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US3710972A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electric outlet box mounting

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-26
•
Granted: 1973-01-16
•
Expires: 1991-01-26
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Abstract

Abstract An electric box outlet with improved mounting means enabling the mounting of the box in an opening of a wall without the use of tools or fastenings, and with the open front of the box disposed flush with the front face of the wall, irrespective of the thickness of the wall. The mounting means includes a pair of mounting elements for engaging the front face of the wall and a second pair of mounting elements for engaging the rear face of the wall, and which last mentioned mounting elements are adjustable longitudinally of the box to compensate for variations in the thickness of walls. Said adjustable mounting elements are capable of being retracted to enable the box to be removed from a wall opening, without damage thereto, and so that the box can be reused.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Barry

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 04:44
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/12; H02G3/123

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 209 words
An electric outlet box for mounting in a wall opening including first mounting elements adapted to abut against a front face of a support wall through an opening of which the box extends, second mounting elements adjustably anchored to the exterior of the box, said second mounting elements including abutment portions normally disposed externally of the box and substantially parallel to said first mounting elements and adapted to engage the rear face of the wall for securing the box in the opening thereof and resilient portions disposed externally of the box and carrying said abutment portions, said resilient portions being inclined away from the box from said anchoring means for yieldably retaining the abutment portions externally of the box and in wall engaging positions, said resilient portions being displaceable inwardly toward the box for disengaging the abutment portions from the wall and for positioning said abutment portions for passage through the wall opening, said box being substantially closed except for the openings through which the abutment portions extend, and closure and stop elements carried by the abutment portions for limiting outward movement of the abutment portions by engagement with the interior of the box and for closing said box openings when the abutment portions are in wall engaging positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 209 words
An electric outlet box for mounting in a wall opening including first mounting elements adapted to abut against a front face of a support wall through an opening of which the box extends, second mounting elements adjustably anchored to the exterior of the box, said second mounting elements including abutment portions normally disposed externally of the box and substantially parallel to said first mounting elements and adapted to engage the rear face of the wall for securing the box in the opening thereof and resilient portions disposed externally of the box and carrying said abutment portions, said resilient portions being inclined away from the box from said anchoring means for yieldably retaining the abutment portions externally of the box and in wall engaging positions, said resilient portions being displaceable inwardly toward the box for disengaging the abutment portions from the wall and for positioning said abutment portions for passage through the wall opening, said box being substantially closed except for the openings through which the abutment portions extend, and closure and stop elements carried by the abutment portions for limiting outward movement of the abutment portions by engagement with the interior of the box and for closing said box openings when the abutment portions are in wall engaging positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 58 words
An electric box as in claim 1, each of said second mounting elements comprising an elongated resilient strip having a bifurcated end bearing against a portion of the exterior of the box, and a clamping screw engaging through said bifurcated end and threadedly engaging in the box, said clamping screw and bifurcated end constituting said adjustable anchoring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
An electric box as in claim 1, said box openings being elongated in a direction longitudinally of said second mounting elements for accommodating adjustment of the abutment portions depthwise of the box for varying the spacing between said abutment portions and said first mounting elements to accommodate walls of different thicknesses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electric box as in claim 3, and said closure and stop elements being of a dimension depthwise of the box greater than the depthwise length of said openings.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1328968A Cited
US1662422A Cited
US2063923A Cited
US2286898A Cited
US2769562A Cited
US2842281A Cited
US3361089A Cited
US3620401A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-01-16 1976-07-17 1977-01-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-01-16 1980-07-17 1981-01-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-01-16 1984-07-17 1985-01-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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