Modular electrical box extender

• US 9,806,507 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phillip J. Gross
• Original Assignee: Phillip J. Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Phillip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew, Fenn C
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOLZ, ELIZABETH J
• Application Number:
  US14/816,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20170040786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 220 32, 220 35, 220 37, 220 394, 220 401, 220 402, 220 403, 220 392, 174 50, 174480, 174481
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls

Abstract

An electrical box extender generally including a first half and a second half is provided. The first and second halves each extend between a male end and a female end. When attached, the first and second halves together form a polygon shape having four corners. One corner is formed where the male end of the first half is attached to the female end of the second half and another corner is formed where the male end of the second half is attached to the female end of the first half. Such an electrical box extender may allow for easier installation to electrical box having existing electrical connections.

Claims

1. An electrical box extender configured for attachment to an underlying electrical box, the electrical box extender comprising:

a first half extending between a male end and a female end; and

a second half also extending between a male end and a female end, the first and second halves together forming a polygonal shape having four corners, one corner formed where the male end of the first half is attached to the female end of the second half, and another corner formed where the male end of the second half is attached to the female end of the first half;

wherein the male end of the second half includes a pair of tabs extending perpendicularly from a second half wall, wherein the female end of the first half includes a pair of tabs extending perpendicularly from a first half wall, and wherein the tabs of the male end of the second half are positioned inside the tabs of the female end of the first half.

2. The electrical box extender of claim 1, wherein the first half extends continuously between the male end and the female end, and wherein the second half also extends continuously between the male end and the female end.

3. The electrical box extender of claim 1, wherein the electrical box extender defines a transverse direction, wherein the male end of the first half is attached to the female end of the second half using a screw extending along the transverse direction, and wherein the male end of the second half is attached to the female end of the first half using a screw extending along the transverse direction.

4. The electrical box extender of claim 3, wherein the screw attaching the male end of the first half to the female end of the second half is configured to attach the electrical box extender to the underlying electrical box, and wherein the screw attaching the male end of the second half to the female end of the first half is also configured to attach the electrical box extender to the underlying electrical box.

5. The electrical box extender of claim 1, wherein the tabs of the male end of the second half each define an opening, wherein the tabs of the female end of the first half each define an opening, and wherein the openings in the tabs of the male end of the second half align with the openings in the tabs of the female end of the first half.

6. The electrical box extender of claim 5, wherein the electrical box extender defines a transverse direction, wherein the first and second halves each define an outer edge along the transverse direction, wherein the first and second halves further define an outer plane at the outer edges, and wherein the tabs of the female end of the first half are set back from the outer plane such that a screw extending through the openings in the tabs of the female end of the first half and the openings in the tabs of the male end of the second half does not extend into or through the outer plane.

7. The electrical box extender of claim 1, wherein the first half is formed integrally of a metal, and wherein the second half is also formed integrally of a metal.

8. The electrical box extender of claim 1, wherein the first half is interchangeable with the second half.

9. The electrical box extender of claim 1, wherein the electrical box extender defines a transverse direction, wherein the first and second halves each define an outside edge along the transverse direction, wherein the first half includes an outer tab extending inward from a corner at the outside edge of the first half, wherein the second half includes an outer tab extending inward from a corner at the outside edge of the second half, and wherein the outer tab of the first half and the outer tab of the second half are each configured to allow for attachment of at least one of an additional electrical box extender, a blank cover, or a device.

10. An electrical box assembly defining a transverse direction, the electrical box assembly comprising:

a electrical box having a polygonal shaped configured to receive a plurality of electrical wires and configured for attachment to a wall, the electrical box defining an outer edge along the transverse direction; and

an electrical box extender attached to the electrical box and positioned at the outer edge of the electrical box, the electrical box extender including

a first half extending between a male end and a female end; and

a second half also extending between a male end and a female end, the first and second halves together forming a polygonal shape substantially the same as the polygonal shape of the electrical box and having four corners, one corner formed where the male end of the first half is attached to the female end of the second half, and another corner formed where the male end of the second half is attached to the female end of the first half;

wherein the male end of the second half includes a pair of tabs extending perpendicularly from a second half wall, wherein the female end of the first half includes a pair of tabs extending perpendicularly from a first half wall, and wherein the tabs of the male end of the second half are positioned inside the tabs of the female end of the first half.

11. The electrical box assembly of claim 10, wherein the male end of the first half is attached to the female end of the second half using a screw extending along the transverse direction, and wherein the male end of the second half is attached to the female end of the first half using a screw extending along the transverse direction.

12. The electrical box assembly of claim 11, wherein the screw attaching the male end of the first half to the female end of the second half is configured to attach the electrical box extender to the electrical box, and wherein the screw attaching the male end of the second half to the female end of the first half is also configured to attach the electrical box extender to the electrical box.

13. The electrical box assembly of claim 10, wherein the tabs of the male end of the second half each define an opening, wherein the tabs of the female end of the first half each define an opening, and wherein the openings in the tabs of the male end of the second half align with the openings in the tabs of the female end of the first half.

14. The electrical box assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second halves each define an outer edge along the transverse directions, wherein the first and second halves further define an outer plane at the outer edges, and wherein the tabs of the female end of the first half are set back from the outer plane such that a screw extending through the openings in the tabs of the female end of the first half and the openings in the tabs of the male end of the second half does not extend into or through the outer plane.

15. The electrical box assembly of claim 10, wherein the first half is formed integrally of a metal, and wherein the second half is also formed integrally of a metal.

16. The electrical box assembly of claim 10, wherein the first half extends continuously between the male end and the female end, and wherein the second half also extends continuously between the male end and the female end.

17. The electrical box assembly of claim 10, wherein the first half is interchangeable with the second half.

18. An electrical box extender defining a transverse direction and configured for attachment to an underlying electrical box, the electrical box extender comprising:

a first half formed integrally of metal and extending continuously between a male end and a female end; and

a second half interchangeable with the first half and also formed integrally of metal and extending continuously between a male end and a female end, the first and second halves together forming a polygonal shape having four corners, one corner formed where the male end of the first half is attached to the female end of the second half by a screw extending along the transverse direction, and another corner formed where the male end of the second half is attached to the female end of the first half by a screw extending along the transverse direction, the screw attaching the male end of the first half to the female end of the second half and the screw attaching the male end of the second half to the female end of the first half each configured to attach the electrical box extender to the underlying electrical box;

wherein the male end of the second half includes a pair of tabs extending perpendicularly from a second half wall, wherein the female end of the first half includes a pair of tabs extending perpendicularly from a first half wall, and wherein the tabs of the male end of the second half are positioned inside the tabs of the female end of the first half.