GB1583946A

GB1583946A - Electrical outlet unit

Info

Publication number: GB1583946A
Application number: GB2499376A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: DORMAN SMITH BRITMAC Ltd
Current assignee: DORMAN SMITH BRITMAC Ltd
Priority date: 1977-08-26
Filing date: 1977-08-26
Publication date: 1981-02-04

Description

(54) ELECTRICAL OUTLET UNIT (71) We, DORMAN SMITH BRITMAC LIMI TED, a British Company, of Ahterton Works, Blackpool Road, Preston, PR2 2DQ, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to an electrical outlet unit for use, for example, with underfloor trunking.

Such units are usually laid on roughpoured concrete floors and screed laid to form a level floor surface. To obtain a wide variation in possible unit height it has previously been necessary to provide two or more differently sized boxes, a first typical box having its depth variable from 52 to 69 mm and a second typical box having its depth variable from 63 mm to 88 mm. This limitation of the depth adjustment has been due to the limitation of the length of the jacking mechanism (usually jacking screws) to the distance between an inner flange of a support of the unit and the base of a body of the unit, which distance is necessarily limited.

The present invention provides an electrical outlet unit comprising an open-topped box-like body, a support so adjustably mounted in the xob-like body that the combined height of the box-like body and the support can be adjusted to any height within a limited range, and, for jacking the support relative to the box-like body, means secured to the boxlike body and engaging outwardly extending flanges of the support.

Preferably, the box-like body and support are each of rectangular shape and in this case the flanges of the support are at opposite ends of the body. The jacking means can be constituted by jacking screws or bolts which are in screw threaded engagement with inward extensions on walls of the box-like body and which engage the undersurface of said flanges of the support.

Because the side walls of the body will normally have rectangular apertures in register with trunking on a floor, the side walls of the support must have corresponding apertures therein to allow free cable entry when in their lower positions. When they are in their raised positions this can lead to a space being left in the unit side wall above the top of the body side walls. To obviate this a detachable upwards extension of each side wall is normally provided and eliminates the space when the support is adjusted to its higher levels. If the support has to be arranged at a low position the extensions are detached. The extensions can be made detachable by having part-slit lines therealong to enable them to be snapped off. Alternatively the unit can be provided without the extension and sets of plates can be provided for attachment when necessary.

Knock-outs for the attachment of conduit to each end wall can be provided, and, if so, snap-off lower portions of the end walls of the support can be provided.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the following description is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred electrical outlet unit of the inven tion; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the unit assembled (with one of its lids open); Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal crosssectional view of the unit; and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged detailed views showing a cable protector of the unit.

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION A preferred embodiment of electrical outlet unit 10 of the invention, in general, comprises a body 11 in the form of an opentopped rectangular sheet metal box having a base 12, end walls 13 and side walls 14. The side walls 14 each have an elongate rectangular cut-out 15 adjacent the base for the attachment of trunking (not shown), and, on their outside, adapters 16, for securement to trunking. which adapters 16 will vary according to the type of trunking used. In some instances the single cut-out 15 can be replaced by a number of individual cut-outs and adapters. Nested inside the base is a support, (hereinafter referred to as a "raiser" 17) which is in the form of a rectangular frame having vertical walls 18, 49 and, at its upper edge, outwardly extending flanges 19. The raiser 17 can be jacked relative to the base as will be later described. Nesting inside the raiser 17 is a frame (hereinafter referred to as a "carpet segregator" or "segregator" 20) having vertical side walls 21, end walls 22, and lower internally extending flanges 23 (Fig. 3) on its end walls 22. The raiser 17 has lower internal flanges 24 on its side walls 49.

An inverted U-shaped member 25 extruded from aluminium alloy (whose main purpose will be later described) is secured to the raiser 17 by a lower horizontal flange 26 thereof being secured by screws 27 to opposite flanges 24. The top of the member 25 has a central ridge 29 and two shoulders 30 and 31.

Shoulder 30 supports one longer side of a first lid 32 of the unit and shoulder 31 one longer side of a second lid 33. The further mounting of the lids 32, 33 will be described later. Outlet mounting plates 34, 35 are secured to the flanges 34 of the raiser 17 one of each side of member 25, and mount power and telephone outlets (not shown). In its closed condition the lid 32, hinged by an assembly to be later described, rests on shoulder 30 and the head 36 of two offourjacking set screws 37 for the segregator 20.

The screws 37 rest by their heads 36 on the top flanges 38 of C-section rails 39, 40, one at each end of the unit 10. The tops of the heads 36 and the shoulders 30 and 31 are chosen to lie level so that the tops of lids 32, 33 lie level with the tops of flanges 19, i.e. level with the floor when in use.

In constructing a building, a plurality of such units 10 are laid in a matrix on the roughpoured concrete of a floor of a building and interconnected by trunking. Next the raisers 17 are jacked so that their upper edges all lie in a horizontal plane which will define the floor level. Because the concrete is usually uneven, the raisers can each be levelled independently of the attitude taken up by the base of the box. This also allows the screed depth to be varied, for example between about 50 and 90mm. Screed is now laid up to the level of the tops of the raisers and allowed to set to form the floor, burying the trunking.

When a floor covering is laid, for example carpet, a rectangular aperture is cut to accommodate each unit and a piece of that removed is adhered or otherwise secured to the top of each lid of the unit, with a piece cut away at the outlet recess. This makes the floor covering look substantially continuous. The carpet segregator 20 is now jacked up to about the top of the carpet backing and acts to protect the edges of the pieces of carpet. Details of the construction will now be described.

The end flanges 19 of the raiser 17 have, adjacent each end thereof, circular apertures 41, and upper portions 42 of the end walls 13 of the body 11 are bent inwards to lie parallel to the base 12. Threaded apertures are provided by inserts 43 in these upper portions 42 and raiser-jacking set screws 44 pass therethrough.

The flanges 19 of the raiser 17 rest on the heads 45 of these screws 44 with the apertures 41 in register therewith. The heads 45 are held adjacent the flanges 19 by forks 46 secured to flanges 19. Adjustment of the raiser 17 is effected by inserting a screwdriver into the apertures 41 to engage the heads 45 of the screws 44. The screws 44 are accommodated between the end walls 18 of the raiser 17 and end walls 13 of the body and are not visible from inside the unit. Knock-outs for conduit (not shown) can be provided in each end wall 13 of the box and knock-out portions (again not shown) can be provided at the base of each end wall 18 of the raiser 17. The space between the end walls 18 and 13 can accommodate conduit nuts or cable glands, if used.

Side walls 49 of the raiser 17 have elongate recesses 47 in their lower edges to allow cables to pass from trunking to the unit when the raiser is low, and when the raiser 17 is jacked-up to a high level, these are exposed above the normal level of the side walls 14 and would allow screed to enter the unit during installation. To obviate this, break-off upward extensions 48 of the side walls 14 of the body 11 are provided. These are retained if the raiser 17 has to be jacked to a high position, but can be removed quite easily by snapping at weakened line 50 if the raiser 17 is required to be low.

As has been described, C-section lid support rails 39, 40 are provided one at each end of the raiser 17. Each has a web 51 and a base flange 52 which rests on flanges 24 of the raiser 17, and said horizontal flange 38 through which pass the segregator jacking screws 37. The vertical web 51 of each rail has a horizontal slot 53 near each side of the unit.

A complementary slot 54 is provided in one vertical web 55 of the member 25. At a side of one lid 32 adjacent the other side of the unit two spaced apart brackets 56 are provided which are in the form of straps. These surround a cross-piece 57 of a U-shaped hinge bar 58 and allow limited movement thereof in a direction away from the lid 32.

The ends of the limbs 59 of the hinge bar are joggled at 60 to pass through the slots 53, 54 and the length of the end portion thereof beyond the joggle is chosen to prevent raising of the limb above a maximum angle by contacting the flanges 52.

When the lid 32 is to be opened the combination of slots and pivots allows opening unrestricted by the type of floor covering used or by carpet segregation adjustment. The lid 32 can be pivoted to lie flat on the floor covering. The limited angle of cross bar movement is intended to prevent the lid 32 hinging in the opposite direction i.e. enabling cables and plugs to be entered from the wrong side of the unit.

It will be appreciated that lid 32 covers the side of the unit adapted to mount power outlets. Thus a user can gain access to these by lid32.

Lid 33, however, supported by screws 37 and shoulder 31, is simply a flat plate. It is secured to the unit by a screw 61 passing through member 25 and engaging a bracket 62 on its underside. Thus, access to the unit beneath lid 33, where telephone outlets are usually mounted, can only be effected by means of a screwdriver.

Two cable outlet supports 63 are attached to a side wall 21 of the segregator 20 in register with recesses 64, 65 in the lids 32, 22.

Each support 63 mounts a cable outlet 66 (Fig. 4 to 6) of resilient plastics material which can be mounted on the support in a first position (Fig. 4) wherein a face 67 thereof lies parallel to the upper surface of the lids 32, 33 and blanks-off the recesses 64 or 65 and in a second position (Figs. 5 and 6) wherein the outlet 66 projects substantially above the lid to protect cables passing therethrough.

The outlet 66 in its second position is generally C-shaped in vertical plan view, having an elongate "rear" wall 68, short, narrow side walls 69 and front walls or fingers 70 lying generally parallel to the rear wall 68. The fingers 70 have a small space 71 between their free ends and allow cable to be pressed between them to be substantially surrounded against horizontal displacement or abrasion, for example by floor cleaners.

Rear wall 68 is connected by a central neck 72 to a front wall 73 lying parallel to the rear wall 68 but substantially beneath it. In the second position the front wall engages the support 63. In the first position the side walls 69 engage the support 63.

Ahandle 74 of the unit is in the form of a C-shaped length of stiff wire one of whose limbs is pivoted on engage brackets 75 beneath the lid 32 on one side of the recesses 64. One of the brackets 75 has a inclined edge 76 which assists the lid 32 to seat correctly when closing. The other limb 77 of the handle 74 lies above the top surface of the lid.

The handle 74 can pivot between a first position wherein its limb 77 lies close to the lid 32, and a second position wherein its limb 77 is spaced therefrom.

For segregating, or separating the mains outlets beneath lid 32 from the telephone outlet beneath lid 33, a plate 78 upstands from the base 12 of the body 11 and projects up between the two outlet plates 34, 35. From the flanges of the raisers 17 a plate 79 projects down near to and parallel to the plate 78.

Further, the member 25 surrounds the up wardly extending plate 78 (when the raiser 17 is low) and provides support for the lids 32, 33. This arrangement ensures not only segregation below the mounting plates 34, 35 but also between the mounting plates 34, 35 and the lids 32, 33.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto.

An an alternative to the described cable outlet 66 an outlet similar to that described in our co-pending application No. 16903/74 (Serial No. 1,459,833) can be used. This outlet can be moulded from nylon or similar mat erial and can comprise a pair of webs arranged at right angles to each other, one having a central aperture to which access is possible via a pair of opposed resilient fingers, and the other being plain. The two webs can be connected to a third support web by a central generally L-shaped member. A bracket is provided on the inside of the carpet segre gator and in an "in-use" position thereof the third web engages the bracket and supports the outlet with the one web above the level of the lid for surrounding and protecting cables.

In a blanking position the one web can engage the bracket and the other web will blank off the recess in the lid. If desired a block of resilient material such as foam rubber or plastics material can be slit and placed around the cables above the outlet for further protection.

Instead of two lids 32, 33, a single lid can be provided. Further, three or more segre gated compartments can be provided, each having its own lid which may be hinged or not. Many other variations are possible.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. An electrical outlet unit comprising an open-topped box-like body, a support so adjustably mounted in the box-like body that the combined height of the box-like body and the support can be adjusted to any height within a limited range, and, for jacking the support relative to the box-like body, means secured to the box-like body and engaging outwardly extending flanges of the support.

2. A unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the box-like body and support are each of rectangular shape and said flanges of the support are at opposite ends of the unit.

3. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the jacking means is constituted by a plurality of screws or bolts which are in screw threaded engagement with inward extensions on walls of the box-like body and.

which engage the undersurface of said flanges of the support.

4. A unit as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein side walls of the box-like body have upwardly extending detachable extensions.

5. A unit as claimed in Claim 4, wherein

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Claims

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lid 32 can be pivoted to lie flat on the floor covering. The limited angle of cross bar movement is intended to prevent the lid 32 hinging in the opposite direction i.e. enabling cables and plugs to be entered from the wrong side of the unit.

It will be appreciated that lid 32 covers the side of the unit adapted to mount power outlets. Thus a user can gain access to these by lid32.

Lid 33, however, supported by screws 37 and shoulder 31, is simply a flat plate. It is secured to the unit by a screw 61 passing through member 25 and engaging a bracket 62 on its underside. Thus, access to the unit beneath lid 33, where telephone outlets are usually mounted, can only be effected by means of a screwdriver.

Two cable outlet supports 63 are attached to a side wall 21 of the segregator 20 in register with recesses 64, 65 in the lids 32, 22.

Each support 63 mounts a cable outlet 66 (Fig. 4 to 6) of resilient plastics material which can be mounted on the support in a first position (Fig. 4) wherein a face 67 thereof lies parallel to the upper surface of the lids 32, 33 and blanks-off the recesses 64 or 65 and in a second position (Figs. 5 and 6) wherein the outlet 66 projects substantially above the lid to protect cables passing therethrough.

The outlet 66 in its second position is generally C-shaped in vertical plan view, having an elongate "rear" wall 68, short, narrow side walls 69 and front walls or fingers 70 lying generally parallel to the rear wall 68. The fingers 70 have a small space 71 between their free ends and allow cable to be pressed between them to be substantially surrounded against horizontal displacement or abrasion, for example by floor cleaners.

Rear wall 68 is connected by a central neck 72 to a front wall 73 lying parallel to the rear wall 68 but substantially beneath it. In the second position the front wall engages the support 63. In the first position the side walls 69 engage the support 63.

Ahandle 74 of the unit is in the form of a C-shaped length of stiff wire one of whose limbs is pivoted on engage brackets 75 beneath the lid 32 on one side of the recesses 64. One of the brackets 75 has a inclined edge 76 which assists the lid 32 to seat correctly when closing. The other limb 77 of the handle 74 lies above the top surface of the lid.

The handle 74 can pivot between a first position wherein its limb 77 lies close to the lid 32, and a second position wherein its limb 77 is spaced therefrom.

For segregating, or separating the mains outlets beneath lid 32 from the telephone outlet beneath lid 33, a plate 78 upstands from the base 12 of the body 11 and projects up between the two outlet plates 34, 35. From the flanges of the raisers 17 a plate 79 projects down near to and parallel to the plate 78.

Further, the member 25 surrounds the up wardly extending plate 78 (when the raiser 17 is low) and provides support for the lids 32, 33. This arrangement ensures not only segregation below the mounting plates 34,

35 but also between the mounting plates 34,

35 and the lids 32, 33.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto.

An an alternative to the described cable outlet 66 an outlet similar to that described in our co-pending application No. 16903/74 (Serial No. 1,459,833) can be used. This outlet can be moulded from nylon or similar mat erial and can comprise a pair of webs arranged at right angles to each other, one having a central aperture to which access is possible via a pair of opposed resilient fingers, and the other being plain. The two webs can be connected to a third support web by a central generally L-shaped member. A bracket is provided on the inside of the carpet segre gator and in an "in-use" position thereof the third web engages the bracket and supports the outlet with the one web above the level of the lid for surrounding and protecting cables.

In a blanking position the one web can engage the bracket and the other web will blank off the recess in the lid. If desired a block of resilient material such as foam rubber or plastics material can be slit and placed around the cables above the outlet for further protection.

Instead of two lids 32, 33, a single lid can be provided. Further, three or more segre gated compartments can be provided, each having its own lid which may be hinged or not. Many other variations are possible.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. An electrical outlet unit comprising an open-topped box-like body, a support so adjustably mounted in the box-like body that the combined height of the box-like body and the support can be adjusted to any height within a limited range, and, for jacking the support relative to the box-like body, means secured to the box-like body and engaging outwardly extending flanges of the support.
2. A unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the box-like body and support are each of rectangular shape and said flanges of the support are at opposite ends of the unit.
3. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the jacking means is constituted by a plurality of screws or bolts which are in screw threaded engagement with inward extensions on walls of the box-like body and.

which engage the undersurface of said flanges of the support.
4. A unit as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein side walls of the box-like body have upwardly extending detachable extensions.
5. A unit as claimed in Claim 4, wherein

the extensions are detachable by having weakened lines enabling them to be snapped off.
6. A unit as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein knock-outs for the attachment of conduits are provided in side and/or end walls of the box-like body.
7. An electrical outlet unit as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the support includes a compartment and has a base, a structure adjacent each of two opposite sides of the base defining a slot, a lid, and a pair of struts, each strut at one end being pivotably and slidably attached to the lid and at its other end being joggled and passing through a respective one of said slots.
8. A unit as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the struts are limbs of a U-shaped member whose cross-piece lies generally parallel to and adjacent one edge of the lid and is attached to the lid by straps which allow it to turn and to move towards and away from the lid.
9. A unit as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein one of said slots is formed in a vertical web of an angle-section member secured to the base of the support.
10. A unit as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the other of said slots is formed in a corresponding web of a second angle-section member.
11. A unit as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the other slot is formed in a vertical wall of an inverted U-section member which extends across the base of the support at a position intermediate said two opposite sides of the base, thereby sub-dividing said compartment into two parts.
12. An electrical outlet unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support has outlet mounting plates secured thereto defining service compartments above and below each plate, segregation between the compartments below the mounting plates being provided by a member extending upwardly from a base of the box-like body to a position between the mounting plate and segregation of the compartments above the mounting plates being provided by a member extending upwardly from between the mounting plates.
13. A unit as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the member extending upwardly from the base of the box-like body comprises a plate which extends upwardly from the base and a plate which extends downwardly from about the plane of the mounting plates.
14. A unit as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, wherein the plate extending upwardly from the base of the box-like body extends into the space above the mounting plates and lies close to the member extending upwardly from between the mounting plates.
15. A unit as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the member extending upwardly from between the mounting plates is of inverted U-shape and can surround the upper portion of the plate extending upwardly from the base of the box-like body.
16. A unit as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the member extending upwardly from between the mounting plates serves partially to support a lid or lids of the unit.
17. A unit as claimed in Claim 15 or 16, wherein the member extending upwardly from between the mounting plates is an extruded elongate body.
18. An electrical outlet unit as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 12 or 16, wherein one or more than one recess is provided in an edge of the or each lid for reception of one or more than one separately formed cable outlet, the or each cable outlet being independent of its associated lid and movable between a first position wherein a face thereof lies generally level with the top of the lid to substantially block the recess and a second position wherein a portion of the outlet projects substantially above the level of the lid and can substantially surround cables passing therethrough.
19. A unit as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the or each cable outlet is of resilient plastics material.
20. A unit as claimed in Claim 18 or 19, wherein the or each cable outlet is pivotable between its two positions.
21. A unit as claimed in Claim 18 or 19, wherein the or each cable outlet comprises a rear wall connected at its lower edge to a front wall parallel to but spaced from and disposed below the rear wall, the rear wall having, at its ends, side walls extending on the same side thereof as the front wall and at their ends having fingers lying generally parallel to the rear wall.
22. A unit as claimed in Claim 21, wherein a mounting for the outlet consists of a structure defining a slot dimensioned to receive the front wall, in the second position, and the side walls in the first position.
23. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 22, wherein a handle of the lid comprises a C-shaped piece of wire having one limb to the underside of the lid adjacent the recess and having its other limb parallel to the top of the lid and raisable from there for opening the box and lowerable to lie adjacent the lid when not in use.
24. A unit as claimed in Claim 23, wherein a handle-mounting bracket beneath the lid is shaped to guide the lid towards its closed position during final closing movement thereof.
25. An electrical outlet unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.