US4331832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical outlet box
Assignee: SCOA ACQUISITION CORP
•
Filing: 1980-01-10
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Granted: 1982-05-25
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Expires: 2000-01-10
Abstract
Abstract An electrical outlet floor box including an upright, open top cylindrical housing member, a ball ring, and a cover assembly secured to the open top of the housing member by means of the ball ring; said housing member is embedded in a concrete floor and the upper portion removed in proximity to, and in a plane parallel to, the surface of the concrete. The ball ring insures that the upper surface of the cover assembly is parallel to the surface of the concrete floor even if the axis of the cylindrical housing member deviates somewhat from normality to the surface of the concrete floor.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Curtis
- 👤 Albert Hurst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 06:30
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/18; H02G3/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An electrical outlet floor box comprising an open top vertically extending circular cylindrical plastic housing adapted to be cut off substantially flush with or slightly above and parallel with a floor surface, a cover assembly including a cover of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of said cylindrical housing and adapted to be positioned flush against the top of said cylindrical housing after said cylindrical housing has been cut off, a plastic ball ring having a generally spherical outside surface, the largest diameter of which is substantially the same as the inside diameter of said cylindrically housing, and means releasably to secure said ball ring to the underside of said cover assembly in proper position whereby the ball ring may be positioned inside the top of the cylindrical housing and held in place for solvent cementing with the cover serving as a jig to hold the ball ring within the top of said cylindrical housing with its axis normal to the floor, said means releasably to secure said ball ring to said cover assembly comprising threaded fasteners extending through said cover assembly and axially into said ball ring through complementary threaded sockets substantially parallel to the axis of the ball ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
An electrical outlet floor box comprising an open top vertically extending circular cylindrical plastic housing adapted to be cut off substantially flush with or slightly above and parallel with a floor surface, a cover assembly including a cover of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of said cylindrical housing and adapted to be positioned flush against the top of said cylindrical housing after said cylindrical housing has been cut off, a plastic ball ring having a generally spherical outside surface, the largest diameter of which is substantially the same as the inside diameter of said cylindrically housing, and means releasably to secure said ball ring to the underside of said cover assembly in proper position whereby the ball ring may be positioned inside the top of the cylindrical housing and held in place for solvent cementing with the cover serving as a jig to hold the ball ring within the top of said cylindrical housing with its axis normal to the floor, said means releasably to secure said ball ring to said cover assembly comprising threaded fasteners extending through said cover assembly and axially into said ball ring through complementary threaded sockets substantially parallel to the axis of the ball ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical outlet floor box as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ball ring comprises a ring-like section of a sphere taken a distance above, below and including a great circle of the sphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical outlet floor box as set forth in claim 2 including projections from the inner wall of the ball ring including said threaded sockets adapted to receive said fasteners.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical outlet floor box as set forth in claim 3 wherein said projections are three in number and equally circumferentially spaced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical outlet floor box as set forth in claim 4 including two additional diametrically opposed projections from the inner wall of the ball ring to which an electrical receptacle is adapted to be secured.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical outlet floor box as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cover assembly includes access openings adapted to provide access to an electrical receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical outlet floor box as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover includes a gasket adapted to be positioned between the top of the cylindrical housing and the underside of the cover.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical outlet floor box as set forth in claim 7 wherein said ball ring includes means releasably to support an electrical receptacle, and access openings in said cover and gasket adapted to provide access to said receptacle.
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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) | 1985-05-24 | 1985-11-23 | 1986-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-24 | 1989-11-23 | 1990-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-24 | 1993-11-23 | 1994-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |