Supports – Brackets – Of sheet material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-04-03
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Of sheet material
C248S027100, C248S906000, C174S054000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209836
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a mounting bracket secured between a pair of studs in a wall for supporting an electrical box therebetween. More specifically, the mounting bracket of the present invention relates to a mounting bracket which is capable of mounting electrical boxes with different depths as well as both 4 inch square boxes and 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square boxes with limited vertical movement of the electrical box relative to the mounting bracket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently, there are many types of mounting brackets available on the market for mounting electrical boxes to wall studs. Many of the mounting brackets are designed to be mounted to a single wall stud for supporting a single electrical box. While these mounting brackets work well, they do not provide a wide range of adjustability between wall studs and only support a single electrical box. Accordingly, mounting brackets for supporting a plurality of electrical boxes have been developed which span between a pair of adjacent wall studs to allow the builder to conveniently position the electrical box or boxes between the wall studs.
One example of a prior mounting bracket, which is capable of supporting a wide variety of electrical boxes, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,137 to Oliva. The mounting bracket of the Oliva patent provides infinite adjustability and can be used with boxes of different depths. Moreover, the mounting bracket of the Oliva patent can be used to either a 4 inch square electrical box or a 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical box or both. However, one disadvantage of the mounting bracket disclosed in the Oliva patent is that it allows for too much vertical movement of certain sizes of electrical boxes such that one of the mounting screws of a wiring device can bottom out on the mounting bracket and thus cannot be fully threaded into the cover. More specifically, the central cutout of the mounting bracket of the Oliva patent is too large such that mounting screws coupling the electrical box and cover together can move vertically within the central cutout of the mounting bracket of the Oliva patent. This movement of the electrical box can cause the threaded hole in the cover for mounting a wiring device to overlap with the mounting bracket such that the mounting screw of the wiring device cannot be fully threaded into the cover.
To avoid this problem, the opening or central cutout of the mounting bracket of the Oliva patent could be designed to prevent vertical movement of either a 4 inch square electrical box or a 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical box by sizing the central cutout to engage the mounting screws of the electrical box and cover. However, if the central cutout is sized to limit vertical movement of either the 4 inch square electrical box or the 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical box, then the central cutout will not be correctly sized to accommodate the other mentioned electrical box to prevent vertical movement relative thereto.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a mounting bracket which has all of the advantages of the electrical mounting bracket disclosed in the Oliva patent as well as the ability to mount both 4 inch square electrical boxes and 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical boxes such that the electrical box mounting bracket will substantially prevent relative movement of both types of electrical boxes mounted thereto.
This invention addresses these problems in the art, along with other needs which will become apparent to those skilled in the art once given this disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a mounting bracket which is capable of mounting both 4 inch square electrical boxes and 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical boxes between a pair of adjacent wall studs such that vertical movement between the mounting bracket and the electrical box mounted thereto is limited, while horizontal movement is virtually unlimited.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical mounting bracket which can accommodate electrical boxes having different depths.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting bracket which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting bracket which is relatively easy to install.
The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing a mounting bracket for selectively mounting both 4 inch square electrical boxes and 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical boxes thereto and for attachment between first and second adjacent support members, comprising: a top support rail having a front surface, a rear surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, the top support rail being free of mounting apertures for accommodating a fastener, the top support rail further having a top abutment; a bottom support rail having a front surface, a rear surface, an inner edge and an outer edge, the bottom support rail being free of mounting apertures for accommodating a fastener, the bottom support rail further having a bottom abutment; a first mounting end coupled to and extending between first ends of the top and bottom support rails, the first mounting end being adapted to be attached to the first support member; and a second mounting end coupled to and extending between second ends of the top and bottom support rails, the second mounting end being adapted to be attached to the second support member; the top and bottom support rails being spaced apart by the first and second mounting ends to define an elongated central cut-out portion, the inner edges of the top and bottom support rails being spaced apart by a distance which is substantially equal to or slightly greater than the distance between a pair of mounting screws of a 4 inch square electrical box, and the top and bottom abutments being spaced apart by a distance which is substantially equal to or slightly greater than the outer dimension of a 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical box.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses four preferred embodiments of the present invention.
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'Hubbell Incorporated
Buczynski J.
Goodman A. N.
King Anita M.
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