Abstract:
A reusable quick installation electrical junction box for securing electrical devices and faceplates using a single-drive locking pin. The single-drive locking pin is a reusable locking pin used to secure an electrical device and faceplate to the electrical speed box through a concerted driving motion involving insertion into the engaging mechanism followed by 90 degree rotation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1.) Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to a reusable quick installation electrical junction box for securing electrical devices, devices and faceplates using a single-drive locking pin. 
   2.) Discussion 
   Typical electrical junction boxes employ threaded screws to fasten an electrical fixture or device to a junction box. A faceplate is then fastened to either the electrical device or the junction box with similarly threaded screws. This process can involve the installation of multiple screws and requires perfect alignment so as to avoid incorrect placement and subsequent misalignment of the electrical device on the electrical junction box. These types of electrical junction boxes are used for many different electrical devices including without limitation, outlets, light switches, cable, computer networks, and telephone devices. 
   One drawback to these types of devices is the time in which it takes to provide rotation to a screw either manually or automatically through the use of an electric power tool. An electrical power tool may simplify the process and reduce the time required for installation. Power tools, however, require bulky and expensive equipment such as cords or batteries, to provide electricity and ultimately may not significantly reduce the demands on the installer. The time lost in assembly may have an undesirable effect on the managed resources of construction personal and equipment. Therefore it would be desirable to reduce the installation time without increasing the size, weight, or complexity of the attaching or receiving engagement device. 
   One solution is to use plastic inserts to anchor the fastening screw without the need for rotation. This solution also provides for a faceplate free of holes or exterior attachment points. These devices however, add to the overall complexity and manufacturing costs. Therefore it is the object of this invention to solve one or more of these problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the teachings of this invention, an electrical speed box is a standard electrical junction box adapted for the quick attachment of electrical devices and faceplates. In addition a single-drive locking pin is a locking pin used to secure an electrical device and faceplate through a concerted driving motion involving insertion followed by rotation. 
   One embodiment relates to a reusable engaging member of the electrical speed box. The electrical speed box having walls arranged at the top, bottom, either side, and an open face as disclosed in the prior art. Whereas the engaging member contains an engaging mechanism which consists not of traditional threaded connections but rather may be a formed receiver or stop defined as a series of holes, grooves, notches, recesses, slots, etc., of any shape including but not limited to rectangular, oval, circular, or the like. The holes are spaced at a regular distance apart to engage the flanged end of the single-drive locking pin upon 90 degree rotation. 
   A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a removable single-drive locking pin for attaching a portion of an electrical device to a portion of the electrical speed box. The locking pin may be inserted a chosen distance into the engaging member until the electrical device is securely fastened to the electrical speed box. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention relates to an engaging member contained within an electrical device for attaching a portion of an electrical device to a portion of a faceplate. The locking pin may be inserted a chosen distance into the engaging member until the faceplate is securely fastened to the electrical device. 
   By utilizing a locking pin that engages the engaging mechanism with only a 90 degree turn the potential miss-threading and loss of time through the use of traditional rotating screws is avoided. Thus the electrical device is securely attached to the electrical speed box with out cause for mal alignment of the electrical device and with less time and effort expended by the installer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the electrical speed box with an unattached duplex receptacle; 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the channel the single-drive locking pin enters and the locking pin stops; 
       FIG. 3  shows the single-drive locking pin; 
       FIG. 4  shows a duplex receptacle faceplate and switch plate cover. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly  FIG. 1 , the present invention includes an electrical speed box with a single-drive locking pin assembly  1 . Assembly  1  includes an electrical speed box  10 , electrical device  11 , and a single-drive locking pin  2 . The electrical speed box  10  includes an open face front side  18 , a back wall  17 , top and bottom walls  13  and  15 , and opposed side walls  14  and  16 . Engaging members  6   a  and  6   b  may be located on top and bottom walls  13  and  15  of speed box  10  to aid in securing electrical devices. Similarly engaging members may be disposed within an electrical device as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
   Speed box  10  may have an open back exit  12 . Open back exit  12  may be open to the exterior of the electrical speed box  10 . As is commonly disclosed in the electrical prior art, electrical devices may be housed within the interior  18  of speed box  10 , with electrical wires extending through the back exit  12 . 
   The electrical speed box  10  in accordance with the present invention may be of any size and may be a single gang, double gang, triple gang, quadruple gang, quintuple gang, sextuple gang, or the like. The speed box  10  may be constructed, formed, machined, extruded, molded, cast, or otherwise made from any suitable material including but not limited to metal, plastic, fiberglass, composite, or the like. 
   An engaging member  6   a  and  6   b  of speed box  10  are constructed, formed, machined, extruded, molded, cast, or otherwise to receive the single-drive locking pin  2  as shown in  FIG. 2  and may be molded or otherwise constructed in its original forming process as part of the electrical speed box  10 . 
   At regular intervals of any distance, engaging member  6   a  has holes  5   a , notches  5   a , grooves  5   a , recesses  5   a , slots  5   a , or the like. These holes  5   a  may be open to the interior  18  and the exterior of the speed box  10 . These holes  5   a  may be of any size to engage and retain the single-drive locking pin  2  upon insertion into engaging member  6   a  and rotation of 90 degrees. 
   As shown in detail in  FIG. 3  a single-drive locking pin  2  of a selectable length may be chosen to allow insertion of the single-drive locking pin  2  a desired distance into the engaging member  6   a . The single-drive locking pin  2  may be of any size or length and may be constructed, formed, machined, extruded, molded, cast, or otherwise made from any suitable material including but not limited to metal, fiberglass, composite, or the like. 
   The locking mechanism  19  of the single-drive locking pin  2  may comprise a flattened, tapered, or crimped flange  19  on one end to be retained, through a 90 degree rotation, within the holes  5   a  of the engaging mechanism  6   a , thus securing the electrical device  11  to the electrical speed box  10 . The head  3  of the single-drive locking pin  2  may be formed as shown in  FIG. 3  with a Robinson type socket, pan shaped head to fit a #1 size screw lock driver. The head  3  of the single-drive locking pin  2  may be of any size or type including but not limited to a button, round, oval, truss, bugle, or flat shaped head and may be formed as a flathead, Phillips, star, hex, triple square, socket or the like. Additionally the single-drive locking pin  2  may include a washer  4 , the size of which may be chosen to aid in attaching the electrical device  11  to the speed box  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   In accordance with the present invention  FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a faceplate  8  used to cover the electrical device  11  and wiring contained within the speed box  10 . The faceplate  8  shown is a switch plate which may be any size and formed of any suitable material. The faceplate  8  as illustrated has two points of attachment (above and below the toggle switch cutout) through which the single-drive locking pin  2  would pass and be retained by engaging mechanism  6   a  in the speed box  10 . 
   In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 4  the faceplate  9  has a single point of attachment at the center located between each receptacle cutout. Selected devices in accordance with the present invention may include engaging member  6   a  located internally in the electrical device  11  on the centerline between each receptacle of a duplex receptacle electrical outlet. Such engaging member  6   a  may be constructed, formed, molded, machined, extruded, cast or otherwise constructed in its original forming process as part of the electrical device  11  to receive and retain the single-drive locking pin  2 . 
   The various embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 1-4  may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations that fall with in the scope of the present invention, and may be applied to any type of removable faceplate including but not limited to receptacles, jacks, telephones, cable, network, outlets, switches, or the like. 
   In short, the apparatus for securing electrical devices provides a unique design for quickly securing electrical devices and faceplates to an electrical speed box. This removable securing apparatus utilizes a locking mechanism that engages and retains an engaging mechanism of the electrical speed box through a single concerted motion of insertion and rotation of 90 degrees or ¼ turn. By utilizing a locking pin that requires only a single concerted motion, substantial time is saved in securing an electrical device to an electrical speed box. 
   The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.