Shallow octagonal electrical box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10424905-B2
Application number	US-201615171319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 10, 2015
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

A shallow octagonal electrical box having a back wall and a stepped sidewall construction. The back wall includes at least first and second substantially flat sections connected by an intermediate section. The sidewall extends from the back wall to an open front and has an octagonal shape formed by eight sidewall sections. At least three contiguous sidewall sections have a first height and at least three of the other sidewall sections have a second height that is different from the first. At least one sidewall section has an opening or aperture adapted to provide a passage into the interior. The sidewall can have a hub or connector attached to the exterior surface around the opening/aperture. The sidewall can also have a knockout and a plurality of mounting apertures.

First claim

We claim:

1. A shallow octagonal electrical outlet box comprising:
a back wall comprising a perimetrical edge and first and second substantially flat sections, wherein the first and second substantially flat sections have first and second interior surfaces, and wherein the first interior surface is parallel to and offset from the second interior surface;
an intermediate section adjoining and connecting the first and second substantially flat sections and having a first intermediate interior surface, the first intermediate section comprising a sloped portion that is sloped upwardly toward the first substantially flat section; and
a sidewall extending from the back wall to a distal rim that defines an open front, wherein the sidewall has an octagonal shape and is formed by at least eight sidewall sections that have a width and a height and define an interior, and wherein at least three contiguous sidewall sections that comprise a first set of sidewalls are connected to the first substantially flat section and at least three sidewall sections that comprise a second set of sidewalls are connected to the second substantially flat section, and wherein a height of two sidewall sections gradually decreases along the sloped portion of the first intermediate section,
wherein the first set of sidewalls extend at a first height from an adjacent portion of the distal rim to the first substantially flat section, and the second set of sidewalls extend at a second height from another adjacent portion of the distal rim to the second substantially flat section, the second height being greater than the first height, and wherein the adjacent portion of the distal rim from which the first set of sidewalls extend is co-planar with the other adjacent portion of the distal rim from which the second set of sidewalls extend.

2. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sidewall section has an opening adapted to provide a passage into the interior.

3. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 2 , wherein the sidewall has an exterior surface and a hub is attached to the exterior surface around the opening.

4. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sidewall section has a removable disc that can be removed to provide access to the interior.

5. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a plurality of mounting apertures.

6. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sidewall section has an embossment with two openings that are adapted to receive two snap-in connectors.

7. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 further comprising a flat cover plate having a perimetrical edge that contacts the distal rim of the sidewall.

8. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein the distal rim of the sidewall is parallel to the first and second interior surfaces.

9. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein the second interior surface adjoins the first intermediate interior surface at a 90-degree, 120-degree, 135-degree or 150-degree angle.

10. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein at least five contiguous sidewall sections are connected to the first substantially flat section.

11. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein at least five contiguous sidewall sections are connected to the second substantially flat section.

12. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein the back wall further comprises a ground connection.

13. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 1 , wherein the sloped portion of the intermediate portion is connected to an edge, the edge being positioned between, and perpendicular to, the first and second substantially flat sections.

14. A shallow octagonal electrical outlet box comprising:
a back wall comprising a perimetrical edge and first and second substantially flat sections, wherein the first and second substantially flat sections have first and second interior surfaces, and wherein the first interior surface is parallel to and offset from the second interior surface;
an intermediate section adjoining and connecting the first and second substantially flat sections and having a first intermediate interior surface; and
a sidewall extending from the back wall to a distal rim that defines an open front, wherein the sidewall has an octagonal shape and is formed by at least eight sidewall sections that have a width and a height and define an interior, and wherein at least three contiguous sidewall sections that comprise a first set of sidewalls are connected to the first substantially flat section and at least three sidewall sections that comprise a second set of sidewalls are connected to the second substantially flat section,
wherein the first set of sidewalls extend at a first height from an adjacent portion of the distal rim to the first substantially flat section, and the second set of sidewalls extend at a second height from another adjacent portion of the distal rim to the second substantially flat section, the second height being greater than the first height, and wherein the adjacent portion of the distal rim from which the first set of sidewalls extend is co-planar with the other adjacent portion of the distal rim from which the second set of sidewalls extend
wherein the back wall further comprises a third substantially flat section with a third interior surface and a second intermediate section with a second intermediate interior surface.

15. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 14 , wherein the second intermediate section connects the second substantially flat section with the third substantially flat section.

16. The shallow octagonal electrical outlet box according to claim 14 , wherein the third interior surface adjoins the second intermediate interior surface at a 90-degree, 120-degree, 135-degree or 150-degree angle.

Assignees

• Thomas & Betts Int Llc

Inventors

• Lalancette Daniel
• Veillette Marc-Antoine

Classifications

• H02G3/123

  in thin walls · CPC title

• H02G3/081 Primary

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/12

  for flush mounting · CPC title

• H02G3/083

  Inlets · CPC title

• H02G3/088

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets · CPC title