Outlet boxholder

Claim 2

A means for mounting an electrical outlet box in an opening formed in a wall member, said wall member having inner and outer wall surfaces, comprising, a substantially U-shaped strap member having a base portion and a pair of depending legs, said strap member adapted to be inserted into the opening in said wall member so that the free ends of said legs extend outwardly therefrom, a first retainer means slidably mounted on one of said legs and having a first portion thereon for engagement with the said inner wall surface and having a second portion extending outwardly from said opening, a second retainer means slidably mounted on the other of said legs and having a first portion thereon for engagement with the said inner wall surface and having a second portion extending outwardly from said opening, said opening, said U-shaped strap member and first and second retainer means adapted to receive outlet box therein, said second portions of said retainer means being deformable so that the second portions of said retainer means may be folded inwardly around the outer edges of said box, said strap member having free ends on each of said legs for engagement with the outside surface of said wall member.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said first portions comprise a pair of diverging wings.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said retainer means has a channel means formed therein which slidably receives the respective leg of said strap member.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said channel means yieldably slidably receives said leg.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said channel means adjustably yieldably receives said leg.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said legs have laterally extending portions at their free ends.

Claim 8

A means for mounting an electrical outlet box in an opening formed in a flat supporting member, said supporting member having inner and outer surfaces, comprising, a first strap member having inner and outer ends, a second strap member having inner and outer ends, said strap members adapted to be inserted into said opening so that the outer ends thereof extend outwardly through said opening, a first retainer means slidably mounted on said first strap member, a second retainer means slidably mounted on said second strap member, each of said retainer means having a first portion thereon for engagement with the inner surface of said supporting member and having a second portion thereon extending outwardly from said opening, said opening and said strap members and said retainer means adapted to receive the outlet box therein, said strap members having means on the inner ends thereof for engagement with said outlet box, said second portions of said retainer means being deformable so that the second portions may each be folded inwardly around the outer edges of said box, said strap members having outer ends thereon for engagement with the outer surface of said supporting member.

Claim 9

A means for mounting an electrical outlet box in an opening formed in a flat supporting member, said supporting member having inner and outer surfaces, comprising, a first strap member having inner and outer ends, a second strap member having inner and outer ends, said strap members adapted to be inserted into said opening so that the outer ends thereof extend outwardly through said opening, a first retainer means slidably mounted on said first strap member, a second retainer means slidably mounted on said second strap member, each of said retainer means having a first portion thereon for engagement with the inner surface of said supporting member and having a second portion thereon extending outwardly from said opening, said opening and said strap members and said retainer means adapted to receive the outlet box therein, said strap members having means on the inner ends thereof for engagement with said outlet box, said second portions of said retainer means being deformable so that the second portions may each be folded inwardly around the outer edges of said box, said strap members having outer ends thereon for engagement with the outer surface of said supporting member.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said supporting member is a ceiling.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner ends of said strap members have an L-shaped portion for engagement with the inner end of said box.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said retainer means has a channel means formed therein which slidably receives the strap member therein.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said channel means yieldably slidably receives said strap member.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said channel means adjustably slidably receives said strap member.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said strap members each have laterally extending portions at their outer ends.

Claim 16

A means for mounting an electrical outlet box in an opening formed in a wall member, said wall member having inner and outer wall surfaces, comprising, a substantially U-shaped strap member having a base portion and a pair of depending legs, said strap member adapted to be inserted into the opening in said wall member so that the free ends of said legs extend outwardly therefrom, a first retainer means slidably mounted on one of said legs, a second retainer means slidably mounted on the other of said legs, each of said retainer means comprising a base portion having a forward end and a pair of wings extending outwardly from said base portion; said diverging wings being provided for engagement with the said inner wall surface; the forward end of said base portion extending outwardly from said opening, said opening, said U-shaped strap member and first and second retainer means adapted to receive outlet box therein, said forward portions of said base means of said retainer means being deformable so that the said forward portions may be folded inwardly around the outer edges of said box, said strap member having free ends on each of said legs for engagement with the outside surface of said wall member, each of said base means of said retainer means having a channel means formed therein which slidably receives the respective leg of said strap member, said channel means adjustably and yieldably slidably receiving said leg.

Claim 17

A means for mounting an electrical outlet box in an opening formed in a wall member, said wall member having inner and outer wall surfaces, comprising, a substantially U-shaped strap member having a base portion and a pair of depending legs, said strap member adapted to be inserted into the opening in said wall member so that the free ends of said legs extend outwardly therefrom, a first retainer means slidably mounted on one of said legs, a second retainer means slidably mounted on the other of said legs, each of said retainer means comprising a base portion having a forward end and a pair of wings extending outwardly from said base portion; said diverging wings being provided for engagement with the said inner wall surface; the forward end of said base portion extending outwardly from said opening, said opening, said U-shaped strap member and first and second retainer means adapted to receive outlet box therein, said forward portions of said base means of said retainer means being deformable so that the said forward portions may be folded inwardly around the outer edges of said box, said strap member having free ends on each of said legs for engagement with the outside surface of said wall member, each of said base means of said retainer means having a channel means formed therein which slidably receives the respective leg of said strap member, said channel means adjustably and yieldably slidably receiving said leg.

Claim 18

A means for mounting an electrical outlet box in an opening formed in a flat supporting member, said supporting member having inner and outer surfaces, comprising, a first strap member having inner and outer ends, a second strap member having inner and outer ends, said strap members adapted to be inserted into said opening so that the outer ends thereof extend outwardly through said opening, each of said strap members having laterally extending portions at their outer ends, a first retainer means slidably mounted on said first strap member, a second retainer means slidably mounted on said second strap member, each of said retainer means comprising a base portion having an outwardly extending portion which extends outwardly from said opening, each of said retainer means also comprising a pair of wings extending outwardly from said base portion for engagement with the inner surface of said supporting member, said opening and said strap members and said retainer means adapted to receive the outlet box therein, said strap members having means on the inner ends thereof for engagement with said outlet box, said outwardly extending portions of said retainer means being deformable so that they may each be folded inwardly around the outer edges of said box, said strap members having outer ends thereon for engagement with the outer surface of said supporting member, each of said base means of said retainer means having a channel means formed therein which adjustably, yieldably and slidably receives said strap member.

Claim 19

A means for mounting an electrical outlet box in an opening formed in a flat supporting member, said supporting member having inner and outer surfaces, comprising, a first strap member having inner and outer ends, a second strap member having inner and outer ends, said strap members adapted to be inserted into said opening so that the outer ends thereof extend outwardly through said opening, each of said strap members having laterally extending portions at their outer ends, a first retainer means slidably mounted on said first strap member, a second retainer means slidably mounted on said second strap member, each of said retainer means comprising a base portion having an outwardly extending portion which extends outwardly from said opening, each of said retainer means also comprising a pair of wings extending outwardly from said base portion for engagement with the inner surface of said supporting member, said opening and said strap members and said retainer means adapted to receive the outlet box therein, said strap members having means on the inner ends thereof for engagement with said outlet box, said outwardly extending portions of said retainer means being deformable so that they may each be folded inwardly around the outer edges of said box, said strap members having outer ends thereon for engagement with the outer surface of said supporting member, each of said base means of said retainer means having a channel means formed therein which adjustably, yieldably and slidably receives said strap member.