Support system for electrical boxes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11296489-B2
Application number	US-201916529426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2019
Priority date	Aug 1, 2018
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A mounting system for a first support and a second support for electrical components can include a first mounting interface and a second mounting interface. The first mounting interface can include a first channel, and a first insertion slot extending from inside of the first channel to outside of the first channel. The second mounting interface can include a second channel and a first interface arm, and a second interface arm. The second channel can be configured to nest with the first channel. The first interface arm can extend through the first insertion slot when the second channel is nested with the first channel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A box support system for supporting one or more electrical boxes, the box support system comprising:
a box support configured to engage the one or more electrical boxes, the box support including a box-support mounting interface; and
a support attachment that includes a support-attachment mounting interface, the support-attachment mounting interface being configured to be manually secured to the box-support mounting interface to secure the support attachment to the box support;
one of the box-support mounting interface or the support-attachment mounting interface being a first mounting interface that includes:
a first channel defined by a first side wall, a second side wall, and a first connecting wall, the first and second side walls extending from opposing end portions of the first connecting wall, with a first open side opposite the first connecting wall; and
a first insertion slot that extends through the first connecting wall; and

the other of the box-support mounting interface or the support-attachment mounting interface being a second mounting interface that includes:
a second channel defined by a third side wall, a fourth side wall, and a second connecting wall, the third and fourth side walls extending from opposing end portions of the second connecting wall, with a second open side opposite the second connecting wall, the second channel configured to nest with the first channel with the first and second connecting walls positioned in a parallel relationship with each other;
a first interface arm that extends through the first insertion slot when the second channel is nested with the first channel; and
a second interface arm that engages an outside surface of an outside of the first channel when the second channel is nested with the first channel, with the first and second interface arms in an interleaved engagement with the first side wall of the first channel.

2. The box support system of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting interface includes a second insertion slot that extends through the first connecting wall of the first channel; and
wherein the second mounting interface includes a third interface arm that extends through the second insertion slot when the second channel is nested with the first channel.

3. The box support system of claim 2 , wherein the first and third interface arms are laterally spaced apart from the second channel on opposite sides of the second channel.

4. The box support system of claim 2 , wherein the second mounting interface further includes a fourth interface arm that engages the outside surface of the outside of the first channel when the second channel is nested with the first channel.

5. The box support system of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first, second, third or fourth interface arms includes a locking protrusion that bears against the outside of the first channel when the second channel is nested with the first channel, to retain the second channel within the first channel.

6. The box support system of claim 1 , wherein the first connecting wall abuts the second connecting wall when the support-attachment mounting interface is secured to the box-support mounting interface.

7. The box support system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first side wall or the second side wall of the first channel abuts a corresponding at least one of the third side wall or the fourth side wall of the second channel when the support-attachment mounting interface is secured to the box-support mounting interface.

8. The box support system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first side wall or the third side wall includes a biased protrusion that engages, respectively, at least one of the third side wall or the first side wall, to urge the second and fourth side walls together when the support-attachment mounting interface is secured to the box-support mounting interface.

9. The box support system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a biased locking protrusion that bears on an outside surface of the first connecting wall to secure the second channel within the first channel.

10. The box support system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of an external surface of the second channel or an internal surface of the first channel includes at least one biased locking protrusion that bears against, respectively, at least one of the internal surface of the first channel or the external surface of the second channel when the second channel is nested with the first channel, to urge the first and second channels into an abutting relationship.

11. The box support system of claim 1 , wherein the second mounting interface is configured to be secured to the first mounting interface for operational use without the use of separate fasteners.

Assignees

• Erico Int Corp

Inventors

• Oh Michael Hung-Sun

Classifications

• H02G3/105

  in association with a plinth, channel, raceway or similar · CPC title

• E04B2002/7488

  Details of wiring · CPC title

• H02G3/081 Primary

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/12 Primary

  for flush mounting · CPC title