GB2489276A

GB2489276A - Faceplate plugging into back box

Info

Publication number: GB2489276A
Application number: GB201104936A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Roy Fozard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-24
Filing date: 2011-03-24
Publication date: 2012-09-26
Also published as: GB201104936D0

Abstract

The invention provides a connecting block 7, called the `F-block', to which wires can be connected, located in the mounting box 12 of plug sockets, light switches and other utility mounting boxes. The fascia panel 22 has connecting pins (5, Fig 2) to insert into the `F-block' thereby making the electrical connection complete. The `F Block' may be moulded or fitted to the rear of the back box. Screw holes 6a may be provided so that a double width faceplate can be used with a single back box. An alternative â F-blockâ (21, Fig 8) may have six sockets for a fascia (17, Fig 8) having two light switches.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to an electrical assembly comprising a single or multiple appliance plug socket fascia panel, a single, multiple or dimming light switch fascia panel and the mounting box, sometimes called the back box for ease of explanation in this

description, on which each unit can be mounted.

The normal procedure when connecting electric wiring to a plug socket or light switch is to feed the wires through the knock-outs in the back box and connect the wires to the fascia panel of the plug socket or light switch by inserting the wires into the correct hole and securing by way of a screw fixing. The fascia panel is then secured to the back box by way of screwfixings.

Conventional plug socket and light switch fixings can cause problems during the initial installation process and subsequently when maintenance or re-decoration are carried out around the plug socket or light switch. During the electrical installation process, wires are passed through knockouts in the back box and either left unconnected and protected by tape until plastering and decoration has been completed, or connected to the fascia panels which are left unfixed, also until the plastering and decoration is complete. Problems caused by this are; * The plasterer/decorator has to work around the wires which can cause difficulties in achieving a satisfactory quality of work around the plug socket or light switch; * If the wires are not adequately protected or the fascias are connected, then there are safety risks which require the fascia panel to be wrapped in a protective cover to prevent accidental contact with the connections at the back of the fascia panel; * If the fascias are connected, during plastering and decoration it is possible for the wiring to be disturbed but not noticed which may cause later electrical fault; * If the fascias are connected but not adequately protected, during plastering and decoration it is likely that plaster/paint is accidentally coated onto the wires and/or fascia panel which will require subsequent cleaning which can also present risks to personal safety when cleaning around the electrical connections.

Thus, a need exists for a new product which facilitates the safe wiring of the plug/light switch back box whilst overcoming the deficiencies of the conventional method of wiring and fixing direct to the fascia panels.

The present invention provides an electrical assembly, comprising: a wall mounting comprising: means for fixing the mounting against a wall; and a connector box having internally of an outer box exterior first and second electrical connections, the first electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of current carrying wires inserted into the wall mounting and the second electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of connector rods of a fascia panel, the first electrical connections being electrically connected to respective second electrical connections; and a fascia panel having electrical functionality and comprising: means for fixing the fascia panel to the wall mounting; a plurality of said connector rods arranged such that when the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting the connector rods are received within the outer exterior of the connector box for connecting with the second electrical connections so that said electrical functionality becomes operative when the wires are connected to the first electrical connections of the wall mounting and the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting.

The connector box may comprise a first plurality of openings for receiving respective said wires and a second plurality of openings for receiving respective said connector rods.

There may be a first temporary condition in which the wall mounting is mounted to a wall and the wires are connected to the first electrical connections and a operative condition in which the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting, and wherein the outer exterior of the connector box is electrically insulated from the first and second electrical connections so that in the temporary condition current cannot be drawn from the wires to the outer exterior.

The invention also provides a wall mounting configured for use in such an assembly, comprising: means for fixing the mounting against a wall; and a connector box having internally of an outer box exterior first and second electrical connections, the first electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of current carrying wires inserted into the wall mounting and the second electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of connector rods of a fascia panel, the first electrical connections being electrically connected to respective second electrical connections such that when a fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting a plurality of said connector rods are received within the outer exterior of the connector box for connecting with the second electrical connections so that an electrical functionality of the fascia panel becomes operative when the wires are connected to the first electrical connections of the wall mounting and the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting.

The invention also provides a fascia panel configured for use in such an assembly having an electrical functionality, the fascia panel comprising: means for fixing the fascia panel to a wall mounting; a plurality of said connector rods arranged such that when the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting the connector rods are received within an outer exterior of a connector box of the wall mounting for connecting with second electrical connections internally of the outer exterior and said electrical functionality becomes operative when current carrying wires are connected to first electrical connections internally of the outer exterior.

The invention also provides a connector box for a wall mounting of such an electrical assembly, the connector box having means for fixing the connector box to the wall mounting and internally of an outer box exterior first and second electrical connections, the first electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of current carrying wires inserted into the wall mounting and the second electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of connector rods of a fascia panel, the first electrical connections being electrically connected to respective second electrical connections, the connector box being configured so that when a fascia panel of the assembly is fixed to the wall mounting a plurality of said connector rods are received within the outer exterior of the connector box for connecting with the second electrical connections and an electrical functionality of the fascia panel becomes operative when the wires are connected to the first electrical connections of the wall mounting.

The fascia panel may comprise a socket having electrical connectors for co-operating with an electrical plug when the plug is received in the socket for transferring electrical power to the plug.

The fascia panel may comprise a switch for controlling an electrically powered device remote from the switch.

The fascia panel may comprise means for sensing a current in the assembly and terminating said electrical functionality if said current exceeds a predetermined current.

The invention also provides a method of connecting the electrical wires to the back box by way of a new unit, in this instance called the F-block', with the fascia panel having the addition of connecting pins which insert into the F-block' making the electrical connection complete. The benefit of the invention is that the wiring can be completed in the back box, with no wires or fascia panels protruding from the back box during the plastering and decoration processes. By having access to the F Block' from both sides, the wiring has more space to enter the fixing point and is more easily secured giving a greater level of stability in the fixing and higher safety level once the connection has been made. When required, the fascia panel is connected to the back box by inserting the pins into the corresponding sockets in the F-block and fixing the panel to the back box by way of screw fixings.

By way of example, an illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be described with accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective of a double-plug with connecting pins and back box incorporating the F-Block' Figure 2 shows a perspective of the rear of the fascia unit Figure 3 shows a perspective of a double back-box incorporating the F-Block' Figure 4 shows a perspective of a double-plug fascia connected to a back-box with the connecting pins fully inserted into the F-Block', viewed from the front Figure 5 shows a perspective of a double-plug fascia connected to a back-box with the connecting pins fully inserted into the F-Block', viewed from the back Figure 6 shows a perspective of how a double plug fascia can be connected to a single back incorporating the F Block' Figure 7 shows a perspective of how a light switch fascia can be connected to a single back box incorporating a lighting F Block' Figure 8 shows a perspective of how a double light switch fascia can be connected to a single back box incorporating a double lighting F Block' All figures are shown for ease of explanation only. The extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship and dimensions of the pads which form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. Further, the dimensions and dimensional proportions as illustrated have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings and will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood.

Where used in the various drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar pads. Furthermore, when the terms F Block', back box', fascia', knock-out', earth', live', neutral', L1','1-way','L2','2-way', C', Com', common' and similar terms are used herein, these terms only have reference to the items shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are used only to assist in the description of the illustrative embodiment.

A fascia and back-box described in the present invention is shown in the drawings. A double-plug fascia is generally designated I and a double back box is generally designated 2. Although the current perspective of back box 2 illustrates one that would be used in a dry-lining/plasterboard wall structure where the main box fabric would be plastic/PVC with variable screw-fixing options, other material variations exist which would be used in a solid wall arrangement where the main box fabric would be steel, not shown in these drawings. All types of material would be constructed to allow flush or surface mounted fixing to the wall, not shown in these drawings. All types of material would sometimes be fitted with an earth terminal, not shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates where in the preferred form, fascia unit I is constructed to facilitate the insertion of two electrical appliance power plugs, not shown in this perspective.

The appliance plug insertion points 3 of each separate plug are coupled by conductive material 4 which are in turn coupled to pins 5 which are individually designated as earth, live and neutral in the illustrative embodiment shown.

The corresponding back box 2 has the addition of a unit 7, for the purpose of this illustrative embodiment, called the F Block' which facilitates the safe electrical connection between the back box and the fascia panel. The F Block' 7 is moulded or fitted to the rear of the back box 2 as illustrated in Figure 3. The F Block' 7 consists of three holes 10 lined with conductive material which are in turn coupled to connecting pin sockets 8 also lined with conductive material which will spring-grip the pins 5 when inserted into the F Block' 7. In this illustrative embodiment the pin sockets 8 are designated earth, live and neutral to correspond with the pins 5 located on the fascia unit 1. The holes 10 are coupled to screw fixing points 9. These screw fixing points 9 are recessed into the F Block' 7 and provide a clamping point for the wires which will be inserted into the holes 10. In the preferred form, the location of the F Block' 7 in relation to the rear of the back box 2 when used as a plug socket back box has been carefully chosen to reflect the normal requirement for wires to enter the back box through the knock-outs on the base or the side of the unit. In this instant the F Block' 7 is therefore located at or near the top of the mounting box to allow sufficient space for wires to enter the box and be connected to the F Block'.

Now that the preferred form of the electrical back box and fascia panel system has been explained, the use, novel features and advantages of the invention can be set forth and appreciated.

A back box is selected which meets the usage requirements of the installer. In this instant, for the purpose of this description, a double plug fascia unit I and double plug back box 2 will be used. The back box 2 will be securely fixed into the appropriate location, normally recessed or surface mounted to a wall as required by the design in situ and which will be within the skill of the art of the installer. The correct wires are fed through the knock-outs 11 in the back box 2 and securely clamped into the holes 10 by the screw fixings 9 as also will be within the skill of the art after the above design description has been read and understood. Once these steps have been carried out, the back box 2 will be securely installed in its place of use and safely fitted with electrical supply connections.

It should be appreciated that in the preferred form, once the above steps have been carried out, installation by the skill of the art as required by a qualified electrical installer has been completed. At this point, plastering and/or decoration work can take place without the inherent problems of a conventional plug socket as described earlier.

Once plastering and decoration have been completed, the pins 5 on the fascia unit I can be lined up with the pin sockets 8 on the F Block' in the back box 2 and inserted as shown in the drawings illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Once connected, the fascia panel I can be securely fixed to the back box 2 using screw fixing points 6.

It should also be appreciated that in the preferred form, future removal of the fascia panel which would be normal practice during re-plastering or re-decoration is made faster and safer by the plug-in nature of the design of the invention. The inherent need to mask or clean-off plug fascia's or light switches would be removed by the proper use of this invention as the fascia's would be stored safely elsewhere until the re-plastering and/or re-decoration is complete. The fascias are then plugged back into the back box and secured when required thus avoiding the risks of disturbing the electrical connections and the need to mask or clean-off the fascias after redecoration as would be current practice with the conventional system where fascias would be left hanging from the wall by the wires.

It should further be appreciated that often the fascia panel of plugs and switches are changed to provide a different cosmetic appearance such as brass, chrome or other modern finishes which the invention makes readily possible by the plug-in nature of the design rather than the need to change the electrical connections as the conventional system would require.

This system incorporates several aspects in its design which link the use of a fascia panel to a more functional and safer back box. As such, by incorporating the flexibility of the F Block' design into the back box, several additional uses of the system are now described An alternative arrangement using the F Block' is illustrated in Figure 6 whereby in the preferred form a double plug fascia 22 which incorporates repositioned screw fixing points 6a can be fitted to a single back box 12 with the F Block' 7 fitted. The same wiring and installation procedure as previously described for a double plug fascia unit I and double back box 2 would be used. It should be noted that this connection would only be made if sufficient electrical loading capacity is available through the installed wiring.

A further alternative arrangement using the F Block' is illustrated in Figure 7 whereby in the preferred form a single light switch fascia unit 14 with the integrated pin system can be fitted to a single light switch back box 13 with a lighting F Block' 19 fitted. In this instant, the preferred form of the lighting back box 13 design would see the lighting F block' 19 located at the base of the rear panel of the back box 13 to correspond with the wiring entry point for lighting normally being at the top of the back box. In this illustrative embodiment, the pin sockets 15 on the lighting F Block'19 are labelled LI or 1-way, L2 or 2-way and C or com or common to correspond with lighting requirements.

A further alternative arrangement using the F Block' is illustrated in Figure 8 whereby in the preferred form a double light switch fascia unit 17 with the integrated pin system doubled-up to serve each switch individually can be fitted to a double light switch back box 20 with a double lighting F Block' 21 fitted. In this instant, the wire fixing holes 10 do not pass completely through the F Block' 21 but are terminated and separately insulated within the F Block' 21 to serve each light switch independently from opposing sides of the F Block' 21.

Further alternative arrangements using the F Block' system include single and multiple plug fascias, single and multiple light switches, single and multiple light dimming switches and utility back box and fascia units such as, but not limited to, circuit isolation or spur units.

The electrical back box and fascia panel system incorporates several inventive aspects which deliver a more effective installation process and a safer working environment once the unit is installed. The arrangement of wiring within the back box is more clearly and neatly organised. The installation process of the back boxes now takes consideration of the processes which follow, rather than hinders them as in the conventional method. Future maintenance and decoration of the walls around the plug, light or utility switches are simplified and provide for a better quality of work because of the reduced obstruction of the wires and fascia panels. Changes to new fascia panels are made quicker and easier and become plug-in activities rather than re-wiring jobs.

In summary, the electrical back box and fascia panel system may comprise one or more of the following aspects: in combination: a mounting box fitted with a means of connecting wires to a pin socket unit and a fascia panel with connecting pins which fit into the pin socket unit on the mounting box; the mounting box fitted with a means of connecting wires to a pin socket unit is intended for use with electrical components using a plug; in which the fascia panel comprises a method of inserting one or more electrical appliance power plugs which may or may not be switched and are linked by conductive material to pins which allow connection to the pin sockets in the mounting box; the mounting box fitted with a means of connecting wires to a pin socket unit is intended for use with light switches; in which the fascia panel comprises single or multiple light switches that may or may not have dimming capability and are linked by conductive material to pins which allow connection to the pin sockets in the mounting box; in which mounting box fitted with a the means of connecting wires to a pin socket unit is intended for use with electrical utility switches such as, but not limited to, fused spur and circuit isolation switches; and in which the fascia panel comprises a single or multiple switch system which may or may not include illumination and may or may not include a fuse or circuit breaker and is linked by conductive material to pins which allow connection to the mounting box.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electrical assembly, comprising: a wall mounting comprising: means for fixing the mounting against a wall; and a connector box having internally of an outer box exterior first and second electrical connections, the first electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of current carrying wires inserted into the wall mounting and the second electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of connector rods of a fascia panel, the first electrical connections being electrically connected to respective second electrical connections; and a fascia panel having electrical functionality and comprising: means for fixing the fascia panel to the wall mounting; a plurality of said connector rods arranged such that when the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting the connector rods are received within the outer exterior of the connector box for connecting with the second electrical connections so that said electrical functionality becomes operative when the wires are connected to the first electrical connections of the wall mounting and the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector box comprises a first plurality of openings for receiving respective said wires and a second plurality of openings for receiving respective said connector rods.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim I or 2, having a first temporary condition in which the wall mounting is mounted to a wall and the wires are connected to the first electrical connections and a operative condition in which the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting, and wherein the outer exterior of the connector box is electrically insulated from the first and second electrical connections so that in the temporary condition current cannot be drawn from the wires to the outer exterior.
4. A wall mounting configured for use in an assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising: means for fixing the mounting against a wall; and a connector box having internally of an outer box exterior first and second electrical connections, the first electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of current carrying wires inserted into the wall mounting and the second electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of connector rods of a fascia panel, the first electrical connections being electrically connected to respective second electrical connections such that when a fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting a plurality of said connector rods are received within the outer exterior of the connector box for connecting with the second electrical connections so that an electrical functionality of the fascia panel becomes operative when the wires are connected to the first electrical connections of the wall mounting and the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting.
5. A fascia panel configured for use in an assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, and having an electrical functionality, the fascia panel comprising: means for fixing the fascia panel to a wall mounting; a plurality of said connector rods arranged such that when the fascia panel is fixed to the wall mounting the connector rods are received within an outer exterior of a connector box of the wall mounting for connecting with second electrical connections internally of the outer exterior and said electrical functionality becomes operative when current carrying wires are connected to first electrical connections internally of the outer exterior.
6. A connector box for a wall mounting of an electrical assembly as claimed in any of claims I to 3, the connector box having means for fixing the connector box to the wall mounting and internally of an outer box exterior first and second electrical connections, the first electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of current carrying wires inserted into the wall mounting and the second electrical connections for connecting to a respective plurality of connector rods of a fascia panel, the first electrical connections being electrically connected to respective second electrical connections, the connector box being configured so that when a fascia panel of the assembly is fixed to the wall mounting a plurality of said connector rods are received within the outer exterior of the connector box for connecting with the second electrical connections and an electrical functionality of the fascia panel becomes operative when the wires are connected to the first electrical connections of the wall mounting.
7. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fascia panel comprises a socket having electrical connectors for co-operating with an electrical plug when the plug is received in the socket for transferring electrical power to the plug.
8. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fascia panel comprises a switch for controlling an electrically powered device remote from the switch.
9. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fascia panel comprises means for sensing a current in the assembly and terminating said electrical functionality if said current exceeds a predetermined current.