IP Library Granted Patent US 7,078,616
Granted Patent B2
US 7,078,616 · App. 10/948,852 · Granted Jul 18, 2006

Floor box

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,078,616
App. No.
10/948,852
Granted
Jul 18, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A small round floor box installs through a two inch diameter hole in a floor to provide a small footprint that improves the appearance of the installation and makes it less obtrusive. The box accommodates a single power receptacle or data plugs that attach to mounting plates that snap connect within the box.

Claims (46)

1. A floor box comprising:

a tubular body having a top end and a peripheral wall;

a connector mounting plate receivable in said tubular body through said top end thereof;

cooperating latches and recesses on said peripheral wall of tubular body and said mounting plate for attaching said mounting plate within said tubular body in spaced relationship to said top end of said tubular body; and

said latches on said tubular body or said mounting plate being resilient for snap engagement with said recesses on said tubular body or said mounting plate.

2. The floor box of claim 1 wherein said tubular body has cover latches adjacent said top end thereof for attaching a flange ring to said tubular body.

3. The floor box of claim 1 wherein said latches are on said mounting plate and said recesses are in said peripheral wall of said tubular body and said recesses do not intersect said top end of said tubular body.

4. The floor box of claim 1 wherein said tubular body has a longitudinal axis and said latches extend generally parallel to said axis, said latches being resiliently bendable generally radially of said axis.

5. The floor box of claim 1 wherein said latches are on said mounting plate and said recesses are in said peripheral wail of said tubular body,

said tubular body having a longitudinal axis and an inner surface with an inner diameter, said latches having outwardly extending latch projections with a latch projection outer diameter greater than said inner diameter, said latch projections having cam surfaces engageable with said inner surface to bend said latches toward said axis when said mounting plate is inserted into said tubular body, and said latches being outwardly bendable to snap said projections into said recesses when said latch projections are aligned with said recesses.

6. A floor box comprising:

a generally cylindrical plastic tubular body configured for close reception through a circular hole having a diameter not greater than 2.25 inches;

said body having an upper end with a plurality of latches for attaching a circular flange to said body; and

said body having a top end and internal upwardly facing support shoulders longitudinally spaced from said top end for supporting a generally circular mounting plate thereon.

7. The flour box of claim 6 wherein said body has a peripheral wall with a plurality of latch receiving openings therethrough adjacent said top end for receiving latches n a mounting plate.

8. The floor box of claim 7 wherein said latch receiving openings bisect said support shoulders.

9. The floor box of claim 6 wherein said body has a plurality of inwardly extending longitudinal channels that terminate in spaced relationship to said top end to define said support shoulders.

10. A floor box comprising:

a tubular body having a top end and a peripheral wall;

a connector mounting plate receivable in said tubular body through said top end thereof;

cooperating latches and recesses on said peripheral wall of tubular body and said mounting plate for attaching said mounting plate within said tubular body in spaced relationship to said top end of said tubular body; and

said peripheral wall of tubular body having upwardly facing internal support shoulders engageable by said mounting plate.

11. A floor box comprising:

a tubular body having a top end and a peripheral wall;

a connector mounting plate receivable in said tubular body through said top end thereof;

cooperating latches and recesses on said peripheral wall of tubular body and said mounting plate for attaching said mounting plate within said tubular body in spaced relationship to said top end of said tubular body; and

said peripheral wall of said tubular body and said mounting plate having cooperating longitudinal alignment ribs and grooves for rotationally aligning said mounting plate within said tubular body.

12. The floor box of claim 11 wherein said longitudinal alignment ribs are on said peripheral wall of said tubular body and said grooves are in said mounting plate.

13. A floor box comprising:

a tubular body having a top end and a peripheral wall;

a connector mounting plate receivable in said tubular body through said top end thereof;

cooperating latches and recesses on said peripheral wall of tubular body and said mounting plate for attaching said mounting plate within said tubular body in spaced relationship to said top end of said tubular body; and

said tubular body having a generally cylindrical shape and said peripheral wall having a plurally of longitudinally extending circumferentially-spaced inwardly extending channels that provide upwardly facing shoulders within said tubular body spaced from said top end thereof for supporting said mounting plate thereon.

14. A floor box comprising:

a tubular body having a top end and a peripheral wall;

a connector mounting plate receivable in said tubular body through said top end thereof;

cooperating latches and recesses on said peripheral wall of tubular body and said mounting plate for attaching said mounting plate within said tubular body in spaced relationship to said top end of said tubular body;

said mounting plate having at least one opening therein for accommodating a data connector; and

said mounting plate having resilient mounting plate latches on opposite sides of said opening for attaching a data connector to said mounting plate.

15. A floor box comprising:

a generally cylindrical plastic tubular body configured for close reception through a circular hole;

said body having an upper end that is configured for attaching a circular flange to said body;

said body having a top end and internal upwardly facing support shoulders longitudinally spaced from said top end for supporting a generally circular mounting plate thereon; and

said body having a peripheral wall with a plurality of latch receiving openings therethrough adjacent said top end for receiving latches on the mounting plate.

16. The floor box of claim 15 wherein said latch receiving openings bisect said support shoulders.

17. The floor box of claim 15 wherein said body has a plurality of inwardly extending longitudinal channels that terminate in spaced relationship to said top end to define said support shoulders.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2014
From: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 032388/0428 →