IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,735,876
Granted Patent B2
US 12,735,876 · App. 18/935,438 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Fixture outlet box

Inventors: James Cosley (Ramona, CA); Virgil O'Neil (San Diego, CA); Dennis Hart (Reno, NV)
Assignee: Reliance Worldwide Corporation
E03C1/021E03B7/095F16L3/105F16L3/1211F16L3/137F16L5/00E03C2201/60
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,735,876
App. No.
18/935,438
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An outlet box assembly includes a base and a connection assembly. The base defines a base through-hole. The connection assembly is configured to attach to the base through the base through-hole and includes a connector and an adapter. The connector includes a connector body. The connector body includes an inner surface that defines a passage with one or more internal threads positioned along the inner surface. The adapter includes one or more external threads configured to engage with the one or internal threads of the connector body. The adapter defines a longitudinally-extending adapter through-hole configured to receive one of a fitting or a tubing. The adapter further defines at least one longitudinal slot configured to allow the adapter to radially compress when the adapter is attached to the connector.

Claims (26)

1 . An outlet box assembly comprising:

a base having a bracket support configured to receive a support bracket for mounting the outlet box assembly to a wall, the base having a first circumferential wall defining a base through-hole, and a second circumferential wall radially surrounding the first circumferential wall; and

an elastomeric insert configured to be at least partially positioned within the base through-hole, the elastomeric insert defining an insert through-hole, the insert through-hole including a plurality of longitudinally-extending ribs that extend along a length of the insert through-hole;

wherein the insert through-hole is sized to receive a portion of one of a tubing or a fitting to secure the one of the tubing or the fitting to the base;

wherein the elastomeric insert is configured to absorb vibrations and provide acoustic isolation to and from the one of the tubing or the fitting; and

wherein the base comprises internal base threads along the second circumferential wall configured to attach to at least one of a protective cover or an escutcheon.

2 . The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer configured to attach to the base along an end of the elastomeric insert, wherein a retainer through-hole is aligned with the base through-hole.

3 . The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitting is configured to be inserted into and through the elastomeric insert and indirectly secured to the base through the elastomeric insert.

4 . The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fitting positioned within the elastomeric insert has a constant outer diameter.

5 . The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a circlip configured to be positioned within a divot along an outer circumference of the fitting, wherein the circlip is configured to be compressed between the divot and a compression nut, wherein the compression nut is configured to attach the fitting to a stop valve.

6 . The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket support defines an L-shaped cross-section that corresponds with an L-shaped cross-section of the support bracket.

7 . The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer configured to be attached to the base, wherein when attached, the retainer is positioned at least partially outside of the base through-hole.

8 . The outlet box assembly of claim 7 , wherein, when attached to the base, the retainer secures the elastomeric insert to the base to prevent axial movement of the elastomeric insert relative to the base.

9 . The outlet box assembly of claim 7 , wherein the retainer defines a retainer through-hole that aligns with the base through-hole such that the fitting extends through both the retainer through-hole and the base through-hole.

10 . The outlet box assembly of claim 9 , wherein the retainer defines two slots respectively positioned on opposite sides of the retainer through-hole to attach the retainer to the base.

11 . The outlet box assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support structure having a longitudinally extending leg between the base and the wall.

12 . The outlet box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the support structure has a substantially T-shaped cross-section.

13 . The outlet box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the support structure defines at least one built-in notch along a length of the support structure that defines a frangible area.

14 . The outlet box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the support structure has a flat base that includes an acoustic liner to absorb vibrations between the outlet box assembly and the wall.

15 . The outlet box assembly of claim 11 , wherein the base comprises at least one support receptacle configured to receive a first end of the support structure.

16 . An outlet box assembly comprising:

a base having a bracket support configured to receive a support bracket for mounting the outlet box assembly to a wall, the base having a first circumferential wall defining a base through-hole, and a second circumferential wall radially surrounding the first circumferential wall; and

an elastomeric insert configured to be at least partially positioned within the base through-hole, the elastomeric insert defining an insert through-hole, the insert through-hole including a plurality of longitudinally-extending ribs that extend along a length of the insert through-hole;

wherein the insert through-hole is sized to receive a portion of one of a tubing or a fitting to secure the one of the tubing or the fitting to the base;

wherein the elastomeric insert is configured to absorb vibrations and provide acoustic isolation to and from the one of the tubing or the fitting; and

wherein the outlet box assembly comprises a circlip configured to be positioned within a divot along an outer circumference of the fitting, wherein the circlip is configured to be compressed between the divot and a compression nut, wherein the compression nut is configured to attach the fitting to a stop valve.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2024
From: COSLEY, JAMES; O'NEIL, VIRGIL; HART, DENNIS
To: RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069115/0471 →
Continuity (3)
Division 17730059 · Apr 26, 2022
Provisional Application 63180987 · Apr 28, 2021
Related Publication 20250059736A1 · Feb 20, 2025
References Cited (116)
US 1196928A · Bylund · 1916 [cited by applicant]
US 2109344A · Selger · 1938 [cited by applicant]
US 2331020A · Frances · 1943 [cited by applicant]
US 2628799A · Aaby · 1953 [cited by applicant]
US 3494373A · Horak et al. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3495276A · Suess · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3862433A · Rousselet · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 4008824A · Renoux · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4158471A · Logsdon · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4564249A · Logsdon · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4716925A · Prather · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4865072A · Logsdon · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4934410A · Humber · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 5155957A · Robertson et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5261444A · Childers · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5305785A · Humber · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5931200A · Mulvey et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5983923A · Hobbs et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6125881A · Hobbs et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6129109A · Humber · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6148850A · Kopp et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6155286A · Geary · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6234193B1 · Hobbs et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US D474483S · Humber et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6629676B1 · Gretz · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6695001B2 · Dicosola · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 7077156B1 · Humber et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7193152B2 · Moselle · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7193153B2 · Hemingway et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7208677B2 · Moselle · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7270144B2 · Minnick · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7348484B1 · Ackerman et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7357148B1 · Gibson · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7360553B1 · Ismert · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US D570292S · Schulz et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7614419B2 · Minnick · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7735511B1 · Ismert · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7812253B2 · Moselle · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7854337B1 · Ismert et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US D635098S · Ismert · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8020581B1 · Julian et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8061390B2 · Condon et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8141831B2 · Julian et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8356778B2 · Birli · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 8434587B2 · Era et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8648256B1 · Rose · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US D721041S · Badowski · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9022326B2 · Brown et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9057460B2 · Ismert et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US D749521S · Badowski · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9258919B1 · Rose · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9290917B2 · Condon et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9388555B2 · Whitehead et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9394674B2 · Whitehead et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9518381B2 · Whitehead et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9528636B2 · Beele · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9534709B2 · Wilson et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9627871B2 · Bowman et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9650765B2 · Whitehead et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9650766B2 · Whitehead et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9656622B2 · Lee · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 9725892B2 · Ismert et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9806509B1 · Heinis et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9954348B2 · Rose · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10060102B2 · Zahuranec et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10190706B2 · Mentink · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10236668B2 · Stahl et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10348075B2 · Rose · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10683645B2 · Brown et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10777932B2 · Mechteridis et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10865550B1 · Sampson · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10975983B2 · Zhang et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11473276B2 · Ismert · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20040112433A1 · Dicosola · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050229304A1 · Doverspike · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20080190505A1 · Condon et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080265571A1 · Gallardo et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20100000614A1 · Zahuranec et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110210222A1 · van Walraven · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120061529A1 · Hill · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140263867A1 · Brown et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140352798A1 · Clarke et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150225931A1 · Zahuranec et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150259891A1 · Ismert et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20180283576A1 · Zhang · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190360181A1 · O'Neill et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20230011516A1 · Cosley et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230212840A1 · Cosley · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CA 1321079C · 1993 [cited by applicant]
CA 2592623A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
CA 2770019A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CA 2914207C · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CA 2877399C · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CA 2892865A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
DE 102008061269A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017123765A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP H09228633A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
KR 20180094649A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014197621A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018064609A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
Supplementary Partial EP Search Report in EP Application No. 22838427.7, mailed May 20, 2025. [cited by applicant]
Supplementary EP Search Report in EP Application No. 22796567.0, mailed Feb. 17, 2025. [cited by applicant]
IPS Corporation; Right Hand Wide Mouth Outlet Boxes; May 2018; available at ipsplumbingproducts.com. [cited by applicant]
Oatey; 2020 Product Catalog; 2×4 Washing Machine Outlet Boxes; Jun. 2020; available at fliphtml5.com. [cited by applicant]
Oatey; 2020 Product Catalog; Eliminator Washing Machine Outlet Boxes; Jun. 2020; available at fliphtml5.com. [cited by applicant]
Sioux Chief; Ox Box Outlet Box System Brochure; Nov. 11, 2020; available at www.siouxchief.co. [cited by applicant]
Ex Parte Quayle Action; U.S. Appl. No. 17/811,231; Apr. 15, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 17/730,059; Mar. 11, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 17/811,231; Dec. 5, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 17/811,231; Jan. 29, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 18/183,744; Jun. 28, 2024. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability; International Patent Application No. PCT/US2022/026378; Oct. 24, 2023. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability; International Patent Application No. PCT/US2022/036405; Dec. 14, 2023. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion; International Patent Application No. PCT/US2022/026378; Aug. 10, 2022. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion; International Patent Application No. PCT/US2022/036405; Oct. 25, 2022. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion; International Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/019693; Jul. 15, 2024. [cited by applicant]