EP1147339B1

EP1147339B1 - Universal built-in spotlight support box and relative fitting tool

Info

Publication number: EP1147339B1
Application number: EP99956329A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Celestino Costa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-25
Filing date: 1999-11-16
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-16
Also published as: WO2000031466A1; ITFO980031A1; IT1306388B1; DE69933701D1; EP1147339A1; AU1295800A; ATE343092T1; PT1147339E

Abstract

This special box is a kind of universal built-in box made up of a main body (C) and a cap which is intended for housing spotlights supported by spring-arms (S). The main body contains an inner series of step circles (A) which form a winding spiral according to the shape of the box. Such rings correspond to as many outer indents to be chosen in accordance with the type of spotlight to install. The cap can be exactly coupled with the main body and further reduced in its upper part as well. This way, three different box volumes can be obtained and used accordingly on the basis of the length of the spotlight to be installed. A specific tool for installation allows a quick and exact positioning of the box prior to any fixing procedure.

Description

This invention is a support box to be used embedded in a masonry wall for receivingly mounting a spotlight, where that spotlight may be any one selected from a plurality of variously sized spotlights, said support box comprising a housing and having a front opening adaptable so as to conform to the size of the one selected spotlight, characterized in that said housing tapers inwardly towards its from end such as to form an axially arranged sequence of concentric circular steps of diminishing diameter, so that in use, when a given step conforms to the one spotlight selected for mounting in the housing, severing from the housing a that given step of those steps distal thereof produces a front opening conformed to the size of the one selected spotlight. The invention also relates to a method of installing the box and a tool used therefor. A support box according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from for instance DE 4 312 661 A.
The box may be easily installed, into the masonry, using a fitting tools composed by an element three arms star-shaped and a pin mobile in the inside. The specific configuration of the application system enables to achieve a fast and precise positioning of the box from the brick, leaving enough space for the subsequent plastering.
The object of the present invention is to overcome a troubles and offer the spotlights installer a built-in box can be reading adapted on site so as to accommodate a variety of differently sized spotlights, and suitable also for temporary installation during the fixing with expanded polyurethane or cement mortar by means of its tool.
You should also keep in mind that the new box is designed to allow a proper loss of heat.
Moreover, even if it is intended mainly for solving any kind of practical problem concerning the spotlight installation into brick or cement walls/ceilings, this special box is can also be employed as a safe and insulated housing for the spotlight, the transformer and respective electrical connections.
Further qualities and details will be described by help of 16 drawings to be regarded purely as an indication.

Fig. 1 - 2 - 3 show the side views of the box main body;
Fig. 4 shows the box main body from above;
Fig. 5 - 6 show the box cap from above and from below respectively;
Fig. 7 - 8 show the side views of the box cap;
Fig. 9 - 10 show the possible variations in the box volume according to cap positioning or reduction through cutting;
Fig. 11 - 12 show a section of the 3-arm device of the special tool for the built-in box installation and the device as seen from above;
Fig. 13 shows a section of the rod that slides inside the 3-arm device;
Fig. 14 shows both the rod and the 3-arm device as a whole, thus forming the special tool for the built-in box installation;
Fig. 15 shows a vertical section of a built-in box installation through the special support;
Fig. 16 shows a vertical section of a spotlight installation once finished.

From these pictures you can see, first of all, how this new built-in box is composed of a main body and a cap with different position slots.
Every part is obtained through moulding and is made of plastic material (possibly in light colors) in order to obtain better light reflection and less heat absorption. The main body and/or the cap of this box have some pre-cut parts ready to be detached in case of need to let electric wire sheaths pass by and loss of heat take place by using more sheaths or pipes which go through the box fixing material and reach the brick hollows. If necessary, they can also reach outside the wall
The main body, which is cone-shaped, is larger at the top, so that it can be stacked up during stockpiling and transport, and smaller at the bottom. Both ends are open. The upper end, which is larger in diameter and reaches the inner part of the wall, has to be capped whereas the bottom end, which is used for the spotlight installation, sticks out as a reference point for plaster finishing. For that purpose a special device has been designed (see Fig. 11 - 12 - 13 and 14) which allows perfect positioning and sticking out of the box as well as its proper fitting during the fixing procedures (be it with cement mortar, expanded resins etc.).
The main body contains an inner series of step circles which form a winding spiral according to the shape of the box. Such rings correspond to as many outer indents to be chosen in accordance with the type of spotlight and, at the same time, allow a better hold of the inner spring-arms directly onto the ring levels.
Having a closer look at the box as a whole (see Fig. 1 - 2 - 3 and 4) one can see that the main body is nearly cone-shaped at the bottom and consists of a series of rings with increasing diameters which fit to any type of spotlight. The upper part has a similar shape with two side (P) sections which, facing the opposite direction, permit the spotlight spring-arms to open wide properly.
In order to make the removal of the part under the ring chosen for the fitting up of the spotlight easier, the (A) ring connection is pre-cut since it is limited to short thickening sections. Moreover the cutting procedures can be easily carried out by means of a jigsaw and are made even easier because of the slots placed on the bottom part of the (A) section. Near the upper edge of the main body there are some pre-cut (B) sections which allow - if necessary - a proper opening to let electric wires pass by. Since the height of the box can be considerably changed by its cutting - to be carried out according to the diameter of the spotlight to install as well as its overall dimensions - the cap has been given two different positions (Q and R) where it can be coupled with the box. The box itself can also be reduced if cut along the pre-cut (C) line. This way, three different volumes are available and can be used accordingly (Fig. 9-10).
The cap (Fig. 5 - 6 - 7 - 8) is adapted to and shaped according to the upper edge of the box main body. Its central stick (F) helps the setting of a possible connection. A sealing system (E) surrounds it and is exactly coupled with the application tool (on the M area) designed for the fixing procedures. Two plastic tangs define the coupling set-up of the (M) device which can thus be removed, once the box has been fixed into the wall, by simply rotating it in the opposite direction as the one used for coupling.
The tool for installation (see Fig. 11 -12 - 13 - 14) is composed of a 3-arm radial device (Fig. 11 - 12) and a (L) flat section against which the bottom edge of the box is to be eventually located. This section is lower than the three (I) arms stretching towards the wall and above the hole intended for the box housing and the fixing material (cement mortar, expanded resins, etc).
The difference in height between the (L) section and the (I) arms allows a proper installation (protruding) of the box and enough plaster for the positioning of the spotlight frame which is kept in place by the spring-arms typical of any built-in spotlight.
The radial device is also made up of a cylindrical section, jutting out on the lower side, which is centred and perpendicular to the (L) flat section. There is a (U) locking slot through which the stick shown in Fig. 13 can be easily locked. The upper part of the stick is equipped with an (M) device which locks the box against the (L) flat section
The above mentioned two vertical tangs, stretching (opposite to each other) from the device shown in Fig. 13, help to keep the box cap properly hooked.
Whenever the box has to be embedded into a ceiling, the stick placed at the bottom of the box will be applied to an extensible pole so as to create a framework to put in tension between the floor and the ceiling. This way, the installation tool will be supported by it until the fixing procedures are over. Three screw anchors can be used as an alternative to the above-mentioned extensible bar in case of extremely high ceilings or whenever the box has to be embedded into a vertical wall The box can thus be temporarily fixed to the ceiling/wall by means of its special (G) slots in the arms.
Even if the overall features of both the box and the installation tool herewith described remain basically the same, possible changes or variations take place within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

A support box to be used embedded in a masonry wall for receivingly mounting a spotlight, where that spotlight may be any one selected from a plurality of variously sized spotlights, said support box comprising a housing and having a front opening adaptable so as to conform to the size of the one selected spotlight, characterized in that said housing tapers inwardly towards its front end such as to form an axially arranged sequence of concentric circular steps of diminishing diameter, so that in use, when a given step conforms to the one spotlight selected for mounting in the housing, severing from the housing at that given step of those steps distal thereof produces a front opening conformed to the size of the one selected spotlight.
Support box, as in the previous claim, characterised by being composed of a main body and a cover.
Support box, as in the previous claim, characterised in that the main body, open at the two ends, the lower of which is intended, for the insertion of a spotlight after adaptation to the diameter of the latter, while the upper opening is intended for the application of a cover, and shaped so as to taper upwards also in the upper part to allow the stacking of elements and the reduction of overall dimensions during storage and transport.
Support box as in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the box volume varies according to the different levels of cover positioning.
Support box, as in the previous claim, characterised by fact that in can be reduced also in its upper part by cutting it along a line (C) in order to install the cover into an even smaller volume (1).
Support box, as in claim 2, characterised in that the cover, of whatever shape, is provided with a central stick (F) and two ridges (E) that extend from the cover in diametrically opposite positions allowing the attachment of said cover and the subsequent screwing of the box by a tool that keeps it solidly in place while it is being fixed with cement mortar or other means.
Support box, as in claim 6, characterised in that the pair of ridges (E) extending on the lower side of the cover defines the coupling member of the body (M) for the tool which is used for screwing and fixing in position of the box, and which can be removed, after the fixing of the box in the masonry, without a reverse screwing movement.
Support box, as in claims 4, characterised in that the housing has a plan shape essentially circular in its lower part and formed from a sequence of rings of increasing diameter from among which the most suitable is chosen for the insertion of the spotlight, in the upper part, again tapering upwards, and that there is a lateral enlargement with two section (P) which, diametrically opposite, allow a wider and more effective spreading of the sprung arms (S) of the spotlight.
Support box, as in claim 8, characterised in that, in order to facilitate the removal of the part underlying the ring chosen for the insertion of the spotlight, the connection in sequence of the rings (A) is by means of fracture lines consisting of short thickened sections alternating with openings and extensions, the latter preferable towards the outside so as not to alter the perfect circularity of the seat into which the spotlight is inserted.
Method of using a tool to embed into masonry a support box according to any one of claims 1-9, comprising the following steps: an element (L) acts against the lower edge of the box with a flat section (L) lower in relation to three arms (I) that extend from this that section to bear on the masonry structure (O) after formation of the cavity intended to house the box, and fixing the box by filling material (P) in the cavity outside of the box, the difference in height between flat section (L) and the arms (I) allowing the box to extend from the cavity sufficiently to mould, at the same level, plaster (Q) against which a frame (R) of the spotlight will bear, held in place by the force of the two sprung arms.
Tool for fitting the support box of any of claims 1-9, characterised in that it comprises an element with three star-shaped arms, centred and perpendicular to a flat section (L), a cylindrical collar (T) on the flat section (L), a locking dowel or wing nut (U) used to lock a removable rod (N) provided, at its upper end, with an organ (M) which, intended to act against the cover of the box, allows the insertion of the organ (M) pierced in the central stick (F) of the cover, and which ensures the engagement of the two ridges (E) upon the rotation of the removable rod (N).
Tool for fitting the support box, as in claims 11, characterised in that it further comprises an extending rod, such that when built-in support box has to be inserted into a ceiling, the removable rod (N), suitably prepared at the lower end, is fitted to the extending rod in order to exert pressure between the floor and ceiling and so to support the element (L) for the time necessary for fixing the box, or that it further comprises slots in the arms, such that in the case of particularly high ceilings, or when the built-in support box has to be fitted in a vertical wall, as an alternative to the above mentioned extending rod, the use of three expansion bolts is foreseen for the temporary fixing of element (L) to the masonry through the relevant slots (G) provided in the arms.