Embeddable mounting device

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention generally relates to an embeddable mounting device, which is mounted in a block wall. More specifically, the present invention relates to an embeddable mounting device, which is utilized to permanently install electrical devices, such as fixtures, lights, switches, receptacles, speakers, etc., or a structural support member within a concrete block or masonry wall in a security facility, such as a jail, prison, juvenile detention center, psychiatric hospital, etc.

#2. Background Information

#Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embeddable mounting device in the form of an electrical box block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embeddable mounting device or electrical box block illustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

#Referring initially to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an embeddable mounting device or electrical box block 10 is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Mounting device or block 10 basically includes three generally rectangular metal members 12, 14 and 28, four metal spacer members 16, 18, 20 and 22, and two horizontal metal members 24 and 26. Preferably, these metal members are constructed of metal plates to form a metal block, which are capable of mounting an electrical fixture or device. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the embeddable mounting device or electrical box block 10 is embedded within a block wall 11 constructed of blocks 13 such as cinder blocks, concrete blocks or masonry blocks. The embeddable mounting device or electrical box block 10 is designed to be grouted just like the cinder blocks, concrete blocks or masonry blocks 13. Thus, the embeddable mounting device or electrical box block 10 preferably has a height “A” between about seven inches and nine inches, a length “B” between about seven inches and seventeen inches and a depth or width “C” preferably between seven inches and nine inches. This size of block 10 allows the block to completely fill the space normally occupied by a conventional cinder block, concrete block or masonry block. While the mounting device or electrical box block 10 is illustrated as a half block, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the mounting device or electrical box block 10 can be a full block, i.e., the same size as the cinder blocks, concrete blocks or masonry blocks 13.

#As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the electrical box block 10 has the same depth as the conventional cinder block, concrete block or masonry block 13. In other words, the block 13 has first and second vertical side wall portions 64 and 66 that form the faces of the block wall 11. The first and second vertical side wall portions 64 and 66 of the blocks 13 are aligned with the first and third rectangular metal plate members 12 and 28 of the electrical box block 10. Thus, the first and third rectangular metal plate members 12 and 28 are first and second exterior rectangularly shaped members that form part of the faces of the block wall 11. The second rectangular metal plate member 14 is an interior rectangularly shaped member. The interior member 14 together with the four metal spacer members 16, 18, 20 and 22, and the two horizontal metal members 24 and 26 form a connecting structure that couples the first and second exterior rectangularly shaped members 12 and 28 together. Thus, the connecting structure (members 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) maintains the first and second exterior rectangularly shaped members 12 and 28 at a distance such that the first and second exterior rectangularly shaped members 12 and 28 are aligned with the first and second side wall portions of the block 13. As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the parts of the connecting structure (members 14, 20, 22, 24 and 26) together form a rectangularly shaped box 29 with the second exterior rectangularly shaped member 28. FIGS. 5-6 show that the second exterior rectangularly shaped member 28 is not attached to the rectangularly shaped box 29, such that the rectangularly shaped box 29 is an open-ended box. Optionally, the second exterior rectangularly shaped member 28 can be attached to the members 20, 22, 24 and 26 to form a closed-ended rectangularly shaped box 29′, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. FIGS. 5-6 show that the members 20, 22, 24 and 26 together form a tubular member of the rectangularly shaped box 29, and FIGS. 1-4 show that the members 20, 22, 24 and 26 also form a tubular member of the rectangularly shaped box 29′. As shown in FIG. 5, the tubular member has a longitudinal axis A—A, which is substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the second rectangular metal plate member 14 (the interior member).

#It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that these metal plate members 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be constructed of several plates which are fixedly secured together by suitable means such as welding. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that some of these metal plate members 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be constructed from a single plate which is bent to form two or more of the metal plate members. For example, the first and second rectangular metal members 12 and 14 can be integrally formed with metal spacer member 16 by bending a metal plate into a U-shaped member.