Device for attaching electrical boxes to metal studding

Claim 2

A mounting device for securing an electrical box or the like to a supporting member, said device comprising: a clip portion defining a base having a clamping leg extending from one edge thereof and above said base on one side thereof to define the clip portion mouth along the other edge of said base, said leg and base being formed to frictionally grip the side wall of an electrical box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, and a supporting member engaging portion comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said leg, said flange defining an abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from either edge thereof in a plane parallel to the plane of said base, said arms extending diagonally from said flange and diverging in the direction away from said clip portion mouth, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof, said arms each being formed to define an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and converging in said direction, said projections at the ends thereof terminating in toothed end portions for gripping the supporting member in opposition to said flange abutment portion.

Claim 3

The device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said arms and said flange abutment portion are formed to define openings between said projections and said flange abutment portion to receive an upstanding wall portion of the supporting member, said spring arms being formed to bias said projections thereof against the supporting member wall portion when the latter is disposed in said openings between said flange abutment portion and said projections.

Claim 4

The box set forth in claim 1 wherein: said clip portion leg and base are disposed relative to said flange to provide a switch box mount for the electrical box.

Claim 5

The box set forth in claim 1 wherein: said clip portion leg and base are disposed relative to said flange to provide a flush mount for the electrical box.

Claim 6

The box set forth in claim 1 wherein: said spring projections are formed for application of said device to supporting members of both the channel stud and stressed wire types.

Claim 7

For use in securing an electrical box to a stud of channel-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defining a web flanked by side walls extending in the same direction laterally thereof and having the free end of the side walls turned toward each other to define inturned flanges, with the portion of the respective side walls defining said ends being doubled over inwardly of the stud to dispose the terminus of the respective side walls under the respective inturned flanges and facing in opposite directions, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip the side wall of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion, said stud engaging portion comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surface of one of the stud side walls when said device is applied to a stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and converging in said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side wall and the inturned flange of same when said device is applied to a stud, whereby said device may be applied to a stud by disposing the stud one side wall and its inturned flange between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side wall outer surface, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projections toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the stud side wall inturned flange so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the one side wall inturned flange, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surface of the stud one side wall to clamp the stud one side wall between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and the box side wall may be pressed into said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 8

For use in securing an electrical box to a stud of channel-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defining a web flanked by side walls extending in the same direction laterally thereof and having the free end of the side walls turned toward each other to define inturned flanges, with the portion of the respective side walls defining said ends being doubled over inwardly of the stud to dispose the terminus of the respective side walls under the respective inturned flanges and facing in opposite directions, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip the side wall of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion, said stud engaging portion comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surface of one of the stud side walls when said device is applied to a stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and converging in said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side wall and the inturned flange of same when said device is applied to a stud, whereby said device may be applied to a stud by disposing the stud one side wall and its inturned flange between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side wall outer surface, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projections toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the stud side wall inturned flange so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the one side wall inturned flange, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surface of the stud one side wall to clamp the stud one side wall between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and the box side wall may be pressed into said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 9

The device set forth in claim 6 wherein: said spring arms each define planar engaging surfaces between the respective spring arm projections and said flange abutment portion for engaging the one side wall inturned flange when said device is applied to a stud, said spring arm surfaces being coplanar and lying in a plane that substantially parallels said base.

Claim 10

The device set forth in claim 6 wherein: said flange is disposed adjacent and parallel to said opposed side edge of said base, said flange abutment portion being formed to define a perforation for receiving a fastener to secure said abutment portion to the stud one side wall.

Claim 11

The device set forth in claim 6 wherein: said spring arms in projecting away from said mouth extend generally in same direction as said legs.

Claim 12

The device set forth in claim 6 wherein: said spring arm projections each define a shoulder proportioned to engage the undersurface of the stud one side wall inturned flange, said projections and said shoulders of same acting to oppose movement of said mounting device in either direction longitudinally of the stud.

Claim 13

A mounting arrangement for an electrical box or the like comprising, in combination: an electrical box comprising a rear wall bounded by upstanding side walls, a stud of channel-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defining a web flanked by side walls extending in the same direction laterally thereof and having the free end of the side walls turned toward each other to define inturned flanges, with the portion of the respective stud side walls defining said ends being doubled over inwardly of the stud to dispose the terminus of the respective side walls under the respective inturned flanges and facing in opposite directions, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip one of the side walls of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion being secured to the stud and comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs and parallel to the plane of said box, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surface of one of the stud side walls when said device is applied to the stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and diverging in the direction opposite to said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side wall and the inturned flange of same, whereby said device may be applied to the stud to secure same thereto by disposing the stud one side wall and its inturned flange between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side wall outer surface, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projection toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the stud side wall inturned flange so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the one side wall inturned flange, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surface of the stud one side wall to clamp the stud one side wall between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and said box side wall being disposed in said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 14

A mounting arrangement for an electrical box or the like comprising, in combination: an electrical box comprising a rear wall bounded by upstanding side walls, a stud of channel-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defining a web flanked by side walls extending in the same direction laterally thereof and having the free end of the side walls turned toward each other to define inturned flanges, with the portion of the respective stud side walls defining said ends being doubled over inwardly of the stud to dispose the terminus of the respective side walls under the respective inturned flanges and facing in opposite directions, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip one of the side walls of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion being secured to the stud and comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs and parallel to the plane of said box, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surface of one of the stud side walls when said device is applied to the stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and diverging in the direction opposite to said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side wall and the inturned flange of same, whereby said device may be applied to the stud to secure same thereto by disposing the stud one side wall and its inturned flange between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side wall outer surface, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projection toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the stud side wall inturned flange so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the one side wall inturned flange, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surface of the stud one side wall to clamp the stud one side wall between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and said box side wall being disposed in said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 15

For use in securing an electrical box or the like to a stud of the stressed wire type comprising spaced apart parallel side rods interconnected by rod lengths that are diagonally disposed relative thereto, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip the side wall of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion, said stud engaging portion comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surface of one of the stud side rods when said device is applied to a stressed wire stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and converging in said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side rod when said device is applied to a stressed wire stud, whereby said device may be applied to a stressed wire stud by disposing the stud one side rod between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side rod outer surface, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projection toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the stud side rod so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the one side rod, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surface of the stud one side rod to clamp the stud one side rod between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and the box side wall may be pressed into said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 16

For use in securing an electrical box or the like to a stud of the stressed wire type comprising spaced apart parallel side rods interconnected by rod lengths that are diagonally disposed relative thereto, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip the side wall of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion, said stud engaging portion comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surface of one of the stud side rods when said device is applied to a stressed wire stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and converging in said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side rod when said device is applied to a stressed wire stud, whereby said device may be applied to a stressed wire stud by disposing the stud one side rod between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side rod outer surface, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projection toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the stud side rod so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the one side rod, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surface of the stud one side rod to clamp the stud one side rod between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and the box side wall may be pressed into said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 17

A mounting arrangement for an electrical box or the like comprising, in combination: an electrical box comprising a rear wall bounded by upstanding side walls, a stud of the stressed wire type defining pairs of spaced apart parallel side rods in which the rods of each pair are parallel and said pairs are interconnected in parallel relation by rod lengths that are diagonally disposed relative thereto, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip one of the side walls of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion being secured to the stud and comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs and parallel to the plane of said box, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surfaces of one of the stud side rod pairs when said device is applied to the stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flanGe and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and diverging in the direction opposite to said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side rod pairs, whereby said device may be applied to the stud to secure same thereto by disposing the stud one side rod pairs between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side rod outer surfaces, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projections toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the said stud side rod pairs so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the said one side rod pairs, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surfaces of the stud one side wall rod pairs to clamp the stud one side rod pairs between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and said box side wall being disposed in said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 18

A mounting arrangement for an electrical box or the like comprising, in combination: an electrical box comprising a rear wall bounded by upstanding side walls, a stud of the stressed wire type defining pairs of spaced apart parallel side rods in which the rods of each pair are parallel and said pairs are interconnected in parallel relation by rod lengths that are diagonally disposed relative thereto, a mounting device comprising: a clip portion defining a generally quadrilateral base having one or more spring legs extending from one side edge thereof across said base toward the opposed side edge thereof in spaced relation thereto to one side of said base and being formed to resiliently grip one of the side walls of the box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, said arms defining the clip portion mouth adjacent said opposed side edge of said base, and a stud engaging portion being secured to the stud and comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said legs and parallel to the plane of said box, said flange defining a planar abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof adapted to bear against the outer surfaces of one of the stud side rod pairs when said device is applied to the stud, a pair of spring arms carried by said flanGe and extending from same in diverging relation thereto in a direction away from said clip portion mouth and lying in a plane paralleling said base, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof and an abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and diverging in the direction opposite to said direction, said projections lying in a plane substantially paralleling said base and terminating in toothed end portions disposed adjacent the plane of said flange abutment portion, said arms and said flange abutment portion being formed to receive between same the stud one side rod pairs, whereby said device may be applied to the stud to secure same thereto by disposing the stud one side rod pairs between one of said projections and said flange abutment portion with said flange abutment portion engaging the stud one side rod outer surfaces, and on drawing the finger grip portion of the other projections toward the finger grip portion of said one projection, said other projection is drawn inwardly of the said stud side rod pairs so that said device may be rocked into flush engagement with the said one side rod pairs, said projections on release of said finger grip portions being biased into engagement with the inner surfaces of the stud one side wall rod pairs to clamp the stud one side rod pairs between said projections and said flange abutment portion, and said box side wall being disposed in said device clip portion to mount the box on the stud.

Claim 19

A mounting device for securing an electrical box or the like to a supporting member, said device comprising: a clip portion defining a base having a clamping leg extending from one edge thereof and above said base on one side thereof to define the clip portion mouth along the other edge of said base, said leg and base being formed to frictionally grip the side wall of an electrical box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, and a supporting member engaging portion comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said leg, said flange defining an abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from either edge thereof in a plane parallel to the plane of said base, said arms extending diagonally from said flange and diverging in the direction away from said clip portion mouth, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof, said arms each being formed to define and abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and converging in said direction, said projections at the ends thereof terminating in end portions formed for gripping the supporting member in opposition to said flange abutment portion.

Claim 20

A mounting device for securing an electrical box or the like to a supporting member, said device comprising: a clip portion defining a base having a clamping leg extending from one edge thereof and above said base on one side thereof to define the clip portion mouth along the other edge of said base, said leg and base being formed to frictionally grip the side wall of an electrical box introduced between same to secure the box to said device, and a supporting member engaging portion comprising: a flange projecting from the other side of said base substantially at right angles thereto and extending transversely of said leg, said flange defining an abutment portion adjacent the projecting end thereof, a pair of spring arms carried by said flange and extending from either edge thereof in a plane parallel to the plane of said base, said arms extending diagonally from said flange and diverging in the direction away from said clip portion mouth, said arms defining finger grip portions at the projecting ends thereof, said arms each being formed to define and abutment forming projection extending at substantially right angles to the respective arms and converging in said direction, said projections at the ends thereof terminating in end portions formed for gripping the supporting member in opposition to said flange abutment portion.