Electrical outlet box

Claim 2

A box structure of the type described including first and second hollow box members telescopically connected for enabling the second box member to be shifted between a first position within said first box member and a second position extending through an opening in a sidewall of said first box member, means on said first box member for supporting an element such as an electrical component within said first box member, and said second box member having an open side facing said first box member, opposed inwardly projecting marginal portions defining said first member opening, said second box member including outwardly projecting stop means engageable With inner faces of said marginal portions, and elongated outwardly projecting cam elements on said second box means paralleling the edges of the open side thereof and adapted to be snapped outwardly through said opening for engaging the outer faces of said marginal portions when said second box member is fully extended through said first box member opening, said opposed marginal portions and said cam elements extending along substantially the full length of said margins for effectively sealing the connection between said first box member opening and the second box member.

Claim 3

A box structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first box member has an open side through which said electrical component may be installed, and all sides of said second box member other than said open side of the second box member being substantially closed.

Claim 4

A box structure, as defined in claim 1, which includes a third box member telescopically connected with one of said first and second box members for enabling the third box member to be shifted between a first position within said one box member to a second position extending through an opening in one wall of said one box member.

Claim 5

A box structure, as defined in claim 3, wherein said third box member is telescopically connected with said second box member.

Claim 6

A box structure, as defined in claim 3, wherein said third box member is telescopically connected with said first box member.

Claim 7

A box structure of the type described comprising a first box member including a first wall, sidewalls being at an angle to said first wall and extending in one direction from said first wall with margins of said sidewalls oppositely from said first wall terminating substantially in a predetermined plane and defining the open side of the first box member opposite from said first wall, one of said sidewalls having an opening therethrough defined by inwardly projecting marginal portions which are opposite to each other, and a second box member telescopically associated with said first box member for movement between a first position substantially within said first box member to a second position extending through said opening defined by said marginal portions, said second box member having a substantially closed wall in a position corresponding to the position of the open side of the first box member and offset from said plane in a direction toward said first wall, and said second box member also including an outwardly projecting flange portion substantially at an inner end thereof and projecting from said closed wall substantially to said predetermined plane, and interengageable means on said box members for retaining said second box member in said second position, with said second box member having a substantially open side facing said first box member.

Claim 8

A box structure of the type described comprising a first box member including a first wall, sidewalls being at an angle to said first wall and extending in one direction from said first wall with margins of said sidewalls oppositely from said first wall terminating substantially in a predetermined plane and defining the open side of the first box member opposite from said first wall, one of said sidewalls having an opening therethrough defined by inwardly projecting marginal portions which are opposite to each other, and a second box member telescopically associated with said first box member for movement between a first position substantially within said first box member to a second position extending through said opening defined by said marginal portions, said second box member having a substantially closed wall in a position corresponding to the position of the open side of the first box member and offset from said plane in a direction toward said first wall, and said second box member also including an outwardly projecting flange portion substantially at an inner end thereof and projecting from said closed wall substantially to said predetermined plane, and interengageable means on said box members for retaining said second box member in said second position, with said second box member having a substantially open side facing said first box member.

Claim 9

A box structure, as defined in claim 6, wherein said interengageable means comprises oppositely extending flanges on said second box member engageable with inner sides of said marginal portions, and cam elements on opposite sides of said second box member adjacent its flanges and being sized for snapping through said opening for engaging opposite sides of said marginal portions.

Claim 10

A box structure, as defined in claim 6, which includes a pair of mounting means on said sidewalls and spaced apart a predetermined distance in accordance with standard sizes of electrical components to be mounted within said first box member.

Claim 11

An electrical outlet box structure comprising a first box portion including a first wall, sidewalls extending from and at an angle to said first wall in one direction from said first wall, margins of said sidewalls oppositely from said first wall terminating substantially in a predetermined plane and defining an open side of said box portion opposite from said first wall, said box portion also having an open side oppositely from one of said sidewalls, and a second box portion associated with said first box portion and extending outwardly from saiD second mentioned open side and being in open communication with said first box portion, said second box portion having a substantially closed wall in a position corresponding to the position of the first mentioned open side of the first box portion and being offset from said plane in a direction toward said first wall, and said box structure including marginal sidewall portions substantially completely defining said first mentioned open side of the first box portion and projecting outwardly with respect to said closed wall substantially to said predetermined plane.

Claim 12

An electrical outlet box structure comprising a first box portion including a first wall, sidewalls extending from and at an angle to said first wall in one direction from said first wall, margins of said sidewalls oppositely from said first wall terminating substantially in a predetermined plane and defining an open side of said box portion opposite from said first wall, said box portion also having an open side oppositely from one of said sidewalls, and a second box portion associated with said first box portion and extending outwardly from saiD second mentioned open side and being in open communication with said first box portion, said second box portion having a substantially closed wall in a position corresponding to the position of the first mentioned open side of the first box portion and being offset from said plane in a direction toward said first wall, and said box structure including marginal sidewall portions substantially completely defining said first mentioned open side of the first box portion and projecting outwardly with respect to said closed wall substantially to said predetermined plane.