Electrical box extension

• US 7,410,072 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul Brett Wegner, Wesley Gene Wegner
• Original Assignee: Paul Brett Wegner, Wesley Gene Wegner
• Inventors: Wegner, Paul Brett, Wegner, Wesley Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCKINLEY, CHRISTOPHER BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/971,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 220/3.7, 220/3.94, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.9, 174/58, 174/57
• US Class Current: 220/3.7
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/12 for flush mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/121 in plain walls

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical box extension that includes an extending member for a switch and/or plug mounting having one or more fastening brackets, one or more base fastening brackets and one or more fasteners that together with optional contact points provide for mechanical and electrical connectivity between the extending member and its associated electrical box and provide sufficient mechanical resistance to support the adjustable elevation of the elevating member thereby supporting a flush surface for surface mounted sockets, switches and their associated plates.

Claims

1. An adapting member adapted to slidably attach to an extending member via one or more fasteners, the adapting member comprising:

a first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets, each fastener mounting bracket comprising one or more guiding apertures; and

a mudring comprising;

a base; and

a flange integrally attached to a front side of the base;

wherein the flange forms an opening adapted to receive the extending member when retracted;

wherein a portion of each fastener mounting bracket of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets extends behind the front side of the base to a position coinciding with and reachable through the opening, whereby the one or more associated guiding apertures are adapted to engage at least one of the first set of one or more fasteners disposed within the opening; and

wherein rotation of one or more fasteners displaces the extending member relative to the flange in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base;

wherein the extending member comprises a second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets;

wherein each of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets comprises one or more guiding apertures;

wherein the guiding apertures of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets and the guiding apertures of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets are aligned in the direction substantially perpendicular to the base; and

wherein each of the one or more fasteners comprises a grommet fixed to a portion of the fastener between the associated guiding aperture of the first set of one or more mounting brackets and the associated guiding aperture of the second set of one or more mounting brackets.

2. An adapting member adapted to slidably attach to an extending member via one or more fasteners, the adapting member comprising:

a first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets, each fastener mounting bracket comprising one or more guiding apertures; and

a mudring comprising;

a base; and

a flange integrally attached to a front side of the base;

wherein the flange forms an opening adapted to receive the extending member when retracted;

wherein a portion of each fastener mounting bracket of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets extends behind the front side of the base to a position coinciding with and reachable through the opening, whereby the one or more associated guiding apertures are adapted to engage at least one of the first set of one or more fasteners disposed within the opening; and

wherein rotation of one or more fasteners displaces the extending member relative to the flange in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base;

wherein the extending member comprises a second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets;

wherein each of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets comprises one or more guiding apertures;

wherein the guiding apertures of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets and the guiding apertures of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets are aligned in the direction substantially perpendicular to the base; and

wherein the adapting member further comprises the one or more fasteners, and each of the fasteners is a threaded fastener comprising;

a first portion threadedly engaged to one of the guiding apertures of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets with a thread pattern having a first direction; and

a second portion threadedly engaged to one of the guiding apertures of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets with a thread pattern having a direction opposite the first direction.

3. An adapting member adapted to slidably attach to an extending member via one or more fasteners, the adapting member comprising:

a first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets, each fastener mounting bracket comprising one or more guiding apertures; and

a mudring comprising;

a base; and

a flange integrally attached to a front side of the base;

wherein the flange forms an opening adapted to receive the extending member when retracted;

wherein a portion of each fastener mounting bracket of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets extends behind the front side of the base to a position coinciding with and reachable through the opening, whereby the one or more associated guiding apertures are adapted to engage at least one of the first set of one or more fasteners disposed within the opening; and

wherein rotation of one or more fasteners displaces the extending member relative to the flange in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base;

wherein the extending member comprises a second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets;

wherein each of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets comprises one or more guiding apertures;

wherein the guiding apertures of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets and the guiding apertures of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets are aligned in the direction substantially perpendicular to the base; and

wherein the adapting member further comprises the one or more fasteners, and each of the fasteners is a comb pin adapted to engage one of the guiding apertures of the first set of one or more fastener mounting brackets and engage one of the guiding apertures of the second set of one or more fastener mounting brackets, wherein rotation of one or more fasteners facilitates extension and retraction of the extending member relative to the flange in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base.

4. An adapting member adapted to detachably attach to an electrical box via at least one screw and slidably attach to an extending member via one or more fasteners, wherein the extending member is adapted to detachably attach to at least one electrical device, the adapting member comprising:

one or more mounting brackets, each mounting bracket comprising a first portion and a tab;

each tab comprising one or more guiding apertures; and

a mudring integrally connected to the one or more mounting brackets, the mudring comprising;

a base having two or more apertures adapted to receive the at least one screw; and

a flange integrally attached to a front side of the base;

wherein the flange forms an opening adapted to receive the extending member therein when retracted;

wherein each first portion projects opposite the front side and in a direction away from the base, and wherein each tab projects substantially parallel with the base to a position behind the front side of the base coinciding with the opening, whereby the one or more guiding apertures are adapted to engage at least one of the one or more fasteners disposed within the opening; and

wherein rotation of one or more fasteners displaces the extending member relative to the flange in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base.

5. An adapting member blank to be folded, wherein the folded adapting member blank is adapted to detachably attach to an electrical box via at least one screw and slidably attach to an extending member via at least one fastener, wherein the extending member is adapted to detachably attach to at least one electrical device, the adapting member blank comprising:

a substantially flat base portion having one or more apertures adapted to receive the at least one screw;

a substantially flat flange portion integrally attached to the base portion, wherein the flange portion forms a cavity; and

one or more substantially flat mounting brackets projecting from the base portion outwardly with respect to the cavity, each mounting bracket portion comprising a tab with a guiding aperture, wherein the guiding aperture is adapted to rotatably engage one or more of the at least one fasteners.