US3773968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical junction and switch boxes
Assignee: Indian Head Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-12
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A box for mounting in walls and ceilings for the purpose of enclosing the ends of electrical cables or conduits, and providing access to terminals or contacts connected to the ends of the cables or conduits through a switch plate or socket secured to one side of the box. The box is constructed of molded, synthetic resin and is characterized in having a pry-out panel assembly disposed between two walls of the box. Each pry-out panel assembly is located in a plane extending at an angle of from about 30* to about 60* to the planes of the walls of the box between which the assembly is located. Each pry-out panel assembly includes a plurality of elongated ribs of right triangular cross-section, with the base of the triangle lying in a plane extending at an angle of 30* to 60* to the plane of at least one wall of the box, and defining an open slot into the box between the ribs. At least one bridge web connects the triangular cross-sectioned ribs to the remainder of the box.
Inventors
- 👤 D Copp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:50
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/081; H02G3/083; H02G3/085; H02G3/12; H02G3/123; H02G3/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
An electrical box comprising a unitary synthetic resin housing including: a plurality of first walls integrally formed and interconnected at edges to form a structure extending continuously around the interior of the housing; an additional wall extending substantially normal to, and formed integrally with, said first walls; and at least one pry-out panel assembly interconnecting an edge of said additional wall with an adjacent edge of one of said first walls, each of said pry-out panel assemblies being integrally formed with the walls interconnected thereby, and lying in a plane extending at an acute angle to the walls interconnected thereby, each of said pry-out assemblies comprising: a pair of triangularly cross-sectioned ribs disposed on opposite sides of a slot in the housing, each of said ribs having a base side facing the interior of the housing and lying in a common plane extending at an acute angle to the walls interconnected by the respective pry-out assembly in which the ribs are disposed; and a frangible bridge web interconnecting at least one of said triangularly cross-sectioned ribs with one of said walls of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
An electrical box comprising a unitary synthetic resin housing including: a plurality of first walls integrally formed and interconnected at edges to form a structure extending continuously around the interior of the housing; an additional wall extending substantially normal to, and formed integrally with, said first walls; and at least one pry-out panel assembly interconnecting an edge of said additional wall with an adjacent edge of one of said first walls, each of said pry-out panel assemblies being integrally formed with the walls interconnected thereby, and lying in a plane extending at an acute angle to the walls interconnected thereby, each of said pry-out assemblies comprising: a pair of triangularly cross-sectioned ribs disposed on opposite sides of a slot in the housing, each of said ribs having a base side facing the interior of the housing and lying in a common plane extending at an acute angle to the walls interconnected by the respective pry-out assembly in which the ribs are disposed; and a frangible bridge web interconnecting at least one of said triangularly cross-sectioned ribs with one of said walls of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is a right parallelepiped in configuration and is open at its side opposite said additional wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 2 and further characterized as including an elongated indentation in each of said first walls extending substantially normal to said additional wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 3 and further characterized as including a pair of screw-receiving bosses adjacent parallel edges of two of said first walls on the opposite side of said housing from said additional wall, said bosses each forming an end of one of said elongated indentations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 4 and further characterized as including pry-out panel assemblies located on opposite sides oF each of said indentations and interconnecting the first wall in which the respective indentation is located and said additional wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 5 and further characterized as including a mounting flange projecting from said housing in a plane extending normal to one of said first walls and spaced from the open side of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said pry-out panel assemblies extends at an angle of substantially 45* to said additional wall and one of said first walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 7 wherein said housing and mounting flange are integrally molded polyvinyl chloride resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 1 and further characterized to include a mounting flange projecting from said housing in a plane extending substantially normal to one of said first walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 1 and further characterized to include a pair of screw-receiving bosses adjacent parallel edges of two of said first walls and formed integrally with said two first walls on the opposite side of said housing from said additional wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical box as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including a hanger bracket on said additional wall for hanging said box from an elongated supporting member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
In an electrical box of the type having at least one substantially monoplannar wall which extends normal to a second substantially monoplanar wall, the improvement which comprises a pry-out panel assembly extending between said walls at an angle of from about 30* to about 60* to each of said walls, said pry-out panel assembly comprising: a pair of substantially parallel ribs disposed on opposite sides of a slot in the electrical box, each of said ribs having a right triangular cross-sectional configuration with the base sides of the triangle lying in a common plane extending at an angle of between 30* and 60* to said walls, and one of the remaining sides of each triangle extending substantially perpendicular to one of said walls of the box and perpendicular to the remainder of the sides of the triangle; and a bridge web interconnecting at least one of said ribs with one of said walls of the box.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
In an electrical box of the type having at least one substantially monoplannar wall which extends normal to a second substantially monoplanar wall, the improvement which comprises a pry-out panel assembly extending between said walls at an angle of from about 30* to about 60* to each of said walls, said pry-out panel assembly comprising: a pair of substantially parallel ribs disposed on opposite sides of a slot in the electrical box, each of said ribs having a right triangular cross-sectional configuration with the base sides of the triangle lying in a common plane extending at an angle of between 30* and 60* to said walls, and one of the remaining sides of each triangle extending substantially perpendicular to one of said walls of the box and perpendicular to the remainder of the sides of the triangle; and a bridge web interconnecting at least one of said ribs with one of said walls of the box.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement in an electrical box as defined in claim 12 and further characterized as including two additional spaced, triangularly cross-sectioned ribs interconnecting the ribs in said first mentioned pair of ribs and disposed on opposite sides of said slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement defined in claim 12 wherein said base sides of the triangles defined by the cross-section of the ribs in said pair lie in a common plane which extends at an angle of 45* to said walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement defined in claim 14 and further characterized as including two additional spaced, triangularly cross-sectioned ribs interconnecting the ribs in said first mentioned pair of ribs and disposed on opposite sides of said slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |