CA1280199C - Support bracket for an electrical box - Google Patents
Support bracket for an electrical boxInfo
- Publication number
- CA1280199C CA1280199C CA000523966A CA523966A CA1280199C CA 1280199 C CA1280199 C CA 1280199C CA 000523966 A CA000523966 A CA 000523966A CA 523966 A CA523966 A CA 523966A CA 1280199 C CA1280199 C CA 1280199C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- strip
- support bracket
- electrical box
- bend line
- box
- 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 - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
- H02G3/02—Details
- H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
- H02G3/12—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting
- H02G3/123—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting in thin walls
- H02G3/126—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting in thin walls with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Connection Or Junction Boxes (AREA)
- Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A support bracket attaches to an electrical box and holds the box rigidly within a hollow wall structure having different depths. The bracket avoids attaching additional supports to a box by means of screws and the like. The bracket comprises a flat elongate strip of sheet material, one end of the strip having at least one hook to engage a side wall of the box, the other end of the strip having a flange bent perpendicular to the strip, and at least one bend line across the strip such that a portion of the strip may be bent perpendicular to the strip to accommodate a shallower depth of hollow wall structure.
A support bracket attaches to an electrical box and holds the box rigidly within a hollow wall structure having different depths. The bracket avoids attaching additional supports to a box by means of screws and the like. The bracket comprises a flat elongate strip of sheet material, one end of the strip having at least one hook to engage a side wall of the box, the other end of the strip having a flange bent perpendicular to the strip, and at least one bend line across the strip such that a portion of the strip may be bent perpendicular to the strip to accommodate a shallower depth of hollow wall structure.
Description
~80199 SUPPORT BRACKET FOR AN ELECTRICAL BOX
The present invention relates to a support bracket for supporting an electrical box recessed in a hollow wall structure. More specifically, the present invention provides a bracket that can be adapted to hold electrical boxes of most standard sizes and fit recessed in hollow wall structures of different depths.
Most interior non-combustible wall structures are hollow and consist of a steel stud skeleton with wall board coverings. The steel studs are made of thin sheet metal which by itself is flexible, however, when the studs are attached to the stiff wall boards, then the rigidity of the wall is achieved.
Electrical boxes for outlets, switches and the like are attached to the steel studs directly or by means of brackets. In either case, the boxes require some additional means of support from the wallboards to achieve rigid mounting. In the past, this has been achieved by attaching additional supports to the box at the side opposite from the stud. In some cases, short pieces of steel studs or wood are attached by screws to the box and to the wall board. This method offers good support, but is relatively expensive as the parts are usually prepared at the job site and are time consuming to assembly in place.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a support bracket that attaches to an electrical box and holds it rigidly recessed within the wall structure.
Thus the box is generally flush with the inside surface of the wall board. The box is generally supported against the steel stud.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a support bracket that can be adapted to fit most sizes of electrical boxes and can also be adapted to fit within different depths of hollow wall structure and support the box recessed within the wall structure.
~80~99 The present invention provides a support bracket for attaching an electrical box recessed in a hollow wall structure of different depths, the wall structure being formed of a plurality of studs spaced apart with a wall board covering, the bracket comprising a flat elongate strip of sheet material, one end of the strip having hook means to engage a side wall of an electrical box, the other end of the strip having a flange bent perpendicular to the strip, and at least one bend line across the strip, such that a portion of the strip may be bent perpendicular to the strip to accommodate a shallower depth of hollow wall structure.
In other embodiments, a further flange may be provided at the one end of the strip adjacent the hook means, the further flange being bent perpendicular to the strip and adapted to rest on the inside surface of the wall board. In a further embodiment a plurality of locking tongues are provided spaced apart at intervals on each side of the strip, each of the tongues having a locking tongue bend line such that at least one of the tongues may be bent to lock the strip to an electrical box of a certain size.
Referring now to the drawings:
FIG 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a support bracket;
FIG 2 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG
1 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 3 is an isometric view of the bracket shown in FIG 1 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of a support bracket;
FIG 5 iS a side view of the bracket shown in FIG
4 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 6 i~ an isometric view of the bracket shown 1~80199 in FIG 4 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 7 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a support bracket;
FIG 8 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG
7 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure.
FIG 9 is an isometric view of the bracket shown in FIG 7 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure.
FIGS 1, 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of a support bracket 10 formed from sheet metal and having a flat elongate strip 12 which at one end has a pair of hooks 14 to fit over an open side of an electrical box 16. The hooks 14 hold the box and while two hooks 14 are shown, one long hook without a gap 18 between the hooks may be provided.
At the other end of the strip 12, a flange 20 extends perpendicular from the end of the strip 12. A
bend line 22 extends across the strip 12 and is spaced down from the flange 20. The bend line 22 has an opening 24 in the approximate center of the strip 12 to help ensure that the bend occurs on the bend line 22.
There are generally two sizes of studs or channels 40 used in the construction of a wall structure as shown in FIGS 2 and 3. A 3 5/8th inch stud is identified as dimension A and a 2 1/2 inch stud is identified as dimension B. It will be apparent that brackets may be made with more than one bend line 22 to take into account different depths of wall structures if required. The bracket 10 is designed to fit in wall structures having either size of stud. As shown in FIG 2 and 3, the hooks 14 fit over an open side of an electrical box 16 and a box cover 42 is then attached to the box 16 so that the hooks are held and the bracket is securely held to the box 16. The cover 42 has a raised portion 44 which extends to the outside surface of an outer wall board 46. The flange 20 on the end of the strip 12 rests against the inside surface of the inner wall board 48 when dimension A represents the depth of wall structure. For the dimension B depth of wall structure, the strip 12 is bent about bend line 22 so that the surface of the bent portion of the strip 12 rests against the surface of the inner wall board 48.
Another embodiment of a bracket 10 is shown in FIGS 4, 5 and 6 wherein an arm 50 is located within the gap 18 having a flange 52 which is adapted to rest on the inner surface of the outer wall board 46. The arm 50 and flange 52 provide increased support which in certain circumstances may be required.
FIGS 7, 8 and 9 show a further embodiment of a bracket 10 which has a plurality of locking tongues 60 for locking the bracket 10 to an electrical box 16. As illustrated, one tongue 60 on each side of the strip 12 forms a pair, and the lower tongues 60 are shown bent inwards to lock the bracket 10 to the box 16. Each locking tongue has a bend line 62 at a slight angle to the strip 12 such that when a tongue 60 is bent about its bend line 62, it bends closer towards the box 16 so that the box 16 is locked between the tongue 60 and the hooks 14. The locking tongue bend line 62 may be an imaginary line where the bend occurs, a scored or detented line, or an opening or hole in the approximate center of the bend line to ensure the bend occurs on the bend line 62 By bending towards the box, the tongue 50 compensates for minor variations in the depth of the box 16. The positions for the pairs of tongues are such that they suit two standard sizes of boxes 16.
Whereas only two pairs of tongues 60 are illustrated, in some brackets tongues may be provided to suit many sizes of boxes, in certain cases, only one tongue is required to engage and lock a single box size, this allows more tongues and more variations of box size to be held by the bracket 10. The tongues 60 are used to hold a box 16 when the box cover 42 is not provided.
A reinforcing rib 70 is shown in the approximate center of the strip 12 extending substantially from the 1~80199 qap 18 to the bend line 22. There may be an additional reinforcing rib extending from the bend line 22 to the flange 20 at the end of the strip 12. The reinforcing ribs provide greater rigidity for the bracket allowing thinner sheet material to be used.
The bend lines as described herein may all be scored in the metal to ensure ease of bending and ensure that the location of the bend occurs along the desired line.
Various changes may be made to the embodiments shown herein without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.
The present invention relates to a support bracket for supporting an electrical box recessed in a hollow wall structure. More specifically, the present invention provides a bracket that can be adapted to hold electrical boxes of most standard sizes and fit recessed in hollow wall structures of different depths.
Most interior non-combustible wall structures are hollow and consist of a steel stud skeleton with wall board coverings. The steel studs are made of thin sheet metal which by itself is flexible, however, when the studs are attached to the stiff wall boards, then the rigidity of the wall is achieved.
Electrical boxes for outlets, switches and the like are attached to the steel studs directly or by means of brackets. In either case, the boxes require some additional means of support from the wallboards to achieve rigid mounting. In the past, this has been achieved by attaching additional supports to the box at the side opposite from the stud. In some cases, short pieces of steel studs or wood are attached by screws to the box and to the wall board. This method offers good support, but is relatively expensive as the parts are usually prepared at the job site and are time consuming to assembly in place.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a support bracket that attaches to an electrical box and holds it rigidly recessed within the wall structure.
Thus the box is generally flush with the inside surface of the wall board. The box is generally supported against the steel stud.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a support bracket that can be adapted to fit most sizes of electrical boxes and can also be adapted to fit within different depths of hollow wall structure and support the box recessed within the wall structure.
~80~99 The present invention provides a support bracket for attaching an electrical box recessed in a hollow wall structure of different depths, the wall structure being formed of a plurality of studs spaced apart with a wall board covering, the bracket comprising a flat elongate strip of sheet material, one end of the strip having hook means to engage a side wall of an electrical box, the other end of the strip having a flange bent perpendicular to the strip, and at least one bend line across the strip, such that a portion of the strip may be bent perpendicular to the strip to accommodate a shallower depth of hollow wall structure.
In other embodiments, a further flange may be provided at the one end of the strip adjacent the hook means, the further flange being bent perpendicular to the strip and adapted to rest on the inside surface of the wall board. In a further embodiment a plurality of locking tongues are provided spaced apart at intervals on each side of the strip, each of the tongues having a locking tongue bend line such that at least one of the tongues may be bent to lock the strip to an electrical box of a certain size.
Referring now to the drawings:
FIG 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a support bracket;
FIG 2 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG
1 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 3 is an isometric view of the bracket shown in FIG 1 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of a support bracket;
FIG 5 iS a side view of the bracket shown in FIG
4 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 6 i~ an isometric view of the bracket shown 1~80199 in FIG 4 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure;
FIG 7 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a support bracket;
FIG 8 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG
7 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure.
FIG 9 is an isometric view of the bracket shown in FIG 7 positioning an electrical box recessed in a wall structure.
FIGS 1, 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of a support bracket 10 formed from sheet metal and having a flat elongate strip 12 which at one end has a pair of hooks 14 to fit over an open side of an electrical box 16. The hooks 14 hold the box and while two hooks 14 are shown, one long hook without a gap 18 between the hooks may be provided.
At the other end of the strip 12, a flange 20 extends perpendicular from the end of the strip 12. A
bend line 22 extends across the strip 12 and is spaced down from the flange 20. The bend line 22 has an opening 24 in the approximate center of the strip 12 to help ensure that the bend occurs on the bend line 22.
There are generally two sizes of studs or channels 40 used in the construction of a wall structure as shown in FIGS 2 and 3. A 3 5/8th inch stud is identified as dimension A and a 2 1/2 inch stud is identified as dimension B. It will be apparent that brackets may be made with more than one bend line 22 to take into account different depths of wall structures if required. The bracket 10 is designed to fit in wall structures having either size of stud. As shown in FIG 2 and 3, the hooks 14 fit over an open side of an electrical box 16 and a box cover 42 is then attached to the box 16 so that the hooks are held and the bracket is securely held to the box 16. The cover 42 has a raised portion 44 which extends to the outside surface of an outer wall board 46. The flange 20 on the end of the strip 12 rests against the inside surface of the inner wall board 48 when dimension A represents the depth of wall structure. For the dimension B depth of wall structure, the strip 12 is bent about bend line 22 so that the surface of the bent portion of the strip 12 rests against the surface of the inner wall board 48.
Another embodiment of a bracket 10 is shown in FIGS 4, 5 and 6 wherein an arm 50 is located within the gap 18 having a flange 52 which is adapted to rest on the inner surface of the outer wall board 46. The arm 50 and flange 52 provide increased support which in certain circumstances may be required.
FIGS 7, 8 and 9 show a further embodiment of a bracket 10 which has a plurality of locking tongues 60 for locking the bracket 10 to an electrical box 16. As illustrated, one tongue 60 on each side of the strip 12 forms a pair, and the lower tongues 60 are shown bent inwards to lock the bracket 10 to the box 16. Each locking tongue has a bend line 62 at a slight angle to the strip 12 such that when a tongue 60 is bent about its bend line 62, it bends closer towards the box 16 so that the box 16 is locked between the tongue 60 and the hooks 14. The locking tongue bend line 62 may be an imaginary line where the bend occurs, a scored or detented line, or an opening or hole in the approximate center of the bend line to ensure the bend occurs on the bend line 62 By bending towards the box, the tongue 50 compensates for minor variations in the depth of the box 16. The positions for the pairs of tongues are such that they suit two standard sizes of boxes 16.
Whereas only two pairs of tongues 60 are illustrated, in some brackets tongues may be provided to suit many sizes of boxes, in certain cases, only one tongue is required to engage and lock a single box size, this allows more tongues and more variations of box size to be held by the bracket 10. The tongues 60 are used to hold a box 16 when the box cover 42 is not provided.
A reinforcing rib 70 is shown in the approximate center of the strip 12 extending substantially from the 1~80199 qap 18 to the bend line 22. There may be an additional reinforcing rib extending from the bend line 22 to the flange 20 at the end of the strip 12. The reinforcing ribs provide greater rigidity for the bracket allowing thinner sheet material to be used.
The bend lines as described herein may all be scored in the metal to ensure ease of bending and ensure that the location of the bend occurs along the desired line.
Various changes may be made to the embodiments shown herein without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.
Claims (6)
1. A support bracket for attaching an electrical box recessed in a hollow wall structure of different depths, the wall structure being formed of a plurality of studs spaced apart with a wall board covering, the bracket comprising;
a flat elongate strip of sheet material;
one end of the strip having hook means to engage a side wall of an electrical box;
the other end of the strip having a flange bent perpendicular to the strip; and at least one bend line across the strip, such that a portion of the strip may be bent perpendicular to the strip to accommodate a shallower depth of hollow wall structure.
a flat elongate strip of sheet material;
one end of the strip having hook means to engage a side wall of an electrical box;
the other end of the strip having a flange bent perpendicular to the strip; and at least one bend line across the strip, such that a portion of the strip may be bent perpendicular to the strip to accommodate a shallower depth of hollow wall structure.
2. The support bracket according to Claim 1 including a further flange at the one end of the strip adjacent the hook means, the further flange bent perpendicular to the strip and adapted to rest on the inside surface of the wall board.
3. The support bracket according to Claim 1 including a plurality of locking tongues spaced apart at intervals on each side of the strip, each of the tongues having a locking tongue bend line such that at least one of the tongues may be bent to lock the strip to an electrical box of a certain size.
4. The support bracket according to Claim 3 wherein the locking tongue bend line for each of the plurality of locking tongues is bent at a slight angle to the strip such that when at least one of the tongues is bent about the bend line, it bends closer towards the electrical box.
5. The support bracket according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 including at least one reinforcing rib extending longitudinally along the strip.
6. The support bracket according to any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the bend line across the strip is provided with an opening in the approximate center of the strip.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000523966A CA1280199C (en) | 1986-11-27 | 1986-11-27 | Support bracket for an electrical box |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000523966A CA1280199C (en) | 1986-11-27 | 1986-11-27 | Support bracket for an electrical box |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1280199C true CA1280199C (en) | 1991-02-12 |
Family
ID=4134443
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000523966A Expired - Lifetime CA1280199C (en) | 1986-11-27 | 1986-11-27 | Support bracket for an electrical box |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1280199C (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD913080S1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2021-03-16 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Mounting bracket including a detachable leg |
| US11248740B2 (en) | 2018-06-08 | 2022-02-15 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Mounting bracket |
-
1986
- 1986-11-27 CA CA000523966A patent/CA1280199C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11248740B2 (en) | 2018-06-08 | 2022-02-15 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Mounting bracket |
| USD913080S1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2021-03-16 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Mounting bracket including a detachable leg |
| USD965415S1 (en) | 2019-03-19 | 2022-10-04 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Mounting bracket |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4978092A (en) | Universal support bracket for attachment to the back of an electrical box | |
| US4757908A (en) | Dual size outlet box mounting bracket | |
| US4408262A (en) | Plaster frame for recessed lighting | |
| US6653566B2 (en) | Covers for outlet boxes | |
| US6098939A (en) | Electrical junction box supporting bracket | |
| US5114105A (en) | Electrical box support bracket | |
| US7472875B2 (en) | Bracket for mounting an electrical device | |
| US8632040B2 (en) | Low profile mounting of electronic devices | |
| US4108414A (en) | Outlet box fastener | |
| CA2597186A1 (en) | Fastening member and external wall construction structure using the same | |
| US4753361A (en) | Switch box mounting bracket | |
| CA1280199C (en) | Support bracket for an electrical box | |
| US20030182894A1 (en) | Method of installing a set of ceiling panels | |
| US20050082078A1 (en) | Electrical termination component bracket | |
| CA1272522A (en) | Universal support bracket for an electrical box | |
| US20050067541A1 (en) | Flexible conduit support | |
| US7387287B2 (en) | Perforated section supporting device adapted to be fixed to a surface such as a ceiling | |
| EP3799235B1 (en) | Beam-fixing member for an electrical installation box | |
| CA1307577C (en) | Universal support bracket for an electrical box | |
| CA1307578C (en) | Universal bracket for supporting an electrical box | |
| JPH10299139A (en) | Partition wall substrate material | |
| JP4122494B2 (en) | Wall panel mounting structure | |
| JP3337903B2 (en) | Wall board support structure | |
| JPH04183214A (en) | Panel cover | |
| US2611502A (en) | Apertured ears on recessed lamp for receiving supporting rods |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |