Bracket System for Mounting Electrical Boxes
AssigneeERICO International Corporation
InventorMichael Hung-Sun Oh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bracket system for securing an electrical box and other components to a ceiling structure can include a support structure and a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket can include a first support member and a second support member that define a support channel for slidably receiving the ceiling member. The mounting bracket can further include a first contact member and a second contact member that extend from the second support member and define a contact channel to slidably receive the attachment end of the support structure.
Claims20
A bracket system for securing an electrical box to a ceiling structure, the ceiling structure including a T-grid ceiling member with a base and a vertical stem that extends from the base, the bracket system comprising:
- a support structure that includes a support section to support the electrical box, and an attachment end connected to the support section;
- and
- a mounting bracket that includes a unitary bracket body comprising:
- a first support member;
- a second support member connected to the first support member by a first arm and a second arm so that the first and second support members are resiliently movable relative to each other, wherein the first support member, the second support member, the first arm, and the second arm together define a support channel configured to slidably receive the vertical stem of the T-grid ceiling member, and wherein free ends of the first support member and the second support member, opposite the first and second arms, are configured to contact the base of the T-grid ceiling member when the vertical stem is received in the support channel;
- and
- a first contact member and a second contact member that are resiliently moveable relative to each other and extend from the second support member away from the support channel, between the free end of the second support member and the first and second arms, wherein the first contact member and the second contact member define a contact channel configured to slidably receive the attachment end of the support structure.
A mounting bracket for use with a support structure for securing an electrical box to a ceiling structure, the ceiling structure including a ceiling member with a base and a vertical stem, and the support structure including an attachment end and a support section to support the electrical box, the mounting bracket comprising a unitary bracket body that includes:
- a first support member;
- a second support member connected to the first support member to define a support channel for slidably receiving the vertical stem of the ceiling member, at least one of a free end of the first support member or a free end of the second support member, at an open end of the support channel, being configured to contact the base of the ceiling member when the vertical stem is received in the support channel;
- and
- a first contact member and a second contact member that extend from the second support member, at a location spaced apart from the free end of the second support member and with the first contact member opposite the second contact member from the free end of the second support member, to define a contact channel for slidably receiving the attachment end of the support structure.
A method for securing an electrical box to a ceiling structure that includes a first ceiling member and a second ceiling member, each with a base and a vertical stem, the method comprising:
- staging a support structure for installation by:
- attaching the support structure to a first mounting bracket and a second mounting bracket by:
- inserting a first attachment end of the support structure into a first contact channel of the first mounting bracket that is defined by first and second contact members of the first mounting bracket;
- and
- inserting a second attachment end of the support structure into a second contact channel of the second mounting bracket that is defined by first and second contact members of the second mounting bracket;
- and
- supporting a first end of each of the first and second mounting brackets on a work surface, with the first and second mounting brackets in a first orientation;
- and
- attaching the first and second mounting brackets to the first and second ceiling member, with the first and second mounting brackets in a second orientation that is inverted relative to the first orientation, by sliding the first and second mounting bracket onto the first and second ceiling members, respectively, so that the vertical stem of the first or second ceiling member is received at a second end of the corresponding first and second mounting brackets in a respective support channel defined between first and second support members of the respective first or second mounting bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.