Electricity: conductors and insulators – Overhead – Towers – poles or posts
Patent
1994-08-05
1996-08-27
Kincaid, Kristine L.
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Overhead
Towers, poles or posts
174 58, 220 36, H02G 308
Patent
active
055503225
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to improvements in electrical outlet boxes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an electrical box for mounting in an opening of a panel, including a housing having a base and sidewall(s) defining an open front to the housing with means at said open front for bearing against the surface of the panel surrounding the opening, the electrical outlet box further including at least two holding members in the housing each rotatable about a respective axis extending in the front to rear direction of the housing and each having a respective retaining flange extending sideways relative to the axis of rotation of the member, each member being rotatable about the respective axis from an inoperative position wherein the respective retaining flange is substantially inside the housing to an operative position wherein the retaining flange projects through a respective aperture in the housing sidewall, the holding member being slidable forwardly towards the open front of the housing when in the operative position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an electrical outlet box according to the embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cut-a-way front perspective view of the electrical outlet box of FIG. 1 mounted on a wall;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holding member according to the embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the electrical outlet box of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown therein an electrical outlet box generally indicated at 10 according to the invention.
The electrical outlet box 10 comprises a rectangular housing 11 formed of plastics or other suitable material. The housing 11 has a rear wall or base 14 and sidewalls 15 which define an open front 16 to the housing, the latter having a peripheral out-turned flange 12 which in use of the dry lining box bears against the surface of a panel in which the housing 11 is inserted. The rear wall 14 and the two longer ones of the sidewalls 15 are provided with "press out" regions 18 which are attached to the housing proper by means of a number of thin walled integral projections 19 which are easily broken to enable the regions 18 to be removed to provide apertures through which electrical cables may be inserted into the interior of the housing 11.
The housing 11 is provided with two holding members 20, which are rotatably mounted on respective cylindrical pins 30, which are integrally formed on the rear wall 14 of the housing 11 close to two diagonally opposed corners 31. Each holding member 20 is rotatable on its respective pin 30 through approximately 90 degrees about an axis extending in the front to rear direction of the housing 11, that is to say, in the case of the present embodiment, about an axis at least approximately perpendicular to a plane containing the open front 16 of the housing 11. Further, the axes of rotation of the two holding members 20 are themselves substantially parallel.
Each holding member 20, comprises a body portion 21 having a hollow cylindrical end 22 which engages over the respective cylindrical pin 30. A pair of oppositely directed hook-like guide members 23, are formed on the body portion 21 and include a first part 24 which projects outwardly from the body portion and a second part 25, which projects at right angles to the first part 24, the two parts 25 extending in mutually opposite directions. Each holding member 20 further comprises a retaining flange or ear 26 which extends sideways relative to the axis of rotation of the member 20, i.e. approximately parallel to the plane containing the open front 16 of the housing. Each flange 26 has two resilient arms 27 which diverge from its free end back towards the body portion 21. The body portion 21 is al
REFERENCES:
patent: 2320400 (1941-05-01), Bedell
patent: 2357787 (1941-06-01), Windsheimer
patent: 3966152 (1976-06-01), Bromberg
patent: 4000874 (1977-06-01), Finley et al.
patent: 4297525 (1981-10-01), Bowden, Jr.
Cornelison Michael J.
Kincaid Kristine L.
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