U.S. patent application number 09/789695 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-23 for electrical block.
Invention is credited to Allen, Clyde D., Clark, Michael C., Logan, J. Richard, Nurenberg, Aundrea, Schiedegger, Charles E..
Application Number | 20010015281 09/789695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23342405 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010015281 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schiedegger, Charles E. ; et
al. |
August 23, 2001 |
Electrical block
Abstract
An electrical block trim assembly that has a mount, a decorative
ring, and a separate electrical box is provided. The mount has a
base adapted to be secured to an exterior surface of a structure.
The mount also has a housing extending from the base with a top
portion that has an opening. Exterior covering, or siding, is
attached to the exterior surface to surround a portion of the
mount. A decorative ring is secured to the mount over the siding to
conceal the edges of the siding that are adjacent to the mount. The
decorative ring has an inner perimeter that is adjacent to the
housing. An electrical box having walls with an upper portion is
securely received and retained within the opening. The electrical
box is interposed between the exterior surface and the top portion.
The electrical box may be constructed of a different material than
the mount and decorative ring.
Inventors: |
Schiedegger, Charles E.;
(Metamora, MI) ; Nurenberg, Aundrea; (Brown City,
MI) ; Allen, Clyde D.; (North Branch, MI) ;
Clark, Michael C.; (Columbiaville, MI) ; Logan, J.
Richard; (Oxford, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS, P.C.
THE PINEHURST OFFICE CENTER, SUITE #101
39400 WOODWARD AVENUE
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-5151
US
|
Family ID: |
23342405 |
Appl. No.: |
09/789695 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09789695 |
Feb 21, 2001 |
|
|
|
09342572 |
Jun 29, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
174/58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/123 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
174/58 |
International
Class: |
H01H 009/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A multi-piece electrical block device for attaching to a surface
of a structure comprising: a mount having a base adapted to abut
the surface and a housing extending from said base, said housing
having an opening; and an electrical box having walls with an upper
portion, said opening sized to receive and adapted to securely
retain said upper portion.
2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base has a
flange extending therefrom, said flange having a plurality of holes
adapted to accommodate fasteners to attach said mount to the
surface.
3. The device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising, a
decorative ring having an inner perimeter sized to receive said
housing.
4. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said housing has an
exterior surface with opposing portions, one of said opposing
portions and said inner perimeter of said ring having opposing
grooves and the other of said opposing portions and said inner
perimeter having opposing protrusions that are aligned with said
opposing grooves wherein said protrusions are adapted to interlock
with said grooves when said decorative ring receives said
housing.
5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said opposing
portions have said opposing grooves and said inner perimeter has
said opposing protrusions.
6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner perimeter
has a rectangular shape and said housing has a complementary
rectangular shape adapted to be received by said inner
perimeter.
7. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mount has a
first interlocking member and said electrical box has a second
interlocking member adapted to coact with said first interlocking
member and secure said electrical box to said mount when said mount
receives said electrical box.
8. The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said housing has a
top portion with said opening in said top portion, said top portion
having a ledge about said opening, and said upper portion has a lip
adapted to abut said ledge when said opening receives said
electrical box.
9. The device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said upper portion
has at least one tab proximate to said lip, said ledge forming said
first interlocking member and said lip and said at least one tab
forming said second interlocking member, said at least one tab
being adapted to secure said electrical box to said mount by
receiving said ledge between said lip and said at least one
tab.
10. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mount is
constructed from a first plastic material and said electrical box
is constructed from a second plastic material that is different
from said first plastic material.
11. An electrical block trim assembly for use on an exterior
surface of a structure comprising: a mount having a base adapted to
be secured to the exterior surface and a housing extending from
said base, said housing having top portion with an opening;
exterior covering surrounding a portion of said mount; a decorative
ring secured to said mount over said siding, said decorative ring
having an inner perimeter adjacent to said housing; and an
electrical box having walls with an upper portion that is securely
received and retained within said opening, said electrical box
interposed between the exterior surface and said top portion.
12. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said base has a
flange extending therefrom, said flange having a plurality of holes
adapted to accommodate fasteners to attach said mount to the
exterior surface.
13. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing has
an outer surface with opposing portions, one of said opposing
portions and said inner perimeter of said ring having grooves and
the other of said opposing portions and said inner perimeter of
said ring having opposing protrusions that are aligned with said
grooves wherein said protrusions interlocks with said grooves.
14. The assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said opposing
portions have said opposing groove and said inner perimeter has
said opposing protrusions.
15. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein sad inner
perimeter has a rectangular shape and said housing has a
complementary rectangular shape.
16. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said mount has a
first interlocking member and said electrical box has a second
interlocking member that coacts with said first interlocking member
and secures said electrical box to said mount.
17. The assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said top portion
of the mount has a ledge about said opening, and said upper portion
of said electrical box has a lip that abuts said ledge.
18. The assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said upper
portion has at least one tab proximate to said lip, said ledge
forming said first interlocking member and said lip and said at
least one tab forming said second interlocking member, said at
least one tab secures said electrical box to said mount by
receiving said ledge between said lip and said at least one
tab.
19. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said mount is
constructed from a first plastic material and said electrical box
is constructed from a second plastic material that is different
from said first plastic material.
20. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said exterior
covering is siding.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to a multi-piece electrical block
trim assembly for use on an exterior surface of a structure. The
assembly supports an electrical outlet or other electrical fixture,
and is adapted to be used with siding or other exterior surface
covering.
[0003] 2. Discussion
[0004] Electrical blocks have been developed for use on the
exterior surfaces of a structure. The electrical blocks provide a
decorative means of attaching an electrical fixture or outlet to
structures having an uneven surface, such as a surface to which
vinyl or aluminum siding has been attached. The electrical blocks
typically have a mount that is attached directly to the structure.
Siding or some other decorative covering is attached to the
structure around the mount. A decorative ring, which may either be
integral with the mount or a separate piece, covers the edges of
the siding that are adjacent to the mount, thus providing a more
pleasing appearance. In the prior art, the electrical box either
has been integrally formed with the mount, or the electrical box
has been at least partially recessed into the surface of the
structure. Both of these electrical block configurations have posed
problems.
[0005] Electrical block assemblies which are at least partially
recessed into the surface of the structure are inconvenient because
the hole in the structure that receives the electrical box must be
placed in a position in which it does not interfere with the
supporting structure underlying the surface. Designs having
electrical boxes that are integrally formed with the mount
typically cannot be molded with a plastic material that has good
weatherability and color characteristics while still providing a
design that meets suggested safety requirements, such as those
provided by Underwriters Laboratories.
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a multi-piece electrical block that has good weatherability
and color characteristics and has an electrical box that is capable
of meeting suggested safety standards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An electrical block trim assembly that has a mount, a
decorative ring, and a separate electrical box provides the above
and other objects of the invention. The mount has a base adapted to
be secured to an exterior surface of a structure. The mount also
has a housing extending from the base with a top portion that has
an opening. Exterior covering, or siding, is attached to the
exterior surface to surround a portion of the mount. A decorative
ring is secured to the mount over the siding to conceal the edges
of the siding that are adjacent to the mount. The decorative ring
has an inner perimeter that is adjacent to the housing. An
electrical box having walls with an upper portion is securely
received and retained within the opening. The electrical box is
interposed between the exterior surface and the top portion. The
electrical box may be constructed of a different material than the
mount and decorative ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The various advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following
specification and subjoined claims and by referencing the following
drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of the electrical
block of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the present invention
assembled;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a mount of the
present invention attached to an exterior surface to which siding
is attached; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an electrical box
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an electrical block trim
assembly 10 for use on an exterior surface of a structure is shown.
The assembly 10 has three main components: a mount 12, a decorative
ring 14, and an electrical box 16. The mount 12 has a base 18, or
lower portion, from which a flange 20 extends. The flange 20 has a
plurality of holes 22 adapted to accommodate fasteners which are
used to attach the mount 12 to the exterior surface. A rectangular
housing 24 is defined by a plurality of side walls 26 that extend
from the base 18. Although using a rectangular shaped housing
simplifies installation of siding around the assembly, it is to be
understood that the housing 24 can be any desired shape.
[0014] The housing 24 has a top portion 28 disposed between the
side walls 26 opposite from the base 18. The top portion 28 has an
opening 30 and a ledge 32 formed about the opening 30, which is
best shown in FIG. 2. The ledge 32 forms a first interlocking
member that is used to secure and retain the electrical box 16 to
the mount 12, as described in detail below. With continuing
reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the housing 24 has an outer surface
36 with opposing portions 38 located on opposite side walls 26,
only one of which can be seen in the Figures. Each of the portions
38 has grooves 40 that are adjacent to one another and that run
parallel to the base 18..
[0015] The decorative ring 14 is secured to the mount 12 over the
siding 13 to conceal the edges 15, as best shown in FIG. 2. With
continuing reference to FIG. 1A and 1B, the decorative ring 14 has
an rectangular inner perimeter 42 that corresponds to the contour
of the housing 24. The inner perimeter 42 has opposing protrusions
44, only one of which can be seen in the Figures, that are aligned
with the grooves 40 so that the protrusions 44 interlock with the
grooves 40 when the decorative ring 14 is installed over the mount
12. By providing multiple adjacent grooves 40, the decorative ring
14 may be installed closely to sidings 13 of varying thickness.
[0016] The electrical box 16 is secured to the mount 12 during
installation of the assembly 10. The electrical box 16 has walls 46
with a bottom portion 48 disposed between lower portions of the
walls 46, which form a cavity 47 to accommodate wires and other
electrical components. At least one knock-out 49 is provided on the
bottom portion 48 so that the knock-out 49 may be removed and wires
may be passed through the resulting opening and into the electrical
box cavity 47.
[0017] The electrical box 16 has a second interlocking member that
coacts with said first interlocking member and secures said
electrical box to the mount 12. As best shown in FIG. 3, the walls
46 have an upper portion 52 with a lip 54 that is securely received
and retained within the opening 30 and supported by the ledge 32.
The upper portion 52 has attachment portions 53 with holes 55 to
which electrical fixtures may be fastened.
[0018] The upper portion 52 has at least one tab 56 that is
proximate to the lip 54. The ledge 32 forms the first interlocking
member and the lip 54 and at least one tab 56 form the second
interlocking member. The tabs 56 secure the electrical box 16 to
the mount 12 by receiving the ledge 32 between the lip 54 and the
tabs 56. In this manner, the electrical box 16 is snapped into the
opening 30 in the mount 12. However, it is to be understood that
the electrical box 16 may be retained in the opening 30 using any
suitable mechanism. For example, a different interlocking
configuration may be used, or an interference fit between the
electrical box 16 and opening 30 may be used.
[0019] The present invention provides an improved method of
installation. Returning now to FIG. 2, a hole 60 is made in a
surface 61 of a structure 62 through which electrical wires 64 are
fed. The mount 12 is secured to the surface 61 by a plurality of
fasteners 66 disposed within holes 22. Exterior covering, or siding
13, is installed on the surface 61 surrounding a portion of the
mount 12. The decorative ring 14 (not shown) is installed over the
siding 13 and secured to the mount 12 by protrusions 44 and groves
40. The electrical box 16 is snapped into the opening 30 so that it
is positioned between the exterior surface 61 and the top portion
28. First and second interlocking members secure the electrical box
16 to the mount 12. The wires 64 are received in the cavity 47
through a removed knock-out 49.
[0020] Since the mount 12 and the electrical box 16 are separate
components of the assembly 10, they may be constructed from
different plastic materials. This enables plastic materials having
different characteristics to be used. For example, a plastic
suitable for electrical boxes may be used when constructing the
electrical box, and a plastic suitable for molding in a wide
variety of colors and which has good weatherability may be used for
the mount 12 and decorative ring 14. It is also contemplated by
Applicants that the mount 12 and electrical box 16 be provided as a
preassembled unit, securely snapped together.
[0021] Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the
foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present
invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore,
while this invention has been described in connection with
particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should
not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to
the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings,
specification and following claims.
* * * * *