right and vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: SMS Data Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert F. Rosecan, James J. Geanakos, Joseph S. Grajewski, Juan J. Hernandez, Juan L. Morales, James F. Reich, Michael S. Williams, Everett L. Yore
  • Patent number: 5629496
    Abstract: The device includes a support member; a casing; and a closing and covering member. The support member may be attached to an external member and may receive an electrical mechanism. The support member is provided with a coupling mechanism to the casing and this coupling allows access of conductors from a raceway device. The casing is prismatic in shape and is adapted to surround the support member and the electrical mechanism. The casing is provided with a bight in one side wall thereof. The closing and covering member has a wall portion and a hood portion. The wall portion may be attached to the edges of the bight to close it. The hood portion covers a portion of the raceway device. Where necessary, a guide member is attached to a portion of the raceway device and is covered by the hood portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Aparellaje Electrico, S.A.
    Inventor: Juan M. B. Navazo
  • Patent number: 5606147
    Abstract: An outlet box for mounting a fixture, such as a fan or a light, from a ceiling. Adjustable hanger screw mountings permit the mounting of a wide variety of fixtures to the box. Adjustability is attained by attaching the hanger screw mountings to the ends of a mounting arm which is pivotally connected to a top plate of the outlet box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Eclipse Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard F. Deschamps, Henry J. Macuga, Stuart S. Cox
  • Patent number: 5399806
    Abstract: A modular electrical wiring system (10) is shown including a hanger (12) and an electrical connection block (26) independently and adjustably held from the hanger (12) by four adjustment screws (106). The electrical connection block (26) is formed from three control boxes (28, 30, 32) and a receptacle box (34) which sandwiches bus bars (50) therebetween. Each bus bar (50) includes a connecting portion (56) located in one of three depressions (38-40) and which are accessible at different depths through slots (88, 90, 104) formed in the second, third, and receptacle boxes (30, 32, 34). The connecting straps (122) of electrical devices such as an outlet (110) or a switch (190) are sandwiched between a cover plate (182) and the receptacle box (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Richard A. Olson
  • Patent number: 4494296
    Abstract: A support for a ceiling fan or other fixture has a pair of slidably interconnected, pointed lances adapted to be driven into engagement with spaced structural members. A tool-strikable striking element is adapted to be coupled to each lance at a selected location along the length thereof. The support is adapted to be installed through a small hole in a preexisting ceiling or wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Lance Austin Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred K. Grimes
  • Patent number: 4483453
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle box assembly mountable on a metal wall stud prepared with a plurality of mounting holes on a major side member thereof arranged in an ordered pattern. The assembly includes a box-like housing carrying a first set of bendable mounting tabs arranged in a pattern corresponding to the hole pattern on the metal wall stud. The tabs are insertable in the holes on the wall stud and can be bent in order to secure the housing. A second set of bendable mounting tabs are detachably connected to the housing and extend outward beyond the first set such that the user has a choice of mounting the housing to the wall stud using the first or second set of bendable mounting tabs. When the first set is used, the second set of tabs are first detached from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: Robert A. Smolik
  • Patent number: 4062512
    Abstract: A clamp for securing an adjustable bar hanger to a molded thermosetting plastic electrical wiring box. The clamp includes a generally U-shaped portion having a deformable tab directed into the region defined by the U-shaped portion, a first pair of spaced-apart L-shaped positioning tabs at one side of the U-shaped portion, and a flange extending outwardly from the other side of the U-shaped portion. A bar hanger is positioned within the U-shaped portion of the clamp, and the wiring box is oriented with respect to the clamp and bar hanger assembly so that the pair of L-shaped positioning tabs can be readily inserted within a corresponding pair of spaced-apart slots formed in a rear wall of the wiring box. The wiring box is then pivoted with respect to the clamp so that the bar hanger is captured between the clamp and the rear wall of the wiring box with the clamp being spaced a slight distance from the rear wall of the wiring box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Union Insulating Company
    Inventor: William O. Arnold