Abstract:
A clip device fabricated from a single piece of spring material shaped to be inserted along the top of an electrical junction box and provide a simple replacement for a screw flange damaged by use/ware and unable to support a screw that connects a cover plate to the junction box.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/010,303 filed Jan. 7, 2008 which application is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the invention generally is home repair and maintenance devices. More specifically, it is related to repair of electrical junction boxes, and even more specifically it is a clip that when installed in a junction box replaces stripped threads that allow a box cover plate to be connected to and cover the exterior of an electrical junction box. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Junction boxes serve as the location to group spliced wires in household wiring, for locating switches, and for locating plugs (electrical receptacles). For safety as well as appearances, the open face of a junction box is commonly covered with a plate that is attached by a screw device from the plate to a receptacle opening in a flange piece located from the top surface of the receptacle box. 
         [0004]    The flange piece and associated receptacle opening commonly are fairly weak, structurally, and subject to failure under conditions of even moderate wear and tear. The result is that he cover plate cannot be secured to the junction box, leaving an unsightly opening in walls, and of more significance, leaving wires exposed and representing a potential shock hazard. 
         [0005]    The most obvious remedy is to replace the junction box, but this frequently requires significant damage to a wall, and associated expenses. In addition, it requires at least disconnecting and reconnecting wiring to remove and replace the junction box. Other suggestions have been made, but none represents a simple, minimally disruptive solution to replacing the screw receptacle. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A primary objective is a clip device that will replace the screw receptacle of a junction box. 
         [0007]    An additional objective is a clip device that will allow the use of the same or comparable plate when the screw receptacle is replaced. 
         [0008]    A still further objective is a clip device that can be installed with minimal damage to a wall. 
         [0009]    These and other objectives, goals, and purposes are satisfied by a clip device fabricated from a single piece of material, preferably with spring strength in which the length of the material is divided into five parts: a tab lock end, a top piece, a face piece, a bottom piece, and a clamp grip end, wherein the single piece of material is fabricated such that the top piece and the bottom piece are essentially parallel and connected by the face piece, and the tab lock end terminates the top piece and the clamp grip end terminates the bottom piece, and further wherein spring forces are such that compressive forces tend to force the clamp grip end towards the junction of the top piece and tab lock, and still further in which the clip is installed by sliding the top piece over the top of a junction box and the bottom along the under surface of the top of a junction box, such that the face piece is at the edge of the open end of the junction box and a second screw receptacle opening in the face piece aligns with the first screw receptacle opening in the junction box, the tab lock is secured against the rear of the junction box, and the clamp grip ends are secured into the inner surface of the top of the junction box. 
         [0010]    Examination of the Drawings and review of the specification and appended claims reveal clearly how these and other goals, purposes and objectives are satisfied by the current invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows the linear arrangement of the parts of the clip on a single piece of material. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows the fabricated clip in profile view. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a junction box and how the clip device is positioned on it. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a clip device installed on a junction box with a plate positioned to be attached to the junction box. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates the clip device  101  as it is arranged on a single piece of spring material. The device comprises a tab lock  103  with length  127  and lip  104 , a top piece  105  with length  119 , a face piece  107  with length/height  121  and second screw receptacle  109  traversing the face piece, a bottom piece  111  with length  123 , and a clamp grip end  113  with length  125  and grip teeth  115 . Width  117  of the pieces is constant and is shown for the top piece. Lengths of the top piece  105 , bottom piece  111 , and face piece  107  are a direct function of the junction box to which the clip device is installed and varies from 2 inches to 6 inches or longer (5 cm to 15 cm), although such lengths do not constitute finite restrictions. The width varies from 0.25 to 1.00 inch, preferably about 0.50 inches (0.64 cm to 2.54 cm, preferably 1.28 cm). The device may be fabricated from durable Plastic but preferably with any spring material, such a light metal spring as understood by one skilled in the art and generally available commercially. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a profile view of the completed clip device  201 . Parts previously described in  FIG. 1  retain the same index number and descriptions are not repeated with respect to this  FIG. 2 . 
         [0017]    As fabricated ( FIG. 2 ), the various pieces have a common top surface  203  and bottom a surface  205 . The top piece  105  and bottom piece  111  extend from the face piece  107  and are effectively parallel in the horizontal plane. The tab lock  103  and the lip  104  are deflected downward (arc  207 ), and the grip end deflected inward (arc  209 ). The grip teeth  115  contact the inner surface  205  of the top piece  105  as a result of the compressive force of the spring material from which the device is fabricated. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a profile view of the clip device  201  positioned on a junction box  301 . The top piece  105  is positioned along the upper surface  303  of the junction box  301 , and the bottom piece is positioned along the interior surface  305  of the top  317  of the junction box  301 . The face plate  107  of the clip device  201  is aligned with the flange piece  307  of the junction box  301 , such that the first screw receptacle  309  and second screw receptacle  109  are aligned. The clip  201  is pushed/pressed, via face plate  107 , in a direction towards the first screw receptacle  309  until tab lock  103  can grip the back edge of the  319  of the junction box. The length  119  of the top piece  105  is determined by the length of the junction box  315  such that the tab lock  103  and lip  104  can grip the back edge of the  319  of the junction box. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is the top piece  105  is pressed towards the back edge  319  of the junction box  301 , the tab lock  103  by spring force snaps over the back edge  319  of the junction box  301  securing the clip device; as the spring force of the bottom peace  111 , bits the grip teeth  115  into the under surface of the junction box, completing the installation. 
         [0020]    As one skilled in the art recognizes, the clip device requires minimal to no destruction of wall material for full installation nor does it require disconnecting wiring, although safety demands that at least the affected circuit be turned off at an appropriate breaker point.