GB2192314A - Electrical socket box - Google Patents

Abstract

A socket box 10 comprises a first part 11 which defines a socket recess 12 and a second part 13 for clamping the first part to a scaffolding pole through which is run a power cable. The first and second parts are arranged with an aligned passage 16 and peg 17 to allow accurate location on the pole in pre-drilled holes. The peg also prevents any rotation of the socket box on the pole 23. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical socket box This invention relates to electric socket boxes which can be mounted on a hollow elongate member, such as a scaffolding pole, and is particularly applicable, but not exclusively so to theatre lighting.

In theatres the lamps are almost universally mounted on eithervertical or horizontal scaffolding poles. Traditionally power is supplied to the lamps using extension leads and generallythe lead has simply been taped alongthe scaffolding pole. There have been proposals to feed the leads along the inside ofthescaffolding tubes and pass them outthrough suitably located grommets. However, this still leaves theextension lead socket hanging free unless it is taped to the pole.

Itwill be appreciated thatthese ad hoc arrange ments are most unsatisfactory, particularly in a public building wherethere is a lot of inflammable material around and where the wiring is generally in deep shade, particularlywhen the lamps are on.

It is an objectofthe inventionto provide an improved socket arrangement.

Thus from one aspect the invention consists an electrical socket box for mounting on a hollow elongate member, comprising a first partdefining a recess for receiving an electric socket and being formed to receive part ofthe elongate member and a second part lockable to the first partto surround substantially an elongate member with the first part and clamp itthereto.

Preferablythefirst part has a passage for electrical wire extending from the tubular member to the recess and one of the parts mayinclude a locking formation for locking in an aperture in the elongate member. If the locking formation is on the second part, it desirably lies opposite the passage when the two boxes are locked together The locking formation may include a peg and the passage may contain a grommet. The box mayfurtherinclude meansfor locking the two partstogethersuch as bolts, and the two parts maybe hingedtogether.

From another aspectthe invention includes a socket box, including clamp means for clamping the box to an elongate hollow member.

From afurther aspectthe invention consists in an electrical system comprising an elongate hollow merrrber having electric wiring extending along at leastpartofits length, a whole in its wall through which the wire passes, a socket box as defined above mounted on the member with its passage aligned with the hole and a socket mounted in the recess and connected to the wire.

In such a system there may be a further hole in the wall ofthe hollow memberfor receiving the locking formation and it is preferred thatthe two holes are co-axial.

The invention additonally includes a method of wiring an electrical system comprising forming two passage holes in the wall of a elongate hollow member, passing a wire along the member and through one ofthe holes, placing thefirst part of a socket box as defined above opposite the one hole and passing the wire through the passage into the recess, wiring a socket in the recess and clamping the first partto the second member by means ofthe second part.

Preferablythe holesareformed bya single drilling operation.

Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood that it includes any inventive combination ofthe features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an exploded view from above of a socket box; Figure 2 is a frontview ofthe box of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view ofthe socket box of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a frontviewof partofa lamp support incorporating socket box of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a viewfrom above of the lamp support of Figure 4.

Figures 1 and 3 show a socket box, generally indicated at 10. The box 10 comprises a first part 11 which defines a socket recess 12 and a second part 13 for clamping the first part to a scaffolding pole. Both the first and second parts are formed with cooperating cutout portions 14 and 15for receiving a scaffolding pole and the first part 11 defines a passage 16 extending from the cut out portion 1 4to the recess 12.

The clamp part 13 includes a locating peg 17 which extends into the cut out 1 and is positioned co-axially with the passage when the two boxes are locked together.

In the illustrated embodimentthis locking is achieved bybolts,notshown,passingthroughand engaging in aperture 18to 21.

In use, the electrician will take the scaffolding pole, which isto be used, and drill diametrically through the pole to create two opposite co-axial holes at 21,22 in the position atwhich the socket is required. The power leadorcable(notshown)isthen passed along the interior of the scaffolding pole 23through hole 21 and then through the passage 16 into the socket recess.

The desired socket can then be connected to the power wire and screwed to the seats 24 provided in the socket recess 12. It will be appreciated that the existence of hole 22 makes the operation of th reading the wire very much easier than it would otherwise be.

The second or clamp part 13 is then presented to the scaffolding pole with its locating peg inserted into the hole 22. The two boxes are then bolted together as described above.

The result is an electrical wiring system which is neat and has no exposed wires. The combination of the clamping bolts and the locking peg mean that there can be no rotation of the socket box 1 Orelative to the scaffolding pole 23,thus avoiding the strong possibility of the power lead being cut by such rotation. The box is adapted to receive a wide range of sockets, according to which lamp isto be used.

It will be appreciated thatthe constructions of the two parts 11 and 12 can be adapted to receive any shape of elongate member and other locking systems may be provided. For example thetwo boxes may be hinged together and a single pivotal bolt connection provided. The box 10 may also include bias means, such as springs for urging the two members together but for allowing small relative movement between the two parts in orderto take up differential thermal expansion, which may occur duetothe substantial heat created by the lamps. It may further be desirable to have a sealing gasket between the parts to avoid any water penetration.

This latter feature may be particularly desirable if the socket box isto be used outside,forexample in open airtheatres orto provide power points in other scaffolding systems such as temporary grandstands or building scaffolding.

Claims (18)

1. An electrical socket box for mounting on a hollow elongate member, comprising a first part defining a recess for receiving an electrical socket and being formed to receive a partofthe elongate member, a second part lockable to the first partto surround substantiallythe elongate memberwith the first part and clamp itthereto.

2. A socket box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part has a passage for electrical wire extending from the tubularmemberto the recess.

3. A socket box as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further including a locating formation on one ofthe parts for locating in an aperture in the elongate member.

4. A socket box as claimed in claim 3 as dependent on claim 2, wherein the locating formation is on the second part and lies opposite the passage when the two parts are locked together.

5. A box as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the locating formation is a peg.

6. A box as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the passage contains a grommet.

7. A box as claimed in any of the preceding claims including locking means for locking the two parts together.

8. A box as claimed in claim 7, wherein the locking means comprise bolts.

9. A box as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the parts are hinged together.

10. An electrical socketboxformounting on a hollow elongate member, substantially as hereinbe fore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Asocket box including clamp means for clamping the boxto an elongate hollow member.

12. An electrical system comprising an elongate hollow member having electrical wiring extending along at least part of its length, a hole in its wall through which the wire passes, a socket box as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims mounted on the memberwith its passage aligned with the hole, and a socket mounted in the recess and connected to the wire.

13. An electrical system as claimed in claim 12, as dependent on claim 3, including a further hole for receiving the locating formation.

14. An electrical system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the holes are directly opposite one another.

15. An electrical system substantially as hereinbe- fore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of wiring an electrical system comprising forming two opposite holes in the wall of an elongate hollow member, passing a wire along the memberandthrough one of the holes, placing the first partofthe socket box as claimed in any one of claims 1 to9oppositethe one hole and passing the wire through the passage into the recess, wiring a socket in the recess and clamping the first partto the member by means ofthe second part.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14,wherein the holes areformed by a single drilling operation.

18. Amethod ofwiring an electrical system substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.