NL2006103C2

NL2006103C2 - Method for providing a hole in a wall, and accessory therefor.

Info

Publication number: NL2006103C2
Application number: NL2006103A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Robin Goth
Original assignee: Attema B V
Priority date: 2011-01-31
Filing date: 2011-01-31
Publication date: 2012-08-01

Description

P30610NL00

Method for providing a hole in a wall, and accessory therefor FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for providing a hole in a wall, in particular for an installation box, using an accessory.

5 Herein, an installation box is deemed equivalent to an electrical installation box, a junction box, and an electrical junction box. The installation box may be used for housing installation material in general, (junctions between) electrical conductors, electrical signal wires, optical cables or fibers, and may further accommodate switching material, one or more electrical or optical sockets, signaling material, telecommunication material, building 10 automation material, controller or computer material, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Installation boxes for mounting in a hollow wall are known in the art, e.g. from 15 NL1019822. This reference discloses an installation box having an elliptical or oval shape when seen in cross-section in a plane parallel to a bottom wall of the installation box. Thus, the installation box comprises two opposite substantially semi-circular side wall portions and two opposite substantially straight side wall portions connecting the semi-circular side wall portions. For mounting such an installation box in a hollow wall (having a relatively thin front 20 wall board secured to a back support frame), two staggered circular holes having about the same radius as the radius of the semi-circular side wall portions are made. Any remaining material in the area where the hole diameters cross, is removed to complete the preparation the hole for reception of the installation box.

In preparing a wall opening in a wall, such as a hollow wall, where two circular holes 25 are made being a part of an envisaged elongated, oval opening, a problem arises when, in preparing the wall opening, the two circular holes only slightly overlap, or do not overlap at all. In such circumstances, relatively large parts of the wall between the two circular holes remain, and need to be removed by a further working of the wall to provide a wall opening contour having two opposite semi-circular portions, and two opposite substantially straight 30 portions connecting the semi-circular portions. Removing such large portions in a neat and reproducible manner is difficult to carry out by hand, using simple tools as such like a straight saw or a circular saw.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be desirable to finish the preparation of an oval opening in a wall in an easy manner, starting from two circular holes defining semi-circular parts at the ends of the oval 5 opening, and using simple tooling.

To better address the above concern, in an aspect of the invention a method for providing an elongated opening in a wall is provided. The method comprises providing a circular first opening in the wall having a first center and a first radius, and providing a circular second opening in the wall having a second center and a second radius. The first and the 10 second opening overlap with the distance between the first center and the second center being greater than the first or the second radius. An accessory comprises a first support face and a second support face, the outside distance between the first and second support face being the sum of the first radius, the second radius, and the distance between the first center and the second center. The accessory further comprises a guide situated between the first 15 and the second support face. The guide is adapted for guiding a drill or hole saw to provide a circular third opening in the wall having a third center and a third radius. The first support face of the accessory is placed in the first opening, and the second support face of the accessory is placed in the second opening. The drill or hole saw is guided along the guide of the accessory to provide the third opening in the wall.

20 The drilling accessory provides a reference location for performing a drilling or sawing operation in a structure, such as a wall structure, in particular a hollow wall structure, between two circular openings each having a predetermined radius, the openings having a predetermined center-to-center distance, and being already present. The drilling accessory comprises two support faces which each can be placed in a different one of the openings in 25 the wall abutting circumferential parts of the openings facing away from each other. With the support faces in place, the guide is located at a predetermined location relative to the two openings. In the guide, a drill or hole saw can be guided towards the structure to substantially remove relatively large parts of the structure between the two circular openings to provide an oval structure opening contour having two opposite semi-circular portions, and two opposite 30 substantially straight portions connecting the semi-circular portions.

In an embodiment of the method of the present invention, the first, second and third radii are equal to provide a elongated opening have substantially the same width.

In an embodiment of the method of the present invention, the first, second and third centers are located on a straight line to provide an oval opening.

35 In another aspect of the present invention, an accessory for providing an elongated opening in a wall is provided. The accessory comprises a first support face adapted to be -3- placed in a circular first opening in the wall, the first opening having a first center and a first radius, and a second support face adapted to be placed in a second circular opening in the wall, the second opening having a second center and a second radius. The distance between the first center and the second center is greater than the first or the second radius, and the 5 outside distance between the first and second support face is the sum of the first radius, the second radius, and the distance between the first center and the second center. A guide is situated between the first and the second support face, for guiding a drill or hole saw to provide a circular third opening in the wall having a third center and a third radius.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more readily appreciated as the same 10 becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a drilling accessory suitable for providing an opening in a wall for mounting an installation box, such as an installation box according to the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view illustrating a coupling of a hole saw with the 20 drilling accessory of Figure 1.

Figure 3 depicts a perspective view illustrating a use of the drilling accessory of Figure 1 for drilling an opening in a wall.

Figure 4 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of an installation box according to the present invention, showing an upper part thereof.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 depicts an accessory 110 for drilling an elongated hole in a wall formed by a series of circular holes having different centers located on a straight line. The accessory 110 30 comprises a guide ring 112 having a first ring end 114 and a second ring end 116. At its first ring end 114, the guide ring 112 is provided with two opposite ears 116 which extend in a same plane. This plane coincides with the first ring end 114 of the guide ring 112. Each ear 116 carries a ring segment 118 having a first ring segment end 120 and a second ring segment end 122. Part of the first ring segment end 120 is connected to part of the 35 circumference of the ear 116. At the second ring segment end 122, the ring segment 118 is provided with two series of three parallel slots extending at right angles to the second ring -4- segment end 122, and defining flexible lips 124, 126 having teeth 128, 130, respectively, at a convex or outer side of the ring segment 118.

Figure 2 illustrates a use of the accessory 110 in combination with a drilling tool 132 carrying a hole saw 134. In use, the hole saw 134 can be moved in the directions of double 5 arrow 136 in the guide ring 112 of the accessory 110, while rotating the hole saw 134 by the drilling tool 132. The inner diameter of the guide ring 112 has a slightly greater diameter than the outer diameter of the hole saw 134, such that a location of a hole provided with the hole saw 134, relative to the accessory 110 is well-defined.

Figure 3 illustrates a use of the accessory and hole saw 134 to provide an elongated 10 hole in a wall 140. In a preliminary stage, a first hole 141 and a second hole 142 have been made in the wall 140, e.g. by using the hole saw 134 or any other suitable tool. The first hole 141 and the second hole 142 are staggered, with a distance between the centers of the first hole 141 and the second hole 142, and the diameters of the first hole 141 and the second hole 142 being predetermined, and in particular such that the ring segments 118 of the 15 accessory 110 can be placed in the respective first and second holes 141, 142. The outer diameter of the ring segments 118 is substantially equal to the diameter of the first and second holes 141, 142.

After the preparation of the first hole 141 and the second hole 142, the accessory 110 is placed in the holes until the second ring end 116 of the guide ring 112 abuts the wall 140. 20 The teeth 128, 130 grip an inner wall of the first and second holes 141,142 to prevent the accessory 110 to fall out of the wall 140, or to move relative to the wall 140. Figure 3 illustrates this position of the accessory 110. Next, the hole saw 134 is move into the guide ring 112 to provide a third hole having a center in between the centers of the first hole 141 and the second hole 142, having a diameter equal to the diameters of the first and second 25 hole 141, 142, and having a required depth. Accordingly, a substantially oval opening in the wall 140 is made as a row of overlapping circular holes.

The accessory 110 allows for an easy and reproducible removal of any wall material remaining in the oval hole after the first and second holes 141, 142 have been made, by making the third hole.

30 The oval hole made as illustrated with reference to Figures 1-3 is suitable to mount an installation box, in particular a double installation box, more in particular a double installation box as illustrated with reference to Figure 4.

Figure 4 depicts an installation box 2 having a bottom wall 4 and a side wall 6. The side wall 6 has two opposite short side wall sections 8 and two opposite long side wall 35 sections 10 connected by rounded corner side wall sections 12. The side wall 6 has an edge 13 facing away from the bottom wall 4, the edge defining an installation box opening. The -5- installation box 2 defines a space in which electrical installation material, such as a socket structure, a switching structure, or other installation material, can be mounted, and in which connections between conductors can be made. The installation box 2 is configured to be mounted in an elongated hole in a hollow wall, such as a wall made of a frame of wooden 5 beams or metal profiled sections, covered by front wall boards containing wood or gypsum (plasterboard, gypsumboard). When mounted in a hollow wall, the edge of the side wall 6 of the installation box 2 in substantially aligned with the front side of the wall, whereas the remaining structure of the installation box 2 is situated in the wall, partly in a board, and partly behind the board of the wall. The installation box 2 has ribs 14 extending along the long side 10 wall sections 10 in a direction from the bottom wall 4 to the edge 13, and provided with threaded holes 16 for inserting screws (not shown) for mounting installation material, a cover, etc.. Further, the installation box 2 is provided with support structures 18a, 18b for supporting a shaft (not shown) carrying a radially extending arm (not shown) which can be rotated from a rest position in a recess 20 to an active position out of the recess 20 by rotating the shaft, 15 such that the arm will form a hook member to abut a back side of a wall board, to prevent the installation box 2 to be pulled out of the (hole in the) wall in which it is mounted.

The installation box 2 is intended to be connected to one or more flexible, semi-rigid or rigid tubes mounted in the wall. For this purpose, at the short side wall sections 8, holes 22 are provided, where a sprout part (not shown) having a side wall section comprising a tubular 20 section adjoining the hole 22 can be mounted by a sliding action.

In a part of one of the long side wall sections 10 of the side wall 6, and in an adjacent part of the bottom wall 4, a wall part 24 is provided which is connected to the remainder of the walls 4, 6 by a weakened edge connection such that the wall part 24 can be removed easily and in a predefined way, to provide an opening 30 for placing a sprout part.

25 A part of the opposite long side wall section 10 of the side wall 6, and an adjacent part of the bottom wall 4 define an opening 32 for placing a sprout part.

It is seen that the bottom wall 4 of the installation box 2 comprises an opening 32 partly in a long side wall section 10 opposite the long wall section 10 containing the wall part 24, and partly in the bottom wall 4. After manufacture of the installation box 2, and before use 30 thereof, the edges of the opening 32 are defined by edge 34 of an elongated cut-out in the long side wall section 10, edges 35, 36 of two opposite bottom wall side flap sections 37, and an edge 38 of a bottom wall back flap section 39.

As is seen in Figure 4, the installation box 2 in fact comprises two basically partly circular shaped spaces integrated to form a substantially oval-shaped interior space. For this 35 reason, the installation box 2 may also be referred to as a double box.

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As explained above, in a method for providing an elongated hole in a wall, a circular first hole and second hole are provided in the wall. The first and second hole overlap. An accessory comprises a first support face and a second support face, and a guide situated between the first and the second support face. The guide is adapted for guiding a drill or hole 5 saw to provide a circular third hole in the wall. The first support face of the accessory is placed in the first hole, and the second support face of the accessory is placed in the second hole. The hole saw is guided along the guide of the accessory to provide the third hole in the wall.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; 10 however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the 15 terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used 20 herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

25 The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.

Claims

A method of providing an elongated hole in a wall (140), the method comprising: providing a circular first hole (141) in the wall with a first center and a first radius; Providing a circular second hole (142) in the wall with a second center and a second radius, the first and second holes overlapping each other, the distance between the first center and the second center being greater than the first or second the second radius; providing an accessory (110) comprising a first support surface and a second support surface, wherein the external distance between the first and second support surface is equal to the sum of the first radius, the second radius, and the distance between the first center and the second center, the accessory further comprising a guide (112) located between the first and the second support surface, which guide is intended for guiding a drill or hole saw (134) to provide a circular third hole in the wall with a third center and a third radius; placing the first support surface of the tool in the first hole, and placing the second support surface of the tool in the second hole; guiding the drill or hole saw along the guide of the attachment to provide the third hole in the wall. 20

The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third rays are the same.

The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first, second, and third centers are in a straight line. 25

An accessory (110) for providing an elongated hole in a wall, the accessory comprising: a first support surface adapted to be placed in a circular first hole (141) in the wall, the first hole having a first center and a first radius 30; a second support surface adapted to be placed in a circular second hole (142) in the wall, the second hole having a second center and a second radius, the distance between the first center and the second center being greater than the first or second radius, and wherein the external distance between the first and second supporting surfaces is equal to the sum of the first radius, the second radius and the distance between the first center and the second center; a guide (112) located between the first and second support surfaces, the guide being adapted to guide a drill or hole saw to provide a circular third hole in the wall with a third center and a third radius.

The accessory of claim 4, wherein the guide is a guide ring (112).

6. Attachment according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface are each formed by a ring segment (118).

The accessory of claim 6, wherein the ring segment (118) forming the first support surface has an outer radius that is substantially equal to the first radius of the first hole (141). 15

The accessory of claim 6 or 7, wherein the ring segment (118) forming the second support surface has an external radius that is substantially equal to the second radius of the second hole (142).

An accessory according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the ring segments (118) are provided with flexible lips (124, 126) with teeth (128, 130) extending on a convex side of the ring segments. 25