Patent Publication Number: US-7592542-B1

Title: Adjustable floor bracket article and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/865,152 filed Jun. 9, 2004 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/389,293, filed Mar. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,146. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to electrical box enclosure articles and methods, and, more particularly, to a support bracket article and method for enabling the adjustable positioning of an electrical box enclosure relative to the bottom of an interior wall section framing member. 
   2. General Background and State of the Art 
   Electrical box enclosures are mounted in walls which include framing members during wall construction in structures. Such electrical box enclosures have been mounted onto studs in the wall, but it has been a problem to adjust the location of the electrical box enclosure relative to the position of the studs. They have also been mounted on the bottom of a framing member, providing additional versatility in the location thereof, but adjustment thereof relative to the bottom of the framing member has been difficult. 
   Therefore, there has existed a need for an article which is able to support an electrical box enclosure during wall construction so as to enable the adjustable positioning of the electrical box enclosure in relation to the bottom of a framing member. The present invention fulfills these needs. 
   INVENTION SUMMARY 
   Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides adjustable positioning and supporting of an electrical box enclosure in relation to the bottom of an interior wall section framing member. 
   The article enables an electrical box enclosure to be supported and adjustably positionable therein during wall construction, relative to the bottom of a framing member in an interior wall section. The article includes an adjustable positioning enabling section, for enabling the electrical box enclosure to be adjustably positionable therein. It also includes a supporting section, for supporting the adjustable positioning enabling section. 
   One aspect of the present invention is that the article provides adjustable portions, for enabling the article to accommodate the adjustable positioning of the electrical box enclosure in walls constructed of different types of framing studs. 
   Another aspect of the present invention is that the article provides portions for guiding the adjustable positioning of the electrical box enclosure. 
   A further aspect of the present invention is that the article includes portions for providing support for the electrical box enclosure in various types of wall systems under construction. 
   Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which describe and illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a support bracket in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a support bracket article including bent portions in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a support bracket article including bent portions in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a support bracket article including bent and detached portions, and an electrical box enclosure supported therein, in a stud wall system, in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a bracket extension arm section including a bent portion, of a support bracket article in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a bracket extension arm section of a support bracket article in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a bracket extension arm section of a support bracket article in a stud wall system in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1-7 , there is shown an article  10 , comprising a support bracket, for enabling an electrical box enclosure  12  ( FIG. 4 ) to be adjustably positionable therein relative to the bottom of a framing member  14 , in an interior wall section  16  during wall construction. 
   The support bracket  10  includes an adjustable positioning enabling section  18  for enabling the electrical box enclosure to be adjustably positionable therein. The adjustable positioning enabling section  18  includes side positioning portions  20  of the support bracket  10 , shown in template form in  FIG. 1 , which are bendable at about ninety degrees to form a channel guide for the electrical box enclosure  12 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The side positioning portions  20  each have a slot  22  extending therealong, for enabling adjustable positioning of the electrical box enclosure  12  in the support bracket  10 . The slots  22  allow for up and down adjustment of the electrical box enclosure  12 , as well as a machine screw attachment of the electrical box enclosure  12  to a floor bracket. The side positioning portions  20  each also include indicia  24  along the slot  22  therein, for indicating the adjustable positioning for the electrical box enclosure  12  therein. The electrical box enclosure  12  includes a pair of sides  26 , and a pair of pointers, one on each side, and the indicia  24  in the support bracket  10  are alignable with the pointers on the electrical box enclosure  12  for alignment thereof. 
   The support bracket  10  further includes a supporting section  28 , for supporting the adjustable positioning enabling section  14 . The supporting section  28  includes a front portion  30  of the support bracket  10 . The front portion  30  includes an upper portion  32  and a lower portion  34 , and has an opening  36  for enabling the electrical box enclosure  12  to be mounted therein. A framing member  14  in an interior wall section  16  includes one of a plurality of different thickness framing studs  38 . 
   The front portion opening  36  of the support bracket  10  includes a bottom portion  40 , and a bracket extension arm  42  which extends from the lower portion  34  of the support bracket front portion  30  into the bottom portion  40  of the opening  36 , as seen in FIGS.  1  and  5 - 7 . The bracket extension arm  42  is bendable, and enables the securing of the support bracket  10  to one of the plurality of different thickness framing studs  38 . The bracket extension arm  42  has a slot  44  extending therealong, for enabling a slide type adjustment over the front portion  30  of the support bracket  10 . The bracket extension arm  42  also includes indicia  46  along the slot  44  therein, and elongated side portions  48 , which are bendable. The bracket extension arm  42  further includes a separation-enabling portion  50 , for enabling separation thereof from the front portion  30 . The bracket extension arm  42  also includes an end flange  52  which is bendable. 
   As depicted in top view in  FIG. 7 , the end flange  52  of the bracket extension arm  42  is bent approximately ninety degrees after tool forming, to provide a flat surface area for the bracket extension arm  42 , when pushed against the inside of the interior wall material. An overall outside dimension  54  of a pair of finished wall surfaces may vary depending upon construction plan drawings or specifications for a particular project. A pair of accessible screws  56  enable adjustment of the bracket extension arm  42  within the interior of the wall. The end flange  52  of the bracket extension arm  42  bears against one side while supporting the upper portion of the support bracket  10  in stud wall systems against the exterior of the opposite side. The bracket extension arm  42  is able to support the upper portion of the support bracket  10  in stud wall systems beyond stud wall construction, such as in a staggered or double wall stud wall system as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   The lower portion  34  of the front portion  30  of the support bracket  10  includes a bottom portion  58  which is bendable. The bottom portion  58  includes a separation-enabling portion  60  for enabling separation of the bottom portion  58  from the front portion  30 . The separation-enabling portion  60  further comprises a pair of slots  62  extending along the bottom portion  58 . The lower portion  34  of the support bracket front portion  30  further includes a hole  64  for enabling the securing of the support bracket  10  to the bottom of the framing member  14 . The upper portion  32  of the support bracket front portion  30  further includes a top portion  66  which is bendable. The top portion  66  includes a plurality of slots  68 , each able to receive a cable therein. Each of the plurality of slots  68  is generally u shaped. 
   The front portion  30  of the support bracket  10  also includes an upper support arm  70  which extends from the support bracket upper portion  32  into an upper portion  72  of the support bracket front portion opening  36 , which is bendable, and which enables securing thereof to the framing member  14 . The upper support arm  70  includes a plurality of holes  74  therein for enabling the securing thereof to the framing member  14 . The framing member  14  in the interior wall section  16  includes one of a plurality of different thickness framing studs  38 . The upper support arm  70  also includes indicia  76  associated therewith. The associated indicia  76  enables the securing of the upper arm support  68  to one of the plurality of different thickness framing studs  38 . The upper support arm  68  further includes a strengthening portion  78  for strengthening the support bracket  10 , and an end flange  80  which is bendable. 
   The support bracket  10  also includes side tab portions  82  which enable mounting of the article to the framing member  14 . Each side tab portion  82  has a hole  84  therein for enabling mounting of the support bracket  10  to the framing member  14 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , in a method for use of the article  10 , the user may utilize the support bracket  10  to adjustably position the electrical box enclosure, by the adjustable positioning enabling section  18  thereof, and may support the support bracket  10  by the supporting section  28  thereof. 
   Initially the support bracket  10  is a flat template, as shown in  FIG. 1 , which may be formed by bending the sections thereof. The bottom portion  58  may be bent ninety degrees to form a foot for the support bracket  10 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The slots  62  in the bottom portion  58  enable the breaking off thereof for the installation of the support bracket  10  on wood framing, or if the support bracket  10  cannot be positioned inside the bottom track of a metal stud. The support bracket  10  may be secured to the bottom of a framing member through the holes  64 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   The side positioning portions  20  of the support bracket  10  are able to be bent ninety degrees to form a channel guide for the electrical box enclosure  12 . The slots  22  one on each side of the support bracket  10 , enable up and down adjustment of the electrical box enclosure  12 , and also enable attachment of the support bracket  10  to the electrical box enclosure  12  by inserting machine screws therethrough. The indicia  24  on the side positioning portions  20 , such as tic marks and numbers, indicate the height to the center of the electrical box enclosure  10  above the finished floor or the top of a grade surface. The electrical box enclosure  12  includes arrow shaped pointers, one on each side thereof and centered, to enable alignment of the tic marks on the side positioning portions  20  therewith, for precise height adjustment of the electrical box enclosure  12 . The opening  36  in the front portion  30  of the support bracket  10  enables vertical adjustment of the electrical box enclosures  12  while attached to the support bracket  10 . The side tab portions  82  of the support bracket  10  are able to be bent ninety degrees, as indicated in  FIG. 2 , to enable securing of the upper portions  32  of the support bracket  10  to a framing stud  38 . The top portion  66  of the support bracket  10  may also be bent ninety degrees, and the slots  68  therein enable cables or conduits to be secured therein by crimping together and twisting the ends thereof to tie off cables or conduits using hand tools. 
   In the upper support arm  70 , the holes  74  enable the attachment of a bracket extension arm  42  thereto by self-tapping fasteners inserted therethrough. The upper indicia  76  of the upper support arm  70  provide a point for the installer to bend the upper portion of the upper support arm  70  ninety degrees for forming thereof for use in the construction of walls comprised for example of three-and-one-half inch framing studs. The middle indicia  76  of the upper support arm  70  provide a point for the installer to bend the upper portion of the upper support arm  70  ninety degrees for forming thereof for use in the construction of walls comprised for example of four inch framing studs. The lower indicia  76  of the upper support arm  70  provide a point for the installer to bend the upper portion of the upper support arm  70  ninety degrees for forming thereof for use in the construction of walls comprised for example of five-and-one-half inch framing studs. The end flange  80  of the upper support arm  70  may be bent ninety degrees after forming thereof, for use in the construction of walls comprised for example of six inch framing studs. 
   Strengthening portions  78  of the upper support arm  70  strengthen and enhance the performance characteristics of the support bracket  10 . In the bracket arm extension  42 , the elongated slot  44  enables the snapping or breaking off thereof, for use with the upper support arm  70  to provide support in interior walls for example of greater than six inch depth, such as a staggered stud wall system in  FIG. 7 . The elongated side portions  48  strengthen the bracket extension arm  42 , and the slot  44  enables slide-type adjustment therealong. The end flange  52  may be bent ninety degrees, to provide a flat surface area for the bracket extension arm  42  upon being pushed against the inside of the interior wall member, so as to press against the interior of one side of a staggered wall stud system and to support the top portion  66  of the upper support arm  70  against the interior of the opposite side of the staggered stud wall system. The overall outside dimension  54  of the finished wall surfaces may vary depending upon the construction plan drawings or specifications of a particular project. The screws  56 , which extend through the slot  44  in the bracket extension arm  42 , enable adjustment of the positioning thereof within the wall interior. 
   From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the system of the present invention provides advantages during wall construction, in enabling the adjustable positioning of an electrical box enclosure in relation to the bottom of a framing member in an interior wall section. While several particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modification can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the following claims.