GB2453162A - Outlet mounted flush with a wall or panel - Google Patents

Outlet mounted flush with a wall or panel Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2453162A
GB2453162A GB0718939A GB0718939A GB2453162A GB 2453162 A GB2453162 A GB 2453162A GB 0718939 A GB0718939 A GB 0718939A GB 0718939 A GB0718939 A GB 0718939A GB 2453162 A GB2453162 A GB 2453162A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
socket
mounting
outlet
mounting means
shield
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0718939A
Other versions
GB0718939D0 (en
GB2453162B (en
Inventor
David Eccleshall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Komfort Workspace PLC
Original Assignee
Komfort Workspace PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Komfort Workspace PLC filed Critical Komfort Workspace PLC
Priority to GB0718939.2A priority Critical patent/GB2453162B/en
Publication of GB0718939D0 publication Critical patent/GB0718939D0/en
Publication of GB2453162A publication Critical patent/GB2453162A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2453162B publication Critical patent/GB2453162B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R13/74—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R13/74—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
    • H01R13/748—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel using one or more screws
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02—Details
    • H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
    • H02G3/12—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting
    • H02G3/123—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting in thin walls
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02—Details
    • H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
    • H02G3/18—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes providing line outlets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00—Two poles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/76—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R24/78—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall with additional earth or shield contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R25/00—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
    • H01R25/006—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Abstract

An outlet comprises a socket 16 and means for mounting the socket in a wall or panel. The mounting means has an aperture for receiving the socket such that the outer surface of the socket is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mounting means, and means for fixing the socket in place once it has been mounted in the mounting means. The fixing means are accessible from the outer side of the mounting means, and may be screws 22 which can be rotated into curved slots 23 and tightened. These may then be covered by a shield (25, Fig 4) which plugs into holes 24.

Description

AN OUTLET
The invention relates to an outlet, in particular an electrical outlet.
Known outlets typically consist of a face plate including a socket, a back box including a mounting rim and an aperture which has been let into a wall. The outlet is installed by inserting the back box into the aperture so that the mounting rim abuts against the wall, and screwing the face plate to the back box.
A problem with these outlets is that the face plate projects from the wall by a distance of up to 10mm, and so tends to collect dust and dirt.
This is particularly undesirable in hospital and clean room environments.
An attempt has been made to address this problem by providing an outlet in which the face plate is mounted in a panel such that the outer surface of the face plate is flush with the outer surface of the panel. This is achieved by attaching two mounting plates to the face plate, and mounting the face plate on two studs which are connected to the rear of the panel.
A problem with this outlet is that the panel has to be removed to gain access to the studs. This means that it is difficult to change or repair the outlet.
* S.... * S
It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these *:*. disadvantages.
Accordingly, the invention provides an outlet comprising a socket and means for mounting the socket in a wall or panel, the mounting-means comprising an aperture for receiving the socket such that the outer surface of the socket is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mounting means, and means for fixing the socket in place once it has been mounted in the mounting means, the fixing means being accessible from the outer side of the mounting means.
The term "outer" as used herein means the surface or side which is outermost in use (i.e. the surface or side which is on the same side of the outlet as the socket).
The fixing means may comprise a projection and an indentation, the projection and indentation being such that the projection locates in the indentation on rotation of the socket once it has been mounted in the mounting means.
The projection may be located on the socket and the indentation may be located on the mounting means.
The indentation may be part of the aperture formed in the mounting means.
The outlet may comprise means to secure the projection in place once it has been located in the indentation. * ** * * * * ** ****
The projection may be a screw. If the projection is a screw, then *:*. the screw may be tightened to secure itself in place once it has been located in the indentation. **** * *
*: The outlet may comprise a plurality of projections and indentations for fixing the socket in place.
The outlet may comprise a shield to mask one or more of the projection(s) once they have been used to fix the socket in place, the shield being removably mountable on the mounting means.
The shield may be such that, once mounted, it is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mounting means.
The edges of the shield may be bevelled.
The means for removably mounting the shield on the mounting means may be attached to the rear surface of the shield so that it is not visible when the shield is mounted on the mounting means.
The shield may be an annular ring.
The mounting means may comprise a plurality of sockets, a plurality of apertures for receiving the sockets such that the outer surface of each socket is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mounting means and means for fixing the sockets in place once they have been mounted in the mounting means.
The fixing means may be such that the sockets are mounted in the mounting means at different orientations. This means that, when a plug * is inserted in each socket, the cables from each plug wilt not overlap which helps to prevent the user from unplugging the wrong item. *.*. * . S...
The invention will now be illustrated by way of example with reference to the following drawings of which: S..... S *
*: Figure 1 shows an exptoded front perspective view of a first prior *:*. art outlet; Figure 2 shows an exploded rear perspective view of a second prior art outlet; Figure 3 shows an exploded front perspective view of a first embodiment of an outlet according to the invention; and Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of a second embodiment of an outlet according to the invention.
The first prior art outlet shown in Figure 1 comprises a square face plate 1, a back box 2 and an aperture 3 which has been let into in a wall 4.
The face plate 1 comprises an electrical socket 5 and two fixings screws 6 positioned on the outer surface of the face plate 1 on either side of the socket 5.
The back box 2 comprises a mounting rim 7 around the circumference of its outer edge.
The aperture 3 in the wall 4 is square, and is just large enough to allow the rear section of the back box 2 to be inserted therein, but is not large enough to accommodate the mounting rim 7.
The outlet of Figure 1 is installed by first mounting the back box 2 in the aperture 3 in the wall 4 50 that the mounting rim 5 abuts against S...
the outer surface of the wall 4. The face plate 1 is then positioned so that its rear surface abuts against the mounting rim 7, and the fixing screws 6 are tightened so that the face plate 1 is secured to the back box 2. * *
*: As the fixing screws 6 are positioned on the outer surface of the *:*. face plate 1 they are readily accessible, but as the face plate 1 is mounted outside of the aperture 3, abutting against the mounting rim 7 of the back box 2, the face plate 1 projects from the wall 4 by a distance of up to 10mm, and so can collect dust and dirt.
The second prior art outlet shown in Figure 2 comprises a combined face plate 8 and back box 9, and an aperture 10 in a panel 11.
The face plate 8 is circular, and includes a socket (not shown). Two mounting plates 12 are positioned on either side of the face plate 8. Each mounting plate 12 includes a screw hole 13.
The panel 11 is made of metal, and comprises two studs 14 which are positioned on the rear surface of the panel 11 on either side of the aperture 10. The aperture 10 is circular, and is just large enough to allow the face plate 8 to be inserted therein.
The outlet of Figure 2 is installed by mounting the combined face plate 8 and back box 9 in the aperture 10 in the panel 11 such that the face plate 8 is flush with the outer surface of the panel 11. This is done by placing the two studs 14 through the two screw holes 13 in the mounting plates 12 on the combined face plate 8 and back box 9. The combined face plate 8 and back box 9 is then secured in place by screwing two nuts 15 onto the free ends of the studs 14.
Face plate 8 is flush with the outer surface of the panel 11 and so * *, does not trap dust and dirt, but the nuts 15 are not readily accessible because they are positioned behind the panel 11.
The outlet according to the invention shown in Figure 3 comprises a combined face plate 16 and back box 17, and an aperture 18 in a panel 19. The panel 19 may be made of any suitable material such as a plastics : material. ** * * * S * S.
The face plate 16 is circular, and includes a socket 20 and two mounting plates 21 positioned on either side of the face plate 16. Each mounting plate 21 includes a screw hole (not shown) which carries a fixing screw 22.
The shape of the aperture 18 in the panel 19 corresponds approximately to the shape of the face plate 16 and mounting plates 21 in plan view so that the combined face plate 16 and back box 17 can be inserted in the aperture 18 with the outer surface of the face plate 16 flush with the outer surface of the panel 19 without leaving large gaps around the face plate 16.
The aperture 18 includes two indentations 23 positioned on opposite sides of each of the sections of the aperture 18 which, in use, accommodate the mounting plates 19 of the combined face plate 16 and back box 17. Each indentation 23 is in the form of a curved slot which opens into the aperture 18.
The panel 19 also includes two small circular apertures 24 positioned on either side of aperture 18.
The outlet of Figure 3 is installed by first mounting the combined face plate 16 and back box 17 in the aperture 18 so that the face plate 16 is flush with the outer surface of the panel 19, and the fixing screws 22 * are aligned with the openings to the indentations 23, and then rotating the combined face plate 16 and back box 17 anti-clockwise so that the **** two fixing screws 22 enter into the indentations 23. The fixing screws 22 are then fastened to secure the combined face plate 16 and back box 17 in place.
*****. * *
*: Once this has been done, a shield 25 such as those shown in Figure 4 is used to cover the fixing screws 22. The shield 25 is in the form of an annular ring, and is of a thickness such that, once mounted, it is substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel 19. The shield 25 has edges which are bevelled to prevent dust and dirt from collecting in the boundary between the face plate 16/panel 19 and the shield 25.
The shield 25 is secured in place by two plastic plugs (not shown) which are inserted in the circular apertures 24 in the panel 19. Other fixing means may be used instead of the plastic plugs such as self adhesive magnets.
If it becomes necessary to remove the outlet, the above procedure is simply carried out in reverse.
The fixing screws 22 are readily accessible by simply removing the shield 25. At the same time, the face plate 16 and shield 25 are substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel 19, and so do not trap dirt and dust.
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of an outlet according to the invention. In this embodiment, there is a panel 26 which can accommodate four sockets 27. The indentations in the mounting panel 26 are positioned such that each socket 27 has a different orientation. Thus, the sockets 27 are positioned at angles of 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees to the vertical respectively. This means that * ** when a plug is inserted in each socket 27 the cables from each plug will not overlap which helps to prevent the user from unplugging the wrong item. S. * * * * * S.
S * S *S.S * .. *. S S. S
S SS * S.

Claims (15)

1. An outlet comprising a socket and means for mounting the socket in a wall or panel, the mounting means comprising an aperture for receiving the socket such that the outer surface of the socket is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mounting means, and means for fixing the socket in place once it has been mounted in the mounting means, the fixing means being accessible from the outer side of the mounting means.
2. An outlet according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprises a projection and an indentation, the projection and indentation being such that the projection locates in the indentation on rotation of the socket once it has been mounted in the mounting means.
3. An outlet according to claim 2, wherein the projection is located on the socket and the indentation is located on the mounting means.
4. An outlet according to claim 3, wherein the indentation is part of *:.::* the aperture formed in the mounting means.
S.....
5. An outlet according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the outlet comprises means to secure the projection in place once it has been located in the indentation.
*****. * S
*:
6. An outlet according to claim 5, wherein the projection is a screw. S. S
S S S
*
7. An outlet according to any of claims 2 to 6, the outlet comprising a plurality of projections and indentations for fixing the socket in place.
8. An outlet according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the outlet comprises a shield to mask one or more of the projection(s) once they have been used to fix the socket in place, the shield being removably mountable on the mounting means.
9. An outlet according to claim 8, wherein, the shield is such that, once mounted, it is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mounting means.
10. An outlet according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the edges of the shield are bevelled.
11. An outlet according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the means for removably mounting the shield on the mounting means is attached to the rear surface of the shield so that it is not visible when the shield is mounted on the mounting means.
12. An outlet according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the shield is an annular ring.
13. An outlet according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting * means comprises a plurality of sockets, a plurality of apertures for receiving the sockets such that the outer surface of each socket is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mounting means *:*. and means for fixing the sockets in place once they have been mounted in the mounting means. * *
*:
14. An outlet according to claim 13, wherein the fixing means are such ** that the sockets are mounted in the mounting means at different orientations.
15. An outlet substantially as described herein or as illustrated in the drawings.
GB0718939.2A 2007-09-28 2007-09-28 An outlet Expired - Fee Related GB2453162B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0718939.2A GB2453162B (en) 2007-09-28 2007-09-28 An outlet

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0718939.2A GB2453162B (en) 2007-09-28 2007-09-28 An outlet

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0718939D0 GB0718939D0 (en) 2007-11-07
GB2453162A true GB2453162A (en) 2009-04-01
GB2453162B GB2453162B (en) 2012-03-14

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0718939.2A Expired - Fee Related GB2453162B (en) 2007-09-28 2007-09-28 An outlet

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Country Link
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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2648801A1 (en) * 2016-07-04 2018-01-08 Simon, S.A.U. Frame and connection base assembly for fitting mechanisms and coupling procedure of this assembly (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990012433A1 (en) * 1989-03-31 1990-10-18 Johnson Service Company Wall mouting plate
EP0470471A2 (en) * 1990-08-10 1992-02-12 The Siemon Company Panel yoke
DE4033914A1 (en) * 1990-10-25 1992-04-30 Bosch Gmbh Robert Flush mounted plug socket with cable terminal chassis - has expansion hooks and chassis as integral injection moulded component
US6042419A (en) * 1995-08-31 2000-03-28 Dan-Chief Enterprise Co., Ltd. Securing device for a jack
DE102006041539A1 (en) * 2006-09-05 2008-03-06 S-Conn Handels Gmbh Electrical installation device e.g. switch, for flush-mounting box, has claw with perforated shank that is swivellable in direction using head of screw which extends through holes of bracket and shank into inner thread in one of two rivets

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2812788B1 (en) * 2000-08-07 2003-08-08 Aventis Pasteur WATERPROOF HOUSING FOR BUILT-IN APPARATUS IN A WALL
DE202004005074U1 (en) * 2004-03-29 2005-08-11 Gira Giersiepen Gmbh & Co. Kg Holder for insert of electric installation appliance, e.g. switch, plug socket, bus gear, etc. on support plate within support plate aperture, with support part for indirect insert fastening, with support part located in same plane

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990012433A1 (en) * 1989-03-31 1990-10-18 Johnson Service Company Wall mouting plate
EP0470471A2 (en) * 1990-08-10 1992-02-12 The Siemon Company Panel yoke
DE4033914A1 (en) * 1990-10-25 1992-04-30 Bosch Gmbh Robert Flush mounted plug socket with cable terminal chassis - has expansion hooks and chassis as integral injection moulded component
US6042419A (en) * 1995-08-31 2000-03-28 Dan-Chief Enterprise Co., Ltd. Securing device for a jack
DE102006041539A1 (en) * 2006-09-05 2008-03-06 S-Conn Handels Gmbh Electrical installation device e.g. switch, for flush-mounting box, has claw with perforated shank that is swivellable in direction using head of screw which extends through holes of bracket and shank into inner thread in one of two rivets

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2648801A1 (en) * 2016-07-04 2018-01-08 Simon, S.A.U. Frame and connection base assembly for fitting mechanisms and coupling procedure of this assembly (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0718939D0 (en) 2007-11-07
GB2453162B (en) 2012-03-14

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20120308 AND 20120314

PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20130928