PREFABRICATED MOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY

SUPPORT DE FIXATION PREFABRIQUE

English Abstract

A bracket assembly supports an electrical box between wall studs. The bracket assembly includes an elongate vertical bracket having a first end for attachment to a horizontal stud and an opposed upper end. An elongate horizontal bracket is affixed to the upper end of the vertical bracket. The horizontal bracket includes a pair of opposed ends for attachment to spaced apart vertical studs. The horizontal bracket defines a frame including a plurality of openings. The frame accommodates on side thereof an electrical box about each opening and accommodates on the other side thereof a mud ring about each opening.

French Abstract

Un ensemble de support supporte un coffret de branchement entre des montants muraux. L'ensemble de support comprend un support vertical allongé qui présente une première extrémité à fixer à une traverse, et une extrémité supérieure opposée. Un support horizontal allongé est fixé à l'extrémité supérieure du support vertical. Le support horizontal comprend une paire d'extrémités opposées à fixer à des montants espacés. Le support horizontal définit une structure qui comporte de multiples ouvertures. Cette structure reçoit sur son côté un coffret de branchement sur chaque ouverture et sur l'autre côté, un anneau à boue sur chaque ouverture.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A bracket assembly for supporting an electrical box comprising:
an elongate vertical bracket, said bracket having a first end for attachment
to a horizontal
floor stud and an opposed upper end;
an elongated horizontal bracket affixed to said upper end of said vertical
bracket; said
horizontal bracket including one end for attachment to one vertical stud and
an opposed end for
attachment to another vertical stud spaced from said one stud; said horizontal
bracket defining a
frame including a plurality of openings, said frame for accommodating on one
side thereof an
electrical box about each opening and for accommodating on the other side
thereof a mud-ring
about each opening.
2. A bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein said floor stud includes a floor
track and wherein
said first end of said vertical bracket includes attachment fingers for
attaching said first end to
said floor track.
3. A bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein each end of said horizontal bracket
includes a
mounting surface for engagement with said spaced apart vertical studs.
4. A bracket assembly of claim 3 wherein each said mounting surface includes a
screw
aperture therethrough and wherein each said screw aperture has a mounting
screw captively
retained therein.
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5. A bracket assembly of claim 4 wherein each said mounting screw has a head
positioned
on one side of said mounting surface and a threaded shaft extending through
said screw aperture,
said threaded shaft having supported on the other side of said mounting
surface a washer element
to captively support said screw in said screw aperture.
6. A bracket assembly of claim 4 wherein said mounting screw is captively
retained within
said screw aperture by friction.
7. A bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein said frame includes a plurality of
mounting
apertures arranged about each of said plurality of openings said box mounting
apertures being
arranged to accommodate different size boxes.
8. A bracket assembly of claim 7 wherein said mounting apertures are key-hole
shaped
apertures.
9. A bracket assembly of claim 8 wherein said key-hole shaped apertures
included a wide
extent and a narrow extent, said wide extent being positioned vertically above
said narrow
extent.
10. A bracket assembly of claim 7 wherein said mounting apertures further
include recesses
formed within said frame opening, said recesses accommodating mounting
fasteners for
supporting said box and said mud-ring.

11. A bracket assembly for supporting an electric box comprising:
an elongate vertical bracket, said bracket having a first end for attachment
to a horizontal
floor track and an opposed upper end;
an elongated horizontal bracket affixed to said upper end of said vertical
bracket; said
horizontal bracket including one end for attachment to one vertical stud and
an opposed end for
attachment to another vertical stud spaced from said one stud;
each end of said horizontal bracket including a mounting surface for
engagement with
said spaced apart vertical studs and wherein each mounting surface includes a
screw aperture
therethrough and wherein each screw aperture has a mounting screw captively
retained therein.
12. A bracket assembly of claim 11 wherein each said mounting screw has a head
positioned
on one side of said mounting surface and a threaded shaft extending through
said screw aperture,
said threaded shaft having supported on the other side of said mounting
surface a washer element
to captively support said screw in said screw aperture.
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Description

CA 02678902 2011-08-19
PREFABRICATED MOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
[00021 The present invention is directed generally to a mounting bracket
assembly which
supports an electrical box and/or a mud ring within a structural wall. More
particularly, the
present invention relates to a prefabricated T-shaped mounting bracket which
is affixed to a floor
track and to vertical studs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[00031 In order to install various electrical components such as outlets,
switches and the
like which are used for power, telecommunications and data, boxes, housings or
frames are
typically used to support the device. One traditional method of mounting such
boxes and frames
is to mount these devices directly to the wall studs which support the wall
board.
[00041 While this technique adequately serves to support the electrical
devices, there are
certain distinct disadvantages. Since the boxes and frames must be mounted to
the studs, it limits
the locations where such devices can be supported, inasmuch as the devices
must be supported
adjacent the wall studs. -Moreover, since these devices can be mounted
vertically along the stud
at any location, the installer must precisely measure and locate these devices
to assure

CA 02678902 2009-09-17
consistency with respect to the height of installation of these devices, as
well as compliance with
applicable codes and specifications.
[00051 In situations where it is desirous to mount boxes and frames some
distance from
the stud, a bracket is often used. The brackets take two basic different
forms. The first is a
horizontally mounted bracket which generally mounts to two spaced apart
vertical studs. The
other type of bracket is a vertical bracket which is mounted to a floor stud
and extends upwardly.
[0006] As can be appreciated, the horizontal bracket suffers from the problem
that its
height from the floor still must be accurately measured to assure consistency.
Vertical brackets
suffer from the problem that since it is mounted at one end in a cantilevered
fashion, securement
of the box or bracket is not always assured.
100071 It is desirable, therefore, to provide an improved bracket assembly
which
overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
100081 The present invention provides a bracket assembly for supporting an
electrical
box. The bracket assembly includes an elongate vertical bracket having a first
end for
attachment to a horizontal floor stud and an opposed upper end. An elongate
horizontal bracket
is affixed to the upper end of the vertical bracket. The horizontal bracket
includes one end for
attachment to one vertical stud and an opposed end for attachment to another
vertical stud spaced
from the one stud. The horizontal bracket defines a frame including a
plurality of openings. The

CA 02678902 2009-09-17
frame is positioned to accommodate on one side thereof an electrical box about
each opening and
for accommodating on the other side thereof a mud ring about each opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
[0009] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the mounting bracket assembly
of the
present invention shown secured to a floor track and wall studs.
[0010] Figures 3 and 4 are perspective showings of the mounting bracket
assembly of the
present invention supporting an electrical box.
[0011] Figures 5 and 6 show the mounting bracket assembly of the present
invention
supporting an electrical box and a mud ring.
[0012] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mounting bracket
assembly of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
[0013] The present invention is designed to support an electrical box and/or
mud ring
within a structural wall. The bracket assembly of the present invention is
designed for "new
work" projects where the box and mud ring are installed prior to placement of
the wall board.
[0014] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a mounting bracket assembly 10 of the
present
invention is shown. The mounting bracket assembly 10 is designed to be affixed
to structural
3

CA 02678902 2009-09-17
components which support the wall board (not shown) in residential and
commercial
construction. In particular, the mounting bracket assembly 10 of the present
invention is
designed to be supported to a floor track 12 which extends horizontally and is
secured to a floor
and to spaced apart vertical wall studs 14 and 16 which extend upwardly from
floor track 12.
While the present invention is shown primarily for use with U-shaped metallic
track type studs, it
may be appreciated that the present invention may be employed with any type of
structural studs
including wood studs.
[00151 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a mounting bracket assembly 10 has
generally a T-
shaped construction including a vertical bracket 20 which is affixed at its
upper end 22 to a
horizontal bracket 24 at a central location 26 thereof to form the T-shaped
configuration.
Vertical bracket 22 may be affixed to the horizontal bracket 24 by a wide
variety of techniques
including use of mechanical fasteners, welding or any other technique which
would permanently
affix the components. It is also contemplated that the horizontal and vertical
bracket could be
formed as an integral unit.
[00161 The vertical bracket 20 includes at its lower end 28 a plurality of
attachment
fingers 30. Attachment fingers 30 include a pair of spaced apart rear
attachment fingers 30a and
a central forward attachment finger 30b. The attachment fingers are slightly
spaced apart in a
depth-wise fashion so as to permit insertion of an upwardly extending edge 12a
of floor track 12
thereinto.
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[0017] The vertical bracket 20 has a length which is selected so that when the
horizontal
bracket 24 is positioned thereover the electrical box or boxes which are
attached to the horizontal
bracket will be positioned at the appropriate height from the floor. Different
length vertical
brackets may be provided to accommodate different desirable positions of the
electrical box.
[0018] The horizontal bracket 24 is selected to have a length which spans the
space
between upwardly extending spaced apart vertical wall studs 14 and 16.
Different length
horizontal brackets may be provided to accommodate different spacings between
the vertical
wall studs.
[0019] Referring additionally to Figures 3 and 4, the horizontal bracket 24
includes a
plurality of horizontally spaced openings 33 which accommodate an electrical
box 32 mounted
to the rear surface 34 thereof. Box 32 may be a conventional rectangular
outlet box having a box
interior 32a which is generally coextensive with opening 30 when the box is
positioned on the
horizontal bracket 24. Use of other box configurations is within the
contemplation of the present
invention.
[0020] Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the horizontal bracket 24 is shown
also
supporting a mud ring 40 adjacent a front surface 36 thereof which is opposite
rear surface 34.
The mud ring 40 is also a conventional structure which is well known in the
art. The mud ring
40 has a central opening 43 and an attached flange 45 on either side of
opening 43. The
attached flanges 45 include slotted channels 42 for mounting the mud ring 40
to bracket 24 as

CA 02678902 2009-09-17
will be described hereinbelow. The mud ring 40 is used to provide the proper
opening and for
mounting electrical fixtures, covers and the like once the wall board is
placed on the studs.
[00211 The mounting of box electrical box 32 and mud ring 40 will be described
in
further detail hereinbelow with respect to Figures 5-7.
[00221 The horizontal bracket 24 is affixed to spaced apart studs 14 and 16 by
providing
a mounting surface 50 at each distal end thereof. Mounting surfaces 50 are
designed to be
supported against the front face 14a, 16a of vertical studs 14 and 16.
[00231 With additional reference to Figure 7, the securement of horizontal
bracket 24 to
studs 14 and 16 may be further shown. Mounting surfaces 50 each include a
central aperture 52
which accommodates a captive screw assembly 54. Captive screw assembly 54
includes a screw
56 and a washer/backer 58. The screw 56 includes a screw head 56a and a
threaded shaft 56b
where the shaft is inserted through the aperture 52. The washer/backer 58,
having an opening
58a, is inserted over the shaft 56b once the screw is inserted through the
aperture 52 to captively
retain the screw in the aperture 52. This opening 58a may be T-shaped, cross-
shaped or
otherwise. It may also be made of metal, plastic or a paper product.
Alternatively, aperture 52
on mounting surface 50 may be sized to secure screw 56 by friction such that
washer/backer 58
is optional. In this regard, the screw 56 will be self-captive in aperture 52
without need of the
washer/backer 58.
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[00241 It is contemplated that upon attachment of the horizontal bracket 24 to
studs 14
and 16, the screw 56 can then be screw inserted through the face of the
vertical stud as shown in
Figures 2, 4 and 6. During installation, the installer need not remove the
washer/backer 58 as the
screw can be driven into the face of the stud with the washer remaining in
place. The captive
screw assembly 54 greatly reduces the time to secure the bracket to the stud
and prevents loss of
the screw during installation.
[00251 With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 7, the mounting of the electrical
box to the
horizontal bracket 24 is shown. As is typical, the electrical box includes at
least a pair of
mounting screws 37 at diagonal corners of the box which are insertable into
tabs (not shown)
extending inwardly toward the box interior as is conventionally known. As
particularly shown in
Figure 7, the horizontal bracket 24 includes around each mounting opening 33
mounting
structure which supports the box to the bracket using the mounting screw 37 of
the box. In one
diagonal corner of opening 30, the bracket 24 includes a pair of vertically
and horizontally
spaced keyhole apertures 60. At the other diagonally opposite corner, the
bracket 24 includes a
pair of generally U-shaped recesses 70. As may be appreciated, the box 32 may
be attached to
the rear surface 34 of horizontal bracket 24 by inserting the heads of the
mounting screws 37
through the wider extent 60a of keyhole aperture 60. The screw 37 then drops
to the narrow
extent 60b thus providing support for the screw within the aperture 60.
Similarly, at the
diagonally opposite corner, the screw 57 would drop into one of the recesses
70 to support the
box 38 at that corner. Two spaced apart keyhole apertures 60 and mounting
recesses 70 are
provided so as to accommodate two different sized boxes.
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CA 02678902 2011-08-19
[00261 Once the box 32 is supported on bracket 24, the mud ring 40 may be
applied
thereto as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The mud ring 40 can be applied to the box
screws 37 in
conventional fashion using the slotted channels 42 of the mud ring to place
the mud ring over the
opening 33. As can be seen particularly in Figure 5, the box screws fit within
the slotted
channels 42 of mud ring 40. Thereafter, the screws 37 be tightened down
securing both the
mud ring 40 and the box 33 to the bracket.
[00271 Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would
now be
evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed
scope of the invention
is set forth in the following claims.
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Representative Drawing