Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Gretz

Thomas J. Gretz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8884161
    Abstract: An electrical outlet box for installing in a hole defined in a pre-existing, finished floor of a building. The outlet box comprises a box portion, a backplate, and a cover plate. The box portion comprises a first pair of opposing walls, a second pair of opposing walls, a bottom wall, and a mounting flange. Top edges of each wall of the first and second pairs of opposing walls define an open top end of the box portion. The bottom wall is affixed to bottom edges of each wall of the first and second pairs of opposing walls, thereby defining a cavity within the first and second pairs of opposing walls and the bottom wall. The cavity is adapted for receiving an electrical outlet. The mounting flange surrounds the open top end and is adapted for sitting flush against the installed floor when the outlet box is mounted in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8864504
    Abstract: An intersystem grounding clamp including two clamp halves with flat mating surfaces at their ends and a recessed area at their centers. The recessed areas include teeth thereon to form opposing serrated gripping surfaces for securely gripping a water pipe or grounding rod. Through holes and clamping screws are provided through the clamp halves at the flat mating surfaces to connect the clamp halves in a clamping assembly and enable tightening of the grounding clamp to a pipe or rod. The clamp halves include a first clamp half and a second clamp half. The second clamp half includes a plurality of grounding terminals thereon for accepting grounding wires from equipment. The grounding terminals include open bores laterally through the second clamp half and threaded terminal screws screwed into the second clamp half and oriented to intersect the open bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8844888
    Abstract: A strut clip for facilitating attachment of pipe hangers, electrical conduit, or other structures to open channel unistruts. The strut clip includes an assembly of a face element and a nut element. The face element includes a centrally located threaded aperture, a face element rear surface, and a pair of flanges extending rearwardly from the face element rear surface. The nut element includes a nut element rear surface, an unthreaded aperture for free passage of a fastener, and a pair of openings therein. The flanges of the face element extend through the openings in the nut element thereby forming the strut clip assembly. Nut element further includes a narrow side, a wide side, and beveled edges that enable attachment to a unistrut by simply inserting the narrow side of the nut portion into the open channel of the unistrut and rotating the assembly by 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8785774
    Abstract: An electrical outlet box assembly for mounting an electrical device within a wall or floor. The assembly includes an outlet box, a sliding bracket, and a brace. The brace is mounted between two studs in a wall or joists in a floor. The outlet box may be positioned at almost any point along the length of the brace. Further, an adjustment screw, accessible from the front of the box, is integrated with the sliding bracket and outlet box such that rotation of the screw adjusts the location of the outlet box in relation to the sliding bracket. This adjustment permits a user to adjust the position of the outlet box so that it is substantially flush with the wall or floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8772649
    Abstract: An electrical box and frame assembly for mounting an electrical component such as a duplex receptacle in a shallow wall cavity. The electrical box assembly includes a box member, a receptacle frame adapted to receive an electrical component, and a trim plate. Rotatable flags on the box member provide ease of installation to a wall in old or new work situations. The box member includes sidewalls of a narrow depth to enable mounting within a shallow wall cavity. The receptacle frame nests substantially within the cavity of the box member and the trim plate secures over the receptacle frame and is mounted to the box member. An outer sidewall on the receptacle frame includes bosses thereon for securing a duplex receptacle in a sideways orientation with respect to the box member and wall cavity thereby enabling the electrical box and frame assembly to be mounted in a shallow wall cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8759676
    Abstract: An electrical box assembly for concrete poured floors. The electrical box assembly includes a concrete can with an open end and a plurality of hubs with integral sockets for connection of electrical conduit thereto. Plugs are provided for closing off unused sockets. The electrical box assembly includes a mounting bracket for installation on the open end of the can, a duplex receptacle, a back plate and a cover plate. The back plate provides a seal between the mounting bracket and the cover plate. Removable threaded blanks are included for sealing the openings in the cover plate in order to gain access to the plug-ins on the duplex receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8686287
    Abstract: A surface mount electrical box for mounting on walls with shallow wall cavities. The surface mount electrical box includes an outer frame with shallow sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending orthogonally from the sidewalls. Box sidewalls extend orthogonally from the peripheral wall and are closed by a back wall to form an electrical enclosure therein. Component connection points for an electrical component are included on the outer frame. A first fastening arrangement includes bosses on the outer frame for accepting fasteners therein for securing the surface mount box directly to the wall covering surrounding a shallow wall cavity. A second fastening arrangement includes apertures in the back wall for accepting fasteners therein for securing the surface mount box directly to the substrate underlying a shallow wall cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8664542
    Abstract: An electrical box and frame assembly for mounting an electrical component such as a duplex receptacle in a shallow wall cavity. The electrical box assembly includes a box member, a receptacle frame adapted to receive an electrical component, and a trim plate. The box member includes rotatable flags to enable simple wall installation in old or new work situations. The box member includes sidewalls and a back wall that form a mounting cavity. The sidewalls of the box member include a narrow depth to fit within a shallow wall cavity. The receptacle frame nests substantially within the cavity of the box member and the trim plate secures over the receptacle frame and is mounted to the box member. The receptacle frame secures the duplex receptacle sideways with respect to the box member and wall cavity thereby enabling the electrical box and frame assembly to be mounted in shallow wall cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8658895
    Abstract: A pre-wired TV bridge kit including a kit, package, or assembly of components for mounting a TV to a wall while eliminating disruption to the visible wall surface. The kit includes a first pre-wired electrical box with a pre-wired receptacle and attached electrical cable, a second pre-wired electrical box connected to the opposite end of the electrical cable, and a cord grip and flexible cord secured to the second electrical cable. Both electrical boxes include rotatable flags to enable installation to existing walls. The pre-wired TV bridge kit simplifies the task of providing an electrical outlet on a portion of the wall that is remote from an existing outlet. After mounting the pre-wired TV bridge kit to a wall, the flexible cord is simply plugged into an existing outlet in order to feed power through the flexible cord to power the first and second pre-wired electrical boxes and the TV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8569619
    Abstract: An electrical device mounting assembly for flush wall mounting of an electronic device that requires both power and low voltage connections. The assembly enables recessed mounting of all electrical components, wiring, cabling, and plug ends of electrical cords behind the wall surface. The mounting assembly includes a mounting frame, a trim plate, and rotatable clamp arms to enable rapid mounting to a wall. The mounting assembly enables mounting of either a high voltage or low voltage mounting plates at an angle with respect to the wall surface, thereby minimizing the depth of the mounting frame while providing a substantial enclosure for recessing plug ends of electrical cords and low voltage cables. The mounting assembly enables consolidation of power and signal hookups for a TV, home entertainment system, or similar electronic device in a single assembly that is recessed within the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8563876
    Abstract: An electrical box assembly that is supplied with electricity by an external electrical cord and which in turn supplies electricity to a nearby wall-mounted outlet box. The electrical box assembly includes a cord grip mount that accepts a cord grip fitting for securing the electrical cord to the assembly and sealing around the connected electrical cord. The electrical box assembly may include connecting points for a low voltage scoop to provide a passageway for routing coax cable to the nearby outlet box. The electrical box assembly is especially useful for supplying electrical power to a wall-mounted TV while minimizing disruption of adjacent wall surfaces and underlying studs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8476525
    Abstract: An electrical device mounting assembly for recessed mounting of high and low voltage components in order to provide electrical power and low voltage signals to a television or home entertainment center is provided. Mounting surfaces are provided within the mounting assembly to recess electrical components therein and behind the wall surface. The assembly includes a mounting frame for receipt of mounting devices such as high voltage boxes and low voltage mounting plates. The mounting devices are secured at an angle with respect to the mounting frame, thereby minimizing the depth of the mounting frame while providing sufficient space for recessing plug ends of electrical cords and terminal ends of signal cables within the wall. The electrical device mounting assembly provides a recessed area on a wall for mounting all the various electrical and signal hookups for a television or home entertainment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8466378
    Abstract: A snap tight electrical connector for securing and grounding an electrical cable or conduit to a junction box. The electrical connector includes a one-piece, electrically conductive connector body with a seat on the leading end and an electrically conductive snap ring held in the seat. A raised grounding lug on the seat of the connector body extends through a notch in the snap ring and provides a direct path for establishing an electrical grounding path between the connector body and the junction box. Locking tangs on the snap ring provide a secure snap-fit engagement between the connector body and the junction box. The raised grounding lug on the seat of the connector body provides a direct grounding path between the connector body and the junction box, thereby improving electrical continuity and lowering the millivolt drop between the connector body, the junction box, and the electrical cable or conduit secured to the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8445779
    Abstract: A two gang electrical box that greatly reduces the time and effort required to mount one or two electrical components to a wall or similar surface. Wall preparation requires only the use of a standard hole saw thereby greatly minimizing installation time. The two gang electrical box includes a plate with an opening therein and a substantially circular sidewall extending from the plate at the periphery of the opening and terminating in a rear wall. Mounting fasteners extending through the plate include clamp arms thereon for securing the electrical box to a wall. The clamp arms can be rotated to either an inward position or an outward position. The sidewall is provided with open areas or recesses to fully accommodate the clamp arms when rotated to the inward position thereby enabling the peripheral wall and clamp arms to pass easily within the wall opening created by the standard size hole-saw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8404971
    Abstract: A camera mounting assembly for mounting a security camera, detector, or electrical fixture directly to an indoor or outdoor surface. The camera mounting assembly includes an electrical box with adapted for use with several mounting adapters. A ceiling mounting adapter enables mounting the electrical box directly to the ceiling or to a down rod secured to the ceiling. A wall mounting adapter enables mounting the electrical box directly to a wall. A corner mounting adapter enables mounting the electrical box to an outside corner. The mounting adapters include a substantially thick face plate that can accept fasteners for securing a camera or fixture directly to the face portion. A camera adapter plate and a mounting bar are provided for mounting cameras or fixtures having a small base diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8404973
    Abstract: A cable entry device for routing both power cables and low voltage cables through an electrical box. The cable entry device includes an elongated base with a front side, a rear side, two ends and a plurality of apertures in each end. The front side of the elongated base includes a base extension extending there from and a cable shield extending from the base extension. The cable shield includes a top and a bottom surface that are each at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the base. The top surface is closed and the bottom surface includes a circular opening that is sized to accommodate a conventional electrical fitting therein. A raised peripheral wall extends from the rear side of the elongated base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 8357853
    Abstract: A rapid mount electrical cable entry device including a rigid low voltage frame and a flexible slotted insert for routing low voltage cables through walls. The low voltage frame includes a plate with an opening therein defining an inner periphery on the plate at the opening. The low voltage frame includes mounting fasteners with attached clamp arms for securing the frame to a wall. The slotted insert includes a flexible panel with a hole therein and a plurality of open slots extending radially from the hole. The slots enable the cable entry device to accommodate passage of low voltage cables there. The slots define flaps that close around the cables after they are inserted therein, thus closing the area around the periphery of the inserted cables. Wall preparation requires only a hole saw, which minimizes installation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: D673918
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: D702198
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: D718241
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz