NZ549660A - Electrical appliance wall mounting including support means and electricity supply means - Google Patents

Abstract

A wall mounting that provides both mechanical support and electrical connection for an electric appliance is disclosed. A wall mounting plate has a rear side for mounting against a surface, and a front side with first engagement means and first electrical terminals. The appliance has a rear side with second engagement means which is complementary to the first engagement means. The appliance can be engaged with the wall mounting plate by sequentially aligning the rear side of the appliance to face the front side of the wall mounting plate, moving the appliance toward the plate to bring together the engagement means, and sliding the appliance relative to the wall mounting plate thereby engaging the first and second engagement means. An electrical connection between the first and second electrical terminals is made so that electricity can be provided to operate the appliance when it is held in a supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate.

Description

549660 *10054166334* intellectual Property Office of N.z. - 3 SEP 2007 , R E C E IV E D NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 549660 Date: 1 September 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE WALL MOUNTING We, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC NEW ZEALAND HOLDINGS LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 11 Moncure Place, Christchurch, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 549661 FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to the mounting of an electrical appliance, and particularly to the mounting of an electrical appliance on a wall. The mounting provides both mechanical support and electrical connection for the appliance. In one application the invention relates to wall mounting of a domestic electrical appliance, and particularly an electric heater.

BACKGROUND Domestic electrical appliances are sometimes permanently wired to the electrical supply rather than connected to a wall-mounted socket oudet by a dis-connectable cable-mounted plug. This is often the case with appliances presenting heavy electrical loads or appliances located in wet areas, such as bathrooms or laundries, or other locations not provided with wall-mounted socket oudets. Examples of appliances that may be permanently w ired include laundry washing machines, bathroom heaters, dishwashers, and cooking appliances such as ovens, stoves, and cook-tops. The permanendy wired appliances must be connected and dis-connected only by an electrician or other authorised person, and therefore should not be removed or replaced by a non-authorised persons such as an owner or occupier. For example, if the appliance is faulty, it cannot be removed by the non-authorised person for off-site repair.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of at least one embodiment of the invention is to provide a mounting arrangement for an electrical appliance or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

The invention broadly consists in an electric appliance and a wall mounting plate for mounting the appliance on a wall wherein: the wall mounting plate has a rear side for mounting against a surface, and a front side opposite the rear side comprising first engagement means and first electrical terminals, the appliance has a rear side comprising second engagement means which is complementary to the first engagement means and second electrical terminals which can electrically connect to the first electrical terminals, 549661 the complementary engagement means are arranged such that the rear side of the appliance can be engaged with the front side of the wall mounting plate to hold the appliance in supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate by sequentially aligning the appliance and wall mounting unit such diat the rear side of the appliance faces the front side of the wall mounting plate and moving the appliance toward the wall mounting plate to bring together the first engagement means and the second engagement means, and sliding the appliance relative to the wall mounting plate thereby engaging the first engagement means and the second engagement means, and making an electrical connection between the first electrical terminals and the second electrical terminals such that electricity can be provided to operate the appliance when it is held in said supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate.

Preferably, the complementary engagement means includes a lug on one of the wall mounting plate and the appliance, and an aperture on the other of the wall mounting plate and the appliance, and the lug is engaged in the aperture when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the mounting plate.

Preferably, the lug is at the front side of the wall mounting plate and the aperture is at the rear side of the appliance.

Preferably, the lug is L-shaped with a proximal limb of the lug extending forwardly from the front side of the wall mounting plate and a distal limb of the lug extending from the proximal limb in a direction that is substantially parallel to the mounting plate, the aperture is provided in a rear-facing outer wall at the rear side of the appliance, and the aperture is dimensioned to accept the lug within the aperture.

Preferably, the distal limb of the L-shaped lug extends upwardly from the proximal limb of the lug.

Preferably, the electric appliance and wall mounting plate is dimensioned such that an edge of the aperture contacts a surface of the proximal limb of the L-shaped lug and the distal limb of the L-shaped lug extends inside of the rear-facing outer wall of the appliance when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate. >^T?toperfy W V i s 017 m 549660.

Preferably, the electric appliance and wall mounting plate is dimensioned such that an upper edge of the aperture bears downwardly on an upper surface of the proximal limb of the L-shaped lug and the distal limb of the L-shaped lug extends upwardly inside of the rear-facing outer wall of the appliance when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the wTall mounting plate.

Preferably, the wall mounting plate is adapted for attachment to a wall, with the rear side of the wall mounting plate against a vertical surface of the wail and the electrical terminals of the wall mounting plate connected to the supply of electricity, and wherein the appliance can be engaged with the wall mounting plate to be held in said supportive engagement by sequentially aligning the aperture in the rear-facing outer wall of the appliance directly forward of the L-shaped lug at the front side of the wall mounting plate, moving the appliance rearwardly toward the wall mounting plate to engage the lug inside the aperture, moving the appliance downwardly thereby bringing the upper edge of the aperture into load-bearing contact with the upper surface of the proximal limb of the L-shaped lug.

Prferably, the wall mounting plate has a front-facing outer wall at the front side of the wall mounting plate and the electrical terminals of the mounting plate are located behind the front-facing wall.

Preferably, the electrical terminals of the appliance are each L-shaped with a proximal limb of each L-shaped terminal extending rearwardly from the rear-facing outer wall at the rear side of the appliance and a distal limb of each L-shaped terminal extending from the proximal portion in a direction that is substantially parallel to the rear side of the appliance, at least one aperture is provided at one end of the front-facing wall at the front side of the wall mounting plate for accepting the distal limbs of the L-shaped terminals.

Preferably, the distal limbs of the L-shaped terminals extend downwardly from the corresponding proximal limbs of the L-shaped terminals.

Preferably, the distal limbs of the L-shaped terminals extend downwardly behind the front-facing wall at the front side of the wall mounting plate when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate. 549661 Preferably, the electric appliance is an electric heater.

Preferably, the electric heater is a fan heater.

The invention may further be said to consist in any alternative combination of parts or features mentioned herein or shown in the accompanying drawings. Known equivalents of these parts or features which are not expressly set out are nevertheless deemed to be included.

The term 'comprising' as used in this specification means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present.

Preferred embodiments and methods of utilising the invention will be further described, with reference to the accompanying figures, by way of example only and without intending to be limiting, wherein; Figure 1 shows a front view of a mounting plate; Figure 2 shows a rear view of an electric heater; Figure 3 shows a rear view of the heater of Figure 2 partially engaged with the mounting plate of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the partially engaged heater and plate as seen at line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the partially engaged heater and plate as seen at line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a rear view of the heater of Figure 2 fully engaged with the mounting plate of BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1; 54966g Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the fully engaged heater and plate as seen at line 7-7 of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the fully engaged heater and plate as seen at line 8-8 of Figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows a front view of a mounting plate 10. The mounting plate has four slotted holes 12, arranged near respective corners of the plate, for securing the mounting plate to a surface. In one application of the invention, the mounting plate is attached to a vertical internal wall surface of a dwelling by fitting threaded screw fasteners (not shown) through the slotted holes and into the wall structure.

The mounting plate has four L-shaped lugs 14 for engaging and supporting an appliance when fitted to the mounting plate.

An electrically insulative connector block 16 (shown in the rear views of Figures 3 and 6) houses two female electrical terminals behind a front-facing wall 18 at the front side 20 of the mounting plate.

A cantilevered tongue 22 extends into an aperture 24 at the front side 20 of the mounting plate. A ramped projection 26 on the tongue extends forwardly from the front face of the tongue.

Figure 2 shows a view of the rear side of a fan heater 30. The heater has a fan 31 which draws external air into inlet grilles 32, and blows the air over an electrical resistance heating element 33 (Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8) and out through an exhaust grille 34. The heater has a rear wall 35, and a recessed wall 36 in a recess at the rear side of the heater. The rear wall 35 extends around the perimeter of the recess. The mounting plate 10 fits within the recess at the rear side of the heater 30 when the heater is fitted to the plate, thereby allowing the heater to overlie and substantially conceal the mounting plate. This may be best seen in the cross-sectional views of Figures 4, 5, 7 549661 Four primary apertures 37 in the recessed wall 36 are arranged to correspond to the arrangement of the four complementary L-shaped lugs 14 of the mounting plate, so that the lugs 14 can be simultaneously engaged in respective primary apertures 37.

Two mutually parallel male electrical terminals 38 extend rearwardly from the recessed wall 34 at the rear side of the heater. These terminals each have a distal limb 38A which extends from a proximal limb 38B in an L-shaped configuration. Connection of an electrical supply for operation of the heater is made via the two electrical terminals 38, as will be explained further below.

An aperture 40 in the recessed wall 36 receives the projection 26 of the tongue 22 to lock the heater in a fully engaged position on the mounting plate, as will be explained further below.

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the heater of Figure 2 partially engaged with the mounting plate of Figure 1, prior to full engagement of the heater to the plate. Figures 4 and 5 show cross-sectional views of the heater partially engaged with mounting plate. These cross-sectional views are as seen respectively at lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows a rear view of the heater of Figure 2 fully engaged with the mounting plate of Figure i. Figures 7 and 8 show cross-sectional views of the heater fully engaged heater with the mounting plate. These cross-sectional views are as seen respectively at lines 7-7 and 8-8 of Figure 6.

To help with a ready understanding of the invention, the following explanation will refer to the heater and mounting plate as shown in Figures 3 to 8 as if located in one preferred orientation in which the mounting plate is fastened to a vertical wall surface. However, the invention is not limited to this particular orientation.

The terms "up" and "down", "front" and "back", and "forward" and "backward", and the like, will be readily understood with reference to the wall mounting of the heater as described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. "Front" and "forward" are to be understood as being away from the wall surface whereas "back" and "backward" are to be understood as toward the wall surface.

Figures 3 and 6 show rear views of the heater and mounting plate as would be seen looking forwardly in a direction perpendicularly out from the wall surface. Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8 sJjfiW- r 1 6 OCT ZODB views of the heater and mounting plate as would be seen looking m a horizontal direction parallel to the wall surface. The wall surface is represented in these figures by broken lines 42-42.

The electrical terminals of the connector block 16, accessible at the rear side of the mounting plate 10, are connected to electrical supply conductors (not shown). As is well known, the electrical supply conductors are usually loeated in a cavity of the wall and brought though an exit aperture in the wall lining. Alternatively, suitable electrical supply conductors may be carried outside the wall surface, through a protective conduit or capping. The mounting plate 10 is placed over the exit aperture and fastened to the wall surface, thereby conceal the connection of the electrical supply conductors to the connector block. The mounting plate is fastened to the wall by screwing threaded screws or other suitable fasteners (not shown) through the four slotted holes 12 and preferably into a framing member, or other substantial wall structure, behind the wall surface.

The heater 30 is fitted to the mounting plate 10 by first placing the heater over the mounting plate in the partially engaged position shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 with each of the L-shaped lugs 14 of the mounting plate located in a respective primary aperture 37 in the recessed wall 36 at the rear side of the heater. In this position, secondary apertures 44 (Figure 5) in the recessed wall 36 are aligned with, and positioned adjacent, upwardly-extending distal limbs 14A of the L-shaped lugs 14. Downwardly-extending distal limbs 38A of the electrical terminals 38 of the heater are aligned with, and positioned adjacent, the electrical terminals in the connector block 16 which is located behind the front facing wall 18 of the mounting plate 10.

The two alignments described in the immediately preceding paragraph are readily achieved by moving the heater 30 backward onto the mounting plate 10 with the lugs 14 in the primary apertures 37 until portions 46 of the recessed wall 36 of the heater make contact with corresponding surface portions 48 of the mounting plate at the front side 20 of the mounting plate.

The heater can then be moved downward into the fully engaged position shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 with the distal portions 14A of the L-shaped lugs 14 of the mounting plate located in the secondary apertures 44 in the recessed wall 36 at the rear side of the heater. In the fully engaged position, the upper edges of the apertures 37 in the recessed wall at the rear side of the heater contact and bear down on respective upper surfaces of the proximal portions 14B of the L-shaped lugs 14 to support and carry the weight of the heater on the mounting plate. 54966^ In the fully engaged position, the upwardly-extending distal limbs 14A of the L-shaped lugs are located in front of the recessed wall 36, thereby preventing the heater from being moved forwardly, away from the wall, without first being lifted upward off the lugs. This requirement for sequential movements (of the heater relative to the mounting plate) in two different directions before the heater can be removed from the mounting plate provides a secure mechanical engagement between the heater and mounting plate. In the preferred vertical wall mounting orientation being discussed with reference to Figures 3 to 8, the weight of the heater acts to maintain the heater on the mounting and helps to resist dislodgement such as might otherwise occur by vibration of the heater, for example when the heater fan is operating.

The engagement of the heater to the mounting plate is further secured by engagement of the projection 26 on tongue 22 of the mounting plate in the aperture 40 in the recessed wall 36 at the rear side of the heater. During the downward movement of the heater on the mounting plate, engagement of a ramp on the projection deflects the tongue backwardly against resilience inherent in the cantilevered tongue. When the projection 26 is aligned with the aperture 40, the tongue 22 snaps forward to move the projection into the aperture 40 wThen the heater is in the fully engaged position on the mounting plate.

When the heater is to be removed from the mounting plate, the tongue 22 is moved rearwardly to disengage the projection 26 from the aperture 40 to allow the heater to be move upwardly and off the mounting plate.

During the downward movement of the heater into the fully engaged position on the mounting plate, the male electrical terminals 38 of the heater move downward into the connector block 16 to contact respective female terminals of the connector block and complete electrical connection of the electrical supply from the mounting plate to the heater.

This electrical contact is only made on the final downward movement of the heater, after the heater and mounting block terminals have already been fully concealed behind the heater. Correspondingly, when the heater is removed from the mounting block, the electrical contact between the respective terminals of the heater and mounting block is broken by the first upward movement of the heater, while the heater is still overlying the mounting plate and still fully concealing the terminals. This provides for safe installation and removal of the heater, even if the electrical supply to the mounting block is not turned off. 'i 1 G OCT 2008 Safety can be further enhanced by concealing the female electrical terminals of the connector block 16 behind apertures (not shown) that are dimensioned to accept the male electrical terminals 38 of the heater but are too small to be directly accessible to direct human contact, such as by a finger.

The invention described allows a wall-mounted appliance to be easily and safely removed by lay persons; for example, for delivery of the appliance to a repair facility, or for repainting or repapering the wall surface behind the appliance, or for replacing the appliance with another adapted for mounting to the same mounting plate. All these operations can be performed safely, even by untrained lay persons, and even with the electrical power to the mounting plate turned on. This latter aspect is achieved by the terminal The foregoing describes the invention with reference to a preferred embodiment. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

For example, although the preferred embodiment described above is a heater, the invention can be used for mounting other electrical appliances. For example, light fittings. The electrical connection described can be used for other than supply of electrical power to an appliance. For example the electrical connection could be for a signal such as data, audio, or the like. For example, the appliance may be an alarm siren or a sensor for a security system, or a loudspeaker for an audio system. 549661

Claims (15)

1. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate for mounting the appliance on a wall wherein: the wall mounting plate has a rear side for mounting against a surface, and a front side opposite the rear side comprising first engagement means and first electrical terminals, the appliance has a rear side comprising second engagement means which is complementary to the first engagement means and second electrical terminals which can electrically connect to the first electrical terminals, the complementary engagement means are arranged such that the rear side of the appliance can be engaged with the front side of the wall mounting plate to hold the appliance in supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate by sequentially aligning the appliance and wall mounting unit such that the rear side of the appliance faces the front side of the wall mounting plate and moving the appliance toward the wall mounting plate to bring together die first engagement means and the second engagement means, and sliding the appliance relative to the wall mounting plate thereby engaging the first engagement means and the second engagement means, and making an electrical connection between the first electrical terminals and the second electrical terminals such that electricity can be provided to operate the appliance when it is held in said supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate.

2. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 1 wherein the complementary engagement means includes a lug on one of the wall mounting plate and the appliance, and an aperture on the other of the wall mounting plate and the appliance, and the lug is engaged in the aperture when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the mounting plate.

3. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 2 wherein the lug is at the front side of the wall mounting plate and the aperture is at the rear side of the appliance. 54sqe@.

4. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim shaped with a proximal limb of the lug extending forwardly from the front side of the wall mounting plate and a distal limb of the lug extending from the proximal limb in a direction that is substantially parallel to the mounting plate, the aperture is provided in a rear-facing outer wall at the rear side of the appliance, and the aperture is dimensioned to accept the lug within the aperture.

5. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 4 wherein the distal limb of the L-shaped lug extends upwardly from the proximal limb of the lug.

6. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 5 dimensioned such that an edge of the aperture contacts a surface of the proximal limb of the L-shaped lug and the distal limb of the L-shaped lug extends inside of the rcar-facing outer wall of the appliance when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate.

7. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 6 dimensioned such that an upper edge of the aperture bears downwardly on an upper surface of the proximal limb of the L-shaped lug and the distal limb of the L-shaped lug extends upwardly inside of the rear-facing outer wall of the appliance when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate.

8. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the wall mounting plate is adapted for attachment to a wall, with the rear side of the wall mounting plate against a vertical surface of the wall and the electrical terminals of the wall mounting plate connected to a supply of electricity, and wherein the appliance can be engaged with the wall mounting plate to be held in said supportive engagement by sequentially aligning the aperture in the rear-facing outer wall of the appliance directly forward of the L-shaped lug at the front side of the wall mounting plate, moving the appliance rearwardly toward the wall mounting plate to engage the lug inside the aperture, moving the appliance downwardly thereby bringing the upper edge of the aperture into load-bearing contact with the upper surface of the proximal limb of the L-shaped lug.

9. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the wall mounting plate has a front-facing outer wall at the front side of the wall 5496fg _ mounting plate and the electrical terminals of the mounting plate are locatcd behind the front-facing wall.

10. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the electrical terminals of the appliance are each L-shaped with a proximal limb of each L-shaped terminal extending rearwardly from the rear-facing outer wall at the rear side of the appliance and a distal limb of each L-shaped terminal extending from the proximal portion in a direction that is substantially parallel to the rear side of the appliance, at least one aperture is provided at one end of the front-facing wall at the front side of the wall mounting plate for accepting the distal limbs of the L-shaped terminals.

11. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 10 wherein the distal limbs of the L-shaped terminals extend downwardly from the corresponding proximal limbs of the L-shaped terminals.

12. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 11 wherein the distal limbs of the L-shaped terminals extend downwardly behind the front-facing wall at the front side of the wall mounting plate when the appliance is held in said supportive engagement on the wall mounting plate.

13. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the electric appliance is an electric heater.

14. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate according to claim 13 wherein the electric heater is a fan heater.

15. An electric appliance and a wall mounting plate substantially as herein described with reference to the accordingly drawings.