GB2503428A - Clip for electrical box - Google Patents

Abstract

A clip 1for attachment to a side of an electrical box includes a tab 2 in use holding a screw thread 20 largely perpendicular to the side. Preferably a fascias are attached to the boxes is via screws through the fascia and into screw threads on tabs on the front of the boxes at the sides. The clips may be easily replacable and adjustable. The clip may have a catchment means 10 for engaging with a cut out portion of the box. It may be formed in two parts.

Description

A CLIP

fleW of the invention The present invention relates to a clip., more particularly a clip for boxes for switchc.s and sockets.

Baickoround juflct!on boxes and/or eiectdcal back boxes for switches and sockets are typically fixed and olastared into place in cavity walls, said walls generaliy formed with wooden studs, baltens and with wallboard. plasterboard or lathe and plaster.

These boxes are formed with four sides and a back having circular knock-out segments allowing wires to be connected to a visible fascia which provides an electrical socket or switch on he Wall. In ue only the fascia is visible, the box beng sunken into the walL screwed to a batten and oastered around. In addition the wires will typically harden into place over time.

In this way ii is difficult to move these boxes even after removing the fascias.

Typically the way that fascias are attached to these boxes is via screws through the fascia and into screw theads on tabs on th.e front of the boxes at the sides. However unfOrtunately the screw threads may degrade or become damaged.

In order the-p to replace a damaged screw thread and efiectively attach the fascia to the box the box need to be. removed from the wall, with all attendant difficulties, and replaced.

Prior Art

Typicaliy the box will need to be dug out, the wires removed, and adjusted, and a new box fitted and plastered or otherwise filied into place.

United States patent application U.S 2008 217 054 (WALTON) discloses a clip assembly for use with electrical enclosure boxes Which are fabricated, molded or otherwise constructed of PVC, plastic or other resin for use in the electrical wfring systems. More particularly a wall box device compnsing a cUp extending from an ciongated body, for use with non metaliic electrical wail boxes. The metat cU is capable of providing an attachment point br the yoke of electncal devices. The clips are secured in place (Without adhesives) by a plurality of barbs extending outwa?dly and downward there-front The barbs aliow easy insertion of the clip onto the hex, while preveilting withdrawa or emovaH. The attachment point can include a new threaded opening to receive a mach;ne screw, the new threaded opening taking the place of the original worn/damaged threaded opening/hub of the plastic electrical wall tiox.

United States patent application US 2005 176 278 (CHEATHAM) discloses an eleciricat connection box mounting bracket comprising: an elongated frame of sheet material of appropriate strength and rigidity having at least two frame side-members each joined to and spaced apart by at east two frame cross-members; said frame sidemembers end said frame cross-rnerr.bers surrounding and defining a central opening; said frame sidemembers each having a substantially flanar back surface and said frame cross-members each having a substantially planar back surface; at east one clip slidingly retained do sad frame; said at east one dip spanning aid central opening and positionable at. any location between said frame cross-members to define at least one cOnnection box mounting opening; at least one screw tab extending from said clip adapted to accept at least one. screw for mounting a connection box to said frame; said at least one screw tab having a substantially planar bottom surface.; and the bottom surface of said cUp screw tab and the back surface of each frame side-n]ember and the back surface of a frame cross-member surrounding a connection box mounting opening are suostantaEly co-planar.

United States patent application US 6 576 837 (P1MENTEL) discloses an outlet box cover comprising a substantially list, rigid cover plate attached to and forming a closure lor an open end of an outlet box, said plate including a centrally disposed opening for alignment with an opening in a wall surface to provide access to an interior of an outlet box connected to said plate, a plurahty of bendable mounting clips extending from and unitary with the peripheii of said opening said plate, said mounting cl!ps extending through an opening in a wall surface and being bendable to enable free ends thereof to be bent outwardly into overlying engagement with a wall surface peripheraily of the opening in the wail surface.

United States patent applidation US 4051 321 (BUELL) discloses an electrical outlet assembly combining the lollowing: a. an outlet box having an open end and mounting lips prcjecting partiahy across the open end of the box, b. an electrical device having a mounting ear on each end thereof for attachment to an outlet box, and c. a dual spring chp securing a mounting ear of the electrical device to a mounting lip of the box, said dual spring clip comprising two parallel springs, each of which is in clamping engagement with a mounting ear of the electrical device and a member joining the two springs and sewing to clamp the dual spring dip to the box.

None of these devices presents a solution to the previously described problem of replacing screw threads on eectrical boxes without needing to remove and replace or fix the exisl.ing box-.

Summary oi the Invention -

According to The present invention therefore there is provided a clip for attachment to a side of an electrical box including a tab in use holding a screw thread larnely perpendicular to the side.

The nvnntiori allows-a user to replace a worn or damaged screw threaded tab or ear in a typical metal electrical box by simply placing the clip in its place. The clip is therefore of minimal size and complexity, being spec!fically embodied to replace said screvt thread and maintain in place alter a fascia has been reattached. In addition the clip-is more co-st effective to use than to replace the damaged box-. a

Therefore ny directhnai forces it may be subjected to during attachment of a fascia.

by screws, into the screw thread, are not liable under normal use to dislodge the clip or alter its location.

Ideally the clip may be proviced as a one or two piece configuration. Two pieces is more likely to allow for adjustment in preferred embodiments whereas one ci single piece erribodiments are likely tO be more cost effective. Single piece embodiments may be constructed from folded steel, whereas multi--piece embodiments may include heavier gauge steel for the screw thread and sprung metal for the attachment to the electrical box.

By use of the clip, replacement of the box can be avoided in a situation where the ear or screw thread alone has become damaged.

The user will typically need to initially remove or displace the existiro ear and create a little space around the side' of the box in order to allow the clip to be installed. The clip is envisaged to fit over a side of the box and ideally be tensioned, sprung or fastened to the box side.

The means of acquiring this tension may combine or include the following or other mechanism or device: reverse biasing of metallic strips so that they tend towards closure:: hooks that tend backwards to a direction or axis of insertion; studs or projections that cooperate to close two opposing sides of the clip.

The tab is then presented to the trpnt of the box in use such that the user may use the tab as a substitute for the ear, Ideally therefcre the screw thread is in an equivalent position wtien the clip is in place.

Some embodiments of the clip may have adustahie, mobile or movable positioning of the screw thread. Alternatively or in the addition it is envisaged that clips may be produced standard' sizes as appropriate to standard electrical boxes., The clips are typicaLly conshucted:or formed in part or whole from high tensite steel, This tensions the' clip and provides it with a bias'to hold the cUp in place. ideally this corresponds with the box or apertures on the box.

S

For example embodiments may be provided whereby the clip is sufficiently wide to enable fastening in position by means of, for example, interleaving flaps through a knock out segment in the side of the box where the ear is being replaced. Other means may be envisaged.

Brief Description of Ficiures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the preferred embodiment; and Figures 3 show a side view and reverse view of the preferred embodiment. e * * * U.

*.**.* * Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment of the Invention n * * . ***.

* The pictured embodiment of the clip is composed of two pieces, namely a hanger 1 and tab 2 holding a replacement screw thread 3. o * * *,

*:.: The pictured clip comes in two components the hanger 1 being a sprung metal clip that fixes to a back box and the metal tab 2 or bracket containing the screw thread.

The sprung metal clip tolerance fits onto a back box and the cut outs or knock-out segments in the metal allow for hanger 1 to grip tightly, becoming extremely difficult to remove without the use of tools The hanger 1 is for this purpose supplied with a catchment means 10 which are disposed to catch the electrical back box (not shown) and prevent the hanger I being detached from the box under tension in relation to the screw thread 20.

Other catchment means might include studs, serrations or other bias to prevent movement in an inverse direction to that promoted or caused by use of the screw thread 20.

The hanger is disposed to extend over a side of the box. and is according provided with an arcuate elbow 11 allowing a small amount cii movement to ensure that the screw thread 20 is correctly present to a fascia (not shown).

The hanger I is attached to the tab furthermore by a sirdable grip 12 which allows movement in a second plane with respect to the fascia, to order that the replacement screw thread 20 fflay be better presented for the fascia.

The clip can thereby be slightly adjusted up and down and side to side to ensure a perfect fit for or with the screw thread.

The invention has been desoribed byway of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation ma.y be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the perts of the invention, to i:nclude variat:ons in size, materials, shape, tbrm, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and descdhed in the specification are intended to he encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the inverthon. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operaliori shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. Dairns 1. A clip for attachment to a side of an electrical box including a tab in use holding a screw thread largely perpendicular to the side.
2. 2. A clip according to claim I wherein the screw thread is a replacement of a preious fitting on the box.
3. 3Aclip according to claims I or 2 wherein the screw thread in use s ocatable djutably n relaton to the sida.
4. 4. A clip according to any preceding clSm where the blip is formed of at least two portion
5. 5. A dip according to olainL4 inciudin.g a sprung side hanger portion and heavier gage lab.
6. 6. A cliØ accordiho to daim 4 including attachnent spikes on the hsnge portion-.
7. 7. A method of replacing a screw thread in an electrical box according to any of the precedihg daim 7:---