Electric box extender and supplemental parts

• US 6,307,154 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Resonext Communications, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/782,890
• Time in Patent Office: 251 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

The invention includes of a one-piece plastic molded box having an open face member, an open back, flanges coplanar with and extending from the face member, and four sings extending from the inward side of the face member. The extender can be inserted slidably into an existing electrical box with the four wings flexed toward each other to accommodate the box with flanges flush with the surface of newly installed sheet rock to form a box extender with flanges flush with the existing electrical box to form a device insulator.

Claims

1. A one-piece plastic part for a round electrical box comprising:

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

B) a plurality of inwardly extending flat wings each having a base edge and an inward edge opposite said base edge with said wings extending from the inward side of said base and flange member;

said wings disposed about said axis through the center of said face and flange member;

said wings and face and flange member forming a generally tubular body portion sized to be placed in an electrical device;

said wings capable of flexing about said base edge toward said axis through said face and flange member thereby allowing said tubular body portion to be received within the electrical box; and

C) at least two openings through said face and flange member having a width capable of passing screws therethrough for fastening to the electrical box.

2. The one-piece part of claim 1 including more than four of said wings.

3. The one-piece plastic part of claim 2 wherein said wings are six in number.