Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2001-05-29
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S050000, C174S053000, C220S004020, C052S060000, C298S02200C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239368
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical outlet box for mounting outdoors on a building to which outdoor fixtures such as lighting fixtures and outdoor receptacles may be attached.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices for outdoor fixtures commonly feature several configurations to accommodate various fixtures or devices and are usually in the form of covers for standard electrical outlet boxes. A mounting block is commonly used to provide anchoring to an outdoor wall of a building. A face plate is usually provided in several configurations to provide a cover for an electrical outlet box, a pleasing pedestal for a fixture or device at its juncture with the building, and an opening for the passage of wiring or other connections between the fixture and the outlet box. These fixtures or devices are typically lighting fixtures or electrical receptacles but could be water faucets or other devices. As the openings for the various fixtures are of different sizes and shapes, manufacturers typically provide several face plates to accommodate the range of fixtures that are typically mounted on the exterior of buildings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides several embodiments of an electrical outlet box and several embodiments of a face plate that can accommodate several standard fixtures including lighting fixtures, outdoor electrical receptacles, and other devices.
The preferred embodiment of the face plate contains a standard size opening that satisfies all applications. Another embodiment of the face plate may be adapted for various size openings by breaking away portions of the face plate.
The preferred embodiment of the mounting block may be installed as is on a bare wall that will have lap siding subsequently installed or may be adapted for attachment to is an outdoor wall with lap siding in place by breaking away a flanged portion along pre-formed score lines. A second embodiment of the outlet box is a flangeless box that may be attached directly to an outdoor wall with lap siding in place by cutting an appropriately sized opening in the siding and inserting and anchoring the flangeless box therein.
Other embodiments for external siding outlet boxes, ground fault circuit interrupter boxes and similar devices are shown.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
A first object of the present invention is to provide a siding block unit which comprises a complete electrical junction box including a mounting block and a face plate. A standard electrical box is required to be used in conjunction with other siding blocks currently being used in the field. This invention eliminates the need to cut holes in the face plate to install a standard electrical box as required with other siding blocks. The present invention provides a secure junction box for completing electrical connections within the enclosure and an attractive face plate for the base of the installed fixture.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor electrical outlet box in one configuration that will accommodate several typical end uses. These end uses may be lighting or other electrical fixtures, single or duplex receptacles mounted either vertically or horizontally, single or duplex switches, ground fault interrupter switches, ground fault interrupter receptacles, or similar devices. Several embodiments of the mounting block and several embodiments of a face plate are provided for allowing the flexibility for accommodating these several end uses.
One embodiment of the face plate features breakaway portions that may be removed selectively to fit the application. Another embodiment of the face plate features a standard size opening to also accommodate several end uses.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor siding box which may be applied to an existing outdoor wall having lap siding or to a newly constructed outdoor wall on which lap siding will subsequently be applied. One embodiment of the electrical outlet box has a mounting plate with a breakaway flange to accomplish this. If being applied to a new wall, the flange is kept intact with the box and the lap siding is cut to buttress an extended portion of the box. If being applied to an existing wall having lap siding, the flange is broken away and is fitted inside an aperture cut in the siding to accommodate the box.
A second embodiment of the electrical outlet box is a flangeless box which may be applied to an existing wall. For this embodiment, the box is fitted inside an aperture cut in the siding with no existing flange to break away.
A third embodiment of the electrical outlet box incorporates several improvements including thinner walls around the knock-outs, allowing them to be knocked out instead of drilled out, and spacing the knock-outs closer to the perimeter of the box so that more room is available for wiring to enter from adjacent knock-outs without interfering with each other. An additional improvement has the knock-outs recessed so that a C-shaped electrical cable fitting may be snapped into a knock-out from the rear of the box and not protrude beyond the rear surface of the box.
An object of a third embodiment of a face plate incorporates ribs that create a friction fit of the face plate within a mounting block. The ribs permit the face plate to be mounted to the mounting block without a gasket and also allow any water which enters the assembled siding box to run out.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the appropriate drawings.
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Arlington Industries Inc.
Patel Dhiru R
Reichard Dean A.
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