GB2589586A

GB2589586A - Electrical socket

Info

Publication number: GB2589586A
Application number: GB1917597.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edgar Rowley James
Original assignee: J & J Construction Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: J & J Construction Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-02
Filing date: 2019-12-02
Publication date: 2021-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-02
Also published as: GB2589586B; GB201917597D0

Abstract

An electrical socket comprising a backplate assembly 14, a fascia 32 and at least one switch actuator 24, the backplate assembly including live, neutral and earth power cable connection terminals, and at least one socket 20, 22 for receiving a plug; the fascia having plug apertures for alignment with the or each socket; the or each switch actuator being mounted to and extending through a switch aperture 34, 36 in the facia; and the fascia being connectable to the backplate assembly in the connected position, the or each switch actuator being operable to control a corresponding socket in the backplate assembly. The switches may be rocker switches. Clips may be used to engage the backplate with the front plate. The backplate may be installed in a pattress box and covered by cardboard which is removable when the front plate is installed.

Description

ELECTRICAL SOCKET

The present invention relates to an electrical socket and method of installing and electrical socket in a building.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

When installing power sockets in a building under construction, an electrician will generally attend the building site for a first fix and a second fix.

The first fix involves the running of electrical cables from a circuit breaker board, otherwise known as a distribution board, to positions around the building where electrical appliances are required. For power sockets, for example, the electrician may typically create one or more ring mains. This involves installing a cable running from the circuit breaker board to a first socket position, a second socket position and so on before returning the cable to the circuit breaker board.

The cables are usually protected by trunking, which is fastened to the un-plastered walls over the cables. If the plaster thickness is thin, then the cables may have to be sunk in channels in the wall.

Galvanised metal boxes, known as pattress boxes, are typically fastened to any walls which are to be plastered at the positions of any required sockets. Each pattress box has push out apertures in its rear and sides, which can be removed as required for feeding the ends of the cables into the box. Once the cables are installed, before plaster boarding and plastering, the first fix is complete.

The second fix involves connecting the cables to the power socket facias. The facias have a larger external size than the size of the pattress boxes, and so cover the boxes entirely. The facias not only include plug sockets, for example, 3-pin sockets in the UK, but incorporate the switch gear for each socket. They may also include low power USB connections for electronics, for example.

When the walls are plastered, it is often the case that plaster will enter the pattress boxes and may even cover them entirely. The cable ends inside the pattress boxes may also be coated with plaster and it can be a very time-consuming job to clean up, before connecting up the sockets.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce or substantially obviate the aforementioned problems.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical socket comprising a backplate assembly, a fascia and at least one switch actuator, the backplate assembly including live, neutral and earth power cable connection terminals, and at least one socket for receiving a plug; the fascia having plug apertures for alignment with the or each socket; the or each switch actuator being mounted to and extending through an aperture in the facia; and the fascia being connectable to the backplate assembly, in the connected position, the or each switch actuator being operable to control a corresponding socket in the backplate assembly.

Advantageously, the fascia does not include any electrical components, which are all disposed in the backplate assembly. The backplate assembly can be installed and electrically connected at first fix. A second fix by an electrician is then no longer required The backplate assembly may include a rear part and a front part. The front part may be a cover plate, the cable connections, socket connection(s) and electrical switch(es) being provided in the rear part.

The or each switch actuator may be a rocker switch, mounted for angular movement to the rear of the fascia.

The or each switch actuator may have an actuator stem, which engages with an electrical switch in the backplate assembly.

Resilient clips may be provided on the backplate assembly which engage with the fascia. Alternatively, the resilient clips may be provided on the fascia for engagement with the backplate.

Advantageously, no tools are required to commission the socket once the backplate assembly has been fitted. The fascia can be clipped into position and the socket used.

Furthermore, it is possible to use the socket before the fascia is fitted as a power source whilst work is ongoing.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts for installing an electrical socket comprising an electrical socket according to the first aspect of the invention and a cardboard cover for covering the backplate assembly when installed in a pattress box.

Preferably the cardboard cover includes a front face and at least one wall element for extending into the pattress box around the outside of the backplate assembly.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing an electrical socket according to the first aspect of the invention in a pattress box comprising connecting live, neutral and earth cables of a power supply to a backplate, attaching the backplate to the pattress box and covering the backplate with a cardboard cover to protect the backplate during plastering and/or decorating.

The cardboard cover may subsequently be removed after plastering and/or decorating and the fascia attached Advantageously the backplate assembly is housed entirely in the pattress box. The cardboard cover sits flush with the front of the pattress box, so as not to cause an obstruction to plastering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the components of the electrical socket of the invention with a standard pattress box; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the backplate assembly and pattress box; Figure 3A shows a perspective view of the backplate assembly disposed within the pattress box and the cardboard cover in proximity to the pattress box; Figure 3B shows a perspective view of the backplate assembly disposed within the pattress box and the cardboard cover partially inserted into the pattress box; Figure 30 shows a perspective view of the cardboard cover in position within the pattress box; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the backplate assembly fitted within the pattress box after plastering; and Figure 5 shows the fascia fitted to the assembly of Figure 5, with the socket ready for use

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figure 1, an exploded schematic view of an electrical plug socket is indicated generally at 10. The socket 10 is shown with a pattress box 12, which in use is attached to an un-plastered wall during first fix electrical fit out on a construction site. 5 The electrical socket 10 includes a backplate assembly 14 having a front part 16 and a rear part 18. The backplate assembly 14 is provided assembled, and includes live, neutral and earth power cable connection terminals at the rear of the backplate assembly 14 for connection to a power supply. A fascia 32, fits over the top of the backplate assembly 14 and pattress box 12, as described further below.

In the embodiment shown, the backplate assembly 14 include socket inlets 20, 22 for two three pin plugs. The backplate assembly 14 also includes electrical switches, provided in the rear part 18, for turning the electrical plug sockets on and off. The electrical components are not shown, but are housed within the rear part 18 of the backplate assembly 14. The front part 16 of the backplate assembly serves as a first cover plate, which protects the electrician during the first fix installation, as described further below. Screws or rivets 26 hold the front and rear parts 16,18 together.

First and second switch actuators, in the form of rocker switches 24, are attached to the rear of the fascia 32. Apertures 34,36 are provided in the fascia 32, and rectangular actuation blocks of the rocker switches 24, providing actuable surfaces, are located in the apertures 34, 36. Each rocker switch 24 has a cylindrical axle 38 extending laterally of the actuation block. The axle 38 is held in resilient clips disposed on the rear of the fascia 32. A pair of stems 40 extends from each axle 38, which move in an arc as the rocker switch moves about the axle 38. The stems 40 extend rearwardly.

Referring also to Figure 2, an aperture 28 is provided through the front part 18 of the backplate assembly 14 and accommodates part of the rocker switches 24, but also provides a path for the stems to pass through the front part 16 to the switch in the rear part 18. The aperture 28 also extends laterally to either side of the positions of the switches 24, to provide space for the axle 38 of each switch 24 to be accommodated behind the fascia 32.

The backplate assembly 14 is attached to the pattress box 12 using screws 34. The screws 34 screw into the standard threaded apertures 36 provided on the internal side walls of the pattress box 12.

Resilient latches are provided on the backplate assembly 14 for engagement with apertures in the rear of the fascia 32 for holding the fascia in position. Referring in particular to Figure 2, two resilient latches 42 are provided on the top edge of the backplate assembly 14. A further resilient latch 44 is provided centrally on the bottom edge of the backplate assembly 14. The latches 42,44 are forward facing blades, which can flex up and down (as viewed). The front of each latch 42,44 is formed as a wedge, with a vertical rear face set back from the front of the blade. Each blade fits into a slot in the rear of the fascia and when in the final connected position, the wedges spring into undercuts in the slots.

The process of fitting the electrical socket is as follows. Firstly, the pattress box 12 is affixed to a wall and the backplate assembly 14 is connected up to the ring main wiring (not shown). The backplate assembly 14 is then screwed into the pattress box 12 using the screws 34. The backplate assembly 14 sits entirely inside the pattress box 12, behind its front face.

Then a cardboard cover 46, as shown in Figures 3A to 3C is pushed over the backplate assembly into the pattress box 12.

The cardboard cover has a front face 48 for preventing plaster from entering the pattress box 12. It is a tight fit. A U-shaped cut is made in the centre of the front face 48 for creating a finger pull to assist in removing the cardboard, after plastering. A number of wall elements extend from the edge of the cover, in the manner of a discontinuous peripheral flange. These include first and second upper corner portions 50 and a lower portion 52. Each upper corner portion 50 extends from an upper corner partially along an adjacent side and along the top edge. The lower portion 52 extends along the bottom edge between the lower corners and partially along an adjacent side.

The wall elements 50, 52 are discontinuous, to provide spaces in the cardboard for fitting around the screw fixing positions 36 in the pattress box 12, and also to fit around the upper central part of the backplate assembly 14, where the switch recess 28 is disposed.

Once fitted, as shown in Figure 30, then the wall can be plastered. After plastering the cardboard cover or insert, is removed to reveal the pre-connected backplate assembly 14, as shown in Figure 4.

After the plaster has dried and the wall has been decorated, then the fascia 32 can be attached, as shown in Figure 5. The pattress box 12 is shown in dotted outline. The fascia 32 is a push fit onto the pattress box and the resilient latches 42,44 engage with the fascia 32. Small slots 54, for example, around 2mm deep and 8 mm wide, connect with the undercuts in the slots in the rear of the fascia 32. If a screwdriver blade is thrust into the slots, then the resilient latches 42,44 can be released and the fascia removed, for example, for redecoration. It is not necessary to call an electrician, because the fascia 32 does not have any electrical components. Furthermore, the front part of the backplate assembly 14 also does not house electrical components, but serves as a cover plate for the electrical fittings within the rear part 18 of the backplate assembly 14.

It will be appreciated that the plug socket 10 shown has two plug outlets, but embodiments with one, three or more outlets are considered to be within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiment shown is for a 3-pin plug, but equally the invention is suitable for use with a 2-pin plug.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electrical socket comprising a backplate assembly, a fascia and at least one switch actuator, the backplate assembly including live, neutral and earth power cable connection terminals, and at least one socket for receiving a plug; the fascia having plug apertures for alignment with the or each socket; the or each switch actuator being mounted to and extending through an aperture in the facia; and the fascia being connectable to the backplate assembly, in the connected position, the or each switch actuator being operable to control a corresponding socket in the backplate assembly.
2. An electrical socket as claimed in claim 1, in which the backplate assembly includes a rear part and a front part.
3. An electrical socket as claimed in claim 2, in which the front part is a cover plate, the cable connections, socket connection(s) and electrical switch(es) being provided in the rear part.
4. An electrical socket as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each switch actuator is a rocker switch, mounted for angular movement to the rear of the fascia.
5. An electrical socket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each switch actuator has an actuator stem, which engages with an electrical switch in the backplate assembly.
6. An electrical socket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which resilient clips are provided on the backplate assembly which engage with the fascia.
7. A kit of parts for installing an electrical socket comprising an electrical socket as claimed in any preceding claim and a cardboard cover for covering the backplate assembly when installed in a pattress box.
8. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 7, in which the cardboard cover includes a front face and at east one wall element for extending into the pattress box around the outside of the backplate assembly.
9. A method of installing an electrical socket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising connecting live, neutral and earth cables of a power supply to a backplate, attaching the backplate to a pattress box and covering the backplate with a cardboard cover to protect the backplate during plastering and/or decorating.
10. A method as claimed in claim 11, including subsequently removing the cardboard cover and attaching the fascia.