Abstract:
An electrical box assembly includes an electrical box and a bracket. The electrical box includes a plurality of walls, one of the walls including at least one hole for receiving a conduit. The bracket includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is coupled to the electrical box, and the second portion includes at least one finger for extending at least partially around and gripping an outer surface of the conduit. The second portion is pivotable relative to the first portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior-filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/216,761, filed Sep. 10, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to electrical boxes and particularly to electrical boxes for housing electrical power and/or low voltage (data, multi-media, A/V &amp; communications) devices. 
         [0003]    Conventional electrical boxes for routing electrical power and communication conduit are often used in commercial buildings and the like. In some circumstances, a conduit is inserted into the box and extends out of the box at an angle. The weight of the conduit or other forces may bend or pull the conduit. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, an electrical box assembly includes an electrical box and a bracket. The electrical box includes a plurality of walls, one of the walls including at least one hole for receiving a conduit. The bracket includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is coupled to the electrical box, and the second portion includes at least one finger for extending at least partially around and gripping an outer surface of the conduit. The second portion is pivotable relative to the first portion. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, a support bracket is provided for an electrical box. The electrical box includes a first wall including a hole receiving a conduit. The support bracket includes a first end configured to be coupled to the electrical box, and a second end including a finger for engaging the conduit. The second end is pivotable relative to the first end. 
         [0006]    In yet another aspect, a method is provided for securing a conduit relative to an electrical box. The electrical box includes an opening and a support bracket having a first end coupled to the electrical box. The method includes: inserting an end of the conduit into the opening; pivoting a second portion of the support bracket relative to a first end that is coupled to the electrical box; and engaging the conduit with the second portion of the support bracket. 
         [0007]    Other aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical box with a support bracket in a collapsed position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the electrical box of  FIG. 1  coupled to a wall support. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the support bracket. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the support bracket. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the support bracket. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the support bracket. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the electrical box of  FIG. 2  with inserts removed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the electrical box of  FIG. 7  with conduit ends extending into the box. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the electrical box of  FIG. 8  with the support bracket pivoted to an open position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the electrical box of  FIG. 9  with tabs in a folded position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates the electrical box with the support bracket in an open position. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
         [0020]    Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. 
         [0021]    As used herein “substantially”, “generally”, and other words of degree, are used as a relative modifier intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic, which it modifies but rather approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an electrical box  10 , which may be coupled to a wall support or stud  14  ( FIG. 2 ), for example by fasteners  16  ( FIG. 2 ). In other embodiments, the electrical box  10  may be supported on a bracket or other structure. The box  10  has a generally rectangular shape and includes side walls  18 , an upper wall  22 , a lower wall  26 , a rear wall  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the walls  18 ,  22 ,  26 , and  30  form a partially enclosed portion having an open front. The box  10  may support one or more electrical devices (not shown), and receives wires or conduits  34  ( FIG. 8 ). In the illustrated embodiment, each side wall  18  includes a mounting bracket  36 , and the upper wall  22  includes a pair of holes  38 . A pry-out or insert  42  is positioned within each hole  38 , and each insert  42  includes a slot to receive a tool (e.g., a blade of a screwdriver). In other embodiments, the brackets  36  and holes  38  may be positioned on different walls of the box  10 . In addition, the walls  18 ,  22 ,  26 ,  30  of the electrical box  10  may include one or more removable knockout portions. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a support bracket  50  is coupled to the box  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the support bracket  50  includes a first end portion  54 , a second end portion  58 , and an intermediate portion  62  between the first portion  54  and the second portion  58 . The support bracket  50  is shown in  FIG. 2  in an initial or stowed or collapsed position such that the second portion  58  is positioned substantially within the box  10 . This position may facilitate easier shipping of the assembled box  10  and bracket  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first end portion  54  is secured to the upper wall  22 , for example, by a clamp screw or other fastener  66  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), and the intermediate portion  62  and second portion  58  are bent partially around the upper wall  22  and inwardly through the open front of the box  10 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3-6  illustrate the support bracket  50  in an initial state. The support bracket  50  includes an elongated slot  70  positioned between the first portion  54  and the intermediate portion  62  to facilitate bending therebetween. Stated another way, when a moment is applied on the support bracket  50  to move the second portion  58  out of the enclosed portion of the box  10 , the intermediate portion  62  bends relative to first end portion  54  along the elongated slot  70  (or at least along a bend line that is substantially parallel to the elongated slot  70 ). 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second portion  58  includes a pair of hook-shaped fingers  74  positioned on each side of the support bracket  50 . An end of each finger  74  curves inwardly from the side edge of the support bracket  50  towards a centerline, such that the ends of the fingers  74  are oriented toward each other. In addition, a first tab  78  is positioned between the fingers  74 . In the initial position shown in  FIG. 3 , the fingers  74  are also bent out of plane with the intermediate portion  62  (that is, oriented at an angle relative to the intermediate portion  62 ), and the first tab  78  is aligned in the same plane as the intermediate portion  62 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first portion  54  is initially coplanar with a portion of the intermediate portion  62 . The first portion  54  also includes a formation (e.g., protrusions  80 ) for receiving the fastener  66  to secure the bracket  50  to the box  10 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the intermediate portion  62  includes a bend  82  and a hole  86  positioned on the bend  82 . The intermediate portion  62  further includes an opening  90  and a second tab  94  extending into the opening. In the initial state, the second tab  94  is oriented in the same plane as the intermediate portion  62 . In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate portion  62  also includes a boss or depression  96  for increasing the rigidity of the intermediate portion  62 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 7-10  illustrate the process for deploying or positioning the support bracket  50  to engage the wire conduits  34 . First, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the inserts  42  ( FIG. 2 ) are removed from the holes  38 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a moment is applied to the support bracket  50  such that the intermediate portion  62  pivots or bends relative to the first end portion  54  along the elongated slot  70 . The intermediate portion  62  is partially pivoted so that the second portion  58  is not positioned within the box  10 . The ends of the conduits  34  are then inserted into each of the holes  38 . In some embodiments, a retention mechanism  102  for securing the ends of the conduits  34  relative to the box  10  is included. The sheath or cover of the conduits  34  may be gripped proximate the wall  22 , and the wires  40  extend into the box  10 . In one embodiment, the upper wall  22  includes a retention mechanism for securing the ends of the conduits  34  relative to the box  10 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the intermediate portion  62  is pivoted further about the slot  70  until the second end portion  58  engages the conduits  38 . In particular, each of the fingers  74  wrap at least partially around one of the conduits  38  and contact or engage the outer surface of the conduits  38 . Finally, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the first tab  78  and the second tab  94  are pivoted relative to the intermediate portion  62  to bias the conduits  38  away from one another and into engagement with the fingers  74 , thereby locking or securing the conduits  38 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first tab  78  is pivoted in a first direction relative to the intermediate portion  62  so that the first tab  78  is oriented in a plane that is substantially parallel to the fingers  74 . The second tab  94  is pivoted relative to the intermediate portion  62  in a second direction opposite the first direction. The hole  86  proximate the bend  82  provides a clearance slot for a screwdriver or other tool to engage and remove the fastener  66  in order to remove the support bracket  50  from the box  10  (e.g., for disassembly or servicing). 
         [0030]    In the deployed or open position ( FIG. 11 ), the support bracket  50  engages the conduits  34  and maintains the conduits  34  at a desired position and/or angle relative to the electrical box  10 . The support bracket  50  supports the weight of the conduits  34 , preventing the conduits  34  from sagging or creating stress on the wires  40 . 
         [0031]    It would be understood that a device or method incorporating any of the additional or alternative details mentioned above would fall within the scope of the disclosure as determined based upon the claims below and any equivalents thereof. 
         [0032]    Other aspects, objects and advantages of the disclosure can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. Although certain embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects as described.