Abstract:
An outlet box includes two electrical boxes in side by side relationship with each other and which are connected together so the open ends of the boxes face away from each other. This orientation allows the boxes to be used in adjoining rooms of a building and both secured to the same stud.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the general art of electrical devices, and to the particular field of outlet boxes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventional wall mounted electrical outlets include a box, whether of metal or plastic, for receiving three conductor electrical cables. The terminal end of each conductor is mechanically fastened to corresponding electrical contacts of a conventional socket assembly. One or more apertures in the box are present to permit ingress of a cable and egress of another cable. In the event of the latter, the ends of each conductor of such cable must be attached to the corresponding electrical connections of the outlet socket assembly. Alternatively, corresponding conductors of each cable must be electrically and mechanically secured to one another with a device known as a wire nut. A pig-tail conductor is secured by each wire nut to each conductor to provide electrical power to the corresponding electrical contact of the socket assembly. When two sockets of each socket assembly are present, as is conventional, further pig-tails must be used to connect the sockets in parallel.  
         [0003]     The amount of time and effort to cut and then insert the end of each cable into the electrical box is time consuming. Additional time and numerous separate operations must be carried out to effect the appropriate electrical connections. Each cable must be routed through the studs of a wall from one location of an electrical box to another. This requires drilling holes in each intervening stud and threading the cable therethrough. Such work is time consuming and laborious.  
         [0004]     Conventional electrical outlet boxes are secured to a wall stud by nails or the like. A cutout is provided in the wall board of the wall through which the electrical outlet box extends to position the socket assembly essentially flush with the exterior surface of the wall board. An aperture cover plate, penetrably receiving the terminal end of each socket of the socket assembly, is affixed to the electrical outlet box by screws. Often, due to sloppy workmanship or inattention, the electrical outlet box is not in proper alignment with the wall board. This results in a skewed attachment of the cover plate since no provision for aligning the cover plate with the wall board is provided. The result is aesthetically displeasing.  
         [0005]     Generally, the major expense attendant wiring a house, or any building, is the cost of the labor involved as the parts, including the cables, are inexpensive relative to the total cost. By reducing the labor costs of skilled electricians through a reduction in time spent, significant savings may be affected.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by an outlet box that includes two electrical boxes in side by side relationship with each other and which are connected together so the open ends of the boxes face away from each other. This orientation allows the boxes to be used in adjoining rooms of a building and both secured to the same stud.  
         [0007]     Using the side-by-side electrical box embodying the present invention will permit an electrician to install receptacle outlets, light switches, cable connections, and phone jacks in adjoining rooms using only one framing stud and thus will eliminate the need to “block out” a studded wall near the doorway in order to install the necessary apparatus on both sides. The side-by-side outlet embodying the present invention also permits inclusive installation of high and low voltage wiring.  
         [0008]     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0009]     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a side-by-side outlet embodying the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of a side-by-side outlet embodying the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the side-by-side outlet embodying the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a side-by-side outlet  10 . Outlet  10  comprises a first-outlet box  12  which includes a housing  14 . Housing  14  has a back wall  16 , an open front  18 , a first side wall  20 , a second side wall  22 , a first end wall  24  which is a top wall when the first outlet box is in use, a second end wall  26  which is a bottom wall when the first outlet box is in use, and a height dimension  28  which extends between the first end wall of housing  14  and the second end wall of housing  14  of the first outlet box. A width dimension  30  extends between first side wall  20  and second side wall  22 .  
         [0014]     A plurality of knockouts, such as knockouts  32 , are defined through the back wall of the housing of the first outlet box and are used to accommodate cables, cords and the like. At least one knockout  34  is defined through second side wall  22  of the housing of the first outlet box.  
         [0015]     A second outlet box  50  includes a housing  52  which has a back wall  54 , an open front  56 , a first side wall  58 , a second side wall  60 , a first end wall  62  which is a top wall when second outlet box  50  is in use, a second end wall  64  which is a bottom wall when the second outlet box is in use, and a height dimension  66  which extends between first end wall  62  and second end wall  66 . A width dimension  68  extends between first side wall  58  and second side wall  60 .  
         [0016]     A plurality of knockouts, such as knockout  70 , are defined through the back wall of the housing of the second outlet box to accommodate cables, cords and the like in the manner of outlet boxes. At least one knockout  72  is defined through first side wall  58  of the second outlet box.  
         [0017]     First side wall  58  of second outlet box  50  is fixed to second side wall  22  of first outlet box  12  with open fronts  18  and  56  of both outlet boxes facing in opposite directions and knockout element  34  in second side wall  22  of first outlet box  12  being aligned with knockout element  72  defined through first side wall  58  of second outlet box  50 . Second side wall  60  of second outlet box  50  is fixed to a support element  80 , such as a stud or the like, to mount unit  10 .  
         [0018]     A first flange  82  is attached to first end wall  62  of the second outlet box and a second flange  84  is attached to second end wall  64  of the second outlet box. A first fastening element  86  is used to fix first flange  82  to the support element and a second fastening element  88  is used to fix second flange  84  to support element  80 .  
         [0019]     As can be understood from  FIG. 2 , the outlet boxes are mounted on a support to have the open fronts  18  and  54  located in walls, such as walls  90  and  92  respectively. Unit  10  is mounted where there is a need for a switch or an electrical connection on both sides of a wall, such as at a door or the like. Cables, etc are then run to both outlet boxes as needed.  
         [0020]     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.