CA2524156C - Electrical outlet box having captive screw clamp - Google Patents

Electrical outlet box having captive screw clamp Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2524156C
CA2524156C CA2524156A CA2524156A CA2524156C CA 2524156 C CA2524156 C CA 2524156C CA 2524156 A CA2524156 A CA 2524156A CA 2524156 A CA2524156 A CA 2524156A CA 2524156 C CA2524156 C CA 2524156C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
clamp
wire
box
screw
threaded
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CA2524156A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2524156A1 (en
Inventor
Alain Michaud
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Installation Products International LLC
Original Assignee
Thomas and Betts International LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thomas and Betts International LLC filed Critical Thomas and Betts International LLC
Publication of CA2524156A1 publication Critical patent/CA2524156A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2524156C publication Critical patent/CA2524156C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/58Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable
    • H01R13/5804Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable comprising a separate cable clamping part
    • H01R13/5812Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable comprising a separate cable clamping part the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/60Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00Two poles
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/76Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

The present invention provides a clamp assembly for clamping an electrical wire to the wall of the electrical outlet box. The clamp assembly includes a wire clamp non-rotatably supported in the box adjacent to the wall. The wire clamp has an internally threaded aperture therethrough. A threaded screw assembly is captively retained in the box for rotating movement without longitudinal displacement. The threaded screw extends through the threaded aperture of the clamp such that upon rotating movement of the screw, the clamp is longitudinally movable therealong.

Description

ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOX HAVING CAPTIVE SCREW CLAMP
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001 J This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.
GO/624,372 filed November 2, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to electrical outlet boxes.
More particularly, the present invention relates to metallic electrical outlet boxes which provide a wire clamp including a screw which is captivated by the box so that the screw does not extend through the box upon clamping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is well known to use electrical outlet boxes to house electrical components such as switches and receptacles. These boxes are attached to wall studs. Once the wall board is placed over the studs, the outlet box provides access to the components.
[0004[ Many electrical outlet boxes are formed of metal. These metallic outlet boxes typically include a back wall, a perimetrical side wall and an open-front face defining a box interior through which a switch or receptacle is placed. Openings in the back or side walls of the box allow entry of the stripped ends of electrical wires for termination to the switch or receptacle house in the box. In order to prevent the wire from inadvertently becoming removed from the box once inserted, a wire clamp is employed. A wire clamp is typically a metallic member movably held to box with a threaded screw. The clamp is captivated by the screw for movement therewith. The screw may be urged downwardly so as to move the clamp into contact with the wire, holding the wire in the electrical box.
[0005] It is common for these screws to be thrcadedly inserted to a threaded opening in one of the walls in the box. As the clamp is moved into clamping engagement with the wire inserted into the box, the screw is progressed such that the threaded shaft of the screw extends outwardly of the box.
[0006) By extending the screw outwardly of the box, there is the potential for damaging the dry wall or a vapor barrier which may be employed.
[0007] Figures 1 and 2 show a conventional metallic electrical outlet box having a clamp secured by a movable screw. The box I 0 includes a back wall 12, perimetrical side wall 14 formed by a pair of opposed side walls 14a and 14b and opposed top and bottom wall 14c and 14d. A clamp 20 is secured to the back wall by a screw 22. As shown in Figure 2, the screw 22 is attached to the back wall of the box through a threaded aperture in the back wall. As may be appreciated, movement of the screw towards the back wall to urge the clamp downward, would cause the threaded shaft of the screw to extend outwardly of the box, thus, potentially causing damage to the dry wall or the vapor barrier.

[0008] Moreover, during transportation, screws can unseat themselves from the threaded aperture causing dislodgement of the screw and the clamp. Also, since the clamp can move freely with the screw, the clamp requires the use of a clamp (eg 30 on each side of the screw to raise the clamp up. This results in the necessity for more material as well as a secondary operation.
(0009] It is therefore desirable to provide an electrical outlet box which employs a wire clamp, to clamp the wire within the box without the need for screw to be progressed in such a manner that the threaded shaft of the screw extends substantially externally of the box upon clamping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides an electrical outlet box assembly. The electrical outlet box assembly includes a clamp assembly for clamping an electrical wire to the wall of the electrical outlet box. The clamp assembly includes a wire clamp non-rotatably supported in the box adjacent to the wall. The wire clamp has an internally threaded aperture therethrough. A
threaded screw assembly is captively retained in the box for rotating movement without longitudinal displacement. The threaded screw extends through the threaded aperture of the clamp such that upon rotating movement of the screw, the clamp is longitudinally movable therealong.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective showing of a conventional electrical outlet box of the prior ari employing a conventional wire clamp.
[0012] Figure 2 is a fragmented showing of a portion of the box of Figure 1 including the conventional wire clamp.
[0013] Figure 3 is a fragmented showing of an electrical outlet box including wire clamp assembly of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 4 is a fragmented showing of the captive screw of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, a fragmented portion of an improved outlet box is shown. Outlet box 100 includes back wall 112, and a bottom wall 114. An opening I 16 extends through the back wall for insertion of stripped end 125 of an electrical wire 124. The clamp assembly 130 of the present invention includes a generally L-shaped clamp 132. Clamp 132 includes a planar portion 133 generally positioned parallel to the bottom wall 1 14. An upward portion 135 extends from planar portion 133 and non-rotatably fixes the clamp. The planar portion includes a central internally threaded aperture 134 therethrough. The clamp 132 is supported to the outlet box by a threaded screw 140. The threaded screw 140 has a head portion 142 and an extending threaded shaft 144. A distal end 145 of the shaft includes an attached projection 148 which extends through an opening I50 of the bottom wall of the box. The projection 148 allows the screw to be capitally retained in the aperture so that upon screw rotation, the screw does not progress through the bottom wall 144 of the box.
The opening I 50 is designed to be smaller than the shaft 144 of the screw preventing such progression.
[0016] The clamp includes a central threaded aperture 134 therethrough so that the clamp is threadingly supported to the screw. The screw 140, which is preferably a left handed screw, upon rotation will cause movement of the clamp 132 along the threaded screw.
Thus, once the wire is inserted, the screw can be rotated and the clamp will move downward along the shaft toward the wire, clamping the wire between the clamp and bottom wall of the box. In that regard, the clamp includes clamp feet I 55 to concentrate the clamping pressure on the wire to secure the wire in the box.
[0017] It can be appreciated that continued screw rotation of the screw causes the clamp to more tightly to engage the wire against the bottom wall. However, the screw will not extend outwardly through the box, thereby preventing any contact with the vapor barrier or dry wall such as is prevalent with extending screws of prior clamping assemblies.
S

Claims (8)

1. A clamp assembly for clamping an electrical wire to a wall of an outlet box comprising:
a wire clamp non-rotatably supported in said box adjacent to said wall, said wire clamp having an internally threaded aperture therethrough; and a threaded screw captively retained in said box for rotating movement without longitudinal displacement, said threaded screw extending through said threaded aperture of said clamp such that upon said rotating movement of said screw said clamp is longitudinally movable therealong.
2. The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said wire clamp includes a first planar surface generally parallel to said wall with said threaded aperture extending through said first planar surface, said wire being clamped between said wall and said first planar surface.
3. The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said wire clamp is L-shaped.
4. The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said threaded screw includes a head portion, an attached projection and a threaded shaft extending therebetween.
5. An electrical outlet box assembly comprising:
an outlet box having a back wall, a perimetrical side walls therethrough and an open front face;
a wire clamp non-rotatably supported in said box adjacent to said side wall, said wire clamp having an internally threaded aperture therethrough; and a threaded screw captively retained in said box for rotating movement without longitudinal displacement, said threaded screw extending through said threaded aperture of said clamp such that upon said rotating movement of said screw said clamp is longitudinally movable therealong.
6. The clamp assembly of claim 5 wherein said wire clamp includes a first planar surface generally parallel to said side wall with said threaded aperture extending through said first planar surface, said wire being clamped between said side wall and said first planar surface.
7. The clamp assembly of claim 5 wherein said wire clamp is L-shaped.
8. The clamp assembly of claim 5 wherein said threaded screw includes a head portion, an attached projection and a threaded shaft extending therebetween.
CA2524156A 2004-11-02 2005-10-24 Electrical outlet box having captive screw clamp Active CA2524156C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US62437204P 2004-11-02 2004-11-02
US60/624,372 2004-11-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2524156A1 CA2524156A1 (en) 2006-05-02
CA2524156C true CA2524156C (en) 2010-06-29

Family

ID=36283143

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2524156A Active CA2524156C (en) 2004-11-02 2005-10-24 Electrical outlet box having captive screw clamp

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US7173195B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2524156C (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7621680B2 (en) * 2005-12-06 2009-11-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh In-ceiling surveillance housing
US10096983B2 (en) 2009-09-04 2018-10-09 Southwire Company Electrical accessories and associated methods of use and manufacture
CA2752303C (en) 2010-09-14 2019-09-03 Southwire Company Electrical accessories and associated methods of use and manufacture
US8789256B2 (en) 2010-09-14 2014-07-29 Southwire Company, Llc Folded electrical junction boxes and associated methods of use and manufacture

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US916486A (en) * 1908-04-27 1909-03-30 Henry E Reeve Binding-post.
US2947967A (en) * 1957-01-14 1960-08-02 Milbank Mfg Co Inc Dual conductor terminal
US3084958A (en) * 1960-03-30 1963-04-09 Appleton Electric Co Clamp assembly for electrical boxes and the like
US3426321A (en) * 1965-10-08 1969-02-04 Hubbell Inc Harvey Electrical wiring device having improved captured screw terminals
US3378806A (en) * 1965-10-23 1968-04-16 Web Press Eng Inc Electrical connector
US3434103A (en) * 1967-01-04 1969-03-18 Curtis Dev & Mfg Co Electrical terminal with captive screw
US3676571A (en) * 1971-03-10 1972-07-11 Gen Cable Corp Electrical outlet box
DE2500141A1 (en) * 1974-01-23 1975-07-24 Gen Signal Corp ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH VARIABLE LENGTH
US4261402A (en) * 1978-11-06 1981-04-14 Textron, Inc. Captive thread forming terminal screw
US4775324A (en) * 1983-01-18 1988-10-04 Connectron, Inc. Electrical terminal assemblies
US4877364A (en) * 1985-07-24 1989-10-31 General Datacomm. Inc. Captive screw and assembly
US5052643A (en) * 1990-03-26 1991-10-01 Heyco Molded Products, Inc. Screw and screw releasable strain relief bushing with a non-fall out screw
US5588880A (en) * 1995-03-10 1996-12-31 Acme Electric Corporation Terminal block
CA2186828A1 (en) * 1995-10-03 1997-04-04 Robert W. Jorgensen Universal cable clamp
JP4443691B2 (en) * 1999-10-18 2010-03-31 第一電子工業株式会社 Terminal block

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US7173195B2 (en) 2007-02-06
CA2524156A1 (en) 2006-05-02
US20060090919A1 (en) 2006-05-04

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