Extending electrical box

• US 8,633,384 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Shotey, Marcus J., Baldwin, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chervinsky, Boris L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, PETE T
• Application Number:
  US12/908,619
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/53, 174/58, 174/64, 174/535, 174/480, 174/481, 174/57, 174/63, 220 32- 402, 248/906, 439/535
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud

Abstract

An electrical box including an outer shell having at least four sides extending from a rear wall to an open top at a front surface and a box mounting tab protruding from two of the at least four sides, an inner shell having at least four sides, a front surface, and at least two device securing protrusions each having an aperture adjacent to each of the at least two sides, each device securing aperture including an opening extending toward the open top of the electrical box, the inner shell movable within the outer shell in a direction away from the rear wall, and wherein the inner shell front surface and the outer shell front surface are coplanar when the inner shell is in a rearmost position.

Claims

1. An electrical box comprising:

an outer shell comprising at least four sides extending from a rear wall to an open top at a front surface and a box mounting tab protruding from two of the at least four sides;

an inner shell slidable within the outer shell between an extended position and a rearmost position, the inner shell comprising at least four sides, a front surface, and at least two device securing protrusions each comprising an opening extending therethrough;

one or more screw covers positioned within the inner shell;

one or more tracks positioned within the outer shell to align with the one or more screw covers, the one or more tracks comprising a threaded channel and sized to fit at least partially within the one or more screw covers when the inner shell is in the rearmost position; and

one or more screws extending through the one or more screw covers and threadedly coupled to the threaded channel of the track, each of the one or more screws comprising a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion separated by a mounting washer extending from the screw, the threaded portion at least partially engaged with the threaded channel and the mounting washer positioned to abut a rear surface of the inner shell when the inner shell is moved toward the extended position.

2. The electrical box of claim 1, further comprising an electrical device movable with the inner shell.

3. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the one or more tracks are mated with the one or more screws to move the inner shell between the extended position and the rear most position.

4. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the one or more screws and the one or more tracks are complimentarily shaped.

5. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the one or more screws retains a relative position with respect to the inner shell.

6. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the inner shell is moved away from the back wall prior to mounting an electrical device within the inner shell.

7. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the inner shell is moved away from the back wall after mounting an electrical device within the inner shell.

8. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein the one or more screws is manipulated through the inner shell open top.

9. The electrical box of claim 1, wherein

each of the one or more tracks comprise the threaded channel extending therethrough.

10. The electrical box of claim 9, wherein the one or more tracks are mated with the one or more screws to move the inner shell.

11. The electrical box of claim 10, wherein rotation of the screw is translated into linear movement of the inner shell.