Plumbing box with adjustable backplate

Abstract

A plumbing box for mounting a plumbing device having a front plate defining a central opening and screw holes. A frame extends from the front plate and has a rear support that defines three anchor holes aligned with the screw holes. Adjustment screws extend between each of the screw holes and the anchor holes so that each of the adjustment screws can freely rotate. A backplate mounts on the adjustment screws by threaded bores so rotation of any of the adjustment screws moves the backplate to a desired position within the frame.

1 . A plumbing box for mounting a plumbing device comprising:
 a front plate defining a central opening and at least three screw holes;   a frame extending from the front plate and having a rear support that defines at least three anchor holes aligned with the at least three screw holes;   at least three adjustment screws, wherein each one of the at least three adjustment screws extends between each of the at least three screw holes and the at least three anchor holes so that each of the at least three adjustment screws can freely rotate; and   a backplate defining at least three threaded bores for receiving the at least three screws so that the backplate is mounted on the at least three adjustment screws within the frame and rotation of any of the at least three screws moves the backplate to a desired position within the frame.   
     
     
         2 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least three adjustment screws include: a proximal head, and a threaded shank portion extending from the proximal head to a distal end. 
     
     
         3 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a retention clip on each distal end of the at least three adjustment screws. 
     
     
         4 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a self-locking nut on each distal end of the at least three adjustment screws. 
     
     
         5 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: the front plate includes at least three tabs that define the at least three screw holes; and the tabs are recessed a depth that matches a thickness of a plaster board that the plumbing box is to be mounted to. 
     
     
         6 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each of the at least three tabs receives a fastener for securing plasterboard thereto for substantially enclosing the central opening. 
     
     
         7 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the front plate includes indicia for locating placement of the fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the front plate: includes a rear collar for strength; and forms template slots for marking a surface to mount the plumbing box to. 
     
     
         9 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the front plate and the frame are configured to restrict axial movement of the at least three adjustment screws. 
     
     
         10 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the front plate forms notches so that lines drawn between the notches will intersect at a central location of the front plate. 
     
     
         11 . A plumbing box for mounting a plumbing device comprising:
 a front plate defining a central opening and four screw holes;   a frame extending from the front plate and having a rear support that defines four anchor holes aligned with the four screw holes;   four elongated adjustment screws, each adjustment screw extending between the four screw holes and four anchor holes, respectively, so that each of the four adjustment screws can freely rotate without axial movement; and   a backplate defining four threaded bores coupled to the four adjustment screws, respectively, so that the backplate is mounted on the four adjustment screws within the frame and rotation of the four screws moves the backplate axially to a desired position within the frame.   
     
     
         12 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the front plate includes four recessed tabs that define the four screw holes, the four recessed tabs being configured to receive fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the front plate defines four notches so that when connected by lines, an intersection of the lines indicates a centerpoint of the backplate. 
     
     
         14 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the backplate has indicia for guiding mounting the plumbing device thereto with a plurality of pilot marks to guide fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . A plumbing box as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the front plate defines inner corner template slots for assisting an installer to create a stencil of the central opening. 
     
     
         16 . A plumbing box for mounting a plumbing device comprising:
 a front plate defining a central opening;   a frame extending from the front plate and having a rear support; and   a backplate configured to receive a plumbing fixture and movably coupled to the front plate and the frame for selective positioning of the plumbing fixture after the plumbing box is mounted to a wall and the plumbing fixture is mounted to the backplate.   
     
     
         17 . The plumbing box of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the backplate is square; and   the front plate and the frame define top, bottom, left side and right side openings, the top opening being relatively larger than the bottom, left and right side openings such that the backplate can be inserted into a niche formed by the front plate and the frame for assembly of the plumbing box.