US6441302B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Junction box mount structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2001-07-27
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Granted: 2002-08-27
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Expires: 2021-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A junction box mount structure in which a plug holder is secured by insertion within the interior section of the junction box that has a mount installed in an opening through the side of a junction box and a plug holder inserted onto the mount. The mount has a laterally extending collar section that is inserted into the junction box opening and, furthermore, the plug holder is aligned with and slipped into the collar section, and thereby positioned within the interior section of the mount. A retainer element is movably conjoined to each of the two sides of the mount and, furthermore, under normal conditions, the free ends of the retaining elements are tightly pulled by an elastic component and drawn into a state of compression such that after the plug holder is inserted, it is maintained in position by the retaining elements and cannot be pulled out while restrained within the mount. As such, this provides for the direct insertion of the plug holder into the collar section and securing it to the mount without requiring additional fastening screws and tools to thereby effectively facilitate ease of assembly and installation.
Inventors
- 👤 Wen-Chang Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:31
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/18; H02G3/20; F; F21; F21V; F21V21/00; F21V21/02; F21V21/03; F21V23/00; F21V23/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
A junction box mount structure comprised of a mount installed in an opening through the side of a junction box and a plug holder inserted into the interior section of the said mount, of which: The said mount has a bore extending laterally from one end and, furthermore, a collar section that is inserted into the said junction box opening; two retaining elements are movably conjoined by screws at the other side and an elastic component is coupled to the free ends of the two said retaining elements and, furthermore, under normal conditions, the said elastic component tightly pulls the said free ends of the said retaining elements and draws them into a state of compression; a socket is fastened by screws towards the end and, furthermore, the said socket is situated at the rear extremity of the said retaining elements; The said plug holder is a tubular structure aligned with the said mount collar section; the said plug holder has a plug conjoined at its front end and, furthermore, projecting laterally from the end area of the said plug holder is a catch tip and formed along the side of the said catch tip is a recess thus providing for the outward pushing of the said retaining element free ends by the said catch tip after the insertion of the plug holder as well as the containing of the said retaining elements by the said recess that allows them to return to their original positions, thereby enabling the said retaining elements to maintain the said plug holder in position and prevent its removal by pulling; As such, ease of assembly and installation is effectively facilitated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
A junction box mount structure comprised of a mount installed in an opening through the side of a junction box and a plug holder inserted into the interior section of the said mount, of which: The said mount has a bore extending laterally from one end and, furthermore, a collar section that is inserted into the said junction box opening; two retaining elements are movably conjoined by screws at the other side and an elastic component is coupled to the free ends of the two said retaining elements and, furthermore, under normal conditions, the said elastic component tightly pulls the said free ends of the said retaining elements and draws them into a state of compression; a socket is fastened by screws towards the end and, furthermore, the said socket is situated at the rear extremity of the said retaining elements; The said plug holder is a tubular structure aligned with the said mount collar section; the said plug holder has a plug conjoined at its front end and, furthermore, projecting laterally from the end area of the said plug holder is a catch tip and formed along the side of the said catch tip is a recess thus providing for the outward pushing of the said retaining element free ends by the said catch tip after the insertion of the plug holder as well as the containing of the said retaining elements by the said recess that allows them to return to their original positions, thereby enabling the said retaining elements to maintain the said plug holder in position and prevent its removal by pulling; As such, ease of assembly and installation is effectively facilitated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
As mentioned in claim 1 of the junction box mount structure of the invention herein, the said mount accommodates the utilization of different type sockets and plugs, including a socket configured with one large and one small prong hole to accommodate a plug having a structural arrangement of one large and one small prong to thereby provide for insertion and continuity and, furthermore, a socket of a single-prong hole configuration to accommodate a plug having a single-prong structural arrangement to thereby provide for insertion and continuity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
As mentioned in claim 1 of the junction box mount structure of the invention herein, the said socket has a power source wire at one side and a power terminal on the other side that provides for plug-in connectivity and, furthermore, there is a tab at the each of the two sides of the said socket that accommodates the insertion of a screw for fastening the said socket to the lower surface of the said mount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
As mentioned in claim 1 of the junction box mount structure of the invention herein, the said Junction box collar section and its bore can be of a triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or other polygonal profile structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-26 | 2006-02-25 | 2006-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-26 | 2010-02-25 | 2010-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-26 | 2014-02-25 | 2014-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |