GB2230291A

GB2230291A - Cover for electrical accessory box during plastering

Info

Publication number: GB2230291A
Application number: GB8908526A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger David Boulton
Original assignee: Gary Charles Morgan
Current assignee: Gary Charles Morgan
Priority date: 1989-04-14
Filing date: 1989-04-14
Publication date: 1990-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-14
Also published as: GB8908526D0; GB2230291B

Abstract

A cover plate for covering an electrical accessory box of the type adapted to be set into a wall to be plastered, comprises a rectangular plate 11 having means 7 for securing the plate to the accessory box, the margins of the outer face of the plate having outwardly directed rib means 20 formed thereon. The rib means 20 are typically ribs which are square in section, and are conveniently approximately 1mm wide and 1mm deep. The provision of such ribs at the margins of the cover plate assists in locating the position of the plate after plastering. A further advantage is provided by the fact that when the cover plate is flexed inwards this causes the plaster to crack at the ribs, thus making it easier to remove plaster from the cover plate. The cover plate is preferably coloured so as to be easily distinguishable from plaster which will be spread over it in use. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Cover for Electrical Accessory Box Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cover plate for covering an electrical accessory box, particularly a box of the type adapted to be set into a wall to be plastered.

Background of the Invention In co-pending British Application No. 8823635 there is disclosed a cover plate for an electrical accessory box, the plate having a hemispherical projection formed on its outer face.

When the plate is mounted on the accessory box and the wall plastered over the plate, the hemispherical projection is intended to give a visual indication of the location of the box, so that excess plaster can subsequently be scraped away and the cover plate removed to cleanly expose the box. However, it has been found that the hemispherical projection does not always provide such a satisfactory visual indication.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a cover plate for covering an electrical accessory box of the type adapted to set into a wall to be plastered, comprising a rectangular plate having means for securement against the open side of the box, the margins of the outer face of the plate having outwardly directed rib means formed thereon.

The rib means are preferably ribs which are square in section.

By providing such ribs at the margins of the plate, it has been found that it is easier to locate the position of the cover plate after plastering. Thus as soon as even a small portion of the rib has been exposed it is immediately apparent where the margin of the cover is, so that the plaster may be easily scraped away from the plate, and the cover removed to expose the clean accessory box, ready for an electrical switch or the like to be fitted thereon.

The ribs also have the further surprising advantage that when the cover plate is flexed inwards this causes the plaster to crack at the ribs, so making it easier to remove the plaster from the cover plate.

Diagonal ribs may also be provided to extend between opposite corners of the outer face; and, if desired, a second inner peripheral rib may be provided extending parallel to the first rib.

Extending from opposite side edges of the cover plate there may be formed land portions adapted in use to engage with the respective outwardly directed edges of the accessory box.

The fixing means for securing the cover plate to the accessory box may include resilient holding means including a pair of detents or hooks engageable behind the lugs in the accessory-box.

Preferably the cover plate is made from a plastics material, such as polypropylene; and advantageously the plastics material is coloured, for example red, to be easily distinguishable from the usually lighter coloured plaster which will be spread over it in use.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear view of a square cover plate for an electrical accessory box in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line YY of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken on the line XX of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the cover plate; and Figure 5 is a front view of a modified rectangular cover plate.

Detailed Description Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the back of the square cover plate 5 to be described is substantially the same as that disclosed in the above co-pending application, and will therefore only be described briefly.

The cover plate 5 is made of a red polypropylene plastics material and incorporates a resilient holding means 6 including a pair of detents or hooks 7, projecting from its rear face. The hooks 7 engage behind lugs in the electrical accessory box or back box (shown dotted) to secure the plate to the box. Land portions 9 extend from opposite sides of the plate to engage respective edges of the accessory box (see Figure 2) to locate the plate against the open side of the box. At the centre of the front face 11 of the plate is formed a hemispherical projection 10.

A flange 12 extends rearwardly of the plate, and has indented sections 13 to provide clearance for adjustment parts of the lugs of the accessory box. A rectangular aperture 14 extends through the plate above each hook 7 to enable the latter to be pressed in by a tool (such as a screwdriver) to assist removal of the plate.

Referring now also to Figure 4 extending around the peripheral margins of the face 11 is an outer rib 20 of square section, as best seen in Figure 3. A similar inner rib 22 is located inwards of and parallel to the rib 20, and between the corners of the inner ribs 22 are formed diagonal ribs 24 which extend inwardly to the hemispherical projection 10.

Figure 5 shows a similar, though rectangular shaped cover plate 25 adapted to be fitted to a double sized electrical accessory box. It likewise has inner and outer ribs 22A and 22B and diagonal ribs 24A.

In use, the cover plate 5 or 25 is fitted to a respective electrical accessory box, the hooks 7 engaging under the lugs to hold the plate firmly in place and the land portions 9 engaging the edges of the box. After the plastering work has been completed the cover plate will usually be covered with a layer of plaster. If the layer is relatively thin, the red coloured ribs 20 to 24 will at once be visible through the plaster, and the plaster can easily be scraped off around the periphery of the outer ribs 20 or 20A, enabling the cover to be removed to cleanly expose the accessory box. If the layer of plaster is somewhat thicker, the location of the cover may be determined by tapping the wall until a hollow sound or a flexing of the plaster is noticed, and then scraping away the plaster until a rib is uncovered. As soon as a part of a rib is found it will immediately be apparent where the periphery of the plate is. Furthermore the flexing of the cover will often cause the layer of plaster to crack along the line of the rib, thereby immediately allowing the plaster to be removed from the cover.

The external dimension of the square cover 5 of Figure 4, may typically be 68 mm each side, and the outer and inner ribs 20 and 22 may be spaced 3 mm and 6 mm respectively from the outer edge, with each rib being approximately 1 mm deep and wide.

Claims

Claims:

1. A cover plate for covering an electrical accessory box of the type adapted to set into a wall to be plastered, comprising a rectangular plate having means for securement against the open side of the box, the margins of the outer face of the plate having outwardly directed rib means formed thereon.

2. A cover plate according to Claim 1, wherein the rib means comprises ribs which are square in section.

3. A cover plate according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the rib means comprises an inner and an outer peripheral rib, the inner rib extending parallel to the outer rib.

4. A cover plate according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the ribs are approximately imm wide and imm deep.

5. A cover plate according to Claim 4, wherein the inner and the outer ribs are spaced respectively 6mm and 3mm from the outer edges of the cover plate.

6. A cover plate according to any one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising diagonal ribs extending between opposite corners of the outer face of the cover plate.

7. A cover plate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are formed land portions extending from opposite side edges of the cover plate, the land portions being adapted in use to engage with the respective outwardly directed edges of the accessory box.

8. A cover plate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for securement of the cover plate to the accessory box comprises resilient holding means, which holding means includes a pair of detents or hooks engageable behind lugs provided in the accessory box.

9. A cover plate according to any one of the preceding claims, made from a plastics material.

10. A cover plate according to Claim 9, wherein the plastics material is polypropylene.

11. A cover plate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover plate is coloured so as to be easily distinguishable from plaster to be spread over the cover plate in use.

12. A cover plate according to Claim 11, wherein the cover plate is coloured red.

13. A cover plate according to any one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising a hemispherical projection formed on the outer face of the cover plate.

14. A cover plate according to any one of the preceding claims and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.