Adjustable outlet box bracket
An adjustable outlet box bracket for attachment to studs or joists, which includes a first and a second telescoping rail portion with arms. At least one mounting bracket for outlet boxes is laterally positionable on the rail portions and fixable thereto. The arms are bendable to permit the degree to which the outlet box extends beyond the face of studs or joists to be adjusted.
The invention relates to outlet box brackets, and more particularly to adjustable outlet box brackets.
In the field of building and construction, particularly commercial construction where there are great pressures to complete jobs in a timely manner and with great precision, the use of steel wall studs and joists is widespread. In these applications, outlet boxes, such as for electrical, telecommunications, water, medical gases, vacuum and other services are not always attached directly to the studs or joists, but are mounted to brackets that in turn are attached to either the studs or joists, or brackets that mount to the floor track. In most cases, once the bracket is mounted, the lateral position of the outlet box relative to the stud or joist is determined, and the user can either not make any further lateral adjustments (or fine lateral adjustments) because of the design of the bracket, or the bracket must be removed and repositioned. There is accordingly a need for an adjustable outlet box bracket that permits easy and quick lateral adjustment of the position of the outlet box on the bracket, even after the outlet box and bracket are installed to wall studs or joists.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Claims
1. An adjustable outlet box bracket, comprising:
- a first rail portion with a first rail portion support arm at one end;
- a second rail portion with a second rail portion support arm at one end, wherein the first and second rail portions engage with each other to provide for adjustment between the distance between the first and second rail portion support arms; and
- at least one mounting bracket that engages with at least one of the first and second rail portions and whose lateral position on the at least one of the first and second rail portions is adjustable.
2. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting bracket has an affixation device for attaching at least one outlet box thereto.
3. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 2, wherein the affixation device comprises at least one screw or bolt that passes through at least one aperture in the at least one mounting bracket.
4. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting bracket has a mounting bracket locking device for affixing the lateral position of the at least one mounting bracket on at least one of the first and second rail portions.
5. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 4, wherein the mounting bracket locking device comprises a screw or bolt that passes through an aperture in the mounting bracket and is adapted to impinge on at least one of the first and second rail portions.
6. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 1, wherein the first rail portion and second rail portion are adapted to telescopically engage with each other.
7. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 1, further comprising a locking device for preventing the first rail portion and second rail portion from being separated from each other.
8. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 7, wherein the locking device comprises a tab on the first rail portion and a tab on the second rail portion which are adapted to interfere with each other.
9. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 1, wherein the first and second rail portion support arms each comprise a strip of material that extend from the first and second rail portion, with each strip of material having a free end that can be bent along a bend line to provide for a plurality of distances between the desired line and the first and second rail portions.
10. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 1, wherein a plurality of mounting brackets are provided for supporting a plurality of outlet boxes or oversized outlet boxes which require support by more than one mounting bracket.
11. An adjustable outlet box bracket, comprising:
- a first rail portion;
- a second rail portion, wherein the first and second rail portions telescopically engage with each other to provide for adjustment of the total length of the engaged first and second rail portions; and
- at least one mounting bracket that includes an outlet box affixation device for attaching at least one outlet box thereto, the mounting bracket being adapted to engage with at least one of the first and second rail portions and whose lateral position on the at least one of the first and second rail portions is adjustable and fixable thereon.
12. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 11, wherein the first and second rail portions each have a support arm, the support arms comprising a strip of material having a free end that can be bent along a desired line to provide for a plurality of distances between the bend line and the first and second rail portions.
13. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 11, further comprising a locking device for preventing the first rail portion and second rail portion from being separated from each other.
14. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 13, wherein the locking device comprises a tab on the first rail portion and a tab on the second rail portion which are adapted to interfere with each other.
15. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 11, wherein a plurality of mounting brackets are provided for supporting plurality of outlet boxes or oversized outlet boxes which require support by more than one mounting bracket.
16. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 11, wherein the lateral position of the mounting bracket is affixed to the first and second rail portions by a screw or bolt that passes through an aperture in the mounting bracket and impinges on at least one of the first and second rail portions.
17. The adjustable outlet box bracket of claim 11, wherein the at least one mounting bracket has a mounting bracket locking device for affixing the lateral position of the at least one mounting bracket on at least one of the first and second rail portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 30, 2007
Inventor: Randy Petak (Pico Rivera, CA)
Application Number: 11/361,234
International Classification: A47F 5/00 (20060101);