Adjustable support bracket for electrical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10958053-B2
Application number	US-201715449653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A bracket for supporting at least one electrical device includes a pair of legs engaging one another in an interlocking manner. Each of the legs includes an end portion and a pair of rails connected to the associated end portion, and each end portion is configured to be secured to a support member. Each pair of rails extends from the associated end portion in a parallel orientation, and the rails are laterally spaced apart from one another. The pair of rails of one leg is coupled to the pair of rails of the other leg and the pair of rails of the one leg is slidable relative to the pair of rails of the other leg to change the distance between the end portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bracket for supporting at least one electrical device, the bracket comprising:
a first portion including a first flange, a pair of first coupling features, and a pair of first rails, the pair of first rails including an upper first rail and a lower first rail, the first flange configured to be secured to a first support member, the pair of first rails extending from the first flange and spaced apart from one another, the pair of first rails oriented parallel to one another, each of the pair of first rails including a first distal end and a first tab positioned adjacent the first distal end, the first tab of each of the pair of first rails protruding away from a plane of the respective first rail, the first tab of the upper first rail and the first tab of the lower first rail protruding in the same direction relative to each other, each of the pair of first coupling features positioned opposite the first distal end of a corresponding one of the pair of first rails and between the first flange and the corresponding one of the pair of first rails; and
a second portion including a second flange, a pair of second coupling features, and a pair of second rails, the pair of second rails including an upper second rail and a lower second rail, the second flange configured to be secured to a second support member, the pair of second rails extending from the second flange and spaced apart from one another, the pair of second rails oriented parallel to one another, each of the pair of second rails including a second distal end and a second tab positioned adjacent the second distal end, the second tab of each of the pair of second rails protruding away from a plane of the respective second rail, the second tab of the upper second rail and the second tab of the lower second rail protruding in the same direction relative to each other, each of the pair of second coupling features positioned opposite the second distal end of a corresponding one of the pair of second rails and between the second flange and the corresponding one of the pair of second rails, the second tab of the upper second rail extending around an edge of the upper first rail, the first tab of the upper first rail extending around an edge of the upper second rail, the pair of second rails being slidable relative to the pair of first rails;
wherein the first coupling feature positioned between the first flange and the upper first rail permits movement of the second tab of the upper second rail therethrough between a coupled position and an uncoupled position relative to the upper first rail.

2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein sliding movement of the pair of second rails relative to the pair of first rails is adapted to change a distance between the first flange and the second flange.

3. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of first rails includes an elongated protrusion protruding from a surface of the respective first rail in a direction opposite the first tab, each elongated protrusion extending substantially between the first flange and the first distal end of the respective first rail.

4. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first tab of the upper first rail is one of a pair of first tabs of the upper first rail and the upper second rail is positioned between the pair of first tabs of the upper first rail.

5. The bracket of claim 4 , wherein the second tab of the upper second rail is one of a pair of second tabs of the upper second rail and each of the pair of second rails includes an elongated protrusion, wherein the pair of first tabs of the upper first rail engage side portions of the upper second rail such that the elongated protrusion of the upper second rail is positioned between the pair of first tabs of the upper first rail as the upper second rail slides relative to the upper first rail.

6. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the second tab of the upper second rail retains the upper second rail in contact with the upper first rail, thereby interlocking the upper second rail with the upper first rail.

7. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the pair of first rails and the pair of second rails are configured to support the at least one electrical device between the first flange and the second flange.

8. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of first coupling features is a notch positioned on an edge at a connection between the first flange and the corresponding one of the pair of first rails.

9. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of second coupling features is a notch positioned on an edge at a connection between the second flange and the corresponding one of the pair of second rails.

10. A bracket for supporting at least one electrical device, the bracket comprising:
a first leg including a first end portion, a pair of first coupling features, and a pair of first rails connected to the first end portion, the first end portion configured to be secured to a first support member, the pair of first rails including an upper first rail and a lower first rail, the upper and lower first rails extending from the first end portion in a parallel orientation and perpendicularly offset from one another, the pair of first rails overlapping one another,
a second leg engaging the first leg in an interlocking manner, the second leg including a second end portion and a pair of second rails connected to the second end portion, the second end portion configured to be secured to a second support member, the pair of second rails including an upper second rail and a lower second rail, the upper and lower second rails extending from the second end portion in a parallel orientation and perpendicularly offset from one another, the pair of second rails overlapping one another,
wherein the pair of first rails are coupled to the pair of second rails, the pair of first rails are slidable relative to the pair of second rails, sliding movement of the pair of first rails relative to the pair of second rails is adapted to change a distance between the first end portion and the second end portion,
wherein each of the pair of first rails includes a first end and a first tab extending from the first end in a first tab direction, each of the pair of first coupling features is positioned opposite the first end of a corresponding one of the pair of first rails and between the first end portion and the corresponding one of the pair of first rails, the first coupling feature positioned between the first end portion and the upper first rail is configured to permit movement of a part of the second leg therethrough between a coupled position and an uncoupled position relative to the first leg, the first tab of the upper first rail extends around a portion of the upper second rail to retain the upper first rail in sliding contact with the upper second rail.

11. The bracket of claim 10 , wherein each of the pair of first rails includes an elongated protrusion protruding from a surface of the respective first rail in a direction opposite the first tab direction, each elongated protrusion extending substantially between the first end portion and the first end of the respective first rail.

12. The bracket of claim 10 , wherein the first tab of the upper first rail is one of a pair of first tabs of the upper first rail, the pair of first tabs of the upper first rail are configured to position the upper second rail between the pair of first tabs of the upper first rail.

13. The bracket of claim 12 , wherein each of the pair of second rails includes an elongated protrusion, wherein the pair of first tabs of the upper first rail engage side portions of the upper second rail such that the elongated protrusio

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Korcz Krzysztof
• Johnson Steven J

Classifications

• H02G3/125 Primary

  with supporting bar extending between two separate studs of a wall frame · CPC title

• H02G3/081

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/06

  Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing {or channels}, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint · CPC title