US2286898A

US2286898A - Electric switchbox

Info

Publication number: US2286898A
Application number: US303301A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cover Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-11-07
Filing date: 1939-11-07
Publication date: 1942-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-16

Description

June 16, 1942. P. (:OV ER ELECTRIC SWITCH BOX Filed Nov. '7, 1939 Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED sTATss My invention relates to an adjustable switch 7 box for housing an electric switch and more particularly to that type adapted to be secured within the aperture of a wall.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a switch box equipped with inner and outer elements for securing the box withinthe aperture of the wall.

Another object of my invention is to provide a box equipped with adjustable sides controlled by a securing means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch box of the above described character which is adaptable for use in connection with old as well as new work by means of the several adjustments for various widths of apertures or thicknesses of walls.

A special object of my invention is to provide a switch box of the above described character which is simple in construction, durable in use,

efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention illustrating the same secured within the aperture of a wall structure.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken .on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable walls.

As illustrated in the drawing, I employ a switch box 9 of a U-shape configuration and which is equipped with top, bottom and rear walls Ill, II and i2 respectively. The rear wall, adjacent its jointure with said top and bottom walls, is formed with upper and lower angular portions I3 and M respectively which define an interior vertically disposed guideway face I5. The box is also equipped with side walls It which are formed at their front ends with right angularly disposed flanges defining fixed jaws I! for engagement with the outer face of a wall structure A formed with an aperture 13 through which said box is inserted. The rear ends of the side walls I6 have upper and lower angle corners fitting within the angular portions I3 and It of the rear wall and between said angle corners the rear ends of said side walls are fashioned with right angularly disposed and inwardly extending sections I8 arranged in overlying relation with each other and provided with registering longitudinally extending slots It through which extends a screw 29 threaded into the rear wall I2.

Obviously, by loosening the screw 20 the side walls may be adjusted to and from each other and within the confines of the top and bottom walls it and El and with respect to the rear wall I2. Adjacent the jaws I1, the side walls are provided on their outer faces with adjustable jaws 2| having right angularly disposed sections appressingly engaging the outer faces of the side walls and through which extend screws 22 having headed ends disposed within the box and said screws are adjustable within elongated slots 23 formed in said side walls whereby to effect adjustment of the jaws I1 and 2| with respect to each other. The outer ends of the screws 22 are provided with nuts 24 whereby to clamp the jaws 2I in fixed position with respect to the side walls IS. The top and bottom walls It and I I, at their front edges, are fashioned with laterally and outwardly disposed bosses 25 formed with threaded apertures whereby the usual face plate may be secured thereto as indicated in dotted lines at 26. The rear wall I2 is provided with the usual knock outs 21 whereby electric conduits are introduced within the box.

In use, the box is positioned within the aperture B of the wall structure A and the screw 20 loosened to permit lateral adjustment of the side walls for engagement with the side walls defining the aperture B. When thus adjusted, the screw 20 is tightened and with the inner faces of the jaws I'I engaging the outer face of the wall structure A adjacent the aperture B thereof. The screws 22 are then loosened, and the jaws 2i adjusted with respect to the side wall It to effect engagement with the inner face of the wall structure adjacent the aperture B thereby securely clamping the box to the wall structure upon tightening of the screws 22.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and elficient form of switch box wherein the same may be adjustable for insertion within various sizes of apertures in wall structures and for clamping to said wall structures by the adjustment of the adjustable jaws with respect to the fixed jaws.

It is also obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in advance forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switch box of the character described, a body section having fixed top, bottom and rear Walls, apertured bosses formed at the forward edges of the top and bottom walls for immovably connecting the body to a building wall, a pair of complementary flat side wall sections having a contour corresponding to that of the open sides of the body and slidable there with.- in, a right angular slotted extension formed at the rear end of each side wall section, the said slotted extensions being disposed inoverlapping positions against the inner face of the rear wall of the body, means on the rear wall of the body 20 a body section having fixed top, bottom and rear walls, apertured bosses formed at the forward edges of the top and bottom walls for immovably connecting the body to a building wall, a pair of complementary fiat side wall sections having a contour corresponding to that of the open sides of the body and slidable therewithin, a right angular slotted extension formed at the rear end of each side wall section, the said slotted extensions being disposed in overlapping positions against the inner face of the rear wall of the body, means on the rear wall of the body engageable with the slotted extensions for securing the extensions and the side walls in selectively adjusted positions, a lateral outwardly directed flange formed on the front edge of each side wall, the said side wall sections having longitudinally directed slots, formed there, an angular jaw member mounted exteriorly of each side wall section having a laterally directed flange parallel with the front flange of each side wall section, and fastening elements extended through apertures in each angular jaw extended through the slots in the side walls for longitudinally adjusting the said jaws in cooperative relation with the front flange thereof for clamping the side sections on a building wall.

PETER COVER.