US 5,703,327 AGranted

Electrical boxes

AssigneeHubbell Incorporated

InventorRobert W. Jorgensen

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Abstract

An electrical box includes a U-shaped main body and a pair of sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls includes coupling flanges along their transverse edges and along one of their longitudinal edges for overlapping edges of the main body. In some embodiments, the main body has opposite side edges, each side edges having a pair of flanges extending from a midpoint on a rear panel and along the end panels. The flanges on the sidewall are formed to complement the flanges on the main body to overlap with each other in a coupling relation. The main body and sidewalls are formed from a folded blank. The main body is constructed so that a plurality of identical main bodies can be ganged with the flanges of a first main body telescoping with the flanges of a second main body.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An electrical box assembly, comprising:

a metallic U-shaped member including a substantially rectangular rear panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, a first substantially rectangular end panel having first and second end edges and first and second side edges with said first end edge of said first end panel being rigidly coupled to said first end edge of said rear panel and extending substantially perpendicular to said rear panel, and a second substantially rectangular end panel having first and second end edges and first and second side edges with said first end edge of said second end panel rigidly coupled to said second end edge of said rear panel and extending substantially perpendicular to said rear panel;
a first metallic sidewall including a first side panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, and being rigidly coupled to said U-shaped member, each of said first and second end edges of said first side panel having a substantially planar first end coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said first side panel from a first end fold line and a second end fold line, respectively, for overlapping a substantially planar portion of one of said end panels to attach said first sidewall to said U-shaped member;
and
a second metallic sidewall including a second side panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, and being rigidly coupled to said U-shaped member, each of said first and second end edges of said second side panel having a second end coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said second side panel for overlapping a portion of one of said end panels of said U-shaped member to attach said second sidewall to said U-shaped member,
one of said side edges of said first sidewall having a first side coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said first side panel for overlapping a portion of said first side edge of said rear panel, and
one of said side edges of said second sidewall having a second side coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said second side panel for overlapping a portion of said second side edge of said rear panel.

3 more elements

An electrical box assembly, comprising:

a U-shaped member including a substantially rectangular rear panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, a first substantially rectangular end panel having first and second end edges and first and second side edges with said first end edge of said first end panel being rigidly coupled to said first end edge of said rear panel and extending substantially perpendicular to said rear panel, and a second substantially rectangular end panel having first and second end edges and first and second side edges with said first end edge of said second end panel rigidly coupled to said second end edge of said rear panel and extending substantially perpendicular to said rear panel;
a first sidewall including a first side panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, and being rigidly coupled to said U-shaped member, each of said first and second end edges of said first side panel having a first end coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said first side panel for overlapping a portion of one of said end panels to attach said first sidewall to said U-shaped member;
and
a second sidewall including a second side panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, and being rigidly coupled to said U-shaped member, each of said first and second end edges of said second side panel having a second end coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said second side panel for overlapping a portion of one of said end panels of said U-shaped member to attach said second sidewall to said U-shaped member,
said first end coupling flanges of said first sidewall being spaced apart relative to said first side edges of said first and second end panels for exteriorly overlapping said first side edges of said first and second end panels,
said second end coupling flanges of said second sidewall being spaced apart relative to said second side edges of said first and second end panels for interiorly overlapping said second side edges of said first and second end panels,
one of said side edges of said first sidewall having a first side coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said first side panel for overlapping a portion of said first side edge of said rear panel, and
one of said side edges of said second sidewall having a second side coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said second side panel for overlapping a portion of said second side edge of said rear panel,
said first side coupling flange of said first sidewall being positioned to exteriorly overlap said first side edge of said rear panel,
said second side coupling flange of said second sidewall being positioned to interiorly overlap said second side edge of said rear panel, and
each of said first end coupling flanges of said first sidewall and each of said second end coupling flanges of said second sidewall being welded to one of said end panels.

8 more elements

An electrical box assembly, comprising:

a U-shaped member including a substantially rectangular rear panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, a first substantially rectangular end panel having first and second end edges and first and second side edges with said first end edge of said first end panel being rigidly coupled to said first end edge of said rear panel and extending substantially perpendicular to said rear panel, and a second substantially rectangular end panel having first and second end edges and first and second side edges with said first end edge of said second end panel rigidly coupled to said second end edge of said rear panel and extending substantially perpendicular to said rear panel;
a first sidewall including a first side panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, and being rigidly coupled to said U-shaped member, each of said first and second end edges of said first side panel having a first end coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said first side panel for overlapping a portion of one of said end panels to attach said first sidewall to said U-shaped member;
and
a second sidewall including a second side panel with first and second end edges and first and second side edges, and being rigidly coupled to said U-shaped member, each of said first and second end edges of said second side panel having a second end coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said second side panel for overlapping a portion of one of said end panels of said U-shaped member to attach said second sidewall to said U-shaped member,
said first end coupling flanges of said first sidewall being spaced apart relative to said first side edges of said first and second end panels for exteriorly overlapping said first side edges of said first and second end panels,
said second end coupling flanges of said second sidewall being spaced apart relative to said second side edges of said first and second end panels for exteriorly overlapping said second side edges of said first and second end panels,
one of said side edges of said first sidewall having a first side coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said first side panel for overlapping a portion of said first side edge of said rear panel, and
one of said side edges of said second sidewall having a second side coupling flange extending substantially perpendicular to said second side panel for overlapping a portion of said second side edge of said rear panel,
said first side coupling flange of said first sidewall being positioned to exteriorly overlap said first side edge of said rear panel,
said second side coupling flange of said second sidewall being positioned to exteriorly overlap said second side edge of said rear panel, and
each of said first end coupling flanges of said first sidewall and each of said second end coupling flanges of said second sidewall being welded to one of said end panels.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/414,493Filed 31 Mar 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 17 Dec 1993
Granted: 30 Dec 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H02G 3/086
Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes: assembled boxes
H02G 3/126
In thin walls: with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
H02G
Installation of electric cables or lines, or of combined optical and electric

Family

Serial168,377Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Dec 1993
US 5,619,013 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,703,327 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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