GB2199997A - An electrical accessory, eg. a ceiling rose - Google Patents

Abstract

A base member (10) has a cut-out or slotting (14) extending from its edge and is closed off by a closure member (30) entrant thereto and having cable entry provisions (34-38) associated therewith. The closure (30) can slide into place and carry a hinged cover or outlet part (50), or such a part may be hinged otherwise to the base and enter an edge part of the base cut-out or slotting to close it off. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Electrical Accessories DESCRIPTION This invention relates to housing units of or for electrical accessories, particularly but not necessarily exclusively to ceiling roses.

In principle, the invention can be applied to any accessory or housing unit that has a base into which mains feeds are run and a cover that fits onto/over the base.

For a ceiling rose, its base is normally of flat plate-like form save for electrical connection provisions thereof or carried thereby, and its cover is normally of dished type connecting by inner formation of its rim with edge formations of the base, typically cooperating screw-thread or snap-fit formations, respectively. It is further customary for ceiling rose bases to have knock-out formations through which mains cables can enter, and for ceiling rose covers to have a centre aperture through which an electrical cord drop to a lampholder can pass. In devising an improved ceiling rose, there are two first aspects of this invention which we prefer to combine but each of which has merit in itself. One aspect concerns facilitating base fixing and running of mains cables without the limitations inherent in prior knock-out provisions.The other aspect concerns alternative association of base and cover parts, particularly their connection and disconnection with and without complete disassociation.

According to one aspect of this invention, the base member of an electrical accessory or housing unit therefor has a cut-out or slotting extending from its edge into the area of the base, and there is associated with that cut-out or slotting both a closure member and cable entry provisions. The closure member may interfit and cooperate with the cut-out or slotting to define a cable entry position.

Interfitting may be by way of mutually engaging key and slot formations. Cooperation may be by way of an aperture defined between boundaries of the cut-out and of the closure member, say at least partly by another cut-out extending from the end of the insert facing the end of the base cut-out at interengagement, or by way of break-outs whether of the closure member or of the base member, say as extensions of the cut-out or slotting.

According to another aspect of this invention, the base member of an electrical accessory or housing unit therefor has a hinged relation with its cover,.say via a part that is removable and replaceable relative to the base member and which may be said closure part.

Alternatively,the cover could be hinged to the base part oppositely to said closure part which could then be a portion of the cover.

We do not exclude the possibility of applying this invention to base members that have upstanding peripheral walling, in which case an insert hereof may include part of such walling. However, for a ceiling rose, there will normally be no such peripheral walling to the base member, rather to the cover. At least then, it is preferred that the insert make a captive-fit to the base member when fully entered into the base cut-out, and that the cover complete such captive-fit via a further snap-fit to the base member, then to afford a viable system even if hinging between the cover and the insert breaks.

A particularly advantageous ceiling rose has a base member carrying an arcuate housing for terminal blocks, preferably including an earthing block which arcuate housing is generally symmetrically disposed opposite the base cut-out. Then, mains entry cables can usually be cleared of outer sheathing to substantially equal extents and substantially equal lengths of inner wires used for connection to the terminal blocks, with minimum cross-overs thereof.

Another advantageous electrical accessory can result where above-mentioned aspects hereof are applied to a base and a cover part that, apart from aforesaid interfitting, are spaced one from the other, and a third part covers such spacing with interengagement of both of the base and cover part. Such provisions also constitute aspects of invention.

One embodiment of this invention will now be specifically described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a ceiling rose member 10; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a ceiling rose cover 50; Figures 3 and 4 are part-sections through the base member 10 and the cover 50, respectively; Figures 5 to 8 concern another embodiment with hinged base and cover parts and a third part, Figure 5 being a top plan view of a base part, Figure 6 a bottom plan view of a cover part, Figure 7 a bottom plan view of the third part, and Figure 8 a section through assembled base outlet and third parts; Figures 9A, B, C are fragmentary plan and sectional views for preferred hinging between base and outlet parts; Figures 10A, B are fragmentary plan and side views of preferred edge slottings of the base part; and Figures 11A, B, C, are fragmentary sectional and plan views for preferred latching between outlet and third parts.

In Figures 1 to 4, the base member 10 is generally circular and has diametrically disposed holes 12A, 12B for mounting screws (not shown), typically for affixing to a ceiling. The base member 10 has a cut-out 14 extending from its edge 16 and inwardly of its area. The cut-out 14 has parallel sides 18A, 18B which are shown relieved by more than half the thickness of the base at that position and in consecutively opposite ways from top (20A, 20B) and from bottom (22A, 22B) of the base member 10 to form slottings, see 24A in Figure 3, from entry to the cut-out at the edge 16 of the base member 10. The cut-out sides 18A, 18B are shown each further formed oppositely to the other, see Figure 1, in terms of being relieved from top and bottom of the base member 10.

An insert 30 for the base cut-out 14 has side extensions 32A, 32B to fit as keys into the slotting of sides 18A, 18B of the base cut-out 14. The insert 30 is thus a slide-fit into the base cut-out 14, and its entry will be limited by the matching extents of the keys 32A, 32B and of the side slotting (20, 22, 24), respectively. As shown, the insert 30 has spaced extensions 34A, 34B that match the interior end shapesat sides of the base cut-out 14, and those extensions are shown in a preferred form as substantial thinnings that can readily be broken off. Another thinning is shown at 36 medially of the insert 30 and extending from the space or cut-out 38 between the extensions 34A, 34B. The space 38 allows entry of one mains cable, and further cable or cables can be entered by breaking off one or more of the thinnings 34A, 34B, 36.

As thus far described, the base/insert provisions are applicable, or obviously applicable, to the base member of any electrical accessory or housing unit therefor, whether circular or not, and whether or not having upstanding side-walling. If there was upstanding side-walling the insert could be a walling insert only, say for surface mounting accessories or boxes, or a base insert with attach part-walling.

However, as a ceiling rose, the insert 30 is shown both with hinging 40 to the cover 50 and with tooth-like formations 42A, 42B to cooperate with recesses 52A, 52B in side walling 54 of the cover 50.

Moreover, substantially opposite to the hinging 40, the cover has recess or ledging formations 56A, 56B that snap-fittingly cooperate with tooth-like formations 26A, 26B of the base member 10.

Actually, and as shown, the tooth-like formations 26A, 26B are on an arcuate terminal block housing 28, preferably for terminal blocks including an earth terminal block accessible for mains wires at 28A, 28B and for clamp screws at 28S.

In Figures 5 to 8, edge cut-out or slotting 112 of the base 110 simply leads to knock-outs 112A, B, C, for mains cables, and is closed off by portion 134 depending from an outlet part 130 that is hinged oppositely thereto by way of portion 136 entrant slot 138 of arcuate connection blocks housing 118.

The base part 110 is generally circular and has alternative knock-out entries for mains cables are substantially central, see 114A, B, C between mounting screw hole provisions at 116A, B. It also has an integral arcuate connector block housing 118 for connector blocks with clamp screws which will be accessible through holes 122L, N, E, S in the top of an upstand 120 of the housing 118 and correspond with connector blocks indicated dashed at 124L, N, E, S having wire entries at 126L, N, E, S through the inner wall of the housing 118. Assembly will be into recessing of the base 110 at the housing 118 and subsequently closed off by a plate 119. Drop-cord wire strain lugs are indicated at 118A, B extending from ends of the housing 118.

The outlet part 130, also of general circular shape, is shown incorporating, at 132, a socket. As for the base part 110, the outlet part 130 is mainly of flat plate-like form. Indents 136A on the lug 136 and pips 138A on sides of the slot 138 can serve for snap fitting of the portion 136 into a hinging association.

Then, the outlet part 130 will be generally spaced from the base part 110 but interlocated therewith via its extensions 134 and 136, actually in hinged relation.

A third part 140 is shown as a ring-like member of shallow cylindrical form and having at one end 142 thereof teeth 142A, B, C extending inwardly. The teeth 142A, B, C are to enter open slottings 144A , B, C in sides of the base unit 110 and go under blind extensions 146A, B, C of those slottings 144A, B, C.

As shown, the third part 140 tapers and its widest end 142 carries the teeth 142A, B, C and overfits the edge of the base unit 110. At its other end 148, the third part has notchings 148A, B, C whereby a tongue 150 of the outlet part 130 can pass through inturned rim 152 of the third part 140 and be held thereunder when the third part 140 is twisted into position on the base part 110 with its teeth 142A, B, C under the slotting extensions 146A, B, C.

The outlet part 130 has an upper edge rim 154, which can serve for snapping-on of a cover part (see dashed at 156) over a plug unit engaged in the socket 132. Alternative plug and socket systems can equally well be used, also the cover part 156 could be other than snap-fitting, say by mating screw threads. The outlet part 130 could be different, for example, a cover as for a ceiling rose, then with a central aperture for cord exit.

A preferred hinging arrangement between the base part 110 and the outlet part 130 is indicated in Figures 9A, B, C where a hinge pin 160 in the slot 138 tapers between rounded ends and is set at an angle suited to snap-fitting on of a restricted entry ended slot 162 of the lug 136'. A simple circular section hinge pin can be used and aids moulding.

A preferred arrangement of the slottings 144, 146 is indicated in Figures 10A and lOB, where an inner strengthening formation 164 extends along spaced lower and upper ledge formations 144' and 146'.

A preferred arrangement of notchings 148 and tongue 150 is indicated in Figures llA and 11B where the notching 148' accepts the tongue 150' after deflection at fitting together. The tongue 150' will require depression by a tool, such as a screwdriver blade, in order to be released from notching 148'. A braced stop formation is shfown at 180 in Figure 11C to prevent undue deflection of the tongue 150'.

Claims (17)

1. An electrical accessory comprising a base member having a cut-out or slotting extending from its edge into the area of the base and closed off by a closure member entrant thereto and having cable entry provisions associated therewith.

2. An electrical accessory according to claim 1, wherein the closure member interfits and cooperates with the cut-out or slotting at least partially to define a cable entry position.

3. An electrical accessory according to claim 1 or 2, wherein cable entry provision is at least partially by way of an aperture defined between boundaries of the cut-out or slotting and of the closure member.

4. An electrical accessory according to any preceding claim, wherein cable entry provision is at least partially by way of break-outs from the base member and/or the closure member.

5. An electrical accessory according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure member and sides of the cut-out or slotting have mutually engaging key and slot formations.

6. An electrical accessory according to any preceding claim, wherein another accessory part to fit over the base member is hinged relative to the base member.

7. An electrical accessory according to claim 6, wherein the closure member is hinged to said other accessory part.

8. An electrical accessory according to claim 6, wherein said other accessory part is hinged to the base member.

9. An electrical accessory according to claim 8, wherein said hinging is at a position in the base member opposite to said cut-out or slotting.

10. An electrical accessory according to any preceding claim, wherein a further accessory part fits to the base member about said closure part.

11. An electrical accessory according to claim 10 as appendant to claim 6, wherein the further accessory part further interfits with said other accessory part.

12. An electrical accessory according to claim 11, wherein the further accessory part prevents relative movement of the base member and said other accessory part until removal of the further accessory part.

13. An electrical accessory according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 12 as appendant thereto, wherein said other accessory part is a cover.

14. An electrical accessory according to claim 13, wherein said cover has a central aperture for an electric cord drop.

15. An electrical accessory according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 12 as appendant thereto, wherein said other accessory part has a socket.

16. An electrical accessory according to claim 15, further comprising a cover fitting over said other accessory part.

17. An electrical accessory substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 to 8 or Figures 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.