GB2064871A

GB2064871A - A cavity wall mounting assembly for an electrical fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2064871A
Application number: GB7942204A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Marshall Ltd C & C
Current assignee: Marshall Ltd C & C
Priority date: 1979-12-06
Filing date: 1979-12-06
Publication date: 1981-06-17

Abstract

A cavity wall mounting assembly for an electrical fitting, such as a switch or socket, comprises a four-sided box closed at one end (15) only. The box has three or more and preferably four pillars (19) connected to the closed end (15) so as to project from the box away from the open end thereof for engagement with the inner leaf (22) of a cavity wall. The box has a through slot in each of two opposite sides and two clips (25) are also provided. Each clip (25) is L-shaped and has two mutually perpendicular limbs (26, 27) one (26) of which projects outwardly through a respective slot and the other of which extends within the box towards the closed end (15) where it is located in a channel or hole (30). The clips locate the box in the wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cavity wall mounting assembly for an electrical fitting This invention relates to a cavity wall mounting assembly for an electrical fitting of a kind which comprises electrical switches and electrical sockets; it also relates to a kit of parts from which such an assembly can be made.

The invention provides in one aspect a cavity wall mounting assembly for an electrical fitting of the kind described, the assembly comprising a foursided box closed at one end only, and at least three pillars connected to the closed end of the box so as to project therefrom away from the open end thereof for engagement with the inner leaf of a cavity wall, the box having at least one aperture in each of first and second opposite sides, there being further provided two clips constructed and arranged to project through the apertures in the first and second sides respectively for locating the box in the wall.

Preferably, each clip is L-shaped and is arranged so that, in use, one limb projects outwardly through the respective aperture and the other limb extends within the box towards the closed end thereof, there being provided means for holding each clip against movement relative to the box.

Advantageously, the holding means for each clip comprises a tongue integral with said one limb of the clip, the tongue projecting from said one limb parallel to and in the same direction as the other limb, being spaced from the other limb by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the width of the box side adjacent a respective aperture and having an inclined edge remote from the other limb, and a channel or hole at or adjacent to the closed end of the box for receiving and locating the free end of the other limb.

Conveniently, the pillars are releasably connected to the closed end of the box.

Conveniently, each pillar has an external screwthread and is supported in an associated aperture provided in the closed end of the box by nut means.

The invention provides in another aspect a kit of parts from which the above assembly can be made the kit comprising a four-sided plastics box open at one end only and having at least one aperture in each of first and second opposite sides, two clips constructed and arranged to project through the apertures in the first and second sides respectively and at least one elongate element for providing said pillars.

Advantageously, the holding means for each clip comprises a tongue integral with said one limb or the clip, the tongue projecting from said one limb parallel to and in the same direction as the other limb, being spaced from the other limb by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the width of the box side adjacent a respective aperture and having an inclined edge remote from the other limb, and a channel or hole at or adjacent to the closed end of the box for receiving and locating the free end of the other limb.

Conveniently, the elongate element has an external screw-thread.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a cavity wall mounting assembly according to the invention and shown mounted in a cavity wall, and Figure 2 is a partly exploded view of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the cavity wall mounting assembly shown therein includes a dry liming box 10 of plastics material. The box 10 has four sides 11,12,13 and 14 and is closed at one end only by an end wall 15 integral with the sides 11-14, the other end being open. The dimensions of the box are such as to receive a conventional domestic electrical wall switch or socket and for the purpose of securing such a switch or socket to the box 10, each of two opposite sides 11 and 13 has an integral inwardly directed bulge 16 (only one of which is shown - see Figure 2) which extends from the end wall 15 perpendicularly thereto; each bulge 16 has an internally screw-threaded blind bore 17 for receiving a screw-threaded bolt (not shown) which passes through a cover plate of the switch or socket.

The end wall 15 has an aperture 18 adjacent each corner and an externally screw-threaded pillar 19 is mounted in each aperture 18 and rigidly connected to the end wall 15 by two lock nuts 20 and 21. The pillars 19 may be cut to a desired length, during assembly, from a single elongate screw-threaded rod section and fine adjustment of the effective length of each pillar can be made by varying the position of the lock nuts 20 and 21 relative to the respective pillar. The pillars 19 project from the end wall 15 away from the open end of the box by such a distance that when the the box 10 is mounted in a cavity wall, the free ends of the pillars 19 engage the inner leaf 22 (Figures 1) of the wall and the open end of the box is flush or substantially flush with the outer face of the outer leaf 23 (Figure 1) of the wall.

Each opposite side 12 and 14 of the box has therein an aperture in the form of a through slot 24 and two clips 25 are provided to project through the two slots 24 respectively for locating the box in the wall. Each clip 25 is L-shaped having two mutually perpendicular limbs 26 and 27. When each clip is in an operative position locating the box 10 in a cavity wall the limb 26 extends through a respective slot 24 whilst the limb 27 extends within the box towards the end wall 15. The limb 26 has an integral tongue 28 which projects from the limb 26 parallel to and in the same direction as the limb 27; the tongue 28 is spaced from the limb 27 by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the width of the side 12, 14 adjacent the respective slot 24 and has an inclined edge 29 remote from the limb 27.As shown the end wall 15 has two channels 30 adjacent the walls 12 and 14 respectively each of which receives and locates the free end of the limb 27 of a respective clip. Each channel 30 is defined between the respective side wall 12,14 and a tongue 31 integral with an upstanding from the end wall 15. However each channel may be replaced, for example, by a recess in the end wall 15 or by a lug having an aperture therein and projecting inwardly from the respective side 12,14.

In orderto mountthe assembly in a cavity wall an aperture of the required shape and dimensions is made in the outer leaf of the wall and pillars of required length are connected to the end wall 15.

The box 10 with pillars 19 is then inserted through the aperture in the outer leaf 23 and pressed into place with pillars in contact with the inner leaf 22.

The clips are then inserted and in doing so the limbs 26 are pressed through respective slots 24 until tongues 28 lie against the outer surface of the respective side 12, 14 and the free end of limb 27 is located in the respective channel 30 to hold the clips against movement relative to the box. The limbs 26 engage the inner surface of the outer leaf 23 and hold the box in place so that a switch or socket can be connected thereto.

The box 10 has a further aperture (not shown) through which an electrical supply wire can enter the box.

The pillars 19 need not be connected to the box as above described, but, for example, may be mounted in sockets projecting outwardly from the end wall 15 by means of cooperating screw-threads or an interference fit.

Claims

1. A cavity wall mounting assembly for an electrical fitting of the kind described, the assembly comprising a four-sided box closed at one end only, and at least three pillars connected to the closed end of the box so as to project therefrom away from the open end thereof for engagement with the inner leaf of a cavity wall, the box having at least one aperture in each of first and second opposite sides, there being further provided two clips constructed and arranged to project through the apertures in the first and second sides respectively for locating the box in the wall.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1, wherein each clip is L-shaped and is arranged so that, in use, one limb projects outwardly through the respective aperture and the other limb extends within the box towards the closed end thereof, there being provided means for holding each clip against movement relative to the box.

3. A box as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holding means for each clip comprises a tongue integral with said one limb of the clip, the tongue projecting from said one limb parallel to and in the same direction as the other limb, being spaced from the other limb by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the width of the box side adjacent a respective aperture and having an inclined edge remote from the other limb, and a channel or hole at or adjacent to the closed end of the box for receiving and locating the free end of the other limb.

4. A box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pillars are releasably connected to the closed end of the box.

5. A box as claimed in claim 4, wherein each pillar has an external screw-thread and is supported in an associated aperture provided in the closed end of the box by nut means.

6. A kit of parts from which the assembly of claim 1 can be made, the kit comprising a four-sided plastics box open at one end only and having at least one aperture in each of first and second opposite sides, two clips constructed and arranged to project through the apertures in the first and second sides respectively and at least one elongate element for providing said pillars.

7. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 6, wherein each clip is L-shaped and is arranged so that, in use, one limb projects outwardly through the respective aperture and the other limb extends within the box towards the closed end thereof, there being provided means for holding each clip against movement relative to the box.

8. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 7, wherein the holding means for each clip comprises a tongue integral with said one limb of the clip, the tongue projecting from said one limb parallel to and in the same direction as the other limp, being spaced from the other limb by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the width of the box side adjacent a respective aperture and having an inclined edge remote from the other limb, and a channel or hole at or adjacent to the closed end of the box for receiving and locating the free end of the other limb.

9. A kit of parts as claimed in any one of claims 6-8, wherein the elongate element has an external screw-thread.

10. A cavity wall mounting assembly for an electrical fining, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

11. A kit of parts from which the assembly of claim 10 can be made, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.