Wallbox installation tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11652340-B2
Application number	US-202217588374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2022
Priority date	Feb 2, 2017
Publication date	May 16, 2023
Grant date	May 16, 2023

Abstract

As described herein, a wall box installation tool may include a template body, one or more hollow pegs, a guide ring, and/or one or more template cards. The template cards may be configured to be installed on a front surface of the template body. A template card may define a plurality of holes therethrough. The guide ring may be configured to be installed within a pre-drilled hole in a wall. Each template card may be associated with a respective electrical device configuration. A subset of bores extending through the hollow pegs may be accessible via the template card when the template card is installed on the front surface of the template body. The wall box installation tool may include one or more fasteners that are configured to install a template card onto the front surface of the template body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wallbox installation tool, comprising:
a rigid, open backed, template body having a planar front surface at least partially surrounded by a rearward-extending peripheral wall having a first projection distance from the front surface that defines the open back, the template including:
at least one reference aperture having a rearward extending peripheral wall having a second projection distance from the front surface greater than the first projection distance;
a plurality of drill guide apertures extending through the front surface, each of the plurality of drill guide apertures including a peripheral wall having the first projection distance from the front surface;
a plurality of attachment features disposed on the planar front surface of the template body, the plurality of attachment features to accept the slidable insertion of a template card member having a plurality of apertures formed therein such that, upon slidable insertion of the template card into at least one of the plurality of attachment features, the plurality of template card apertures align with at least a portion of the plurality of drill guide apertures.

2. The wallbox installation tool of claim 1 :
wherein the at least one reference aperture comprises a circular aperture having a first diameter; and
wherein each of the plurality of drill guide apertures comprise a circular aperture having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

3. The wallbox installation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first plurality of reinforcing ribs extending radially outward from the peripheral wall of the at least one reference aperture, each of the first plurality of reinforcing ribs having a third projection distance from the front surface, the third projection distance equal to or less than the first projection distance.

4. The wallbox installation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending radially outward from the peripheral wall of one or more of the plurality of drill guide apertures, each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs having a third projection distance from the front surface, the third projection distance less than the first projection distance.

5. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more engagement features disposed on the front surface of the template, the one or more engagement features to engage a complimentary engagement feature formed in a template card member such that, upon slidable insertion of the template card into at least one of the plurality of attachment features, the front surface engagement feature engages the template card member engagement feature thereby fixing the template card member in the at least one of the plurality of attachment features.

6. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 5 wherein the one or more engagement features disposed on the front surface of the template body comprise a plurality of triangular wedges formed on the front surface of the template body.

7. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 1 wherein the plurality of drill guide apertures are disposed asymmetrically about the at least one reference feature.

8. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a leveling device aperture formed in the front surface of the template body, the leveling device aperture to accommodate the insertion of a levelling device in the template body.

9. The wallbox of claim 8 wherein the leveling device comprises a cylindrical spirit level device.

10. The wallbox of claim 8 wherein the leveling device aperture comprises a leveling device aperture positioned such that when the levelling device disposed within the aperture indicates level, at least a portion of the plurality of drill guide apertures are disposed in a defined location with respect to the at least one reference aperture.

11. The wallbox insertion tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second plurality of attachment features disposed on the planar front surface of the template body, the second plurality of attachment features to accept the slidable insertion of a second template card member having a plurality of apertures formed therein such that, upon slidable insertion of the second template card into at least one of the second plurality of attachment features, the plurality of template card apertures align with at least a portion of the plurality of drill guide apertures.

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Altonen Gregory S
• Andersen Adam
• Boudin Xavier
• Hanns Michel
• Mace Eric Johnathan

Classifications

• H02G2200/30

  Tools for installing cables comprising a spirit level · CPC title

• B25H7/02 Primary

  Plates having a flat surface · CPC title

• H02G3/00

  Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles (installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00) · CPC title

• H02G3/10 Primary

  for surface mounting on a wall · CPC title

• H02G3/086

  Assembled boxes · CPC title