PH12013000193A1

PH12013000193A1 - Attachment plate for wiring device and wiring device assembly with same

Info

Publication number: PH12013000193A1
Application number: PH12013000193A
Authority: PH
Inventors: Jong-Ho Lee; Byung-Hoon Lee; Ho-Yun Kang
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp
Priority date: 2012-06-28
Filing date: 2013-06-25
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Also published as: JP5841501B2; PH12013000193B1; CN103515124A; KR101451212B1; JP2014011847A; CN103515124B; KR20140003329A

Abstract

An attachment plate for a wiring device is configured to retain at least a wiring device and be fixed to an installation surface of a building, and also configured so that a wall plate for the wiring device, having an opening for exposing a front of the wiring device is detachably attached to a front of the attachment plate. The attachment plate includes: a frame made of metal, configured so that the wiring device is attached to the frame; and an engagement member made from synthetic resin, separately formed from the frame and configured to detachably engage with an engagement portion provided in the wall plate. The engagement member is configured to be attached to the frame from a front side of the frame, and includes a joined part configured to be joined to the frame.

Description

SE Co

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Description

ATTACHMENT PLATE FOR WIRING DEVICE AND

WIRING DEVICE ASSEMBLY WITH SAME

Technical Field

The invention relates to an attachment plate for a wiring device, for installing at least a wiring device into a hole cut in an installation surface such as a wall of a building, and a wiring device assembly with the same.

Background Art

For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-193553 (hereinafter referred to as a “Document 1”) discloses a plate for a wiring device and a wiring device assembly. The plate is hereinafter referred to as a “wall plate”. In the Document 1, when a wiring device such as a switch, a receptacle or the like is installed into a hole cut in an installation surface such as a wall of a building, an embedded box (a switch box) is installed into the hole and an attachment plate to which the wiring device is attached is fixed to the embedded box with screws. The wall plate is then attached to a front side of the attachment plate so that heads of the screws for fixing the attachment plate to the embedded box and the like are concealed with the plate, thereby improving the appearance.

The wall plate disclosed in Document 1 is a synthetic resin molding, and projection pieces provided on a back of the wall plate engage with nails each formed in inner peripheral edges of engaging holes provided in the attachment plate made of metal, thereby attaching the wall plate to the attachment plate.

There is an issue that when the wall plate is attached to and detached from the attachment plate a plurality of times, the projection pieces are worn away, thereby reducing engaging force between the projection pieces of the wall plate and the nails of the attachment plate. Because the projection pieces are made from synthetic resin and each engaged with the nails made of metal. ;

« » . 2

Summary of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to suppress reduction of engaging force between a wall plate for a wiring device and an attachment plate for a wiring device even though the wall plate is attached to and detached from the attachment plate a plurality of times.

An attachment plate for a wiring device, (2) of the present invention is configured to retain at least a wiring device (100) and be fixed to an installation surface of a building, and also configured so that a wall plate for the wiring device, (5) having an opening (62) for exposing a front of the wiring device (100) is detachably attached to a front of the attachment plate (2). The attachment plate (2) comprises a frame (20) made of metal, which is configured so that the wiring device (100) is attached to the frame (20); and an engagement member (30) made from synthetic resin, which is separately formed from the frame (20) and configured to detachably engage with an engagement portion (64a) provided in the wall plate (5). The engagement member (30) is configured to be attached to the frame (20) from a front side of the frame (20), and comprises a joined part (32) configured to be joined to the frame (20).

In an embodiment, the engagement member (30) is attached to a region, covered with the wall plate (5), in the front of the frame (20).

In an embodiment, the engagement member (30) comprises a plurality of joined parts (32) configured to be joined to the frame (20).

In an embodiment, the engagement member (30) comprises: a front : base (31) which is arranged along the front of the frame (20) and is configured so that an end (33) of the front base (31) in a direction (D2) along the front of the frame (20) engages with the engagement portion (64a); and legs (32 and 32) each configured to protrude backward from the front base (31). The legs (32 and 32) are configured so that each leg (32) is inserted into a corresponding engagement hole (28) provided in the frame (20) and a tip (34) of each leg (32) ; engages with an inner peripheral edge of a corresponding engagement hole (28). Each of the legs (32 and 32) corresponds to said joined part.

<) oo . 3

A wiring device assembly (1) of the present invention comprises: a wiring device (100); any one of the aforementioned attachment plates (2) configured to retain the wiring device (100) and be fixed to an installation surface of a building; and a wall plate for the wiring device (5) configured to be detachably attached to a front of the attachment plate (2).

In the attachment plate for the wiring device and the wiring device assembly of the present invention, the wall plate for the wiring device, made from synthetic resin is fixed to the frame made of metal by engaging the engagement portion provided in the wall plate with the engagement member fixed to the attachment plate. The engagement member is separately formed from the attachment plate and made from synthetic resin, and it is accordingly possible to suppress wear of the joined part of the wall plate made from synthetic resin and loose connection between the attachment plate and the wall plate even though the wall plate is attached to and detached from the attachment plate a plurality of times. Since the engagement member is attached to the frame from the front side of the frame, the wall plate functions as a presser for the engagement member when the wall plate is attached to the front side of the frame, thereby preventing the engagement member from unlinking. Even when the attachment plate and the wall plate are fixed to an installation surface of a building, the engagement member can be easily replaced by detaching only the wall plate from the attachment plate.

Brief Description of Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further details. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of main part of an attachment plate in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a sectional view of main part of a wiring device assembly in the embodiment, and FIG. 1C is a partially cutaway perspective view of main part of the attachment plate;

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the attachment plate and

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FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an engagement member as seen from the back;

FIG. 3A is a front view of the attachment plate, FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3C is a back view of the attachment plate and FIG. 3D is an enlarged view of part of “B” in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 4A is a front view of a plate body in the embodiment, FIG. 4B is a cross sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4A, FIG. 4C is a back view of the plate body and FIG. 4D is a top view of the plate body;

FIG. 5A is a front view of the attachment plate mounted with a wiring device, FIG. 5B is a right side view of the attachment plate, FIG. 5C is a back view of the attachment plate and FIG. 5D is a bottom side view of the attachment plate;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wiring device assembly;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the wiring device assembly;

FIG. 8 is a front view of another example of the wiring device assembly; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross sectional views showing joined states between the attachment plate and the plate body.

Description of Embodiments

As shown in FIG. 6, a wiring device assembly 1 in an embodiment is formed of (at least) a buried-type wiring device 100, an attachment plate for the wiring device (hereinafter abbreviated as an “attachment plate”) 2 and a wall plate for the wiring device (hereinafter abbreviated as a “wall plate”) 5.

The wall plate 5, the attachment plate 2 and the wiring device 100 are arranged in order from a first side to a second side in a first direction (e.g., a depth direction) D1 corresponding to a normal to an installation surface such as a wall of a building. In the embodiment, the first side and the second side in the first direction D1 with respect to the wiring device 100 and components thereof define a “front side” and a “back side” of each of them, respectively.

The attachment plate 2 is configured to retain at least a wiring device 100 and be fixed to an installation surface of a building, and includes a frame

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20 made of metal, and an engagement member 30 which is made from (synthetic) resin and configured to be attached to the frame 20.

The frame 20 is made of metal (a casting) and is shaped like a rectangular frame extending in a second direction (e.g., a height direction) D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. In the example of FIG. 6, the frame 20 is integrally formed of two attachment pieces 21(21A) and 21(21B) respectively located at first and second sides in the second direction D2 (e.g., upside and downside), a retaining piece 22(22A) between first ends (e.g., left ends) of the attachment pieces 21(21A) and 21(21B), and a retaining piece 22(22B) between second ends (e.g., right ends) of the attachment pieces 21(21A) and 21(21B). That is, a rectangular opening 23 is formed of the attachment pieces 21 and 21 and the retaining pieces 22 and 22 which surround the opening 23, and a front part (a part of the first side in the first direction D1) of a switch body 101 included in the wiring device 100 is inserted into the opening 23.

The retaining pieces 22 and 22 each have L-shaped cross sections of which inner edges surrounding the opening 23 are extended backward, and the parts extended backward are each provided with retaining holes 24 as an attachment part for retaining at least a wiring device 100.

Each attachment piece 21 is provided with: a hole for screw insertion, used for fixing the frame 20 to an embedded box (not shown) installed in a hole cut in an installation surface such as a wall of a building; and holes for screw insertion, 26 and 26 used for directly fixing the frame 20 to a wall material of the installation surface. Each of the holes (25, 26) is perforated in 25 the depth direction D1. Each hole 25 is shaped like a flattened hole which is longer in a third direction (e.g., a width direction) D3 perpendicular to the second direction D2 (and the first direction D1), and located at a position corresponding to a threaded hole of the embedded box (not shown). When fixing the frame 20 to an embedded box, a worker drives mounting screws ; passed through the holes 25 and 25 into threaded holes of the embedded box, thereby fixing the frame 20 to the embedded box. When directly screwing the frame 20 to a wall material of the installation surface, a worker drives wood

- Kg : 6 screws passed through the holes 26 directly into the wall material, thereby directly fixing the frame 20 to the wall material.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9A-9B, each attachment piece 21 is provided with (e.g., two) rectangular engagement holes 27 and 27 which are formed at both ends thereof (21) to be perforated in the depth direction D1 and into which corresponding projecting pieces 64 and 64 of the wall plate 5 are inserted.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, the frame 20 is provided with (e.g., four) rectangular concave portions 29 which are each arranged adjacent to the (e.g., four) engagement holes 27 in a center side in the height direction D2. Each concave portion 29 is provided with, for example, two rectangular engagement holes 28 and 28 formed in a bottom thereof (29) side-by-side in the height direction D2 so as to perforate through the frame 20 in the depth direction D1.

The (e.g., four) engagement members 30 are fixed to the frame 20 with the engagement members 30 each put in the concave portions 29 by inserting two legs 32 and 32 of each engagement member 30 into two engagement holes 28 and 28 of a corresponding concave portion 29. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2B, each engagement member 30 includes two legs 32 and 32, on outer faces of which two nails 34 and 34 are each formed. The frame 20 includes tapered surfaces 28a which are each formed on inner peripheral surfaces of the engagement holes 28 so as to be located at the front side (the first side of the first direction D1), and each of which is configured, when an engagement member 30 is put in a corresponding concave portion 29, to come into contact with a corresponding leg 32 of the engagement member 30 to push the nail 34, thereby bending the leg 32. The frame 20 also includes recesses 28b which are each formed on inner peripheral surfaces of the engagement holes 28 so as to be located at the back side (the second side of the first direction D1), and each of which is configured to engage with the nail 34 of a leg 32 protruding backward from a corresponding engagement hole 28.

Each engagement member 30 is a synthetic resin molding having electric insulation. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2B, each engagement member 30 integrally includes a front base 31 and two legs 32 and 32, and is a J oo 7 formed like IT as seen from a lateral view. The engagement member 30 is formed so that the front surface of the front base 31 is flush with the front surface of the frame 20 when being arranged in a concave portion 29. As shown in FIG. 1A, two legs 32 and 32 of the engagement member 30 protrude backward from the back (the underside in the figure) of the front base 31 and are inserted into the engagement holes 28 and 28 in the bottom of the concave portion 29. A first end of the front base 31 in the height direction D2 (an end at a side of the adjoining engagement hole 27) protrudes into the engagement hole 27 with the engagement member 30 attached to the frame 20, and a wedge-shaped nail 33 as seen from a lateral view is provided at the tip of the first end. The first end side of the front base 31 provided with the nail 33 has a thickness larger than the second end side of the front base 31 in order to secure the strength of the nail 33. Two legs 32 and 32 of the engagement member 30 each include nails 34 and 34 formed on outer faces of tips of the legs 32 and 32 (i.e., opposite sides of facing surfaces of the legs 32 and 32).

The engagement member 30 is attached to the frame 20, as follows. A worker directs the nail 33 side of an engagement member 30 toward an engagement hole 27 adjacent to a concave portion 29, and then aligns the legs 32 and 32 of the engagement member 30 with the engagement holes 28 and 28 of the concave portion 29 to press the engagement member 30 into the concave portion 29 from the front side. At this time, the nails 34 and 34 at the tips of the legs 32 and 32 come into contact with the tapered surfaces 28a and 28a provided on inner peripheral surfaces of the engagement holes 28 and 28 at the front side to be pushed by the tapered surfaces 28a and 28a, thereby bending the legs 32 and 32 in an approach direction. If the worker further presses the engagement member 30 backward, the nails 34 and 34 go beyond the tapered surface 28a and 28a to protrude from the back of the frame 20 through the engagement holes 28 and 28, and then engage with the recesses 28b and 28b provided at peripheral edges at the back side of the engagement holes 28 and 28. As result, the engagement member 30 is fixed to the frame 20. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, the front base 31 is put in the concave portion 29 and the nail 33 of the front base 31 protrudes into the engagement

. , , 8 hole 27.

The wall plate 5 detachably attached to the front of the attachment plate 2 is now explained. As shown in FIG. 6, the wall plate 5 includes: a plate body 6 which is made from synthetic resin and shaped like a rectangular frame; and a wall plate cover 7 which is made from harder material than the synthetic resin and pasted onto the front of the plate body 6.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-4D, the plate body 6 is, for example, a resin molding made from synthetic resin material having elasticity, such as thermoplastic resin or the like, and integrally includes: a front plate 60 which is shaped like a rectangular frame and has a rectangular opening 62 in the central area thereof (60); and an end wall 61 protruding backward from the periphery of the front plate 60. The size of the opening 62 is set to be slightly larger than the opening 23 of the attachment plate 2. The height (the size in the height direction D2) and the width (the size in the width direction D3) of the plate body 6 are set to be larger than the height (the size in the height direction) and the width (the size in the width direction) of the attachment plate 2, respectively.

The front plate 60 is provided with a projecting part 63 which is formed on a left side (a part at a first side in the width direction D3) of the front plate 60 and shaped like a mount protruding forward. The projecting part 63 is shaped like a rectangle plate of which longer direction corresponds to a longer direction of the plate body 6.

The front plate 60 is provided with four projecting pieces 64 which are formed on the back of the front plate 60 and each protrude backward from positions corresponding to the engagement holes 27 located at the four corners of the frame 20 to be inserted into the corresponding engagement holes 27.

Each projecting piece 64 is shaped like a rectangle having a width (in the width direction D3), and a thickness (in the height direction D2) having a smaller size than the width, and a tip side thereof (64) is free to bend in the height direction D2. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, each projecting piece 64 is provided with engagement teeth (an engagement portion) 64a at an apical part (a back end) thereof (64). As shown in FIG. 1B, engagement teeth 64a of

: : . } . 9 each projecting piece 64 are formed on a side of the projecting piece 64 thereof (64a) facing a corresponding engagement member 30 (each lower side of the upper two projecting pieces 64 and 64 and each upper side of the lower two projecting pieces 64 and 64), and configured to detachably engage with a nail 33 of the corresponding engagement member 30. That is, the projecting pieces 64 are each inserted into the engagement holes 27 and engagement teeth 64a of each projecting piece 64 engage with the nail 33 of a corresponding engagement member 30, and thereby the plate body 6 is attached to the frame 20. Engagement teeth 64a of each projecting piece 64 are in the shape (what is called a saw teeth shape) that three triangular grooves are arranged in the depth direction D1 so as to engage with the nail 33 of a corresponding engagement member 30 at any position of a plurality of attachment positions in the depth direction D1 (three attachment positions in the present embodiment).

As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the front plate 60 is provided with U-shaped slits 65 each of which is formed at a portion around a corresponding projecting piece 64 so as to perforate through the front plate 60 in the depth direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 1B, each slit 65 is formed to surround an adjacent engagement member 30 side of a corresponding projecting piece 64 (i.e., lower sides of the upper projecting pieces 64 and 64 and upper sides of the lower projecting pieces 64 and 64), and both sides of the projecting piece 64 in the width direction D3. As a result, a tip side (a back end side) of each projecting piece 64 easily bends in a direction opposite to a corresponding engagement member 30.

When a worker attaches the plate body 6 (the wall plate 5) to the attachment plate 2 or detaches the plate body 6 from the attachment plate 2, the projecting pieces 64 are each pushed by the nails 33 of the engagement members 30 and each projecting piece 64 receives force in a direction ] separated from a corresponding nail 33. Force by which the nails 33 each push the projecting pieces 64 is also added to the root ends of the projecting pieces 64 in the plate body 6, but adhesive force between the adhesive force 6 and the wall plate cover 7 is reduced by the slits 65 provided around the

. ) , : 10 projecting pieces 64, and accordingly the root ends of the projecting pieces 64 easily bend. Therefore, when the projecting pieces 64 are each pushed by the nails 33 of the engagement members 30, the root ends of the projecting pieces 64 in the plate body 6 also bend along with the projecting pieces 64, thereby engaging the projecting pieces 64 with the engagement members 30, or detaching the projecting pieces 64 from the engagement members 30, while reducing stress added to each projecting piece 64.

The wall plate cover 7 is shaped like a “U” by processing a hard plate material (e.g., an aluminum board) so as to cover almost the whole front plate 60 of the plate body 6 except for the projecting part 63. The wall plate cover 7 is pasted onto the front of the plate body 6 through a U-shaped adhesive sheet 8 on both sides of which adhesives are applied. In the present embodiment, the wall plate cover 7 and the plate body 6 are pasted together through the adhesive sheet 8, but adhesive material such as adhesive agent (in an example, gelatinous adhesive) may be employed in place of the adhesive sheet 8. The adhesive sheet 8 intervenes between the plate body 6 and the wall plate cover 7, but is not shown in FIGS. 1B and 9A-9B.

The wiring device attached to the attachment plate 2 is next explained.

In the example of FIGS. 5A-5D, 6 and 7, the wiring device 100 includes a switch body 101 having a case 103 housing a switch mechanism configured to open and close contacts, and an operating handle 102 which is supported by the switch body 101 so as to be free to turn around, as a fulcrum point, an either side thereof (102) in the width direction D3 (the left side). The switch body 101 is provided with a push button 104 which is located at a front of the switch body 101 and configured to be pressed backward with respect to the case 103. The case 103 houses the switch mechanism for switching ON and

OFF between the contacts whenever the push button 104 is pushed. The case 103 is shaped like a rectangle from an anterior view, and two attachment nails 105 and 105 are formed on each side of the case 103 in a longer direction (the width direction D3). The case 103 includes a flexible piece 106 which is provided with two attachment nails 105 and 105 located at a side (a right side in the embodiment) of the case 103 and is free to bend in a direction (D3)

A , 11 perpendicular to the side of the case 103. If force for pressing the flexible piece 106 in a direction into the case 103 is added, the attachment nails 105 and 105 on the flexible piece 106 can be moved in the direction into the case 103. The case 1083 is provided with two bosses 107 and 107 which are located in the front of the case 103 and arranged along an edge of a first side (a left side in the embodiment) of the case 103 in the longer direction (the width direction D3). The bosses 107 and 107 each include cylindrical parts which are formed at tips of the bosses and of which axial directions are in parallel with the height direction D2. The cylindrical parts at the tips of the bosses 107 and 107 are engaged with grooves (not shown) provided on the back of the operating handle 102, and thereby the operating handle 102 is supported by the switch body 101 so as to be free to turn with respect to the switch body 101.

The case 103 is provided with grooves 108 and 108 which are located in the front of the case 103 and arranged along an edge of a second side (a right side in the embodiment) of the case 103 in the longer direction (the width direction

D3). The operating handle 102 includes projecting pieces 109 and 109 which are formed on the back of the operating handle 102 so as to be inserted into the grooves 108 and 108, and nails 109a and 109a each formed at tips of the projecting pieces 109 and 109. The nails 109a and 109a are each hooked on opening edges of the grooves 108 and 108, thereby preventing an end of the operating handle 102 not supported by the switch body 101 from floating up.

When attaching the switch body 101 to the frame 20, a worker first inserts the attachment nails 105 and 105 on a first side (a left side in the embodiment) of the switch body 101, which is not provided with the flexible piece 106, to corresponding retaining holes 24 and 24. When the attachment nails 105 and 105 on the left side are engaged with the retaining holes 24 and 24, if the worker then inserts the attachment nails 105 and 105 on a second side (a right side in the embodiment) of the switch body 101, which is provided with the flexible piece 106, to corresponding retaining holes 24 and 24, the flexible piece 106 is bent and the attachment nails 105 and 105 on the right side engage with the corresponding retaining holes 24 and 24. Thus, the attachment nails 105 on the left and right sides are each engaged with the retaining holes 24, and accordingly the switch body 101 is attached to the frame 20 (the attachment plate 2). When detaching the switch body 101 from the frame 20, the worker presses the flexible piece 106 in the direction into the case 103 to separate the attachment nails 105 and 105 on the right side from the retaining holes 24 and 24. If the worker then pushes the switch body 101 to the back side of the frame 20 with the engagement between the attachment nails 105 and 105 and the retaining holes 24 and 24 released, the switch body 101 can be easily detached from the frame 20.

The switch body 101 of the wiring device 100 shown in the figures can be attached to the attachment plate 2 through one set of attachment parts (e.g., four retaining holes 24). The one set is hereinafter referred to as an “attachment set”. The height (the size in the height direction D2) of the front of the switch body 101 is about one third of the height (the size in the height direction D2) of the opening 23. The attachment plate 2 includes three attachment sets so that switch bodies 101 can be attached up to three to one attachment plate 2. In case the dimension of the switch body 101 is defined as a unit dimension for wiring devices, when only one switch body 101 having the unit dimension is attached to the attachment plate 2, the switch body 101 is attached to a central attachment set of the attachment plate 2 in the height direction D2. When two switch bodies 101 each of which has the unit dimension are attached to the attachment plate 2, the switch bodies 101 are attached to an upper attachment set and a lower attachment set of the attachment plate 2 in the height direction D2. When three switch bodies 101 each of which has the unit dimension are attached to the attachment plate 2, the switch bodies 101 are each attached to all of the three attachment sets.

When only one switch body 101 is attached to the attachment plate 2, it is recommended to use the operating handle 102 having an area capable of covering almost the whole opening 23. When two switch bodies 101 are attached to the attachment plate 2, it is recommended to use two operating handles each of which has almost the same size as half of the operating handle 102 in the height direction D2, used when only one switch body 101 is attached.

When three switch bodies 101 are attached to the attachment plate 2, it is

, } . 13 recommended to use three operating handles each of which has almost the same size as one third of the operating handle 102 in the height direction D2, used when only one switch body 101 is attached.

It is commonly performed to paste wallpaper (cloth) on inner walls of a building such as a house or the like. In order to install a buried-type wiring device on a wall with the back part of the device berried in the wall, it is necessary to remove wallpaper around a region for burying the device to cut a hole in the region. In this perforation work, wallpaper may remain in the region to protrude from the periphery of the hole due to failure to neatly remove wallpaper which was present at the hole. A contractor usually inserts the protruding part of the wallpaper between the attachment plate 2 and the wall. In this installation, a wall plate 5 can be attached successfully.

However, when an attachment plate 2 is attached to an embedded box to be installed on a wall and then wallpaper is pasted on the wall as a matter of convenience, the protruding part of the wallpaper cannot be inserted between the attachment plate 2 and the wall, and consequently is to be inserted between a wall plate 5 and the wall. Thus, if the wallpaper is inserted between the wall plate 5 and the wall, a plate body 6 is in the state of floating forward by thickness of the wallpaper. Therefore, in the present embodiment, each dimension of the components is set so that a predetermined difference in level is provided between the back end of the plate body 6 (i.e., the back end of the end wall 61) and the back end of the attachment plate 2 (i.e., a wall), and in this condition engagement teeth 64a of each projecting piece 64 in the plate body 6 can be engaged with the nail 33 of a corresponding engagement member 30. Accordingly, when the plate body 6 is attached to the attachment plate 2, a protruding part of wallpaper is inserted in a gap between the back end of the plate body 6 and the wall. As a result, it is possible to attach the plate body 6 to the attachment plate 2 in the state that the plate body 6 floats from the wall.

In various wallpapers having different thicknesses, wallpaper of which thickness is in a range of 0.5 to 1.0mm is used in general. Therefore, the embodiment is configured so that the difference in level between the back end

J of the plate body 6 (i.e., the back end of the end wall 61) and the back end of the attachment plate 2 (i.e., a wall) can be adjusted in three stages of about 0.6mm, about 1.2mm and about 1.8mm. As shown in FIG. 1B, the engagement teeth 64a are formed to have three triangular grooves which are arranged in the depth direction D1, and each of which can engaged with the nail 33 of a corresponding engagement member 30. Therefore, by changing the position in the engagement teeth 64a engaged with the nail 33, the attachment position of the wall plate 5 to the attachment plate 2 can be adjusted in three stages in the depth direction D1. As shown in FIG. 1B, when the nail 33 engages with the anterior triangular groove of the three triangular grooves in the engagement teeth 64a, the attachment position of the wall plate 5 to the attachment plate 2 is located innermost. As a result, the gap between the back end of the wall plate 5 and a wall becomes a minimum (about 0.6mm). As shown in FIG. 9B, when the nail 33 engages with the posterior triangular groove of the three triangular grooves in the engagement teeth 64a, the attachment position of the wall plate 5 to the attachment plate 2 is located in front. As a result, the gap between the back end of the wall plate 5 and a wall becomes a maximum (about 1.8mm). As shown in FIG. 9A, when the nail 33 engages with the central triangular groove of the three triangular grooves in the engagement teeth 64a, the attachment position of the wall plate 5 to the attachment plate 2 is located at an intermediate position between the aforementioned attachment positions. As a result, the gap between the back end of the wall plate 5 and a wall becomes about 1.2mm.

By changing a position in engagement teeth 64a of each projecting piece 64, engaged with the nail 33 of a corresponding engagement member 30, a gap between the back end of the wall plate 5 and a wall can be adjusted in three stages. What is needed is to change a position in engagement teeth 64a of each projecting piece 64, engaged with the nail 33 of a corresponding engagement member 30 so as to make an optimum gap in response to a thickness of wallpaper.

In the present embodiment, the attachment plate 2 (the attachment plate for the wiring device) is configured to retain the wiring device 100 and be fixed to an installation surface of a building, and also configured so that the wall plate 5 (the wall plate for the wiring device), having the opening 62 for exposing the front of the wiring device 100 is detachably attached to the front of the attachment plate 2. The attachment plate 2 includes: the frame 20 made of metal, which is configured so that the wiring device 100 is attached to the frame 20; and the engagement member 30 made from synthetic resin, which is separately formed from the frame 20, and configured to detachably engage with the engagement teeth 64a (the engagement portion) provided in the wall plate 5. Each engagement member 30 is configured to be attached to the frame 20 from the front side of the frame 20, and includes joined parts (formed of legs 32 and 32 at a tip of each of which a nail 34 is formed) configured to be joined to the frame 20.

By engaging the engagement portions (each of which has engagement teeth 64a) provided in the wall plate 5 with the engagement members 30 fixed to the attachment plate 2, the wall plate 5 made from synthetic resin is fixed to the frame 20 made of metal. Each engagement member 30 is separately formed from the attachment plate 2 and made from synthetic resin, and it is accordingly possible to prevent the joined parts (64a), each made from synthetic resin, from wearing even though the wall plate 5 is attached to and detached from the attachment plate 2 a plurality of times. As a result, the attachment plate 2 from which the wall plate 5 joined to the attachment plate 2 is not likely to be released can be realized. In addition, each engagement member 30 is attached to the frame 20 from the front side of the frame 20, and accordingly the wall plate 5 functions as a presser for each engagement member 30 when the wall plate 5 is attached to the front side of the frame 20, thereby preventing each engagement member 30 from unlinking. Even when the attachment plate 2 and the wall plate 5 are fixed to an installation surface of a building, each engagement member 30 can be easily replaced by detaching only the wall plate 5 from the attachment plate 2.

In the embodiment, the engagement members 30 are each attached to A regions, covered with the wall plate 5, in the front of the frame 20.

In this structure, when the wall plate 5 is attached to the attachment plate 2, the engagement members 30 are covered with the wall plate 5, and accordingly the appearance of the installed wiring device assembly 1 can be improved.

In the embodiment, each engagement member 30 includes a plurality of (e.g., two) joined parts (e.g., legs 32 and 32 at a tip of each of which a nail 34 is formed) configured to be joined to the frame 20.

In this structure, a plurality of places of each engagement member 30 is joined to the frame 20, and accordingly each engagement member 30 is hard to be released from the frame 20 when the engagement portions of the wall plate 5 are engaged with the engagement members 30 or are detached from the engagement members 30.

In the embodiment, each engagement member 30 includes: a front base 31 which is arranged along the front of the frame 20 and is configured so that an end 33 of the front base 31 in a direction D2 along the front of the frame 20 engages with a corresponding engagement portion 64a; and legs 32 and 32 each configured to protrude backward from the front base 31. The legs 32 and 32 are configured so that each leg 32 is inserted into a corresponding engagement hole 28 provided in the frame 20 and a tip (34) of each leg (32) engages with an inner peripheral edge of a corresponding engagement hole 28. Each of the legs 32 and 32 corresponds to said joined part.

In this structure, legs 32 and 32 of each engagement member 30 are joined to the frame 20, and accordingly each engagement member 30 is hard to be released from the frame 20 when the engagement portions of the wall plate 5 are engaged with the engagement members 30 or are detached from the engagement members 30.

In the embodiment, the wiring device assembly 1 includes: the wiring device 100; the aforementioned attachment plate 2 configured to retain the i wiring device 100 and be fixed to an installation surface of a building; and the wall plate 5 configured to be detachably attached to the front of the attachment plate 2.

EE 17

In this structure, by engaging the engagement portions (each of which has engagement teeth 64a) provided in the wall plate 5 with the engagement members 30 fixed to the attachment plate 2, the wall plate 5 made from synthetic resin is fixed to the frame 20 made of metal. Each engagement member 30 is separately formed from the attachment plate 2 and made from synthetic resin, and it is accordingly possible to prevent the engagement portions (64a), each made from synthetic resin, from wearing even though the wall plate 5 is attached to and detached from the attachment plate 2 a plurality of times. As a result, the wiring device assembly 1 that the wall plate 5 joined to the attachment plate 2 is not likely to be released from the attachment plate 2 can be realized. In addition, each engagement member 30 is attached to the frame 20 from the front side of the frame 20, and accordingly the wall plate 5 functions as a presser for each engagement member 30 when the wall plate 5 is attached to the front side of the frame 20, thereby preventing each engagement member 30 from unlinking. Even when the attachment plate 2 and the wall plate 5 are fixed to an installation surface of a building, each engagement member 30 can be easily replaced by detaching only the wall plate 5 from the attachment plate 2.

In the present embodiment, a switch is illustrated as the wiring device 100 attached to the attachment plate 2, but the wiring device is not limited to the switch. For example, the wiring device may be a receptacle 200 having slots for power plugs in a front thereof as shown in FIG. 8, or various wiring devices can be applied thereto.

Claims

i 18 Claims

1. An attachment plate for a wiring device, configured to retain at least a wiring device and be fixed to an installation surface of a building, and also configured so that a wall plate for the wiring device, having an opening for exposing a front of the wiring device is detachably attached to a front of the attachment plate, wherein the attachment plate comprises: a frame made of metal, said frame being configured so that the wiring device is attached to the frame; and an engagement member made from synthetic resin, said engagement member being separately formed from the frame and configured to detachably engage with an engagement portion provided in the wall plate, wherein the engagement member is configured to be attached to the frame from a front side of the frame, and comprises a joined part configured to be joined to the frame.

2. The attachment plate of claim 1, wherein the engagement member is attached to a region, covered with the wall plate, in the front of the frame.

3. The attachment plate of claim 1, wherein the engagement member comprises a plurality of joined parts configured to be joined to the frame.

4. The attachment plate of claim 1, wherein the engagement member comprises: a front base which is arranged along the front of the frame and is configured so that an end of the front base in a direction along the front of the frame engages with the engagement portion; and legs each configured to protrude backward from the front base, wherein the legs are configured so that each leg is inserted into a corresponding engagement hole provided in the frame and a tip of each leg ; engages with an inner peripheral edge of a corresponding engagement hole, each of the legs corresponding to said joined part.

. ) 19

5. A wiring device assembly, comprising: a wiring device; an attachment plate for the wiring device, of any one of claims 1 to 4, configured to retain the wiring device and be fixed to an installation surface of a building; and a wall plate for the wiring device configured to be detachably attached to a front of the attachment plate.