Electrical box support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10056748-B2
Application number	US-201715477568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2017
Priority date	Apr 7, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A support is provided for mounting an electrical box in an opening formed in a block. The support includes a planar body configured to be coupled to a first side wall of the electrical box. The body includes at least one side edge. The support further includes a flange coupled to the first side edge of the body and extends substantially perpendicular to a plane of the body. The flange is configured to contact an outer surface of the block and to orient an outer edge of the electrical box relative to the block. The support further includes a retention member that is coupled to the body. The retention member has an end. At least a portion of the retention member is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the portion of the retention member is positioned away from the body and contacts the block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support for mounting an electrical box in an opening formed in a masonry block or a concrete wall, the support comprising:
a planar body configured to be coupled to a first side wall of the electrical box, the body including at least one side edge;
a flange coupled to the side edge of the body and extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of the body, the flange configured to contact an outer surface of the block and to orient an outer edge of the electrical box relative to the masonry block or concrete wall; and
a retention member coupled to the body, the retention member having an end, at least a portion of the retention member being movable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the portion of the retention member is positioned away from the body and contacts the masonry block or concrete wall.

2. The support of claim 1 , wherein the retention member is substantially planar, and wherein the retention member is coplanar with the body when in the first configuration.

3. The support of claim 1 , wherein the retention member has a longitudinal edge extending to the end of the retention member, and wherein the longitudinal edge contacts the block in the second configuration.

4. The support of claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal edge is tapered away from the flange to the end of the retention member.

5. The support of claim 1 , wherein the end is a first end and the portion is a first portion, wherein the retention member has a second portion and a second end, and wherein the second portion is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the second portion of the retention member is positioned away from the body and contacts the block.

6. The support of claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the retention member and the second portion of the retention member generally extend in opposite directions when both are in the first configuration.

7. The support of claim 1 , wherein the retention member is coupled to the body by a connecting leg, and wherein a width of the connecting leg is narrower than a width of the retention member adjacent the connecting leg.

8. The support of claim 1 , wherein an aperture is defined in the retention member adjacent the end of the retention member.

9. The support of claim 1 , wherein the retention member has a bent tab extending at an angle from the retention member at the end of the retention member.

10. The support of claim 1 , wherein the block is captured between the flange and the retention member to support the electrical box relative to the block.

11. An electrical box assembly comprising:
an electrical box having a first side wall, a second side wall, and an open front positioned between the first side wall and second side wall;
a support including,
a body having at least one side edge, the body being coupled to the first side wall of the electrical box;
a flange coupled to the side edge of the body and extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of the body, and
a retention member coupled to the body, the retention member having an end, at least a portion of the retention member being movable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the portion of the retention member extends away from the body, the retention member configured to contact an opposite side of a block wall from the flange.

12. The electrical box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retention member is substantially planar, and wherein the retention member is coplanar with the body when in the first configuration.

13. The electrical box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retention member has a longitudinal edge extending to the end, and wherein the longitudinal edge contacts the block in the second configuration.

14. The electrical box assembly of claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal edge tapers away from the flange to the end.

15. The electrical box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the end is a first end and the portion is a first portion, wherein the retention member further includes a second portion and a second end, wherein the second portion of the retention member is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the second portion of the retention member extends away from the body.

16. The electrical box assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the retention member and the second portion of the retention member generally extend in opposite directions when both are in the first configuration.

17. The electrical box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retention member is coupled to the body by a connecting leg, and wherein a width of the connecting leg is narrower than a width of the retention member adjacent the connecting leg.

18. The electrical box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the block is captured between the flange and the retention member to support the electrical box relative to the block.

19. The electrical box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the support is a first support, and further comprising:
a second support including,
a second body having at least one side edge, the body being coupled to the second side wall of the electrical box,
a second flange coupled to the side edge of the second body and extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of the second body, and
a second retention member coupled to the second body, the second retention member having a second end, at least a portion of the second retention member being movable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the second retention member extends away from the second body, the second retention member configured to contact an opposite side of a block wall from the second flange.

20. A method of mounting an electrical box in an opening of a masonry block or a concrete wall, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning the electrical box and a support in the opening in the block;
positioning a flange of the support against an outer surface proximate the opening; and
deforming a retention member of the support such that the retention member extends away from a planar body until the retention member contacts an edge proximate the opening.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising coupling the body of the support to a side wall of the electrical box.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising bending the flange so as to extend perpendicular to the plane of the body.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the retention member has a longitudinal edge extending to an end thereof, wherein the longitudinal edge contacts the block, and wherein the longitudinal edge is tapered away from the flange toward the end.

24. The method of claim 20 , further comprising removing the flange from the support.

25. The method of claim 20 , further comprising capturing the block between the flange and the retention member.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Thomas Jason
• Korcz Krzysztof

Classifications

• H02G3/128

  in plinths, channels, raceways or similar · CPC title

• H02G3/121 Primary

  in plain walls · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• H02G3/081

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/123

  in thin walls · CPC title