US1552204A

US1552204A - Hanger device for electrical outlet boxes

Info

Publication number: US1552204A
Application number: US643025A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude E Bowers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-06-02
Filing date: 1923-06-02
Publication date: 1925-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1942-09-01

Description

seiat. 1, 1925. 1,55 0

C. E. BOWERS HANGER DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOXES Filed June 2. 1923 17 15 2519 5 2 24-1. a= 1 2' k 20 .55- l1 Z 1 36 36 74 1612, 50 36 25 21 a 12 iz 15 25 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, v 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFice.

CLAUDE E. BOWERS, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

HANGER DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOXES.

. Application filed June 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE E. Bownns,

a citizen of, the United States, residing at ings. Y

An important object of this invention is to provide an outlet box hanger that may be quickly adjusted to suit varying distances between building joists and studs to which it is secured.

A further object is to provide a hanger construction that will not interfere with the connection of wiring conduits to the outlet boxes mounted thereon.

F urther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the drawings accompanying the same, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of apair of ceiling joists showing the hanger attached thereto, and the outlet box in section mounted thereon.

Fig. '2 is a plan view of the han'ger se ings, -10 designates the complete hanger,

cured in position on the ceiling joists, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the hanger adjusted to a pair of joists spaced apart a distance less than the length of the hanger.

Fig. 4 is a cross section through an outlet box of usual form, illustrating the method of securing the same to the outlet box.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the hanger device with the outlet'box in plac thereon.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other end of the hanger device.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of my outlet box hanger with the outlet box removed therefrom.

Strap hangers employed for mounting electrical outlet boxes to the wall studs and ceiling joists of buildings are formed of a single piece of strap iron having inturned ends for securing the same in position. Building studding and joists of two inches in thickness are usually arranged about sixteen inches on centers,'forming a clear space of fourteen inches between the opposing 192a Serial No. 643,025.

faces of the'joists ors'tuds, and :in consequence the hangers are formed fourteen' inches in length. Often the studs or joists vary in thickness, thus increasing the dis tances therebetween, and in such casesthe workmen are required to inserta small block between one inturned-endof the hanger and one face of the stud or j'oist to securethe hanger 1n pOSItIOII. Further, as the hanger is formed of a single'straight piece of strap iron, the wiring conduits "entering the side apertures of outlet boxes along the longitudinal axis of the hangers have tobe bentin order to escape the inturned attaching ends of the hangers.

By means ofthe improved hanger described herein, the above recited difliculties relating to the installation of outlet box hangers are largely obviated, the attaching brackets 'of th hangers are adjustably secured thereto, rendering it a comparatively easy matter to install the same between studs or joists where, the distance between the same vary. Also, by offsetting the at taching ends of the brackets'to one side of 'the longitudinal axis ofth e'hanger bar, no

difliculty willbe experiencedin leading the wiring conduits into the side apertures to the boxes that are disposed in line with the hanger bar.

Referring more particularly-to the drawconsisting of a flat'bar 11 formed of strap iron. Slidably mounted on the ends of bar erably consists of a flat portion 14 designed to engage a face of astud or joist 15 and is secured'thereto by nails, a portion 16 bent at right angles to portion 14: engages the side face 17 of the stud or joist 15, from thence it is bent outwardly as at 18, the end terminating in a substantially U-shaped bearing 19, each leg of the bearing being provided with aligned slots 20, the end of the bar 11 passing therethrough, .Supporting bracket 13 is similar in form to bracket 12 and preferably consists of a flat portion 21 which engages one of the faces of stud 22, being secured thereto by nails or other securing means. Extending upwardly'from one end of portion 21, and at right angles thereto, is an upwardly extending portion 23 which engages the side face of the stud 22, the upper end being offset a distance equal to the width of portion 21, and provided with a bearing slot 24, through Which one end of bar 11 passes. Each end of bar 11 is provided With a small tit 25 which is formed thereon after the

brackets

12 and 13 are mounted thereon, the tits preventing disengagement of the bar from the brackets.

Slidably mounted on bar 11 is an Outlet box supporting member 27, Whichpreferably consists of a short length of pipe having aligned slots 28 in its Wall, one end being exteriorly threaded. The outlet box 29 is of usual octagonal form, the side and

bottom Walls

30, 31, respectively, being provided with the usual knock outs 32, and

the bottom Wall 31 is also provided with a centrally disposed opening 33 through which the threaded end of member 27 passes When the outlet box is. secured thereto, a Washer 34 and a nut 35 securely holding the outlet box in rigid relation thereon. Se cured to the threaded end of member 27, and abutting against nut 35 is a hickey 36, the free end thereof being interiorly threaded for the reception of the, threaded end 37 of a lighting fixture, not shown.

As the free slotted ends of the bracket members are offset to one side of and parallel to the plane of attaching

portions

14 and 21, Wiring conduits 38 that are disposed in parallel relation to the outlet box sup porting bar 11, may be led directly into the outlet box through the openings in Walls '30'Witl1out bending, this feature of the invention being clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

When the space between studs or joists are of less width than the standard spacing (sixteen inches on centers), one end of the bar 11 may be bent at right angles as clearly shown in Fig. 3, minor differences in the Width of studs or oists occasioned mainly to uneven sizes of the same, will be provided for by the adjustable brackets Without the necessity of bending the outlet box supporting bar. After the hanger has been adjusted in position between studs or joists, the ends 19 and 2a of the brackets may be bent slightly so as to bind the ends to the bar.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided an outlet box hanger construction that Will eliminate many difficulties experienced by workmen in the installation ofoutlet boxes in buildings, Without materially increasing the cost of hangers, any increase in cost being compensated by the saving in the labor of installation and materials. I lVhat I claim is: r v 1. A device of the class described, compris ing a pair of metal supporting brackets,

one'end of said brackets having attaching brackets having attaching portions, the free ends forming bearings, the bearing endof one of said brackets being offset to'the side of and extending parallel to the plane of its attaching portion, and a supporting bar adjustably mounted in the bearing portions of said brackets, V

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day i of May, 1923, V,

CLAUDE E. BOWERS'.