Patent Publication Number: US-9847631-B2

Title: Extendable electrical box

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/414,609, filed Mar. 30, 2009, which application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/096,615, filed Sep. 12, 2008, to Shotey, et al. entitled “Extendable Electrical Box”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Aspects of the present documents relate generally to extendable electrical boxes. 
     2. Background Art 
     Electrical boxes are conventionally used to mount and house one or more electrical devices within a wall or other structure. High voltage electrical boxes are typically required to be enclosed on all sides. During installation of electrical boxes in walls or other structures, users may find that a gap exists between the electrical box and the front surface of the wall or other structure. Various attempts have been made to address the gap that may exist between a front edge of an electrical box and a front surface of a wall or other structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of this document relate to extendable electrical boxes. 
     In one aspect, an extendable electrical box comprises an electrical box having two open ends to an internal box space having a first depth. The electrical box comprises a mounting structure attached to at least one side wall of the electrical box, and the mounting structure is configured to mount the electrical box to a vertical wall structure, such that the open end faces substantially parallel to the vertical wall structure. At least two extendable first rings each continuously surround one of the two open ends of the electrical box, and the at least two extendable first rings are each slidably coupled with the electrical box via the sliding mechanical cooperation of one or more guides with one or more tracks such that sliding either of the at least two extendable first rings in relation to the open ends of the electrical box expands the electrical box from the first depth to a larger second depth. 
     Particular implementations may include one or more of the following. The at least two extendable first rings may each located on an outside surface of the electrical box. The at least two extendable rings may each comprise a first ring and a second ring, wherein each second ring extends in relation to and beyond a corresponding first ring. The at least two extendable first rings may be slidably located on an inside surface of the electrical box. The at least two extendable first rings may be slidably located on an outside surface of the electrical box. The electrical box may comprise at least two electrical device mounting screw holes each located on opposing corners of the electrical box. The one or more tracks may be located on an outer surface of the electrical box and the one or more guides may be located on an inner surface of the one or more extendable first rings. The one or more tracks may be located on an inner surface of the electrical box and the one or more guides are located on an outer surface of the one or more extendable first rings. The one or more tracks may pass through an outer surface of the electrical box and the one or more guides may be located on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the one or more extendable first rings. 
     In another aspect, an extendable electrical box comprises an electrical box having a continuous front edge surrounding at least one open end to an internal box space having a first depth. The electrical box comprises a mounting structure attached to at least one side wall of the electrical box, the mounting structure configured to mount the electrical box to a vertical wall structure such that the open end faces substantially parallel to the vertical wall structure. One or more extendable first rings continuously surround the open end of the electrical box, the one or more extendable first rings slidably coupled with the electrical box via the sliding mechanical cooperation of one or more guides with one or more tracks such that sliding the one or more extendable first rings in relation to an open end of the electrical box expands the electrical box from the first depth to a larger second depth, wherein when the one or more extendable first rings are in a collapsed position with respect to the electrical box, a front edge of the one or more first extendable rings is substantially flush with the continuous front edge of the electrical box. 
     Particular implementations may include one or more of the following. The electrical box may comprise an open front end and an open back end, and wherein the one or more extendable first rings continuously surround each of the open front end and the open back end of the electrical box. The one or more extendable first rings may be located on an outside surface of the electrical box. One or more extendable second rings may each be located on an outside surface of one of the one or more extendable first rings. The one or more extendable first rings may be slidably located on an inside surface of the electrical box. The electrical box may comprise at least two electrical device mounting screw holes each located on an opposing corner of the electrical box. The one or more tracks may be located on an inner surface of the electrical box and the one or more guides may be located on an outer surface of the one or more extendable first rings. The one or more tracks may pass through an outer surface of the electrical box and the one or more guides are located on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the one or more extendable first rings. 
     In still another aspect, a method of mounting an electrical box comprises mounting an electrical box to a vertical wall surface having a wall depth; and extending a depth of the electrical box by sliding an extendable ring continuously surrounding an open end of the electrical box from a first position, where a front edge of the extendable ring is substantially flush with a front edge of the open end of the electrical box, to a second position where the front edge of the extendable ring is substantially flush with a front surface of the vertical wall structure. 
     Particular implementations may include one or more of the following. Sliding the extendable ring may be performed without the use of tools. 
     The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A gangable electrical unit will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is a collapsed perspective view of a first particular implementation of an extendable electrical box; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially extended perspective view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a fully extended perspective view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a collapsed front view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a collapsed perspective view of a second particular implementation of an extendable electrical box; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially extended perspective view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a fully extended perspective view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a collapsed front view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a collapsed perspective view of a third particular implementation of an extendable electrical box; 
         FIG. 10  is a partially extended perspective view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a fully extended perspective view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a collapsed front view of the extendable electrical box illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended operation of an extendable electrical box and/or assembly procedures for an extendable electrical box will become apparent from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular electrical boxes, side walls, internal spaces, depths, inner surfaces, outer surfaces, front edges, guides, tracks, grooves, extendable rings, extendable first rings, extendable second rings, open ends, mounting structures, and screw apertures are disclosed, such electrical boxes, guides, tracks, grooves, extendable rings, first rings, second rings, mounting structures, screw apertures and implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such extendable electrical boxes, consistent with the intended operation of an extendable electrical box. 
     There are a variety of extendable electrical box implementations disclosed herein and made possible from the present disclosure.  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a first particular implementation of an extendable electrical box  2 , wherein the extendable electrical box  2  is shown in conjunction with a vertical wall structure  18  in  FIGS. 2-3 , and alone in  FIGS. 1 and 4 .  FIGS. 5-9  illustrate a second particular implementation of an extendable electrical box  5 , wherein the extendable electrical box  5  is shown in conjunction with a vertical wall structure  18  in  FIGS. 6-7 , and alone in  FIGS. 5 and 8 .  FIGS. 9-12  illustrate a third particular implementation of an extendable electrical box  9 , wherein the extendable electrical box  9  is shown in conjunction with a vertical wall structure  18  in  FIGS. 10-11 , and alone in  FIGS. 9 and 12 . 
       FIGS. 1-12  illustrate various particular implementations of extendable electrical boxes. All of the particular implementations of extendable electrical boxes described herein are used to reconfigure an electrical box  4  comprising an internal space  6  having a first depth  8  ( FIGS. 1, 5 and 9 , respectively) to an electrical box  4  comprising an internal space  6  having a second depth  32  ( FIGS. 2-3, 6-7, and 10-11 , respectively). In particular, a comparison of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  (and/or  FIGS. 5 to 7  and/or  FIGS. 9 to 11 ) illustrates that the second depth  32  is larger than the first depth  8 . 
     An electrical box  4  (which is common to all particular implementations of extendable electrical boxes described herein) comprises at least one side wall  10  and a front edge  11 . In some particular implementations, the electrical box  4  comprises four side walls  10  which are located at the top and bottom forming first and second end walls of the electrical box  4  in addition to the sides. The electrical box  4  further comprises an open end  12  which, in the particular implementation shown, is defined by the four side walls  10 . The open end  12  comprises at least two cover plate mounting screw holes  15  located on opposing angles  17  of the electrical box  4 . Significantly, in some particular implementations, the electrical box  4  may comprise two open ends such as, by way of non-limiting example, a front open end  12  and a rear open end  13 . In any event, the electrical box  4  further comprises a mounting structure  3  attached to at least one side wall  10 . In some particular implementations, the mounting structure  3  may comprise an angled nail hole  7  therethrough. The mounting structure  3  is used to mount the electrical box  4  to a vertical wall structure  18  ( FIGS. 2-3 ,  FIGS. 6-7 , and  FIGS. 10-11 , respectively), such that an open end  12  faces substantially parallel to the vertical wall structure  18 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1-12 , all of the various implementations of extendable electrical boxes described herein further comprise one or more extendable first rings  20  that continuously surround an open end  12  of the electrical box  4 . The one or more extendable first rings  20  may continuously surround the open end  12  of the electrical box  4  from either the outer surface  14  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, the particular implementations shown with respect to  FIGS. 1-4  and  FIGS. 5-8 , respectively) or the inner surface  16  of the electrical box  4  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, the particular implementation illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 9-12 , described further below). In any event, the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  are slidably coupled with the electrical box  4  via the sliding mechanical cooperation of one or more guides  22 ,  52  with one or more tracks  24 ,  54 , which are described further below. 
     The one or more guides  22 ,  52  may comprise any projection, protrusion, bump, raised portion, angle, and/or the like and may be formed integrally or may be formed separately and thereafter coupled to the electrical box  4  and/or one or more extendable first rings  20 . In the particular implementation shown with respect to  FIGS. 1-4 , the one or more guides  22  are integrally formed by an angle extending from the inner surface  25  of the one or more extendable first rings  20 . Notwithstanding, the one or more guides  22  may be located on the one or more extendable first rings  20  and/or the electrical box  4  and may be formed in a variety of ways such as, by way of non-limiting example, an angle extending from the inner surface  16  of the electrical box  4  into the internal space  6  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, the particular implementation shown with respect to  FIGS. 9-12 , described further below). 
     In some particular implementations, the one or more guides  22 ,  52  may be integrally formed with or otherwise located on the outer surface  14  of the electrical box  4 . In other particular implementations, the one or more guides  22 ,  52  may be integrally formed with the inner surface  16  of the electrical box  4  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, the particular implementation illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 9-12 ). In still other particular implementations, the one or more guides  22 ,  52  may be integrally formed with or otherwise located on an outer surface  27  of the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60 . In yet other particular implementations, the one or more guides  22 ,  52  may be integrally formed with an inner surface  25  of the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, those particular implementations illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 1-4  and  FIGS. 5-8 , respectively). 
     The one or more tracks  24 ,  54  may comprise any groove, channel, furrow, path and/or the like and may be formed integrally or may be formed separately and thereafter coupled to the electrical box  4  and/or one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60 . In some particular implementations, the one or more tracks  24 ,  54  may be integrally formed on the outer surface  14  of the electrical box  4  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, those particular implementations illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 1-4  and  FIGS. 5-8 , respectively). In other particular implementations, the one or more tracks  24 ,  54  may be integrally formed or otherwise located on the inner surface  16  of the electrical box  4 . In still other particular implementations, the one or more tracks  24 ,  54  may be integrally formed on an outer surface  27  of the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, the particular implementation illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 9-12 ). In yet other particular implementations, the one or more tracks  24 ,  54  may be integrally formed or otherwise located on an inner surface  25  of the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1-12 , in some particular implementations of extendable electrical box disclosed herein, the extendable electrical box may comprise one or more extendable second rings  26 . In those particular implementations having one or more extendable second rings  26 , the one or more extendable second rings  26  may be located on the outer surface  27  of an associated first ring  20 . The one or more extendable second rings  26  comprise an inner surface  34  and an outer surface  36 . In the particular implementations shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  FIGS. 5-9 , respectively, the inner surface  34  of the one or more extendable second rings  26  is adjacent to the outer surface  27  of its associated first ring  20 . Notwithstanding, in other particular implementations, the outer surface  36  of the one or more extendable second rings  26  may be adjacent to the inner surface  25  of the one or more extendable first rings  20   
     With respect to any of the particular implementations of extendable electrical box described herein, the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  may be integrally formed with the electrical box  4  such that the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  do not decouple from the electrical box  4  during normal operation such as, by way of non-limiting example, when expanding and collapsing the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  with respect to the electrical box  4 . Where the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  are integrally formed with the electrical box  4 , the one or more extendable first rings may be integrally formed with the outer surface  14  and/or the inner surface  16  of the electrical box  4 . 
     The one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  are slidably positionable with respect to the electrical box  4  such that sliding the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  with respect to an open end  12  (the front open end  12  and/or the rear open end  13 ) expands the extendable electrical box from a first depth  8  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ,  FIGS. 5 and 8 ; and  FIGS. 9 and 12 , respectively) to a larger second depth  32  ( FIGS. 2-3 ,  FIGS. 6-7 , and  FIGS. 10-11 , respectively). It will be appreciated from a comparison of  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3  (and/or a comparison of  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 7  and/or a comparison of  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 11 ) that the larger second depth  32  may comprise a variety of depths, all of which is larger than the first depth  8 . In those particular implementations of electrical box  4  having an open front end  12  and an open rear end  13 , the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  may continuously surround each of the open front end  12  and the open rear end  13 . It will be understood that an electrical device (not shown) will typically be installed in an open end  12  of the electrical box  4  via one or more electrical device mounting apertures  42  (which may be integrally formed with or located on one or more extendable first rings  20  and/or one or more extendable second rings  26  such as, by way of non-limiting example, in the particular implementation shown with respect to  FIGS. 5-8 ). In addition, a cover plate (not shown) is typically installed over an electrical device and coupled to an electrical box  4  (such as, by way of non-limiting example, one or more cover plate mounting screw holes  15 ). 
     In those particular implementations of extendable electrical box having both an open front end  12  and an open rear end  13 , an electrical device may be installed in each of the front open end  12  and the rear open end  13 . Notwithstanding, in those instances where one of a front open end  12  and a rear open end  13  are unused (i.e. no electrical device is installed therein), the unused front open end  12  and/or the unused rear open end  13  may be covered by fastening a cover plate over the open end of the electrical box  4  via the one or more cover plate mounting holes  15 . 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 1-12 , the electrical box  4  comprises a box front edge  11 . In addition, the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  each comprise a first ring front edge  21 . When the one or more extendable first rings  20  is in a collapsed position with respect to the electrical box  4  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ;  5  and  8 ; and  9  and  12 , respectively), the first ring front edge  21  is substantially flush with the box front edge  11  of the electrical box  4 . Alternatively, when the one or more extendable first rings  20  is in an expanded position with respect to the electrical box  4  ( FIGS. 2-3, 6-7, and 10-11 , respectively), the first ring front edge  21  may be substantially flush with a front surface  19  of the vertical wall structure  18 . In those particular implementations where one or more extendable second rings  26  are provided, each of the one or more extendable second rings  26  may comprise a second ring front edge  23 . When the one or more extendable second rings  26  is in a collapsed position with respect to the electrical box  4  and its associated extendable first ring  20  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ; and  5  and  8 , respectively), the second ring front edge  23  is substantially flush with both the box front edge  11  of the electrical box  4  and the first ring front edge  21  of the associated extendable first ring  20 ,  50 ,  60 . Alternatively, when the one or more extendable second rings  26  is in an expanded position with respect to the electrical box  4  and its associated first ring  20  ( FIGS. 2-3 , and  FIGS. 6-7 , respectively), the second ring front edge  23  may be substantially flush with a front surface  19  of the vertical wall structure  18 . 
     In addition, the one or more extendable first rings  20  and the one or more extendable second rings  26  may move independently, both with respect to each other, as well as with respect to the electrical box  4 . Also, it will be understood that where one or more extendable second rings  26  are provided, each of the one or more extendable second rings  26  are slidably coupled with an associated extendable first ring  20  via the sliding mechanical cooperation of one or more guides with one or more tracks. By way of non-limiting example, the one or more extendable second rings  26  may comprise one or more guides  28  (which may be located on or may be integral with the inner surface  34  and/or the outer surface  36  of second ring  26 ) that cooperate with one or more tracks  30  ( FIG. 3 ) on an associated extendable first ring  20  (which may be located on or may be integral with the inner surface  25  and/or the outer surface  27  of the associated first ring  20 ). Alternatively, the one or more extendable second rings  26  may comprise one or more tracks  30  (which may be located on or may be integral with the inner surface  34  and/or the outer surface  36  of second ring  26 ) that cooperate with one or more guides  28  on an associated extendable first ring  20  (which may be located on or may be integral with the inner surface  25  and/or the outer surface  27  of the associate first ring  20 ). 
     As described above, the one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  and/or the one or more extendable second rings  26  (where provided) may be maintained in an extended position with respect to the electrical box  4 . In particular implementations, such as, by way of non-limiting example, those illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 1-4 and 5-8 , respectively, the one or more extendable second rings  26  may be maintained in an extended position ( FIGS. 2-3 , and  FIGS. 6-7 , respectively) due at least to the fact that the outer surface  36  of the one or more extendable second rings  26  extends above the outer surface  14  of the electrical box  4 . Specifically, when the electrical box  4  ( FIGS. 1-4 and 5-8 ) is mounted to a vertical wall structure  18 , an outer surface  36  of the one or more extendable second rings  26  is in contact with the vertical wall structure  18 . The resulting contact between the vertical wall structure  18  and the outer surface  36  of the one or more extendable second rings  26  accordingly assists in maintaining the one or more extendable second rings  26  in an extended position with respect to the electrical box  4 . Significantly, the one or more extendable second rings  26  may be maintained in a collapsed position with respect to the electrical box  4  by friction between a first ring  20 ,  50 ,  60 , a second ring  26  and/or the electrical box  4  (and/or friction between an outer surface  36  of a second ring  26  and/or an outer surface  27  of a first ring  20 ). Alternatively, in some particular implementations, a detenting feature (not shown) may be provided in order to assist in maintaining the one or more extendable second rings  26  (and/or the one or more extendable first rings  20 ) in an extended and/or a collapsed position with respect to the electrical box  4 . 
     It will be understood that, in those particular implementations having one or more extendable second rings  26 , the one or more extendable first rings  20  may be maintained in an extended position or a collapsed position due at least to their mechanical cooperation with the one or more extendable second rings  26 . It will be further understood that, in those particular implementations without one or more extendable second rings  26 , the outer surface  27  of the one or more extendable first rings  20  may be in contact with the vertical wall structure  18 , thereby assisting in maintaining the one or more extendable first rings  20  in an extended position with respect to the electrical box  4 . 
     Turning now specifically to  FIGS. 5-8 , these figures illustrate a second particular implementation of an extendable electrical box  5 . The extendable electrical box  5  is shown in conjunction with a vertical wall structure  18  in  FIGS. 6-7 , and alone in  FIGS. 5 and 8 . A comparison of  FIGS. 5-8  to  FIGS. 1-4  illustrates that the extendable electrical box  5  further comprises one or more auxiliary guides  38  and one or more auxiliary tracks  40 . In the particular implementation shown, the one or more auxiliary tracks  40  pass through the electrical box  4  from the outer surface  14  to the inner surface  16 . The one or more auxiliary guides  38  are integrally formed with (although, in particular implementations, they may be located on) the inner surface  25  of the one or more extendable first rings  50 . In any event, the one or more auxiliary guides  38  travel in the one or more auxiliary tracks  40  as the one or more extendable first rings  50  are moved between a collapsed position ( FIG. 5 ) and an expanded position ( FIGS. 6-7 ). In the particular implementation shown, each auxiliary guide  38  comprises an integrally formed electrical device mounting aperture  42 . In other particular implementations, one or more electrical device mounting aperture  42  may be integrally formed with (or located on) a portion of one or more extendable first rings  50  and/or one or more extendable second rings  26 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 9-12 , these figures illustrate a third particular implementation of an extendable electrical box  9 . The extendable electrical box  9  is shown in conjunction with a vertical wall structure  18  in  FIGS. 10-11 , and alone in  FIGS. 9 and 12 . A comparison of  FIGS. 9-12  to  FIGS. 1-4  illustrates that the one or more extendable first rings  60  may be located in the internal space  6  of the electrical box  4 . In this particular implementation, the outer surface  27  of the one or more extendable first rings  60  is in contact with the inner surface  16  of the electrical box  4 . As shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , ring  60  includes screw holes  53 . In addition, in this particular implementation, the one or more guides  52  are integrally formed with the inner surface  16  of the electrical box, and the one or more tracks  24 ,  54  are integrally formed with the outer surface  27  of the extendable first ring  20 . Notwithstanding, alternatively, the particular location of the one or more guides  22  and the one or more tracks  24 ,  54  may be changed such that the one or more tracks  24 ,  54  may be integrally formed with (or located on) the inner surface  16  of the electrical box, and the one or more guides  22  may be integrally formed with (or located on) the outer surface  27  of the extendable first ring  20 . In addition, while the particular implementation of extendable electrical box  9  shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 9-12  is shown without one or more extendable second rings  26 , one or more extendable second rings  26  could be provided, in particular implementations. In such particular implementations, the outer surface  36  of one or more extendable second rings  26  may be adjacent to the inner surface  25  of the one or more extendable first rings  60 . 
     Methods of Use 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-12 , an exemplary method of mounting an extendable electrical box comprises mounting an electrical box  4  to vertical wall structure  18  such that an open end  12  faces substantially parallel to the vertical wall structure  18 . In some particular implementations, the electrical box  4  may be mounted to the wall  18  via one or more mounting structures  3  (comprising one or more angled nail holes  7 ) formed integrally with, or located on, an outer surface  14  of the electrical box  4 . Once mounted, an undesirable gap may exist between the front edge  11  of the electrical box  4  and the front surface of the wall structure  18 . 
     Accordingly, the exemplary method further comprises extending a depth  8  of the electrical box  4  by sliding an extendable ring (one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  and/or one or more extendable second rings  26 ) from a first position to a second position. The first position specifically comprises where the front edge  21  of the first ring  20 ,  50 ,  60  (and/or the front edge  23  of the second ring  26 ) is substantially flush with the front edge  11  of the electrical box  4  (as shown, by way of non-limiting example, with respect to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 9 , respectively). The second position, by contrast, comprises where the front edge  21  of the first ring  20 ,  50 ,  60  (and/or the front edge  23  of the second ring  26 ) is substantially flush with a front surface  19  of the vertical wall structure  18 . It will be appreciated, therefore, that by sliding the front edge  21  of the first ring  20 ,  50 ,  60  (and/or the front edge  23  of the second ring  26 , where provided) into a second position that is substantially flush with a front surface  19  of the vertical wall structure  18 , the undesirable gap between the front surface  19  of the wall and the front edge  11  of the electrical box  4  may be eliminated. 
     Significantly, in some particular implementations, mounting the electrical box  4  may comprise first installing an electrical device in one of one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  and one or more extendable second rings  26 . In other particular implementations, one of one or more extendable first rings  20 ,  50 ,  60  and one or more extendable second rings  26  may be slid with respect to the electrical box  4  without the requirement of tools. 
     It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the concepts of extending a depth of an extendable electrical box, as disclosed herein, is not limited to the specific implementations shown herein. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the components included in a particular implementation of a configurable electrical box may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations that can readily be formed into shaped objects and that are consistent with the intended operation of an extendable electrical box. For example, the components may be formed of rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; polymers and/or other like materials; plastics, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals and/or other like materials; alloys and/or other like materials; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
     Furthermore, the electrical boxes, side walls, internal spaces, depths, inner surfaces, outer surfaces, front edges, guides, tracks, grooves, extendable rings, extendable first rings, extendable second rings, open ends, mounting structures, screw apertures, and any other components forming a particular implementation of an extendable electrical box may be manufactured separately and then assembled together, or any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled or removably coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material(s) forming the components. 
     It will be understood that particular implementations are not limited to the specific components disclosed herein, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for an extendable electrical box may be utilized. Accordingly, for example, although particular electrical boxes, side walls, internal spaces, depths, inner surfaces, outer surfaces, front edges, guides, tracks, grooves, extendable rings, extendable first rings, extendable second rings, open ends, mounting structures, and screw apertures may be disclosed, such components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of extendable electrical box and a method and/or system implementation for an extendable electrical box may be used. 
     In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of an extendable electrical box, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other extendable electrical boxes. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.