Adjustable mud ring system

• US 7,468,486 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Benshoof, A California Corporation
• Original Assignee: Frank Shaochong Yan
• Inventors: Yan, Frank Shaochong
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/834,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20080035363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/66, 174/67, 174/480, 174/481, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.94, 220/4.03, 220/3.7, 220/3.9, 248/96, 248/343, 248/906, 439/535, D13/173, D13/187, D83/53
• US Class Current: 174/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls

Abstract

The Adjustable Mud ring consists of a collarless frame, having a central opening for an Extending Member, perimeter fastener openings for connecting to a junction box, and bendable tabs for securing the frame to an Extending Member, which is boxed shaped with a central opening for electrical apparatus, fixed tabs with openings for threading adjustable fasteners into openings in the frame, and bendable tabs for securing the system to a wall. A Grounding Spring Clip, constructed from sheet-metal, folded to create a compressive spring, with an opening for a fastener, allows proper grounding. Add-on Rings are boxed shaped with a central opening, openings on flat, fixed perimeter tabs for threading bolts into to an Extending Member, and bendable tabs for securing the system to a wall. A bracket, with openings for fasteners for attaching the assembly to wall members, can be made a part of the frame.

Claims

1. An adjustable mud-ring system comprising:

a Mud Ring with a central opening and a plurality of smaller threaded openings spaced about the central opening;

An Extending member including sidewalls having an inner periphery, said Extending member being slidable with respect to the central opening of said Mud Ring, and said Extending member having a plurality of tabs spaced about the perimeter of the Extending member with openings for adjustable fasteners;

at least one bendable tab on said Mud Ring, said tab being extendable into the central opening and contacting the sidewalls of the Extending member;

a plurality of adjustable fasteners for attaching the Extending member to the Mud Ring.

2. The Adjustable mud-ring system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the adjustable fasteners connecting the Extending member to the Mud Ring includes a Grounding Spring Clip.

3. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 1 wherein the Extending member has at least one bendable tab for securing the adjustable mud-ring system to an exterior wall surface.

4. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 1 wherein the Extending member has at least one removable angled bracket for securing the adjustable mud-ring system to an exterior wall surface.

5. An adjustable mud-ring system comprising:

a Mud Ring with a central opening and a plurality of smaller threaded openings spaced about the central opening;

An Extending member including sidewalls having an inner periphery, said Extending member being slidable with respect to the central opening of said Mud Ring, and said Extending member having a plurality of tabs spaced about the perimeter of the Extending member with openings for adjustable fasteners and an Add-on ring;

at least one bendable tab on said Mud Ring, said tab being extendable into the central opening and contacting the sidewalls of the Extending member;

a plurality of adjustable fasteners for attaching the Extending member to the Mud Ring;

Said Add-on Ring including sidewalls having an inner periphery, and a plurality of tabs extending into the inner periphery of the Add-on Ring, the tabs having openings for fasteners to attach to the tabs on the Extending member;

a plurality of adjustable fasteners for attaching the Add-on Ring to the Extending member.

6. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 5 wherein the dimensions of the inner periphery of the Add-on Ring and the Extending member are identical.

7. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 5 wherein at least one of the adjustable fasteners connecting the Extending member to the Mud Ring includes a Grounding Spring Clip.

8. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 5 wherein the Add-on Ring has at least one bendable tab for securing the adjustable mud-ring system to an exterior wall surface.

9. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 5 wherein the Add-on Ring has at least one removable angled bracket for securing the adjustable mud-ring system to an exterior wall surface.

10. An adjustable mud-ring system comprising:

a Mud Ring with a central opening and a plurality of smaller threaded openings spaced about the central opening, said Mud Ring having brackets with openings for fastening the Mud Ring to wall support members;

An Extending member including sidewalls having an inner periphery, said Extending member being slidable with respect to the central opening of said Mud Ring, and said Extending member having a plurality of tabs spaced about the perimeter of the Extending member with openings for adjustable fasteners;

at least one bendable tab on said Mud Ring, said tab being extendable into the central opening and contacting the sidewalls of the Extending member;

a plurality of adjustable fasteners for attaching the Extending member to the Mud Ring.

11. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the adjustable fasteners connecting the Extending member to the Mud Ring includes a Grounding Spring Clip.

12. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 10 wherein the Extending member has a least one bendable tab for securing the adjustable mud-ring system to an exterior wall surface.

13. The adjustable mud-ring system of claim 10 wherein the Extending member has at least one removable angled bracket for securing the adjustable mud-ring system to an exterior wall surface.