Position adjustable outlet box system

• US 6,875,922 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PW Industries, Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: PW Industries, Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Shaw, Jeffrey, Petak, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/829,754
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 174/58, 174/61, 174/57, 220/3.7, 220/3.92, 220/3.94, 220/3.9
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0207 Adjustable mounting of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls

Abstract

A position adjustable outlet box system. The system has an outlet box cage, a mounting plate to which the outlet box cage is attached (having a outlet box aperture formed therein), an outlet box that is slideably retained in the outlet box cage, and a drywall ring having a projecting neck portion, which drywall ring is attachable to the outlet box. An adjustment mechanism is provided to permit adjustment of the depth position of the outlet box in the outlet box guide cage. The adjustment mechanism can includes a bolt that freely rotates along its axial axis (but does not move axially relative to the outlet box cage), a threaded shaft that screws into a threaded hole in a back wall of the outlet box and turning means that is accessible from within the outlet box to permit the outlet box'"'"'s depth position within the cage to be adjusted as needed.

Claims

1. A position adjustable outlet box system, comprising:

an outlet box cage;

a drywall ring having a projecting neck portion, which drywall ring is attachable to the outlet box;

a mounting plate to which the outlet box cage is attached and having a outlet box aperture formed therein;

an outlet box that is slideably retained in the outlet box cage; and

an adjustment mechanism that permits adjustment of the depth position of the outlet box in the outlet box cage.

2. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a bolt with a distal end that rotatably engages with the outlet box cage, but without moving axial therewith, a threaded shaft that engages a threaded hole in the outlet box, and a turning engagement at a proximal end thereof.

3. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box cage has a rear wall, the adjustment mechanism has a head which rotatably engages with the rear wall to permit free rotation of the adjustment mechanism relative to the outlet box guide cage, and the outlet box has a threaded aperture formed therein, with the adjustment mechanism threadably engaging the aperture in the outlet box and the adjustment mechanism having a turning surface to permit the adjustment mechanism to be turned from within the outlet box to thereby adjust the depth position of the outlet box within the outlet box cage.

4. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box cage has a rear wall with a slot formed therein, the adjustment mechanism comprises a bolt with a head with a cylindrical groove formed therein, which grooved head rotatably fits within the slot to permit free rotation of the adjustment bolt within the slot, and the outlet box has a rear wall that has a threaded aperture formed therein, with the adjustment bolt threadably engaging the aperture.

5. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box cage has tabs to permit engagement with catches that are formed on the mounting plate.

6. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box cage has guide rails to slideably retain the outlet box therein.

7. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate has a plurality of outlet box apertures formed therein to permit the outlet box cage and outlet box to be mounted in a plurality of positions or for multiple outlet box guide cages and outlet boxes to be mounted thereto.

8. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box aperture in the mounting plate is elongate, and elongate slots are formed adjacent to the elongate outlet box aperture.

9. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate has a foot portion for attachment to a floor.

10. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the projecting neck portion of the drywall ring is between about 2.5 centimeter and 5.1 centimeter long.

11. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box cage has a back wall and connected side rails, the side rails being spaced apart to guide the outlet box.

12. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box comprises an electrical outlet box.

13. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 1, wherein the outlet box cage further comprises a catch for engaging a far side bracket.

14. A position adjustable outlet box system, comprising:

an outlet box cage having a first depth;

a drywall ring having a projecting neck portion, which drywall ring is attachable to the outlet box;

an outlet box having a having a second depth, which second depth is less than the first depth of the outlet box cage, the outlet box being slideably retained in the outlet box cage; and

an adjustment mechanism that permits adjustment of the depth position of the outlet box in the outlet box cage.

15. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 14, further comprising a mounting plate with an outlet box aperture formed therein to which the outlet box guide cage attaches.

16. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 14, wherein the outlet box cage has a rear wall, the adjustment mechanism has a head which rotatably engages with the rear wall to permit free rotation of the adjustment mechanism relative to the outlet box guide cage, and the outlet box has a threaded aperture formed therein, with the adjustment mechanism threadably engaging the aperture in the outlet box and the adjustment mechanism having a turning surface to permit the adjustment mechanism to be turned from within the outlet box to thereby adjust the depth position of the outlet box within the outlet box cage.

17. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 14, wherein the outlet box cage has guide rails to slideably retain the outlet box therein.

18. A position adjustable outlet box system for use with outlet boxes, comprising:

an outlet box guide cage;

a mounting plate to which the outlet box guide cage is attached and having a outlet box aperture formed therein; and

an adjustment mechanism that has a distal end that rotatably engages the outlet box guide cage without moving axial therewith, said adjustment mechanism has a threaded shaft and a turning engagement at a proximal end thereof to permits adjustment of the depth position of the outlet box in the outlet box cage, said outlet box cage having guide rails to keep said outlet box in a stable position.

19. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 18, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a bolt with a distal end that rotatably engages with the outlet box cage, but without moving axial therewith, a threaded shaft, and a turning end at a proximal end thereof.

20. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 18, wherein the outlet box cage has tabs to permit engagement with catches that are formed on the mounting plate.

21. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 18, wherein the outlet box cage further comprises a catch for engaging a far side bracket.

22. The position adjustable outlet box system of claim 18, wherein the outlet box comprises an electrical outlet box.