GB2249880A - Closure device - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure device comprises a frame 16 defining an access opening and a cover 18 fittable to the frame for closing the access opening. The cover is provided with at least one edge flap 116 raisable from the lowered position illustrated for allowing the passage of at least one appliance electrical or optical cord through the access opening between the edge flap and an adjacent edge portion of the frame. The edge flap and the frame edge portion carry respective resiliently deformable members 118, 120 for engaging the cords passing between them in use. The arrangement is such that fitting the cover to the frame to close the access opening with an appliance cord extending through the access opening in engagement with the frame edge resiliently deformable member 120 causes the edge flap to rise from its lowered position by virtue of the edge flap resiliently deformable member 118 engaging the cord. A shoulder 148 holds the flap raised and may be supplemented by interengaging teeth. A cover handle operates a cover latch and a tray 162 can be telescopically lowered over the frame 16 to provide an adjustable-sized floor box. Latches are provided for mounting the box. <IMAGE>

Description

CLOSURE DEVICE This invention relates to a closure device, comprising a frame defining an access opening and a cover fittable to the frame for closing the access opening whilst allowing the passage therethrough of at least one appliance cord, for example an electrical power cord or an electrical or optical data or telecommunications cord.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to floor boxes comprising such a closure device and an undertray for mounting outlet connections, such as sockets in the case of electric outlet connections to which inlet connections, such as plugs in the case of electrical inlet connections, on the appliance cords may be connected.

Heretofore, the covers of closure devices of such floor boxes have been provided with rigid edge flaps each of which is adapted to be supported in a raised position to define a through-passage between the edge flap and frame adjacent thereto for the passage of appliance cords.

Disadvantages of this known arrangement include the need for the or each edge flap which is required to be supported in its raised position to be so supported prior to the cover being fitted to the frame and the potential damage to, or even severing of, a cord passing through the through-passage due to pinching of the cord between the edge flap and frame if the support arrangement supporting the edge flap in its raised position fails when the edge flap is accidentally subjected to a load tending to close it.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the first of these disadvantages and also reduce the possibility of cord damage due to pinching thereof between the edge flap and frame.

To this end the invention includes a closure device comprising a frame defining an access opening and a cover fittable to said frame for closing said access opening, said cover being provided with an edge flap raisable from a lowered position for allowing the passage of at least one appliance cord through said access opening between said edge flap and an adjacent edge portion of said frame, said edge flap and said frame edge portion comprising or carrying respective resiliently deformable members for engaging the or each cord passing therebetween in use, the arrangement being such that, in use, fitting the cover to the frame to close the access opening with at least one appliance cord extending through said access opening in engagement with said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member causes said edge flap to rise from its lowered position by virtue of the edge flap resiliently deformable member engaging the or each cord.

The invention also includes a floor box comprising a closure device as defined in the last preceding paragraph and an undertray for mounting outlet connections which is adapted to be fitted to the frame of said closure beneath the access opening defined thereby. Advantageously, the frame and undertray may have respective side wall means fittable together in telescopic relationship such that the depth of the space defined within the floor box may be adjusted.

The edge flap and frame edge portion resiliently deformable members are adapted to deform around the or each appliance cord extending therebetween such that substantially no air gap exists between said members.

This feature avoids another disadvantage of the known floor box closure device discussed above in that the through-passage defined between the frame and the edge flap when the latter is supported in its raised position as well as allowing passage of appliance cords also allows passage of (i) contaminants such as dust and grit which can therefore enter the floor box and (ii) air which is disadvantageous when the floor box depends into a cavity beneath the floor which is being used as an air conditioning plenum.

The edge flap is also preferably biased towards its lowered position. Not only does this feature prevent the flap being inadvertently raised from its lowered position for example during vacuum cleaning but the biasing may be such that a cord extending between the resilient members is gripped thereby to resist the cord being pulled through the closure device.

The edge flap resiliently deformable member may engage said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member when said cover is fitted to said frame with no cord passing between said edge flap and frame edge portion to resist raising of said edge flap from its lowered position.

The edge flap resiliently deformable member may engage said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member when said cover is fitted to said frame and said edge flap is in a raised position to support said edge flap in said raised position.

The edge flap may be formed by a portion of said cover formed in a plastics material and provided with a reduced section portion forming a hinge for said edge flap.

Preferably the cover is provided with a plurality of said edge flaps each comprising or carrying a respective said resiliently deformable member, respective adjacent edge portions of said frame comprising or carrying a said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member or a portion thereof.

The cover may have a plurality of straight edges and be pivotally connected to said frame along one said straight edge thereof. In this case the cover may advantageously be provided with at least one said edge flap on each of at least two other said straight edges thereof.

Generally the device may include securing means for securing the cover to the frame when closing said access opening. The device may include respective means for latching the or each said flap in a raised position, and in this case the securing means may include said latching means.

In the cases defined in the last but one preceding paragraph, preferably a said straight edge of said cover facing said one straight edge and a frame portion adjacent thereto when the cover is fitted to the frame have cooperable releasable securing means for securing said cover to the frame when the cover is pivoted with respect to the frame to close the access opening. These cooperable releasable securing means may comprise a projection and a pivotable latch member.In a preferred embodiment of the invention described hereinafter, said latch member is provided on said cover and said projection is provided on said frame, and said cover is provided with handle means for use in pivoting said cover about said one straight edge thereof, which handle means is movable relative to said cover and operatively connected to said latch member for moving said latch member out of said latching engagement with said projection.

The frame may include flange means extending outwardly with respect to said access opening, and clamping means movable (i) from a retracted position adjacent the exterior of said frame to an extended position extending outwardly therefrom and (ii) toward said flange means for cooperating with said flange for clamping said frame to a floor, ceiling or wall having an opening for said frame.

The clamping means may comprise at least two pawls, each threadingly mounted on a respective bolt member, initial rotation of each said bolt in one sense rotating said pawl mounted thereon in the same sense from said retracted position to said extended position, abutment means preventing further rotation of said pawl in said sense and further rotation of said bolt in said sense causing said pawl to move along said bolt towards said flange means.

In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of a floor box comprising a closure device and an undertray fitted thereto; Figure 2 is a fragmentary section taken along the line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken along the line III III in Figure 1 and illustrating the undertray in a retracted and an extended position; Figure 4 is a part fragmentary side view of the floor box also illustrating the undertray in a retracted and an extended position; Figure 5 is an end view of the floor box; Figure 6 is a section taken along the line V-V in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a detail of Figure 2 showing an edge flap of the cover of the closure device in a raised position; and Figure 8 schematically illustrates a modified arrangement.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a floor box 10 comprising a closure device 12 and an undertray 14 for mounting outlet connections. The closure device 12 comprises a frame 16 defining an access opening and a cover 18 fittable to the frame for closing the access opening. The cover 18 is illustrated in the figures fitted to the frame to close the access opening.

The frame 16 is generally rectangular having straight edges 20, 22, 24 and 26 and is formed by four sidewall members 28, 30, 32 and 34 interconnected with four corner pieces 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the corner pieces 36 are cast from aluminium and the sidewall members are aluminium extrusions. The shorter sidewall members 30 and 34 have a crosssection as best shown in Figure 2 and the longer sidewall members 28 and 32 have a cross-section as best shown in Figure 3. The assembly of the sidewall members and corner pieces is tied together by means of four tie bars (illustrated only in Figures 4 and 5).

Each tie bar 38 is accommodated in a recess 40 there for in the sidewall member and has threaded end portions 42 which extend through the corner pieces 36 at each end of the sidewall member to receive tightening nuts 44. The frame 16 includes flange means 46 extending outwardly with respect to the access opening defined by respective flanges 48, 50, 52 and 54 on the side wall members 28, 30, 32 and 34.

It will be understood that these flange means engage the surface of the floor, or a covering thereon, around the opening in the floor in which the floor box is fitted. The frame also includes clamping means for clamping the frame in the opening in the floor.

Generally speaking the clamping means are movable (i) from a retracted position adjacent the exterior of the frame and an extended position extending therefrom and (ii) towards the flange means 46 for cooperating with the flange means to effect the clamping as aforesaid.

More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment the clamping means comprises four pawls 58 (illustrated in solid line in their extended positions in Figures 1, 4 and 5). Each pawl 58 is threadedly mounted on a respective bolt member 60 such that initial rotation of .each bolt member in one sense rotates the pawl mounted thereon in the same sense from its retracted position illustrated in dotted line at 58a in Figures 4 and 5 to its extended position. Abutment means on the pawl 58 and frame prevent further rotation of the pawl 58 in this sense so that further rotation of the bolt member 60 in the same sense causes the pawl to move along the bolt towards the flange means 46 towards a limit position shown in dotted line at 58b in Figures 4 and 5 into engagement with the underside of the floor (not shown) to effect clamping.The bolt members are mounted in the corner pieces 36 and are accessible therein through a top opening which is closed by a closure piece 62. Each closure piece is provided with an L-shaped flange, the legs of which align with the flanges provided on the sidewall members. The cover 18 is rectangular having four straight edges 64, 66, 68 and 70 corresponding to the frame straight edges 20, 22, 24 and 26. The cover is pivotally connected to the frame along associated straight edges 20 and 64 by means of pivot pins (not shown) which extend parallel to the edges 20, 64 in recesses 72 (Figure 3) in edge capping 74 fitted to the edge of the cover either side of a similar edge capping 76 which need not be recessed.

The straight edge 68 of the cover facing, and parallel to, the straight edge 64 thereof is provided with edge capping 78 opposite the edge cappings 74.

The edge capping 78 has a similar configuration to edge capping 74 except as with edge capping 76 there is no need for the recess 72 to be provided therein.

The edge cappings 74, 76 and 78 are all secured to a plate element 80 of the cover by means of threaded fasteners schematically shown in Figure 3 by centre lines 82. The plate element 80 is formed on metal and advantageously may comprise a composite sheet comprising a corrugated cove sandwiched between two flat skins.

Each of the above-mentioned edge cappings includes an abutment surface 84 which seats on a ledge 86 provided on the longer side members. Also the edge cappings define with the upper surface of the plate element 80 a recess for receiving a decor insert, which would typically comprise a piece of carpet.

Between the two edge cappings 78, the edge 68 of the cover and the frame portion adjacent thereto have cooperable releasable means for securing the cover to the frame when the cover is pivoted with respect to the frame about the hinge arrangement above described to close the access opening. The securing means comprises a projection and a pivotable latch member.

In the embodiment the projection is formed by the flange 86 on the side wall member 32 and the pivotable latch member comprises an elongate element 88 secured beneath the cover 18 for pivoting relative thereto between the edge cappings 78 by means of two threaded fasteners 90. The elongate element 88 is biased into a latching position, in which a recess 92 thereof engages the flange 86 by spring means 94 extending between the element 88 and the underside of the cover 18. As illustrated the spring means comprise a spring located at each end of the element and accommodated in a blind hole therein. A handle 98 for pivoting the cover 18 about the hinge arrangement thereof also functions to move the latch member element recess 92 out of latching engagement with the flange 86. The handle 98 comprises an elongate member 100 located above the cover between the edge cappings 78.Each end of the elongate member 100 has a depending rod element 102 which extends from the elongate member 100 through respective passage holes in the cover plate element 80 and latch member elongate element 88 and is provided with an end stop 104 and a spring 106 which is provided between the end stop 104 and the elongate element 88. The elongate member 100 of the handle is accessible via a local recess 108 in the cover plate element 80, and when the member 100 is lifted relative to the cover in order to pivot the cover, the springs 102 become compressed and the end stops engage the elongate element. Further lifting of the member 100 effects pivotal movement of the element 88 to move the recess 92 out of latching engagement with the flange 86. Subsequent further lifting of the member 100 pivots the cover 18 about its hinge arrangement.

The element 88 is provided with a tapered leading edge 114 which cooperates with the flange 86 to cause pivoting of the element when the cover is being pivoted to its closed position to cause automatic latching engagement of the element recess 92 with the flange 86.

The springs 102 bias the handle member 100 into its illustrated retracted position where its top and inside edge surfaces 110, 112 are flush with the corresponding surfaces of the edge cappings 78.

It will be appreciated that a decor insert in the cover recess defined by the edge cappings and handle member would hide the fasteners 90 and local recess 108 and that the decor insert would have to be raised to gain access to the handle member 100.

The cover 18 is provided with at least one edge flap raisable from a lowered position for allowing the passage of at least one appliance cord through the access opening between the edge flap and an adjacent edge portion of the frame when the cover closes the access opening defined by the frame. In the illustrated embodiment, six such edge flaps 116 are provided, three on each of the opposed edges 66, 70 of the cover which extends between the edges 64 and 68 thereof. The three edge flaps 116 on each of the straight edges defines that straight edge. However, it is to be understood that the edge flaps at these edges need not occupy the whole of the length thereof and that additionally or alternatively there may be a number of edge flaps other than three at each edge.

Furthermore, the edge 68 of the cover may also be defined by at least one edge flap on at least one side of the handle 98.

Each of the edge flaps 116 has the same construction and operation and therefore the following description in relation to the edge flap shown in Figure 2 applied to each of them.

The edge flap 116 and the adjacent edge portion of the frame carry respective resiliently deformable members 118, 120. The edge flap 116 is biased towards its lowered position by means of a spring schematically illustrated at 124. The resiliently deformable members 118 and 120 are adapted to deform around the or each appliance cord 122 extending therebetween so that substantially no air gap exists between the members. This is particularly advantageous for preventing the passage of contaminants and also air between the edge flap and the frame. Furthermore the engagement of a cord 122 by the members 118, 120 grips the cord to resist the cord being pulled from the closure device.

The preferred construction of the resiliently deformable members comprises a respective foamed, or expanded, core of plastics material 126 and 128 respectively are surrounded by a respective skin 130 and 132 of a more dense plastics material.

The edge flap resiliently deformable member 118 is bonded to a plastics edge flap member 134 which is secured to the cover plate element 80 by threaded fasteners schematically shown in Figure 2 by centreline 135 and which forms a portion of the cover.

The edge flap member 134 is provided with a reduced section portion 136 which forms a hinge for the edge flap. The adjacent frame edge portion resiliently deformable member 120 is retained in the frame side wall member by means of a projection 138 which is located in an undercut recess 140 defined by the side wall member.

The two resiliently deformable members 118 and 120 cooperate with each other both in the lowered position of the edge flap and also in the raised position thereof. Thus, in the lowered position of the wedge flap, the inwardly facing side surface 142 of the member 120 is engaged by a side surface 144 of the member 118 and the lip of the side flap member 134 rests on an upwardly facing portion 146 of the member 120. Engagement of the surfaces 142 and 144 resists raising of the edge flap from its lowered position as well as providing a seal between the two members 118, 120. This supplements the spring biasing of the edge flap by the spring 124 in retaining the edge flap in its lowered position when there is no cord passing between the edge flap and the frame edge portion.

Furthermore, the engagement of the surfaces 142 and 144 alone may be sufficient to resist the edge flap raising during vacuum cleaning and eliminate the need for the spring 124 for this purpose.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the configuration of the resiliently deformable members 118 and 120 is also such that when the edge flap is in a raised position, as illustrated in Figure 7, the member 118 engages the member 120 in such a way as to support the edge flap in its raised position. Thus, a ledge 148 defined between the surface 144 of the member 118 and a further side surface 150 thereof rests on the upwardly facing portion 146 of the member 120 when the edge flap is in its raised position and in this position the side surface 150 of the member 118 engages the side surface of the member 120. It will be appreciated that this cooperation between the members 118 and 120 resists closure of the edge flap when the edge flap is accidentally subjected to a load tending to close it. Furthermore even in the event of such a load appliance cords extending between the members ar protected due to the resilient deformable nature of the members 118 and 120 which provide a cushioning effect.

In the illustrated embodiment each flap 116 is provided with its own resiliently deformable member 118 and a respective continuous resiliently deformable member 120 is provided along each of the edges 22, 26 of the frame such that each member 118 cooperates with an adjacent portion of a member 120.

The arrangement of the edge flaps 116 is such that when the cover is fitted to the frame to close the access opening any cord extending through the access opening in engagement with one of the resiliently deformable members 120 carried by the frame will cause one of the edge flaps 116 to rise automatically from its lowered position by virtue of the resiliently deformable member 118 carried thereby engaging the cord. Thus, in use, appliance cords extending into the floor box need only be arranged adjacent the frame side edges 22 and 26 and the cover pivoted to its closed position - there is no need for the edge flaps 116 to be selectively manually raised in accordance with the location of the cords.

Whilst the members 118 and 120 are shown carried by the edge flap member 134 and side frame member 34 respectively, it is to be understood that the edge flap itself may comprise a resiliently deformable member and furthermore the frame edge portion of the frame side member may also comprise a resiliently deformable member.

The undertray 14 is mounted beneath the access opening defined by the frame 16 and comprises a base 160 from which side wall means 162 extend. The side wall means 162 of the undertray 14 and the side wall members 28, 30, 32 and 34 of the frame 16 are fittable together in telescopic relationship such that the depth defined within the floor box may be adjusted.

In the illustrated embodiments, the side wall means 162 comprise an upper portion 164, a lower portion 166 provided inwardly thereof and a shoulder portion 168 therebetween. The frame side wall members fit within the upper portion 164 of the undertray side wall means and in an upper, retracted position of the tray the shoulder 168 engages inturned flanges 170 on each of the four side wall members of the frame. The undertray 14 may be lowered from this retracted position to an extended position, as shown in the top part of Figure 3 and the right hand side of Figure 4, or any position therebetween and secured in such positions by securing means (not shown) preferably accessible through the access opening defined by the frame 16.The side wall means of the undertray 160 are provided with knockouts 172 as illustrated in Figure 4 for allowing entry into the undertray of cables to be connected to the outlet connections mounted thereby and a plurality of mounting plates 174 for mounting the outlet connections in the tray.

Separate compartments 176 may be provided beneath respective mounting plates 174 for cables of each type with which the floor box is being used and these compartments may be separated by walls 178 as illustrated in Figure 2.

An advantage of the illustrated arrangement is that sometimes it is necessary for the floor box to accommodate plugs, such as transformer plugs, which are larger than usual, in which case the undertray may be secured to the frame in an extended position to allow accommodation of such plugs.

Figure 8 illustrates a modified edge flap 180 for the cover 18. As with the edge flap 116 described above, engagement of a cord passing through the access opening during closure of the cover 18 causes the edge flap 180 to raise automatically. In the arrangement shown in Figure 8, the edge flap comprises a first portion 182, which may be formed of an aluminium material, a second portion 184 which is preferably formed of a plastics material and which has the resiliently deformable member 118 bonded thereto. The two portions are pivoted together at a pivot connection 186 and the portion 184 is biased into a lowered position, as illustrated in Figure 8 by a spring 188. The two portions 182 and 184 have confronting arrangements 190, 192 which are biased into latching relationship by the resilience of the member 118 when the edge flap is in a raised position to secure the edge flap in such a position. As illustrated, the confronting arrangement comprises Vshaped teeth.

The latching arrangement of the edge flap shown in Figure 8 is such that when there are sufficient edge flaps provided on the cover the latching arrangement may be sufficient to secure the cover in its closed position, i.e. so that the latching arrangement illustrated in Figure 6 is no longer needed. In order to raise the lid from its closed position in such circumstances, it will be necessary to break the confronting arrangements 190, 192. This may be done by moving the edge flap 180 against the bias thereon provided by the member 118.

Claims (21)

CLAIMS:

1. A closure device comprising a frame defining an access opening and a cover fittable to said frame for closing said access opening, said cover being provided with an edge flap raisable from a lowered position for allowing the passage of at least one appliance cord through said access opening between said edge flap and an adjacent edge portion of said frame, said edge flap and said frame edge portion comprising or carrying respective resiliently deformable members for engaging the or each cord passing therebetween in use, the arrangement being such that, in use, fitting the cover to the frame to close the access opening with at least one appliance cord extending through said access opening in engagement with said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member causes said edge flap to rise from its lowered position by virtue of the edge flap resiliently deformable member engaging the or each cord.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable members are adapted to deform around the or each appliance cord extending therebetween such that substantially no air gap exists between said members.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said edge flap is biased towards its lowered position.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said edge flap resiliently deformable member engages said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member when said cover is fitted to said frame with no cord passing between said edge flap and frame edge portion to resist raising of said edge flap from its lowered position.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said edge flap resiliently deformable member engages said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member when said cover is fitted to said frame and said edge flap is in a raised position to support said edge flap in said raised position.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said edge flap is formed by a portion of said cover formed in a plastics material and provided with a reduced section portion forming a hinge for said edge flap.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover is provided with a plurality of said edge flaps each comprising or carrying a respective said resiliently deformable member, respective adjacent edge portions of said frame comprising or carrying a said frame edge portion resiliently deformable member or a portion thereof.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover has a plurality of straight edges and is pivotally connected to said frame along one said straight edge thereof.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 when appended to claim 7, wherein said cover is provided with at least one said edge flap on each of at least two other said straight edges thereof.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including respective means for latching the or each said edge flap in a raised position.

11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including securing means for securing the cover to the frame when closing said access opening.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11 when appended to claim 10, wherein said securing means includes said latching means.

13. A device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein a said straight edge of said cover facing said one straight edge and a frame portion adjacent thereto when the cover is fitted to the frame have cooperable releasable securing means for securing said cover to the frame when the cover is pivoted with respect to the frame to close the access opening.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cooperable releasable securing means comprises a projection and a pivotable latch member.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said latch member is provided on said cover and said projection is provided on said frame, and wherein said cover is provided with handle means for use in pivoting said cover about said one straight edge thereof, which handle means is movable relative to said cover and operatively connected to said latch member for moving said latch member out of said latching engagement with said projection.

16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said frame includes flange means extending outwardly with respect to said access opening, and clamping means movable (i) from a retracted position adjacent the exterior of said frame to an extended position extending outwardly therefrom and (ii) toward said flange means for cooperating with said flange for clamping said frame to a floor, ceiling or wall having an opening for said frame.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said clamping means comprise at least two pawls, each threadingly mounted on a respective bolt member, initial rotation of each said bolt member in one sense rotating said pawl mounted thereon in the same sense from said retracted position to said extended position, abutment means preventing further rotation of said pawl in said sense and further rotation of said bolt member in said sense causing said pawl to move along said bolt towards said flange means.

18. A floor box comprising a closure device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and an undertray for mounting outlet connections which is adapted to be fitted to the frame of said closure beneath the access opening defined thereby.

19. A floor box as claimed in claim 18, wherein said frame and undertray have respective side wall means fittable together in telescopic relationship such that the depth of the space defined within the floor box may be adjusted.

20. A closure device substantially as hereinbefore defined with reference

21. A floor box substantially as herein defined with reference to the accompanying drawings.