Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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STUD BRACKET
BACKGROUND
In the art of electrical wiring box arrangements, a stud bracket is a part used
in conjunction with an electrical wiring box to connect it to an adjacent stud. It is
generally used with elongated metal studs made of a light gauge metal and of thetype having a central web portion and two opposite flanges.
Unlike wood studs, it is difficult to directly connect an electrical wiring box to
a metal stud by using fasteners inserted according to an oblique path with reference
to the surface of the metal stud. A stud bracket is then connected on the side of an
electrical wiring box and used as a side extension to allow fasteners, usually screws,
to be inserted at right angle with reference to the metal stud. It features deformable
sections that allow the electrical wiring box to be secured to the metal stud before the
insertion of the screws or in substitution thereof. One drawback of conventional stud
brackets is that the electrical wiring box would not hold to the adjacent metal stud
unless the installer uses a tool, such as pliers or the like, to crimp the sides of the
bracket. As a result, whenever screws are used, the installer has to use a crimping
tool to hold the electrical wiring box in place or use one hand prior to the insertion of
the first screw. Another drawback is that it is diffficult to align the electrical wiring box
in an offset position with the door frame during its installation because no suitable
positioning guide is provided.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides an improved stud bracket which features a
simple and versatile design that avoids the drawbacks associated with the
conventional stud brackets.
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The stud bracket according to the present invention is used for mounting an
electrical wiring box on a stud. It is made of a single sheet of a hand-deformable
material and comprises a first leg portion having a first edge and a second edgeopposite the first edge. The first leg portion comprises an initially flat main section
and a lateral strip delimited by two opposite cuts originating from the first edge and
having an end integral with the main section. The stud bracket further comprises a
second leg portion that is initially projecting at substantially right angle from the
second edge of the first leg portion. The second leg portion comprises an initially flat
outer section and an inner strip surrounded by the outer section and initially flat and
coplanar therewith. The inner strip is delimited by a continuous cut leaving only an
end of the inner strip, opposite the second edge of the first leg portion, integral with
the outer section.
A non restrictive description of preferred embodiments will now be given with
reference to the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stud bracket according to a possible
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an electrical wiring box with the bracket
of FIG. 1, shown when mounted on the side of a metal stud.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the electrical wiring box and the bracket
shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the electrical wiring box and the
bracket mounted on a smaller metal stud.
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an electrical wiring box and the bracket ofFIG. 1, shown when mounted on the open side of the metal stud.
FIG. 6 is an upper view of the electrical wiring box, the bracket and the stud
shown in FIG. 5.
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FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of an electrical wiring box and the bracket in an offset position.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE COMPONENTS
The following is a list of the reference numerals, along with the names of the
corresponding components, that are used in the appended drawings and in the
description.
stud bracket
12 electrical wiring box
14 side walls
16 rear wall
18 front opening
stud
22 central web portion
24 flanges (of the stud)
26 first leg portion
28 first edge (of the first leg portion)
second edge (of the first edge portion)
32 flat main section
34 lateral strip
36 two opposite cuts
38 end (of the lateral strip)
curved free end (of the lateral strip)
41 opening (of the lateral strip)
42 second leg portion
44 flat outer section (of the second leg portion)
46 oblong openings (of the outer section)
48 tabs
inner strip (of the second leg portion)
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51 oblong openings (of the inner strip)
52 continuous cut
54 end (of the inner strip)
56 fastener-receiving holes
58 fasteners
DESCRIPTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a stud bracket (10) according to a
possible embodiment of the present invention. The bracket (10) is adapted to be
connected on the side of a conventional electrical wiring box (12), such as the one
shown in FIGS. 2 to 7. The electrical wiring box (12) is usually made of metal,
although other materials such as plastic are also suitable. It basically comprises four
side walls (14) and a rear wall (16). Each side wall (14) is connected to an adjacent
side wall (14) and to the rear wall (16) for defining a generally rectangular housing
having a front opening (18).
The bracket (10) is connected to the electrical wiring box (12) with
conventional means, such as screws, rivets, spot welding, etc. It is primarily used for
mounting the electrical wiring box on an elongated metal stud (20) made of a light
gauge metal and of the type having a central web portion (22) and two opposite
flanges (24). It is also possible to mount the electrical wiring box (12) on a wood stud
or on any suitable structure.
The bracket (10) is made of a single sheet of a hand-deformable material,
such as light gauge galvanized steel. The bracket (10) comprises a first leg portion
(26) and a second leg portion (42), which are initially provided in an L-shaped
configuration. The first leg portion (26) is delimited by a first edge (28) and a second
edge (30) opposite the first edge (28). The second leg portion (42) is initiallyprojecting at a substantially right angle from the second edge (30) of the first leg
portion (26).
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The first leg portion (26) comprises an initially flat main section (32) and a
lateral strip (34). The lateral strip (34) is delimited by two opposite cuts (36), each
preferably of about 0.5 inch, originating from a first edge (28) of the first leg portion
(26) and having an end (38) integral with the main section (32). Preferably, the lateral
strip (34) comprises a curved free end (40), opposite the end (38) integral with the
main section (32) and a substantially rectangular central opening.
The second leg portion (42) of the bracket (10) comprises an initially flat outer
section (44) and an inner strip (50). The second leg portion (42) is preferably longer
than the first leg portion (26). The inner strip (50) is surrounded by the outer section
(44) and initially flat and coplanar therewith. The inner strip (50) is delimited by a
continuous cut (52) leaving only an end (54) of the inner strip (50), opposite the
second edge (28) of the first leg portion (26), integral with the outer section (44).
The outer section (44) of the second leg portion (42) comprises at least one
pair of oblong openings (46). The oblong openings (46) of each pair are aligned with
each other and located on a respective side of the outer section (44), each oblong
opening extending perpendicularly with reference to the inner strip (50). These
oblong openings (46) are used as a reference when deforming the outer section (44).
The spacing between the pairs of oblong openings (46) is preferably made in
accordance with the various widths of the studs (20). As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of
oblong openings (46) is aligned with the end (54) of the inner strip (50) that is integral
with the outer section (44). Preferably, the inner strip (50) also comprises oblong
holes (51). These oblong openings (51) are oriented longitudinally to facilitate the
crimping of the inner strip (50). However, they do not form a deforming path, like the
oblong openings (46) of the outer section (44).
As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the outer section (44) of the second leg
portion (42) comprises at least two pairs of tabs (48) projecting perpendicularly in a
direction parallel to the first leg portion. At least one of the pairs of tabs (48) is
adjacent to the second edge (30) of the first leg portion (26). The main function of the
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tabs (48) is to keep a small space between the web (22) of the stud (20) and thesecond leg portion (42) of the bracket (10) when they are side by side, such as in
FIGS. 2 to 5. It is further possible to provide tabs (48) with sharp ends (not shown),
allowing the tabs (48) to be inserted into wood studs.
The bracket (10) comprises a plurality of fastener-receiving holes (56). These
holes (58) are located in various locations, such as the main section (32), the outer
section (44) and the inner strip (50). FIGS. 5 to 7 show views of the bracket (10) with
fasteners (58), more particularly screws in the present case. The fasteners (58) are
used to secure firmly the bracket (10) on the stud (20).
In FIG. 7, the bracket (10) is secured in an offset position with reference to the
stud (20). In that case, the fasteners (58) are inserted through holes near the first
edge (28) of the first leg portion (28). The lateral strip (34) then acts as a positioning
guide.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in
detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes
and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit
of the present invention.
