Electrical box assembly

• US 7,176,377 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US11/120,707
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/49, 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/480, 174/481, 174/502, 174/503, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.4, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.7, 220/3.8, 220/3.9, 220/4.02, 248/906, 248/343, D13/152, 439/535
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An assembly that enables easy mounting of an electrical box on an unfinished at a desired offset from the wall'"'"'s eventual surface. The assembly includes an electrical box and a slide member. The slide member includes a flange having a rear surface, an opening therein, and arms extending rearwardly from the rear surface. The electrical box includes sidewalls having apertures therein, a front opening, a front edge, and a cavity for receiving an electrical device. The slide member is slideable with respect to the electrical box. A mounting arrangement is included on the flange for securing the slide member to the wall. A fastening and adjustment arrangement on the arms enables the box to be secured to the slide member and also enables easy adjusting of the offset of the front edge of the box from the wall surface.

Claims

1. An assembly for providing electrical service on a surface comprising:

a box having sidewalls, a front opening, a front edge, and a cavity for receiving an electrical device therein;

a slide member including a flange having a rear surface, and an opening therein;

an arm extending inwardly from said rear surface of said flange;

a mounting arrangement on said flange for securing said slide member to said surface;

said slide member positioned outside of said sidewalls of said box;

outward extending ribs on said flange, said ribs having a thickness;

a web extending between each of said ribs of said flange, said webs having a thickness;

said thickness of said ribs being greater than said thickness of said webs; and

a fastening and adjustment arrangement including a plurality of guiding apertures in said arm, a plurality of receiving apertures in said sidewalls of said box, and at least one fastener associated with said arm for securing through said guiding apertures in said arm into said receiving apertures in said sidewalls of said electrical box, whereby the offset of said front edge of said box from said surface is determined by the selection and alignment of one of said guiding apertures in said arm with one of said receiving apertures in said sidewalls of said electrical box.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein

said arm includes a first arm and a second arm in parallel planes on opposing sides of said opening in said slide member;

and

each aperture in said plurality of apertures in said first arm are in axial alignment with a matching aperture in said plurality of apertures in said second arm.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said web extends outward at least 0.5 inch from said opening in said slide member.

4. The assembly of claim 1 including

a plurality of apertures in said web;

and

said apertures in said web include a diameter of at least 0.125 inch and no greater than 0.500 inch;

whereby said apertures in said web enhance the adherence of stucco when said stucco is applied thereto.

5. An assembly for providing electrical service on a surface comprising:

a box having sidewalls, a front opening, a front edge, and a cavity for receiving an electrical device therein;

a slide member including a flange having a rear surface, and an opening therein;

an arm extending inwardly from said rear surface of said flange;

a mounting arrangement on said flange for securing said slide member to said surface;

said slide member positioned outside of said sidewalls of said box;

a fastening and adjustment arrangement on said arm and on said sidewalls of said box for securing said box to said slide member and for adjusting the distance said front edge of said box is offset from said surface; and

brace members extending horizontally from each side of said opening in said slide member and extending vertically between said arms of said flange.

6. A method of installing electrical service on a surface including:

providing a box having sidewalls, a back wall, a front opening, a front edge, and a cavity therein;

providing a slide member including a flange having outward extending ribs, a rear surface, an opening therein, and an arm extending from said rear surface;

providing a mounting arrangement on said ribs for securing said slide member to said surface;

providing a fastening and adjustment arrangement on said arm for securing said box to said slide member and for adjusting the distance said front edge of said box is offset from said surface, said fastening and adjustment arrangement including a plurality of apertures in said arm and a fastener associated with said arm for securing through said arm into said sidewalls of said electrical box;

making a hole in said surface, said hole larger than said sidewalls of said box;

selecting a desired offset for said front edge of said box from said surface, said desired offset based upon the thickness of the finishing layer to be installed on said surface;

setting said front edge of said box is at said desired offset from said rear surface of said flange;

securing said box to said slide member with said fastening and adjustment arrangement to form an electrical box assembly;

inserting said electrical box assembly into said hole in said surface until said rear surface of said flange is flush against said surface; and

securing said electrical box assembly to said surface with said mounting arrangement.