Hubbell Limited

Richard D Swanson

Robert W Jorgensen

Thomas E Lewis

Steven James Johnson

Krzysztof Wojciech Korcz

An electrical fixture mounting assembly is provided for quickly and easily mounting an electrical fixture to a brace assembly. The electrical fixture mounting assembly includes an electrical box, a brace assembly and a bracket. The brace assembly is mounted between joists located above an aperture in a ceiling. A bracket is snap-fitted onto the brace assembly. Protrusions on the bracket prevent substantial movement of the bracket during installation of the electrical box. Tabs on the bracket engage openings in the electrical box, thereby facilitating alignment of the electrical box with the bracket. An electrical box is secured to the brace assembly by the bracket and fasteners.

Electrical fixture mounting assembly

A supporting structure, including a bracket brace and a bracket is disclosed. Preferably, the brace has an inside section and an outside section that move relative to each other. A portion of the inside section can be positioned completely within the outside section and each of the inside and outside sections have a pair of vertical portions. The brace also has a slot extending through the inside and outside sections. The bracket is coupled to the inside section of the brace and to each of the vertical portions of the outside sections of the brace. The bracket also has a coupling members in the form of threaded openings to secure a supported member; such as an electrical junction box, against the brace to prohibit relative movement between the brace and the bracket. The brace and bracket allow new, heavier lighting fixtures and ceiling fans to be safely supported.

Mounting bracket and supporting brace

An improved mounting bracket is closed which can be used to selectively support both 4 inch square electric boxes and 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical boxes such that vertical movement of either type of electrical box is limited. The mounting bracket is preferably a one-piece, unitary member stamped from sheet metal. The mounting bracket has a top support rail, a bottom support rail and a pair of mounting ends coupling the support rails together to define a large, elongated central cut-out portion. An electrical box and its associated cover may be mounted between two wall studs by first attaching the mounting bracket of the present invention to the wall studs. The open front end of the box is then placed flush against the rear surface of the bracket such that a top portion of the box contacts the bottom rail of the bracket. Next, the associated cover is placed on the front surface of the bracket opposite and aligned with the box such that a top portion of the cover contacts the top support rail and a bottom portion of the cover contacts the bottom support rail. Finally, the electrical box and the cover are fastened together to complete installation of the electrical box to the bracket. The inner edges of the rails are spaced to engage the mounting screws of a 4 inch square electrical box such that the electrical box cannot significantly move up or down relative to the mounting bracket. The top and bottom support rails are each provided with an abutment for engaging either the outer surface of a 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical box or the faceplate of the 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical box such that the electrical box will not significantly move up or down relative to the mounting bracket when coupled thereto.

Electrical box mounting bracket

An electrical box for supporting ceiling fans, the electrical box has a top portion and a side portion extending completely around the top portion and extending substantially perpendicularly to the top portion. The top portion has a substantially planar lower surface, and the side portion has two oppositely spaced tabs extending inwardly toward each other. Each of the tabs has an opening extending completely therethrough. At least one mounting hole is formed in either the top portion or the side portion or the corner formed between the top and side portions. The mounting hole or holes each have a hole axis inclined with respect to the lower surface of the top portion. Each mounting hole extends completely through the wall between an inner cavity of the electrical box and an area outside the wall. The electrical box can have various mounting brackets attached thereto for securing the electrical box to a support member such as a joist or a truss. An electrical box mounting screw is inserted into each mounting hole to secure the electrical box to the support member. The present invention also encompasses a method for modifying an existing fixture supporting electrical box so that it can support ceiling fans.

Electrical box for ceiling fan support

A universal cable clamp for coupling a wide variety of electrical cables to an electrical box is capable of accepting metal or non-metallic sheathed cables. The cable clamp includes upper and lower clamping plates and a front wall having at least one opening for receiving the cable. The upper and lower clamping plates are coupled together by bendable coupling arms. A fastener extends through the upper and lower clamping plates and into the electrical box to deform the bendable coupling arms while the cable is clamped between the upper and lower clamping plates. The opening in the front wall in embodiments is oval-shaped and is dimensioned to allow a non-metallic sheathed cable to pass through, while preventing the metal sheath of a metal sheathed cable from passing through. The clamp provides a grounding connection of the metal cables and conduits. The cable clamp accommodates thick or thin steel and aluminum flex metal conduits, armored cable, metal clad cable and non-metallic cable.

Universal cable clamp having oval apertures

An improved mounting bracket can be used to selectively support both 4 inch square electrical boxes and 411/16 inch square electrical boxes such that vertical movement of either type of electrical box is limited. The mounting bracket is preferably a one-piece, unitary member stamped from sheet metal. The mounting bracket has a top support rail, a bottom support rail and a pair of mounting ends coupling the support rails together to define a large, elongated central cut-out portion. An electrical box and its associated cover may be mounted between two wall studs by first attaching the mounting bracket of the present invention to the wall studs. The open front end of the box is then placed flush against the rear surface of the bracket such that a top portion of the box contacts the bottom rail of the bracket. Next, the associated cover is placed on the front surface of the bracket opposite and aligned with the box such that a top portion of the cover contacts the top support rail and a bottom portion of the cover contacts the bottom support rail. Finally, the electrical box and the cover are fastened together to complete installation of the electrical box to the bracket. The inner edges of the rails are spaced to engage the mounting screws of a 4 inch square electrical box such that the electrical box cannot significantly move up or down relative to the mounting bracket. The top and bottom support rails are each provided with an abutment for engaging either the outer surface of a 411/16 inch square electrical box or the faceplate of the 411/16 inch square electrical box such that the electrical box will not significantly move up or down relative to the mounting bracket when coupled thereto.

A hanger assembly for mounting and supporting an electrical box or other fixture is formed from two identical complementary hanger support members. The support members are slidably coupled together for selectively adjusting the length of the assembly. Each of the support member is formed from a blank, and includes a body portion with a hook-shaped coupling member at one end for coupling the body portion of the complementary support member thereto and a mounting tab at the opposite end for coupling a structural support thereto. The support members also include a supporting flange along a lower longitudinal edge for coupling and supporting the electrical box or other fixture thereto.

Adjustable hanger assembly

An electrical box assembly including an electrical box and a mounting bracket rigidly coupled to the box for mounting the box onto a support member, such as a stud or a joist. The mounting bracket includes a base portion and a pair of leg portions resiliently coupled to the base portion to form a substantially U-shaped, three-sided bracket. The mounting bracket has inwardly extending arms for resiliently gripping the support member. The arms of the mounting bracket grip onto either side of a metal or wood support member to secure the electrical box to the support member and prevent relative movement between the electrical box and the support member. In one embodiment, the arms include teeth to improve the grip between the mounting bracket and a wood support member. In another embodiment, the mounting bracket is coupled to the box by clamping tabs.

Growing community of inventors

Niles, MI, United States of America

Richard D Swanson