IP Library Granted Patent US 8,445,778
Granted Patent B2
US 8,445,778 · App. 13/160,745 · Granted May 21, 2013

Cable entry device for wiring boxes

Inventors: Daniel Emerson Merritt (Apex, NC); Chandrakanthtrao Gireeshrao (Cary, NC); Jeffrey Francis Kane (Worcester, MA); Robert Alan Krosky (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: Sigma Electric Manufacturing Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,445,778
App. No.
13/160,745
Granted
May 21, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a wiring box. The wiring box can include: a cavity formed by walls having an internal surface inside the cavity and an external surface; and a cable entry device disposed through a hole in a first wall of the walls. The cable entry device can include: a support element that retains a grommet in the hole, wherein the support element includes a stop, a grip extending from the stop, and shutters extending from the stop and defining an opening, wherein the opening converges away from the stop, the grip attaches the support element to the first wall, and wherein the grommet includes a rim, a sidewall extending from the rim and converging toward a diaphragm.

Claims (26)

1. A wiring box, comprising

a cavity formed by a plurality of walls having an internal surface inside the cavity and an external surface, wherein the walls comprise a first side, a second side, a top side, a bottom side, and a rear wall; and

a cable entry device disposed through a hole in any one of the walls, wherein the cable entry device comprises

a support element that retains a grommet in the hole;

wherein the support element comprises a flange, a grip extending from the flange, and shutters extending from the flange and defining an opening, wherein the opening converges away from the flange, the grip attaches the support element to any one of the walls, wherein the grip comprises a detent; and

wherein the grommet comprises a rim, a sidewall extending from the rim and converging toward a diaphragm; and

wherein a size and a shape of the cable entry device is based upon a size and a shape of the hole.

2. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the side wall is located around the shutters such that the rim is located between the flange and at least one of the walls of the cavity.

3. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the flange extends away from the cavity and engages the external surface of any one of the walls.

4. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm comprises perforations or a slit.

5. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the grip extends through the rim, into the cavity, and engages the internal surface of any one of the walls.

6. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the shutters further comprise a protrusion extending toward the cavity.

7. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is puncturable.

8. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the detent extends from the flange through the hole, and a tab extending from the detent away from the opening so as to engage the interior surface of any one of the walls.

9. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the grommet is formed from an elastomeric material and the supporting element is formed from a plastic.

10. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the cable entry device is removable.

11. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein the grommet and supporting element are a unitary molded piece.

12. The wiring box of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side, the second side, the top side, and the bottom side comprises a sloped surface extending from the rear wall to a perpendicular surface, and wherein the cable entry device is disposed in the sloped surface.

13. The wiring box of claim 1 , further comprising a connector extending from any one of the walls, wherein the connector comprises an attachment element located in a channel extending through the connector.

14. The wiring box of claim 1 , comprising multiple cable entry devices in at least two of the walls that oppose each other.

15. A cable entry device, comprising:

a support element and a grommet;

wherein the support element comprises a flange, a grip extending from the flange, and shutters extending from the flange and defining an opening, wherein the opening converges away from the flange; and

wherein the grommet comprises a sidewall extending from a rim and surrounding the shutters, wherein the sidewall converging toward a diaphragm; and

wherein the grip comprises a detent; and

wherein the cable entry device is configured to be used in a hole in a wiring box, wherein the wiring box has a plurality of walls comprising a first side, a second side, a top side, a bottom side, and a rear wall and wherein a size and a shape of the cable entry device is based upon a size and a shape of the hole.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044002/0214 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2017
From: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043998/0093 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040007/0722 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 040007/0385 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2014
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (AS SUCCESSOR TO RBC BANK (USA))
To: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032883/0282 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2014
From: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 032883/0349 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2011
From: MERRITT, DANIEL EMERSON; GIREESHRAO, CHANDRAKANTHTRAO; KANE, JEFFREY FRANCIS; KROSKY, ROBERT ALAN
To: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026990/0253 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61355396 · Jun 16, 2010
Related Publication 20110308832A1 · Dec 22, 2011