Electricity: conductors and insulators – Overhead – Towers – poles or posts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-08-14
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Overhead
Towers, poles or posts
C174S050000, C174S053000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06274809
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical floor boxes are strategically placed in the floor to provide outlets for electricity and communication. Typical electrical floor boxes have either two or four outlets around a rectangular or square center access cavity. However, the increasing demand for electrical and communication outlets requires greater access to electrical and communication outlets then previously supplied. Thus, prior art floor boxes are becoming insufficient in supplying the quantity of outlets desired. Additionally, prior art electrical floor boxes commonly have wiring compartments formed from exterior walls of the box inherently limiting the number of wiring compartments and outlets within a given box.
Also, electrical floor boxes commonly have a wire tunnel that provide a conduit for wires. During installation, and sometimes after installation, it is necessary to access wires within the wire tunnel. However, prior art wire tunnels are generally difficult to remove. Thus, prior art wire tunnels make it difficult to access the wires therein.
Examples of prior art electrical boxes are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No.: 2,611,500 to Martin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,009 to Bowman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,522 to Whitehead; U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,908 to Arthur et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,522 to Schilham U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,193 to Forslund, III et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,037 to Young et al.
Thus, there is a continuing need to provide electrical boxes having a large quantity of electrical and communication outlets. Additionally, there is a continuing need to provide electrical boxes that are easily assembled and permit easy access to the wires and other elements contained therein. This invention addresses these needs in the art as well as 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 an improved electrical floor box.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical box providing an increased quantity of electrical and communication outlets.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical box that is easily assembled.
A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical box that provides easy access to the wiring and other elements contained within the box.
The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing an electrical box comprising a base having a support and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall being coupled to the support and extending away from the support; a plurality of partitions forming first, second, third, fourth, and fifth compartments, each of the plurality of partitions being directly connected to the perimeter wall and the support, and each the compartment being separated from each of the other of the compartments by at least one of the plurality of partitions; and a cover positioned over the base.
The foregoing objects are also attained by providing an electrical box comprising: a base having a support and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending completely around the support and completely encircling a central cavity; and first and second partitions connected to the base and positioned within the central cavity, the first and second partitions and the perimeter wall forming first and second compartments, the first partition having a first slot and the second partition having a first tab removably positioned within the first slot.
The foregoing objects are further attained by providing an electrical box comprising: a base having a support and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending away from the support; first and second compartments formed within the base; and a tunnel member positioned on the support and having first and second tunnel portions, each of the tunnel portions being removably replaceable from the base and having a platform spaced from the support forming a tunnel cavity, at least one of the tunnel cavities forming a first passageway from the first compartment to the second compartment, and the first tunnel portion having a first access element for removal of the first tunnel portion from the base.
The foregoing objects are further attained by providing a method of forming an electrical box, comprising the steps of: providing a base having a support and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending away from the support; attaching a first partition to the base; attaching a second partition to the first partition and to the base with the first and second partitions forming first and second compartments and each of the first and second partitions being directly connected to the perimeter wall and the support, and each of the first and second compartment being separated from the other of the first and second compartments by one of the first and second partitions; and placing a cover over the first and second partitions to secure the first and second partitions to the base cover.
The foregoing objects are further attained by providing a method of accessing wires in an electrical box, comprising the steps of: providing a base having a support and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending away from the support; providing the base with a tunnel member having first and second tunnel portions, the first tunnel portion being separate from the second tunnel portion, each the tunnel portion having a platform spaced from the support forming a tunnel cavity, and the first tunnel portion having an access element for removal of the first tunnel portion; providing the base with first and second compartments facing the tunnel member, and the tunnel cavity forming a passage way from the first compartment to the second compartment; providing a faceplate covering each of the first and second compartments; removing the faceplates; and removing one of the first and second tunnel portions by hand, without the use of a tool; and accessing the wires.
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 preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5350884 (1994-09-01), Littrell
patent: 5362922 (1994-11-01), Whitehead
patent: 5466886 (1995-11-01), Lengyel et al.
patent: 5468908 (1995-11-01), Arthur et al.
patent: 5673522 (1997-10-01), Schilham
patent: 5697193 (1997-12-01), Forslund, III et al.
patent: 5796037 (1998-08-01), Young et al.
patent: 5943833 (1999-08-01), Feldpausch et al.
Thomas & Betts Corporation, 665 Floor Box Installation & Activation Instructions, No Date.
Thomas & Betts Corporation, 665 Series Concealed Service Floor Box, 1992.
Walker, Installation Instructions for RFB4-CI—Cast Iron Floorbox, No Date.
Walker, Installation Instructions—Recessed Floor Box, Catalog No. RFB4, Jan. 20, 1994.
Walker Systems, Inc., Walkerbox Resource RFB Multiservice Shallow Steel Recessed Floor Box, 1994.
Hubbell Incorporated, Wiring Devices & Systems Kellems Wire Management Marine Wiring Products Catalog 2000, Rectangular Floor Box, p. K-24, 1995.
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Pudims Albert A.
Vigorito Thomas J.
'Hubbell Incorporated
Bicks Mark S.
Estrada Angel R.
Goodman Alfred N.
Howell Jeffrey J.
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