AU2005100166A6

AU2005100166A6 - An electrical assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2005100166A6
Application number: AU2005100166A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tomasz Swiatek
Original assignee: HPM Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HPM Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-02-23
Filing date: 2005-02-23
Publication date: 2005-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-23
Also published as: AU2005100166A4

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): H.P.M. INDUSTRIES PTY LTD Invention Title: AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY o Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical assembly of the type including an operative components module O receivable in a housing.

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Background of the Invention tr It is known to provide an electrical assembly which includes a housing in the form of a wall box and an electrically active portion such as a switch assembly or a socket assembly which is receivable in the wall portion and fixable to the wall portion, for example using screws.

However, such a fixing arrangement is cumbersome and time consuming.

Summary of the Invention In the claims of this application and in the description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the words "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical assembly comprising: a housing; an operative components module receivable in the housing; and a face plate adhesively attached to the operative components module; H.\jnelson\keep\speci\Innovation\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.docl3/1/05 3 one of the housing and the operative components module being provided with at least one discontinuous 0 O portion and the other of the housing and the operative components module resiliently biased locking member; the arrangement being such that when the operative components module is received in the housing, at least one

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IND resiliently biased locking member engages with a discontinuous portion so as to prevent removal of the operative components module from the housing.

S In one arrangement, the operative components module is an electrical switch assembly.

In an alternative arrangement, the operative components module is an electrical socket assembly.

In one embodiment, the at least one discontinuous portion is provided on the housing and the at least one locking member is provided on the operative components module The or each locking member may be a resilient clip.

The or each discontinuous portion may be an upstanding member or a notch.

The housing may include at least one projection for increasing friction between the housing and a wall recess when the housing is disposed in the wall recess during use.

In one arrangement, the operative components module includes at least one switch and the face plate includes at least one switch operative for receiving at least one corresponding switch..

The housing may be a wall box.

H:\jnelson\keep\speci\Innovation\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.doc13/10/05 4 o Brief Description of the Drawings c o O The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an

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IND electrical assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; SFigure 2 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view V) 10 of an alternative cover plate arrangement for the electrical assembly shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic rear plan view of a second plate of the cover plate assembly shown in Figure 2.

Description of an Embodiment of the Invention Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 there is shown an exploded view of an electrical assembly 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The electrical assembly 10 includes housing in the form of a wall box 12 for disposing in use in a wall cavity, an operative components module, in this example a switch assembly 14 receivable in the wall box 12 during use, and a face plate 16 attachable to the switch assembly 14 during use. However, it will be understood that other operative components modules such as electrical socket assemblies may be used.

The wall box 12 includes a base wall 18 and a peripheral wall 20, the base wall 18 and the peripheral wall defining a housing for receiving the switch assembly 14.

Knockout portions 22 are disposed around the peripheral wall 20 and on the base wall 18, the knockout portions 22 being arranged so as to be easily frangible so that an aperture may be provided as desired for receiving H.\jnelson\keep\speci\Innovation\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.doc3/10/05 electrical wires extending during use to the switch Sassembly 14.

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o The wall box 12 also includes projections 24 for increasing friction between the wall box 12 and a wall recess when the wall box 12 is disposed in the wall recess

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IND during use. Fixing apertures 25 are also provided for facilitating secure fixing of the wall box 12 to a wall Sduring use.

V) The wall box 12 further includes upstanding members 26, in this example in the form of ribs 26, each rib 26 being provided on a corner section 28 of the peripheral wall The upstanding members 26 serve to facilitate locking engagement between the switch assembly 14 and the wall box 12.

The switch assembly 14 includes a front wall 30 having an outwardly facing front surface 32, and a peripheral wall 34 extending around the front wall The peripheral wall 34 is provided with resilient locking members, in this example in the form of resilient metal clips 36, the arrangement being such that when the switch assembly 14 is received in the wall box 12, each of the resilient clips engages with an upstanding member 26 and thereby prevents removal of the switch assembly 14 from the wall box 12.

Although in this embodiment upstanding members 26 are provided to engage with the resilient clips 36, it will be understood that other arrangements are possible. For example, instead of upstanding members notches arranged to engage with the resilient clips when the switch assembly 14 is received in the wall box 12 may be provided.

H \jnelson\keep\speci\Innovaion\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.docl3/10/05 6 The switch assembly 14 also includes switches 38. In this example, four switches are provided, although it will be 0 O understood that any number and configuration of switches are envisaged.

In this example, the face plate 16 is of generally square IND flat configuration and includes switch apertures formed in the face plate 16 such that the switches 38 are receivable through the switch apertures 40 when the face plate 16 is V) 10 disposed adjacent the front surface 32.

c' It will be understood that the face plate 16 may be fixed to the switch assembly 14 in any suitable way. For example, adhesive tape may be provided so as to facilitate adhesive fixing of the face plate 16 to the switch assembly 14.

An alternative to the face plate 16 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. As can be seen, instead of providing a flat face plate 16 which fixes directly to the switch assembly 14, a grid plate 42 and an alternative face plate 50 may be provided.

The grid plate 42 includes fixing apertures 44 which facilitate fixing of the grid plate 42 to the switch assembly 14, for example using screws which pass through the fixing apertures 44 of the grid plate 42, through fixing apertures 46 provided in the switch assembly 14 and engage with internally screw threaded portions 48 provided in the wall box 12.

The grid plate 42 is also provided with first switch apertures 50 which receive the switches 38 when the grid plate 42 is disposed on the front wall 30, and first fixing means, in this example in the form of notches 52.

H,\jnelson\keep\speci\Innovation\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.doc3/10/05 7 The face plate 54 includes second switch apertures 56 for receiving the switches 38 when the face plate 54 is O engaged with the grid plate 42, and second fixing means, in this example in the form of rib members 58.

The arrangement is such that the rib members 58 are IND releasably engagable with the notches 52 such that the face plate 54 is removably fixable to the grid plate 42.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a Sskilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the c present invention.

H:\jnelson\keep\speci\Innovation\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.docl3/10/05

Claims

1. An electrical assembly comprising: a housing; an operative components module receivable in the \O O housing; and a face plate adhesively attached to the operative components module; 1 0 one of the housing and the operative components module being provided with at least one discontinuous portion and the other of the housing and the operative components module resiliently biased locking member; the arrangement being such that when the operative components module is received in the housing, at least one resiliently biased locking member engages with a discontinuous portion so as to prevent removal of the operative components module from the housing.

2. An electrical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each locking member is a resilient clip.

3. An electrical assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each discontinuous portion is an upstanding member.

4. An electrical assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operative components module includes at least one switch and the face plate includes at least one switch aperture for receiving at least one corresponding switch. H.\jnelson\keep\speci\Innovation\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.doc3/10/05 9 An electrical assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the O O accompanying drawings. Dated this 13th day of OCTOBER 2005 H.P.M. INDUSTRIES PTY LTD SBy Its Patent Attorneys In 10 GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia. Ht\jnelson\keep\speci\Innovation\P55993 AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY Innov.docl3/10/05