GB2134330A

GB2134330A - Improved distribution box

Info

Publication number: GB2134330A
Application number: GB08301720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Hartley; Jeremy Charles Hartley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-21
Filing date: 1983-01-21
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: GB8301720D0; GB2134330B

Abstract

A distribution box has a casing 10 which fits over a cable trunking 50. The box 10 has an open base, so that the cables can pass between the box and the trunking and a number of openings 12 in the top face of the box in which sockets can be fitted. Some of the sockets 20 are mains electricity supply sockets whilst others are for a telephone and for data transmission cables. To prevent the mains electricity supply interfering with the telephone and data transmission cables, the interior of the box is divided by a partition wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved distribution box Field ofinvention This invention concerns distribution boxes of the type used in offices and the like to permit office equipment to be connected into a common supply or signal path, or the like.

Background to the invention It is known to provide distribution boxes containing 13A sockets into which appropriate plugs can be fitted to permit electrically powered equipment to be connected to an electricity supply mains.

It is also known to provide telephone jack sockets at convenient points around a building into which telephones can be plugged.

With the advent of desk top computers and/or computers having a large numberofseparateter- minals, all serving as work stations, and usually requiring access to a central computer, it has become necessary to provide computer link sockets in the proximity of such works stations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a unit for the distribution of such services.

Summary of the invention According to one aspect of the present invention, a distribution box which will permit connection to multiple way trunking carrying an electricity supply cable, a telephone cable and a data transmission highway cable for linking computers or terminals comprises: a plate carrying one or more multiple way connectors or sockets having terminals to which the conductors of the various cables can be attached, a boxlike structure of which the plate comprises the top thereof, the underside of the box being substantially open to permit cabling to pass from the trunking into the box and out therefrom, and wall means which divides the interior of the box into at least two compartments one containing the multipleway connectors to which the electricity supply cable is to be connected and the other containing the multipleway connector to which the telephone and data highway cables are to be connected. In one embodiment the plate contains four apertures, two of which are for power supply sockets, one for a telephone socket and the fourth for a data highway connector, the two power supply sockets being located in one and the other two sockets being located in the other of two compartments formed by a single wall located below the plate.

It is to be understood however that the invention is not limited to the provision of four or any other number of outlets in a single box unit and the above is only given by way of example of the number of outlets which could be combined in a single box unit.

The plate and the sides of the box may be formed from metal or a plastics material.

The wall or walls dividing the box into compartments may be of metal or a plastics material.

One or both end walls of each such box may be left open to allow cabling to enter or leave the box in line therewith, but preferably all wiring into and out of the box is provided through the open underside.

Preferably, at least two of the walls of the box include laterally extending flanges along their lowermost edges to provide for fixing the box either to floor level trunking orto a floor on either side of trunking let into the floor.

Although the invention is primarily intended for floor mounting, it will be appreciated that the box can be mounted on a wall if required.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the box is designed to cover an aperture in trunking containing the cabling previously referred to, and where the box and trunking are both of metal, the shrouding of the cabling by the metal trunking is effectively continued throughout the length of the trunking.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the box may be fitted over an opening in wall mounted trunking which constitutes skirting for a room, in which event the box walls are adapted to be fitted to the vertical face of the skirting trunking instead of to the upper face of floor level trunking.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, two conventional multipleway data highway sockets are adapted for fitting into a standard opening (as hereinafter defined) by means of a first frame member having an opening which will accommodate two such multipleway data highway sockets and a mounting plate having two apertures which is adapted to be fitted under the frame member with the two apertures within the boundary of the opening in the frame member, the mounting plate and frame members having aligned holes through which screws or other fastenings can be passed for securing the mounting plate and the frame to a supporting plate.

Preferably, the aligned holes are spaced so as to correspond to screw holes or the like on opposite sides of apertures in the plate forming the top of the box.

Preferably, each of the openings in the said plate to which the connectors are fitted is similar in size and shape to the other said openings in the plate, so that the layout of the sockets or connectors can be selected at will. Preferably, the partitioning plate below the said top plate is movable so as to accommodate different arrangements of connectors or sockets to prevent electricity supply mains sockets being located within the same compartment as telephone or computer connectors.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an adaptor is provided by which any electrical socket or sockets (smaller than a standard electricity supply mains socket) can be mounted in a standard opening (as hereinafter defined) comprising a frame member of plastics material having an opening therein large enough to accommodate the socket or sockets, a pair of fixing holes on either side of the opening, spaced apart by a standard distance (as hereinafter defined) and a mounting plate within which one or more sockets can be mounted having similarly spaced fixing holes which align with those in the frame member when the plate is fitted to the frame member to permit fixing screws or the like to pass therethrough for securing to a backing plate or the like.

Preferably, each aperture in the top plate of the box corresponds to a socalled standard opening (as hereinafter defined) and includes inwardly directed lugs having fixing holes spaced by a standard distance (as defined hereinafter).

Where one end of the box is omitted, to permit cabling to enter the box from the sides, a boxlike unit is preferably provided containing a terminal strip or the like to permit cables from the trunking to be terminated in the boxlike unit and connections to be made between these terminals and the terminals of the sockets in the box.

Definitions By "standard opening" is meant the generally square opening such as is provided by a standard mounting box for fitting to a wall and adapted to receive a 13 Amp electricity mains socket of the type used throughout the U.K.

By "standard distance" is meant the distance between the fixing holes located on opposite sides ofthe opening in a standard mounting box of the type described.

Conventionally, these fixing holes are formed in lugs which extend into the standard opening, and either one or both of which are adjustable in position to accommodate manufacturing and/or mounting tolerances.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying the invention when fitted to floor level trunking which includes in exploded form the detail of the components making up a mounting for a telephone socket and the detail of the components making up a mounting for a computer link data highway socket, and Figure 2 is an underside plan view of the box of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a distribution box comprises a top plate 10 having four square apertures 12 therein, each of which is the same dimensions as the other apertures and includes a pair of fixing lugs 14, 16, extending thereinto, each having a screwed fixing hole 18. The centres of the holes 18 are spaced apart by a standard distance, as herein defined, and each aperture 12 corresponds to a socalled standard opening, as hereinbefore defined.

A standard U.K. 13 Amp electricity supply socket 20 is mountable in two of the apertures 12, a telephone socket 22 is mountable in one of the other sockets 12 and a pair of multipleway data highway sockets 24 as employed for interconnecting computers and terminals is mountable in the fourth aperture 12.

The undersides of the two 13 Amp sockets are separated from the other two by means of a wall 26, typically of metal.

The lugs 14, 16 are formed by metal plates 28, which are welded or otherwise screwed between adjacent apertures 12 and by shorter plates 30 welded or otherwise screwed to the underside of the plate 10 to extend into the apertures 12.

Two data highway sockets 24 are mounted on a plate 32 which is located over one of the openings 12 and is held in place by a frame member 34 and by two fixing screws (not shown) which extend through aligned holed 36,38 and 40,42, formed in the frame and plate respectively. The data highway cabling is typically connected parallel to the two pairs of terminals of the multipleway sockets 24 so that a multipleway plug inserted with either of the sockets 24 will contact the same conductors of the highway cable, and up to two computer terminals can be connected to the highway at each box.

The plate 32 is typically of metal and is rigid whilst the frame 34 is typically of a plastics material.

Along the lowermost edges of the front and rear side walls of the box 10 are provided laterally extending mounting flanges 44,46, having fixing holes such as 48, by which it can be screwed to the floor on either side of a length of trunking generally designated 50 which is divided longitudinally by an internal wall 52 into a mains supply section 54 and a telecommunications section 56 along which the cabling associated with the electricity supply and telephone and computer links run.

To facilitate interconnecting of the cabling to the connectors to the rear of the various sockets, such as 20,22,24, the trunking includes a rectangular opening over which the box 10 fits, and the cabling passes up into the box and down back into the trunking through the open underside of the box and the aligned opening in the top of the trunking.

Although not shown, the flanges 44,46, may be turned inwards instead of outwards to allow the box to be screwed to the trunking itself instead of to the floor on opposite sides of the trunking.

The box is typically of metal, as also is the trunking.

CLAIMS (Filed on 12/12/83) 1. A distribution box which will permit connection to multiplewaytrunking carrying an electricity supply cable, a telephone cable and a data transmission highway cable for linking computors or terminals, the box comprising a top plate carrying one or more multipleway connectors or sockets having terminals to which the conductors of the various cables can be attached, the underside of the box being substantially open to permit cabling to pass between the trunking and the box, and wall means dividing the interior of the box into at least two compartments, one containing a multipleway connector to which the electricity supply cable is to be connected, and the other containing multipleway connectors to which the telephone data highway cables are to be connected.

2. A box as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the plate has four apertures, two of which are for power supply sockets, one for a telephone socket and the fourth for a data highway connector, the two power supply sockets being located in one and the other two sockets being located in the other of two

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. therethrough for securing to a backing plate or the like. Preferably, each aperture in the top plate of the box corresponds to a socalled standard opening (as hereinafter defined) and includes inwardly directed lugs having fixing holes spaced by a standard distance (as defined hereinafter). Where one end of the box is omitted, to permit cabling to enter the box from the sides, a boxlike unit is preferably provided containing a terminal strip or the like to permit cables from the trunking to be terminated in the boxlike unit and connections to be made between these terminals and the terminals of the sockets in the box. Definitions By "standard opening" is meant the generally square opening such as is provided by a standard mounting box for fitting to a wall and adapted to receive a 13 Amp electricity mains socket of the type used throughout the U.K. By "standard distance" is meant the distance between the fixing holes located on opposite sides ofthe opening in a standard mounting box of the type described. Conventionally, these fixing holes are formed in lugs which extend into the standard opening, and either one or both of which are adjustable in position to accommodate manufacturing and/or mounting tolerances. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Description of drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying the invention when fitted to floor level trunking which includes in exploded form the detail of the components making up a mounting for a telephone socket and the detail of the components making up a mounting for a computer link data highway socket, and Figure 2 is an underside plan view of the box of Figure 1. Referring to Figure 1, a distribution box comprises a top plate 10 having four square apertures 12 therein, each of which is the same dimensions as the other apertures and includes a pair of fixing lugs 14, 16, extending thereinto, each having a screwed fixing hole 18. The centres of the holes 18 are spaced apart by a standard distance, as herein defined, and each aperture 12 corresponds to a socalled standard opening, as hereinbefore defined. A standard U.K. 13 Amp electricity supply socket 20 is mountable in two of the apertures 12, a telephone socket 22 is mountable in one of the other sockets 12 and a pair of multipleway data highway sockets 24 as employed for interconnecting computers and terminals is mountable in the fourth aperture 12. The undersides of the two 13 Amp sockets are separated from the other two by means of a wall 26, typically of metal. The lugs 14, 16 are formed by metal plates 28, which are welded or otherwise screwed between adjacent apertures 12 and by shorter plates 30 welded or otherwise screwed to the underside of the plate 10 to extend into the apertures 12. Two data highway sockets 24 are mounted on a plate 32 which is located over one of the openings 12 and is held in place by a frame member 34 and by two fixing screws (not shown) which extend through aligned holed 36,38 and 40,42, formed in the frame and plate respectively. The data highway cabling is typically connected parallel to the two pairs of terminals of the multipleway sockets 24 so that a multipleway plug inserted with either of the sockets 24 will contact the same conductors of the highway cable, and up to two computer terminals can be connected to the highway at each box. The plate 32 is typically of metal and is rigid whilst the frame 34 is typically of a plastics material. Along the lowermost edges of the front and rear side walls of the box 10 are provided laterally extending mounting flanges 44,46, having fixing holes such as 48, by which it can be screwed to the floor on either side of a length of trunking generally designated 50 which is divided longitudinally by an internal wall 52 into a mains supply section 54 and a telecommunications section 56 along which the cabling associated with the electricity supply and telephone and computer links run. To facilitate interconnecting of the cabling to the connectors to the rear of the various sockets, such as 20,22,24, the trunking includes a rectangular opening over which the box 10 fits, and the cabling passes up into the box and down back into the trunking through the open underside of the box and the aligned opening in the top of the trunking. Although not shown, the flanges 44,46, may be turned inwards instead of outwards to allow the box to be screwed to the trunking itself instead of to the floor on opposite sides of the trunking. The box is typically of metal, as also is the trunking. CLAIMS (Filed on 12/12/83)

1. A distribution box which will permit connection to multiplewaytrunking carrying an electricity supply cable, a telephone cable and a data transmission highway cable for linking computors or terminals, the box comprising a top plate carrying one or more multipleway connectors or sockets having terminals to which the conductors of the various cables can be attached, the underside of the box being substantially open to permit cabling to pass between the trunking and the box, and wall means dividing the interior of the box into at least two compartments, one containing a multipleway connector to which the electricity supply cable is to be connected, and the other containing multipleway connectors to which the telephone data highway cables are to be connected.

compartments formed by a single wall located below the plate.

3. A box as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein one or both end walls of the box are left open to allow cabling to enter or leave the box in line therewith.

4. A box as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein at least two of the walls of the box include laterally extending flanges along their lowermost edges to provide for fixing the box either to floor level trunking or to a floor on either side oftrunking let into the floor.

5. A box as claimed in any preceding Claim, in combination with trunking carrying cabling, the trunking having an aperture therein through which cabling can enter or leave the trunking, and the box being adapted to completely cover the aperture, the box and trunking both being of metal so that the shrouding of the cable by the metal trunking is effectively continued throughout the length of the trunking.

6. A box as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein two multipleway data highway sockets are adapted for fitting into a standard opening (as hereinbefore defined) by means of a first frame member having an opening which will accomodate two such multipleway data highway sockets and a mounting plate having two apertures which is adapted to be fitted under the frame member with the two apertures within the boundary of the opening in the frame member, the mounting plate and frame members having aligned holes through which screws or other fastenings can be passed for securing the mounting plate and the frame to a supporting plate.

7. A box as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the aligned holes are spaced so as to correspond to screw holes on opposite sides of apertures in the plate forming the top of the box.

8. A box as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the top plate includes a plurality of standard openings for receiving the multiple way connectors or sockets.

9. A box as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the wall means is movable within the box so as to accomodate different arrangements of connectors or sockets whilst preventing electricity supply mains sockets being located within the same compartment as telephone or computer connectors.

10. A box as claimed in any preceding Claim, containing a terminal strip or the like to permit cables from the trunking to be terminated in the box and connections to be made between these terminals and the terminals of the sockets in the box.

11. A distribution box substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.