US2423757A - Adjustable outlet box support - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1947. 0. 5. DEDGE 2,423,757

ADJUSTABLE OUTLET BOX SUPPORT Filed Jam. 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE OUTLET BOX SUPPORT Ottomus G. Dedge, Alma, Ga. Application January 11, 1944, Serial No. 517,845

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved adjustable outlet box constructed along general lines evidenced in prior type of adjustable boxes of which there are many both on the market and covered in prior patents classified in the subdivision to which the instant invention belongs.

It is a matter of common knowledge that in fastening outlet boxes to accommodate electricity conductors, switches, fixtures and the like, the plasterers who generally" follow up the electric wiring men in building construction work are often confronted with the difficulty of evening up or rendering flush the plaster with the outer edge of the box. This often necessitates blocking the box out or adjusting it in relation to the wall with a view toward securing the desired flush relationship of parts. As intimated I am aware that in View of this, adjustable boxes are now provided to compensate for such difiiculties.

My primary aim is to generally improve upon such prior devices as are known to me, this by providing an outlet box which is characterized by distinctive refinements and structural improvements which, in my judgment, render my structure more aptly suitable for the purposes intended.

The primary phase of the instant invention has to do with the provision of brackets at substantially diametrically opposite points, these arms having their inner ends fashioned to function in channel-like keyways, there being swivelly mounted adjusting screws located in said keyways and connected with the arms to regulate and retain the position of said arms in relation to other parts.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same- Figure 1 is a plan view of an outlet box embodying the improvements of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional View through the arrangement seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, this showing the bracket or hanger arms assuming an overlapped folded out-of-the-way position.

Figure 4 is a View, centrally in section, showing how the bracket arms or hangers are bent for special anchorage purposes on a beam or like inwardly of the ceiling or wall.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing how the projectible and retractible spurs or detents are employed for temporary setting of the box in the ceiling or wall construction.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the bracket arms.

Figure '7 is a section showing the formation of the inner adjustable end of the bracket arm and groove or keyway in which it functions.

It is to be understood that I am not interested in the particular or special construction of the box in general, but only in the special improvements which I have devised. Thus, the outlet box is generally denoted by the numeral 8 and is provided with the usual parts and knock-out plugs 9. One improvement which I have in mind is the provision of temporary setting and anchoring elements. These are denoted by the numerals l0. They are struck-out fingers or tongues whose free ends II are laterally bent to provide spurs such as are designed to be projected by a blow from a hammer or a hammer against a tongue to fasten the same in the ceiling as shown for example in Figure 2. The purpose of this will be brought out later.

The second characteristic in the box construction is the provision at diametrically opposite points of indentations defining channel-like keyways l2. Spanning the bottom of each keyway there is a web forming what may be conveniently called a lug I 3. Swivelly mounted in this lug and occupying position centrally of the keyway is a threaded adjusting screw whose headed end I4 is swivelly mounted in the lug and whose opposite end l5 projects beyond the adjacent surface of the box to serve a purpose to be subsequently clarified.

It will be noticed that the preferred form of the hanger or bracket arms is that seen in Figure 6. That is to say, each arm is a fiat strap of metal or equivalent materal of suitable rigidity and length and dimension. At the inner end there is a struck-up segmental or substantially arcuate lip I! which is shaped to fit and slide in the keyway 1H2. Adjacent this there is a screw-threaded hole I 8 which serves to accommodate the shank of the adjusting and feed screw 15. At the outer free end the arm is provided with appropriate fastener or nail holes l9. It follows that at diametrically olpposite points the box is provded with channel-like keyways having swivelly mounted feed screws therein, the feed screws serving to accommodate the adjacent inner ends of the bracket arms. These arms being on the screws are provided with lip-like detents l1 andcan serve in several ways. Ordinarily, the bracket arms are simply adjusted to hang or rest against the inner surface of the ceiling or wall A shown for example in dotted lines in, Figure 4. This will be the same position as occupied by the then outstanding arms it in full lines in Figure'Z.

It can beseen that it is often necessary when using a wooden panel wall or ceiling that the hole for the outlet box is cut-out and sometimes the box has to be slipped into place through the hole. For this reason it will he noticed that the projected ends of the screws I in Figure B'permits the arms to be swung in to overlapping relationship as seen in Figure 3.

In this position the arms are retracted and folded upon each other to an out-of-the-way position and the entire box, including the then folded arms can he slipped up through the hole. and anchored in place. Then, when the arms are thrown out to project beyond the peripheral or rim. portion of the box it is necessary to draw them down against the ceiling as shown in dotted lines inFigure 4. Of course, at this time it is necessary that the box be stationary in relation to the then adjustable arms. This is where the aforementioned retaining spurs H come into the picture. As shown for. example in Figure 5, these spursare driven out through their adjacent slots and anchored in place. This temporarily fastens the box to the ceiling and. makes it stationary. Consequently, by turning a screw-driver in. the

headed ends of the swivel feed screws I5 the hang-- er or bracket arms can be fed down into placein relation to the then stationary box.

When it is necessary to attach the hanger arms. to a horizontal or vertical studsuch as shown at. B in Figure 4 the intermediate portion ofthearm. is bent laterally to extend diagonally as at. 20: and.

the free "end is bent at the desired anglein relation thereto. as indicated at 2|. proper an-gulation or the bent. portions of the hanger arms to adapt the same for use as brought out in. Figure 4. It would be quite possible to at-.- tach these arms to. the setting and thenscrew the box into place. However, experience of electricians and wiringmenwillserve as the answer to this.

By way of summation, one phase of novelty has to do with the integral webs span thenormal lower ends of the coacting channels l2, said webs serving to function aslugs and providing convenient means to swivelly mount longitudinally extending relationship.

formations and to also provide correspondingly curved-reinforcinglips, the curvedends andlips fitting nicely into the correspondingly curved' channels, whereby to provide a convenient'and nicely adaptable arrangement in which the lipequipped arcuate ends of the arms are adjusted in the accommodation channels.

In addition to the'above, the arrangement depictedin dotted lines in Figure 1 and in .fulllines This makes for [3 which in Figure 3, is stressed. By this, I mean that the arms [6 are such in length that they can be brought into overlapping relationship when folded as shown. Each arm, when folded, has the outer flanged end I! substantially flush with a perimeter rim or wall of the shell and the oppositefree swingable end of the arm terminates short of the opposed wall portion of the rim, or to put it otherwise, each arm is of a length to terminate within the outer peripheral limits of the flat top wall of the shell.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An outlet box including a shell having substantially diametrically opposite channels constituting keyways, perforated lugs in said keyways, feed-screws in said keyways mounted for rotation through said lugs, a pair of hangenarms having their inner ends formed. with transversely arcuate end edges and extending into said keyways and provided. with screw-threaded holes, the feed-screws being threaded through said holes, and the inner ends of said arms being formed with arcuate upstanding l-ips along their end edges to bear against walls of the keyways and guide movement of the arms through the keyways.

2. An outlet box including a hollow shell provided with a substantially flat wall and a surrounding marginal wall, said marginal wall being provided with diametrically opposite channels: constituting keyways, said keyways'having thereinperforated lugs, saidlugsprojecting into corresponding ends of the keyways, feed screws located for rotation in-said keyways and swivelly mounted in said lugs, screw-threaded. end portions of said feed-screws projecting through and beyond those ends of said channels adjacent the aforesaid flat wall of the shell, a pair. of hanger arms, said arms being of lengths, whenfo-lded'and not in use, to terminate at opposite ends within. the perimeter limits of said fiat wall, said'arms' being disposed when folded. in overlapping relationship, and having theirouter ends provided with screw-threaded holes, said feed-screws being threaded into and through said holes.

3. An outlet box including a hollow shell-provided with a substantially flat wall and a laterally disposed and' surrounding marginal wall, said marginal wall being provided'with oppositely lo"- cated open-ended channels constituting keyways; said marginal wall having perforated. lugs, said lugs projecting into corresponding ends'of said keyways, feed-screws located for rotation". in said keyways and swivelly mounted in' said lugs; cor= responding screw-threaded end portions of said feed-screws projecting through: and beyond the ends of said channels adjacent to the aforesaid fiat wall of the shell, a pairi'ofr hanger arms, each arm being of. a length to terminate inwardly. of

the outer perimeter of said fiat wall, said arms Joe'- ing disposed in overlapping relationship, and having their outer ends provided with screwthreaded holes, said feed-screws being threaded into and through said holes, each hanger arm comprising a fiat, rectangular strip provided at 5 its inner end with nail holes for attachment and anchorage purposes, the outer end of each arm being provided with a lateral substantially semicircular lip, said lip projecting laterally beyond one fiat surface of the arm.

OTTOMUS G. DEDGE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Newton Aug. 2, 1921 Number Number 6 Name Date Budnick Mar. 4, 1941 Olsen et a1. May 8, 1934 Lindstrom Feb. 10, 1942 Bedell June 1, 1943 Knight Apr. 29, 1919 Hotchkin Mar. 18, 1913 Littleton Nov. 27, 1928 Wiskofi- Dec. 7, 1937 Blodgett Mar. 7, 1944

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