Stud-to-stud mounting bracket for electrical or communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11698165-B2
Application number	US-202217716223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2022
Priority date	Jun 6, 2014
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

A mounting bracket for a junction box includes a face plate having left and right edge margins and a central opening. The face plate includes a first set of indicia adjacent a top edge of the central opening and a second set of indicia adjacent a bottom edge of the central opening. Each set of indicia includes ruler graduations indicating a distance from the left edge margin of the face plate to the respective ruler graduation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting system for a junction box comprising:
a mounting bracket including
a face plate having opposite front and rear faces, opposite upper and lower edge margins, opposite left and right edge margins, and a central opening,
an upper channel extending upwardly from the upper edge margin of the face plate, wherein the upper channel includes (i) a lower sidewall extending rearward from the upper end margin of the face plate, (ii) a rear wall extending upward from the first sidewall of the upper channel, and (iii) an upper sidewall extending forward from the rear wall of the upper channel and generally opposing the lower sidewall of the upper channel, and
a lower channel extending downwardly from the lower edge margin of the face plate, wherein the lower channel includes (i) an upper sidewall extending rearward from the lower end margin of the face plate, (ii) a rear wall extending downward from the upper sidewall of the lower channel, and (iii) a lower sidewall extending forward from the rear wall of the lower channel and generally opposing the lower sidewall of the lower channel, wherein the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel oppose one another and define a distance therebetween; and

an alignment plate configured to be fastened to a front of junction box, the alignment plate having opposite front and rear faces, and opposite upper and lower edge margins defining a height of the alignment plate substantially corresponding to the distance between the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel, wherein the alignment plate is configured to be received between the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel on the rear face of the face plate to enable the alignment plate to be centered and aligned on the mounting bracket.

2. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the rear wall of each of the upper and lower channels includes clearance holes at spaced intervals along a length of the respective channel.

3. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the face plate includes a first set of indicia adjacent a top edge of the central opening and a second set of indicia adjacent a bottom edge of the central opening, each set of indicia comprising ruler graduations indicating a distance from the left edge margin of the face plate to the respective ruler graduation.

4. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment plate includes an upper flange extending rearward from the upper end margin of the alignment plate, and a lower flange extending rearward from the lower end margin of the alignment.

5. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the second at least one flange extends from the alignment plate in a rearward direction.

6. The mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising filler clips detachably connected to the face plate adjacent the central opening, the filler clips being configured for attachment to a junction box to align the junction box within the central opening.

7. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment plate defines fastener openings configured to receive fasteners for securing the junction box.

8. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment plate comprises:
an upper flange extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the face plate and configured to engage the lower sidewall of the upper channel when the alignment plate is received between the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel; and
a lower flange extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the face plate and configured to engage the upper sidewall of the lower channel when the alignment plate is received between the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel.

9. The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment plate defines a central opening configured to be aligned with the central opening of the front plate when the alignment plate is mounted adjacent the rear face of the face plate.

10. The mounting system of claim 9 , wherein the alignment plate defines fastener openings configured to receive fasteners for securing the junction box.

11. A method of the assembling the mounting system of claim 1 , comprising:
fastening the alignment plate to the front of the junction box so that the rear face of the alignment plate opposes the front of the junction box;
positioning the alignment plate, with the junction box fastened thereto, between the upper and lower channels so that the front face of the alignment plate opposes the rear face of the face plate.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising fastening a box plate to the junction box so that the box plate opposes the front face of the face plate.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said fastening the alignment plate to the front of the junction box comprises inserting at least one screw at least one screw through the alignment plate and into the junction box.

14. A mounting bracket assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket including
a face plate having opposite front and rear faces, opposite upper and lower edge margins, opposite left and right edge margins, and a central opening,
an upper channel extending upwardly from the upper edge margin of the face plate, wherein the upper channel includes (i) a lower sidewall extending rearward from the upper end margin of the face plate, (ii) a rear wall extending upward from the first sidewall of the upper channel, and (iii) an upper sidewall extending forward from the rear wall of the upper channel and generally opposing the lower sidewall of the upper channel, and
a lower channel extending downwardly from the lower edge margin of the face plate, wherein the lower channel includes (i) an upper sidewall extending rearward from the lower end margin of the face plate, (ii) a rear wall extending downward from the upper sidewall of the lower channel, and (iii) a lower sidewall extending forward from the rear wall of the lower channel and generally opposing the lower sidewall of the lower channel, wherein the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel oppose one another and define a distance therebetween;

a junction box having a front and defining an opening extending through the front of the junction box, wherein the opening is sized and shaped to receive an electrical device; and
an alignment plate fastened to the front of junction box, the alignment plate having opposite front and rear faces, and opposite upper and lower edge margins defining a height of the alignment plate substantially corresponding to the distance between the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel, wherein the alignment plate is received between the lower sidewall of the upper channel and the upper sidewall of the lower channel on the rear face of the face plate.

15. The mounting bracket assembly of claim 14 , wherein the alignment plate defines at least one fastener opening, wherein at least one fastener extends through the at least one fastener opening and is threaded into the junction box.

16. The mounting bracket assembly of claim 14 , wherein the alignment plate comprises:
an upper flange extending rearward from the upper edge margin of the face plate and engaging the lower sidewall of the upper channel; and
a lower flange extending rearward from the lower edge margin of the face plate and engaging the upper sidewall of the lower channel.

17. The mounting bracket assembly of claim 14 , further compr

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Witherbee Martin Lee

Classifications

• H02G3/125

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

• F16M13/02 Primary

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