Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
REPLACEMENT FASTENER FOR A JUNCTION BOX LID
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to replacement fastener for a junction box lid,
fastener kits and
methods of using the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A junction box houses electric connections and functions to protect the
connections and
provides a safety barrier. It must be easily accessible to allow for
maintenance activity. In
certain types of junction boxes, the cover/lid of the junction box is
removably fixed to the body of
the junction box by use of a series of screws which pass through holes in the
lid into threaded
channels in the body of junction box. Exposure to the elements outdoors can
result in
degradation of these attachments making these attachment points unusable. As
such, there is
a need in the art for replacement fasteners for junction box covers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a replacement fastener for a
junction box lid. In
accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastener for
a container having
a removable lid and a body having straight sides, said fastener comprising: a
bracket having a
first arm, a stem and a second arm in a Z or S shaped configuration, wherein
said second
comprises a hole sized to allow insertion of a threaded bolt; a threaded bolt
or screw; and a T or
L shaped element comprising an arm having a threaded channel sized to allow
for insertion of
said threaded bolt or screw and a threaded stem; wherein upon said use of said
fastener, said
bracket is attached to said T or L shaped element via said threaded bolt or
screw through said
hole in said second arm of said bracket; said first arm of said bracket
extends over said lid, and
wherein said threaded stem of said T or L shaped element is inserted in a hole
in the side of
said body of said container and secured using one or more securing means.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit
comprising one
components of a fastener for a container having a removable lid and a body
having straight
sides, said kit comprising: a bracket having a first arm, a stem and a second
arm in a Z or S
shaped configuration, wherein said second arm comprises a hole sized to allow
insertion of a
threaded bolt; a T or L shaped element comprising an arm having a threaded
channel sized to
allow for insertion of said threaded bolt or screw and a threaded stem;
optionally a threaded bolt
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or screw; and optionally securing means; and wherein upon said use of said
fastener, said
bracket is attached to said T or L shaped element via said threaded bolt or
screw through said
hole in said second arm of said bracket; said first arm of said bracket
extends over said lid, and
wherein said thread stem of said T or L shaped element is inserted in a hole
in the side of said
body of said container and secured using one or more securing means.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided, a
method of securing a
removable lid to a container having straight sides, comprising:
(a) obtaining a fastener comprising:
a bracket having a first arm, a stem and a second arm in a Z or S shaped
configuration, wherein said second arm comprises a hole sized to allow
insertion of a
threaded bolt or screw; said bracket reversibly connected to a T or L shaped
element via
a threaded bolt or screw; and
said T or L shaped element comprising an arm having a threaded channel sized
to allow for insertion of said threaded bolt or screw and a threaded stem;
(b) inserting said threaded stem of said T or L shaped element through a
hole in one side of
the container such that the end of the threaded stem distal to the arm is
inside the container,
wherein said hole is positioned near the lid edge;
(c) securing a fastening means to the end of the threaded stem inside the
container thereby
securing a first fastener to a first side of the container, and optionally
covering the fastening
means with a cap;
(d) repeating steps (a) to (c) to secure a second fastener to a second side
of the container,
wherein said second side is across from the first side;
(e) if necessary, loosening the thread bolt or screw on each fastener to
allow for the bracket
to be rotated out of the way of the container opening;
(f) if necessary, rotating the bracket on each fastener out of the way of
the container
opening;
(g) positioning the lid over the opening; and
(h) positioning the first arm of the bracket of each fastener in place over
the lid and
tightening the threaded bolt or screw in each fastener to secure each fastener
in place.
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In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method
of securing a
removable lid to a container having straight sides, comprising:
(a) obtaining a T or L shaped element;
said T or L shaped element comprising an arm having a threaded channel sized
to allow for insertion of said threaded bolt or screw and a threaded stem;
(b) inserting said threaded stem of said T or L shaped element through a
hole in one side of
the container such that the end of the threaded stem distal to the arm is
inside the container,
wherein said hole is positioned near the lid edge;
(c) securing a fastening means to the end of the threaded stem inside the
container thereby
securing a first fastener to a first side of the container, and optionally
covering the fastening
means with a cap;
(d) repeating steps (a) to (c) to secure a second T or L shaped element to
a second side of
the container, wherein said second side is across from the first side;
(e) attaching a bracket to each of said T shaped elements with a threaded
bolt or screw;
wherein each of said brackets comprises a first arm, a stem and a second arm
in
a Z or S shaped configuration, and
wherein said second arm comprises a hole sized to allow insertion of said
threaded bolt or screw;
(f) if necessary, rotating the bracket on each fastener out of the way of
the container
opening;
(g) positioning the lid over the opening; and
(h) positioning the first arm of the bracket of each fastener in place over
the lid and
tightening the threaded bolt or screw in each fastener to secure each fastener
in place.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 provides a view of a degraded channel in the body of junction box.
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Figure 2 provides a view of two assembled fasteners of the embodiments
invention. In the
embodiment on the right side an optional second nut (30) is shown.
Figure 3 provides a front view of a rail junction box with the lid affixed
using an embodiment of
the fastener of the invention. The original attachment points (200) are
visible in the top and
bottom portions of the lid.
Figure 4 provides a front view of a rail junction box with the lid removed and
an embodiment of
the fastener of the invention attached to the body of the junction box.
Figure 5 provides a partial view of a rail junction box without the lid and
details an embodiment
of the fastener of the invention.
Figure 6 provides a partial view of a rail junction box with the lid and
details an embodiment of
the fastener of the invention.
Figure 7 provides a view of two assembled fastener of one embodiment of the
invention,
showing L shaped element.
Figure 8 provides a view of the bracket and T shaped element of an embodiment
of the fastener
of the invention.
Figure 9 provides an alternative view of the bracket and T shaped element of
an embodiment of
the fastener of the invention.
Figure 10 provides a view of a washer for use in an embodiment of the fastener
of the invention.
Figure 11 provides an illustration of an optional cover (43) for nut.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention provides fasteners for junction boxes. In certain
embodiments, the
fasteners are used as replacement fasteners when the original attachment
points are unusable.
Also provided are methods of using the fasteners, fastener kits and components
of the fastener.
Fastener
The present invention provides a fastener (100) for securing a removable lid
to a container
having straight sides. The container may be but is not limited to a junction
box such as rail
junction box. The fastener comprises a bracket (10), a T or L shaped element
(20), a threaded
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bolt or screw (30) and optionally a securing means (40). The securing means
optionally
comprises one or more nuts (42) and one or more washers (41).
Referring to the figures, the bracket (10) comprises a first arm (11), a stem
(12) and a second
arm (13) in a Z or S shaped configuration. In use, the first arm extends over
the lid and must be
of sufficient length to clamp the lid in place on the container. Optionally,
the first arm includes a
hole to allow for insertion of a screw into the lid of the container. In use,
the stem extends along
the side of the container and/or lip of the lid and must be of sufficient
depth to allow for
attachment of the bracket to the side of the container using the T or L
element (20) and bolt,
threaded bolt or screw (30). The second arm includes a hole (14) sized to
allow for the insertion
of a threaded bolt or screw (30) which attaches the T or L shaped element of
the fastener to the
bracket. The second arm (13) and location of hole (14) in second arm is such
that it allows for
attachment of the T or L element to the second arm of the bracket to the side
of the container
through a hole. The bracket may be constructed out of any appropriate
materials known in the
art. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that brackets for use in
fasteners exposed to
outdoor elements (such as rail junction box fasteners) should be constructed
from weather
resistant materials such as aluminum. The bracket (10) is attached to a T or L
shaped element
(20) with a threaded bolt or screw (30). Optionally, one or more washer(s)
(31) and/or one or
more nut(s) (32) are used when attaching the bracket to the T or L shaped
element. The thread
bolt or screw (30) may be constructed out of various materials and if
necessary weather
resistant materials such as aluminum. The T or L shaped element (20) comprises
an arm
having a threaded channel (21) sized to allow for insertion of the threaded
bolt or screw (30)
and a stem, optionally a threaded stem (22). The T or L shaped element may be
constructed
out of various materials and if necessary weather resistant materials such as
aluminum. In
specific embodiments, the T or L shaped element is constructed from a threaded
rod with a
coupling nut welded to the end. In alternative embodiments, the T or L shaped
element are
formed as a unitary structure, optionally molded. The stem (22) of the T or L
shaped element
(20) is for insertion into a hole in the side of the body of the container and
is secured with one or
more securing means (40) including but not limited to nuts (41) or nuts and
washers (42) or
clamps. The nuts and washers may be constructed out of various materials and
if necessary
weather resistant materials such as aluminum. The washers may be also
constructed out of
neoprene.
In a specific embodiment the following materials are used in the fastener:
= Brackets.
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= T shaped elements constructed from a 5/16" coupling nut / 1" long and
1/2" treaded rod
welded together.
= 5/16" bolts / 1 1/2" long.
= 5/16" lock nuts.
= 5/16" washers.
= 5/16" 1/4" set screw ring.
= 1/2" lock nuts.
= 1/2" washers.
= 1/2" rubber washers.
= 1/2" lock nut nylon caps.
In one embodiment, the "5/16" coupling nut welded to a 1/2" treaded shaft" is
replaced with 1"
shaft diameter shaft, machined down to 1/2" treaded shaft. The 1" diameter
area is 3/4" long
and has a 5/16" treaded hole inside. The 1/2" treaded area is 2/12" long. The
shaft total length
for this embodiment is 3 1/4".
Kits
The present invention also provides kits for use in fastening a removable lid
a container. The
kits may include the components of one or more fasteners. In certain
embodiments, the kits
comprise all the components for one or more fasteners. The components may be
in an
assembled form or as unassembled components. In other embodiments, the kit
components
are limited to the bracket and T or L shaped element of one or more fasteners.
In other
embodiments, the kit components comprise the bracket, T or L shaped element
and threaded
bolt or screw for one or more fasteners. Optionally, instructions for use are
provided. In further
embodiments, each component is sold separately.
In specific embodiments, the kits comprise one or more of the following
elements:
In a specific embodiment the following materials are used in the fastener:
= Brackets.
= T shaped elements constructed from a 5/16" coupling nut / 1" long and
1/2" treaded rod
welded together.
= 5/16" bolts / 1 1/2" long.
= 5/16" lock nuts.
= 5/16" washers.
= 5/161/4" set screw ring.
= 1/2" lock nuts.
= 1/2" washers.
= 1/2" rubber washers.
= 1/2" lock nut nylon caps.
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Methods of Using Fastener
The present invention also provides methods of using the fasteners to secure a
removable lid to
a container. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods of
using the
fasteners to secure a lid to a junction box, such as a rail junction box. In
specific embodiments,
the fasteners are used as a replacement attachment means, for example when
exposure to the
elements has rendered the original attachment means unusable. The methods of
using the
fastener may, if necessary, include removal of the lid and/or drilling hole(s)
in one or more sides
of the box near the lid edge.
A sufficient number of fasteners are provided to secure the lid to the
container. In certain
embodiments, two fasteners are provided (e.g. a fastener on two opposite sides
of a four-sided
container). In other embodiments, four fasteners are provided (e.g. a fastener
for each side of a
four-sided box). The fasteners may be provided as individual components sold
separately, in kit
form.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of
securing a
removable lid to a container having straight sides comprising the following
steps:
(a) Obtain a partially assembled fastener of the invention. The partially
assembled fastener
comprises a bracket connected to a T or L shaped element via a threaded bolt
or screw.
(b) Insert the stem of said T or L shaped element through a hole in one
side of the container
such that the end of the stem distal to the arm is inside the container.
(c) Secure a fastening means to the end of the stem inside the container
thereby securing a
first fastener to a first side of the container, and optionally covering the
fastening means with a
cap.
(d) Repeat steps (a) to (c) to secure at least one more fastener to another
side. If only
using two fasteners, the fasteners are secured to opposite sides.
(e) If necessary, the thread bolt or screw on each fastener is loosened to
allow for the
bracket to be rotated out of the way of the container opening.
(f) If necessary, the bracket on each fastener is rotated out of the way of
the container
opening;
(g) The lid is positioned over the opening;
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(h) The first arm of the bracket of each fastener in place over the lid and
the threaded bolt or
screw in each fastener is tightened to secure each fastener in place.
In certain embodiments, disassembled components of the fastener of the
invention are used in
a method of securing a removable lid to a container having straight sides. The
method
comprising:
(a) Insert the stem of the T or L shaped element of the invention through a
hole in one side
of the container such that the end of the stem distal to the arm is inside the
container
(b) Secure a fastening means to the end of the stem inside the container
thereby securing a
first fastener to a first side of the container, and optionally covering the
fastening means with a
cap.
(c) Repeat the above steps to secure each additional T or L shaped element
used.
(d) Attach a bracket to each of the T or L shaped elements with a threaded
bolt or screw.
(e) If necessary, the bracket on each fastener out of the way of the
container opening;
(f) The lid is positioned over the opening. This step can be done prior to
attaching the
brackets to the T or L shaped elements.
(g) The first arm of the bracket of each fastener is positioned in place
over the lid and the
threaded bolt or screw in each fastener is tightened to secure each fastener
in place.
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