GB2613827A

GB2613827A - Back box

Info

Publication number: GB2613827A
Application number: GB2118231.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ewan Sagar Richard
Original assignee: Ilumeo Ltd
Current assignee: Ilumeo Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-16
Filing date: 2021-12-16
Publication date: 2023-06-21

Abstract

A back box 100 for mounting an electrical socket 200 or switch assembly in a wall comprises a rear cavity defined by a back wall and rear side walls (figure 1b). A flange portion 104 extends outwardly with respect to the rear side walls and comprises a central opening 102 for locating a rear portion of the electrical socket in the rear cavity. A front portion of the electrical socket is accommodated by front side walls 114 which extend from a front surface of the flange portion and surround the opening. To fix the back box to the wall, a plaster finish is applied to the wall and the flange portion. The plaster finish is applied to the wall until flush with a front edge of the front side walls. The front side walls may comprise a plurality of spaced apart fins 116 extending from the front surface of the flange towards the front edge of the front side walls. The flange portion may comprise holes 106,108 to allow the plaster finish to pass through. When installed, a front surface of the electrical socket may be flush with the wall surface after the plaster finish is applied.

Description

BACK BOX

The present invention relates to a back box for mounting an electrical assembly, such as a socket or switch assembly, in a wall.

A conventional back box for a single socket or switch is typically square and has four side walls and a back wall which define a square opening for receiving a socket or switch electrical assembly. The square opening is typically a standard size of 85x85mm. The back box is typically a metal material, such as steel or aluminium, or a plastics material, such as PVC or urea formaldehyde. The back box is configured to be mounted in the wall, such as a solid or plasterboard cavity wall, such that the opening is substantially flush with the room surface of the wall. Some back boxes have a peripheral flange surrounding the square opening for engagement with the outer surface of a plasterboard wall and opposed spring clips for engagement with the inner surface of the plasterboard wall to hold the back box in the wall. The socket or switch assembly typically includes a cover plate which screws on to the back box to close the opening thereof and safely conceal the electrical supply and connections therein. The cover plate typically extends outwardly from the wall of the room when mounted on the back box. The cover plate is typically white but other finishes are known, such as bronze, silver and gold to match other metallic objects/details in the room. The cover plate includes one or more apertures corresponding to the type of electrical assembly, such as three spaced apart rectangular apertures corresponding to a standard UK three-pin plug, or a single or double rectangular apertures corresponding to a single or double rocker switch, for example. A plastic insert is typically provided for locating in the aperture/s of the cover plate to define the size and shape of the apertures for receiving and guiding correspondingly sized and shaped plug pins or for surrounding a rocker switch, for example. The insert/s are typically black or white to contrast against the colour of the cover plate.

However, conventional back boxes rely on relatively complex clips/clamps to secure the back box in a plasterboard wall and at least the cover plate stands proud of the wall when mounted to the back box. The cover plates of conventional socket and switch assemblies are also relatively large to cover the opening of the back box and are limited in the colours available which generally contrasts against the colour of the wall itself. There is a desire for socket and switch assemblies to be less noticeable and substantially invisible, particularly when not in use, to provide a 'cleaner' wall surface, such as in luxury hotels and homes, caravans and motorhomes, and superyachts, or the like.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a back box for receiving an electrical socket or switch assembly and mounting the same in a wall wherein a front surface of the socket or switch assembly is substantially flush with lo the finished surface of the wall.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a back box for receiving an electrical socket or switch assembly and mounting the same in a wall wherein the back box is configured to be securely fixed in an aperture or recess in the wall by a plaster finish applied to the wall and without the need for clips or clamps, whilst allowing the plaster to finish substantially flush with the opening of the back box.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a substantially universal back box for receiving one of a number of differently configured electrical socket or switch assemblies and mounting the same in a wall.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a socket or switch assembly for mounting in said back box, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of interchangeable components to allow the assembly to be customised to meet a particular technical application and aesthetic requirement.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a back box for mounting an electrical socket or switch assembly in a wall, comprising: a rear cavity defined by at least one rear side wall and a back wall; a flange portion extending outwardly with respect to the rear side walls and comprising a substantially central opening for locating a rear portion of an electrical socket or switch assembly in the rear cavity; and at least one front side wall extending from a front surface of the flange portion and surrounding the opening, wherein the front side wall is configured to accommodate a front portion of the electrical socket or switch assembly and provides a front edge for a plaster finish to extend up to when applied to the wall and over the flange portion to fix the back box to the wall.

Optionally, the at least one front side wall comprises a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom.

Optionally, the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of spaced apart fins each extending from a front surface of the flange portion towards the front edge of the front side wall.

Optionally, the fins terminate before the front edge.

Optionally, the at least one front side wall is disposed outboard of the opening in the flange portion to provide an abutment surface for engagement with a corresponding surface of the electrical socket or switch assembly when located in the back box.

Optionally, the at least one rear side wall comprises a plurality of threaded bores terminating at the abutment surface for receiving screws to secure the electrical socket or switch assembly to the back box.

Optionally, the flange portion comprises a plurality of holes for allowing the plaster finish to pass through when in an uncured state.

Optionally, the plurality of holes comprises a first set of holes each having a first diameter and a second set of holes each having a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

Optionally, the flange portion is substantially circular and the second set of holes are disposed proximal to an outer edge of the flange portion and equally spaced apart around the flange portion.

Optionally, the flange portion comprises a plurality of hollow bosses each including a hole therethrough and disposed centrally between adjacent pairs of the second set of holes.

Optionally, the back wall is substantially hexagonal and the at least one rear side wall comprising six rear side walls each extending perpendicularly from a respective edge of the back wall to define a substantially hexagonal rear cavity.

Optionally, the opening in the flange portion is substantially square.

Optionally, the at least one front side wall comprises four front side walls to define a substantially square front wall region.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising a back box according to the first aspect of the present invention and an electrical socket or switch assembly mountable in the back box.

Optionally, the electrical socket or switch assembly comprises a main electrical body and a back plate attachable to the back box to securely attach the main electrical body to the back box and at least partially in the rear cavity thereof.

Optionally, the back plate comprises substantially planar front and rear surfaces and a recessed region at each corner thereof for accommodating a head of a respective screw for attaching the back plate to the back box.

Optionally, the main electrical body comprises at least one electrical socket and the back plate comprises at least one aperture for axial alignment with the at least one electrical socket.

Optionally, the electrical socket or switch assembly comprises a support frame attachable to the back plate and configured to receive and support a front plate of the electrical assembly and to slidably engage with the at least one front side wall of the back box.

Optionally, the support frame comprises a support surface disposed around at least one aperture and at least one side wall extending forwardly from the support surface.

Optionally, the at least one side wall of the support frame comprises four side walls to define a substantially square support frame for slidably locating into the correspondingly shaped and sized front wall region of the back box.

Optionally, a depth of the at least one side wall of the support frame is configured such that a front edge of the support frame is planar with the front edge of the at lo least one front wall of the back box when located thereon.

Optionally, the at least one side wall of the support frame comprises at least one hole for attaching the support frame to the back plate.

Optionally, the front plate comprises at least one aperture corresponding to a socket aperture in the back plate and an electrical socket of the main electrical body.

Optionally, the front plate comprises at least one switch element engageable with a switch or sensor of the main electrical body.

Optionally, the at least one switch element comprises an elongate rocker engageable with a pivot region of the support frame to be selectively rotatable about the pivot region and engage the switch or sensor of the main electrical body.

Description of the Drawings

Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la illustrates an exploded front isometric view of a socket assembly and a back box according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure lb illustrates an exploded rear isometric view of the socket assembly of Figure 1 a; Figure 2a illustrates an exploded front isometric view of a socket assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention and the universal back box of Figures la and 1 b; Figure 2b illustrates an exploded rear isometric view of the socket assembly of Figure 2a; Figure 3a illustrates an exploded front isometric view of a switch assembly according 10 to a further embodiment of the present invention and the universal back box of Figures la and 1 b; Figure 3b illustrates an exploded rear isometric view of the switch assembly of Figure 3a; and Figures 4a and 4b illustrate an arrangement for attaching the support frame of each assembly to the back plate of the assembly.

Detailed Description

As illustrated in Figures la and lb, a back box 100 according to certain embodiments of the present invention for mounting in a wall aperture or recess includes a substantially square opening 102 defined in a substantially round and continuous flange portion 104 of the back box. Alternatively, the flange portion may be a different shape, such as oval, square or rectangular or the like and/or may comprise a plurality of spaced apart flange portions, such as at least two opposed flange portions, instead of being substantially continuous. Further alternatively, the opening 102 may be a different shape than square, such as rectangular for at least partially receiving a double socket assembly, for example. The flange portion 104 includes a plurality of spaced apart holes 106 for allowing a plaster finish to pass through the flange portion and harden to thereby anchor the flange portion with respect to the plaster finish. The holes vary in size and relatively large holes 108 are provided proximal to the outer edge of the flange portion at approximately 22.5 degrees, 67.5 degrees, 112.5 degrees, 157.5 degrees, 202.5 degrees, 247.5 degrees, 292.5 degrees and 337.5 degrees relative to a 12 o'clock (0 degrees) position, i.e. the relatively large holes 108 are spaced apart by 45 degrees. Raised hollow bosses 110 including through holes are provided between adjacent ones of the relatively large holes 108 at 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees and 315 degrees, i.e. the bosses 110 are also spaced apart by 45 degrees. The hollow bosses 110 provide further anchorage to the back box with respect to the plaster finish on the wall and also rotationally constrain the back box with respect to the wall. Some of the relatively large holes 108 and/or the hollow bosses 110 may be used to attach the flange portion 104 to the wall with screws before the plaster finish is applied to the wall and over the flange portion. A plurality of linear slots 112 is also provided in the flange portion which allow plaster to pass through the slots before hardening and provide further anchorage and security to the back box with respect to the wall. The slots comprise a first pair of spaced apart and parallel slots oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to a second pair of spaced apart and parallel slots. Alternatively, the slots may be grooves instead which do not extend through the flange portion but which still provide a key for the plaster to adhere to.

Four front side walls 114 each extend forwardly from a corresponding one of the sides of the square opening 102. Each front side wall 114 is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the flange portion 104 and collectively define a substantially square and continuous front wall region surrounding the square opening 102. Alternatively, the front wall region may be substantially circular or oval comprising a single continuous side wall extending around the square opening or a circular opening, for example. A plurality of spaced apart fins 116 extend outwardly from each front side wall 114 and are oriented along the height of each wall, i.e. perpendicularly with respect to a plane of the flange portion. The fins provide further security and constraint to the back box in both axes with respect to the wall when the plaster finish has set over the flange portion 104 and up to each wall 114 and between the fins 116 thereof. Alternatively, other forms of spaced apart projections such as ribs, rods or spikes may extend from front side walls to anchor within a hardened plaster finish. The fins 116 also provide an indicator to a plasterer as to the depth of the plaster finish to be applied to the wall and over the flange portion 104 of the back box. For example, when applied to a block wall, the first coat of bonding is around 10mm deep before a finer finishing coat is applied thereon which is around 2-3mm deep. Each fin terminates just before the outer edge of the wall to allow the plaster finish to cover the fins whilst being flush with the front edge of the front side walls. Alternatively, the front side wall 114 may be relatively shallow, e.g. around 2mm, and not include fins or the like extending outwardly therefrom. Such an arrangement may be desirable for plasterboard walls wherein only a relatively thin skim of plaster is required to finish the wall after the backbox has been installed therein. Aptly, the outer surface of the front side wall may taper inwardly towards a central axis of the backbox.

As illustrated in Figure lb, the back box 100 includes a rear wall region 118 extending rearwardly from a rear surface of the flange portion 104 and surrounding the opening 102 therein. The rear wall region 118 is defined by six rear side walls and is substantially hexagonal in shape. Alternatively, the rear wall region may define a substantially square wall region or the like to accommodate a particular shape and size of electrical assembly. The rear wall region 118 is deeper than the front wall region 114 and in the illustrated example is around four to five times deeper than the front wall region. The rear wall region 118 is closed at its rearmost edge by a rear back wall or base 120 to form a hexagonal cavity for receiving an electrical socket assembly 200 via the opening 102. Each of the vertically and horizontally oriented rear side walls of the rear wall region 118 includes a frangible portion 122 which can be removed by an electrician to form a hole in the respective wall for an electrical cable to pass through the wall and into the cavity for connection with the socket assembly 200. Likewise, the rear back wall 120 also includes a plurality of frangible portions 124 for creating one or more holes in the back wall if required. A first one of the rear side walls includes a male projection 123 and a third one of the rear side walls includes a female recess 125 configured to slidably receive the male projection of another identical back box according to the present invention. If two or more back boxes are required, such as to provide a double socket assembly in a wall, a portion of the flange 104 can be snapped off via the corresponding slot/groove 112 to expose the male or female region. The corresponding region, i.e. female or male region, of the other back box can be then be offered up to and slidably engaged from the front with the male or female region of the first back box to thereby couple the back boxes together. In view of the back box being rotationally symmetrical, it can simply be rotated to align the male and female regions for connection of the back boxes whilst still providing aligned square openings in the front of both back boxes. Each back box may include a single male and female region or they may include more than one male and female regions, such as a male region on a first rear side wall, a female region on a third rear side wall, a female region on a fifth rear side wall opposite the first rear side wall, and a male region on a seventh rear side wall opposite the third rear side wall. This arrangement allows more than two back boxes to be connected together in a number of different arrays, such as a side-by-side double socket or switch assembly, an over-and-under double socket or switch assembly, or a grid-like arrangement of four or more socket or switch assemblies. Alternatively, any arrangement of two or more connected back boxes may support a mixture of at least one socket assembly and at least one switch assembly.

As illustrated in Figure 1 a, each angled side wall between adjacent vertical and horizontal side walls of the rear wall region 118 includes a threaded bore 126 on the inner surface of the angled wall for receiving a correspondingly threaded screw 228 to attach a respective one of four corner regions of a back plate 230 of the socket assembly 200 to the back box 100 via holes proximal each corner region of the back plate. The back plate 230 is substantially square and is sized to slidably locate into the corresponding shaped front wall region 114 of the back box 100. The inner surfaces of the front wall region 114 are located slightly outboard of the edges of the square opening 102 in the flange portion 104 to provide a shoulder region and an abutment surface for supporting the back plate 230 and limiting its axial movement and preventing it entering the rear cavity when located in the front wall region 114 of the back box 100.

The back plate 230 of the socket assembly 200 includes a plurality of slotted apertures 232 corresponding to a conventional three-pin plug and a pair of spaced apart threaded bores 234 extending rearwardly each for receiving a screw 212 to secure a main electrical body 210 of the assembly 200 to the back plate 230 which in turn supports the main body 210 when located in the cavity 120 of the back box 100. The main body 210 of the socket assembly 200 houses the main electrical components of the assembly and into which the mains power connects. The socket assembly 200 does not include a switch such that the main body is configured to be permanently live.

The back plate 230 also clamps a safety shutter 220 between the back plate 230 and the main body 210 which, as in conventional electrical sockets, is configured to close the live and neutral apertures of the socket when not in use whilst being configured to move the closure portions of the safety shutter 220 downwardly and open the live and neutral apertures of the socket assembly when the earth pin of a corresponding three-pin plug is inserted into the earth aperture of the socket assembly 200. The main body 210 is therefore configured to allow the safety shutter 220 to slide upwardly and downwardly between closed and open positions with respect to the three pin apertures of the assembly and the safety shutter is urged by a spring or the like towards the closed position such that, when a plug is removed from the socket assembly, the safety shutter returns to the closed position to cover the pin apertures and prevent a child or the like inserting an object into the live socket assembly.

The socket assembly 200 further includes an optional socket insert 240 which is also substantially square and slidably locates into the corresponding shaped front wall region 114 of the back box 100 and onto the front face of the back plate 230. The back plate 230 includes recessed corner regions to accommodate the heads of the screws 228 and to allow the flat rear surface of the socket insert 240 to engage the front face of the back plate 230. The socket insert 240 includes a plurality of slotted apertures 242 corresponding to the slotted apertures 232 in the back plate 230 wherein each aperture 242 is further defined by a substantially rectangular raised boss region 244. The socket insert 240 is a plastics material and the slotted apertures thereof are sized and shaped to slidably receive and guide the pins of a conventional three-pin plug towards and away from the corresponding apertures in the main electrical body 210. The socket insert 240 may be formed by moulding or additive manufacturing or the like, and may be any colour such as a colour matching the colour of the wall into which the back box 100 and the socket assembly 200 is to be located. Alternatively, the socket insert 240 may be integrally formed with the back plate 230, i.e. the assembly may not include a separate socket insert and the back plate 230 itself may include the raised boss regions 244.

The socket assembly 200 further includes a support frame 250 and a front plate 260 supported therein. The support frame 250 is substantially square and slidably locates into the corresponding shaped front wall region 114 of the back box 100 and onto the front face of the socket insert 240. The support frame 250 includes at least one opening 252 for accommodating the three raised boss regions 244 of the socket insert 240. Alternatively, the support frame 250 may include three slotted apertures for receiving the three raised boss regions 244 of the socket insert 240. The support frame 250 includes a continuous wall region 254 extending around its square peripheral edge which extends rearwardly away from the socket insert 240. The wall region 254 includes a pair of opposed through holes 256 for securing the support frame 250 to the back plate 230 by screws 258 and clamping the optional socket insert 240 therebetween via corresponding holes in the socket insert 240 and threaded holes in the back plate 230 for receiving the screws.

As illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, the upper and lower wall portions of the wall region 254 of the support frame 250 may include a locating region 253 extending inwardly from the respective wall portion to provide more material for supporting a screw during installation. A slot 255 extends along the locating region 253 and communicates with the corresponding through hole 256 in the support frame 250.

The slot 255 is aptly dove-tailed to guide and support the tapered head of the screw 258 and to prevent the same falling out of the support frame during assembly. A recessed region 257 is provided on the rear surface of the locating region 253 and around the through hole 256 to allow an installer to grip the threaded portion of the screw 258 during assembly if required. This arrangement allows a pair of relatively small screws 258, akin to watch screws, to be located in the support frame, offered up to the back plate and the holes therein, and then screwed into the holes of the back plate using a precision screwdriver inserted into each through hole in the support frame from the front to securely attach the support frame to the back plate. The support frame illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b does include a continuous support surface for engagement with the front plate 260 like the support frames shown in Figures la and 2a. Instead, each of the four locating regions 253 provides a support surface 259 for engagement with a front plate located therein during assembly. Adhesive may be used to secure the front plate in the support frame. The support frames in the embodiments shown in Figures 1a to 3a may be configured differently to the support frame shown in Figures 4a and 4b for holding the screws 258 in position during assembly. For example, the support frame 250 or 350 in Figures la and 2a may include a slotted recess extending from the upper and lower edge surfaces of the support frame and to communicate with each respective through hole such that the slotted recess is configured to support and align the screw 258 with the through hole 256 during assembly.

The wall region 254 of the support frame 250 slidably receives and supports the correspondingly shaped square front plate 260 which includes three slotted apertures 262 for receiving the raised boss regions 244 of the socket insert 240 and correspond to the apertures in the socket insert 240, the back plate 230 and the main electrical body 210. Once located in the support frame 250, the front face of the front plate 260 is substantially planar with the front edge of the support frame 250 and the boss regions 244 of the socket insert 240 and, when the socket assembly 200 is located in the back box 100, the front face of the front plate 260 is substantially flush with the front edge of the front wall region 114 of the back box 100 and in turn with a plaster finish applied on the wall in which the back box is mounted.

The support frame 250 and/or the front plate 260 may be a plastics or metal material and may be coloured to match a colour of the wall such that the socket assembly substantially blends in with the wall itself and does not stand proud from the wall when in situ, i.e. does not extend into the room. The front plate 260, support frame 250 and socket insert 240 may be the same colour, such as to match the colour of the wall in which the socket assembly is to be mounted. Alternatively, the colour of one or more of these three components may be different to the other ones of these three components, e.g. the support frame and socket insert may be the same colour and the front plate may be a different colour. The front plate may be the same colour as the wall whereas the support frame may be a different colour to the wall to thereby discreetly direct a user to the location of the socket assembly when required and the socket insert may be the same colour as the support frame, i.e. different to the front face, to thereby direct a user towards the slotted apertures of the socket insert when inserting a plug into the socket assembly. The front plate, support frame and/or socket insert may be swapped by a user with another front plate, support frame and/or socket insert of a different colour/texture/pattern, as desired.

A further embodiment of a socket assembly 300 according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b. The socket assembly 300 is a double Ethernet socket assembly for receiving two Ethernet plugs. The socket assembly 300 includes a main electrical body 310, a back plate 330, a support frame 350 and a front plate 360. The back plate 330 includes a pair of spaced apart apertures 332 for receiving the socket regions 312 of the main electrical body 310 which also includes upper and lower pairs of barbed projections 314 which extend through the apertures 332 and respectively spring upwardly and downwardly to engage with the corresponding aperture edge and secure the main electrical body 310 against and to the back plate 330. The back plate 330 then attaches to the back box 100 in the same manner as described above in respect of the embodiment illustrated in Figures la and 1 b. Likewise, the support frame 350, which includes a substantially square opening 352 therein for allowing the socket regions 312 of the main electrical body 310 to extend through the support frame 350, attaches to the back plate 330 by screws 358 in the same manner as described above in respect of the embodiment illustrated in Figures la and 1 b. The front plate 360 includes two spaced apart apertures 362 for receiving the socket regions 312 of the main electrical body 310. Once located in the support frame 350, the front face of the front plate 360 is substantially planar with the front edge of the support frame 350 and the socket regions 312 of the main electrical body 310. When the socket assembly 300 is located in the back box 100, the front face of the front plate 360 is substantially flush with the front edge of the front wall region 114 of the back box 100 and in turn with a plaster finish applied on the wall in which the back box is mounted. As with the embodiment illustrated in Figures la and lb, the front face and support frame may be the same or different colours and one or both may be selectively changed for a different colour if desired, such as if the room is redecorated and/or refurnished.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b. A triple rocker switch assembly 400 for mounting in and to the back box 100 includes a main electrical body 410 for locating in a back plate 430 and securable therein by a retaining member 412 engageable in and with the back plate 430. The main electrical body 410 contains a controller for receiving switch signals from a plurality of switches as described further below. A peripheral wall 432 of the back plate is substantially square to slidably locate into the correspondingly shaped front wall region 114 of the back box 100 and sit below the front edge thereof. Through holes 434 provided proximal to each corner region of the back plate 430 allow the same to be secured to the back box 100 with screws (not shown). A printed circuit board (PCB) 440 comprising a substantially square board 442 supporting three pairs of spaced apart switches or sensors 444 on a front surface thereof is located on the front face of the retaining member 412. A support frame 450 includes four wall regions 452 defining a substantially square profile and a plurality of spaced apart apertures 454 in a base region thereof for accommodating the spaced apart switches or sensors 444 when the support frame 450 is located on the PCB 440. A front plate 460 comprises three elongate rocker members 462 configured to mount on a pivot region 456 of the support frame 450 such that each rocker member can be selectively rotated to either side on the pivot region 456 to engage a respective one of the switches/sensors 444. For example, each rocker member includes a resilient clip region 464 on it underside which clips on to the pivot region 456 which is in the form of an elongate rib having a substantially circular or at least semi-circular cross section about which each rocker member can be selectively rotated. Each pair of switches/sensors 444 includes an 'on' switch/sensor and an 'off' switch/sensor for sending a corresponding signal to the controller for correspondingly operating a device, such as a light source. Once located in the support frame 450, the front face of the front plate 460, i.e. the rocker members, is substantially planar with the front edge of the support frame 450. When the socket assembly 400 is located in the back box 100, the front face of the front plate 460 is substantially flush with the front edge of the front wall region 114 of the back box 100 and in turn with a plaster finish applied on the wall in which the back box is mounted. As with the embodiment illustrated in Figures la and lb, the front face and support frame may be the same or different colours and one or both may be selectively changed for a different colour if desired, such as if the room is redecorated and/or refurnished.

Certain embodiments of the present invention therefore provide a back box for receiving an electrical socket or switch assembly and mounting the same in a wall wherein a front surface of the socket or switch assembly is substantially flush with the finished surface of the wall. The back box is desirably configured to be securely fixed in an aperture or recess in the wall by a plaster finish applied to the wall and without the need for clips or clamps, whilst allowing the plaster to finish substantially flush with the opening of the back box. The back box is advantageously a universal back box for receiving one of a number of differently configured electrical socket or switch assemblies and mounting the same in a wall. The back box is configured to receive a socket or switch assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of interchangeable components to allow the same to be customised and meet a particular technical application and aesthetic requirement. Desirably, a front face of the socket or switch assembly when supported in the back box is substantially flush with the back box and a wall surface in which the back box is mounted. The back box is not limited to receiving and supporting a substantially square electrical socket or switch assembly and may be configured for receiving and supporting a substantially rectangular electrical socket or switch assembly, such as a double socket assembly or the like. Furthermore, the electrical socket or switch assembly may include any form of socket for receiving a corresponding plug, such as a UK-style three-pin plug, a European-style two-pin plug, an Ethernet plug, a USB plug, etc. or any form of switch or sensor, such as one or more toggle or rocker switches, infrared movement sensors, touch sensors, etc. A system comprising a back box and an electrical socket or switch assembly according to certain embodiments of the present invention is also provided.

Claims

Claims 1. A back box for mounting an electrical socket or switch assembly in a wall, comprising: a rear cavity defined by at least one rear side wall and a back wall; a flange portion extending outwardly with respect to the rear side walls and comprising a substantially central opening for locating a rear portion of an electrical socket or switch assembly in the rear cavity; and at least one front side wall extending from a front surface of the flange portion and surrounding the opening, wherein the front side wall is configured to accommodate a front portion of the electrical socket or switch assembly and provides a front edge for a plaster finish to extend up to when applied to the wall and over the flange portion to fix the back box to the wall. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
The back box according to claim 1, wherein the at least one front side wall comprises a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom.
The back box according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of spaced apart fins each extending from a front surface of the flange portion towards the front edge of the front side wall.
The back box according to claim 3, wherein the fins terminate before the front edge.
The back box according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one front side wall is disposed outboard of the opening in the flange portion to provide an abutment surface for engagement with a corresponding surface of the electrical socket or switch assembly when located in the back box.
The back box according to claim 5, wherein the at least one rear side wall comprises a plurality of threaded bores terminating at the abutment surface for receiving screws to secure the electrical socket or switch assembly to the back box.
7. The back box according to any preceding claim, wherein the flange portion comprises a plurality of holes for allowing the plaster finish to pass through when in an uncured state.
8. The back box according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of holes comprises a first set of holes each having a first diameter and a second set of holes each having a second diameter greater than the first diameter.
9. The back box according to claim 8, wherein the flange portion is substantially circular and the second set of holes are disposed proximal to an outer edge of the flange portion and equally spaced apart around the flange portion.
10. The back box according to claim 9, wherein the flange portion comprises a plurality of hollow bosses each including a hole therethrough and disposed centrally between adjacent pairs of the second set of holes.
11. The back box according to any preceding claim, wherein the back wall is substantially hexagonal and the at least one rear side wall comprising six rear side walls each extending perpendicularly from a respective edge of the back wall to define a substantially hexagonal rear cavity.
12. The back box according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening in the flange portion is substantially square.
13. The back box according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one front side wall comprises four front side walls to define a substantially square front wall region.
14. A system comprising a back box according to any preceding claim and an electrical socket or switch assembly mountable in the back box.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the electrical socket or switch assembly comprises a main electrical body and a back plate attachable to the 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.back box to securely attach the main electrical body to the back box and at least partially in the rear cavity thereof.
The system according to claim 15, wherein the back plate comprises substantially planar front and rear surfaces and a recessed region at each corner thereof for accommodating a head of a respective screw for attaching the back plate to the back box.
The system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the main electrical body comprises at least one electrical socket and the back plate comprises at least one aperture for axial alignment with the at least one electrical socket.
The system according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the electrical socket or switch assembly comprises a support frame attachable to the back plate and configured to receive and support a front plate of the electrical assembly and to slidably engage with the at least one front side wall of the back box.
The system according to claim 18, wherein the support frame comprises a support surface disposed around at least one aperture and at least one side wall extending forwardly from the support surface.
The system according to claim 13 and 19, wherein the at least one side wall of the support frame comprises four side walls to define a substantially square support frame for slidably locating into the correspondingly shaped and sized front wall region of the back box.
The system according to claim 19 or 20, wherein a depth of the at least one side wall of the support frame is configured such that a front edge of the support frame is planar with the front edge of the at least one front wall of the back box when located thereon.
The system according to claim 21, wherein the at least one side wall of the support frame comprises at least one hole for attaching the support frame to the back plate.
23. The system according to any of claims 18 to 22, wherein the front plate comprises at least one aperture corresponding to a socket aperture in the back plate and an electrical socket of the main electrical body.
24. The system according to any of claims 18 to 22, wherein the front plate comprises at least one switch element engageable with a switch or sensor of the main electrical body.
25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the at least one switch element comprises an elongate rocker engageable with a pivot region of the support frame to be selectively rotatable about the pivot region and engage the switch or sensor of the main electrical body.