GB2526766A - Easy click box - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical back box 1 connected to another electrical back box 2 by coupling pieces 3, 4, as shown in figures 3 to 6, which can be a double-ended push fit coupler having oval, or rectangular or square or round; a replaceable/adjustable fixing lug 5 being used to secure a face plate to the back box. This arrangement ensures equal spacing and depth for electrical flush mounted back boxes and the fixing lugs are preferably made from plastics, PVC or any other insulating material, eliminating the need for earth and removal of defective back box.

Description

Easy Click Box

Description

In fitting flush mounted back boxes (where the box is incorporated into the brickwork) we use metal back boxes at present. Being of a metal construction, the box has to be earthed in accordance with lEE regulations. This means that any extraneous parts ie. metal back box, trunking, metal conduits have to incorporate the earthing of the circuit of which it is containing. Sometimes this important regulation is missed, this can be because the electrician has time issues or for some other reason.

Occasionally the electrician or competent persons has to fix more than one box next to each other, requiring equal distances in between boxes to provide an aesthetic look of regularity. However, in practice, loose bricks (chase), in which the boxes are to be fixed to, are usually irregular, making it difficult to obtain fixings In the required places, resulting in difficulty and sometimes irregular spacing between boxes. The way in which these boxes are fined to date would mean each box is individually fixed, sometimes at slightly different depths.

Another problem which can occur in this existing set-up is after the box has been fitted in the wall and plastered in, ready for second fixing, occasionally the fixing lugs are defective. The only remedy for this is to remove the entire box, damaging the finished wall and creating extra work or do an unconventional fix on the box which requires many parts and is not practical or ideal and is time consuming.

To overcome these problems my invention proposes a box made from plastic, PVC or any other insulating material with knock-outs and a double-ended push-fit conduit spacer to fit in between the boxes that fits together with equal distances apart and allowing the electrician to fit it as one unit, eliminating irregular distances and depth between boxes.

The replaceable/adjustable fixing lugs mean that should a lug be found to be defective after fitting and plastering, you can just replace with a new faceplate fixing lug causing no damage to the box or the wall and using hardly any time at all. Also, being double insulated (made of plastic/PVC or any other insulating material), the box would not require an earth.

The fixing Jugs also have an adjustable element to be able to create a deeper box if required.

The coupling means is preferably provided by a round or square double-ended push-fit conduit coupler and may also be provided in other shape. The coupling means may be inserted in anyone of the boxes knock-outs i.e. top, bottom, left or right to allow boxes to be connected below, above, left or right. The coupling means can also be moulded onto one of the boxes allowing it to be connected to another box.

This application is designed for use in solid walls but can also be used in partition walls.

The invention will now be described solely by the way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows 2 boxes fitted side by side Figure 2 shows 2 boxes fitted top to bottom Figure 3 shows double-ended oval push-fit connector Figure 4 shows double-ended rectangular push-fit connector Figure 5 shows double-ended square push-fit connector Figure 6 shows double ended circle push-fit connector Figure 7 shows push-fit connector in moulded position Figure 8 shows removable face plate fixing lug Figure 9 shows face plate fixing lug connected in standard position Figure 10 shows face plate fixing lug fixed in extended position In figure 1, electrical back box 1, is connected to electrical back box 2 using coupling piece 3 and coupling piece 4, creating one rigid unit. Face plates i.e. Socket outlet or switch would be fixed into fixing lug 5. Component S is removable by push-fit for replacement or adjustment.

In figure?, an alternative way of fixing boxes is shown, with coupling pieces 3,4 connected at top and bottom of boxes 1, 2.

Figures 3, 4, 5 & 6 show the double-ended push-fit couplers in oval (fig 3), rectangle (fig 4), square (fig 5) and circle (fig 6). Both designs have the same mechanism where the end of the coupler is slightly larger than the knock-out, with spaces in the coupling mechanism allowing the end to flex into the knock-out then spring back to secure the fitting.

Figure 7 shows the push-fit connector in a moulded position where one end 10, is permanently moulded to the box and the other end still push-fit Figure 8 shows fixing lug, as seen in figure 1 (5). It is fixed via an off-set push-fit lug 7, with a greater distance 6 to the back and a shorter distance 8 at the front that can also easily rotate to give the adjustment.

Figure 9 shows the fixing lug in a standard setting giving it the capacity to be taken out and replaced or turned around to give a longer reach as shown in Figure 10, and not requiring extension screws and extension bolts to fix the face plate. Also, you are then not required to remove the back box because of defected fixing lugs.

Claims (3)

1. Claims 1. A push-fit connection system for double-insulated, flush -mounted electrical back boxes, with detachable fixing lugs for adjustment, replacement or removal.
2. 2. A push-fit connection system, according to claim 1, with double ended push-fit conduit couplers being of a square, oval, circle or rectangular dimension.
3. 3. A push-fit connection system, according to claim 1, with adjustable, removable fixing lug position.