Adjustable Depth Electrical Wall Mount Ring

Abstract

An adjustable depth electrical wall mount ring can include a base ring and a finishing ring. The base ring can be configured to be attached to a junction box. The finishing ring can be configured to be adjusted relative to a ring portion of the base ring to extend away from the junction box through a wall layer. Adjusting the finishing ring can cause one or more outward extensions on the finishing ring to bear on an exterior surface of a wall layer and thereby urge the junction box towards the wall layer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of installing an electrical assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a ring assembly including a base ring and a finishing ring within a ring portion of the base ring, the finishing ring configured to be telescopically adjusted relative to the base ring via rotation of one or more threaded fasteners that extend from the finishing ring to the base ring;   securing the base ring to a junction box and installing the junction box relative to a wall layer, so that the ring portion of the base ring extends away from a front opening of the junction box towards a wall layer;   rotating the one or more threaded fasteners in a first direction to telescopically adjust a position of the finishing ring within the base ring, to move the finishing ring away from the front opening of the junction box to an extended configuration;   attaching one or more tabs to the finishing ring, the one or more tabs arranged to bear against an exterior surface of a wall layer; and,   rotating the one or more threaded fasteners in a second direction to telescopically adjust the position of the finishing ring within the base ring, to move the finishing ring towards the front opening of the junction box to an installed configuration and thereby compress the wall layer between the one or more tabs and base ring.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 installing the wall layer over the ring assembly, such that the wall layer covers the ring assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 executing a first cutting operation to provide a hole in the wall layer aligned with the ring assembly for access to the front opening of the junction box.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 providing a guide for the first cutting operation by securing a cover over the ring portion of the base ring.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 securing the cover over the ring portion of the base ring to block the front opening of the junction box before installing the wall layer, so that the wall layer is installed over the cover; and   removing the cover after the first cutting operation to install an electrical device onto the ring assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wall layer is installed over the ring assembly with the finishing ring in a retracted configuration, in which a front lip of the finishing ring is flush with or retracted past a front lip of the ring portion of the base ring, toward the junction box. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the finishing ring is adjusted telescopically in an axial direction defined by the one or more threaded fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more threaded fasteners extend from the finishing ring into one or more threaded sleeves within an interior volume of the junction box; and 
 wherein rotation of the one or more threaded fasteners to telescopically adjust the position of the finishing ring does not extend the one or more threaded fasteners past the one or more threaded sleeves within the junction box.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more threaded fasteners electrically bond the finishing ring to the ring portion of the base ring. 
     
     
         10 . The method if  claim 1 , wherein a front lip of the finishing ring is flush with or extended past an exterior surface of the wall layer, away from the junction box, when the finishing ring is in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein telescopically adjusting the position of the finishing to move the finishing ring to the installed configuration moves the junction box toward the wall layer. 
     
     
         12 . A method of installing an electrical assembly, the method comprising:
 installing a box assembly within a wall structure, the box assembly including: 
 a base ring secured to a junction box, with a ring portion of the base ring extending away from a front opening of the junction box; and 
 a finishing ring secured to the base ring, the finishing ring being sized to slide telescopically within the ring portion of the base ring, the finishing ring and base ring together forming a ring assembly; 
   executing a cutting operation to provide, in a wall layer of the wall structure, a hole aligned with the finishing ring, to provide access to the front opening of the junction box through the wall layer and the ring assembly;   telescopically adjusting the ring assembly to extend the finishing ring to an extended configuration; and   telescopically adjusting the ring assembly to retract the finishing ring from the extended configuration to an installed configuration, to axially compress the wall layer between the finishing ring and base ring and thereby urge the junction box towards the wall layer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ring assembly is installed within the wall structure prior to installing the wall layer into the wall structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 executing the cutting operation with a cover over the finishing ring, the cover providing a guide for the cutting operation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ring assembly is telescopically adjusted to extend the finishing ring to the extended configuration after the cutting operation is executed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting operation is executed with the junction box within the wall structure and the base ring secured to the junction box; and 
 wherein the finishing ring is secured to the ring assembly after executing the cutting operation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein telescopically adjusting the ring assembly includes rotating one or more fasteners arranged to telescopically adjust the finishing ring relative to the ring portion of the base ring; and 
 wherein the one or more threaded fasteners electrically bond the finishing ring to the base ring.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, during the cutting operation, the finishing ring is arranged on the ring assembly in a retracted configuration, in which a front lip of the finishing ring is flush with or retracted past a front lip of the ring portion of the base ring, toward the junction box. 
     
     
         19 . The method if  claim 12 , wherein a front lip of the finishing ring is flush with or extended past an exterior surface of the wall layer, away from the junction box, when the finishing ring is in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         20 . An electrical assembly comprising:
 a base ring removably mounted to a junction box, the base ring including a ring portion extending away from a front opening of the junction box towards an interior of a wall layer;   a finishing ring telescopically mounted within the ring portion of the base ring;   one or more tabs mounted to the finishing ring; and,   one or more threaded fasteners configured to telescopically secure the finishing ring to the base ring;   wherein rotation of the one or more threaded fasteners in a first direction moves the finishing ring away from the front opening of the junction box toward an extended position; and   wherein rotation of the one or more threaded fasteners in a second direction, opposite the first direction, moves the finishing ring away from the extended position and toward a retracted position,   the one or more tabs and the base ring being thereby configured to collectively apply compression forces to opposing sides of the wall layer when the finish ring is moved from the extended position toward the retracted position.