Abstract:
An adjustable electrical box assembly for mounting an electrical device on a stone wall either flush with the wall or at a desired offset. The assembly includes a base member, anchoring members, an electrical box, and an optional base extender. For a wall constructed of narrow depth stones, the base member is mounted directly to the substrate using the anchoring members. For a wall constructed of thick stones, the base member and base extender are secured together with the anchoring members and the assembly is secured to the substrate. The offset of the electrical box from the wall surface is set by adjusting the position of attachment of the anchoring members with respect to the sidewalls of the base member and base extender. The electrical box is adapted to receive a light fixture or similar electrical device.

Description:
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/821,730 filed Jun. 25, 2007 and still pending, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to electrical junction boxes and specifically to an adjustable electrical box assembly that enables mounting an electrical device to a stone wall in a flush or offset configuration depending on the homeowner&#39;s preference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Electrical boxes are commonly installed on the exterior walls of buildings to mount electrical fixtures and the like. For the homeowner, it is desirable to have the option of mounting the electrical fixture either flush with the outer wall surface or at some predetermined offset from the wall surface. Conventional electrical boxes typically include attached captive fasteners that enable mounting of the box by driving the fasteners sideways into a stud. Typically the conventional electrical box is mounted flush with the wall surface. 
   As a result of the substantial thickness of brick and stone wall coverings and their imperviousness to receive fasteners, conventional electrical boxes cannot easily be mounted to brick and stone walls. The standard method of installing electrical service to a structure having a stone wall is to mount a conventional plastic or metal electrical box and then cement the conventional box into the wall. Typically there is a ragged gap around the periphery of the electrical box that must be filled with cement. The cement around the periphery is typically visible from the front of the conventional box, and this typically detracts from the attractiveness of the installed box. Additionally, as a result of using only cement to secure the box, it is difficult to level the box with respect to the outer surface of the stone wall. 
   An additional challenge provided by stone wall construction is the fact that stone is provided in several thicknesses. It is therefore difficult to mount conventional electrical boxes flush or at a desired offset from the stone wall without special procedures such as building a framework to extend the box from the substrate. There is no arrangement on a conventional box to adjust the distance the box extends outward from the stone surface. The utility of the electrical box, including the accessibility to the electrical fixtures installed thereto, is enhanced if it is set at the desired offset distance with respect to the wall. 
   A further problem arises as the result of the smooth outer sidewalls of the conventional electrical box as there is no structure on the outer surface of the sidewalls for holding the electrical box fast within the mortar. 
   What is needed therefore is an electrical box for exterior stone walls that may be securely anchored to the substrate with fasteners, is easily leveled with respect to the wall, is capable of being mounted flush with the wall or at some predetermined offset with respect to the wall, is capable of being adjusted to fit various thicknesses of stone, and that provides an aesthetically pleasing installation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is an adjustable electrical box assembly for mounting an electrical device on a stone wall. The assembly includes a base member, anchoring members, an electrical box, and an optional base extender. The base member includes sidewalls with a plurality of outward extending tabs and a top wall with a forward extending lip. The anchoring members are substantially L-shaped with a short leg and a long leg. For a stone wall of narrow thickness, the base member is mounted directly to the substrate with the anchoring member and the electrical box is secured to the base member. The optional base extender is not used. The offset of the box from the stone wall may be adjusted by the orientation of the anchoring members. For a smaller offset, the short leg may be secured to the base member and the long leg to the substrate. For a larger offset, the long leg may be secured to the base member. For a wall constructed of thick stones, the base extender is secured to the substrate with the anchoring members and the base member and base extender are joined together and secured to the anchoring members. The offset of the electrical box from the wall surface is set by adjusting the position of the anchoring members with respect to the sidewalls of the base member and base extender. Outward extending tabs on the base member and the base extender provide a gap for receiving and guiding a leg of the anchoring member there between. A plurality of apertures is provided within the gap of the base member and base extender and an elongated slot is provided in each leg of the anchoring members. The outward extending tabs provide an anchor for mortar that is applied to the gap between the wall and the base portion of the electrical box assembly. After installing the base member or base member and base extender assembly to the substrate, the electrical box is secured to the base member with the rearward extending sidewalls of the electrical box received within the forward extending lip of the base member. The electrical box is adapted to receive a light fixture or similar electrical device. 
   OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
   Several advantages are achieved with the adjustable electrical box assembly of the present invention, including:
         (1) The adjustable electrical box assembly of the present invention enables easy mounting of electrical devices on structures with stone walls. Stone is provided in several of thicknesses, and the electrical box assembly of the present invention enables an installer to easily mount an electrical device flush or at some desired offset from the stone wall surface for any thickness of stone.   (2) The adjustable electrical box assembly includes anchoring members and fasteners that enable mounting of the box assembly to the wall substrate rather than anchoring merely with cement as in conventional electrical boxes.   (3) The plurality of anchoring members enables easy leveling of the electrical box with respect to the wall surface. If the substrate is rough or uneven, each of the four anchoring members can be adjusted individually with respect to the electrical box, thereby making it easy to obtain an installed box that is level with respect to the outer wall.   (4) The adjustable electrical box assembly of the present invention provides enhanced anchoring of mortar when it is used to fill around the base of the assembly. The adjustable electrical box assembly includes a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the base member portion of the assembly to provide enhanced adherence to mortar.   (5) The outlet box and adapter of the present invention provides an aesthetically pleasing electrical box for mounting an electrical device to the exterior of a wall constructed of stone or similar materials such as brick.       

   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following description along with reference to the drawings. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an adjustable electrical box assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the base member portion of the adjustable electrical box assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the base member of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the base member of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the electrical box portion of the adjustable electrical box assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the electrical box of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the electrical box of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an anchoring member that forms a portion of the adjustable electrical box assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the anchoring member of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an end view of the anchoring member taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is an end view of the anchoring member taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the electrical box taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 6  and a sectional view of the base member taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 4  with the electrical box in alignment with the base member and attached anchoring members to be joined thereto. 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the electrical box, base member, and anchoring members of  FIG. 12  after being secured together to form the adjustable electrical box assembly of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of the adjustable electrical box assembly of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of the adjustable electrical box assembly of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the adjustable electrical box assembly according to the present invention exploded away from and in alignment to be inserted in a hole in a brick wall. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the adjustable electrical box assembly according to the present invention after being secured to a brick wall. 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of the electrical box exploded away from and in alignment with the base member and anchoring members to be secured thereto and a light fixture in alignment with the adjustable electrical box assembly according of the present invention to be secured thereto. 
       FIG. 19  is a side view of an adjustable electrical box assembly according to the present invention depicting the electrical box installed at a distance D 1  offset from the wall. 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a second and preferred embodiment of an adjustable electrical box assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a box extender that forms a portion of the adjustable electrical box assembly of the present invention. 
       FIG. 22  is a top view of the box extender of  FIG. 21 . 
       FIG. 23  is a side view of the box extender of  FIG. 21 . 
       FIG. 24  is a bottom view of the box extender of  FIG. 21 . 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of one of the anchoring members that forms a portion of the adjustable electrical box assembly of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 26  is a side view of the anchoring member of  FIG. 25 . 
       FIG. 27  is a front view of the anchoring member taken along line  27 - 27  of  FIG. 26 . 
       FIG. 28  is a top view of the anchoring member taken along line  28 - 28  of  FIG. 26 . 
       FIG. 29  is an exploded perspective view of a second and preferred embodiment of an adjustable electrical box assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 30  is a perspective view of the second and preferred embodiment of the adjustable electrical box assembly with the anchoring members extended to accommodate a greater thickness of stone. 
       FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a second and preferred embodiment of the adjustable electrical box assembly with the optional box extender omitted and the anchoring members rotated to accommodate a smaller thickness of stone. 
   

   TABLE OF NOMENCLATURE 
   The following is a listing of part numbers used in the drawings along with a brief description: 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Part Number 
               Description 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                20 
               adjustable electrical box assembly, first embodiment 
             
             
                22 
               base member 
             
             
                24 
               anchoring member 
             
             
                26 
               electrical box 
             
             
                28 
               sidewall of base member 
             
             
                30 
               tab 
             
             
                32 
               top wall of base member 
             
             
                34 
               lip 
             
             
                36 
               gap 
             
             
                38 
               aperture 
             
             
                40 
               inner periphery of lip 
             
             
                42 
               inner edge of lip 
             
             
                44 
               outer edge of lip 
             
             
                46 
               boss in base member 
             
             
                48 
               bore 
             
             
                50 
               peripheral flange of electrical box 
             
             
                52 
               sidewalls of electrical box 
             
             
                54 
               back wall of electrical box 
             
             
                56 
               electrical enclosure 
             
             
                58 
               boss in electrical box 
             
             
                60 
               bore 
             
             
                62 
               aperture in back wall of electrical box 
             
             
                64 
               apron 
             
             
                66 
               outer edge of peripheral flange 
             
             
                68 
               removable wall section 
             
             
                70 
               knockout 
             
             
                72 
               base leg 
             
             
                74 
               side leg 
             
             
                76 
               base slot 
             
             
                78 
               slot 
             
             
                80 
               first attachment arrangement 
             
             
                82 
               fastener 
             
             
                84 
               second attachment arrangement 
             
             
                86 
               fastener for securing electrical box to base member 
             
             
                88 
               hole in wall 
             
             
                90 
               brick wall 
             
             
                92 
               substrate 
             
             
                94 
               third attachment arrangement 
             
             
                96 
               fastener 
             
             
                98 
               mortar 
             
             
               100 
               rear edge of the base member 
             
             
               102 
               light fixture 
             
             
               104 
               bracket 
             
             
               106 
               nut 
             
             
               108 
               fastener for securing electrical fixture to electrical box 
             
             
               110 
               post 
             
             
               200 
               adjustable electrical box assembly, preferred embodiment 
             
             
               202 
               base member 
             
             
               204 
               base extender 
             
             
               206 
               anchoring member 
             
             
               208 
               electrical box 
             
             
               210 
               substrate 
             
             
               212 
               stone wall 
             
             
               214 
               frame member 
             
             
               216 
               open top 
             
             
               218 
               open bottom 
             
             
               220 
               sidewalls of base extender 
             
             
               222 
               top edge 
             
             
               224 
               aperture in base extender 
             
             
               226 
               peripheral lip of base extender 
             
             
               228 
               tab of base extender 
             
             
               230 
               longitudinal gap of base extender 
             
             
               232 
               long leg of anchoring member 
             
             
               234 
               short leg 
             
             
               236 
               inner slot in long leg 
             
             
               238 
               outer slot in long leg 
             
             
               240 
               slot in short leg 
             
             
               242 
               fastener 
             
             
               244 
               first mounting arrangement 
             
             
               246 
               fastener for securing assembly to substrate 
             
             
               248 
               second mounting arrangement 
             
             
               D1 
               distance of offset of electrical box from wall 
             
             
               H B   
               height of sidewalls of base member 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the first embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable electrical box assembly  20  including a base member  22 , one or more anchoring members  24 , and an electrical box  26 . The adjustable electrical box assembly  20  can be used to mount an electrical device to a brick or stone wall (not shown), either flush with the wall or at a predetermined offset based on the user&#39;s preference. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base member  22  includes sidewalls  28 , a plurality of outward extending tabs  30 , a top wall  32 , and a lip  34  extending from the top wall  32 . The outward extending tabs  30  are arranged in pairs along each sidewall  28  of the base member  22  thereby defining a gap  36  there between. A plurality of apertures  38  is provided in linear alignment longitudinally along the sidewall  28  of the base member  22  within the gap  36 . The lip  34  includes an inner periphery  40 , an inner edge  42 , an outer edge  44 , and a plurality of bosses  46  along the inner periphery  40  of the base member  22  at the inner edge  42  of the lip  34 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first embodiment of the base member  22  includes four bosses  46  including bores  48  therein spaced 90° apart around the inner periphery  40  of the forward extending lip  34 . The tabs  30  extend outwardly from the sidewalls  28  of the base member  22 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 5-7  there is shown an electrical box  26  that forms a portion of the adjustable electrical box assembly of the present invention. The electrical box  26  includes a peripheral flange  50  and sidewalls  52  extending rearwards from the peripheral flange  50  to a back wall  54 . The sidewalls  52  and back wall  54  define an electrical enclosure  56  therein that will later accommodate wiring for an electrical device (not shown). Bosses  58 , each including a bore  60  therein, are integral with and extend from the inner periphery of the sidewalls  52 . The electrical box  26  further includes apertures  62  in the back wall  54 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the electrical box  26  includes an apron  64  that is integral with and extends rearward from the outer edge  66  of the peripheral flange  50 . One or more removable wall sections  68  are provided in the back wall  54  of the electrical box  26 , the removable wall sections  68  when removed there from thereby forming knockouts  70  (see  FIG. 6 ) in the back wall  54  of the electrical box  26 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8-11 , the anchoring member  24  is substantially L-shaped and includes a base leg  72  and a side leg  74 . The base leg  72  includes a base slot  76  arranged laterally therein and the side leg  74  includes a slot  78  arranged longitudinally therein. The anchoring member  24  may be constructed of plastic or metal. 
   With reference to  FIG. 12  there is shown an electrical box  26  exploded away from and in alignment with a base member  22  to be secured thereto in order to form an adjustable electrical box assembly  20  according to the present invention. The sidewalls  52  of the electrical box  26  are telescopically received within the lip  34  of the base member  22 . The adjustable electrical box assembly  20  includes a first attachment arrangement  80  for securing each anchoring member  24  to the base member  22 . The first attachment arrangement  80  includes one or more fasteners  82  for securing the anchoring member  24  to the sidewall  28  of the base member  22 . The distance of the base leg  72  from the outer edge  44  of the lip  34  may be varied and selected to arrange for mounting the electrical box  26  flush with a wall (not shown) or at some desired offset from a wall. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , the adjustable electrical box assembly  20  includes a second attachment arrangement  84  for securing the electrical box  26  to the base member  22 . The second attachment arrangement  84  includes fasteners  86  for securing through the apertures  62  in the back wall  54  of the electrical box  26  into the bosses  46  of the base member  22 .  FIG. 13  depicts the adjustable electrical box assembly  20  in the assembled state, after the anchoring members  24  have been secured to the base member  22  and the electrical box  26  has been secured to the base member  22 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , the anchoring member  24  is slideable within the gap  36  that is defined by the spaced apart tabs  30 . When the adjustable electrical box assembly  20  has been fully assembled as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the peripheral flange  50  of the electrical box  26  extends laterally substantially beyond the sidewalls  28  of the base member  22  and obscures a substantial portion of the sidewalls  28  and the anchoring members  24  from view. 
   With reference to  FIG. 16 , the adjustable electrical box assembly  20  of the present invention is placed in operation by first creating a hole  88  in a stone or brick wall  90  to expose the substrate  92  which is typically formed of plywood or similar substrate material. A third attachment arrangement  94  includes fasteners  96  which cooperate with the base legs  72  and base slots  76  of the anchoring members  24  to secure the adjustable electrical box assembly  20  to the substrate  92 . As described herein above, prior to securing the assembly to the wall the anchoring members  24  can be slid within the gaps  36  defined by the outward extending tabs  30  and secured in a user selected position within the gap  36 . Thus, the user can set the offset of the electrical box  26  with respect to the wall  90  by selecting the position of the anchoring members  24  with respect to the base member  22 .  FIG. 16  depicts the anchoring members  24  set as far forward as possible with respect to the base member  22  which sets the electrical box  26  flush against the wall assuming the depth of the hole  88  is greater than the depth of the sidewalls  28 . Conversely, the anchoring members  24  can be slid backward with respect to the sidewalls  28  and secured thereto, in which case the electrical box  26  will be offset with respect to the wall  90 . The position of the anchoring members  24  with respect to the sidewalls  28  of the base member determines the amount of offset from the wall  90 . 
     FIG. 17  depicts an adjustable electrical box assembly  20  according to the present invention after being secured to a brick wall  90 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , the electrical box has been installed at an offset from the wall. Mortar  98  has been used to fill the hole surrounding the adjustable electrical box assembly  20 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 18 , an electrical box  26  is shown in alignment with a base member  22  that has been secured to a substrate  92  by fasteners  96  secured through the anchoring members  24 . Mortar  98  is applied to fill the spaced between the base member  22  and the brick wall  90 . In  FIG. 18 , the anchoring members  24  have been secured to the base member  22  in the most forward position with respect to the base member  22 , thereby placing the base legs  72  flush with the rear edge  100  of the base member  22 . The electrical box  26  will therefore be secured flush with the brick wall  90  with the rear of the apron  64  in contact with the wall  90 . An electrical device, such as a light fixture  102 , is secured to the adjustable electrical box assembly  20  using the complementary bracket  104  and nuts  106  supplied with the light fixture  102 . The bores  60  in the bosses  58  of the electrical box  26  are capable of receiving fasteners  108  for securing the bracket  104  to the electrical box  26 . The nuts  106  thread onto posts  110  that extend from the light fixture bracket  104 . 
     FIG. 19  depicts an adjustable electrical box assembly  20  according to the present invention installed on a brick wall  90  at an offset from the wall. To offset the electrical box  26  from the wall, anchoring members  24  are secured to the sidewalls  28  of the base member  22  in such a manner that the base legs  72  extend behind the rear edge  100  of the base member  22 . The light fixture  102  is therefore installed at an offset distance D 1  from the wall  90 . After the adjustable electrical box assembly  20  has been secured to the wall  90 , the space between the brick wall  90  and the base member  22  is filled with mortar  98 . 
   With reference to the first embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the present invention is an adjustable electrical box assembly  20  including a base member  22 , one or more anchoring members  24 , and an electrical box  26 . The adjustable electrical box assembly  20  can be used to mount an electrical device to a brick or stone wall (not shown), either flush with the wall or at a predetermined offset based on the user&#39;s preference. 
   With reference to  FIG. 20 , there is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable electrical box assembly  200  including a base member  202 , an optional base extender  204 , one or more anchoring members  206 , and an electrical box  208 . The adjustable electrical box assembly  200  is used to mount an electrical device primarily to the substrate  210  underlying a stone wall  212 , either flush with the wall or at a predetermined offset based on the user&#39;s preference. The base extender  204  portion of the a adjustable electrical box assembly  200  can be omitted for those installations in which the stone that will be installed over the substrate  210  is relatively thin and the base member  202  alone is sufficient to extend the electrical box  208  beyond the surface of the overlying stone. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 21-24 , the preferred embodiment of the base extender  204  includes a frame member  214  including an open top  216 , an open bottom  218 , and sidewalls  220  having a top edge  222 . A plurality of apertures  224  are provided in the sidewalls  220  of the base extender  204 , with the apertures  224  aligned longitudinally along the sidewalls  220 . The base extender  204  also includes a peripheral lip  226  extending from the top edge  222  of the sidewalls  220 . A plurality of tabs  228  are provided extending outward from the sidewalls  220  of the base extender  204 . The tabs  228  are aligned in columns along the sidewalls  220  of the base extender  204  with a column of tabs  228  disposed on each side of the line of apertures  224  thereby defining a longitudinal gap  230  along each sidewall  220  of the base extender  204 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 25-28  there is shown an anchoring member  206  that forms a portion of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable electrical box assembly of the present invention. The substantially L-shaped anchoring member  206  includes a long leg  232  and a short leg  234 . The anchoring member  206  includes one or more slots, including an inner slot  236  and an outer slot  238 , arranged longitudinally in the long leg  232  and a slot  240  arranged longitudinally in the short leg  234 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 29 , there is shown an exploded perspective view of the second and preferred embodiment of an adjustable electrical box assembly  200  according to the present invention. The electrical box  208 , base member  202 , and base extender  204  are shown in alignment to form an adjustable electrical box assembly  200 . Four anchoring members  206  are in alignment with each sidewall  220  of the base extender  204  to be secured thereto with fasteners  242 . The base extender  204  is used when necessary for extending the electrical box  208  and base member  202  farther from the substrate  210  when the base member  202  alone is not sufficient to extend the peripheral flange  50  of the electrical box  208  beyond the wall covering (not shown). 
   With reference to  FIG. 31 , there is shown a first mounting arrangement  244  that is used when the height of the sidewalls  28  of the base member  202  is greater than the thickness of the wall covering (not shown). The electrical box  208  is first secured to the base member  202  with fasteners  86  in the same manner as that shown for the first embodiment in  FIG. 12 . As shown in  FIG. 31 , in the first mounting arrangement  244  the short leg  234  of the anchoring member  206  is secured to the sidewall  28  of the base member  202  with fasteners  242  and the long leg  232  of the anchoring member  206  is secured to the substrate  210  with fasteners  246  to secure the electrical box assembly to the substrate  210 . The short leg  234  of the anchoring member  206  is slideable within the gap  36  between the tabs  30  of the base member  202  and the position of the short leg  234  with respect to the sidewalls  28  of the base member  202  is selected to arrange for the desired offset of the electrical box  208  from the wall. 
   With reference to  FIG. 29 , there is shown a second mounting arrangement  248  that is used when the height H B  of the sidewalls  28  of the base member  202  is less than the thickness of the wall covering (not shown). The electrical box  208  is first secured to the base member  202  with fasteners  86 . The lip  34  of the base member  202  is substantially circular-shaped and the peripheral lip  226  of the base extender  204  is substantially square-shaped. In the second mounting arrangement  248 , the long leg  232  of the anchoring member  206  is then secured to the sidewall  28  of the base member  202  and to the sidewall  220  of the base extender  204 . The short leg  234  of the anchoring member  206  is then secured to the substrate  210 . An adjustable electrical box assembly  200  according to the second mounting arrangement  248  is shown fully assembled and secured to a substrate  210  in  FIG. 30 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 20 , in a structure being newly constructed, after the adjustable electrical box assembly  200  is secured to the substrate  210 , the stone  212  is secured around the electrical box assembly. Conversely, for an existing structure, a hole large enough to accommodate the electrical box assembly  200  including the anchoring members  206  is created in the stone  212  to expose the substrate  210 , the assembly  200  is secured to the substrate  210  with fasteners  246 , and mortar is inserted between the stone and the electrical box assembly  200  to fill the resultant hole. The peripheral flange  50  of the electrical box  208  extends laterally substantially beyond the sidewalls  28  of the base member  202  to provide an aesthetically pleasing installed electrical box. 
   After the preferred embodiment of the adjustable electrical box assembly is secured to the substrate and mortared in place, an electrical fixture is secured to the electrical box in the same manner as for the first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the bosses  58  of the electrical box  26  are capable of receiving fasteners  108  there through from the bracket  104  of an electrical fixture  102  for securing the electrical fixture  102  to the adjustable electrical box assembly. 
   In the present invention, although it may be constructed of metal, the base member is preferably molded in one piece of plastic. The electrical box may also be constructed of metal but preferably is molded in one piece of plastic. The base extender preferably is molded of plastic in one piece. 
   Having thus described the invention with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited by the description herein but is defined as follows by the appended claims.