GB2168206A

GB2168206A - Frame for supporting accessory box face plate

Info

Publication number: GB2168206A
Application number: GB08529470A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Mark Ashburner
Original assignee: Ashley Accessories Ltd
Current assignee: Ashley Accessories Ltd
Priority date: 1984-11-30
Filing date: 1985-11-29
Publication date: 1986-06-11
Also published as: GB2168206B; GB8529470D0; GB8430297D0

Abstract

A frame 10 for preventing scuffing of the face plate of an electrical accessory box comprises a continuous lip 14 formed with a flange 16 medially of its depth and preferably off-centre to present shorter and longer lips 14X and 14Y. The frame is mounted on a flush- mounted accessory box with a faceplate received on the flange 16, thereby preventing the edge of the faceplate being scuffed by the wall adjacent the box. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Face plate fixing for electrical accessories The invention concerns improvements in or relating to face plate fixing for electrical accessories.

For metal face plates, typically of brushed and lacquered brass to simulate a "gold" finish or of lacquered satin finish stainless steel to simulate a "silver" finish, problems of discolouration have been encountered, at least for these with "gold" finishes, brass apparently being particularly susceptible to chemical agents present in plaster or other wall finishes and capable of leaking under lacquer finishes, especially at edges of plates which are in contact with the mounting surface. Mostly, face plates are of dished shape and have thin edges round which it is difficult to ensure that the lacquer is unbroken, whether as manufactured or, particularly, by the time of installation. Moreover, some porosity of the lacquer has been found, and that is a complicating factor at edges of face plates.

Prior efforts to solve this problem have insolved either applying impervious sheet to the mounting surface and extending beyond the edges of the face plate, or using flexible channel section that is fitted over and round face plate edges at installation.

It is an object of this invention to provide an alternative, and we believe advantageous, solution.

According, this invention proposes the provision of a purpose-formed, usually moulded, frame-like article of a suitable shielding material, usually plastics, having a continuous lip formation by which a face plate edge will be spaced from a wall surface throughout its extent, such edge normally fitting into or against said lip formation.

Such article may be substantially rigid, i.e.

form-sustaining in its shape matching the face plate edge, and its lip formation may circumscribe actual seating, for example a continous inner ledging, for the face plate edge. The article constitutes a support for electrical accesessories and in particular mains electrical accesessories.

Usefully, lip formation of the article may present different seating depths for the face plate edge according to which side of the article receives it, in which case the other side of the article to be in contact with the mounting surface can be either side of the article, thereby offering a choice of finish and/or stand-off distance between the face plate and the mounting surface.

We also find it advantageous for articles hereof to have inwardly extending lugs at positions corresponding to face plate fixing screw locations and be pierced in registration therewith. Leaving flash at such piercings facilitates gripping thereof by face plate fixing screws and thus affording interlocated presentation of the article and its associated fixing plate, whether at installation or other times.

Affording flexibility to such lugs, say via thinning grooves adjacent to the frame of the articles (i.e. between that frame and the piercings), allows adaption to the actual position of the normal fixing box even if proud of the mounting surface. Additionally or alternatively, those lugs may be snapped off, at installation, conveniently at the aforesaid exemplary thinning grooves thereof.

It will be evident that frame-like articles hereof can be made available in each of different sizes corresponding to the face plates with which they are to be associated, usually at least single and two-gang sizes. Larger articles hereof may have an inner ribbing spaced from their aforesaid lip formations for stiffening purposes.

Specific implementation of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a single frame-like article hereof; Figure 2 is a section on lines A-A of Fig. 1; Figures 3 and 4 are detail sections at B-B of Fig. 1 and C of Fig. 2, respectively; Figure 5 is a plan view of a two-gang frame-like device hereof; Figure 6 is a 'section on lines D-D of Fig. 5; and Figure 7 is a detail section at F of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the frame-like article 10 is generally rectangular, in fact square for the customary equal-sided face-plate (see dashed at 12 in Fig. 2). An outer lip formation 14 is continuous and presents an inward ledging or flanging 16 medially of its depth, actually shown off-centre to present shorter and longer lips 14X and 14Y to each side of the article.

Corners 1 8X and 1 8Y between the ledging or flanging 16 and the lips 14X and 14Y, respectively, afford seating for the face plate edge that would otherwise be vulnerable to chemical agents through or under lacquer finish thereto. It will be evident that the different depths of the lips 14X and 14Y afford alternative stand-offs from a mounting surface (see dashed at 20 in Fig. 4) according to which seating 18X or 18Y is used. It will also be noted that the lips 14X and 14Y have different exterior profiles so that, in effect, a choice of finish is also available both as to height relative to the face plate and as to shape.

Formed as extensions from the ledging or flanging 16 are inwardly extending lugs 22X and 22Y formed with oval piercings 24X and 24Y, respectively. Those piercings correspond in position to locations for normal fixing screws of single accessory face plates, and are shown with flashes 26 left at each side for at least temporary retention by such screws.

The lugs 22X and 22Y are further associated with grooves at 28X and 28Y, respectively, between those lugs proper and the ledging or flanging 16 from which they extend. Those lugs 28 afford flexibility and/or snap-off capabilities.

Turning to Figs. 5 to 7, there is,shown a frame-like article 110 for a two-gang accessory face plate and similar references are used as for similar parts, but advanced by 100. As will be evident, the significant difference is a stiffening rib 130 about the inner edge of the ledging or flanging 16.

Claims

1. A purpose-formed, frame-like support for electrical accessories of suitable shielding material, having a continuous lip formation by which a face plate edge will be spaced from a wall surface throughout its extent, such edge normally fitting into or against said lip formation.

2. A frame-like support as claimed in claim 1 in which its lip formation circumscribes the face plate seating.

3. A frame-like support as claimed in claim 2 in which a continous inner ledging is provided for the face plate edge.

4. A frame-like support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the lip formation presents different seating depths for the face plate edge according to which side of the article receives it.

5. A frame-like support as claimed in claim 4 in which the lip formation presents a choice of finish according to which side of the article receives the face plate.

6. A support as claimed in any preceding claim having inwardly extending lugs at positions corresponding to face plate fixing screw locations and being pierced in registration therewith.

7. A support as claimed in claim 6 in which a flash is left as such piercings to facilitate gripping thereof by face plate fixing screws to afford interlocated presentations of the article and its associated fixing plate.

8. A support as claimed in claim 6 or 7 in which said lugs are flexible.

9. A support as claimed in claim 8 in which the flexibility is imparted by thinning grooves adjacent to the frame of the article.

10. A support as claimed in any preceding claim in which an inner ribbing is provided for stiffening purposes, which inner ribbing is spaced from the aforesaid lip formation.

11. A support as claimed in any preceding claim when made of a plastic material by moulding.

12. A frame-like support for electrical accessories constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of Figs. 1 to 4 or 5 to 7.