Patent · US Expired

Electrical box with coupling members

US4954667A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 15, 1989
Grant dateSep 4, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 15, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02G3/18
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical wall or ceiling box adapted to rapidly and securely couple an electrical wiring device thereto. The electrical box includes a pair of wedge-shaped inserts positioned within a pair of openings in the end walls of the electrical box. The inserts have a threaded, curved face portion for gripping a mounting screw and an oppositely facing sloping face portion for interacting with the sloping wall portions of the openings in the electrical box. The inserts also have a shoulder extending outwardly on three sides for engaging a three-sided ledge within the openings for retaining the inserts therein. This structure results in a significantly higher retention force than in prior devices, tending to resist disengagement of the inserts with the box upon insertion of a mounting screw therein.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.