GB2243181A

GB2243181A - Installation of services in buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2243181A
Application number: GB9008701A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Michael Byrne
Original assignee: SHEARD JAMES MICHAEL
Current assignee: SHEARD JAMES MICHAEL
Priority date: 1990-04-18
Filing date: 1990-04-18
Publication date: 1991-10-23
Also published as: GB9008701D0

Abstract

A temporary insert (22) is provided for use with "knock-out" boxes (10) during the installation of electrical or like services in a building. Insert 22 may be a simple plastics moulding of open-fronted box or tray shape close fitting in the mouth of the box (10) and extending out of the mouth of the box. It is preferably provided with clips (24) which snap-engage with internal lugs (20) of the box. The insert is used to close the box and protect wire ends (14) etc from ingress of plaster and debris during finishing of the wall surface, plastering (26) can be carried neatly up to the periphery of the box which is removed when the plaster is dry. <IMAGE>

Description

INSTALLATION OF SERVICES IN BUILDING This invention relates to the installation of services in buildings and like structures, particularly but not exclusively the mains electrical wiring cf dwelling houses and the like in the course of erection or refurbishment utilising fittings such as switches or plug sockets which are flush mounted on walls having plastered or similar surface finishing. It is to be understood that the invention could also have application to installation of other kinds of services in lie situations, for example other forms of electrical wiring for telephones or other data transmission services.

In installation of electric wiring e.g. during the construction of a new dwelling house, the established practice is to run the main wiring circuits e.g. lighting circuits and ring main power circuits on or through the structure of the building prior to application of plastering or other finish coating to the walls so that the wiring is sunk below said coating, usually protected by conduit or sheathing, boxes usually of metal, bering mounted on the wall structure to accommodate switches, plug sockets and light fittings when the installation is completed following finishing of the walls so that said fittings are flush mounted thereon.Said boxes ar hereinafter referred to as knockout boxes because they are usually provided with portions of their palls which can be readily removed to provide apertures in selected locations for the ingress and egress of the runs of cable, however this term is not intended to be restrictive and comprises other forms of box, which may be referred to generally as conduit boxes, having the apertures ready formed or otherwise not havinc the knockout feature.

The knockout boxes are normally left fixed in place with the ends of the cables to be eventually connected to the fitting mounted thereon Ift protruding fro the front of the box and the walls are then finish coaster with plaster ur the like. ThC normal result i that the interior of the box is more or less filled with plaster, the cable ends being left protruding from the plaster surface, and to complete the installation the plaster has to be chipped out of the box to free it and the cable ends for mounting the fitting.This process is time wasting, and unsatisfactory in that the plaster bordering the box will be left untidy or may even be damaged in the process, it is difficult to remove the residues of plaster from the box and cable e.g. the screw threads of the fitting mounting tabs within the box may be filled with plaster making assembly difficult, and the whole procedure is generally messy and untidy.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device and method for facilitating said installations to result in saving in time an labour and a much neater finish.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a temporary insert for fitting removably into the otherwise open front or mouth of a "knockout box (as hereinbefore defined) pending the mounting of a. service fitting thereon, said insert closing oft the interior of the box (within which the ends of cables or other service connections intended for said fitting may be stowed for protection) and being provided with side uall surfaces which protrude beyond said mouth so as to project from the plane of plastering or other surface finish to be operatively applied to a wall or other structur on or in which the said box is mounted in use.

Preferably the insert includes resilient clips or other retaining means for snap engagement or other releasable engagement with lugs or like formations projecting inwardly from the box walls to which said fitting will be subsequently secured or attached.

The insert may be a plastics moulding e.p. itself an open fronted tray or box shape dimensioned to o a close or push-fit in said open front or mouth of the knockout box, it being contemplated that the inserts can be extermely cheap to manufacture and provide so that they can be treated as a disposable item, though re-use is possible.

The invention further presides in a method of installation of services in a building or other structure including the steps of installing one or more "knockout boxes for subsequent mounting of flush mounted service fittings on or in wall or other structure prior to the plaster or surface finishing thereof along with wiring or other service connections leading into said boxes for subsequent connection to said fitting: providing a temporary insert for each said box as defined by one or ore of the preceding paragraphs positioning ar insert in the otherwise open front or mouth of the or each box with the cables or other service connections stcued in the interior of the box therebehind plastering. and/or otherwise surface finishing the said wall or other structure to surround the protruding. insert and subsequently removing the or each insert for completion of the installation by connecting and mountin a service fitting in association with the or each box.

An embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described wit preference to the accompanying drawings wherein: figure 1 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a "knockoutt" box mounted or a wall prior to plastering and an insert for use therewith and Figure 2 is a vertical section of said box an.- insert in operative relationship and following the plastering or other surface finishing of the wall.

A pressed metal '!knockout': box 10 is shown mounted on a wall 12 prior to surface finishing by plastering of the latter together with a run of cable 14 for connec'tion to a fitting to be mounted on the box, the fre end of the cable being shown within the box and the part of the cable positioned on the wall surface (to be eventually covered by the plaster) being within a protective sheething 10.Sox 1G has circular knockout ortion 1 16 in its walls and base which will be removed as required for positioning cables in conventional manner and is al provided with a pair of internally projecting lugs 20 on opposing side walls having threaded bore ; for scurlri fitting such as an electrical switch or plus socket connected to cable 14 so that it is flush mounted on the finished wall surface in conventional manner.

The wall will be plastered prior to the riounting of said fitting, before this is done a temporary insert 22 will be positioned in the open front or mouth of box 1G as shown in rigure 2.

Insert 22 is a simile box or tray shaper plastics moulding dimensioned to he 2 push or close fit L in the mouth of box 1G so that its bae seats against the lus 20, thus it closes off the interior of the hex i!Ut leaves the knockout apertures 18 unobstructed and also leaves sufficient rooi for the as yet unconnected airs or cables such as 14 to be coiled or stowed within the box at the back of the insert as indicated in Figure 2 sc that they are fully protected.

The base of insert 22 is provided with 2 pair of integral resilient clips 24 for snap-engagement behind lugs 20 to secure the insert against displacement though it can readily be levered or pulled out of the box when it has served its purpose.

Plastering of the wall is carried out with ti insert in position so that the plaster coating 20 (Figure 2) is carried right up to the walls of box 1D and to surround the periphery of the insert 22, the latter ensuring that no plaster can lodge within box 10 or reach the cable ends 14, logs 20 etc.

Once the plaster has set (together with any skimming or final finish coating) insert 22 will be removed leaving a neat regular plaster edge surrounding the mouth of box 10, avoiding the need to chip away surplus plaster with the risk of cracking or damaging the surrounding areas, and leavingthe box interior and cables clean and ready for connection. The switch, plug socket or other fitting (not shown) is then connected upto the cable 14 and flush mounted by attachment to logs 20 in the conventional way.

Claims

1. A temporary insert for fitting removably into the otherwise open front or mouth of a :'knockout box (as hereinbefore defined) pending the mounting of a service fitting thereon, said insert closing off the interior of the box (within which the ends of cables or other service connections intended for said fitting may be stowed for protection) and being provided wit side wall surfaces which protrude beyond said mouth so as to project from the plane of plastering or other surface finish to be operatively applied to a wall or other structure on or in which the said box is mounted in use.

2. An insert as in Claim 1 including resilient clips or other retaining means for snap-engagement or ot'ei releasable engagement with inwardly projectin. formations of the box walls.

3. An insert as in Claim 1 or 2 being a plastics moulding.

4. An insert as in Clair. 3 having ari open front tray or box shape dimensioned to fit closely in said front or r.louth of the box.

5. A temporary insert for fittin into a knock-out box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

0. A method of installation of services in a building or other structure utilising one or more knock out boxes as hereinbefore defined including th= steps of providing one or more temporary inserts as defined by any one of the preceding claims: positioninc a sair- insert in the otherwise open front or mouth of one or more said boxes with the cables or other service connections stowed in the interior of the box therebehind plastering and/or otherwise surface finishing the said wall or other structure to surround the protruding insert or insertsand subsequently removing the or each inse completion of the installation by connecting and mounting a service fitting in association with the or aech box.

7. A method of installation of services in a building or other structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.