Abstract:
Improvements in a box and conduit hanger support that creates a unitary support bracket that allows for central mounting of an electrical junction box to said support bracket for suspended installations. Holes and slots located in extended portion of support bracket allowing for support of conduits connected to junction box using conduit clamps. In addition, bent tabs on perimeter of support bracket provide openings for a threaded rod to pass through, thus allowing for installation of support bracket in perpendicular alignment with ceiling. The features of this plate facilitate installation and maintenance of a hanging junction box, notably for applications with inadequate spacing between ceiling and floor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to improvements in a box and conduit hanger support. More particularly, to the hanging installation of an electrical junction box and conduit installed with a threaded rod or similar support from a ceiling. 
     Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     Typically when installing wiring in a building, junction boxes and conduits are used to route and protect electrical wiring. Electrical code requires both the box and the conduit be adequately mounted to a structure or support to resist movement. For routing and protecting wires on the ceiling, junction boxes are suspended using rods anchored from concrete material. The junction boxes provide access for maintenance that may be required in the future. In addition, conduits connected to junction boxes must be sufficiently supported within specified spacing as noted in Electrical Code. 
     There have been several methods for supporting hanging junction boxes using an arrangement of brackets, rods, and conduit clamps. One method of support uses threaded rods anchored to the ceiling to support an electrical junction box. Each conduit is then subsequently supported with additional rods. An alternative method uses brackets extending outward from the central portion of a junction box. Conduit clamps at the end of each bracket are used to support conduit connected to the junction box. Both methods require numerous parts and steps for installation, thus increasing labor costs. An alternative method requires only one rod and greatly reduces parts and steps needed for installation. Reference to this method can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,332 issued Mar. 16, 1999 to Bobby Collard for a unitary plate that provides support for both the junction box and conduit. However, there are cases of inadequate space from the ceiling to the floor, making it difficult to provide maintenance for conventional methods. The present invention will solve this problem while still accommodating the aforementioned methods. 
     Other patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,283 issued Apr. 20, 2010 to Peter A. Vrame et al., discloses a Support Bracket for Electrical a Box. In this patent the connecting conduit must be placed through the supporting arm. This arrangement requires fixed dimensions between the arms and conduit and does not allow for adjustment or re-positioning of the conduit or support bracket. 
     U.S. Publication Number 2010/0155105 was published on Jun. 24, 2010 for Cong Thanh Dinh and discloses a Cable and Box Support Plate. The plate in this publication supports flexible conduit that relies upon gravity to hold flexible conduit within slots formed in the plate. While this patent allows for connection with an electrical junction box and conduit, the location of the supports are fixed and do not allow for adjustment of the position of the conduit to the junction box. 
     What is needed is a box and conduit hanger support that can be mounted in a vertical or horizontal orientation and further allows for ridged conduit to join the hanger for adjustable locations and directions. The present box and conduit support found in this disclosure provides the solution. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the box and conduit hanger support to have markings on the base of the support bracket that provide guidelines for centrally mounting an electrical junction box in correct alignment upon the conduit hanger support. Markings are engraved or embossed onto one side of the support plate to provide alignment between the knockouts on top face of junction box and the conduit openings located on the central portion of the support bracket. 
     It is an object of the box and conduit hanger support to have tabs bent perpendicular to the face of the plate on opposite lateral faces of the support bracket. Holes are located on the tabs that allow for a threaded rod to pass through both tabs and suspend the support bracket in a perpendicular alignment with a ceiling. This configuration accommodates installation of hanging boxes when there is inadequate space from the ceiling and floor. 
     It is another object of the box and conduit hanger support to have another embodiment where the support bracket has integral flanges extending from perimeter of unitary plate. Flanges on plate correspond with lateral faces of an electrical junction box installed to support bracket. Said flanges extend in pairs as to provide support for outlying conduits connected to electrical box. 
     It is still another object of the box and conduit hanger support for the flanges to extend at an angle as to be in tangent relation with the top of each conduit with a plurality of pin holes on the face of each flange, thus enabling the use of one-hole straps to secure the conduit to the conduit hanger support. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  shows a box and conduit hanger support according to a first preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a box and conduit hanger support from  FIG. 1  with the integral flanges bent according to a second preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top side plan view of the support bracket from  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a front side view of the support bracket from  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a bottom side plan view of the support bracket from  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a right side view of the support bracket from  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a support bracket shown in a vertical installation application. 
         FIG. 8  shows a top side plan view of the support bracket from  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a right side view of the support bracket from  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a bottom side plan view of the support bracket from  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  shows a front side view of the support bracket from  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present box and conduit hanger support is a support bracket configured as a unitary plate with a central portion for mounting an electrical junction box for hanging applications using a threaded rod, beam clamp, or similar support elements. 
       FIG. 1  shows a box and conduit hanger support according to a first preferred embodiment and  FIG. 2  shows a box and conduit hanger support from  FIG. 1  with the integral flanges  34  bent according to a second preferred embodiment. Integral flanges  34  ensure that the conduit tubes are tangent to the flanges when a conduit tube is installed for use with a one hole strap below the plate  31 . In the first preferred embodiment the conduit tubes are secured with conduit straps  92 . In the second embodiment, one hole straps, shown with saddle clamp  97  is used to secure the conduit  91  while in tangent relation with the surface of the flanges  34 . 
     The hanger  20 / 30  in  FIG. 1  is shown in a flat configuration, while the hanger  21 / 31  in  FIG. 2  has the flanges bent for a one hole installation to provide additional clearance. In both of these figures the conduit hanger support  30  or  31  is vertically supported by a down rod or screw  29  that supports the hanger from a central location on the hanger. The junction box  93  is secured to the hanger  30 / 31  with fasteners (not shown). The rigid conduit tubes  91  are secured to the hanger  30 / 31  at the junction box  93  with a coupling  94  and are also supported at the outer lip of the hanger  30 / 31  with a one hole saddle clamp or one hole strap  97 , with a conduit hanger  92  or equivalent. 
     At least two tabs are shown bent perpendicular to the surface of the hanger  30 / 31 . These tabs  42  with mounting hole  43  allow for the hanger  30 / 31  to be secured to the down rod  29  in a vertical arrangement as opposed to the horizontal arrangement shown in these figures. A vertical orientation is shown and described in other figures in this disclosure. 
       FIG. 3  shows a top side plan view of the support bracket from  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4  shows a front side view of the support bracket from  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5  shows a bottom side plan view of the support bracket from  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6  shows a right side view of the support bracket from  FIG. 1 . This bracket is similar to the bracket previously shown and described. One major difference is that the eight flanges on the outside of the bracket field  77  have been removed. 
     The central hole  39  provides a mounting location for the down rod to attach the support bracket to a ceiling. Around the central hole  39  four openings  80  allow for conduit to pass through the support bracket  77  and into a secure electrical junction box. The holes  80  are sufficiently sized to allow for clearance of a connector for the conduit to the junction box openings. Additional holes  78  and  79  allow for mounting options and attachment of an electrical junction box. On four sides of the octagon are pluralities of holes  71  that provide a number of different fastening locations for securing the support clamps for conduit. The diameter of the holes  71  is sized for typical sheet metal screws that are used for electrical conduit. In addition to the mounting holes  71  a series of slots  75  allow for adjustable positioning of securing clamps for conduit tubes. These slots  75  allow the conduit clamps to slide laterally to obtain an optimal clamped location. An alignment/mounting hole  76  allows for parallel alignment and securing of conduit. 
     The bent tab  72  for vertical mounting of the bracket is shown in this group of figures. These two tabs  72  allow the support bracket  77  to be mounted in a vertical arrangement. The tabs  72  have holes  73 , sized similar to hole  39 , for mounting to a down rod. The tabs  72  further have holes  74  for mounting additional hardware for securing, safety cables, or anti-rotation devices. 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a support bracket shown in a vertical installation application. The support bracket  70  has integral tabs  26  extending from perimeter of unitary plate  81 . Tab  26  on plate  81  correspond with lateral faces of an electrical junction box  93  installed to support bracket  70 . 
     Multiple conduit tubes  91  are shown extending parallel to the surface of the plate  81 . Securing nuts  96  or equivalent hardware secured the conduit tubes to the support plate  81 . The securing down pipe, rod or screw  28  is shown passing through an upper tab  37 , extending parallel to the back of the supporting bracket  70  and secured with a nut  27  or equivalent hardware to the lower tab  26 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a top side plan view of the support bracket  32  from  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 9  shows a right side view of the support bracket  32  from  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 10  shows a bottom side plan view of the support bracket  33  from  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 11  shows a front side view of the support bracket  32  from  FIG. 2 . A central hole  39  provides a mounting location for the down rod to attach the support bracket  32  to a ceiling. Around the central hole  39  four openings  52  allow for conduit to pass through the support bracket  32  and into a secure electrical junction box. The holes  52  are sufficiently sized to allow for clearance of a connector for the conduit to the junction box openings. Alignment holes  53  and mounting holes  49  for sheet metal fasteners are provided to secure an electrical junction box. A series of impressions, marking, or embossed images  54  provide a location for centering an electrical junction box onto the support bracket  32 . 
     From the central area of the support bracket  32  eight integral flanges  40  exist. Each of the eight flanges  40  bend through two sets of bend lines  47 / 57  and  48 / 58  to ensure that the integral flanges  40 / 50  etc. are essentially parallel to the central field of the support bracket  32  helps to make sure that the flanges allow for the use of one hole straps with the conduit. The eight flanges  40 / 50  etc. have a plurality of holes  41  that provide a number of different fastening locations for securing the one hole strap for conduit. The diameter of the holes  41 / 51  is sized for typical sheet metal screws that are used for electrical conduit. In addition to the mounting holes  41 / 51  a series of slots  45  and  55  allow for adjustable positioning of securing clamps for conduit tubes. These slots  45 ,  55  allow the conduit clamps to slide laterally to obtain an optimal clamped location. 
     At least two other tabs  42  are bendable to allow the support bracket  32  to be mounted in a vertical arrangement. The tabs  42  have holes  43 , sized similar to hole  39 , for mounting to a down rod. The tabs  42  further have holes  44  for mounting additional hardware for securing, safety cables, or anti-rotation devices. Alignment holes  46 / 56  provide additional mounting/securing locations. The alignment hole  46  further can help to stabilize the support bracket  32  when placed in a vertical orientation by providing a location for clamps to mount from the support bracket  32  to the down pole, rod or screw. 
     Notably, markings  54  on the base of the support bracket  32 / 33  provide guidelines for centrally mounting an electrical junction box in correct alignment. The markings  54  are engraved onto one side of the support plate to provide alignment between knockouts on top face of junction box and conduit openings located on central portion of support bracket  32 / 33 . Notably, the support bracket  32 / 33  shows has tabs  42  that can be bent perpendicular to face of the plate on opposite lateral faces of said support bracket  32 / 33 . Holes  43  on tabs allow for a threaded rod to pass through both tabs and suspend the support bracket  32 / 33  in perpendicular alignment with ceiling. This configuration accommodates installation of hanging boxes when there is inadequate space from the ceiling and floor. 
     Thus, specific embodiments of a box and conduit hanger support have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.