Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-23
2002-11-19
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S0450TD, C248S906000, C220S003800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06483031
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of electrical box supports and also to the field of controlling mains voltage (normally 120 Volts ) lighting by extra-low voltage means. More particularly this invention relates to a means of providing distributed extra-low voltage control to individual electrical outlets and lights in buildings in North America.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many years there have been methods available for controlling the lighting in a building by means of extra-low voltage (normally 30 Volts or lower) relays. It is especially common in large office towers to have the fluorescent lighting controlled by extra-low voltage switches. Relay panels are mounted adjacent to electrical panels in a room on each floor of the building. Load carrying wires (usually at 347 Volts) are run from each relay to each set of controlled lights. In some cases, additional relay cabinets are located in the space above the suspended ceiling system. In such cases there is ready access to the relays by removal of ceiling tiles. In areas where the ceiling is not constructed of removable tiles, and where it is undesirable to provide access panels in the ceiling, the relays must be located in a readily accessible area, which would normally be near the electrical panel.
In recent years there has been increasing interest in providing control of lights in homes by automatic means such as computers, microcontrollers, timing devices and the like. When lights are automatically controlled, they can be programmed to switch on, then switch off after a time interval to create the impression that a home is occupied when it is actually unoccupied. Lights can also be programmed to respond individually or in groups to create various lighting scenarios in the home. Entrance lights can be programmed to respond to the level of outside light so that a homeowner can see to use a key in a lock.
The wiring method used in homes in North America is quite different from the method used in office towers. Homes are generally constructed of wood and homes seldom have suspended tiled ceilings for access. The ceilings in most homes are of drywall. In some homes, there is space in an attic that would suffice for the location of control relays or other control devices. However, in a two level home, there is no access for the lights on the lower level. When relay cabinets are located in the attic, maintenance is more difficult.
In order to control individual lights in the absence of adequate access, it is necessary to install a central relay cabinet near the main electrical panel. The cost of such an installation is very high because a separate cable of the type NMD90 (commonly called loomex or romex) must be run between the relay cabinet and each controlled light.
In recent years, devices using radio frequency (RF) and devices using Power Line Carrier technology (known as ×10) have been used. These methods do not require the use of wires to send a control signal. Many users of RF devices and Power Line Carrier devices complain that these methods are unreliable and prone to false activation or failure. The use of wires, relays and other control devices is well understood by electricians.
It is desirable to provide a means of controlling individual lights or groups of lights using extra-low voltage wiring, in a manner that is reliable and is inexpensive relative to known alternative methods.
There is a need, not satisfied by existing devices, for a means of permitting the installation of a controlling device having controlled connectors and controlling connectors, adjacent to an electrical lighting box in a manner that keeps the controlling device hidden from view, yet readily accessible for maintenance or removal.
The present invention satisfies this need by providing a support bracket for an outlet box that allows the outlet box to be withdrawn from the wall or ceiling after installation. The invention also provides a controlling device in an enclosure that can be inserted into the wall or ceiling space behind the outlet box. The box is then re-installed.
While the support bracket and controlling device in an enclosure are described in the preferred embodiments of the invention as being connectable to extra-low voltage wiring, it will be understood by people skilled in the art that a similar bracket and controlling device in an enclosure could be used with electronic components that allow control using RF signals or Power Line Carrier signals. In such cases, the present invention would be useful in providing access to an enclosure having the necessary space to enclose electronic components.
While the support bracket and controlling device in an enclosure are described in the preferred embodiments of the invention as being used together with an electrical lighting outlet box, it will be understood by people skilled in the art that with minor variations in the design of the support bracket, other types of flush mounting electrical boxes such as 4 inch square boxes, switch boxes and other types of outlet boxes may be provided with extra-low voltage control.
Where reference is made to the removal of an electrical outlet box after installation of the wallboard, without damage to the wallboard, in the case of switch boxes such as
1004
type, this refers to damage that would be visible after a conventional cover plate such as a switch cover plate or a receptacle cover plate is installed. Most other flush mounting outlet boxes are removable without any damage.
A search for prior art has not revealed any literature of a similar nature. Conventional methods of providing support for electrical boxes deal only with the provision of adequate support and not with means for allowing an electrical box to be attachable to a joist or stud before the installation of the wallboard and removable after installation of the wallboard without damage to the wallboard. There has been no prior art found dealing with the need to provide a means of removing an electrical outlet box to provide access to the space in the wall or ceiling cavity behind the electrical outlet box. No prior art has been found that deals with a controlling device located in the wall or ceiling cavity behind an electrical box that is removable from its means of support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed in one aspect to providing a support bracket and a controlling device, both used together with an electrical outlet box of the flush mounting type, to provide accessible control of an electrical lamp or an electrical circuit, by allowing the electrical outlet box to be attached to and removable from the support bracket, and by allowing wires connected to the controlling device to enter an aperture in the electrical outlet box for the purpose of making a connection to circuit wiring within the electrical outlet box, said controlling device of the type having controlled connections and controlling connections and said controlling device contained within an enclosure suitable for installation in the wall or ceiling cavity behind the electrical outlet box, said support bracket of the type having attachment elements such as screw holes for attachment to a joist or a wall stud, attachment elements such as screw holes to permit the installation or removal of the electrical outlet box with the ceiling board or wall board installed without damage to the ceiling board or wall board, and said support bracket shaped so that a controlling device within an enclosure may pass unobstructed through the opening in the wall or ceiling that is normally occupied by the electrical outlet box, into the wall or ceiling cavity behind the electrical outlet box.
In another aspect the present invention is directed to providing a support bracket and a controlling device, both used together with an electrical lighting outlet box of the flush mounting type, to provide accessible control of an electrical lamp or an electrical circuit, by allowing the electrical lighting outlet box to be attached to and removable from the support bracket, and by all
Black Lowe & Graham PLLC
O'Donnell Patrick
LandOfFree
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