Junction/outlet box locking insert, junction/outlet box system and method

A junction/outlet box system comprising:

• a junction/outlet box with a plurality of sidewalls with knockout openings having an opening dimension;
• an insert body with an outer insert body surface and an inner axially extending pass through region having an open end and an electrical cable/conduit end stop with a central electrical conductor pass through opening, said outer insert body surface having a dimension smaller than the opening dimension;
• a retainer flange connected with said insert body at an axial end thereof;
• an insert stop device cooperating with said retainer flange for fixing said insert body to the junction/outlet box;
• and
• a flexible locking finger arrangement connected to said insert body and including a locking finger extending radially inwardly of said outer insert body surface, said locking finger being self-actuating whereby said locking finger has a rest state such that said locking finger is in a path of a conduit or a metallic sheath of an electrical cable being inserted into said opening and said locking finger engages the conduit or the metallic sheath of the electrical cable upon an end of the conduit or the metallic sheath of the electrical cable being inserted into said opening up to said electrical cable/conduit stop, said retainer flange and said insert stop device positioning said insert body relative to the junction/outlet box such that said locking finger engages the conduit or the metallic sheath of the electrical cable within the junction/outlet box.

A method for securing electrical cable and/or conduit into an electrical box, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrical box having an opening;
• providing an electrical cable with a conduit or a metallic sheath;
• providing an insert body with an outer insert body surface and an inner axially extending pass through region having an open end and an electrical cable/conduit end stop with a central electrical conductor pass through opening, said outer insert body surface having a dimension smaller than a dimension of an opening of a sidewall of the electrical box when inserted into the opening of the electrical box;
• providing a retainer flange connected with said insert body at an axial end thereof;
• providing an insert stop;
• providing a locking finger arrangement connected to said insert body and including a locking finger extending radially inwardly of said outer insert body surface;
• inserting the insert body into the opening of the electrical box such that retainer flange contacts a surrounding wall of the opening;
• fixing the insert body to the electrical box based on the insert stop device cooperating with said retainer flange to retain the locking insert to the electrical box with a portion of the sidewall of the electrical box held between the insert stop and the retainer flange;
• inserting the electrical cable with the conduit or the metallic sheath through the pass through region open end and into the pass through region until the conduit or metal sheath reaches the electrical cable/conduit stop, said locking finger being self-actuating whereby the locking finger has a rest state such that said locking finger is in a path of a conduit or a metallic sheath of an electrical cable being inserted into said opening and said locking finger engages the conduit or the metallic sheath upon the conduit or the metallic sheath being inserted into said opening up to said electrical cable/conduit stop, said retainer flange and said insert stop device positioning said insert body relative to the electrical box such that said locking finger engages said conduit or said metallic sheath within the electrical box.