US3195881A

US3195881A - Box-setting device

Info

Publication number: US3195881A
Application number: US320285A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Morell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-31
Filing date: 1963-10-31
Publication date: 1965-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-20

Description

July 20, 1965 -J. E. MoRELL 3,195,881

Box-SETTING D EvIcE Filed oct. s1, 196s 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Y www July 20, 1965 J. E. MoRELL 3,195,881

Box-SETTING DEVICE INVETOR John E. Morell ATTORNEY gli' United States Patent O 3,195,881 BOX-SETTING DEVICE John E. Morell, P.0. Box 191, Alpine, Tex. Filed Oct. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 320,285 3 Claims. (Cl. 269-216) This invention relates to a mechanical tool and, more particularly, to means for accurately installing an electrical switchbox.

In the construction of a house or other building having electrical services upon completion, numerous electrical svvitchboxes (such as the standard Raco, Steel City, or Bowers switchboxes) must be installed on the studs, two-by-fours, or other structural members prior to the installation of the wallboard, plaster, or other wall surface.y These switchboxes must be secured in such manner that ythe outer surface, or opening, extends outwardly from the stud or other structural member a precise distance in order that its outer surface will be flush with the wall surface after it is installed. In this manner, when installed, the covering over the switchbox will not protrude from the wall, thus making it unsightly, nor dig into the wall.

In the average house most of these switchboxes are installed during its construction. Heretofore, much time was spent by the electrician, carpenter, or other artisan in installing these switchboxes. The alignment of the box and the extension of its outer surface has been done manually, and oftentimes had to be removed from the stud vand re-aligned. Furthermore, the box, once aligned, had to be held by hand while it was being secured to the stud or other structural member by nails, or otherwise.

By my invention I have provided a device in which the switchbox may be held while being secured to the stud `or other structural member and, simultaneously, which will permit proper alignment of the switchbox with respect to the stud, thus providing the desired extent of its protrusion from the stud.

It is, therefore, a principal object of my invention to provide means by which an electrical switchbox may be aligned with respect to the structural member of a building to which it is to be secured.

It is another object of my invention to provide means by which said switchbox can be held while being secured to said stud.

It is also an object of my invention to provide means by which the outer surface of said switchbox will extend the desired distance from said stud when secured thereto.

It is still another object of my invention to provide such means which will release said switchbox easily and simply when the switchbox has been secured to said stud.

It is also an object of my invention to provide such means by which the desired extension of the outer face of the switchbox with respect to said stud can be set.

Additional objects of my invention will be apparent from a study of the following disclosure and attached claims in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, in section, of my invention taken along the plane A-A of FIG. 1, including a cross-sectional View of the switchbox and stud.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of my invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the upper plate of my invention taken along the plane A-A of FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the upper plate shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the lower plate of my invention.

STRUCTURE My box-setting device is shown in FIGS. 1 2, and 3. In FIG. l it is shown in the open configuration prior 3,195,881 Patented July 20, 1965 to its being attached to a switchbox or after releasing same, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The principal structural members of my invention are: rod 13, platform 14, guide rods 15a, b, c, and d, upper plate 17, lower plate 18, tube 19, adjustment knob 22, lever 24, nut 2S, and strap 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, device 10 is shown as it would appear in cross-section grasping switchbox 11 in position against stud 12, or other structural member for installation.

Platform 14 is a rigid plate to which is secured, by welding or other attachment remains, a plurality of guide rods 15a, b, c. and d. These rods extend upwardly from platform 14. Also, attached to platform 14 is rod 13 which is externally threaded for a purpose which will be described herebelow.

Lower plate 18, parallel to platform 14, contains a hole 18a which encircles rod 13 and a plurality of holes 13e through which guide rods 15 extend. Guide rods 15 are secured to platform 14 at 16a, b, c, -and'd respectively by welding or otherwise. Thus, platform 14, rod 13, and rods 15 can move perpendicularly to lower plate 18. As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, lower plate 18 is undercut as at 1.8i; on both sides, thus providing a groove 18d.

Upper plate 17, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, has an end member 17a which is perpendicular to the main portion of upper plate 17. The main portion of the plate extending from the end member 17a backwardly therefrom has a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 17e on each side of such proportions that main portion 17d can slide within groove 18d of lower plate 18 and surfaces 17e will match surfaces 18b. Thus, when portion 17d of the upper plate has been inserted (lengthwise) in groove 18d, upper plate 17 can move only longitudinally with respect to lower plate 18. It cannot move vertically with respect to lower plate 18.

Upper plate 17 contains a slot 17b. When it is inserted within lower plate 18 as previously described, slot 17h encircles tube 19 which is secured to lower plate 18 by welding or otherwise at 19a. As shown in FIGS. l, 2, and 3 rods 15 are positioned outwardly of upper plate 17.

Tube 19 extends upwardly from lower plate 18 through slot 1712 and encloses the upper portion of rod 13. It is secured to lower plate 18 at 19a by welding or otherwise. At the upper end of tube 19 is a flange 19C which contains a hole 19d, the purpose of which will be described hereinbelow. Extending downwardly into tube 19 is adjustment knob 22 which is internally threaded at 22h. The upper end 13b of rod 13 is threadedly connected within and to knob 22. Knob 22 contains a groove 22a into which protrudes ball 21 which is forced upwardly into groove 22a by spring 29 which is positioned within hole 19d. The purpose of this arrangement will be described hereinbelow.

Tube 19 contains a hole 1gb which is threaded and through which extends screw 23. Screw 23 extends into groove 22C cut into knob 22 to prevent knob 22 moving vertically with respect to tube 19 when it is rotated relative to tube 19.

Lever 24 abuts tube 19 at 241). The lower end 24a of lever 24 is contained within nut 25 in such manner that lower end 24a can move within and relative to nut 25. Lever 24 is maintained against tube 19 by strap 26 which is secured to tube 19 at 26a, shown more clearly in FIG. 1. Of course, lower end 24a of lever 24 can and does bear against nut 25 in operation.

OPERATION As previously described, without reference to switchbox 11 or stud 12, the operator of my device 1i) may grasp knob 22 and lever 24 in one hand and grip the Y t Y .o Y: i- Y upper portion of lever 24 against knob 2,2. This'fo'rces nut 25, and hence upper plate 17, to the right (as shown in FIG. 2), thus forcing end member 17a against lower plate 1S, Of course, `upper plate `17 moves relative'to lower plate 18 and, hence, relative to platform 14, rods 15a, tube 19, rod 13, and'knob 22. A spring (not shown) Cil Y which itisto be secured.A

may be inserted between ilange 19o and lever l24 which, t

upon the operators releasing his grip, would force' leverV 24 away from tube 19, thus forcing the lower end 24a of lever.24'in the opposite direction. This would force upper plate 17 to the .left with respect to lower plate 13 and to the position'shown in FIG. l, thus leaving the gap 18C (FIG. 1) between end ymemberl'la andY lower i plate18. v. To use device 10 lever 24 is. forced to the right' withV respect to knob 22 Y(FIG. 2) to provide the Vspace 13o between end'memberlla and lower plate 18. Then, l

de vice 10 is plac'ed'orf/ei` they outer portion of switchbox towardV knob 22, as previouslydescribed; Now, switch"-l box 11 is gripped between endmember 17aL and surfaceV 14az of platform 14. ln this position it is held as in a vise Vand can be held againstand secured to stud 12, or

However, priorto positioning ,Y

other structural member. switchbox'll, the distance between the outer surface 12a ,of stud`12 and the outer end 11a of switchbox 11 has been set.

.The distance B-B between the outer surface12a andV t the outer surf-ace 11a is set in the following manner:

`Holding tubelr19, and hence ,the entire device 10, firmly,

knob 22 is rotatedin the desired direction either to bring plate 14 closer to lower plate 18y or further therefrom. Since screw 23' protrudes intogroove 22C,Y knob 22 will not move relative to lower plate 18; rather, upper end 13b of rod. 13 will move withinv knob 22, Vthus moving, platform 14 relative to lower plate 18, changing the l11 (as shown in FlG.-2) and lever 24 isV forced inwardlf., j j

distance VB-B. Now, unless extra force is exerted on it, knob 22.will Vnot move relative to `tube 19 due tothe pressure exerted on. it by ball k21V and spring 2i). Of course, notches can'be provided Vwithin thefupper portion of groove 22ato` increase @the resistanceto such move.-` rnent of knob 22. n 1

Once the distance B-Bhas been established and set and switchbox `11 has been securedbetween end VVll'h and end 14a of platform 14, as previously described, platform` 14 is positioned Y'against .Stud 12 ,as shown in FIG. 2.

Then, switchbox Y11 is secured to stud 12 by nails Vex-V tending through switehbox 11, or otherwise. t Y

After this operation has been completed lver 24 forced t0 the kright' (FIG. 2) with respect to knob 22,

manually or otherwise as previously explained.V Then,

box-setting device" 10 is removed ,fromV contact with Y switchbox k11 and Stud 12 and anotheroperation is come' menced.

In `each rof. these operations it is apparent that theV said platform and said lower plate.

. A' distance B'-B can lbechanged and the size be accommodated can beV provided for. i

From the foregoingrit is seen that means have been provided by which an electrical switchbox may be aligned with respect to the structural member of a building to of box H11 t9 Also,`means have'b'een provided by which the switchboxcan be held while being. secured to the structural member. Y f

Y Further, meansrhave ybeen provided which the outer Ysurface of the switchbox will extend the desired distance from the structural memberwhen secured thereto.

Additionally, means have been provided by which the switchbox can be easily and simply released when it ha been secured to the structural member. Y r Further, means have been provided by which the desired extensiongof the outer Vface ofthe switchbox, relative to the structural member, can beset. k

llt is to be understood that vthe form ofthe invention shown and described herein is tofbe taken as a preferred embodiment 'of same and that -.various changes, in the Y shape, size, and arangement of particulars may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the inven-v tion or theV scope of. the attached claims.

What l claim anddesire to Vsecure by Letters Patent is: 1. A-'device for'aligning an electrical switchbox'on and Vwith a building rstructural member corr'n'nris'ing; Y A lower plate; 'an upper plate slidably contain'edjin said lower 2. AThe device of claiml wherein said upper plateland said lowerrplate` contain aligned holes and said platform has screw means securedto its upper surface, v`Said screw means extending upwardly through said aligned holes and co-acting` with said l'adjustment means to change said distance. v v

claim 1 wherein said leverl'rneans ico-acts with said upper plate and said-adjustment'means to move said upper plate relative to said platform.`

References Cited by the lilxaminelV UruTEDl STATES PATENTS y 2,960,953 1x1/60 schneider Y f 269-3 x "WILLIAM w. DYER, JR.,fPfimary Examiner.

`FRANK SUSKO, Examiner. Y w

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR ALIGNING AN ELECTRICAL SWITCHBOX ON AND WITH A BUILDING STRUCTURAL MEMBER COMPRISING: A LOWER PLATE; AN UPPER PLATE SLIDABLY CONTAINED IN SAID LOWER PLATE HAVING ONE END EXTENDING BELOW SAID LOWER PLATE; A PLATFORM POSITIONED BELOW SAID LOWER PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF GUIDE RODS EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID LOWER PLATE; LEVER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER PLATE TO MOVE SAID ONE END OF SAID UPPER PLATE RELATIVE TO SAID PLATFORM TO RELEASABLY HOLD SAID SWITCHBOX BETWEEN SAID ONE END OF SAID UPPER PLATE AND SAID PLATFORM; AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS SECURED TO SAID LOWER PLATE AND CO-ACTING WITH SAID PLATFORM FOR CHANGING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID PLATFORM AND SAID LOWER PLATE.