GB2610213A

GB2610213A - An electrical back box mounting device

Info

Publication number: GB2610213A
Application number: GB2112272.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sandeman Scott
Original assignee: Sls Asset Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Sls Asset Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-27
Filing date: 2021-08-27
Publication date: 2023-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2041-08-27
Also published as: GB2610213B; GB202112272D0

Abstract

A mounting device 100 for an electrical back box 140 provides a user with additional locations for the placement of screw-holes for facilitating attachment of the electrical back box to a surface. The mounting device includes a rigid plate 110, a screw-hole 120 and a fastener arranged on the rigid plate. The fastener may comprise projections 130 (see Figure 2) or a grommet (see Figure 5). By inserting and securing the mounting device within knockout aperture 150 of an electrical back box, a user may select a suitable location for the placement of the screw-hole. Once the mounting device is secured within the knockout aperture using the fastener, a screw may be inserted through the screw-hole to securely fix the mounting device, and thereby the electrical back box, to a surface.

Description

AN ELF.CTRICAL BACK BOX MOUNTING DFAITCF.

The present invention relates generally to an electrical back box mounting device and a method of installation of an electrical back box.

Electrical back boxes are used to secure electrical switches and sockets to various surfaces, such as walls, and to accommodate the connections and wiring associated with these fixtures. Commonly, an electrical back box comprises a back plate with screw-holes, so that screws may be inserted therethrough to attach the electrical back box to a surface. As the number and location of these screw-holes is fixed, the options for positioning of the screws are limited. This can be particularly problematic if the desired location of the electrical back box renders many or all of the screw-holes aligned with an inadequate surface, such as mortar or breeze block. This can make secure installation of the electrical back box difficult and time-consuming.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an electrical back box mounting device comprising: a rigid plate with at least one screw-hole; and a fastener arranged on the rigid plate, the fastener for securing the mounting device within an aperture of an electrical back box.

In this way, the mounting device may be attached to an electrical back box so that a user may be provided with additional locations for placement of screw-holes when installing the electrical back box. Each face of an electrical back box often comprises one or more knockouts; that is, partially stamped circular openings. Once a knockout is removed, a knockout aperture may he created and used to route electrical cables therethrough. Alternatively, the mounting device of the present invention may be inserted into the knockout aperture to provide an alternative screw-hole position. The user may select a knockout which aligns with an adequate fixing surface, and remove it from the electrical back box. The mounting device may then be attached to and secured within the knockout aperture via the fastener. in rhis way, the user may insert a screw through the at least one screw-hole in order to securely fix the mounting device, and thereby the electrical back box, to a surface.

Rigid may mean that the rigid plate may be deformable by up to 5 mm in a plane parallel to a face of the rigid plate. Alternatively, rigid may mean that the rigid plate is substantially less pliable than the fastener and/or that the rigid plate is of a similar rigidity to a material of an electrical back box. For example, the rigid plate may be made from metal, plastics and/or nabber.

The screw-hole may be any aperture suitable for inserting a screw therethnigigh. The screw-hole may also be suitable for use with other fixing means, such as nails, bolts and/or adhesive. the screw-hole may be circular, elliptical or square. Alternatively, the screw-hole may be a cross or star shape formed in the rigid plate. the screw-hole may have a threaded internal edge for receiving a screw. Alternatively, an internal edge of the screw-hole may be blank with no thread.

The screw-hole may have a diameter of between 2 mm and 8 mm, in particular between 6 inn and 7 mm, more particularly of 6.5 mm.

The fastener may be configured to engage with and attach to an electrical back box, when the mounting device is placed within an aperture of the electrical back box. Securing of the mounting device via the fastener may be permanent or reversible. The fastener may be a mechanical means suitable for securing the mounting device within an aperture of the electrical back box. Alternatively, the fastener may be an adhesive.

The rigid plate may comprise two round opposing faces, and the fastener may comprise at least one projection extending from at least one of the two round opposing faces.

Tn this way, the at least one projection may be inserted into a knockout aperture, thereby securing the mounting device within the knockout aperture.

Round may mean circular or elliptical.

The at least one projection may have any shape, for example cylindrical or prismatic.

The fastener may comprise the same material as the rigid plate, or the fastener may comprise a different material from the rigid plate. For example, the fastener may comprise material that is more pliable or resilient than the material of the rigid plate. The fastener may comprise at least one projection on each of the two round opposing faces. In this way, the mounting device may he double-sided, in that it may be inserted into a knockout aperture with either of the round opposing faces of the rigid plate facing towards the electrical back box.

The extension of the at least one projection may be in any direction substantially away from the plane of the two round opposing faces. As an example, the extension of the at least one projection may be within a range of angles from an angle parallel to one of the two round opposing faces to an angle normal to one of the two round opposing faces.

The at least one projection may be pliable, and in a plane perpendicular to the two round opposing faces, the at least one projection may extend diagonally outwards from a first radius of the rigid plate to a second radius of the rigid plate.

In this way, the pliability and shape of the at least one projection may enable a friction fit between the mounting device and a knockout aperture, this increasing the strength of attachment of the mounting device to an electrical back box.

Pliable may mean that the at least one projection comprises a pliable/flexible material. Alternatively or additionally, pliable may mean that the extension of the at least one projection may enable the position of the at least one projection to flex relative to the rigid plate.

The at least one projection may comprise a ridge on an outer edge of the at least one projection. The ridge may increase the strength of attachment of the mounting device to an electrical back box, by acting as a clip to limit the position of the fastener when pushed into a knockout aperture.

In a plane parallel to the two round opposing faces, the at least one projection rilay be arc shape.

in this way, an outer edge profile of the at least one projection may correspond to an inner edge profile of a knockout aperture.

The fastener may comprise a grommet arranged on a periphery of the rigid plate. In this way, the grommet may enable the mounting device to be secured within a knockout aperture of an electrical back box.

The grommet may be ring shape, and may be arranged on a periphery of the rigid plate. The grommet may comprise a flexible, pliable or resilient material. In this way, if the grommet is marginally larger than a knockout aperture, the grommet may deform when the mounting device is inserted into said knockout aperture. If the grommet is made from a resilient material, this may enable the grommet to reversibly deform and secure the mounting device within the knockout aperture such that the rigid plate is aligned with an inner and outer face of the electrical back box.

The at least one screw-hole may be concentric with a periphery of the rigid plate.

In this way, the at least one screw-hole may be placed in the centre of( the mounting device. Consequently, the at least one screw-hole may be placed in the centre of a knockout aperture within an electrical back box.

The at least one screw-hole may be eccentric with a periphery of the rigid plate.

in this way, the at least one screw-hole may be placed off-centre of the mounting device. Consequently, the at least one screw-hole may be placed off-centre of a knockout aperture within an electrical back box. Accordingly, the mounting device may be rowed to alter the position of the screw-hole relative to the knockout aperture.

The at least one screw-hole may be countersunk into the rigid plate.

In this way, an upper edge of a screw or other fixing inserted into the screw-hole may be flush or recessed within a plane of the rigid plate.

The rigid plate may be removably attachable to the fastener.

In this way, the fastener and rigid plate may be used separately or in combination. Additionally, rigid plates of various diameters may be attached to fasteners of various sizes, in order to fit a wide range of knockout apertures.

The rigid plate and the fastener may each comprise a thread, and the rigid plate may be threadably connectable to the fastener.

In this way, the strength of connection between the rigid plate and the fastener may be improved, thereby improving the strength of connection between the mounting device and the electrical back box.

The diameter of the screw-hole may be within the range of 5 to 12 mm.

In this way, the diameter of the screw hole may be configured to accept screws of standard sizes.

A diameter of the periphery of the mounting device may be within the range of 25 20 to 50 mm.

In this way, the size of the mounting device may correspond to a common size of a knockout aperture in an electrical back box.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of attaching an electrical back box to a surface, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrical back box mounting device comprising: a rigid plate with at least one screw-hole; and a fastener arranged on the rigid plate, the fastener for securing the mounting device within an aperture of the electrical back box; (13) providing an electrical back box, and positioning the electrical back box adjacent to a surface for attachment; (c) inserting the mounting device through the aperture; (d) securing the mounting device within the aperture via the fastener; and (e) inserting a screw through the screw-hole and into the surface, thereby attaching the mounting device and the electrical back box to the surface.

In a third aspect, the invention provides an electrical back box system, comprising: an electrical back box comprising an aperture therein; a rigid plate with at least one screw-hole; and a fastener arranged on the rigid plate, the fastener configured to secure the mounting device within the aperture of the electrical back box.

The electrical back box system may further comprise a screw configured to pass through the at least one screw-hole.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a frontal view of an electrical back box mounting device.

Figure 2 is a side view of an electrical back box mounting device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electrical back box mounting device secured within a knockout aperture of an electrical back box.

Figure 4 is a frontal view of an electrical back box mounting device with a grommet.

Figure 5 is a side view of an electrical back box mounting device with a grommet.

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms First, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. Tt is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstinces and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. Likewise, method steps described or claimed in a particular sequence may be understood to operate in a different sequence.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

Tt is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term "connected", used in the description, should not he interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device A connected to a device B" should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device 13.

It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Connected" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. For instance, wireless connectivity is contemplated.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Pf hus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any one embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner with any other particular feature, structure or characteristic of another embodiment or aspect of the invention, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment Of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The use of the term "any" may mean "all" and/or "each" in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features. It is clear that other arrangemen can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Figure 1 shows a frontal view of an electrical back box mounting device 100. The mounting device 100 comprises a circular rigid plate 110. The rigid plate 110 may be constructed from a relatively rigid material, such as hard plastics, and may be fireproof and/or recyclable. The diameter of the rigid plate 110 may be between 20 mm to 30 nun in diameter, and this size may he chosen to correspond to the size of an electrical back box knockout aperture. In particular, the diameter of the rigid plate 110 may be larger than the diameter of a knockout aperture. The rigid plate 110 comprises a screw-hole 120, which is a circular aperture positioned in the centre of the rigid plate 110. The screw-hole 120 may have a diameter of between 5 nun and 8 MITI, and this size may be chosen to correspond to the size of screw to be inserted therethrough. Extending out of the page from the rigid plate 110 are four projections 130. Each projection 130 is arc shape, and subtends approximately 70°. The otride edge of each projection 130 may be delimited by a circle between 18 mm to 20 mm in diameter centred on the rigid plate 110. The maximum diameter of the four projections 130 may be marginally larger than a knockout aperture, for example 19 mm.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the mounting device 100 of Figure 1. The rigid plate 110 is frustoconical, which in side view is shown as a trapezium, with a top face of the rigid plate 110 being marginally smaller than a bottom face of the rigid plate 110. Three of the four projections 130 can be seen extending downwards from the rigid plate 110. The remaining projection 130 is not shown as it is obscured by the central projection 130. Each projection 130 is attached to the bottom face of the rigid plate 110 adjacent and spaced from the outer side edge of the rigid plate 110. Each projection 130 extends downwards and diagonally outwards from the rigid plate 110, so that the bottom sides of the projections 130 extend further out towards the outer sides of the mounting device than where the top sides of the projections 130 are attached to the rigid plate 110. Each projection 130 comprises a ridge 135 substantially halfway along the longitudinal extension of the projection 130. Each ridge 135 is a rounded cuboid shape, and extends outwards from the outside face of each projection 130. The ridges 135 are not visible in Figure 1, since the bottom face of each of the projections 130 obscures each ridge 35, due to the diagonal extension of the projections 130.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the mounting device 100 secured within a knockout aperture 150 of an electrical back box 140. The electrical back box 140 and its various knockout apertures 150 are shown in broken lines. The projections 130 (not shown) of the mounting device 100 have been inserted through the knockout aperture 150, thereby causing the projections 130 to flex inwards towards the centre of the rigid plate 110. The insertion is completed when the ridges 135 are pushed behind a rear face of the electrical back box 140, which causes the mounting device to 'snap' into place, thereby securing the mounting device 100 within the knockout aperture 150. Since the projections 130 and ridges 135 are obscured by the larger diameter rigid plate 110, they are not shown in this figure.

in this arrangement, the mounting device 100 may enable a user to select various locations for the screw-hole 120. For exarnple, electrical back box 140 screw-holes 145 may be aligned with a surface material unsuitable for accepting a screw, such as soft mortar or breeze block. Accordingly, the user may position the mounting device 100 within a knockout aperture 150 which aligns with a more suitable surface material, such as brick. The user may temporarily place the mounting device 100 within the knockout aperture 150 in order to mark the position of the screw-hole 120 on the surface to which the electrical back box 140 is to be attached. After drilling a hole into the surface and inserting a wall plug into this hole, the user may then secure the mounting device 100 within the knockout aperture 150. in this way, a screw may then be inserted through the screw-hole and into the hole comprising the wall plug, thereby attaching the mounting device 100 and electrical back box 140 to the surface.

Figure 4 shows a frontal view of an alternative embodiment of the mounting device 100. The mounting device 100 again comprises a round rigid plate 110, comprising a screw-hole 120, which is a circular aperture positioned in the centre of the rigid plate 110. A ring shape grommet 160 is arranged on the outer periphery of the rigid plate 110.

The grommet 160 may be made from pliable/resilient material such as rubber or el astomer.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the mounting device 100 of Figure 4. where the ring shape grommet 160 is arranged adjacent to each circular face of the rigid plate 110. The external diameters of the grommet 160 extend beyond the external diameter of the rigid plate 110, in that the maximum width of the mounting device 100 is defined by the width of the grommet 160. In this way, when the mounting device is inserted into a knockout aperture 150 as shown in Figure 3, the grommet 160 may be slightly compressed on insertion until the smaller diameter of the rigid plate 110 sits within the knockout aperture 150 and aligned with the interior and exterior faces of the electrical back box 140. In this way, the pliability/resilience of the grommet 160 may secure the mounting device 100 within the knockout aperture 150.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electrical back box mounting device comprising: a rigid plate with at least one screw-hole; and a fastener arranged on the rigid plate, the fastener for securing the mounting device within an aperture of an electrical back box.
2. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the rigid plate comprises tvo round opposing faces, and wherein the fastener comprises at least one projection extending from at least one of the two round opposing faces.
3. The mounting device of claim 2, wherein the at least one projection is pliable, and in a plane perpendicular to the two round opposing faces, the at least one projection extends diagonally outwards from a first radius of the rigid plate to a second radius of the rigid plate.
4. The mounting device of either of claims 2 and 3, wherein in a plane parallel to the two round opposing faces, the at least one projection is arc shape.
5. The mounting device of any preceding claim, wherein the fastener comprises a grommet arranged on a periphery of the rigid plate.
6. The mounting device of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one screw-hole is concentric with a periphery of the rigid plate.
7. The mounting device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one screw-hole is eccentric with a periphery of the rigid plate.
8. The mounting device of any preceding claim wherein the at least one screw-hole is countersunk into the rigid plate.
9. The mounting device of any preceding claim, wherein the rigid plate is removably attachable to the fastener.
10. The mounting device of any preceding claim, wherein the rigid plate and the fastener each comprise a thread, and the rigid plate is threadably connectable to the fastener.
11. The mounting device of any preceding claim,wherein the diameter of the screw-hole is within the range of 5 to 12 mm.
12. The mounting device of any preceding claim, wherein a diameter of the periphety of the mounting device is within the range of 20 to 50 mm.
13. method of attaching an electrical back box to a surface, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrical back box mounting device comprising: a rigid plate with at least one screw-hole; and a fastener arranged on the rigid plate, the fastener for securing the mounting device within an aperture of the electrical back box; providing an electrical back box, and positioning the electrical back box adjacent to a surface for attachment; inserting the mounting device through the aperture; securing the mounting device within the aperture via the fastener; and inserting a screw through the screw-hole and into the surface, thereby attaching the mounting device and the electrical back box to the surface.
14. An electrical back box system, comprising: an electrical back box comprising an aperture therein; a rigid plate with at least one screw-hole; and a fastener arranged on the rigid plate, the fastener configured to secure the mounting device within the aperture of the electrical back box.
15. The electrical back box system of claim 14, further comprising a screw configured to pass through the at least one screw-hole.