IP Library Granted Patent US 6,940,017
Granted Patent B2
US 6,940,017 · App. 10/832,157 · Granted Sep 6, 2005

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,940,017
App. No.
10/832,157
Granted
Sep 6, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical bracket for mounting an electrical device having a wall structure defining a front opening. In one embodiment, the bracket includes at least one breakaway mounting member which can be used to mount the bracket to a surface or be removed when the member is not needed. In another embodiment, the bracket includes at least one breakaway alignment member which can be used to align the bracket to a mountable surface or be removed when the member is not needed. The bracket can further be mounted to a surface in a plurality of orientations.

Claims (23)

1. An electrical bracket comprising:

a wall structure defining a front opening; and

at least one mounting member coupled to the wall structure for attaching the wall structure to a stud, the at least one mounting member being coupled to the wall structure along a weakened portion that is configured to be broken away from the wall structure with the application of a force sufficient to break the weakened portion.

2. The electrical bracket of claim 1 , further comprising an alignment member for aligning the wall structure on a stud, the alignment member having a weakened portion for breaking the alignment member away from the wall structure with the application of a force sufficient to break the weakened portion.

3. The electrical bracket of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting member comprises a tab that extends outwardly from the wall structure.

4. The electrical bracket of claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion comprises a plurality of perforations.

5. The electrical bracket of claim 1 , wherein the mounting member comprises at least one through hole for accepting a fastener.

6. The electrical bracket of claim 1 , further comprising an alignment member for aligning the wall structure relative to a surface, the alignment member having a weakened portion for breaking the alignment member away from the wall structure with the application of a force sufficient to break the weakened portion.

7. An electrical bracket comprising:

a wall structure defining a front opening; and

a first mounting member for mounting the wall structure to a stud in a first orientation, said first mounting member coupled to the wall structure of the bracket along a weakened portion that is positioned between the first mounting member and the wall structure, wherein the first mounting member is configured to be broken away from the wall structure of the bracket with the application of a force sufficient to break the weakened portion.

8. The electrical bracket of claim 7 , further comprising at least one second mounting member for mounting the wall structure to a stud in a second orientation.

9. The electrical bracket of claim 8 , wherein the second orientation is different from the first orientation.

10. The electrical bracket of claim 8 , further comprising an alignment member for aligning the wall structure against a stud.

11. The electrical bracket of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the second mounting member and the alignment member are coupled to the wall structure of the bracket along a weakened portion that is positioned between the respective member and the wall structure, with the respective member being configured to be broken away from the wall structure of the bracket with the application of a force sufficient to break the weakened portion.

12. The electrical bracket of claim 11 , wherein the weakened portion of the first mounting member comprises a plurality of perforations; and the weakened portion of the at least one of the second mounting member and alignment member comprises a plurality of perforations.

13. The electrical bracket of claim 7 , wherein the weakened portion comprises a plurality of perforations.

14. The electrical bracket of claim 7 , wherein the first mounting member comprises at least one through hole configured to accept a fastener for fastening the wall structure to a stud.

15. An electrical bracket comprising:

a wall structure defining a front opening; and

at least one alignment member coupled to the wall structure for aligning the wall structure to a mountable surface, the at least one alignment member being coupled to the wall structure along a weakened portion that is configured to be broken away from the wall structure with the application of a force sufficient to break the weakened portion.

16. The electrical bracket of claim 15 , further comprising at least one mounting member for coupling the wall structure to a surface.

17. The electrical bracket of claim 15 , further comprising at least one mounting member for coupling the wall structure to a stud.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2014
From: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 032388/0428 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2010
From: LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.
To: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 024812/0767 →
RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 31, 2009
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: LAMSON & SESSIONS CO., THE
Reel/Frame 023032/0688 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 9, 2007
From: LAMSON & SESSIONS CO., THE
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS SUCCESSOR TO HARRIS N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 018746/0451 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 1, 2005
From: LAMSON & SESSIONS CO., THE
To: HARRIS N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 016460/0320 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2004
From: ROESCH, MARK A.; REVLOCK, SR., DENNIS P.; CARTER, CHERYL RENEE
To: THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.
Reel/Frame 015270/0142 →