Abstract:
A small round floor box installs through a two inch diameter hole in a floor to provide a small footprint that improves the appearance of the installation and makes it less obtrusive. The box accommodates a single power receptacle or data plugs that attach to mounting plates that snap connect within the box.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application relates to the art of floor boxes in which power receptacles or data connectors are mounted. 
     SUMMARY 
     A floor box is configured for installation through a hole in a floor that is around two inches in diameter. This small size provides a more pleasing and less obtrusive appearance. 
     The box is a generally cylindrical tubular body of plastic material. 
     Integral latches on the top portion of the box are provided for attaching a circular flange thereto. 
     Support shoulders within the box spaced from the top end thereof are provided for supporting a mounting plate on which a power receptacle or data connectors are mounted. 
     Radial openings in the wall of the box adjacent the support shoulders receive latches on a mounting plate for securing the mounting plate within the box. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective illustration of a floor box in accordance with the present application; 
         FIG. 1A  is a plan view of the top end of the floor box; 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view taken generally on line  1 B— 1 B of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of a mounting plate for a power receptacle; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional elevational view taken generally on line  4 – 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional elevational view taken generally on line  5 – 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective illustration of a power receptacle; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional elevational view of the floor box of  FIG. 1  having the receptacle mounting plate of  FIGS. 2–6  and the power receptacle of  FIG. 7  mounted therein; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective illustration of a mounting plate for a data connector; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional elevational view taken generally on line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a partial cross-sectional elevational view taken generally on line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is bottom plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective illustration of a data connector mountable on the mounting plate of  FIGS. 9–13 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective illustration of blank mounting plate. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawing, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a representative example of the floor box only and not for purposes of limiting same,  FIG. 1  shows a floor box A in the form of a generally cylindrical plastic tubular body having a top end  12  and a bottom end  14 . Box A has a slight inward taper from top-to-bottom as is apparent from  FIGS. 1A and 1B  so that it actually has a generally frusto-conical shape, but is referred to as generally cylindrical for convenience. 
     Three resilient latches  18 ,  19  and  20  are molded into the peripheral wall of the box at the upper end portion thereof, and the latches are circumferentially-spaced generally equidistantly therearound. The latches bend generally radially inwardly and outwardly of the tubular box and have outwardly extending latch projections  18   a ,  19   a  and  20   a  thereon with generally upwardly facing cam surfaces. 
     Three longitudinal channels  22 ,  23  and  24  are molded into box A from the outer surface thereof and extend from bottom end  14  to a location short of top end  12 . The three channels are circumferentially-spaced generally equidistantly around the box and provide generally horizontal inwardly extending upwardly facing internal shoulders  25 ,  26  and  28  spaced downwardly from top end  12  of box A. 
     Generally rectangular holes  30 ,  31  and  32  are formed through the channels at the upper ends thereof and the shoulders  26 ,  28  are cut-away at the mid-point thereof in alignment with the holes so that there are a pair of shoulders on opposite sides of each hole. 
     A plurality of longitudinal ribs  40 ,  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  45  are circumferentially-spaced generally equidistantly around the inside of box A at the top end portion thereof. The ribs extend as far as the shoulders  25 ,  26  and  28  at the upper ends of the channels. 
     A cover assembly includes a circular flange or ring member B having a central circular opening  50  therethrough for receiving an O-ring  52  and a circular cover  54 . An inwardly extending circumferential lip  56  on the underside of flange B around opening  50  cooperates with latches  18 – 20  to hold the cover assembly on box A. Fastener receiving holes  57 ,  58  in flange B receive fasteners  59 ,  60  that extend into a floor in which the floor box is mounted. 
     Floor box A preferably is configured for insertion through an approximately two inch diameter hole that is cut into a floor. Thus, box A has an outside diameter that is less than two inches by an amount such that box A is closely received in the hole. The hole in the floor preferably is not greater than around 2.25 inches and the box A is dimensioned to have a relatively close fit through the hole at the box top end portion. However, it will be recognized that certain features of the floor box of the present application may be used with floor boxes having different dimensions and also may be used in different types of floor boxes. 
     A bottom cover  64  is configured for reception within a recess in the bottom end of box A. Bottom cover  64  and a strain relief clamp  63  are securable to box A by fasteners  67 ,  68  that thread into bores in bosses  65 ,  66  that extend inwardly from the inner surface of box A adjacent bottom end  14  thereof. 
       FIGS. 2–6  show a generally circular mounting plate C for a power receptacle. The outer diameter of mounting plate C is dimensioned for close sliding reception within the top end of box A. Grooves  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74  and  75  extend inwardly of the outer periphery of mounting plate C and are circumferentially-spaced equidistantly therearound. Grooves  70 – 75  receive ribs  40 – 45  on box A when mounting plate C is inserted into the top end of box A and this properly aligns the mounting plate for attachment within the box. 
     Mounting plate C has three resilient latches  80 ,  81  and  82  circumferentially-spaced equidistantly therearound. Latches  80 – 82  have outwardly extending latch projections  80   a ,  81   a  and  82   a  that lie on the periphery of a circle having a diameter greater than the diameter of the internal surface at the top end of box A. Therefore, when mounting plate C is inserted into the top end of box A, cam surfaces on latch projections  80   a ,  81   a  and  82   a  engage the inner surface of the box so that the latches are bent inwardly. When the mounting plate is approximately resting on support shoulders  26 ,  28 , the latch fingers snap outwardly and latch finger projections  80   a ,  81   a  and  82   a  project through holes  30 – 32  in box A to secure mounting plate C in position. A generally rectangular opening  90  with a central extension  91  on one side thereof is provided in mounting plate C for receiving a power receptacle. 
       FIG. 7  shows a conventional single receptacle having a body portion  100  with an extension  101  and a face plate  102 . Face plate  102  extends outwardly beyond the outer periphery of body portion  100  and extension  101 . A pair of opposite resilient latches, only one of which is shown at  104  in  FIG. 7 , are provided on body portion  100 . Body portion  100  and extension  101  are closely receivable through opening  90 ,  91  in mounting plate C. Latches  104  then spring out on the underside of mounting plate C while the peripheral portion of face plate  102  is on the upper side of mounting place C. Thus, opposite peripheral portions of opening  90  are trapped between latches  104  and the underside of face plate  102  to hold receptacle D to mounting plate C. 
       FIGS. 9–13  show a mounting plate E for mounting one or more data connectors within box A. Mounting plate E has generally the same configuration as mounting plate C, and features of mounting plate E that are common with features of mounting plate C have been given the same reference numbers. 
     Mounting plate E has a pair of rectangular openings  112 ,  114  therethrough. Resilient latch members  116 ,  118  project from the underside of mounting plate E along the top and bottom ends of rectangular openings  112 ,  114 . End walls  120 ,  122  project from the underside of mounting plate E at the outer ends of rectangular openings  112 ,  114 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a conventional data connector G, such as a category  5  connector, having a data connector socket  130  therein. Data connector G is receivable within latches  116 ,  118  from the underside of mounting plate E and latches  116 ,  118  bend outwardly as the data connector is inserted. The latch fingers then snap back toward one another so that latch projections  116 ,  118  engage the rear surface of data connector G to hold same in position with socket  130  accessible through openings  112  or  114 . Obviously many of different types of data connectors can be mounted on a mounting plate. 
       FIG. 15  shows a blank mounting plate H having generally the same configuration as mounting plates C and E except that the central area  140  thereof has no opening therein. This permits an installer to cut his own special opening in the mounting plate for receiving special types of connectors. 
     To install the box, a two inch circular hole is cut in a floor with a hole saw. Flange B is attached to box A by way of box latches  18 – 20  and flange lip  56 . Box A then is dropped into the hole until flange B stops against the floor surface around the hole. Fasteners  59 ,  60  then are extended through the holes in flange B and driven into the floor. 
     Nonmetallic sheathed cable or data wires extend into box A through the bottom thereof and out through the top. A power receptacle or data connector is attached to a mounting plate, and the wires are connected to the receptacle or data connector. The connected wires then are pushed down into box A, and the mounting plate C, E having a power receptacle or data connector mounted thereon is pushed into box A through the open top thereof until the mounting plate rests on shoulders  25 ,  26  and  28  with plate latches  80 ,  81  and  82  locked in box holes  30 ,  31  and  32 . If there is nothing plugged into the box, the top opening is closed by cover  54  that is sealed around its perimeter by O-ring  52 . 
     References to a connector include all types of connectors such as power receptacles, analog or digital data connectors and video connectors. The connectors may be for wires or fiber optic cable. 
     Although the floor box has been shown and described with reference to a representative embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this application. Therefore, it is to be understood that the improvements to the floor box art may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein while remaining within the scope of the claims.