Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-02-27
Kincaid, Kristine (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C439S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194657
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical mounting devices and especially to wall mounted electrical box boxes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There exist several methods for installing an additional electrical outlet box in an existing wall. Most of these involve cutting a hole in the wall large enough to attach an electrical outlet box to a stud or other existing structural member and attaching a metallic or plastic box to the stud. Such installations pose the problem of having to cover the installation with an oversized cover. Additionally, the retrofitted outlet box may not be installed in exactly the position desired because of the need to attach it to an existing stud.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/178,402, files Oct. 24, 1998 and copending herewith, describes a low voltage wall mounting device that comprises a frame, an integral reinforcing flange that fits into a rectangular hole in a wall and two flags which are rotated by front mount screws for grabbing the rear surface of the wall and securing the mounting device to the wall. This copending application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such an arrangement permits installation of additional low voltage mounting devices or boxes at any location on the surface of a wall. Additionally, the hole cut for installation is approximately of the same size as the inserted box, making the use of an oversized cover plate unnecessary. This copending application suggests, but not describe, that, “the flange or device wall may extend deeper into the building wall and have the inside enclosed to provide a box”. The copending application, does not however address the issue as it relates to the more conventional electrical or “working” boxes that are used as outlets for electrical current that must include a closed rear portion that admits electrical wiring through appropriate apertures that incorporate wire or cable-retaining devices.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a working electrical outlet box that can be installed at virtually any location in a wall with a minimum of effort and a minimum of disruption of the existing wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses a plastic mounting device having an open front surface extending around an opening in a building wall integral with a closed electrical box extending at right angles therefrom rearward of the front surface and extending into the building wall. The mounting device has two turning screws adapted to turn flags which are inserted into the opening in a “closed” position and grab the far or inside surface of the building wall when the screws are rotated causing the flags to obtain their “open” position. The electrical box has a rectangular outside periphery that permits a simple rectangular cut to be made in the building wall for ready fitting of the device into the wall. The flags are located on opposite ends of the open front surface or electrical box near the center of the two opposite ends so that holding forces are applied in the most desired direction without having such forces applied at opposite corners.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3609647 (1971-09-01), Castellano
patent: 4000874 (1977-01-01), Finley et al.
patent: 4012580 (1977-03-01), Arnold
patent: 4019647 (1977-04-01), Arnold
patent: 4063660 (1977-12-01), Ware
patent: 4263472 (1981-04-01), Maheu
patent: 4296870 (1981-10-01), Balkwill et al.
patent: 4724281 (1988-02-01), Nix et al.
patent: 5740936 (1998-04-01), Nash
Arlington Industries Inc.
Kincaid Kristine
Patel Dhiru R
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