Electrical box cover assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9252579-B2
Application number	US-201313804346-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

An electrical box cover assembly includes a base having a central opening and a collar encircling the central opening. A sleeve slides through the collar and is adjusted to a selected position by manually moving the sleeve and then locking the sleeve in place by a locking device. An expandable locking device contacts an inner surface of the sleeve to lock the position of the sleeve with respect to the base. In one embodiment, the inner surface of the sleeve has at least one channel that extends in an axial direction with respect to an axial passage in the sleeve. The locking device expands outwardly to engage the opposing surfaces of the channel to prevent axial movement of the sleeve. A divider plate can be coupled to the sleeve to move with the sleeve and divide the electrical box into separate compartments. The divider can have fixed plate attached to the electrical box and movable plate coupled to the movable sleeve that slide on the fixed plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical box cover for coupling an electrical device to an electrical box, said cover comprising:
a base configured for coupling to an open end of the electrical box having a top side, a bottom side, an opening defining an axial passage, and having an inwardly extending tab positioned in said opening and spaced from said bottom side of said base;
a movable sleeve received in said axial passage of said base, said sleeve having flanges configured for supporting an electrical wiring device within said sleeve and adjusting the position of the sleeve and electrical wiring device relative to said base, said sleeve having an axial passage;
a fastener positioned in said sleeve and coupled to said tab; and
a spring coupled to said fastener in said sleeve, said fastener configured for moving between an unlocked position and a locked position to compress said spring and deflect said spring outwardly to engage an inner surface of said sleeve to lock the position of said sleeve relative to said base.

2. The electrical box cover of claim 1 , wherein
said tab includes a threaded screw hole, and said fastener is a screw received in said threaded hole and said spring has an axial hole and said screw being received in said axial hole.

3. The electrical box cover of claim 2 , further comprising
a bushing having an axial passage receiving said screw, said bushing being positioned between said tab and spring, where rotation of said screw relative to said tab compresses said spring to expand radially outward to engage said inner surface of said sleeve.

4. The electrical box cover of claim 3 , wherein
said spring has a substantially U-shape with a pair of legs, each of said legs having a hole receiving said screws.

5. The electrical box cover of claim 3 , wherein
said spring has an apex with a first leg and a second leg with a hole extending through said apex for receiving said screw whereby said compression of said spring causes said legs to expand radially outward.

6. The electrical box cover of claim 1 , wherein
said base comprises a collar surrounding said opening in said base and extending upwardly from said top side for receiving said sleeve.

7. The electrical box cover of claim 1 , wherein
said sleeve includes a channel on an inner surface of said sleeve and extending in an axial direction with respect to said sleeve, said channel having an open side facing inwardly into an axial passage of said sleeve, and said channel being configured to receive said spring.

8. The electrical box cover of claim 7 , wherein
said channel has two opposing inner faces for engaging outer edges of said spring when said spring is compressed.

9. The electrical box cover of claim 1 , wherein
said sleeve has a substantially rectangular configuration with a first corner with an axial channel having an inwardly open side receiving said screw and spring.

10. The electrical box cover of claim 1 , further comprising
a divider coupled to said movable sleeve for dividing said movable sleeve into at least two compartments, and where said divider is coupled to said movable sleeve for axial movement with said movable sleeve with respect to said base.

11. The electrical box cover of claim 10 , wherein
said divider is expandable between a retracted position and an extended position.

12. The electrical box cover of claim 1 , further comprising
a divider having a first divider plate in a fixed position with respect to said base, and a second movable divider plate coupled to said movable sleeve for moving with said sleeve relative to said base.

13. The electrical box cover of claim 12 , wherein
said first divider plate is coupled to said second divider plate for moving between a retracted position and an extended position.

14. An electrical box cover for an electrical box, said cover comprising:
a base configured for coupling an open end of an electrical box, said base having an opening extending between a top side and a bottom side;
a movable sleeve having an axial passage and being received in said opening in said base;
a locking member coupled to said base for locking the position of said sleeve with respect to said base; and
a divider configured for dividing said opening in said base and dividing said axial passage in said sleeve, where said divider is expandable between a retracted position having a first height and extended position having a second height, and where a portion of said divider plate is movable with movement of said movable sleeve.

15. The electrical box cover of claim 14 , wherein said divider comprises
a first divider plate; and
a second divider plate coupled to said movable sleeve for movement with movement of said movable sleeve.

16. The electrical box cover of claim 15 , wherein
said second divider is coupled to said first divider plate and being slidable with respect to said first divider plate.

17. The electrical box cover of claim 14 , wherein
said base has a tab extending inwardly into said opening; and
said locking member includes a screw threaded into a threaded hole in said tab, and a spring that expands outwardly to engage an inner surface of said sleeve when compressed to lock the position of said sleeve with respect to said base.

18. The electrical box cover of claim 17 , wherein
said movable sleeve includes a channel receiving said screw and spring, said channel having a pair of opposing sides and an open side open to said axial passage.

19. The electrical box cover of claim 18 , wherein
said movable sleeve has an inwardly extending flange in said axial passage and spaced from a side wall of said sleeve to form said channel.

20. The electrical box cover of claim 18 , further comprising
a bushing having an axial bore receiving said screw, said bushing being positioned between said tab and said spring whereby rotating said screw compresses said spring against said bushing causing said spring to expand outwardly.

21. An adjustable mounting assembly for an electrical outlet box, said assembly comprising:
a base with an opening and a tab extending into said opening;
a sleeve received in said opening for sliding axially within said opening and having an axial passage configured to support an electrical wiring device; and
a fastener and compressible locking member coupled to said tab and being positioned in said axial passage of said sleeve, said locking member being movable between an unlocked and locked position and being configured to engage an inner surface of said sleeve in the locked position to lock said sleeve in place, and said sleeve has a channel on an inner surface for receiving said fastener and locking member.

22. The adjustable mounting assembly of claim 21 , wherein
said base has a top surface and a bottom surface, said tab being spaced below said bottom surface a distance to enable said sleeve to slide in said opening of said base.

23. The adjustable mounting assembly of claim 21 , wherein said locking member is a spring configured to expand radially outward by said fastener compressing said spring in the locked position.

24. The adjustable mounting assembly of claim 23 , wherein
said spring has a first leg and a second leg connected at an apex, each of said legs having a hole for receiving said screw.

25. The adjustable mounting assembly of claim 23 , wherein
said spring has a first leg and second leg connected at an apex, said apex ha

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Korcz Krzysztof W
• Johnson Steven J

Classifications

• H02G3/18

  providing line outlets · CPC title

• H02G3/14

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title

• H02G3/086

  Assembled boxes · CPC title

• H02G3/08

  Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes · CPC title

• H02G3/085

  including knock-out or tear-out sections · CPC title