GB2199703A

GB2199703A - Socket box

Info

Publication number: GB2199703A
Application number: GB08700543A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Lim Cheok Choo
Original assignee: NCE ELECTRICAL
Current assignee: NCE ELECTRICAL
Priority date: 1987-01-10
Filing date: 1987-01-10
Publication date: 1988-07-13
Also published as: GB8700543D0; GB2199703B

Abstract

An socket box assembly has a rectangular-housing 1 having a front wall 2 and from which there extends rearwardly a skirt 3. The front wall has a plurality of openings separated by divider walls 5. A corresponding number of wiring devices 6, 7 and 8 are inserted from the rear into the housing 1 with each wiring device in register with one of the openings. The wiring devices 6, 7 and 8 are held in position by a rear wall 10 secured to the housing 1 by means, eg. screws 13, accessible from the front of the housing. The rear wall has forwardly extending projections 14 which engage the wiring devices to hold them in position. <IMAGE>

Description

Socket Box Th is invention relates to an electrical assembly.

According to this invention there is provided an electrical assembly comprising a housing having a front wall from which a skirt extends rearwardly, the front wall having a plurality of openings, the or each pair of adjacent openings being separated by a divider wall; a plurality of switch, control, and/or socket units, each switch, control or socket unit being fitted into the housing from its rear so as to be in register with a respective opening and to rest against the front wall and at least one divider wall; a rear wall which closes the rear of the housing and holds the switcll, control and/or socket units in position; and securing devices accessible from the frost of the housing which hold the housing and the rear wall together.

The rear wall may be secured to the wall of a building or the like. To obtain access to the switch, control and/or socket units, the securing devices are loosened and the housing is separated from the rear wall while the rear wall is maintained secured to the wall of the building. Access can then be had to the switch, control and/or socket units.

Preferably, the skirt of the housing has at least one aperture through which leads may extend from external circuitry to the switch, control and/or socket unites.

An electrical assembly in accordace with this invention will now b be c r 1 described, by way of example, witl reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electrical assembly; Figure 2 is a rear view of the electrical assembly; and; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the electrical assembly in exploded form.

Referring to the Figures the electrical assembly has a rectangular housing generally indicated as 1 and having a front wall 2 from which a skirt 3 extends rearwardly. The front of the housing 1 is forméd with three openings 4 defined by the front wall 2, the skirt 3 and divider walls 5. A single switch unit 6, a double switch unit 7 and a socket unit 8 are fitted in line into the housing 1 but from its rear so as to be in register with the openings 4 and to rest against the front wall 2 around the openings 4 and to rest against the divider walls 5. At one end of the housing 1 the skirt 3 has an opening 9 through which leads can be extended to the switch units 6 and 7 and the socket unit 8.

A rear wall 10 has forwardly projecting threaded tubular sockets 11 intended to be inserted into tubular recesses 12 at the internal corners of the housing 1. A screw 13 (visible only in Figure 3) is insert able from the front wall 2 of te husing 1 at eac corner to enter t 0 e n t e r e a c h recess 12 and to screw into the tubular threaded sockets 11.

The r e a r 1 1 () has a plurality of forwardly extending projections 1 4 which, on assembly of the rear wall 10 to the housing 1, engage the switch units 6 and 7 and the socket unit 8 on insertion of the tubular threaded sockets 11 into the tubular recesses 12. Thus on assembly of the rear wall 10 to the housing 1, the switch and socket unit 6, 7 and 8 are held against the front wall 2 of the housing 1 by the projections 14 and, of course, the housing 1 and the rear wall 10 are held together by the use of the screws 13.

The switch and socket units 6, 7 and 8 shown may be replaced by any desired switch, control or socket units.

In use, the rear wall 10 is secured to the wall of a building, the various switch, control and socket units are assembled together with in the housing 1 and the housing 1 is fitted to the rear wall 10 and secured into position using the screws 13.

It will be appreciated that the electrical assembly which has been described need not be secured to the wall of a building but could be completely separate therefrom and not secured at all to any building so that it can function as an extendable plug.

Claims

Claims:

1. An electrical assembly comprising a housing having a front wall from which a skirt extends rearwardly, the front wall having a plurality of openings, the or each pair of adjacent openings being separated by a divider wall; a plurality of switch, control, and/or socket units, each switch, control or socket unit being fitted into the housing from its rear so as to be in register with a respective opening and to rest against the front wall and at least one divider wall; a rear wall which closes the rear of the housing and holds the switch, control and /or socket units in position; and securing devices accessible from the front of the housing which hold the housing and the rear wall together.

2. An electrical assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the skirt of the housing has at least one aperture through which leads may extend from external circuitry to the switch, control and/or socket unites.

3. An electrical assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the housing and rear wall are rectangular.

4. An electrical assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.