GB2619010A

GB2619010A - An electrical fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2619010A
Application number: GB2207356.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Curtis Mark
Original assignee: Focus SB Ltd
Current assignee: Focus SB Ltd
Priority date: 2022-05-19
Filing date: 2022-05-19
Publication date: 2023-11-29
Also published as: CN117098349A; GB202207356D0

Abstract

An electrical fitting 1 comprises a backplate 2 to which a switch and/or socket is attachable for connection to a power supply, the backplate 2 being mountable to a pattress box located within a cavity in an outer surface of a wall. The backplate 2 comprises at least one tongue 10 configured to abut the outer surface of the wall when the backplate 2 is mounted to the pattress box such that the backplate 2 is retained in a fixed position relative to the outer surface of the wall. The electrical fitting 1 further comprises a faceplate 13 that attaches to and extends across the backplate 2, wherein the faceplate 13 comprises a planar surface (figure 2, 15) facing the backplate 2. The faceplate 13 is configured so that the planar surface (figure 2, 15) lies in contact with the outer surface of the wall when the faceplate 13 is attached to the backplate 2. The faceplate 13 may comprise recesses (figure 2, 16) which correspond with the position of each tongue 10. The recesses (figure 2, 16) may be sized and shaped to receive each corresponding tongue 10 of the backplate 2.

Description

An. Electrical Fitting The present invention relates to an electrical fitting such as a power outlet socket or a light switch.

Electrical fittings such as power outlets and light switches are well known. Mains electricity is a general-purpose alternating current electric power supply that is supplied to homes and businesses. Access to mains electricity to power lights and various other electrical appliances is obtained via electrical fittings such as wall io mounted sockets and light switches. Various different types of electrical fittings exist.

Conventional electrical fittings have a backplate to which the switch and or socket components are attached. The switch and socket components include electrical terminals for connection to the mains power supply which is routed to the switch or socket via electrical wiring. The backplate is usually received in a pattress box or wall socket which may be mounted on the surface of, or mounted flush within, the wall. The backplate is covered by a decorative finishing panel or faceplate which is the part that a user sees in normal use. In conventional designs, the faceplate is a pressed or stamped plate which sits proud of the wail and may be screwed to the backplate and/or pattress box via a plurality of screws.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an electrical fitting comprising: a backplate to which a switch and/or socket is attachable for connection to a power supply, the backplate being mountable to a pattress box located within a cavity in an outer surface of a wall and comprising at least one tongue configured to abut the outer surface of the wall when the backplate is mounted to the pattress box such that the backplate, to which a switch and/or socket is attached, is retained in a fixed position relative to the outer surface of the wall; and a faceplate that attaches to and extends across the backplate, wherein the faceplate comprises a planar surface facing the backplate, the faceplate being configured so that said planar surface lies in contact with the outer surface of the wall when the faceplate is attached to the backplate.

The faceplate may comprise recesses in said planar surface, each recess may be positioned so as to correspond with the position of a corresponding tongue of the backplate.

Each recess may be sized and shaped to receive a corresponding tongue of the backplate.

Each recess maybe shaped relative to a corresponding tongue so that the faceplate is positioned in a desired position as a result of the tongues being received in their corresponding recesses.

The electrical fitting may comprise clips extending from the planar surface of the faceplate that engage in holes in the backplate to couple the faceplate to the backplate With t he tongues received in their recesses.

The faceplate may be a flat sheet, LI planar surface niay be a rear surface of the flat sheet facing the backplate.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front isometric exploded view of an electrical fitting according to am embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a rear isometric exploded view of an ciectrical fitting according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a front and rear isometric exploded view respectively of an electrical fitting according to an embodiment of the invention, The electrical fitting is a wall-mounted dual gang switched power outlet. Although the invention is being described with reference to a wall-mounted dual gang switched power outlet, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention are also applicable to, for example, a single gang switched power outlet and, to a wall-mounted light switch as well as other types of electrical sockets and switches incorporating a faceplate.

The electrical fitting 1 comprises a backplate 2 which is mountable to a pattress box (not shown) located within a cavity in an outer surface of a wall. As shown in Figure 2, a switch and/or socket 3 (commonly referred to as a "grid") is mounted to a rear surface of the backplate 2 and includes live and neutral terminals 4, 5 for connection to a mains power supply. The construction and operation of -the switch and/or socket 3 is conventional and so it will not be described in any further detail here.

The backplate 2 has openings 6 so that the sockets and/or switches, are accessible therethrough from a front surface 7 of the backplate 2. Additionally, the backplate 2 has holes 8 to allow screws 9 to be inserted therethrough and threadingly engaged with a patiress or wall box which conceals the switch and/or socket 2 within the pattress or wall box. The backplate 2 comprises at least one tongue 10. The at least one tongue 10 is configured to abut the outer surface of the wall, when the backplate 2 is mounted to the pattress box, and to retain the backplate 2 in a fixed positon relative to the outer surface of the wall. As seen in Figures land 2, the backplate 2 comprises a plurality of tongues 10 around its perimeter. A portion of a rear surface 11 of each tongue 10 lies in contact with the outer surface of the wall to secure the backplate 2 in a fixed position. The tongues 10 are substantially quadrilateral in shape and extend beyond an outer edge 12 of the backplate 2. It is to be appreciated that the tongues /0 can be any shape whilst still performing the same function such as triangular, circular or diamond shaped.

To provide a decorative or attractive appearance, a faceplate 13 is attached to the backplate 2, said faceplate 13 extends across the backplate 2 to cover and conceal it. The fao,eplate 13 includes openings 14 to enable access to the sockets and/or switches to be obtained. Additionally, the faceplate 13 comprises a planar surface 15 facing the backplate 2 %Olen the faceplate 13 is mounted to the backplate 2. As seen in Figures.' and 2, the faceplate 13 is a fiat sheet, the planar surface 15, visible in Figure 2, being a rear surface of the fiat sheet facing the bookplate 2. The faceplate 13 is configured so that the planar surface 15 lies in contact with the outer surface of the wall when the faceplate 13 is attached to the backplate 2. This provides the electrical fitting i with an aesthetically pleasing structure since when fully assembled, the faceplate 13, or at least the rear planar surface is of the faceplate 13, is substantially flat against the outer surface of the wall around the periphery of the cavity in which the backplate 2 and switch/socket is received.

As seen in Figure 2, the faceplate 2 comprises recesses 16 in the planar surface 15. Each recess 16 is positioned so as to correspond with the position of a corresponding tongue 10 of the backplate 2. The depth of each recess 16 is at least the same as, or deeper than, the thickness of the tongues la As the tongues 10 are received in the recesses, the faceplate 13 will lie fiat against the outer surface of the wall. Each recess 16 can be sized and shaped to receive a corresponding tongue 10 of the backplate 2. Each tongue 10 can be a loose fit in its corresponding recess 16. Alternatively, each tongue can be an -4 -interference fit in its corresponding recess 16 to assist in holding the faceplate uj in position. The corresponding shape of the recesses 16 and tongues to allows the faceplate 13 to be easily positioned in a desired position as a result of the tongues 10 being received in their corresponding recess 16. In conventional designs, faceplates are often machined such that they comprises one large recess in a rear surface of the faceplate or they have a pressed structure. In the present invention, only a few relatively small recesses 16 are machined into the planar surface 15 of the faceplate 13. The reduction of the amount of machining processes being performed on the faceplate reduces the internal stresses present in the faceplate and therefore reduces the chance of the faceplate bowing in response to application of pressure by a user. In other words, only machining relatively small recesses 16 in the faceplate /3 as opposed to machining one large recess increases the rigidity of the faceplate 13.

Additionally, as seen in Figure 2, the electrical fitting / further comprises resiliently Is deformable clips 17 extending from the planar surface 15 of the faceplate 13. The clips 17 are configured to engage in, or snap into, holes 18 in the backplate 2 to couple the faceplate 13 to the backplate 2 when with the tongues 10 are received in their corresponding recesses 16.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) maybe practiced arid provides an improved electrical fitting. The embodiments are described by way of example only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive, and other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An electrical fitting comprising: a backplate to which a switch and/or socket is attachable for connection to a power supply, the backplate being mountable to a pattress box located within a cavity in an outer surface of a wall and comprising at least one tongue configured to abut the outer surface of the wail when the backplate is mounted to the pattress box such that the backplate, to which a switch and/or socket is attached, is retained in a fixed position relative to the outer surface of the wall; and a faceplate that attaches to and extends across the backplate, the faceplate comprises a planar surface facing the backplate, the faceplate being configured so that said planar surface lies in contact with the outer surface of the wall when the faceplate is attached to the backplate.
2, An electrical -fitting according to claim 1, wherein the faceplate comprises recesses in said planar surface, each recess being positioned so as to correspond with the position of a corresponding tongue of the backplate.
3. An electrical fitting according to claim 2, wherein each recess is sized and shaped to receive a corresponding tongue of the backplate.
4. An electrical fitting according to claim 3, wherein each recess is shaped relative to a corresponding tongue so that the faceplate is positioned in a desired position as a result of the tongues being received in their corresponding recesses.
5. An electrical fitting according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the depth of each recess is at least equal to or greater than the thickness of the tongues.
6. An electrical fitting according to claim 4, comprising resiliently deformable clips extending from the planar surface of the faceplate that engage in holes in the backplate to couple the faceplate to the backplate with the tongues received in their recesses.
7. An electrical fitting according to any preceding claim, wherein the faceplate is a flat sheet, the planar surface being a rear surface of the flat sheet facing the backplate.