US1519927A - Outlet-box construction - Google Patents

Description

A. POLHEMUS OUTLET BOX CONSTRUCTION Dec. 16, 1924. 1,519,927

Filed June 10, 1922 INVENTOR A E bert SP0 l/hem s 4 TTORN E Y8 Patented Dec. 15, 1924. j

UNITED STATES risen ALBERT POLHEMUS, F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

OUTLET-BOX CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 10, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT PoLirnMUs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Outlet-Box Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an outlet box construction, and has for an object the provision of such a box construction as will adapt itself for very ready insertion in a wall, ceiling or the like.

Another object resides in the provision of means in connection with the ordinary outlet box construction which will enable any workman, skilled or not, to quickly and easily fasten the box in position flush with the desired surface, such as the surface of the plaster on a wall.

A further object resides in the particular construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the box.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the box.

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section taken on the line 83 of Fig. 1.

The form of the invention shown in the drawings is a preferred form, although it is understood that modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts and in the character of the materials used may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

One of the great difliculties experienced in the handling of outlet boxes and the installation of these boxes in walls, ceilings, etc., resides in the lack of ready adj ustability of these boxes to various constructions. Where different types of lathing and different thicknesses of plaster are used, it is sometimes difficult to readily insert a box so that its open face will be flush with the plaster. It is to eliminate these difficulties that I have conceived the simple and readily adjustable device, forming an improvement Serial No. 567,238.

over the ordinary type of outlet box, which is hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is usually adapted to be used in connection with an outlet box which it is desired to support from a fixed support, such as a lath 1, and in proper relative position with respect to any desired thick ness of plaster 2. The box is an open-ended. box 3 of usual construction having fiat flanges 4 generally disposed flush with the surface of the plaster 2 so that cover plates can be attached thereto to cover the opening in which the box is disposed. Preferably, to opposite sides of the box I fasten a movable plate 5 having a slot 6 embracing an adjustable screw 7 which can be tightened or loosened to clamp the plate 5 in any desired position or release it for sliding movement along the surface of the box. It is understood that there are two of these plates 5 disposed, preferably, on opposite sides of the box. Each of the plates 5 is provided with a plurality of projecting portions or fingers such as 9, 10, 11 and 12. These fingers are preferably bent out of the metal of the plate 5 itself and are adapted to project through slots 13 and 14E. These slots are preferably parallel and formed in the side walls of the box 3. In the form shown in the drawings there are four fingers projecting from each plate, two from each side of each plate. For instance, the lingers 9 and 10 projecting from one side of the plate 5 are spaced apart a desired distance to grip the lathing 1 therebetween. After this engagement of the fingers with the lathing is effected, the screw 7 can be inserted and tightened to clamp the plate with respect to the body portion. The body portion has, of course, in the meantime been adjusted so that the flanges 4 are dis- 9O posed substantially flush with the surface of the plaster 2. It will be observed that by entirely removing the screw 7 the plate 5 can be taken out of the box, which can then r be used in the ordinary manner if desired. It is a simple matter, however, when it is desired to use these slidable plates 5, to insert the respective fingers in their proper slots, properly associate them with the lathing, and then slide the box along until the box and having slots thereon, screws mountt ed on the box and having heads extending through said slots for adjusting the position of the plates in said box, said box having slots adjacent said plates, and a pair of fingers on each plate extending through the respective slots to engage With any suitable supports, such as lathing or plaster.

ALBERT POLHEMUS.

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