US5234119A — Plastic box for ceiling fan support

Claim 1

Independent Claim 140 words

A ceiling box adapted to support a ceiling fan thereon and adapted to be mounted on a structural member, the combination comprising: a body member having a lower wall and first and second opposed side walls defining a recess for receiving the structural member therein; first means, formed in said lower wall, for receiving a first box mounting fastener therein; second means, formed in said lower wall, for receiving a second box mounting fastener therein, said first and second means being located at opposite sides and ends of said lower wall; third means, formed in said body member adjacent said first means, for receiving a first fan supporting fastener therein; and fourth means, formed in said body member adjacent said second means, for receiving a second fan supporting fastener therein, said ceiling box being integrally formed of substantially rigid plastic.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 140 words

A ceiling box adapted to support a ceiling fan thereon and adapted to be mounted on a structural member, the combination comprising: a body member having a lower wall and first and second opposed side walls defining a recess for receiving the structural member therein; first means, formed in said lower wall, for receiving a first box mounting fastener therein; second means, formed in said lower wall, for receiving a second box mounting fastener therein, said first and second means being located at opposite sides and ends of said lower wall; third means, formed in said body member adjacent said first means, for receiving a first fan supporting fastener therein; and fourth means, formed in said body member adjacent said second means, for receiving a second fan supporting fastener therein, said ceiling box being integrally formed of substantially rigid plastic.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The ceiling box according to claim 1, wherein said third means includes a first opening located adjacent said first means to receive a first fan supporting fastener therein and said fourth means includes a second opening located adjacent said second means to receive a second fan supporting fastener therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The ceiling box according to claim 1, wherein said lower wall and first and second side walls are substantially planar.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The ceiling box according to claim 3, wherein said lower wall is substantially perpendicular to said first and second side walls and said recess is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

The ceiling box according to claim 3, wherein said recess is sized to snugly receive the structural member and to allow intimate contact of said lower wall and said first and second side walls with the structural member to prevent rocking and rotation movements of said body member when a structural member is received in said recess.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The ceiling box according to claim 3, wherein said first and second means include first and second screw holes, respectively, in said lower wall for receiving the first and second box mounting fasteners therethrough into said recess.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The ceiling box according to claim 3, wherein said third and fourth means include first and second openings, respectively, for receiving first and second fan supporting fasteners therein.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 122 words

The ceiling box according to claim 3, wherein said body member further comprises first and second top walls coupled to said first and second side walls, respectively; first and second outer walls coupled to said first and second side walls and first and second top walls; and first and second end walls coupled to said first and second outer walls and said lower wall; said first and second outer walls and said first and second end walls having a continuous bottom edge defining an open bottom end; and said lower wall, first and second top walls, first and second side walls, first and second end walls and first and second outer walls define a substantially U-shaped inner cavity in said body member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

The ceiling box according to claim 8, wherein said body member includes at least one break-out window adapted to receive electrical wires after a portion is broken away.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The ceiling box according to claim 9, wherein said at least one break-out window is located in at least one of said first and second outer walls.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The ceiling box according to claim 8, wherein said bottom edge lies in a plane substantially parallel to said lower wall, and said lower wall is spaced approximately 0.5 inch from said bottom edge.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 88 words

The ceiling box according to claim 1, wherein said body member further comprises: first and second brackets; said first bracket being coupled to said body member adjacent said first means and said third means and to form a first substantially planar surface with said first side wall for contacting the structural member; and said second bracket being coupled to said body member adjacent said second means and said fourth means and to form a second substantially planar surface with said second side wall for contacting the structural member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

The ceiling box according to claim 12, and further comprising fifth means formed in said first bracket for receiving at least one first bracket fastener and sixth means formed in said second bracket for receiving at least one second bracket fastener.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 182 words

A plastic ceiling box adapted to support a ceiling fan thereon and adapted to be mounted on a ceiling joist, the combination comprising: a substantially planar lower wall having means for mounting said ceiling box to the ceiling joist; first and second substantially planar opposed side walls coupled to and substantially perpendicular to said lower wall for defining a joist receiving recess sized to snugly receive a ceiling joist therein; an outer wall structure coupled to said first and second side walls and said lower wall for defining a substantially U-shaped inner cavity with a continuous bottom edge defining an open bottom; a first bracket being coupled to said outer wall structure to form a first substantially planar surface with said first side wall for contacting one side of the ceiling joist; a second bracket being coupled to said outer wall structure to form a second substantially planar surface with said second side wall for contacting the other side of the ceiling joist; and fastening means, coupled to said outer wall structure at said bottom edge, for coupling the ceiling fan thereto.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 182 words

A plastic ceiling box adapted to support a ceiling fan thereon and adapted to be mounted on a ceiling joist, the combination comprising: a substantially planar lower wall having means for mounting said ceiling box to the ceiling joist; first and second substantially planar opposed side walls coupled to and substantially perpendicular to said lower wall for defining a joist receiving recess sized to snugly receive a ceiling joist therein; an outer wall structure coupled to said first and second side walls and said lower wall for defining a substantially U-shaped inner cavity with a continuous bottom edge defining an open bottom; a first bracket being coupled to said outer wall structure to form a first substantially planar surface with said first side wall for contacting one side of the ceiling joist; a second bracket being coupled to said outer wall structure to form a second substantially planar surface with said second side wall for contacting the other side of the ceiling joist; and fastening means, coupled to said outer wall structure at said bottom edge, for coupling the ceiling fan thereto.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The plastic ceiling box according to claim 14, wherein said ceiling box is formed as a one-piece, unitary, integrally molded member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

The plastic ceiling box according to claim 14, wherein said means for mounting includes a pair of mounting holes extending through said lower wall for receiving a mounting fastener in each of said mounting holes.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 51 words

The plastic ceiling box according to claim 16, wherein said lower wall is substantially rectangular with one of said mounting holes located adjacent a first corner of said lower wall, and the other of said mounting holes located in a second corner of said lower wall opposite to said first corner.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The plastic ceiling box according to claim 17, wherein said fastening means includes a pair of openings for threadedly receiving a pair of fan supporting fasteners therein.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The plastic ceiling box according to claim 18, wherein one of said openings is located adjacent one of said mounting holes, and the other of said openings is located adjacent the other of said mounting holes.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The plastic ceiling box according to claim 18, wherein said fastening means is directly coupled to said outer wall structure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-08-09	1997-02-08	1997-08-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-08-09	2001-02-08	2001-08-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-08-09	2005-02-08	2005-08-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Plastic box for ceiling fan support

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