NZ540587A - Improved nail plate - Google Patents

Abstract

A nail plate used for mounting a power socket, with particular application to temporary fixtures during construction on a work site, is disclosed. The nail plate 10 includes at least one mounting peg 12 that is resiliently rotationally displaceable. Head 15 rotates through an angle corresponding to a profiled aperture on the socket. To quickly release the socket recess 14 is accessible by a screwdriver, allowing the head to be rotated and the socket removed.

Description

540 5 8 7 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVED NAIL PLATE l/WE Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd, an Australian company of 12 Park Terrace, Bowden 5007, South Australia, Australia hereby declare the invention, for which I/We pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. -3 JUN 2005 Received 1 To be followed by Page 1A James & Wells Ref: 124916/0 RJ TECHNICAL FIEED ; This invention relates to mounting one article to another and in particular, to mounting surface socket outlets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When erecting a new construction or constructing a work site which requires convenient access to electrical power or lighting in a ceiling, it is common practice to provide a plurality of electrical socket outlets on a temporary or semi-permanent basis. These outlets are mounted to receiving plates generally known, as ''nail plates", 10 which are used to support the socket outlet The nail plates are so called because they are conveniently n^e^M place, for example along a wooden beam or other support structure. J' In setting up the socket outlets, the worker simply Ideates a nail plate that lias been. 15 previously instaUed/ and moimts to it, the socket outlet which contains the required electrical connections and interface to connect a peripheral device to electrical power, as would be understood by those skilled in the art The mounting is generally done by pushing two mounting holes integrated with the 20 socket outlet over respective mounting pegs which are integral with the nail plate.

This provides a convenient; quick and efficient means of securing the socket outlets ) to the nail plate.

Upon engagement of tile mounting holes with the end of the mounting pegs, the 25 worker applies a downward force which causesthe mounting pegsto be displaced inwardly as they enter ^ mounting holes, allowing this socket outlets to slide down the pegs. When the pegs reach a predetermined distance to the mounting holes, they flex outwardly again, due to the resiliency of the material from which the pegs are made and retain the socket outlet to the nail plate. 1A While providing a secure and convenient fastening means, it is however, very difficult to then remove the socket outlet from the nail plate once the arrangement is no longer required. In particular, because the material from which the mounting pegs are made is necessarily strongly resilient to provide a secure fastening means, it is 5 difficult to displace the pegs from their retaining position. Furthermore, the mounting pegs are generally deeply recessed into the mounting holes and are difficult to access, from the outside of the socket outlet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of more easily removing a 10 mounted article from a mounting plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting plate including a mounting peg for retaining an article to the mounting plate, 15 wherein at least a portion of the mounting peg is resiliently rotationally displaceable so as to rotate through a mounting phase for receiving the article, to a retaining position for retaining the article to the mounting plate.

Preferably, the mounting peg transitions through the mounting phase upon applying 20 the article to the mounting peg and then resiliently assumes the retaining position to I retain the article to the mounting plate.

Preferably, the mounting peg includes an engaging means to engage a tool to rotate the mounting peg from the retaining position through the mounting phase to allow 25 the removal of the article from the mounting plate.

Preferably, a profile of the mounting peg is the same as a profile of an aperture in the article which receives the mounting peg and the profile of the mounting peg is rotationally angled with respect to the profile of the aperture. 2 Intellectual Property Office of N.Z.

SEP 2005 received Still preferably, the profile of the mounting peg is rotated 25 degrees with respect to the profile of the aperture of the article.

Optionally, the mounting phase includes a single mounting position.

Preferably however, the mounting phase includes a iange of positions starting with, an initial mounting jksitioh; Preferably, the retaining position is the same as the initial mounting position.

Preferably, the mounting plate includes at least two mounting pegs according to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention wiU nova te described in more detail with reference to the following drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a nail plate and sweket outlet of the prior art; Figure 2 shows a top view o£ the arrangement of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a nail plate of the prior art; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a nail plate according; to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a top view of the nail plate of figure 4; Figure 6 shows a front view of the hail plate of figure 4; Figure 7 shows a right side view of the nail plate of figure 4; Figure 8 shows a top detailed view of a mounting peg according to an aspect of the present invention; and Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the mounting peg of figure 8 in an open position.

Figures lOa-lOc show a cross-section view of the mounting peg in various stages of interaction with an aperture of the socket # DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figures 1 and 2 show ait arrangement of the prior art in which a surface socket 20 is mounted to a nail plate 10. Protrusion 11 is provided to give stability to the socket 20 once engaged and mounted to nail plate 10.

V* As can be seen from the top view in figure 2, surface socket 20 is retained to nail plate 10 via pegs 12 of nail plate 10, which engage within apertures 22; of socket 20. Pegs 12 are resilient so that Upon placement of apertures 22 oyer pegs 12 and upon fearing, socket 20 towards nail plate 10 downwards, pegs i2 are laterally displaced and then 10 snap bade into a locking position when socket 20 has come into contact with nail plate 10. In this way, pegs 12 retain socket 20 to nail plate 10.

This retaining position of pegs 12 provides a very strong retaining force to socket 20 and it is very diffictdt to xemove socket 20 from nail plate 10. As can be seen from 15 figures 1 and 2, there is very little space within aperture 22 to insert a tool to attempt to displace pegs 12 from their retaining position.

Figure 3 shows pegs 126n nail plate 10 without socket 20, As can be seen, pegs l2 include a lip 13 which ihuse, engages with a corresponding ledge Within apertitfe 22 20 to retain socket 20 to nail plate 10. As socket 20 is forced down over -peg 12, peg 12 is caused to bend inwards diie to an inwards sloping face of aperture 22 (not shown) I until lip 13 reaches the ledge within lip 32 and snaps backintoits retaining original position. This arrangement will be well understood by the parson skilled in the art.

Referring now to figures 4 to 7, according to an aspect of the present invention, peg 12 is able to be resiliently rotated through a mounting phase, about an axis substantially perpendicular to the length of peg 12 and is provided with a recess 14 in head 15. Recess 14 provides a means of engaging with a tool, such as a screwdriver, to allow peg 12 to be rotated by the screwdriver. Due to the resiliency of 30 peg 12, upon removal of the screwdriver, peg 12 will revert to its original position, assuming a retaining position. 4 It will be appreciated that recess 14 may take on any suitable shape to engage any correspondingly-shaped tool. For ©cample, recess 14 may be shaped to receive a Philips Head screwdriver or may in fact be a protrusion to engage with a tool which itself has a recess. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that in one aspect of the 5 present invention, peg 12 need not necessarily be resilient Rather, head 15 may be able to be fully rotated from one position to another.by the tool to be placed in a retaining position. This may be in the form of a head that is rotatably attached to the mast of peg 12 which may in fact have no resilient aspect. In this embodiment, the mounting phase can consist solely of the initial mounting position which can then be 10 rotated directly into the retaining position and vice verea.

Figures 8 and 9 show head 15 in more detail. In figure.8, it can be seen that the Cross sectional profile of head 15 as seen from the top, matches the internal profile of aperture 22 but is slightly smaller (for example, 0.25 mm smaller). It will also be 15 noted that the profile of head 15 is rotated by an amount of 25 degrees with respect to the profile of recess 22.

As socket 20 and recess 22 are placed over peg 12 and pushed downwardly towards nail plate 10, the size of recess 22 progressively decreases from profile 22a to profile 20 22b ( see figure 8) causing head 15 to come into contact with the inner surface of recess 22 and begin conforming rotationally, with the profile df aperture 22, tfoeiseby | undergoing a mounting phase. As socket 20 continues to be forced towards nail plate 10, head 15 continued to be rotated away from its 25 degree offset until it is in line with the profile of aperture 22. This allows socket 20 to be pushed all the way 25 towards nail plate 10 at which point, the inner surface of aperture 22 opens up to a ledge 23 (see figures lOa-ltib) which allows head 15 to resiliently snap back into its default 25 degree rotational offset Lip 13 of head 15 engages with the ledge of aperture 22 to thereby retain socket 20 to nail plate 10 in a retaining position.

Alternatively, aperture 22 could be evenly sloped throughout, with the profile of head 15 sloped to provide the increasing torsional forces.

Referring to figures 10a and 10c, there is shown a croas-sectioh of a portion of socket 20, showing the interaction of peg 12 with aperture 22. In figure 10a, peg 12 is about to be inserted into aperture 22, as socket 20 is brought towards nail plate 10 (not shown). In figure 10b, head 15 at peg 12 is passing through aperture 22 as described 5 above, in a mounting phase, until lip 13 passes over ledge 23. At this point, head 15 resiliency rotates back to its original orientation, andlip 13 overlaps with ledge 23, trapping head 15 inside socket 20 in a retaining position.

According to an aspect of the invention, when socket 20 is required to be removed 10 from nail plate 10, it is simply a matter of inserting a tool such as a screwdriver into aperture 22, engaging the head of the screwdriver with recess 14 in head 15 and profile of recess 22. This.tttert allows socket 20 to be removed from nail plate 10by -pulling socket 20 away from riail plate 10 arid allowing peg li to pass through the 15 moimting phase agjdn. After removing the SCTewdriverfromhead 15, it will resiliently snapbackinto its original 25 degree offset position.

In a preferred embodiment, nail plate 10 will have 2 pegs 12 however, it will be appreciated that any number of pegs may be used as required by the particular 20 application.

Nail plate 10 is ideally constructed from a polycarbonate material however, any other suitable material may be used.

It will be appreciated that the above has been described with reference to a particular embodiment however, many variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. 6

Claims (10)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A mounting plate including a mounting peg for retaining an article to the 5 mounting plate, wherein at least a portion of the mounting peg is resiliently rotationally displaceable so as to rotate through a mounting phase for receiving the article, to a retaining position for retaining the article to the mounting plate.

2. A mounting plate according to claim 1 wherein the mounting peg transitions 10 through the mounting phase upon applying the article to the mounting peg and then resiliently assumes the retaining position to retain the article to the mounting plate.

3. A mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the mounting peg includes an engaging means to engage a tool to rotate the mounting peg from the 15 retaining position through the mounting phase to allow the removal of the article from the mounting plate.

4. A mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a profile of the mounting peg is the same as a profile of an aperture in the article which receives the 20 mounting peg and the profile of the mounting peg is rotationally angled with respect to the profile of the aperture.

5. A mounting plate according to claim 4 wherein the profile of the mounting peg is rotated 25 degrees with respect to the profile of the aperture of the article. 25

6. A mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the mounting phase includes a single mounting position.

7. A mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the mounting 30 phase includes a range of positions starting with an initial mounting position. Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 30 SEP 2005 received 7

8. A mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7 wherein the retaining position is the same as the initial mounting position.

9. A mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the mounting plate includes at least two mounting pegs as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A mounting plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 10. END OF CLAIMS Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 3 0 SEP 2005 received 8