# US 9,521,761 B1 · Threaded inserts on weatherproof electrical junction boxes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,761 B1 - Document ID: US9521761B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/209,338 - Filed: 2011-08-12 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-12 - Assignees: Hubbell Incorporated - Applicants: Marcus J. Shotey; Jeffrey P. Baldwin; Joseph Giancaspro; Samuel Dumpe - Inventors: Marcus J. Shotey; Jeffrey P. Baldwin; Joseph Giancaspro; Samuel Dumpe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521761B1 ## CPC - H05K 5/00: Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus - H02G 3/083: {Inlets} - H02G 3/088: {Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A weatherproof electrical junction box that includes a molded electrical junction box and an insert is disclosed. Specific implementations may comprise a molded electrical box comprising four side walls, a back wall, a front opening, two screw bosses extending toward the front opening, and an unthreaded hole extending through a first side wall of the four side walls. Specific implementations may comprise an insert, the insert comprising an unthreaded exterior and a partially threaded interior. The insert may be fixed within the one unthreaded hole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A weatherproof electrical junction box, comprising: a molded electrical junction box comprising at least four side walls, a back wall, a front opening, at least two screw bosses extending toward the front opening, and at least one unthreaded hole extending through a first side wall of the at least four side walls; and an insert having an unthreaded exterior and an at least partially threaded interior, the insert being fixed within the at least one unthreaded hole such that an outermost end of the insert is substantially flush with an outer surface of the first side wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 1, wherein the at least one unthreaded hole is substantially circular and the insert is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 2, wherein the insert is fixed within the at least one unthreaded hole by solvent bonding the molded insert to the molded electrical junction box while the molded insert is within the at least one hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 2, wherein the insert is fixed within the at least one hole by press fitting the molded insert within the at least one hole of the molded electrical junction box. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 2, wherein the insert is fixed within the at least one hole by at least one fastener. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 2, wherein the at least one hole further comprises at least one reentrant opening on a border of the at least one hole, and the insert further comprises at least one nub on the non-threaded exterior, the nub sized to fit within the at least one reentrant opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 1, wherein the at least one hole is substantially rectangular and the exterior of the insert has a substantially rectangular cuboid shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 1, wherein the at least one unthreaded hole comprises two unthreaded holes extending through opposing side walls. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 8, wherein the insert comprises at least two inserts each fixed within a different one of the two unthreaded holes by solvent bonding the molded insert to the molded electrical junction box while the molded inserts are in the two unthreaded holes extending through opposing side walls. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 1, wherein a socket extends inwardly from an inner surface of the first side wall and aligned with the at least one unthreaded hole to facilitate receiving the insert. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 1, wherein the at least two screw bosses extend forwardly from an inner surface of the back wall. ### Claim 12 A method for manufacturing a weatherproof electrical junction box, comprising the steps of molding an electrical junction box comprising at least four side walls, a back wall, a front opening, at least two screw bosses extending toward the front opening, and at least one unthreaded hole within a first side wall of the at least four side walls; fixing an insert within the at least one unthreaded hole such that an outermost end of the insert is substantially flush with an outer surface of the first side wall, the insert comprising an unthreaded exterior and an at least partially threaded interior. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein fixing the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole comprises fixing the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole with a bonding solvent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein fixing the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole comprises press fitting the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein fixing the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole comprises fixing the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole with at least one fastener. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one hole further comprises at least one reentrant opening, the unthreaded exterior of the insert further comprises at least on nub sized to fit within the at least one reentrant opening, and fixing the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole comprises fixing the insert within the at least one unthreaded hole by fitting the at least one nub into the at least one reentrant opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 10, wherein the socket is unitarily formed as a single member with the molded electrical junction box. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 10, wherein a base of the socket limits an insertion depth of the insert through the at least one unthreaded hole. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 10, wherein the socket has a shape corresponding to a shape of the at least one unthreaded hole. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The weatherproof electrical junction box of claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least two screw bosses extends forwardly from the socket.