Appliance outlet box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12448758-B2
Application number	US-202418758569-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2024
Priority date	Jul 8, 2021
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

An outlet box assembly includes an outlet box housing, configurable between a first and second orientation, and a funnel assembly. The outlet box housing includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The first wall portion includes a first socket portion, including a first knock out portion, and at least one through hole. The first knock out portion includes a first knock out body and an area of weakening. The through hole attaches a plumbing fitting to the first wall portion. The second wall portion includes a second socket portion including a second knock out portion including a second knock out body and an area of weakening. The funnel assembly has a fixed funnel portion and a funnel cover configured to be removably attached to the fixed funnel portion. The funnel assembly is configured to direct fluid to the first or second socket portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An outlet box assembly comprising:
an outlet box housing including:
a first wall portion comprising:
a first socket portion configured for receipt of at least a portion of a conduit, the first socket portion comprising a first knock out portion comprising a first knock out body and an area of weakening, the first socket portion disposed to connect the first knock out body to the first wall portion, the area of weakening configured to facilitate removal of the first knock out body from the first wall portion; and
at least one through hole configured to facilitate attachment to a plumbing fitting;

a collet assembly configured to attach the plumbing fitting to the outlet box housing, the collet assembly comprising:
a nut comprising an inner surface that defines a passage with one or more internal threads positioned along the inner surface;
a collet body with one or more external threads configured to engage with the one or more internal threads of the nut, the collet body defining a longitudinally-extending collet body through hole configured to receive the plumbing fitting, the collet body further defining at least one longitudinal slot configured to allow the collet body to radially compress when the collet body is attached to the nut; and

a second wall portion comprising:
a second socket portion configured for receipt of at least a portion of a tubing, the second socket portion comprising a second knock out portion comprising a second knock out body and an area of weakening, the second socket portion disposed to connect the second knock out body to the second wall portion;

wherein the outlet box housing is configurable between (i) a first orientation in which the first wall portion defines a bottom wall of the outlet box housing and the second wall portion defines a top wall of the outlet box housing, and (ii) a second orientation in which the second wall portion is positioned opposite the first wall portion, the second wall portion defining a bottom wall of the outlet box housing and the first wall portion defining a top wall of the outlet box housing; and
wherein the outlet box housing further comprises a funnel assembly including a funnel portion having a first end fixed on the first wall portion such that the funnel portion is stationary with respect to the outlet box housing, the funnel portion extending from the first wall portion to the second wall portion and a funnel cover configured to be removably attached to the funnel portion such that the funnel cover extends from the first wall portion to the second wall portion.

2. The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first wall portion also comprises a second through hole configured to receive at least one of a compression style valve or an elbow fitting comprising an outlet positioned at a right angle from an inlet.

3. The outlet box assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of threads configured to attach to at least one of a hose, a flexible connector, or a fitting, wherein the plurality of threads are configured to extend beyond a third wall portion connected to both of the first wall portion and the second wall portion and a frame.

4. The outlet box assembly of claim 2 , wherein the compression style valve comprises of at least one of metal or plastic and is configured to be one of at least a quarter turn shutoff valve or a multi-turn valve.

5. The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the funnel assembly defines an opening configured to allow passage of at least a portion of a conduit into the outlet box housing, and configured to direct fluid flow to the first socket portion or the second socket portion.

Assignees

• Reliance Worldwide Corp

Inventors

• Cosley James Wittmer
• Hart Dennis L
• O'Neil Virgil E

Classifications

• E03B7/095

  Component holders or housings, e.g. boundary boxes · CPC title

• Y10T137/698

  Wall · CPC title

• F16L5/10

  by using sealing rings or sleeves only · CPC title

• E03C2001/028

  Alignment aids for plumbing installations · CPC title

• F16L5/06

  by means of a swivel nut compressing a ring or sleeve · CPC title