GB2627747A

GB2627747A - An electrical component enclosure for recessed mounting in an opening of a panel

Info

Publication number: GB2627747A
Application number: GB2302892.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tynan Paul
Original assignee: Progress Electroplating & Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Progress Electroplating & Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-02-28
Filing date: 2023-02-28
Publication date: 2024-09-04
Also published as: WO2024180158A1; GB202302892D0

Abstract

An electrical component enclosure, suitable for recessed mounting in an opening of a panel, comprises an enclosure body (figure 1, 10) defining an interior space (figure 1, 12). The body comprises a front side with an open front, and a sidewall 18. An aperture 28 is provided in the sidewall 18. A retaining member 30 comprises a projecting portion (figure 3, 31). The retaining member 30 is mounted in the enclosure body and is displaceable against a biasing force, and rotatable between a retracted state where the projecting portion is inside the enclosure body, and an extended state where the projecting portion passes through the aperture 28 to be disposed outside the body. The aperture 28 is shaped to enable the biasing force to act on the retaining member 30 to mount the body to the panel. The retaining member 30 also comprises a blocking structure (figure 5, 35) which is shaped to occlude substantially all of the aperture 28 behind the projecting portion when the retaining member 30 is in the extended state and forwardly displaced within the aperture 28.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ENCLOSURE FOR RECESSED MOUNTING

IN AN OPENING OF A PANEL

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to electrical component enclosures for recessed mounting, and in particular to those enclosures known as dry lining boxes, which are fixed in wall panels, plasterboard panels, drywall and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

WO 93/08627 which discloses a dry lining box in which a pair of holding members are mounted within the enclosure on respective, preferably diagonally-opposed pins. Said holding members can thus be rotated outwardly through respective sidewall apertures once the enclosure has been mounted into the panel. The holding members can then be brought forward along a linear guide to engage the retaining flange of said holding member against the rear face of the wall panel and fixed into place via screws inserted into a threaded hole of a fixing portion.

WO 2021/044054A1 discloses an electrical enclosure which has at least two retaining members, each of which can be inserted into one of at least two apertures of the user's choice and then rotated. The holding members are then brought forward to engage against the rear face of the wall panel and fixed into place via screws inserted into one of two threaded holes of a fixing portion.

It would be advantageous to provide an improved or alternative mechanism for securing and flush fitting a dry lining box to a panel aperture.

It would be advantageous to provide an enclosure which can be mounted and secured to a panel aperture with one hand.

It would be further advantageous to provide an enclosure which can be fitted as easily in an overhead location in a horizontal panel, such as a ceiling panel, as in a vertical wall panel.

It would also be advantageous to provide an electrical enclosure which is adapted to be fire-resistant.

It would also be advantageous to provide an enclosure which is better secured against dislodgement of the securing mechanism once fitted, e.g. due to fixing screws pushing the holding members back out of position, or due to the enclosure being pulled from the panel in which it is mounted with the holding members coming loose as a result.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

There is provided an electrical component enclosure for recessed mounting in an opening of a panel, with said enclosure comprising: an enclosure body defining an interior space for housing electrical components, the enclosure body having a front side with an open front, and a sidewall extending in a rearward direction from the front side; an aperture in said sidewall; a retaining member having a projecting portion, the retaining member being mounted in the enclosure body to be rearwardly displaceable against a forward biasing force and to be rotatable relative to the enclosure body about a rotational axis between a retracted state with the projecting portion inside the enclosure body and an extended state with the projecting portion passing through the aperture to be disposed outside the enclosure body; wherein with the retaining member in the extended state and the enclosure body mounted in said panel, the aperture permits forward displacement of the retaining member under the biasing force such that the projecting portion is urged against an inner face of the panel, the retaining member having a blocking structure which extends rearwardly of the projecting portion, the blocking structure remaining within the enclosure body in both the retracted and extended states, the blocking member being shaped to occlude substantially all of the aperture rearwardly of the projecting portion when the retaining member is in the extended state and forwardly displaced within the aperture.

In this way the retaining member can be deployed by being depressed to be rearwardly displaced along the mounting axis and then rotated about the mounting axis when the projecting portion is aligned with a portion of the aperture that admits the projecting portion to extend through the sidewall, and it can then be released to automatically clamp under the biasing force against the rear of the panel. In this position, the blocking member will occlude the aperture rearwardly of the projecting portion, and close off the open part of the aperture that would otherwise provide communication between the interior of the enclosure and the surrounding environment (e.g. the cavity behind a panel into which the enclosure was fitted).

It will be appreciated that the blocking structure, by occluding the otherwise open aperture behind the projecting portion, significantly improves the fireproofing of the 20 enclosure.

Preferably, said blocking member is provided with a blocking surface which is shaped complementary to the sidewall in the region of the aperture, such that when the retaining member is in the extended state the blocking surface lies against sidewall and covers that part of the aperture which is rearward of the projecting portion.

Most simply, the blocking surface can be a flat surface, occluding an aperture in a flat sidewall. However, it will be appreciated that the sidewall maybe curved, angled etc. in the region of the aperture, and that the blocking surface may be similarly shaped to ensure good occlusion and fireproofing.

Preferably, said blocking member comprises a plate-like structure extending rearwardly of the projecting portion.

Preferably, the retaining member comprises an arm having a pivot point adapted for mounting in the enclosure body to allow the arm to rotationally pivot relative to the enclosure body, the projecting portion and the blocking member being disposed on the arm and spaced apart from the pivot point such that they are translated in an arcuate path towards or away from the sidewall when the arm is rotated about the pivot point.

Preferably, the rotational axis of the arm is parallel to the sidewall in the region of the aperture, wherein the projecting member is a plate-like structure disposed perpendicular to the sidewall, and wherein the blocking member has a forward face shaped to conform to the interior of the sidewall and disposed parallel to the sidewall when the retaining member is in the extended state.

Preferably, the blocking member is a plate-like structure extending rearwardly of the arm and parallel to the sidewall when the retaining member is in the extended state.

Preferably, the projecting member is connected to the arm via a neck section which is dimensioned to fit within the aperture when the retaining member is forwardly displaced in the extended state.

Preferably, the enclosure body further comprises a rear wall connected to the sidewall, and a post extending forwardly of the rear wall within the enclosure body, upon which the retaining member is pivotally mounted at said pivot point.

Preferably, the pivot point is provided as a bore which receives said post, permitting the arm to translate forwardly and rearwardly along the post under an applied forward or rearward pressure.

Preferably, the bore is dimensioned to accommodate the post with an annular gap between the bore and the post, and wherein the biasing force is applied at the pivot point, whereby as an applied rearward force on the arm is applied increasingly outwardly from the pivot point, the turning moment resulting from the offset between the rearward force and the biasing force increases until the turning moment causes the bore to tilt and jam on the post, resisting rearward movement of the bore along the post.

It will be readily appreciated that the skilled person can, by adjusting the spring force, the relative dimensions of the bore and post and the annular gap between them, and taking account of the materials involved and their surface qualities, tailor the amount of binding force experienced when a rearward force is applied at a given point along the arm.

At its most basic, the above feature can be realised by having a bore which can be depressed relatively freely with a rearward force applied to the arm alongside the bore, and which jams significantly when a rearward force is applied to the arm in the vicinity of the projecting portion.

This provides a very significant advantage, in that the user of the device, when fitting it, can freely depress the arm to transition from the retracted to extended states, but subsequent rearward forces on the retaining member are likely to be experienced at the projecting portion (for example, due to the enclosure being pulled forwardly from the opening in which it is mounted, which will exert pressure against the retaining member at the projecting portion, or due to a rearward force being exerted by a fixing such as a screw pressing against the retaining member as a front cover is screw fitted to the enclosure). By ensuring that the bore jams in such circumstances, the enclosure is secured against coming loose in the panel where it has been fitted.

Preferably, with the applied rearward force being applied adjacent the post the bore can be depressed freely along the post, and with the applied rearward force being applied adjacent the projecting portion, the bore jams and resists rearward movement.

Preferably, the retaining member comprises a fixing portion to receive a fixture.

Preferably, the fixing portion is positioned at a sufficient distance from the bore that a rearward force resulting from the engagement of a fixture in the fixing portion causes the bore to tilt and jam on the post.

Preferably, the fixing portion is disposed with an axis for receiving a fixture perpendicular to the plane of the projecting portion, such that when in the extended state, the projecting portion is generally parallel to the panel and the axis of a fixture engaging the fixing portion is perpendicular to the panel.

The fixing portion is preferably a threaded hole to receive a threaded shaft of a fixture. For example, the fixture may be a retaining screw which secures a front cover member to the open front of the enclosure.

Such a fixture serves the dual purpose of securing a cover member (e.g. a blank or a switch plate or a socket plate) to the enclosure and holding the retaining member in a forward position i.e. drawing the cover member and the retaining member towards one another, and increasing the clamping force on the panel.

Preferably, the enclosure further comprises biasing means which biases the retaining member forwardly.

Preferably, the biasing means comprises a spring mounted on the post between the retaining member and the rear wall.

It will be appreciated that while a simple coil spring mounted on the post behind the bore is the simplest mechanical biasing means, the skilled person will be aware of other mechanical arrangements that provide a relative biasing force between two members, and can use any of them (e.g. a hidden spring within the bore, other kinds of spring such as leaf springs, a compressible material used for part of the bore or post or as a cushioning spring, telescopic spring members, etc.).

Preferably, said aperture is shaped to prevent passage of said projecting portion between the extended and retracted states when said retaining member is displaced forwardly.

Preferably, said aperture is shaped to allow passage of said projecting portion between the extended and retracted states when said retaining member is displaced rearwardly.

Preferably, said aperture has a rearward section and a forward section, the rearward section admitting the projecting portion therethrough and the forward section preventing the admission of the projecting portion therethrough.

This secures the enclosure in position more reliably once deployed, while still permitting the enclosure to be easily removed and replaced by reversing the movement of the retaining member with rearward movement followed by rotation through the aperture in a more rearward position.

Preferably, the blocking member is dimensioned to occlude the rearward section of the aperture when the retaining member is in the extended state and forwardly displaced.

Preferably, the aperture is L-shaped or T-shaped.

Preferably, the projecting portion is flattened to allow admission through a transverse part of the L-or T-shape, and to prevent admission through a perpendicular longitudinal part of the L-or T-shape.

Preferably, the enclosure comprises a plurality of said retaining members each adapted to be disposed in a respective aperture.

For example, plural retaining members can be disposed at different parts of the sidewall or on different sidewalls to increase the security of mounting.

Preferably, the plurality of apertures comprise a pair of said apertures respectively provided in opposed sidewalls of said enclosure body, and the plurality of retaining members comprise a pair of said retaining members each disposed to engage with a respective one of said pair of apertures.

Preferably, the opposed sidewalls form part of a generally continuous peripheral sidewall of said enclosure body.

Preferably, the enclosure body is substantially rectangular.

Preferably, the apertures are provided on respective opposite sidewalls of the enclosure body and the retaining members are mounted upon diagonally opposed axial posts.

In preferred embodiments, the posts are located in the corners, and the retaining members can be swung fully away from the sidewall within the box, allowing better access to other parts of the enclosure (e.g. push-outs, electrical components carried by the enclosure, etc.).

Preferably, the apertures are disposed generally at the midpoints of the sidewalls in which they are provided.

Preferably, the enclosure body further comprises an abutting structure adapted to abut against an outer face of a panel when the enclosure is inserted into an opening in the panel with the front side of the body generally flush with the outer face of the panel.

Preferably, the abutting structure comprises a flange disposed outwardly of the sidewall at the front side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further illustrated by the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of an electrical component enclosure; Fig. 2 is perspective view of the enclosure of Fig. 1, prior to being fitted in a panel (not shown) and with the retaining member retracted; Fig. 3 is a plan view from below of a retaining member of the enclosure of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view from above of the retaining member of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the retaining member of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the retaining member of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the retaining member of Fig. 3 when assembled within the enclosure in the absence of a rearward force being applied; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 7 but with a rearward force being applied towards an outer end of the retaining member away from the post; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 8 but with a rearward force being applied towards an inner end of the retaining member adjacent to the post; Fig. 10 is perspective view of the enclosure of Fig. 1, during the process of being fitted in a panel (not shown) and with the retaining member retracted but depressed rearwardly; Fig. 11 is perspective view of the enclosure of Fig. 1, during the process of being fitted in a panel (not shown) and with the retaining member extended but depressed rearwardly; Fig. 12 is perspective view of the enclosure of Fig. 1, having been fitted in a panel (not shown) and with the retaining member extended and biased forwardly; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a panel with an opening into which the enclosure of Fig. 1 is about to be mounted, where the enclosure is in the state shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the panel into which the enclosure of Fig. 1 is in the process of being mounted, where the enclosure is in the state shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the panel into which the enclosure of Fig. 1 is fully mounted, where the enclosure is in the state shown in Fig. 12; and Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation through the enclosure when mounted in the panel as in Fig. 15 and further with a front plate having been applied and secured by a fixing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an electrical component enclosure having a body 10 defining an interior space 12 for housing electrical components (not shown). This enclosure functions as a dry lining box of the kind generally known to the skilled person and may house a wide range of different electrical components, with components pre-mounted in the enclosure, with press-out tabs (not shown) providing access for electrical connections via the rear face 16 of the body 10, and so on.

Referring additionally to Fig. 2, it can be seen that a sidewall having four faces namely a top face 18, bottom face 20, left face 22 and right face 24, extends forwardly from the rear face to a front side 25 of the enclosure, and on the front side each sidewall face terminates at a respective flange 26 that extends outwardly perpendicular to the sidewall face from which it extends.

As the skilled person will understand, such enclosures are intended for flush mounting within an aperture in a panel (such as a drywall panel) that is sized and shaped to admit the enclosure sidewall but not to admit the flanges, so that the flanges abut against the outer face of the panel and the major volume of the enclosure is accommodated rearwardly of the outer panel face.

The top face 18 and bottom face 20 are each provided with a respective T-shaped aperture 28 that is oriented with the "upright" 28a of the T shape pointing towards the front side of the enclosure and the "crossbar" 28b of the T shape parallel to and closer to the rear face. The aperture thus provides a crossbar portion 28b as a widened slot and an upright portion 28b with a narrower width than the crossbar portion.

Mounted in two opposed corners of the interior of the body onto the rear face 16, are a pair of retaining members 30. (In Figs. 2, 10, 11 and 12, the nearer retaining member is either hidden by the sidewall or omitted for clarity, it being understood that the mechanism at each end of the housing is identical).

Referring additionally to Figs. 3-6, one of the retaining members 30 is shown from each of four sides.

Each retaining member 30 has a projecting portion 31 extending from a narrower neck section 32. The neck section extends from one end of an arm 33, the other end of which terminates at a cylindrical bore 34 perpendicular to the arm.

Perpendicular to the projecting portion, and extending in a rearward direction when the retaining member is assembled in the enclosure, is a blocking member 35 in the form of a plate.

A threaded fixing hole 48 is provided in the arm adjacent the neck to receive a front cover plate retaining screw (as described later in relation to Fig. 16).

The bore 34 can be mounted as shown in Fig. 7 for rotational movement on a post 36 that extends in the forward direction from the rear face. A biasing spring 38 urges the retaining member in the forward direction. The retaining member is movable in a translational movement along the rearward-frontward axis of the enclosure and is movable in a rotational movement around the axis of the post 36, so that the projecting portion 32 may pass through the crossbar portion or slot 28b of the T-shaped aperture 28 when aligned with the slot along the rearward-frontward axis.

It will be seen that in this embodiment there are retaining members on opposite sides of the enclosure, mounted in diagonally opposite fashion in the corners. They can be swung (see Fig. 1) through a range of about 90 degrees, allowing the user to have access to the interior of the enclosure, and as will be explained further below, when the enclosure is fully fitted in a panel, they take up very little space within the enclosure's interior.

Referring further to Fig. 7, to assemble the retaining members in the enclosure during manufacture, the pair of posts 36 are welded to the rear face 16 of the enclosure. Each post 36 receives a coil spring 38 and then a retaining member 30, with the post passing through the cylindrical bore 34 such that the retaining member can rotate about the post and can be translated along the post against the biasing force of the spring 38 which bears against the rear wall of the enclosure and against the bottom of the cylindrical member carrying the bore.

When the enclosure is being assembled, the retaining member is pushed down along the post and a retaining screw 52 is engaged in a threaded bore 54 at the top of the post. The head of the retaining screw 52 acts as a stop to prevent the retaining member 30 from coming off the post 36 once the retaining screw is in place.

The retaining member is free to rotate relative to the screw 52 (whose thread is captured in the threaded bore 54 of the post) and is free to be depressed away from the screw along the post.

This arrangement provides a captive retaining member so that if the retaining member is rotated from the extended state (protruding through and retained within the aperture in the sidewall) to the retracted state (located wholly within the interior of the housing) the retaining screw prevents the retaining member from being ejected by the spring. This further assists the user who is fitting the device to do so easily and in a one-handed fashion. It also provides a device with no loose parts, i.e. every component is retained together once the device is assembled in the factory, and the electrician is not concerned with assembling the enclosure or with keeping track of loose parts as with certain known devices.

It can be seen from Fig. 7 that there is an annular gap between the bore 34 and the post 36. This allows the bore to move along the post freely, as long as there is not too much of a turning force or moment applied to the retaining member.

As seen in Fig. 8, when a depressive or rearward force F is applied to the retaining member 30 in the vicinity of the projecting portion 31, i.e. more than about half-way along the length of the arm 33, the resultant turning moment caused by the lateral distance between this downward force F and the upward biasing force of the spring 38 causes the retaining member to tilt significantly, to such an extent that the bore 34 jams or binds on the post 36 and resists downward movement.

In contrast, as seen in Fig. 9, with a downward force F applied to the arm 33 adjacent the post 36, the turning moment is relatively small due to the near-alignment of the upward and downward forces, and the bore 34 does not tilt sufficiently to jam or bind on the post 36.

The nature of the materials, their surface properties, the relative dimensions of the annular gap, the length of the bore and so on, all are factors in how much the bore will jam for a force applied at a given point along the arm, but the skilled person will appreciate that in general the further along the arm the force is applied, the greater the tendency for the bore to jam, and it is straightforward to arrange for the bore to slide freely along the post when the force is applied within e.g. the first 33% of the distance from the bore to the end of the arm, and for the bore to jam completely when the force is applied within the final 33% of the distance, such as in the vicinity of the neck section 32 and projecting portion 31.

Referring to Fig. 10, the retaining member 30 is shown after being depressed to the point where the projecting portion 31 is vertically aligned with the crossbar portion 28b of the slot, but still in the retracted state. This state is reached when the person fitting the enclosure has inserted it into an opening in a panel with the front flange abutting against the outer or front face of the panel, and has then depressed the retaining member, by pressing it rearwardly in the vicinity of the bore.

In Fig. 11, the retaining member has been rotated or swung outwardly, to cause the projecting portion 31 to protrude out of the aperture beyond the sidewall 18, with the neck section 32 being located within the aperture and passing through the sidewall. It can be seen that in this position, the retaining member is in an extended state, and the neck 32 is aligned with the upright portion 28a of the aperture.

In Fig. 12, the user releases the rearward pressure and the biasing spring force pushes the retaining member forwardly, with the neck 32 moving forwardly within the upright portion 28a, as the projecting portion moves forwardly towards the flange 26. The forward movement stops when the projecting portion meets the rear face of the panel in which the enclosure was fitted.

At this point, any rearward pressure on the projecting portion, or on the arm at or near the neck, will not result in a rearward movement of the retaining member. Therefore, unless a force is deliberately applied by the user to the arm in the vicinity of the bore, the retaining member is locked in position due to the tendency of the bore to jam when a rearward force is applied at the outer end of the arm.

For this reason, if one tried to pull the enclosure out of the panel opening at this point of deployment, the bore would jam as the force was transferred to the projecting portion.

Similarly if one depressed the arm at the neck region, such as when trying to blindly fit a screw into the fixing hole 48 as a cover plate is affixed as discussed further below, this would not result in the retaining member being dislodged or the enclosure coming loose.

Furthermore in the position shown in Fig. 12, it can be seen that the blocking member 35 lies flush against the sidewall and completely occludes the aperture rearwardly of the projecting portion. Since the remainder of the aperture is occluded by the neck and by the panel (not shown) in which the enclosure has been mounted, the aperture is effectively completely occluded and there is no route for fire to escape from the aperture behind the panel. For this reason it is unnecessary to fit any intumescent expanding fireproof material which is both more expensive than the solution of a blocking member (a simple metal plate in most cases) and less reliable to seal the aperture than a well-fitted metal fixture such as the illustrated retaining member.

In the forward position, the aperture 28a is too narrow to admit the projecting portion of the retaining member, so that it is retained outside the housing.

The apertures could also be L-shaped, with the base of the "L" rearwardly positioned and parallel to the front face, and the upright of the "L" aligned in the forward-rearward direction, extending from the base of the "L" towards the front of the device. The retaining member could then adopt a flag-shaped configuration with the "flagpole" forming a narrower neck to travel along the upright of the L-shaped aperture, and the projecting portion forming the body of the flag, offset to one side of the flagpole, and configured to pass through the base of the L-shaped aperture when rearwardly displaced while being constrained and prevented from passing through the aperture in the forward position (because it is wider than the narrow upright portion of the L-shape).

It will be appreciated that the retaining members can be manipulated between retracted and extended states and vice versa (allowing the enclosure to be easily removed from the panel) by simply depressing and rotating the easily accessible retaining members within the enclosure's interior volume.

The entire fitting operation can be carried out with one hand: with the retaining members in the retracted state, the enclosure is pushed home within the panel aperture. Then each retaining member can be pushed in and rotated to the extended position in turn, and the spring biasing automatically secures the retaining member in its correct, forwardly biased position.

Figs. 13-16 show the process of mounting and securing the enclosure 10 into a panel 42 having an opening 40 sized to admit the enclosure body but not the flanges 26.

In Fig. 13 the retaining members are retracted and therefore the projecting portions not visible outside the enclosure body. The enclosure 10 is introduced into the opening 40 and pushed back until the flanges meet the front or outer face 44 of the panel.

In Fig. 14 the enclosure body can be seen to project behind the panel's rear or inner face 46 with the flanges 26 flush against the front face 44. The retaining members have been pushed rearwardly and rotated so that the projecting portions 31 are extending out of the apertures behind the panel rear face 46. The enclosure in this state is as shown in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 15, the rearward force has been removed on the retaining members, and the springs have urged the projecting portions 31 forward to bear against the rear face 46 of the panel 42, which is now clamped between the projecting portions 31 and flanges 26. In this position the enclosure is secured in place, and the apertures 28 completely occluded to seal the interior of the enclosure other than at the front face.

In Fig. 16, the front face has been sealed by a cover plate 50 which is secured to the threaded fixing hole 48 in the arm by a screw 52. As the screw 52 is inserted it cannot push the arm backwards as the bore will jam. When the screw locates in the fixing hole and is tightened, it assists further in drawing the retaining member forward and better securing the projecting portions 31 against the rear face 46 of the panel.

The illustrated embodiments have sidewall apertures that enable the projection portions to assume a position anywhere from 8mm to 25mm rearwardly of the flanges, to accommodate panels in that range of thicknesses. This permits a single design of enclosure to be used for a wide range of applications. The range of thicknesses that can be accommodated can be increased further by having a deeper aperture and appropriate mounting of the retaining member to give the necessary range of movement backwards and forwards.

While the illustrated embodiment shows a rectangular embodiment configured as a double enclosure (e.g. to house a double-width set of electrical components such as a double socket, double switch, etc.), it will be appreciated that the enclosure can adopt any configuration, including single enclosures, triple enclosures, and so on. Also the sidewalls need not be flat and a round enclosure could be provided, with the blocking member adapted to fit against the rounded sidewall that would be present in such cases.

It will therefore be appreciated that the number of retaining members, the shapes of the apertures and so on can be varied as appropriate, as can the general shape of the enclosure (round, square, rectangular etc.).

Claims

Claims 1. An electrical component enclosure for recessed mounting in an opening of a panel, with said enclosure comprising: an enclosure body defining an interior space for housing electrical components, the enclosure body having a front side with an open front, and a sidewall extending in a rearward direction from the front side; an aperture in said sidewall; a retaining member having a projecting portion, the retaining member being mounted in the enclosure body to be rearwardly displaceable against a forward biasing force and to be rotatable relative to the enclosure body about a rotational axis between a retracted state with the projecting portion inside the enclosure body and an extended state with the projecting portion passing through the aperture to be disposed outside the enclosure body; wherein with the retaining member in the extended state and the enclosure body mounted in said panel, the aperture permits forward displacement of the retaining member under the biasing force such that the projecting portion is urged against an inner face of the panel, the retaining member having a blocking structure which extends rearwardly of the projecting portion, the blocking structure remaining within the enclosure body in both the retracted and extended states, the blocking member being shaped to occlude substantially all of the aperture rearwardly of the projecting portion when the retaining member is in the extended state and forwardly displaced within the aperture.
2. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said blocking member is provided with a blocking surface which is shaped complementary to the sidewall in the region of the aperture, such that when the retaining member is in the extended state the blocking surface lies against sidewall and covers that part of the aperture which is rearward of the projecting portion.
3. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 2, wherein said blocking member comprises a plate-like structure extending rearwardly of the projecting portion.
4. An electrical component enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining member comprises an arm having a pivot point adapted for mounting in the enclosure body to allow the arm to rotationally pivot relative to the enclosure body, the projecting portion and the blocking member being disposed on the arm and spaced apart from the pivot point such that they are translated in an arcuate path towards or away from the sidewall when the arm is rotated about the pivot point.
5. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 4, wherein the rotational axis of the arm is parallel to the sidewall in the region of the aperture, wherein the projecting member is a plate-like structure disposed perpendicular to the sidewall, and wherein the blocking member has a forward face shaped to conform to the interior of the sidewall and disposed parallel to the sidewall when the retaining member is in the extended state.
6. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 5, wherein the blocking member is a plate-like structure extending rearwardly of the arm and parallel to the sidewall when the retaining member is in the extended state.
7. An electrical component enclosure according to any of claims 4-6, wherein the projecting member is connected to the arm via a neck section which is dimensioned to fit within the aperture when the retaining member is forwardly displaced in the extended state.
8. An electrical component enclosure according to any of claims 4-7, the enclosure body further comprising a rear wall connected to the sidewall, and a post extending forwardly of the rear wall within the enclosure body, upon which the retaining member is pivotally mounted at said pivot point.
9. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 8, wherein the pivot point is provided as a bore which receives said post, permitting the arm to translate forwardly and rearwardly along the post under an applied forward or rearward pressure.
10. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 9, wherein the bore is dimensioned to accommodate the post with an annular gap between the bore and the post, and wherein the biasing force is applied at the pivot point, whereby as an applied rearward force on the arm is applied increasingly outwardly from the pivot point, the turning moment resulting from the offset between the rearward force and the biasing force increases until the turning moment causes the bore to tilt and jam on the post, resisting rearward movement of the bore along the post.
11. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 10, wherein with the applied rearward force being applied adjacent the post the bore can be depressed freely along the post, and with the applied rearward force being applied adjacent the projecting portion, the bore jams and resists rearward movement.
12. An electrical component enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining member comprises a fixing portion to receive a fixture.
13. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 12, when dependent on claim 10 or 11, wherein the fixing portion is positioned at a sufficient distance from the bore that a rearward force resulting from the engagement of a fixture in the fixing portion causes the bore to tilt and jam on the post.
14. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the fixing portion is disposed with an axis for receiving a fixture perpendicular to the plane of the projecting portion, such that when in the extended state, the projecting portion is generally parallel to the panel and the axis of a fixture engaging the fixing portion is perpendicular to the panel.
15. An electrical component enclosure according to any preceding claim, further comprising biasing means which biases the retaining member forwardly.
16. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 15, when dependent on claim 8 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring mounted on the post between the retaining member and the rear wall.
17. An electrical component enclosure according to an preceding claim, wherein said aperture is shaped to prevent passage of said projecting portion between the extended and retracted states when said retaining member is displaced forwardly.
18. An electrical component enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein said aperture is shaped to allow passage of said projecting portion between the extended and retracted states when said retaining member is displaced rearwardly.
19. An electrical component enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein said aperture has a rearward section and a forward section, the rearward section admitting the projecting portion therethrough and the forward section preventing the admission of the projecting portion therethrough.
20. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 19, wherein the blocking member is dimensioned to occlude the rearward section of the aperture when the retaining member is in the extended state and forwardly displaced.
21. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 20, wherein the aperture is L-shaped or T-shaped.
22. An electrical component enclosure according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of said retaining members each adapted to be disposed in a respective aperture.
23. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of apertures comprise a pair of said apertures respectively provided in opposed sidewalls of said enclosure body, and the plurality of retaining members comprise a pair of said retaining members each disposed to engage with a respective one of said pair of apertures.
24. An electrical component enclosure according to claim 23, wherein the apertures are provided on respective opposite sidewalls of the enclosure body and the retaining members are mounted upon diagonally opposed axial posts.
25. An electrical component enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure body further comprises an abutting structure adapted to abut against an outer face of a panel when the enclosure is inserted into an opening in the panel with the front side of the body generally flush with the outer face of the panel.