Abstract:
An electrical box including a peripheral wall defining an outer perimeter and having a first end opposite a second end along a central axis, a first opening in the first end, a second opening in the second end, a dividing wall located between the first opening and the second opening, and wherein the first opening is arranged to secure a first electrical device on a first side of a structural wall and the second opening is arranged to secure a second electrical device on a second side of the structural wall.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/366,086 entitled “CONFIGURABLE ELECTRICAL BOX” TO Shotey et al. which was filed on Feb. 5, 2009, the contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; this application also claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/248,337 entitled “MULTI-USE ELECTRICAL BOX” to Shotey et al. which was filed on Oct. 2, 2009, the contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Aspects of this document relate generally to electrical boxes. 
     2. Background Art 
     Electrical boxes are manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes. Electrical boxes may be rectangular with one, two, three, or more gangs, each arranged to receive an electrical device. Such conventional electrical boxes typically consist of a generally box-shaped structure that is mounted to a wall stud or other interior wall structure via one or more nails, screws, or other fastening devices. An electrical box is typically a one-piece structure and contains an opening for an electrical device or connector which is typically installed within the box after the box is mounted within a wall. If a homeowner desires electrical switches or outlets on both sides of a wall, the electrician will install a pair of electrical boxes with the openings facing opposite sides and merely offset from one another. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of this document relate to electrical boxes. In one aspect, an electrical box includes a peripheral wall defining an outer perimeter and having a first end opposite a second end along a central axis, a first opening in the first end, a second opening in the second end, a dividing wall located between the first opening and the second opening; and, wherein the first opening is arranged to secure a first electrical device on a first side of a structural wall and the second opening is arranged to secure a second electrical device on a second side of the structural wall. 
     Particular implementations may comprise one or more of the following features. The dividing wall may be located halfway between the first opening and the second opening. The dividing wall may at least partially define two chambers. The electrical box may include a plurality of cord clamps in the dividing wall. The plurality of cord clamps may allow communication between the two chambers. A portion of the plurality of cord clamps may permit electrical wire to feed in a first direction and another portion of the plurality of cord clamps may permit electrical wire to feed in a second direction opposite the first direction. The electrical box may further include a plurality of cord clamps in the peripheral wall. The plurality of cord clamps may be in a top portion and a bottom portion of the peripheral wall. 
     The electrical box may also include a pair of mounting apertures for securing the electrical box to the structural wall. The mounting apertures may be located on a top portion and a bottom portion of the peripheral wall and are angled with respect to the top and bottom portions. The peripheral wall may include a predetermined depth from the first opening to the second opening approximately equal to the structural wall thickness. The predetermined depth may be approximately 4.25 inches. The electrical box may further include electrical device mounting tabs integral with the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall may be composed of a metal or a plastic. The dividing wall may at least partially define a first chamber and a second chamber, and wherein the first chamber receives a high voltage supply and the second chamber receives a low voltage supply. 
     In another aspect, a system for providing access to electrical devices on two sides of a structural wall including a housing having a central passage therein and terminating in a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end, a central divider separating the first end and the second end, a first electrical device secured to the mounting tabs at the first end and extending into the first opening, and a second electrical device secured to the mounting tabs at the second end and extending into the second opening. 
     In particular implementations, the central divider may further include a plurality of cord clamps. The first electrical device may be electrically connected to the second electrical device through at least one of the plurality of cord clamps. The housing may further include a plurality of cord clamps. The housing may further include a pair of mounting apertures for securing the electrical box to the structural wall. 
     Aspects and applications of the disclosure presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventors&#39; intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims. 
     The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above. 
     The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical box; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an electrical box mounted to a structural wall and electrical devices secured therein; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an electrical box mounted to a structural wall and the electrical box peripheral wall removed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended operation and assembly procedures for an electrical box will become apparent for use with implementations of an electrical box from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular components are disclosed, such components and other implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such implementing components, consistent with the intended operation of an electrical box. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an electrical box  10  with a housing or peripheral wall  12 . Peripheral wall  12  includes a top portion  14 , a right portion  16 , a bottom portion  18 , and a left portion  20 . A divider  22  is located within peripheral wall  12  and combined define a first chamber  24  on a first side of divider  22  and a second chamber  26  on a second side of divider  22 . First chamber  24  extends forward from divider  22  and terminates at a front surface  28 , while second chamber  26  extends forward from divider  22  and terminates at a front surface  30 . Divider  22  may be located at a point halfway between front surface  28  and front surface  30  or any position there between. Further, divider  22  may be located along a central axis  32  of electrical box  10 . 
     Front surface  28  defines a first end and a first opening with electrical device mounting tabs  34  having holes  36 , while front surface  30  defines a second end and a first opening with electrical device mounting tabs and holes. Electrical box  10  may be mounted to a structural wall  38  at upper mounting aperture  40  and lower mounting aperture  42 . Specifically, the mounting apertures extend, respectively, from top portion  14  and bottom portion  18  at an angle and are offset by a spacer  44 . 
     A plurality of cord clamps  46  are located throughout electrical box  10  and are preferably located in top portion  14 , bottom portion  18 , and divider  22 . For example, four cord clamps  46  are located in each of the top portion, the bottom portion, and the divider in a particular implementation, although any suitable number of cord clamps may be utilized. Further, cord clamps  46  in top portion  14  and bottom portion  18  are biased to permit electrical wire to enter the first and second chambers from outside the electrical box but prevent the wire from traveling in the opposite direction. Divider  22  may have a pair of cord clamps permitting electrical wire to travel from the first chamber into the second chamber, but not the opposite direction and a second pair of cord clamps permitting electrical wire to travel from the second chamber into the first chamber, but not the opposite direction. 
     Still further, peripheral wall  12  may have a depth D approximately equal to the thickness of structural wall  38 . The structural wall may also include drywall or plaster (not shown) on each wall, thereby increasing the thickness. Accordingly, depth D may be approximately 4.25 inches in one implementation. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates electrical box  10  secured to structural wall  38  and a first electrical device  48  secured within first chamber  24 . Electrical device  48  is secured within the electrical box through device yokes  50  at electrical device mounting tabs  34  and holes  36 . Electrical wiring  52  is fed down structural wall  38  and passes through cord clamp  46  into first chamber  24  where it is connected to first electrical device  48 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates electrical box  10  with right portion  16  of peripheral wall  12  removed to view second chamber  26  and a second electrical device  54 . In this implementation, second electrical device  54  is daisy-chained to first electrical device with connecting electrical wire  56  secured to outlet terminals on first electrical device  48 . Connecting electrical wire  56  extends from first chamber  24  through cord clamps  46  in divider  22  into second chamber  26  and ultimately line terminals of second electrical device  54 . 
     Thus it is seen that two electrical devices can be located coaxial within a single electrical box but are accessible in different rooms. Further, only a single run of electrical wire  52  is necessary to power both electrical devices. In another aspect, dividing wall  22  provides two separate chambers and first chamber  24  may receive high voltage electrical wires through appropriate cord clamps, while second chamber  26  may receive low voltage electrical wires through appropriate cord clamps, or vice versa. 
     While the implementations disclosed only illustrate a single-gang back-to-back electrical box, any number of gangs may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope. 
     It will be understood that implementations are not limited to the specific components disclosed herein, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for an electrical box may be utilized. Accordingly, for example, it should be understood that, while the drawing figures and accompanying text show and describe a generally rectangular electrical box, an electrical box of the present disclosure may contain any number of sides. Common electrical box shapes also include round, square, and octagonal. Components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for an electrical box. 
     The concepts disclosed herein are not limited to the specific implementations shown herein. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the components included in a particular implementation of an electrical box may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations that can readily be formed into shaped objects and that are consistent with the intended operation of an electrical box. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; polymers and/or other like materials; plastics, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals and/or other like materials; alloys and/or other like materials; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
     Furthermore, embodiments of the electrical box may be manufactured separately and then assembled together, or any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled or removably coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material(s) forming the components. 
     In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of an electrical box, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other electrical boxes. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.