Divided standard device inch box

Details Divided standard device inch box Divided standard device inch box

1998-08-19

2001-04-17

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Boxes and housings

C220S003920

Reexamination Certificate

active

06218613

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to wiring devices and more particularly to standard device boxes where there are present low voltage communications conductors and higher voltage power conductors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To permit the separation of power and communications conductors prior art devices employ specially shaped housings and separators. Once installed these devices can only be used with fittings configured to work with such housings. There is no available separator device which can be added to a standard device box, at the time of installation or retrofitted into existing boxes to provide separate compartments for the communication and power conductors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a deflectable isolation barrier which can be installed into a standard device box to divide the available wiring space into two separate compartments, one for communications conductors and the other for power conductors. In a first embodiment, the deflectable isolation barrier is coupled to the wall plate used to close the open front face of the device box and extends into the box chamber at an angle. The angle being determined by the line of engagement of the free end of the barrier with the floor of the base member of the box. The barrier extends between the front and rear walls and to a side wall and the base member to form a compartment which can only be entered through a knock-out in the box walls or base member. The second compartment is defined by the front and rear walls, the other side wall, the base member and the barrier and can only be entered via a knock-out.
In a second embodiment, the deflectable isolation barrier is formed as a part of an insert which can be placed within a device box. The operation of the barrier of this embodiment is essentially the same as that of the first embodiment. It is an object of this invention to provide a novel means for dividing the chamber of a standard device box into two compartments.
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel means for dividing the chamber of a standard device box at the time of installation of such box or thereafter.
It is another object of this invention to provide a novel deflectable isolation barrier which is coupled to a wall plate used to seal the open top face of a box.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel deflectable isolation barrier formed as part of an insert placed in and mounted to a box.
Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention and the best modes which are presently contemplated for carrying them out.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 3584135 (1971-06-01), Dowtin
patent: 3701837 (1972-10-01), Fork
patent: 3943272 (1976-03-01), Carroll et al.
patent: 4323723 (1982-04-01), Fork et al.
patent: 4433204 (1984-02-01), Wuertz
patent: 4660912 (1987-04-01), Tomek

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