Adjustable housing assembly

• US 7,549,258 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tapco International Corporation (Seven Group Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tapco International Corporation (Seven Group Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Lajewski, Todd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman; Jeanette E
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENNY, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US10/932,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 522/208, 522/201, 523/021, 523/026, 523/02, 174/481, 174/483, 174/522, 439/544, 439/546, 439/549, 439/552, 439/555, 439/557, 439/562, 439/563, 439/567, 454/27, 454/35, 454358-361
• US Class Current: 52/220.8
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/084 with mounting arrangements, e.g. snap fasteners for mounting to the wall or duct

Abstract

An adjustable housing assembly for mounting to a wall is disclosed. The assembly generally includes a back plate having a flange that defines an axis extending perpendicularly from the back plate and a front plate disposed in parallel relationship to the back plate. A connector connects the plates in the parallel relationship at various distances longitudinally along the axis. The connector includes co-acting male and female components extending circumferentially about the axis and at least one of the male and female components is spaced longitudinally along the axis for connecting the plates at any one of the various distances in response to relative rotation between the male and female components about the axis. The connector may also include a mounting ring separate from the back plate and the front plate that couples the front plate to the back plate. The mounting ring allows for additional distances to be obtained between the front plate and the back plate.

Claims

1. An adjustable housing assembly for mounting to a wall, said assembly comprising:

a back plate having a flange and defining an axis extending perpendicularly from said back plate for coupling to an exterior surface of the wall;

a front plate disposed in parallel relationship to said back plate;

a connector for connecting said plates in said parallel relationship at a plurality of discrete distances longitudinally along said axis for receiving building materials of different thicknesses between said back and front plates;

said connector including co-acting male and female components extending circumferentially about said axis and at least one of said male and female components spaced longitudinally along said axis for connecting said plates at one of said discrete distances in response to relative rotation between said male and female components about said axis to accommodate the building material on the wall; and

a detent releasably positioning said front plate relative to said back plate in one of a plurality of predetermined orientations wherein rotation of said front plate releases said detent for ease of removal therefrom.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said back plate is further defined as having a securing member extending from said flange.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said front plate is further defined as having an attachment portion extending from said front plate for attachment to said back plate.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said female component is further defined as extending from said securing member.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said male component is further defined as extending from said attachment portion.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said female component is further defined as including first and second locking channels longitudinally spaced along and circumferentially about said axis.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first and second locking channels are further defined as being discontinuously spaced circumferentially about said axis.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said connector is further defined as including a mounting ring separate from said back plate and said front plate and coupled therebetween.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mounting ring is further defined as having at least one male and female component for connection with said securing member and said attachment portion.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said male component of said attachment portion and said female component of said mounting ring creates a snap-fit connection therebetween.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said male component of said mounting ring is further defined as being discontinuously spaced circumferentially about said mounting ring.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said female component of said securing member is further defined as first and second locking channels longitudinally spaced along and circumferentially about said axis.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second locking channels are further defined as being discontinuously spaced circumferentially about said axis.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said female component of said mounting ring is further defined as including first and second locking slots longitudinally spaced along and circumferentially about said axis.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and said second locking slots are further defined as being discontinuously spaced circumferentially about said axis.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first and second locking slots extend circumferentially about said axis a different amount for locating said male components of said mounting ring in one of said locking slots.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said female component of said mounting ring is further defined as being discontinuously spaced circumferentially about said mounting ring.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said female component of said mounting ring is further defined as having a helical pattern such that relative rotation changes said distance between said plates.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said male component of said mounting ring is further defined as being discontinuously spaced circumferentially about said mounting ring.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said male component of said mounting ring is further defined as having a helical pattern such that relative rotation changes said distance between said plates.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said female component of said securing member is further defined as being continuously spaced circumferentially about said axis in a helical pattern such that relative rotation changes said distance.

22. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a locking mechanism locking said connector in a locked position as said connector is rotated relative to at least one of said front plate and said back plate.

23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said locking mechanism is further defined as said securing member having a locking finger and said attachment portion having a locking detent for receiving said locking finger when rotated.

24. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a locking mechanism locking said connector in a locked position as said connector is rotated relative to at least one of said front plate and said back plate.

25. An assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said locking mechanism is further defined as said securing member having a locking finger and said mounting ring having a locking detent for receiving said locking finger when rotated.

26. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said securing member is further defined as extending continuously and circumferentially about said axis.

27. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said attachment portion is further defined as extending continuously and circumferentially about said axis.

28. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said attachment portion is further defined as extending discontinuously and circumferentially about said axis.

29. An adjustable housing assembly for mounting to a wall, said assembly comprising:

a back plate having a flange extending radially about an aperture and defining an axis extending perpendicularly from said back plate for coupling to an exterior surface of the wall and having a securing member extending from said flange;

a front plate disposed in parallel relationship to said back plate for covering said aperture and having an attachment portion extending from said front plate for attachment to said back plate;

a connector for connecting said plates in said parallel relationship at a plurality of discrete distances longitudinally along said axis;

said connector including co-acting male and female components extending circumferentially about said axis and extending from either one of said securing member and said attachment portion;

wherein at least one of said male and female components are spaced longitudinally along said axis for connecting said plates at any one of said discrete distances in response to relative rotation between said male and female components about said axis;

said male and female components presenting a plurality of predetermined orientations of said front plate relative to said back plate; and

a locking mechanism comprising a detent integrally formed in at least one of said securing member, said attachment portion, and said connector releasably locking said front plate to said back plate to allow removal of said front plate therefrom as said front plate is rotated relative to said back plate.

30. An assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said locking mechanism is further defined as said securing member having a locking finger and said attachment portion having a locking detent for receiving said locking finger when rotated.

31. An assembly as set forth in claim 29 wherein said connector is further defined as including a mounting ring separate from said back plate and said front plate and coupled therebetween.

32. An assembly as set forth in claim 31 wherein said mounting ring is further defined as having male and female components for connection with said securing member and said attachment portion.

33. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said male component of said mounting ring is further defined as being threaded such that relative rotation changes said distance between said plates.

34. An assembly as set forth in claim 33 wherein said female component of said securing member is further defined as being threaded.

35. An assembly as set forth in claim 33 wherein said male component of said mounting ring is further defined as being discontinuously spaced circumferentially about said mounting ring.

36. An assembly as set forth in claim 34 wherein said female component of said mounting ring is further defined as being threaded.

37. An assembly as set forth in claim 36 wherein said male component of said attachment portion is further defined as being threaded for engaging said female component of said mounting ring.

38. An assembly as set forth in claim 34 wherein said male component of said attachment portion and said female component of said mounting ring creates a snap-fit connection therebetween.