US2029019A

US2029019A - Electric outlet molding

Info

Publication number: US2029019A
Application number: US711831A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert P Dorsey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-02-19
Filing date: 1934-02-19
Publication date: 1936-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-01-28

Description

Jan. 28, i936. A. P. DoRsr-:Y

ELECTRI C OUTLET MOLDING Filed Feb. 19, 1934 Snventor Alberi' T. Dorsey,

ttorneg Sii Patented Jan. 28, 1936 Unirse stares PATENT oFFlcE i claim.

This invention relates to an electrical outlet molding of that class which is intended to be installed in a room, adjacent to or attached to the base-board, and either provided for in the building of the room or installed after the erection of the building, and the invention relates more particularly to an improvement over that shown, described and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,929,547 issued on October l0, 1933,

to Phillip d. Cassidy, and assigned to me.

The object of the present invention` is to provide a device ci this kind that shall be not only simpliied but more practical and cheaper to construct than the construction shown in the above referred to patent.

ranother object-of the invention is to provide a molding ci this hind that inay be easily installed in both new and old work.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a moiding that shall be rigid, contain :few parts and be pleasing to the eye, conforming to the trim ci the room and not being unduly conspicuons.

Another object oi the invention being to provide i a molding that may be easily installed around corners, etc., and in which the electrical connections may; be made quickly securely.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain new and novel construction and combination ci parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, and further illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and in which like iigures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views, and it is understood that slight changes may be made without departing from the spirit ci the invention.

In the drawing: l Y

Figure l shows airont elevation of a partial strip or the molding, with one outlet plug in place.

Figure 2 shows a rear elevation oi the same, and discloses a feed cable connection, a knock-out for the feed cable connection, and the method oi securing the end of the assembly screw.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view oi' the molding taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l, showing tllie means for holding the prongs oi' the outlet D lig.

Figure 4 is a top plan view, partly in section to show the method of attaching the feed cable and electrical current feed wires to the feeder strips of the molding.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line oi Figure 2 showing the method of securing the parts together,

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view showing the application of the device to the base-board of the wall. l

Figure 7 is a similar view, but shows the molding as being formed with its own curved' trim molding to vtake the place of the usual wooden trim of the base-board.

Figure 8 is a detail view of a portion of one oi the current feed strips, showing the method of attaching the feed wires thereto, and one of the contact arms.

Figure 9 is a top plan View partly in section of the application of the molding to a mitred corner and the method employed for insulating the same and making the proper electrical connections.

Referring to the drawing:

While 'i have shown the molding as being composed of a channel shaped casing of metal to which is attached an insulated iront cam/ing the feed strips and contacts for the prongs of the attachment plugs, it is understood that this molding may be of any. desired shape and size, and that the diierent parts may be made from any suitable material and that any suitable means may be employed for attaching the same to the wall or base-board..

In the drawing, i have shown a metal casing lil, in the shape oi a channel with an open iront and formed with the front edges flanged as at li; while at suitable locations along the rear side the attaching spurs l2 are formed from punchings from the top and bottom,

Also at predetermined locations upon the rear wall of the casing lli, are located the knock-outs i3 which may be removed for the feed cable bushing l@ and nuts l5 of the BX feed cable it.

Also formed in the rear wall of the casing lil at regular intervals are the slots i'i within which are threaded the assembly bolts Hl which hold the casing and the front together.

Within this casing and in contact therewith is placed an inner channel composed of insulating material such as ber i9.

The iront ofthe molding comprises a strip of insulating material having a T-shaped cross secticn 2i), the arms of which are formed with the notches or grooves 2l to accommodate the flanges H of the casing lll,y and to retain this front 2li in assembly with the casing IU, the T-secticn is formed with screw holes that register with the slots i1 formed in the casing lil, and within these holes are mounted the assembly bolts I 8 which have'thelr heads countersunk into the front 2G and their rear ends threaded into the slots i7,

the pitch of the screw thread being such that the thicjgness oi the material of the casing Ifwill 'catch the same; the reason for the slot I'I being that the end of the bolt It will be more easily located in assembling the'molding. j

The connection of the BX electrical feed cable is made to the molding at the nearest knock-fout I3 to the location of said cable, and the knock-out I3 having been removed the end of the bushing I4 is inserted through the casing IB and the insulation I 9 and is retained ,by the .inner nut I5 andlocking nut 2 I; the T-section being cut away at this point by the electricien as shown in Figure 4. y

In the installationof the molding it is intended to place the same upon the uppel` edge olf the hase-board 22 of the wall, with the prongs or spurs I2 back of theibase-board and also back of the wood molding 23, as shown in Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 7, the casing ID is formed with its own iinishmolding 24 which may be attached byifthe nails 25.

The front is formed at regularly spaced locations with the slots 26 each side of the T-section and which are for the prongs 2l oi the standard attachment plug 2'8. Y e

.ige the rear of the front 2li and adjacent the T- section are secured thereto by the tubular rivets 29 the two electrical feed strips 38, which are .formed at spaced intervals with the loops to which may be connected the electrical wires;y and also to these feed strips 30 are attached by the strip; these'loops 3l being so spaced that some are always adjacent to a knock-out I3.

Referring to Figure 9, when a mitre corner is lto be made, the molding, both front 29 and casing III is mitred in the usual manner by sawing through with a hack saw; the insulation I 9 is cut back as shown and a specially formed corner 36 of insulating material is placed in the corner thus formed in the casing it.'

rThe electrical connections around the corner from feed strip to feed strip e@ are made by the wires 3l and 33 which are attached to suitable loops 3l 'in the feed strips 3D as shown in the drawing; i

This same method is employed when the pieces of' molding are abutted end to end, but when a dead end is reached as when a doorway is reached, the top and bottoni of the casing Ylll is cutback, a portion of the front and T-section 2@ removed and the back eno' bent forward to cover the end as shown in Figure 9. g f

In practice it is intended to constructthe molding in suitable lengths, having the contact springs and prong-slots at comparatively close intervals apart, while the knock-outs and assembly screws will also :ne spaced so that no matter where installed, ope of the knock-outs will be readily reached by the BXY cable, and also the loops 3I for the connecting wires are spaced so that they are always close to either the feed wires or thereorner connecting wires.

EWhile 'these loops 3l retain the ends of the feed wires, these wires should also be secured in the usual manner by a soldered jointto the loop.

with, its wiring may be removed at any time from the casing IB after the same has been installed in the wall.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire vto by Letters Patent, is: Y

An electrical outlet molding comprising a sheet metal casing including a rear wall and upper and lower vertically spaced weils extending therefrom and having angularly disposed flanges on their free edges, a front closure member for the casing formed of insulating material and T-shape in cross section, the arms of the member having grooves in their longitudinal edges to receive the flanges of the casing, securing members passable through the member and adapted for securement in the rear wall of the casing to hold the flanges in intimate engagement in said grooves, feeding strips secured to the arms of the member, resilient contacts secured to the strips, said member having openings therein for the passage of plug prongs adapted to engage the contacts.

ALBERT 'a Doneer.

25 By removing the assembly bolts I8, the front