US-12620793-B2 - Electrical floor box assembly and method of installing same

Abstract

An electrical floor box assembly includes a grounding bus to provide a grounding path for one or more electrical devices positioned in the floor box. The floor box includes a base and a top. The top is configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close an interior space of the base. The top includes an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base.

Inventors

• Scott Wurms
• Joseph Cretella

Assignees

• HUBBELL INCORPORATED

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231120

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An electrical floor box assembly comprising: a base including a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extending from the bottom wall to at least partially define an interior space having at least one compartment; a top configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close the interior space, the top including an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base; and a grounding bus including at least one conductive bracket and a conductive bridge, the at least one conductive bracket configured for attachment to at least one electrical wire forming a grounding path with an electrical device positioned in the at least one compartment, the conductive bridge including a flange having an opening for receiving a fastener to secure the conductive bridge to the base.
2. 2 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is made from a non-metallic material, the top includes a metallic material, and the grounding bus is configured to form a grounding path with the top.
3. 3 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the top includes at least one conductive top element oriented toward the bottom wall of the base and configured to penetrate within the base when the top is secured to the base, and wherein the at least one conductive top element is configured to electrically connect to the grounding bus.
4. 4 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one conductive top element and the at least one conductive bracket include respective top attachment openings which are aligned when the top is secured to the base and which are configured to receive a screw for securing the top to the conductive bracket.
5. 5 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductive bridge includes a tab configured to receive a divider.
6. 6 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive bracket includes a conductive plate with a wire attachment opening configured for connecting a wire.
7. 7 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 6 , wherein the conductive plate includes a horizontal first portion attached to a top surface of the bottom wall of the base, a second portion angled relative to the horizontal first portion and including the wire attachment opening, and a third portion angled relative to the horizontal first portion and including a top attachment opening for connection to the top.
8. 8 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a recess configured to receive the conductive bracket.
9. 9 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one conduit hub disposed on at least one of the plurality of lateral walls or the bottom wall.
10. 10 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one center drill point configured for locating an opening for mounting a terminal adapter for a conduit attachment.
11. 11 . An electrical floor box assembly comprising: a base including a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extending from the bottom wall to at least partially define an interior space having at least one compartment, the base being made from a non-metallic material; a top configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close the interior space, the top including an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base, the top being made from a metallic material; a grounding bus positioned in the interior, wherein at least a portion of the ground bus extends vertically relative to the base to contact the top to provide a grounding path with an electrical device positioned in the at least one compartment and the top.
12. 12 . The electrical floor box of claim 11 , wherein the grounding bus includes a conductive bracket and a conductive bridge.
13. 13 . The electrical floor box of claim 12 , wherein the conductive bridge and the conductive bracket are separable.
14. 14 . The electrical floor box of claim 11 , wherein the conductive bus includes a first wire attachment opening in communication with a first compartment and a second wire attachment opening in communication with a second compartment.
15. 15 . The electrical floor box of claim 11 , wherein the top includes a faceplate extending between an upper surface of the top and the base, the faceplate including an opening for receiving a fastener for connecting the faceplate to the grounding bus.
16. 16 . The electrical floor box of claim 11 , wherein the base includes a recess for receiving at least a portion of the grounding bus.
17. 17 . The electrical floor box of claim 15 , further comprising at least one conduit hub disposed on at least one of the plurality of lateral walls or the bottom wall and at least one center drill point configured for locating an opening for mounting a terminal adapter for a conduit attachment.
18. 18 . An electrical floor box assembly comprising: a base including a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extending from the bottom wall to at least partially define an interior space having at least one compartment; a top configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close the interior space, the top including an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base; a conductive bracket configured for attachment to at least one electrical wire forming a grounding path with an electrical device; and a conductive bridge extending between the conductive bracket and the top and in contact with the top to form a grounding path between the conductive bracket and the top.
19. 19 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 18 , wherein the conductive bridge is in contact with the conductive bracket.
20. 20 . The electrical floor box assembly of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the conductive bridge has an L-shaped configuration.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION(S) This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63/427,604, filed Nov. 23, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and to which priority is claimed. FIELD The present disclosure relates to an electrical floor box assembly, more particularly, for housing electrical components underneath a floor surface. BACKGROUND Electrical floor boxes are known in the art to serve as a connection point for electrical power and/or low voltage (e.g., data, multi-media) devices on a walking plane within a building, i.e., in a floor. Conventional electrical floor boxes, such as recessed electrical floor boxes, are entirely made of metal, or include a metallic base with a non-metallic top. One reason for using a metal base in conventional electrical floor boxes is to provide sufficient conductivity for grounding purposes. Furthermore, regulatory requirements concerning grounding are conventionally more easily met using metal boxes. For example, certain jurisdictions require that at least one ground screw be provided for every gang or device. Additionally, the removal on one device must not disturb the continuity of the grounding circuit. This is more easily accomplished with a conventional metal box, because the metal box typically provides continuity between grounding locations. For example, some conventional electrical floor boxes include a base made of cast iron (especially for slab-on-grade applications), or stamped steel or sheet metal box that may be painted or non-painted. These solutions are typically rather expensive. Furthermore, buried metal electrical floor boxes are susceptible to corrosion due to water intrusion or humid environments, especially during the construction phase of a building, but also during use. Additionally, conventional electrical floor boxes traditionally require disassembly for installation of conduit. SUMMARY Various embodiments of the present disclosure can overcome various of the aforementioned and other disadvantages associated with known electrical floor boxes and offer new advantages as well. Various exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical floor box assembling having a base including a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extending from the bottom wall to at least partially define an interior space having at least one compartment. A top is configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close the interior space. The top includes an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base. A grounding bus is configured to form a grounding path with an electrical device positioned in the at least one compartment Various exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical floor box assembling having a base including a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extending from the bottom wall to at least partially define an interior space having at least one compartment. A top is configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close the interior space. The top includes an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base. A grounding bus includes at least one conductive bracket and a conductive bridge. The at least one conductive bracket is configured for attachment to at least one electrical wire forming a grounding path with an electrical device positioned in the at least one compartment. Various exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical floor box assembly having a base and a top. The base includes a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extending from the bottom wall to at least partially define an interior space having at least one compartment. The base is made from a non-metallic material. The top is configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close the interior space. The top includes an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base. The top is made from a metallic material. A grounding bus is positioned in the interior and configured to provide a grounding path with an electrical device positioned in the at least one compartment and the top. Various exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical floor box assembling having a base including a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extending from the bottom wall to at least partially define an interior space having at least one compartment. A top is configured to be removably secured to the base to at least partially close the interior space. The top includes an opening for providing access to a user to the interior space of the base when the top is secured to the base. A conduit hub is disposed on at least one of the plurality of lateral walls or the bottom wall. A center drill point is configured for locating an opening for mounting a terminal adapter for a conduit attachment. Variou