GB2465646A

GB2465646A - Safety shield apparatus for electrical outlet

Info

Publication number: GB2465646A
Application number: GB0909632A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard David Brook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-27
Filing date: 2009-06-04
Publication date: 2010-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-04
Also published as: GB2465646B; GB0909632D0; GB0821666D0

Abstract

A safety shield apparatus 101 (e.g. made of plastics material) extending between an electrical back box 302 and an electrical accessory 301 (e.g. power plug socket, light switch) and a method of securing an electrical accessory to a rear member (e.g. back box or ceiling) via a safety shield to allow the electrical accessory to be operational while decoration/renovation works (e.g. plastering, painting, tiling, etc.) are completed. The safety shield comprises: first and second surround portions 201, 202 respectively comprising first and second wall portions; and attachment means (213) for releasably attaching the first and second surround portions (203A, 204A) such that the connected first and second wall portions define an aperture 103 (e.g. rectangular or circular). The attachment means may comprise: co-operating interlocking elements configured to slide and/or latch together; screws received in aligned holes 214 of the first and second surround portions; or a hinge arrangement. The surround portions may comprise manually grippable wing portions (851, 852) extending perpendicularly from the front face of the wall portions, at least one of the wing portions carrying a visual display (853).

Description

Safety Shield Apparatus

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 08 21 666.5, filed 27 November 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to apparatus for providing a safety shield for use in the electrical installations industry.

Background of the Invention

It is known to install a new electrical installation or to refurbish a previously installed electrical installation. In such a procedure it is known for a first fix to be performed, which typically comprises the steps of installing back boxes and inserting cables for electrical supply.

Subsequently, it is known for a second fix to be performed, which typically comprises a process of connecting electrical accessories to cables. In addition, tradesmen such as plasterers, tilers or painters for example may also be involved as part of the task. A problem exists in that the order of works often introduces an undesirable period during which an electrical point is not available for use.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for providing a safety shield extending between an electrical back box and an electrical accessory, comprising: a first surround portion comprising a first wall portion; a second surround portion comprising a second wafl portion; and attachment means for releasably attaching said first surround portion to said second surround portion so that said first wall portion and said second wall portion are connected together to define an aperture.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of securing an electrical accessory to a rear member comprising: electrically connecting said electrical accessory to a cable emerging from said rear member; obtaining an apparatus comprising a first surround portion and a second surround portion; releasably attaching the first surround portion to the second surround portion to define an aperture and so that said cable passes through said aperture; and securing said electrical accessory to said rear member such that said electrical accessory is spaced from said rear member by said first and second surround portion and so that said apparatus provides a safety shield preventing access to said cable.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings Figure 1 shows apparatus 101 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention; Figure 2 shows the apparatus 101 of Figure 1 with the two surround portions 201 and 202 separated from each other; Figure 3 shows an example of the use of the apparatus 101; Figure 4 shows the apparatus 101 located between the electrical accessory 301 and the back box 302, after tightening of the screws 305; Figure 5 shows the two surround portions 201 and 202, after being pulled away from each other, and thereby separated from the electrical accessory 301 and back box 302; Figure 6 shows another apparatus 601 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention; Figure 7 shows a further apparatus 701 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention; Figure 8 shows another apparatus 800 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention; Figure 9 shows the apparatus 800 of Figure 8 with the surround portion 801 attached to the surround portion 802; Figure 10 shows a still further apparatus 1001 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention; Figure 11 shows the apparatus 1 001 of Figure 1 0 with its two surround portions 11 01 and 11 02 separated from each other; and Figure 12 shows an example of the use of the apparatus 1001.

Description of the Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention Figure 1 Figure 1 shows apparatus 101 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention. The apparatus 1 01 comprises a wall 1 02 defining an aperture 1 03. Wall 1 02 has a front face 1 04, a rear face 105 and a depth 106 between the front and rear faces 104, 105.

The wall 102 also has an inner face 107, an outer face 108 and a thickness 1 09 between the inner and outer faces 1 07, 1 08.

The apparatus 1 01 has a substantially square shape. In the present example, wall 102 has dimensions of length (shown by arrow 110) approximately 68mm, width (shown by arrow 111) approximately 68mm, depth (106) approximately 30mm and thickness (109) approximately 1.5mm.

Figure 2 The apparatus 101 is formed of two parts, or surround portions, and the apparatus 101 is shown again in Figure 2, with the two surround portions 201 and 202 separated from each other.

The surround portions are made from a plastics material and in the present case they are moulded, by injection moulding, in ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene). However, other suitable plastics materials may be used such as polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride plastic, and apparatus 101 made from a fire retardant and a biodegradable plastic is also envisaged. It is to be appreciated, however, that the fabrication and manufacture of the safety shield apparatus may vary between applications.

The first surround portion 201 has a wall portion 203A and the second surround portion 202 has a wall portion 203B. When the two surround portions 201 and 202 are connected together (as shown in Figure 1) the two wall portions 203A and 203B form the continuous closed wall 1 02 defining the aperture 103.

Each of the wall portions 203A and 203B has a front face, 204A and 204B respectively, which form parts of the front face 1 04 of the assembled apparatus. Similarly, each of the wall portions 203A and 203B has a rear face 205A and 205B respectively, which form parts of the rear face 1 05 of the assembled apparatus. Each of the wall portions 203A and 203B has an inner face, 207A and 207B respectively, which form parts of the inner face 1 07 of the assembled apparatus 1 01. Also, each of the wall portions 203A and 203B has an outer face, 208A and 208B respectively, which form parts of the outer face 1 08 of the assembled apparatus 101.

In the present embodiment, each of the surround portions 201 and 202 are substantially identical, having wall portions 203A, 203B of a square C-shape. Thus, the wall portion 203A has two free ends 209 and 210, and similarly wall portion 203B has two free ends 211 and 212.

Attachment means 213 are formed at the ends 209, 210, 211, 212 of the wall portions 203A and 203B for releasably attaching the first surround portion 201 to the second surround portion 202 so that the first wall portion 203A and the second wall portion 203B are connected together to form the closed waIl 1 02 defining the aperture 103. In the present embodiment, the attachment means 213 are in the form of extension pieces that extend halfway across the ends of the C-shaped wall portions and each define a cylindrical hole 214 extending perpendicular to the front faces 204A, 204B and rear faces 205A, 2058. The extension pieces 213 are arranged to overlap each other, as shown in Figure 1, when the two surround portions are connected together. In this configuration, the holes 214 of the first surround portion 201 align with the holes 214 of the other surround portion, such that in use it is possible to pass a screw through the aligned holes.

Figure 3 An example of the use of the apparatus 101 is shown in Figure 3.

In the process of refurbishment, an electrical accessory, such as a power plug socket, light switch, etc., is disconnected from its back box to allow a wall to be renovated. Renovation activities may include plastering, wailpapering or painting, for example. Once the wall renovation is complete, the electrical accessory may then be reconnected.

A problem exists in that the electrical accessory is not operational during the period in which works are completed. From the perspective of a user of an electrical accessory, any period in which the electrical accessory is not functional is inconvenient. From the perspective of those performing and managing works, an inconvenience exists in that typically an electrical connection is disconnected, a permit to work is obtained, work is performed, and then the electrical connection is reconnected. Subsequently, the electrical accessory installation is safety tested and only following certification may the power point be used as normal. Such procedure of works can often introduce an undesirable delay in the completion of works and can introduce a significant cost overhead.

Figure 3 shows an electrical accessory 301 in the form of a light switch, detached from its back box 302, which is recessed into wall 303. If not already connected, the electric cable 304 emerging from the rear of the back box 302 is wired up to the electrical accessory 301. The two surround portions 201 and 202 are then brought together to form the assembled apparatus 1 01 (as shown in Figure 3) so that the cable 304 extends through the aperture 1 03 thus formed.

The rear face 105 of the apparatus 101 is then located within the back box 302 and the electrical accessory 301 is pressed against the front face 104 of the apparatus 1 01. Screws 305 are then located through holes 306 provided in the electrical accessory 301, through the holes 214 formed in the apparatus 101 and screwed into the relevant holes 307 provided in the back box 302. Thus, the apparatus 101 is held in place between the electrical accessory 301 and its back box 302, and the two parts 201 and 202 of the apparatus 1 01 are attached to each other by the screws 305 located through the holes 21 4.

It may be noted that the back box 301 in the present example is a "single" back box having inside dimensions of 68.3mm by 68.3mm (i.e. a 1 gang back box, for example as defined by BS 4662). In a preferred embodiment the safety shield apparatus 101 has a length of 68.3mm and width of 68.3mm so that it is a good fit in the back box.

Figure 4 The apparatus 1 01 is shown located between the electrical accessory 301 and the back box 302, after tightening of the screws 305, in Figure 4.

The apparatus 101 provides a spacer allowing the electrical accessory 301 to be securely attached to the back box 302 while being spaced from the back box and the wall 303. Furthermore, the apparatus provides a safety shield, in that it is formed of an electrically insulating material and prevents access to the cable 304 and the electrical terminals of the electrical accessory to which the cable is connected.

After installation, the cable 304, and therefore the electrical accessory 301, is connected to the electric supply and the electrical accessory may be used. The required renovations may then be performed.

Figure 5 After completion of the required renovations, the process of removing the apparatus 101 may be performed. Firstly, the electric supply to the electrical accessory is disconnected. The screws 305 are then unscrewed and removed, before the electrical accessory 301 is pulled away from the back box 302 by a further few millimetres. The apparatus 101 is then pulled free of the back box 302, and the two surround portions 201 and 202 are pulled away from each other. This is made possible because the screws 305 are no longer present to hold the two parts 201 and 202 together.

The two surround portions 201 and 202 are shown in Figure 5 after being pulled away from each other, and thereby separated from the electrical accessory 301 and back box 302.

After removal of the apparatus 1 01, the electrical accessory is located directly against the back box 302 and fixed in place by replacing the screws 305. Thus, the electrical accessory 301 is fixed in its normal operating configuration, and the electrical supply is then reconnected. It may be noted that during the operation of removing the apparatus and refitting the electrical accessory, disconnection and reconnection of the cable 305 to the terminals of the electrical accessory 301 is not required.

It should also be noted that because the apparatus 100 has means for releasably attaching the two surround portions together, it may be re-used.

Figure 6 Another apparatus 601 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention is shown in Figure 6. The apparatus 601 is substantially the same as apparatus 101, being formed of two surround portions 602 and 603. Each of the surround portions 602 and 603 has a C-shaped wall with attachment means 61 3 at each end, for releasably connecting the two surround portions 602 and 603 together to form a continuous wall surrounding an aperture. Like apparatus 1 01, the attachment means are in the form of extension pieces defining cylindrical holes 614 configured to receive a screw of an electrical accessory.

Figure 7 A further apparatus 701 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention is shown in Figure 7. The apparatus 701 is substantially the same as apparatus 101, being formed of two surround portions 702 and 703, each having a front face 704A and 704B respectively, which form parts of the front face of the assembled apparatus. However, the apparatus 701 differs from the apparatus 101 in that it has a first wing portion 751 extending from the first surround portion 702 and a second wing portion 752 extending from the second surround portion 703. When the two surround portions are assembled together, the first wing portion 751 and the second wing portion extend away from each other on opposite sides of the apparatus. The wing portions 751 and 752 are each manually grippable between a thumb and finger, and consequently the two surround portions may be held by their wing portions 751 and 752 when locating between an electrical accessory 301 and a back box 302, or during removal from between an electrical accessory and its back box.

Figure 8 Another apparatus 800 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention is shown in Figure 8. The apparatus 800 comprises two surround portions 801 and 802.

The surround portion 801 has a wall portion 803A having a front face 804A and a rear face 805A. The wall portion 803A has a substantially V-shape having a right-angle 850A approximately halfway between each of its two ends 81 3A and 81 3B. Similarly, the surround portion 802 has a wall portion 803B having a front face 804B and a rear face 805B. The wall portion 803B has a substantially V-shape having a right-angle 850B approximately halfway between each of its two ends 81 3C and 81 3D.

At its first end 81 3A, the surround portion 801 has a socket member 821A and at the opposite, second end 813B the surround portion 801 has a plug member 822A. Similarly, at its first end 81 3C, the surround portion 802 has a socket member 821B and at the opposite, second end 813D the surround portion 802 has a plug member 822B. The plug member 822A is configured to be a snap fit within the socket member 821 B, and similarly the plug member 822B is configured to be a snap fit within the socket member 821A: the socket members being required to deform in order for the plug members to be pulled from the socket. Thus, in use, the plug members 822A, 822B and the socket members 821A, 821B are interlocked and provide a means for releasably latching the two surround portions together. Each of socket members 821A and 821 B further comprise a stop end 823A and 823B configured to prevent movement of plug members 822A and 8228 when they are located within socket members 821A and 821B.

In the present embodiment, the plug members 822A and 822B have a substantially solid cylindrical shape. The socket members 821A and 821B are in the form of a cylindrical tube, having an inside diameter similar to the diameter of the plug members, and having a slot extending along its length. The slots are sufficiently wide such that when a plug member (822A or 822B) is pushed into the slot the cylindrical tube is able to temporarily spring open to allow the plug member to be received within. Similarly, by pulling on a plug member located within a socket member, the cylindrical tube forming the socket member temporarily springs open to allow the plug member to be released from the socket member.

It may be noted that in the present embodiment the shape of the plug members 822A, 822B and socket members 821A, 821B allow the plug members to be slid into, and out of, the socket members.

Therefore, in use, where there is sufficient space, the two surround portions 801, 802 may be connected and/or disconnected by sliding.

The apparatus 800 also has a first wing portion 851 extending from the first surround portion 801 and a second wing portion 852 extending from the second surround portion 802. When the two surround portions are assembled together, the first wing portion 851 and the second wing portion 852 extend away from each other on opposite sides of the apparatus 800. The wing portions 851 and 852 are each manually grippable between a thumb and finger.

Consequently the two surround portions may be held by their wing portions 851 and 852 when locating between an electrical accessory and a back box (such as electrical accessory 301 and back box 302), or during removal from between an electrical accessory and its back box.

Wing portion 851 has been provided with graphical information 853 comprising, in the present example, the warning "DO NOT REMOVE". In the present embodiment, the wording is formed in intaglio when the apparatus itself is manufactured by moulding.

(Alternatively such graphical information may be formed in relief during moulding.) In an alternative arrangement, the socket members are rigidly formed, such that snap fitting the surround portions is not possible.

The surround portions are then attached together by sliding the cylindrical plug members, end first, into the socket members, to interlock the plug members and socket members.

According to a further alternative arrangement, a first part and a second part of a safety shield are connected together by at least one hinge arrangement. The safety shield may then be opened by means of opening a hinge. In one embodiment, the surround portions are connected together with a hinge arrangement at one side, and releasably connected together by a latching mechanism at the other side.

Figure 9 The apparatus 800 of Figure 8 is shown with the plug member 822A of surround portion 801 located within socket member 821B of surround portion 802, and with the plug member 822B of surround portion 802 located within socket member 821A of surround portion 801. When connected in this way, the wall portions 803A and 803B form a continuous wall 803 surrounding an aperture 853.

It should be appreciated that the apparatus 800 is used in a similar way to apparatus 1 01. However, apparatus does not have holes for receiving screws (such as the screws 305) of the electrical accessory. Consequently, when the apparatus 800 is to be removed from between an electrical accessory and its back box, it is only necessary to loosen the screws of the accessory before separating the two surround portions 802, 803 and pulling them away.

Figure 10 A still further apparatus 1001 for providing a safety shield, embodying the present invention is shown in Figure 1 0. The apparatus 1 001 comprises a wall 1 002 defining an aperture 1 003. Wall 1 002 has a front face 1 004 and a rear face 1005. The wall 1 002 also has an inner face 1007, and an outer face 1008. The outer face 1008 of the apparatus 1001 is substantially cylindrical, and in the present embodiment has a diameter of 80 mm.

Apparatus has many features that are similar to those of apparatus 1 01, but essentially it differs from apparatus 1 01 in that it has a circular form rather than a square form.

Figure 11 The apparatus 1001 is formed of two surround portions, and the apparatus 1 001 is shown again in Figure 11, with the two surround portions 11 01 and 11 02 separated from each other.

The first surround portion 1101 has a semicircular wall portion 1 103A and the second surround portion 1102 has a semicircular wall portion 1 103B. When the two surround portions 1101 and 1102 are connected together (as shown in Figure 11) the two wall portions 11 03A and 11 03B form the continuous cylindrical closed wall 11 02 defining the aperture 11 03.

Each of the wall portions 11 03A and 11 03B has a front face, 11 04A and 11 04B respectively, which form parts of the front face 11 04 of the assembled apparatus. Similarly, each of the wall portions 11 03A and 11 03B has a rear face 11 05A and 11 05B respectively, which form parts of the rear face 11 05 of the assembled apparatus.

In the present embodiment, each of the surround portions 11 01 and 11 02 are substantially identical, having wall portions 11 03A, 11 03B of a semicircular C-shape. Thus, the wall portion 11 03A has two free ends 11 09 and 111 0, and similarly wall portion 11 03B has two freeends 1111 and 1112.

Attachment means 111 3 are formed at the ends 11 09, 111 0, 1111, 111 2 of the wall portions 11 03A and 11 0313 for releasably attaching the first surround portion 1101 to the second surround portion 11 02 so that the first wall portion 11 03A and the second wall portion 1 103B are connected together to form the closed wall 1002 defining the aperture 1 003.

In the present embodiment, the attachment means 111 3 are similar to those of apparatus 1 01. Thus, the attachment means 111 3 are in the form of extension pieces that extend halfway across the ends of the C-shaped wall portions and each define a cylindrical hole 1114 extending perpendicular to the front faces 11 04A, 11 04B and rear faces 11 05A, 11 OSB. The extension pieces 111 3 are arranged to overlap each other, as shown in Figure 11, when the two surround portions are connected together. In this configuration, the holes 111 4 of the first surround portion 11 01 align with the holes 111 4 of the other surround portion, such that in use it is possible to pass a screw through the aligned holes.

Figure 12 An example of the use of the apparatus 1001 is shown in Figure 12.

An electrical accessory in the form of a pendant or light fitting 1 201 is electrically connected to an electric cable 1 202 emerging from a hole in a ceiling 1 203. The two parts 11 01 and 11 02 of the apparatus 1001 are connected together such that the cable 1202 passes through the aperture 1 002 thus formed by the apparatus. Screws 1 205 provided with the light fitting 1 201 are then located through holes 1206 provided in the light fitting 1 201, through the holes 1114 defined by the apparatus 1001 and screwed to the ceiling, or, depending upon the design of the light fitting, a plate previously secured to the ceiling. Thus the light fitting is secured to the ceiling but spaced away from the ceiling by the apparatus 1001. Also the apparatus provides a safety shield preventing access to the cable 1 202 and any electrical terminals in the light fitting to which the cable 1 202 is connected.

Once the light fitting is secured to the ceiling in this way, electrical supply may be switched back on and the light fitting used while renovation work is carried out on the ceiling 1 203. After such work is completed, power is temporarily disconnected while the apparatus 1001 is removed. The removal of the apparatus is performed in a similar operation to that described above in respect of apparatus 101 and Figure 5.

In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus 1001 is provided with attachment means similar to those found on apparatus 800. Thus the two surrounding portions are latched together rather than being attached together by screws (such as screws 1 205) passing through the holes 111 4.

Other attachment means other than those described above Is are also envisaged. In one embodiment the two surround portions are attached together, at one end, by a hinge mechanism, and are only releasable at the other end. In another embodiment the two surround portions are releasably attached by sliding mechanism.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus for providing a safety shield extending between an electrical back box and an electrical accessory, comprising: a first surround portion comprising a first wall portion; a second surround portion comprising a second wall portion; and attachment means for releasably attaching said first surround portion to said second surround portion so that said first wall portion and said second wall portion are connected together to define an aperture.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises co-operating interlocking elements.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said attachment means comprises members configured to interlock by sliding together,
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said attachment means comprises members configured to latch together.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a hole defined by said first surround portion and a hole defined by said second surround portion, said holes being configured to be aligned, when connecting said first wall portion and said second wall portion, for receiving a screw.
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said attachment means comprise a hinge arrangement to allow said first surround portion and said second surround portion to pivot with respect to each other during attaching or detaching.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wall portions of said first surround portion and said second surround portion each have a first end and a second end, and said attachment means comprises co-operating interlocking elements located at each of said first end and said second ends.
8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the wall portions of said first surround portion and said second surround portion each have a first end and a second end, and said attachment means comprises a hole defined by said first surround portion and said second surround portion at each end of their walls.
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said first surround portion further comprises a first manually grippable wing portion that extends outwardly from an outer face of said first wall portion, and said second surround portion further comprises a second manually grippable wing portion that extends outwardly from an outer face of said second wall portion.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said first and second manually grippable wing portions extend substantially perpendicularly to said wall portions.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 1 0, wherein each of said first and second manually grippable wing portions extend from a front face of said wall portion.
1 2. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said aperture is substantially rectangular.
1 3. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said aperture is substantially circular.
14. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 11, dimensioned such that said first and second wing portions are grippable between the thumb and fingers of a single hand.
15. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 14, dimensioned such that said wall fits with a friction fit within an electrical back box.
16. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, formed from a plastics material.
1 7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 1 6, wherein at least one of said first and second wing portions carries a visual display.
18. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein said wall portions provide a closed band around said aperture when said surround portions are attached together.
19. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 1 8, wherein said first surround portion and said second surround portion are manufactured by a moulding process.
20. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 1 9, wherein said first surround portion is substantially identical in shape to said second surround portion.
21. A method of securing an electrical accessory to a rear member comprising: electrically connecting said electrical accessory to a cable emerging from said rear member; obtaining an apparatus comprising a first surround portion and a second surround portion; releasably attaching the first surround portion to the second surround portion to define an aperture and so that said cable passes through said aperture; and securing said electrical accessory to said rear member such that said electrical accessory is spaced from said rear member by said first and second surround portion and so that said apparatus provides a safety shield preventing access to said cable.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said rear member comprises a back box.
23. A method according to claim 21 wherein said rear member comprises a ceiling.
24. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein the step of releasably attaching comprises latching the first surround portion to the second surround portion.
25. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein the step of releasably attaching comprises sliding together parts of the first surround portion to parts of the second surround portion.
26. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein the step of releasably attaching is performed at the same time as securing said electrical accessory to said rear member, by passing a fastener through a hole defined by said first surround portion and an aligned aligned hole defined by said second surround portion.
27. Apparatus for providing a safety shield substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying Figures.
28. A method of securing an electrical accessory to a rear member substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying Figures.