Electric box extender

• US 5,736,674 A
• Filed: 12/27/1996
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Dhiru R.
• Application Number:
  US08/773,413
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/17 R, 174/52.6, 174/58, 174/63, 174/66, 174/67, 220/3.2, 220/3.4, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/4.03, 220/241, 220/242
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls

Abstract

An extender for bringing electrical boxes flush with newly installed sheet stock in a renovated building. The extender is a one-piece plastic molded box having an open face member, an open back, flanges extending from the face member, and four wings extending from the inward side of the face member. The extender can be inserted slidably into an existing electrical box with the four wings flexing toward each other to accommodate the box with flanges being flush with the surface of the newly installed sheet rock.

Claims

1. A plastic electrical box extender for extending existing electrical boxe so that the extended electrical box is flush with a surface comprising:

a face member having an outward side and an inward side and an axis through the center of said face member;

at least two flanges extending from and coplanar with said face member;

a plurality of inwardly extending flat wings each having a base and with a base edge, an inward edge opposite said base edge, and two side edges opposite one another with said wings extending from the inward side of said face, said wings symmetrically disposed about said axis through the center of said face member, said wings and said face forming a generally tubular body portion sized to receive an electrical device, said wings capable of flexing about said base toward said axis through said face thereby allowing said tubular body portion to be received within existing electrical box; and

apertures through at least two of said flanges, said apertures capable of passing screws therethrough for securing said electrical box extender to said existing electrical box.

2. The electrical box extender of claim 1 wherein said face member is rectangular and said wings include two side wings and two end wings with said side wings being wider than said end wings.

3. The electrical box extender of claim 2 wherein said wings are flat and have a thickness of approximately 0.035 to 0.050 inches and may be easily manually trimmed to allow said wings to fit obstructions in said electrical box.

4. The electrical box extender of claim 3 wherein said thickness is approximately 0.042 inches.

5. The electrical box extender of claim 3 wherein said flanges each include a screw guidance member having a depth of approximately 1/8 to 3/8 inches.

6. The electrical box extender of claim 5 wherein said depth of said screw guidance member is approximately 1/4 inch.

7. The electrical box extender of claim 3 wherein said wings are each of a trapezoidal shape with said inward edge being narrower than said base edge and said side edges converging toward said inward edge.

8. The electrical box extender of claim 7 where each of said wings include a base connector joining each adjacent wing together at their base ends.

9. The electrical box extender of claim 8 wherein each of said wings converge inwardly towards said axis.

10. The electrical box extender of claim 9 which includes four of said flanges.

11. The electrical box extender of claim 7 wherein each of said wings include a corner wall connecting said side edges of adjacent wings which is dividable to permit said wings to flex.

12. The electrical box extender of claim 1 wherein said face member and said flat wings are integrated into a one-piece unit.

13. The electrical box of claim 1 which includes a rim connecting said base ends of said flat wings and which is integral to said face member.

14. An electrical box extender for extending existing electrical boxe so that the extended electrical box is flush with a surface comprising:

a face member having an outward side and an inward side and an axis through the center of said face member;

at least two flanges extending from and coplanar with said face member;

grooves formed in said inward side of said face member;

a rim for inserting in said grooves;

a plurality of inwardly extending flat wings each having a base end with a base edge attached to said rim, an inward edge opposite said base edge, and two side edges;

said wings capable of being inserted into said grooves in said face member, said wings extending from the inward side of said face when inserted in said grooves, said wings symmetrically disposed about said axis through the center of said face member, said wings and said face member forming a generally tubular body portion sized to receive an electrical device, said wings capable of flexing about said base toward said axis through said face member thereby allowing said tubular body portion to be received within an existing electrical box; and

apertures through at least two of said flanges, said apertures capable of passing screws therethrough securing said electrical box extender to said existing electrical box.

15. A one-piece plastic electrical box extender for extending existing electrical boxe so that the extended electrical box is flush with a newly installed surface comprising:

a face member having an outward side and an inward side and an axis through the center thereof;

at least two flanges extending from and coplanar with said face member;

a plurality of sides extending from said inward side of said face member, each having a base end with a base edge and an inward edge opposite said base edge, two side edges with said sides symmetrically disposed about said axis through the center of said face member, said sides and said face member forming a generally tubular body portion sized to receive an electrical device, said sides capable of flexing about said base toward said axis through said face member thereby allowing said tubular body portion to be received within an existing electrical box;

corners connecting said side edges of said sides which are adjacent one another with said sides furthermore capable of having their corners removed to increase the degree of flexing about said base toward said axis through said face member to increase the amount of flexibility; and

apertures through at least two of said flanges, said apertures capable of passing screws therethrough for securing said electrical box extender to said existing electrical box.