Quick connect mount for fixture and method for connecting a fixture to a junction box

Abstract

A quick-connect mounting device for mounting a fixture to a junction box is provided. A first junction box mounting plate includes junction box mounting means for removably affixing the first junction box mounting plate to the junction box, and a first connector positioned in a channel in a front face of the first junction box mounting plate. The second fixture mounting plate includes fixture mounting means for removably affixing the second fixture mounting plate to the fixture, and a second connector positioned in a slot in a projection extending upwardly from a front face of the second fixture mounting plate. The channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate is sized to slidably receive the projection extending from the front face of the second fixture mounting plate, and the first connector is configured to mate with the second connector.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A quick-connect mounting device for mounting a fixture to a junction box comprising:
 a. a first junction box mounting plate having junction box mounting means for removably affixing said first junction box mounting plate to said junction box, and a first connector positioned in a channel in a front face of said first junction box mounting plate; and   b. a second fixture mounting plate having fixture mounting means for removably affixing said second fixture mounting plate to said fixture, and a second electrical connector positioned in a slot in a projection extending upwardly from a front face of the second fixture mounting plate;   c. said channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate being sized to slidable receive the projection extending from the front face of the second fixture mounting plate, and said first connector being configured to mate with said electrical connector; and wherein side walls of the channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate are angled inwardly to receive outwardly sloping walls of the projection on the second fixture mounting plate.   
     
     
         2 . The quick-connect mounting device according to  claim 1  wherein said means for removably affixing said first junction box mounting plate to said junction box comprises a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the junction box mounting plate and a plurality of bolts inserted through said bore holes and threadably engaging threaded bore holes in the junction box. 
     
     
         3 . The quick connect mounting device according to  claim 2  where said means for removably affixing said second fixture mounting plate to said fixture comprises a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the fixture mounting plate and a plurality of bolts inserted through said bore holes and threadably engaging threaded bore holes in the fixture. 
     
     
         4 . The quick-connect mounting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connector is a female connector, and the second connector is a male connector with male contacts configured to engage the female contacts of the first connector when the first junction box mounting plate and second device fixture mounting plate are fully engaged. 
     
     
         5 . A method for providing a removable quick-connect between a junction box and a device comprising the steps of:
 a. removably affixing a first junction box mounting plate to said junction box;   b. removably affixing a second fixture mounting plate to a fixture;   c. aligning a channel in a front face of said first junction box mounting plate with a projection extending upwardly from a front face of the second fixture mounting plate; said channel having side walls angled in a first direction and being sized to slidable receive side walls of the projection extending from the front face of the second fixture mounting plate, the side walls of the projection being angled in a second direction that is opposite the first direction of the side walls of the channel;   d. sliding said projection extending from the front face of the second fixture mounting plate into the channel of the first junction box mounting plate until a first connector positioned in the channel in the front face of said first junction box mounting plate engages a second connector positioned in a slot in the projection extending upwardly from the front face of said second fixture mounting plate.   
     
     
         6 . The method for providing the removable quick-connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of removably affixing said first junction box mounting plate to said junction box comprises the steps of:
 a. aligning a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the first junction box mounting plate with plurality of threaded bore holes in the junction box;   b. inserting a plurality of bolts through said corresponding plurality of bore holes and threadably engaging said corresponding plurality of threaded bore holes in the junction box.   
     
     
         7 . The method for providing the removable quick-connect according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of removably affixing said second fixture mounting plate to said fixture comprises the steps of:
 a. aligning a plurality of bore holes located at opposing corners of the fixture mounting plate with threaded bore holes in the electrical device;   b. inserting a plurality of bolts through said corresponding plurality of bore holes and threadably engaging said corresponding plurality of threaded bore holes in the device.   
     
     
         8 . The method for providing the removable quick-connect according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the channel in the front face of the first junction box mounting plate are angled inwardly and the side walls of the projection on the second fixture mounting plate are angled outwardly.