CA1260129A - Electrical outlet box with grounding tab - Google Patents

Electrical outlet box with grounding tab

Info

Publication number
CA1260129A
CA1260129A CA000506404A CA506404A CA1260129A CA 1260129 A CA1260129 A CA 1260129A CA 000506404 A CA000506404 A CA 000506404A CA 506404 A CA506404 A CA 506404A CA 1260129 A CA1260129 A CA 1260129A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
grounding
box
tab
outlet box
screw
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000506404A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Herman Zauner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Installation Products International LLC
Original Assignee
Commander Electrical Materials Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Commander Electrical Materials Inc filed Critical Commander Electrical Materials Inc
Priority to CA000506404A priority Critical patent/CA1260129A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1260129A publication Critical patent/CA1260129A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02Details
    • H02G3/08Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
    • H02G3/12Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02Details
    • H02G3/08Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
    • H02G3/16Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An electrical outlet box has a grounding tab located adjacent the front opening of the box so that it is more easily accessible even when an electrical fixture is in the box. The grounding tab is located within the box on at least one of the two ends of the box and sloped towards the open front of the outlet box positioned close to the front opening and adjacent one of the sides of the box. The grounding tab has a threaded screw-receiving hole therein for a grounding screw.

Description

~6~
. - , ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOX WITH GROUNDING TAB

The present invention relates to an electrical outlet box and more speciically to a grounding tab located adjacent the front opening of an electrical outlet box~
Electrical outlet boxes are used for mounting electrical fixtures such as switches, receptacles, lighting fixtures and the like. Such boxes form part of electrical systems in most houses and industrial buildings. Nearly all outlet boxes used today are supplied with an attachment for grounding wires as many electrical codes call for outlet boxes to be grounded.
Most outlet boxes presently available have an attachment for a yround wire on the back of the box. Thus it is necessary to attach a ground wire to the box attachment before inserting the electrical fixture into the outlet box. Once the electrical fixture has been mounted in the outlet box, then access to the grounding screw in the box is limited.
Some outlet boxes have attachments for ground wire outside the box. Another design of outlet box shows a grounding attachment integral with the mounting tab.
This type of grounding attachment whilst being accessible from the outside of the outlet box when an electrical fixture is in place~ is in a plane parallel with the open face of the outlet box and thus requires the ground wire from the attachment to project out into the box. For certain types of electrical fixtures, such a ground attachment interferes with mounting in the outlet box.
It is a purpose of the present invention to 3a provide a grounding attachment for a grounding wire that may be attached and detached whether or not the electrical fixture is mounted in the outlet box. This is achieved by placing the grounding attachment on a sloped plane, close to the front opening of the outlet box an~
2~

at one side so that a screw driver can be inserted past the electrical fixture to rotate the grounding screw.
The present invention provides in an electrical outlet box including a sheet metal rectangular shaped box having two sides, two ends, a back and an open front, the improvement of a grounding tab within the box located on at least one of the ends and sloped towards the open front of the outlet box, the grounding tab positioned close to the open ~ront and adjacent one of the sides, the grounding tab having a screw-receiving hole therein for a grounding screw. In another embodiment, the grounding tab is pressed out of one of the ends, thus providing access to the grounding screw for attachment of a grounding wire.
In a ~urther embodiment~ the grounding tab is embossed on one oE the ends thus providing access to the grounding screw for attachment of a grounding wire. A
grounding tab may be located at each of the two ends on diagonally opposite corners of the box.
In drawings which illus~rate embodiments of the nventlon, Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an outlet box showing one embodiment of a grounding tab according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an end view of the outlet box shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, showing another embodiment oE a grounding tab.
Referring now to the drawings, an outlet box 10 is shown which has two sides 12, two ends 14 and a back 16.
Wire access holes 18 are provided in the ends 40 and removable access tabs 20 are positioned over the wire ~6(~ 9
3 _ access holes 18 and removed when a wire is to be inserted.
Mounting tabs 22 with mounting holes 24 are provided in the open front at each end for mounting electrical fixtures, such as receptacles, switches, lighting fixtures and the like. Fastener tabs 26 are Eormed integral with the sides 12 and extend in the plane of the sides beyond the ends 14. Attachment holes 28 are provided in the fastener tabs 26 for attaching the outlet box 10 to a wooden stud.
Grounding tabs 30 are shown in the outlet box 10 positioned at the top of each end 14, close to the open front and adjacent a side 12. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the grounding tabs 30 are positioned on diagonally opposite corners of the outlet box 10. It is not essential that the grounding tabs 30 be positioned on diagonally opposite corners; only one is needed, but there could be two, one at each end adjacent one side.
Each grounding tab 30 is formed by being pressed out of the end plate 14 inwards towards the center of the box 10, the tab 30 connected to the end plate 14 at the top ; edge. The grounding tab 30 is sloped at an angle and the angle is selected to be convenient for access to attach grounding wires. As shown in Fig. 3, a screw-receiving hole 32 is provided in the senter of the tab 30 and a grounding screw 34 screws into the hole 32 and when tightened, attaches one or more grounding wires to the outlet box 10. The grounding screw 34 may be a self tapping screw to form a thread in the screw-receiving hole 32 when first inserted.
Another embodiment of a grounding tab 30 is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the end plate 14 is embossed or deformed to form a sloped surface, but is not pressed out of the end plate 14 leaving a cut-out as `"" ~266~ 9 I . - 4 -shown in Fig. 3.
The position of the tab 30 and the slope of the tab 30 is arranged so that a screw driver may be used to tighten or loosen the screw 34 with the electrical fixture mounted within the outlet box on the mounting tabs 22.
Whereas one pa~ticular angle is shown for the tab 30, it will be appreciated this angle may be varied, provided the screw 34 is accessible when an electrical fixture is mounted in the box 10. Whereas the tabs 30 are shown on each end 14 of the box 10, it will be appreciated that only one tab need be provided~
Various changes may be made to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.

~0

Claims (4)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In an electrical outlet box including a sheet metal rectangular shaped box having two sides, two ends, a back and an open front, the improvement of a grounding tab within the box located on at least one of the ends and sloped towards the open front of the outlet box, the grounding tab positioned close to the open front and adjacent one of the sides, the grounding tab having a screw-receiving hole therein for a grounding screw positioned normal to the sloped tab, thus providing access to the grounding screw from within the box for attachment of a grounding wire.
2. The outlet box according to Claim 1 wherein the grounding tab is pressed out of one of the ends thus providing access to the grounding screw for attachment of a grounding wire.
3. The outlet box according to Claim 1 wherein a grounding tab is located at each of the two ends on diagonally opposite corners of the box.
4. The outlet box according to Claim 1 wherein the grounding tab is embossed on one of the ends, thus providing access to the grounding screw for attachment of a grounding wire.
CA000506404A 1986-04-11 1986-04-11 Electrical outlet box with grounding tab Expired CA1260129A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000506404A CA1260129A (en) 1986-04-11 1986-04-11 Electrical outlet box with grounding tab

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000506404A CA1260129A (en) 1986-04-11 1986-04-11 Electrical outlet box with grounding tab

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1260129A true CA1260129A (en) 1989-09-26

Family

ID=4132860

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000506404A Expired CA1260129A (en) 1986-04-11 1986-04-11 Electrical outlet box with grounding tab

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1260129A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6160217A (en) * 1998-12-28 2000-12-12 Electric Motion Company, Inc. Isolation ground assembly
US6403880B1 (en) * 2000-05-02 2002-06-11 Hubbell Incorporated Ground strap for electrical box
US7449633B2 (en) * 2005-08-31 2008-11-11 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Electrical box for concrete walls

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6160217A (en) * 1998-12-28 2000-12-12 Electric Motion Company, Inc. Isolation ground assembly
US6403880B1 (en) * 2000-05-02 2002-06-11 Hubbell Incorporated Ground strap for electrical box
US7449633B2 (en) * 2005-08-31 2008-11-11 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Electrical box for concrete walls

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6066805A (en) Electrical receptacle cover having an integrally formed detachable fastening nut
US6188022B1 (en) Electrical box mounting system having removable rings
CA1324360C (en) Ceiling boxes for ceiling fan support
US4534486A (en) Cover plate fastening device
US4408695A (en) Air and moisture resistant cover with electrical box having fastening flange
US5723817A (en) Snap-on wallplate system
US5727867A (en) Canopy mounting device for exit signs and the like
US6194657B1 (en) Mounting device
US3965287A (en) Electric circuit enclosure transformer mounting means
US5173057A (en) Permanent protective cover
CA2213585A1 (en) Electrical outlet box with integral support leg
US4398647A (en) Temporary mounting means for multiple outlet strip
CA2167477C (en) Ceiling fan outlet box
US6204450B1 (en) Electrical box with fixture support having fitted portion
CA2233186A1 (en) Circuit breaker hold-down
CA1260129A (en) Electrical outlet box with grounding tab
US5942727A (en) Universal mounting plate for lamp ballasts
US5909006A (en) Electrical box with supplemental support for carrying fixtures
US3410582A (en) Box clamp and screw assembly
US5875093A (en) Electrical distribution panel interior base assembly
US5044983A (en) Deformable mounting strap for wiring device
US5579938A (en) Clamp for device box
DE59704932D1 (en) Element intended for mounting in a hole in a wall
GB2202294A (en) Captive fasteners
US3403217A (en) Captive mounting screw particularly for electrical wiring device mounting straps

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry