US3720783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire retardant grounding means for junction boxes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-11-26
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Granted: 1973-03-13
•
Expires: 1991-11-26
Abstract
Abstract An electrical receptacle or the like is grounded directly and positively by means of a screw extending through axially shortenable spacer means positioned between the metallic frame of the receptacle and a portion of the metallic junction box on which it is mounted. The junction box is also provided with a cover member having a tubular collar whose length can be reduced as required in order to provide a plane that is substantially flush with a finished wall surface. The collar portion provides a fire retardant enclosure about the electrical receptacle and junction box opening. In an alternate embodiment the collar portion is used to provide a fire retardant grounding means for a previously installed junction box when paneling or the like is added to the wall structure introducing an air gap between the electrical receptacle and the junction box.
Inventors
- 👤 O Moll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:19
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/12; H02G3/121; H02G3/088; H02G3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
Fire retardant grounding means for an electrical device having a metallic yoke and Mounted on a metallic junction box comprising, in combination: a. an elongated tubular spacer means extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, wherein said spacer means is provided with a plurality of axially spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof adapted to permit shortening of said spacer means as required by mounting said electrical device substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall; b. an elongated tubular collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of intersecting spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof, said collar having an irregular edge formed as a result of shortening the same along certain of said lines of weakness, said irregular edge lying substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall and spacer means as required by mounting the electrical device thereon; and c. metallic fastening means passing through said spacer means for providing a ground connection between said yoke, said collar and said junction box, said fastening means being in direct contact with the metallic yoke of the electrical device, said collar and said junction box, and said collar forming a fire retardant enclosure about said electrical device and said fastening means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
Fire retardant grounding means for an electrical device having a metallic yoke and Mounted on a metallic junction box comprising, in combination: a. an elongated tubular spacer means extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, wherein said spacer means is provided with a plurality of axially spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof adapted to permit shortening of said spacer means as required by mounting said electrical device substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall; b. an elongated tubular collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of intersecting spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof, said collar having an irregular edge formed as a result of shortening the same along certain of said lines of weakness, said irregular edge lying substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall and spacer means as required by mounting the electrical device thereon; and c. metallic fastening means passing through said spacer means for providing a ground connection between said yoke, said collar and said junction box, said fastening means being in direct contact with the metallic yoke of the electrical device, said collar and said junction box, and said collar forming a fire retardant enclosure about said electrical device and said fastening means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
231 words
Fire retardant grounding means for an electrical device having a metallic yoke and Mounted on a metallic junction box comprising, in combination: a. an elongated tubular spacer means extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, wherein said spacer means is provided with a plurality of axially spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof adapted to permit shortening of said spacer means as required by mounting said electrical device substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall; b. an elongated tubular collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of intersecting spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof, said collar having an irregular edge formed as a result of shortening the same along certain of said lines of weakness, said irregular edge lying substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall and spacer means as required by mounting the electrical device thereon; and c. metallic fastening means passing through said spacer means for providing a ground connection between said yoke, said collar and said junction box, said fastening means being in direct contact with the metallic yoke of the electrical device, said collar and said junction box, and said collar forming a fire retardant enclosure about said electrical device and said fastening means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
231 words
Fire retardant grounding means for an electrical device having a metallic yoke and Mounted on a metallic junction box comprising, in combination: a. an elongated tubular spacer means extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, wherein said spacer means is provided with a plurality of axially spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof adapted to permit shortening of said spacer means as required by mounting said electrical device substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall; b. an elongated tubular collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of intersecting spaced lines of weakness in the walls thereof, said collar having an irregular edge formed as a result of shortening the same along certain of said lines of weakness, said irregular edge lying substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall and spacer means as required by mounting the electrical device thereon; and c. metallic fastening means passing through said spacer means for providing a ground connection between said yoke, said collar and said junction box, said fastening means being in direct contact with the metallic yoke of the electrical device, said collar and said junction box, and said collar forming a fire retardant enclosure about said electrical device and said fastening means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Fire retardant grounding means according to claim 1 wherein said lines of weakness in said spacer means are grooves formed in the outside face of said tubular spacer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Fire retardant grounding means according to claim 1 wherein said lines of weakness in said collar are grooves formed in the outside face of said tubular collar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Fire retardant grounding means according to claim 1 wherein said lines of weakness in said collar are grooves formed in the inside face of said tubular collar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Fire retardant grounding means according to claim 1 wherein said collar is formed in multiple sections and attached by connecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Fire retardant grounding means according to claim 5 wherein said connecting means is a tongue-in-groove arrangement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
193 words
An improved fire retardant junction box for supporting an electrical device having a metallic grounding yoke comprising: a. a cup-shaped metallic housing having a plurality of tabs formed at the open end thereof; b. elongated tubular spacer means extending outwardly from at least some of said tabs and into contact with the metallic yoke of said electrical device; c. metallic fastening means passing through said spacer means, said fastening means being in direct contact with both the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and at least some tabs for providing a common electrical connection; and d. a collar member secured to and enclosing the open end of said housing having a tubular extension depending therefrom in a direction away from said housing, said extension encompassing said fastening means and having a plurality of axially and angularly spaced lines of weakness and also having an irregular edge formed as a result of breaking along certain of the lines of weakness, the resulting outermost portion of said extension being substantially flush and having portions of said irregular edge in contact with the plane of the finished wall in which said junction box is mounted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
193 words
An improved fire retardant junction box for supporting an electrical device having a metallic grounding yoke comprising: a. a cup-shaped metallic housing having a plurality of tabs formed at the open end thereof; b. elongated tubular spacer means extending outwardly from at least some of said tabs and into contact with the metallic yoke of said electrical device; c. metallic fastening means passing through said spacer means, said fastening means being in direct contact with both the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and at least some tabs for providing a common electrical connection; and d. a collar member secured to and enclosing the open end of said housing having a tubular extension depending therefrom in a direction away from said housing, said extension encompassing said fastening means and having a plurality of axially and angularly spaced lines of weakness and also having an irregular edge formed as a result of breaking along certain of the lines of weakness, the resulting outermost portion of said extension being substantially flush and having portions of said irregular edge in contact with the plane of the finished wall in which said junction box is mounted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improved fire retardant junction box according to claim 7 wherein said collar member and said extension are of a non-metallic and fire retardant material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An improved fire retardant junction box according to claim 7 wherein said lines of weakness are defined by grooves formed on the outside of surface of said tubular extension.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improved fire-retardant junction box according to claim 9 wherein said lines of weakness are filled with a fire retardant material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An improved fire retardant junction box according to claim 7 wherein said lines of weakness of said tubular extension are defined by grooves formed on the inside surfacE thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improved fire-retardant junction box according to claim 10 wherein said lines of weakness are filled with a fire retardant material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improved fire-retardant junction box according to claim 7 wherein said collar member and extension are of a metallic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
Fire retardant means used in combination with an electrical device having a metallic yoke and mounted on a metallic junction box comprising an elongated tubular shaped collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of axially and angularly spaced lines of weakness forming a diamond shape in the wall thereof, said collar having an irregular edge formed by shortening along certain of the lines of weakness, said fire retardant means being retained between said yoke and said junction box.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
Fire retardant means used in combination with an electrical device having a metallic yoke and mounted on a metallic junction box comprising an elongated tubular shaped collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of axially and angularly spaced lines of weakness forming a diamond shape in the wall thereof, said collar having an irregular edge formed by shortening along certain of the lines of weakness, said fire retardant means being retained between said yoke and said junction box.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
Fire retardant means according to claim 14 wherein said collar is formed in multiple sections and attached by connecting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
Fire retardant means according to claim 15 wherein said connecting means is a tongue-in-groove arrangement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
162 words
Fire retardant grounding means for an electrical device having a metallic yoke and mounted on a metallic junction box comprising, in combination: a. an elongated tubular collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of axially and angularly spaced lines of weakness forming a diamond shape in the walls thereof, said collar being shortened along certain of said lines of weakness and thereby forming an irregular edge with portions substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall and with a spacer as required by mounting the electrical device thereon; and b. metallic fastening means for providing a ground connection between said yoke, said collar and said junction box, said fastening means being in direct contact with the metallic yoke of the electrical device, said collar and said junction box, and said collar forming a fire retardant enclosure about said electrical device and said fastening means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
162 words
Fire retardant grounding means for an electrical device having a metallic yoke and mounted on a metallic junction box comprising, in combination: a. an elongated tubular collar extending between the metallic yoke portion of the electrical device and the junction box, said collar being provided with a plurality of axially and angularly spaced lines of weakness forming a diamond shape in the walls thereof, said collar being shortened along certain of said lines of weakness and thereby forming an irregular edge with portions substantially flush with the room side plane of the finished wall and with a spacer as required by mounting the electrical device thereon; and b. metallic fastening means for providing a ground connection between said yoke, said collar and said junction box, said fastening means being in direct contact with the metallic yoke of the electrical device, said collar and said junction box, and said collar forming a fire retardant enclosure about said electrical device and said fastening means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |