Adjustable electrical box

• US 20050051546A1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong Thanh
• Application Number:
  US10/656,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20050051546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/3.700
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

An adjustable electrical box including a box having a back wall bounded by a top and bottom wall and a pair of opposed sidewalls. The pair of sidewalls and the top and bottom walls are joined to form a continuous perimeter wall having an opening. A bracket is fixedly secured to the perimeter wall and extends outwardly therefrom for attaching said box to a support structure. A frame is telescopically received in said box opening. An adjustment device is rotatably secured to the frame and engagable with the perimeter wall of the box, wherein activation of the adjustment device causes the frame to move relative to the box.

Claims

1. An adjustable electrical box comprising:

a box including a back wall bounded by a top and bottom wall and a pair of opposed sidewalls, said pair of sidewalls and said top and bottom walls being joined to form a continuous perimeter wall having an opening;

a bracket fixedly secured to said perimeter wall and extending outwardly therefrom for attaching said box to a support structure;

a frame telescopically received in said box opening; and

an adjustment device rotatably secured to said frame and engagable with said perimeter wall of said box, wherein activation of said adjustment device causes said frame to move relative to said box.

2. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustment device includes a member rotatably secured to said frame.

3. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 2, wherein said member is threaded and is threadedly secured to said perimeter wall.

4. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 3, wherein one of said pair of box sidewalls includes a threaded opening adapted to receive said threaded member.

5. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 4, wherein said threaded opening is integrally formed on said one of said pair of box sidewalls.

6. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustment device is disposed at a point between said top wall and said bottom wall of said box.

7. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame and said box include a cooperating projection and groove arrangement to guide movement of said frame relative to said box.

8. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 7, wherein said bottom wall of said box includes said groove and a corresponding portion of said frame includes said projection.

9. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame is adapted to be secured to an electrical component.

11. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 9, wherein said frame includes a sidewall having a collar ending in a rim, and said collar extends outwardly beyond said sidewall.

12. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustment device includes only one threaded member engagable with said box.

13. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame include a pair of opposed securement points adapted to secure an electrical component to said frame.

14. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 1, wherein said box perimeter wall ends in an edge and said edge supports said collar when said frame is in a fully retracted state.

15. An adjustable electrical box assembly comprising:

a box including a back wall bounded by a top and bottom wall and a pair of opposed sidewalls, said pair of sidewalls and said top and bottom walls being joined to form a continuous perimeter wall having an opening;

a frame telescopically received in said opening; and

an adjustment device for causing said frame to move relative to said electrical box between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, said attachment device including at least one threaded member rotatably secured to said frame and threadedly received in one of said pair of sidewalls of said electrical box.

16. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 15, wherein said frame and said box includes a cooperating projection and groove arrangement to guide movement of said frame relative to said box.

17. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 16, wherein said bottom wall of said box includes said groove and a corresponding portion of said frame includes said projection.

18. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 15, wherein said frame includes an electrical component attachment point adapted to secure an electrical component thereto.

19. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 15, wherein said adjustment device retains said frame to said box.

20. The adjustable electrical box as defined in claim 16, wherein said threaded member includes a top portion disposed adjacent said rim.