WO2010109322A2

WO2010109322A2 - Surface-mounted electrical outlet for installation in an inside corner

Info

Publication number: WO2010109322A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/000714
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikael Bergman
Original assignee: BEMITEC AB; Bo Fastening AB
Current assignee: BEMITEC AB; Bo Fastening AB
Priority date: 2009-03-26
Filing date: 2010-03-11
Publication date: 2010-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-26
Also published as: WO2010109322A3

Abstract

A surface-mounted electrical outlet (101) which comprises a front side (102), first (103) and second (104) upright side edges of the front side, and a top side (105). A front portion (106) of the top side (105) connects tightly to the front side (102) along substantially the entire distance between the first side edge (103) and the second side edge (104). The front side (102) exhibits at least one outlet receptacle (107, 107') having an intended insertion direction (I) for a corresponding plug connector. The top side (105) exhibits a first rear edge (108) and a second rear edge (109). The rear edges (108, 109) extend in two respective planes forming an angle (α) larger than 0 degrees relative to each other in order to provide tight abutment between the first rear edge (108) and a first interior wall, as well as between the second rear edge (109) and a second interior wall, when installing the electrical outlet in an inside corner.

Description

SURFACE-MOUNTED ELECTRICAL OUTLET FOR INSTALLATION IN AN INSIDE CORNER

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a surface-mounted electrical outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A previously known method of installing electrical outlets requires making a hole in the wall for recessing the electrical outlet. However, such a hole-making is both work intensive and time consuming, and a surface-mounted installation of the electrical outlet can save both time and money.

Due to the increasing use of consumer electronics such as computers and printers, and desires for a greater number of lighting points, the number of wall outlets or outlet receptacles is often regarded as insufficient in apartments and other premises. A greater number of outlet receptacles can be achieved by using extension cords with multiple sockets attached to them. However, extension cords can be perceived as impractical in connection with cleaning and, furthermore, run the risk of being damaged if they get pinched.

The previously known surface-mounted electrical outlets can be perceived as unwieldy and space consuming if they are installed in unsuitable positions on an interior wall, so that they get in the way of a free positioning of larger pieces of furniture such as sofas or book shelves. An even greater number of surface- mounted electrical outlets installed along the walls will make the furnishing even more difficult.

Systems using so-called channel mouldings, i.e. skirting boards, corner strips, ceiling trims and/or window/door trims being designed to provide a channel for wiring installation behind the front side of the mouldings, after installation, are previously known. Systems with channel mouldings greatly facilitate the wiring installation when installing components such as surface-mounted electrical outlets. However, the problems remain that the existing surface-mounted electrical outlets can make the furnishing more difficult when they are installed in a greater number along the walls. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide a surface-mounted electrical outlet which can be installed in an electrically safe and aesthetically pleasing way in a room, in a position which is usually free of furniture and other interior fittings, i.e. in an inside corner, so that a greater number of outlet receptacles can be provided in the room without making furnishing and decorating of the room more difficult to any degree worth mentioning.

This object is achieved by means of a surface-mounted electrical outlet according to claim 1, which comprises a front side, first and second upright side edges of the front side, and a top side, wherein a front portion of the top side connects tightly to the front side along substantially the entire distance between the first side edge and the second side edge and wherein the front side exhibits at least one outlet receptacle having an intended insertion direction for a corresponding plug connector, and wherein the top side exhibits a first rear edge and a second rear edge, said rear edges extending in two respective planes forming an angle larger than 0 degrees relative to each other, in order to provide tight abutment between the first rear edge and a first interior wall, as well as between the second rear edge and a second interior wall, when installing the electrical outlet in an inside corner.

A second object of the invention is to provide a surface-mounted electrical outlet which can be installed in an aesthetically pleasing and wall surface- saving way in an inside corner between two respective skirting boards extending along a respective interior wall toward the inside corner.

This second object is achieved by means of an electrical outlet according to claim 3, where the front side further comprises a first side portion extending toward the first side edge, and a second side portion extending toward the second side edge, wherein the first and second side portions extend in two respective planes forming an angle larger than 0 degrees relative to each other, so that the plane of the first side portion extends at an angle relative to the first interior wall, and the plane of the second side portion extends at an angle relative to the second interior wall, when installing the electrical outlet in said inside corner. A third object of the invention is to provide a surface-mounted electrical outlet which makes it easier to fit one or two skirting boards to the respective sides of the electrical outlet in a neat and decorative way.

This third object is achieved by means of an electrical outlet according to claim 5, where at least one of the first and second side portions exhibits an opening for inserting an end portion of a skirting board or channel moulding for skirting, wherein the opening has a shape adapted to substantially tightly surround said end portion of the board/moulding.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a surface-mounted electrical outlet which makes it easier and less time-consuming to fit at least one channel moulding extending outwardly from one side of the electrical outlet in a neat and decorative way, and which, in addition, can simplify the wiring installation.

This fourth object is achieved by means of an electrical outlet according to claim 6, where at least one of the first and second side portions exhibits an opening for insertion of a bottom portion of a channel moulding, wherein the opening has a shape which is adapted to seal against at least the front side of the bottom portion, and wherein the opening leaves support surfaces for abutment against an end of a cover portion belonging to the channel moulding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, a number of embodiments of the invention will be described more closely, only as examples and with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a surface-mounted electrical outlet according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the electrical outlet is installed in an inside corner in a room having two channel mouldings for skirting extending outward from the electrical outlet along the interior walls of the room and a corner channel moulding extending upwardly from the electrical outlet;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment, wherein a short section of a bottom portion and a cover portion, respectively, of a channel moulding are shown, in order to illustrate the simplified fitting of channel mouldings which can be obtained through the invention;

Figure 3 shows schematically an electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment in a partially disassembled condition; and

Figure 4 is a schematic view, as seen obliquely from the front, of an electrical outlet according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a surface-mounted electrical outlet 101 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, when it is installed in an inside corner between two interior walls 100, 100'. In the embodiment which is shown in Figure 1, two channel mouldings 115, 115' for skirting, of the previously mentioned type, have been fitted so that they extend outwardly from the electrical outlet 101 along the interior walls 100, 100'. Furthermore, a so-called corner channel moulding 115" has been fitted as far into the inside corner as possible, so that it extends upwardly from the electrical outlet 101. Corner channel moulding should be understood as a moulding which, after fitting in the inside corner, provides a channel for wiring installation between the front side of the moulding and the behind-lying interior wall surfaces.

As is evident from the more detailed view in Figure 2, the electrical outlet 101 comprises a front side 102, first 103 and second 104 upright side edges of the front side, and a top side 105, wherein a front portion 106 of the top side 105 connects tightly to the front side 102 along substantially the entire distance between the first side edge 103 and the second side edge 104. As used herein, the term "upright side edges" is intended to also include edges which are not completely vertical. As is shown in Figure 2, the front side 102 exhibits at least one outlet receptacle 107, 107' having an intended insertion direction I for a corresponding plug connector.

As is evident from Figure 2, the top side 105 of the electrical outlet according to the invention exhibits a first rear edge 108 and a second rear edge 109. The first and second rear edges 108, 109 extend in two respective planes forming an angle α larger than 0 degrees relative to each other in order to provide tight abutment between the first rear edge 108 and a first interior wall 100, as well as between the second rear edge 109 and a second interior wall 100', when installing the electrical outlet in an inside corner. This design makes it possible to install the surface-mounted electrical outlet in an inside corner which has an angle suitable for the selected electrical outlet in an electrically safe and aesthetically pleasing way, without any gaps along the interior walls.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the electrical outlet according to the invention, the plane of the first rear edge 108 forms a substantially right angle α with the plane of the second rear edge 109, as is indicated in Figure 2. Such a design provides a tight abutment between the electrical outlet and the interior walls in a room with right-angled inside corners. However, within the scope of the invention, it is also possible with embodiments where the planes of the rear edges form an angle which is not 90 degrees. Examples of this are variants of the electrical outlet which are adapted for installation in bay windows, octagonal patio rooms and other non-rectangular rooms.

In another advantageous embodiment of the surface-mounted electrical outlet 101 according to the invention, the front side 102 further comprises a first side portion 110 extending toward the first side edge 103, and a second side portion 111 extending toward the second side edge 104. The first and second side portions 110, 111 extend in two respective planes forming an angle β larger than 0 degrees relative to each other, so that the plane of the first side portion 110 extends at an angle relative to a first interior wall 100, and the plane of the second side portion 111 extends at an angle relative to a second interior wall 100', when installing the electrical outlet in an inside corner. Such a design makes it easy to fit skirting boards in tight contact with both the electrical outlet and the respective interior walls. Even if figures 1 to 4 show electrical outlets where the front side has such angled side portions, it is fully possible with embodiments of the invention where one or both of the angled side portions are missing.

In one advantageous embodiment of the electrical outlet 101 according to the invention, the plane of the first side portion 110 forms a substantially right angle β to the plane of the second side portion 111, as is indicated in Figure 2. This provides a suitable geometry for the fitting of skirting boards when the electrical outlet is installed in a right-angled inside corner.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the electrical outlet 101 according to the invention, at least one of the first and second side portions 110, 111 exhibits an opening 112, 113 for insertion of an end portion of a skirting board or channel moulding for skirting, wherein the opening 112, 113 has a shape adapted to substantially tightly surround said end portion of the board/moulding. Such an opening simplifies the fitting of skirting boards, since the end of a board/moulding having a slightly longer length than required can be pushed into the opening, so that a smaller deviation in length or a misaligned cut of the board/moulding become invisible in the completed installation.

In the preferred embodiment of the electrical outlet 101 which is schematically shown in Figure 2, at least one of the first and second side portions 110, 111 exhibits an opening 112, 113 for insertion of a bottom portion 114 of a channel moulding 115, 115', wherein the opening 112 has a shape which is adapted to seal against at least the front side of the bottom portion 114, and wherein the opening 112, 113 leaves support surfaces 116, 117 for abutment against an end 118 of a cover portion 119 belonging to the channel moulding 115, 115'. Such a design of the electrical outlet provides great advantages. After the installation of the electrical outlet 101 in an inside corner, one end of a bottom portion 114 belonging to a channel moulding 115 having a slightly larger length than the nominal one can be pushed through the opening 112 in the direction of the arrow A. After verification of the position of the other end of the bottom portion (e.g. that the other end is in the correct position in the next inside corner), the bottom portion 114 can be fixed in the desired position by using suitable fastening means, e.g. so called clips. After having fixed the bottom portion 114, the wiring installation can be done. When the wiring installation has been completed, one end 118 of a cover portion 119 having an exact length is brought in toward the support surface 116 of the first side portion 110, in the direction of the arrow B, until the end 118 abuts tightly against the support surface 116. Thereafter, the cover portion 119 is pressed down in the direction of the arrow C, until it is coupled to the bottom portion 114 in order to form a complete channel moulding. Furthermore, through this embodiment, additional wiring installation is facilitated when performing post-installation of additional components in the electrical system, since the cover portion 119 easily can be detached from the bottom portion 114, in order to provide access to the channel of the bottom portion 114 for wiring installation, if this is necessary. In another advantageous embodiment of the electrical outlet according to the invention, the top side 105 has an intermediate rear edge 120, extending between the first rear edge 108 and the second rear edge 109, wherein the intermediate rear edge 120 connects to the first 108 and second rear edges 109 at obtuse angles γl, γ2, as is indicated in Figure 2. Such a design ensures that an opening for wiring installation and/or for insertion of one end of a corner strip, preferably a corner channel moulding, is provided between the intermediate rear edge 120 of the top side and the behind-lying interior wall surfaces 100, 100' (see Figure 1), when the electrical outlet 101 is installed in a substantially right-angled inside corner.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the intermediate rear edge 120 of the top side 105 is concave outwardly toward the front side 102, as is shown in Figure 2. Such a design facilitates the use of a fillet-like corner channel moulding which melts well into the interior walls.

Figure 3 schematically shows an electrical outlet according to the preferred embodiment in a disassembled condition. As is evident from the Figure, the electrical outlet 101 in the preferred embodiment comprises a back piece 121 for fixing to at least one wall, an outlet body 122 (or 222 in Figure 4) having at least one outlet receptacle 107, 107', a front piece 123 having an opening 124 for exposing said outlet receptacle(s) and intended for fixing to said back piece, and a hood portion 125 for interconnecting the front piece and the back piece at the top. However, within the scope of the invention, it is also possible with embodiments where the electrical outlet is constituted of other, and a greater or smaller number of main components than the above-mentioned. Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment (not shown in the Figures) of the electrical outlet, the front side and the top side are formed by one and the same front piece.

Suitable components for the electrical outlet according to the present invention, for example outlet bodies, terminal blocks, mounting plates and plastic covers, are known per se for use in conventional surface-mounted electrical outlets. After having read through the present description, the skilled person will therefore be able to select and adapt such components, made of materials suitable for the purpose, for implementing the present invention.

In one advantageous embodiment (not shown in the Figures), the electrical outlet has at least one outlet receptacle being so positioned that the intended insertion direction extends substantially perpendicularly to one of said first and second side portions. Such a design makes it possible to get the insertion direction for a plug connector to extend in parallel with, or substantially in parallel with, a behind-lying interior wall, which is advantageous since protruding plug connectors with attached electrical cords will then get in the way of furnishing as little as possible.

In the preferred embodiment of the electrical outlet according to the invention, as shown in Figure 2, the front side has a central portion 126 extending in a plane forming acute angles with the respective planes of said rear edges 108, 109, wherein the electrical outlet has at least one outlet receptacle 107, 107' being so positioned that the intended insertion direction I extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the central portion 126. In the preferred embodiment, the central portion 126 extends between said first 110 and second 111 side portions.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown in the Figures), the front side is so designed that the first side portion connects directly to the second side portion. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the front side lacks a central portion between the angled side portions, which can be advantageous e.g. in embodiments where it is desired to align the insertion direction for plug connectors along the interior walls, and thus no "straight forward-facing" surface is needed for the outlet receptacles.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated schematically in Figure 4, the surface-mounted electrical outlet 201 has at least one outlet connector 227 for plug-in of a suitable signal or data transmission connector. The signal and/or data transmission connectors in this embodiment can be according to any standard which is suitable for the purpose.

In the foregoing, a number of embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to the figures in the accompanying drawings. It must be understood that the described embodiments and the details in the Figures should only be seen as examples and that many other embodiments of the invention are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A surface-mounted electrical outlet (101; 201), comprising a front side (102), first (103) and second (104) upright side edges of the front side, and a top side (105), wherein a front portion (106) of the top side (105) connects tightly to the front side (102) along substantially the entire distance between the first side edge (103) and the second side edge (104) and wherein the front side (102) exhibits at least one outlet receptacle (107, 107') having an intended insertion direction (I) for a corresponding plug connector, cha ra cterized in that the top side (105) exhibits a first rear edge

(108) and a second rear edge (109), said rear edges (108, 109) extending in two respective planes forming an angle (α) larger than 0 degrees relative to each other, in order to provide tight abutment between the first rear edge (108) and a first interior wall (100), as well as between the second rear edge

(109) and a second interior wall (100'), when installing the electrical outlet in an inside corner.

2. The electrical outlet according to claim 1, cha ra cterized i n that the plane of the first rear edge (108) forms a substantially right angle (α) with the plane of the second rear edge (109).

3. The electrical outlet according to claim 1 or 2, cha ra cterized i n that the front side (102) further comprises a first side portion (110) extending toward the first side edge (103), and a second side portion (111) extending toward the second side edge (104), wherein the first and second side portions (110, 111) extend in two respective planes forming an angle (β) larger than 0 degrees relative to each other, so that the plane of the first side portion (110) extends at an angle relative to the first interior wall (100), and the plane of the second side portion (111) extends at an angle relative to the second interior wall (100'), when installing the electrical outlet in said inside corner.

4. The electrical outlet according to claim 3, cha ra cterized i n that the plane of the first side portion (110) forms a substantially right angle (β) with the plane of the second side portion (111).

5. The electrical outlet according to claim 3 or 4, cha ra cterized i n that at least one of the first and second side portions (110, 111) exhibits an opening (112, 113) for insertion of an end portion of a skirting board or channel moulding for skirting, wherein the opening (112, 113) has a shape adapted to substantially tightly surround said end portion of the board/moulding.

6. The electrical outlet according to any one of the claims 3-5, cha racterized i n that at least one of the first and second side portions (110, 111) exhibits an opening (112, 113) for insertion of a bottom portion (114) of a channel moulding (115, 115'), that the opening (112) has a shape which is adapted to seal against at least the front side of the bottom portion (114), and that the opening (112, 113) leaves support surfaces (116, 117) for abutment against an end (118) of a cover portion (119) belonging to the channel moulding (115, 115').

7. The electrical outlet according to any one of the preceding claims, cha ra cterized i n that the top side (105) has an intermediate rear edge (120), extending between the first rear edge (108) and the second rear edge (109), wherein the intermediate rear edge (120) connects to the first (108) and second rear edges (109) at obtuse angles (γl, γ2).

8. The electrical outlet according to claim 7, cha racterized i n that the intermediate rear edge (120) of the top side (105) is concave outwardly toward the front side (102).

9. The electrical outlet according to any one of the claims 1-8, cha racterized i n that the electrical outlet (101) comprises a back piece (121) for fixing to at least one wall, an outlet body (122) having at least one outlet receptacle (107, 107'), a front piece (123) having an opening (124) for exposing said outlet receptacle(s) and intended for fixing to said back piece, and a hood portion (125) for interconnecting the front piece and the back piece at the top.

10. The electrical outlet according to any one of the claims 1-8, cha racterized i n that the front side and the top side are formed by one and the same front piece.

11. The electrical outlet according to any one of the claims 3-10, ch a racterized i n that the electrical outlet has at least one outlet receptacle being so positioned that the intended insertion direction extends substantially perpendicularly to one of said first and second side portions.

12. The electrical outlet according to any one of the claims 1-11, ch a ra cterized i n that the front side has a central portion (126), extending in a plane forming acute angles with the respective planes of said rear edges (108, 109), wherein the electrical outlet has at least one outlet receptacle (107, 107') being so positioned that the intended insertion direction (I) extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the central portion (126).

13. The electrical outlet according to claim 12, ch a racterized i n that the central portion (126) extends between said first (110) and second (111) side portions.

14. The electrical outlet according to any one of the claims 3-11, cha racterized i n that the front side is so designed that the first side portion connects directly to the second side portion.

15. The electrical outlet according to any one of the preceding claims, cha racterized i n that the electrical outlet (201) has at least one outlet connector (227) for plug-in of a suitable signal or data transmission connector.