1 ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY The present invention relates generally to an electrical switch assembly. There are various types of electrical switch assembly, including electrical switch plates and electrical power outlets. 5 One known type of electrical switch assembly that is designed for use in extra low voltage applications includes a faceplate having a circular opening for providing access to a switch of the assembly. The switch is received by a switch ring which is received by the opening in the faceplate and which is secured relative to the faceplate. 10 Another type of known electrical switch assembly includes a mounting plate that is securable to a support structure. The mounting plate includes an electrical power outlet socket, and a switch operatively coupled to the socket to control the flow of electricity to the socket. The assembly also has a removable faceplate for the socket. 15 There is another type of known electrical switch assembly that includes a mounting plate including one or more electrical power outlet sockets, and a faceplate for each socket. Objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, 20 wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical switch assembly comprising: a mounting plate including a first opening, 25 a button surround including a second opening, the button surround being securable to the mounting plate, a switch including a button for operating the switch, the switch being securable relative to the mounting plate and the button surround such that the button is accessible through the first opening and the second opening, and 30 a cover plate including a third opening, the cover plate being securable to the mounting plate such that the button is accessible through the third opening.
2 The button surround may be received in the centre of the mounting plate. The switch may be securable from behind the mounting plate and the button surround. The button may at least in part protrude beyond the cover plate. The button surround may include a raised inner portion for being received in the third opening. The button 5 surround may be directly securable to the mounting plate with a rotative lock arrangement. The electrical switch assembly may be mounted to a wall, ceiling, floor, other type of support member and the like although it is envisaged that the assembly may also be mounted to any support member. 10 The mounting plate may be provided for securing the button surround and cover plate to, and for securing the switch relative to, and no unnecessary limitation is to be placed on the term "mounting plate". The size and shape of the mounting plate can vary as can the thickness and composition of the mounting plate. The mounting plate may be substantially planar but may also comprise curved mounting plates and 15 mounting plates having complex geometry and the like. The mounting plate need not be plate-like in configuration and the term is used to encompass anything to which the button surround and the cover plate may be secured, and which the switch may be secured relative to. The shape and size of the first and second openings can vary, it being 20 appreciated that one function of the first and second openings is to provide access to the button. The first or second opening may be a circular or a substantially circular opening and will typically have a diameter of between 10-50 mm although this can vary. The first opening may alternatively be a rectangular or a substantially rectangular opening and will typically have a size of 400-5400 mm 2 . In one particular 25 preferred form, both the first and second openings are circular or substantially circular openings. In another particular preferred form, the first opening is a circular or a substantially circular opening, and the second opening is a rectangular or a substantially rectangular opening. The mounting plate may include a plurality of the first openings, the button 30 surround may include a plurality of the second openings, or the cover plate may include a plurality of third openings so that the assembly can include a plurality of the 3 switches. For example, the assembly may include 1 to 6 switches. The shape and size of the button surround can vary. For example, the button surround may be circular, substantially circular, rectangular or substantially rectangular. 5 The button surround and the mounting plate may be secured to each other in any suitable manner, whether directly or indirectly. Preferably, the button surround and the mounting plate are adapted so that they are able to clip together. The button surround and the mounting plate may be secured to each other with one or more securing means. For example, the button surround and the mounting plate may be 10 secured to each other with one or more screws. The switch may be any suitable type of switch. Preferably, the switch is a rocker switch. In another preferred form, the switch is a pushbutton-type switch. The button of the switch may be any suitable size and shape. Preferably, the button is a circular button. 15 Preferably, the button surround and the switch are adapted to be secured to each other. It is preferred that the switch includes a housing which is attachable to the button surround, the housing and/or button surround including a rotative lock attachment means to allow the housing to be attached to the button surround using a rotative action. 20 The rotative lock attachment means may comprise a bayonet type mounting or a twist lock type mounting which allows the housing to be removed and reattached many times with little or no damage or weakening of the attachment arrangement. Also, the rotative lock attachment means can be made more robust. Typically, the rotative lock attachment means will comprise at least one 25 projection on one of the parts (i.e. the housing or the button surround) which engages with a recess on the other part. Preferably, the housing will include the at least one projection, and the button surround will include the at least one recess. Alternatively, the housing and the button surround each include at least one projection and at least one recess. 30 It is preferred that the rotative lock attachment means comprises at least two projections which engage with at least two recesses. It is more preferred that the 4 rotative lock attachment means comprises more than two projections and may comprise between 3-6 projections (or even more) which engage in respective 3-6 recesses. This provides a good solid locking action which minimises any inadvertent removal of the housing from the button surround. 5 It is preferred that the rotative lock attachment means provides some form of locking action to prevent or at least reduce inadvertent counter rotation of the housing to inadvertently release the housing when not required. However, it is also envisaged that some separate means may be provided to lock or latch the housing relative to the button surround and which may be separate to or in addition to the rotative lock 10 attachment means. For ease of assembly, it is preferred that the rotative lock attachment means provides the locking action. The button of the switch is accessible through the first, second and third openings. Thus, the button can be manipulated by a person's finger when the switch is secured relative to the mounting plate. 15 It is preferred that the electrical switch assembly includes an electrical socket secured to the mounting plate, and that the cover plates includes a fourth opening for providing access to the electrical socket. Preferably, the electrical switch assembly also includes a faceplate for covering the socket, the faceplate being securable to the mounting plate. The faceplate and the mounting plate may be secured to each other in 20 any suitable manner. Preferably, the faceplate and the mounting plate are adapted so that they are able to clip together. It is preferred that the switch is coupled to the electrical socket so that the switch is operable to control the flow of electricity through the socket. The cover plate may any suitable type of cover plate. Preferably, the cover 25 plate is a full face-style cover plate that is adapted to substantially cover a front face of the mounting plate. The mounting plate, button surround, button, and cover plate of the electrical switch assembly may be manufactured from any suitable material or combination of materials. Typically, they will be manufactured from plastic material. In one 30 particular preferred embodiment the mounting plate, button surround and button are manufactured from plastic material, and the cover plate is manufactured from a 5 combination of metal (e.g. stainless steel) and plastic material. In one embodiment, the cover plate includes one or more of metal, plastic, porcelain, leather and glass materials. The mounting plate, button surround, button and cover plate may each be any 5 suitable colour. For example, each of the aforementioned components of the electrical switch assembly may be the same colour. Alternatively, some of the components may have a different colour to some of the other components. In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the 10 accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 depicts a mounting plate of a single switch and single socket electrical outlet assembly; Figure 2 depicts a button surround and a socket faceplate of the single switch and single socket electrical outlet assembly; 15 Figure 3 depicts the button surround and the socket faceplate secured to the mounting plate of the single switch and single socket electrical outlet assembly; Figure 4 depicts a double switch and double socket electrical outlet assembly; Figure 5 depicts a mounting plate of a single electrical switch assembly; Figure 6 depicts a button surround of the single electrical switch assembly; 20 Figure 7 depicts a rocker switch of the single electrical switch assembly; Figure 8 depicts the partially assembled single electrical switch assembly; Figure 9 depicts the fully-assembled single electrical switch assembly; Figure 10 depicts a mounting plate of a six ganged electrical switch assembly; 25 Figure 11 depicts a button surround of the six ganged electrical switch assembly; Figure 12 depicts the button surround secured to the mounting plate of the six ganged electrical switch assembly; and Figure 13 depicts a five ganged electrical switch assembly with a first type of 30 cover plate. For convenience, like features of the various embodiments of the invention 6 have been referenced with like reference numerals. Referring to figure 1, a mounting plate 30 of a single switch and single socket electrical outlet assembly includes a substantially circular opening 31 and an electrical socket 32. 5 An electrical rocker switch 33 which includes a circular button 34 for operating the switch 33 is secured to the rear of the mounting plate 30 such that the button 34 is accessible through the opening 31. Switch 33 is operatively coupled to the socket 32 to control the flow of electricity to the socket 32 from an electricity source. 10 A curved edge 35 of the mounting plate 30 which defines the opening 31 includes a flat region 36 and a pair of curved bumps 37 that project into the opening 31. The electrical socket 32 includes three rectangular slots 38 in the mounting plate 30. Each slot 38 is able to receive a respective pin of an electrical power plug. 15 Mounting plate 30 includes a plurality of small rectangular openings 39 located around the perimeter of the socket 32, and a pair of elongate openings 40 located on opposite sides of the perimeter of the socket 32. In addition, mounting plate 30 includes a small opening 41 located between the slots 38. Referring to figure 2, the single switch and single socket electrical outlet 20 assembly also includes a substantially circular button surround 50. Surround 50 includes an outer portion 51 and a raised or protruding inner portion 52. Outer portion 51 includes a plurality of catches 53. An edge 54 of the outer portion 51 includes a flat region 55 and a pair of curved recesses 56. Flat region 55 matches or is complementary to the flat region 36 of the mounting plate edge 35, and each recess 56 25 is complementary to a respective one of the bumps 37 of the edge 35. Inner portion 52 of the button surround 50 defines a circular opening 57 for receiving the button 34. In addition, the assembly includes a circular socket faceplate 60. Faceplate 60 includes three rectangular slots 61. As with the slots 38, each slot 61 is able to 30 receive a respective pin of an electrical power plug. The faceplate 60 includes a respective catch 62 for inserting into each 7 rectangular opening 39 in the mounting plate 30, and a respective tab 63 for inserting into each elongate opening 40 in the mounting plate 30. Although not depicted in the drawings, faceplate 60 also includes a rearwardly extending projection for inserting into the opening 41. 5 Referring to figure 3, the button surround 50 is inserted into the mounting plate opening 31 so that the flat regions 36 and 55 are located adjacent to each other, and so that each of the curved recesses 56 receive a respective one of the bumps 37. Also, each of the catches 53 catches against the mounting plate 30 so that the surround 50 and the mounting plate 30 thereby clip together. 10 Surround 50 is inhibited from rotating relative to the mounting plate 30 by the bumps 37 received by the recesses 56, and by the adjacent flat regions 36 and 55. Once in place, the surround 50 cannot be readily removed from the mounting plate 30 without permanently damaging the surround 50. Button 34 projects from and is accessible through the opening 57 in the 15 button surround 50, and is able to be operated without being impeded by the surround 50. The mounting plate 30 and the socket faceplate 60 clip together by inserting each faceplate catch 62 into a respective one of the openings 39 in the mounting plate 30 so that the catches 62 thereby secure the faceplate 60 to the mounting plate 30. 20 Once in place, the faceplate 60 cannot be readily removed from the mounting plate 30 without permanently damaging the faceplate 60. The rearwardly extending projection (not depicted) of the faceplate 60 is received by the opening 41, and each of the tabs 63 is received by a respective one of the elongate openings 40. Each slot 61 in the faceplate 60 is aligned with a respective one of the slots 25 38 in the mounting plate 30 so that a respective pin of an electrical plug is able to be inserted into the slots 61 in the faceplate 60, and into the slots 38 in the mounting plate 30. Although not depicted, the assembly also includes a full face-style cover plate that is designed to substantially cover the front and sides of the mounting plate 30 30, and that is able to detachably clip on to the mounting plate 30. In particular, a respective pair of catches 70 at each end of the mounting plate 30 are each designed to 8 detachably engage with a respective pair of catches of the cover plate. The cover plate includes a first circular opening through which the button 34 projects and is able to be accessed. The cover plate also includes a second circular opening through which the socket 32 and faceplate 60 are able to be accessed. 5 Referring to figure 4, a double switch and double socket electrical outlet assembly 80 is similar to the assembly described with reference to figures 1 to 3. Assembly 80 has two switches 33, with each switch 33 being operatively coupled to a respective electrical socket 32 so that the switches 33 are operable to control the flow of electricity to the sockets 32. Each switch 33 of the assembly 80 is 10 accessible through an opening 57 in a respective button surround 50 as well as a respective circular opening 81 in a cover plate 82. Each socket 32 of the assembly 80 is covered by a respective socket faceplate 60, and each faceplate 60 is accessible through a respective circular opening 83 in the cover plate 82. Cover plate 82 is detachably secured to a mounting plate of the assembly 80 which is similar to the 15 mounting plate 30 except that it includes two openings 31 for providing access to the buttons 34 of the switches 33, and two sockets 32. Referring to figure 5, a mounting plate 90 of a single electrical switch assembly includes a substantially circular opening 91. An edge 92 of the mounting plate 90 which defines the opening 91 includes a pair of opposed recesses 93. 20 Mounting plate 90 includes four rearwardly extending catches 94 which are circumferentially-spaced around the perimeter of the opening 91 so that each of the catches 94 opposes another one of the catches 94. It also includes a pair of smaller rearwardly extending catches 95. Each catch 95 is located adjacent to a respective catch 94 of one of the opposing pairs of catches 94. In addition, the mounting plate 90 25 includes four rearwardly extending struts 96 which are also circumferentially-spaced around the perimeter of the opening 91. A respective pair of catches 97 extends from each end of the mounting plate 90. Referring to figure 7, a rocker switch 100 of the single electrical switch assembly is the same as the rocker switch disclosed in W02004/070757, the contents 30 of which are incorporated herein by reference. Switch 100 includes a rear housing 101 which supports a mechanism of the 9 switch 100, including a circular button 102. The housing 101 is provided with small sockets or terminal attachments (not Illustrated) to couple to electric leads (not illustrated). The front of housing 101 pivotally supports the button 102. Button 102 pivots about a small pin in an aperture 103. 5 Housing 101 also includes four circumferentially-spaced projections 104. Each of the projections 104 is located opposite another one of the projections 104. Each projection 104 is L-shaped in configuration, having a first vertical portion 105 and a second substantially horizontal portion 106. The horizontal portion 106 of each projection 104 of one of the opposing pairs of projections 104 includes a small bump io 107. The single electrical switch assembly also includes a substantially circular button surround 110 which also functions as a switch ring for securing the switch 100 to the mounting plate 90. Surround 110 includes an outer portion I11 and a raised inner portion 112. Once in place, the surround 110 cannot be readily removed from 15 the mounting plate 90 without permanently damaging the surround 110. A collar 113 extends from the outer portion 111. Collar 113 in the particular embodiment comprises two arcuate plate-like portions 114, and two arcuate plate-like portions 115 that extend rearwardly from the outer portion 111. Plates 114 protrude laterally from the outer portion 111. Each of the plates 114 includes a rectangular 20 opening 116 and a recess 117. Each of the plates 115 includes a catch 118. Collar 113 also includes a respective recess 119 between each of the plates 114, 115. Each recess 119 is also substantially L-shaped and has a vertical leg portion and a horizontal leg portion. Switch housing 101 is attached to the button surround 110 by a twist lock 25 action. In particular, the projections 104 of the housing 101 pass into the recesses 119. To provide a locking action to prevent the housing 101 from inadvertently twisting out of engagement with the surround 110, some (or all) of the recesses 119 are not exactly L-shaped but instead have a small domed portion 120 at the end of the 30 horizontal leg portion of the L-shaped recess 119. The corresponding projection 104 of the housing 101 includes the small bump 107 on the horizontal part of the leg 10 portion. The small bump 107 on the projection 104 press fits into the small domed portion 120 in the recess 119 to provide some locking or clamping action against inadvertent release of the housing 101. It is preferred that some of the projections 104 are provided with the small bump 107, and some are not. The reason for this is that if 5 all of the projections 104 were provided with a small bump 107, it might provide a quite large resistance against unlocking and removal of the housing 101 which means that the housing 101 will need to be very strong to counter rotate release it from the button surround I 10. It is considered that such force is unnecessary and therefore only some of the projections 104 are provided with a bump 107. Of course, various other 10 means may be provided to provide this locking action. For instance, each projection 104 may be provided with a smaller bump 107 to provide a lower force to release the housing 10 1 from the button surround 110. To release the housing 101 from the button surround 110, it is necessary to apply an initial small force to separate the bump 107 on the projection 104 from 15 engagement in the domed portion 120 in the recess 117. After that, the housing 101 can be simply twisted and lifted out of engagement with the button surround 110. The housing 101 can be simply reattached with little or no damage to the rotative locking means. Moreover, the housing 101 can be rotated by 900 and simply reattached such that the button 102 works along a sideways motion as opposed to an up-and-down 20 motion. When the switch 100 is secured to the button surround 110, the button 102 projects from an opening 121 of the surround 110 so that the button 102 is accessible through the opening 121. Opening 121 is defined by the inner portion 112 of the button surround 110. 25 Button surround 110 is secured to the mounting plate 90 by inserting the surround 110 into the opening 91 from the front of the plate 90. Before the surround 110 is inserted into the opening 91, each of the plates 115 is aligned with a respective one of the recesses 93. Surround 110 is then pressed into the opening 91 so that each opening 116 receives a respective catch 94, so that each recess 117 receives a 30 respective catch 95, and so that each catch 118 catches against the mounting plate 90. After the surround 110 has been fully inserted into the opening 91, each plate 114, 115 I1 is reinforced or supported by a respective one of the struts 96. Figure 9 depicts the complete single electrical switch assembly 130 which, in addition to including the mounting plate 90, switch 100 and button surround 110, also includes a full face-style cover plate 131. Cover plate 131 includes catches (not 5 depicted) which correspond to the catches 97 of the mounting plate 90. The catches of the cover plate 131 and the mounting plate catches 97 are able to detachably engage with each other so that the cover plate 131 and the mounting plate 90 are able to thereby detachably clip onto each other. Inner portion 112 of the button surround 110 is received by a circular 10 opening 132 in the cover plate 131 so that the button 102 projects from and is also accessible through the opening 132. Referring to figure 10, a mounting plate 140 of a ganged electrical switch assembly includes a substantially rectangular opening 141. A respective corner support 142 is located at each corner of the opening 141, and is recessed below an 15 upper surface of the plate 140. Each corner support 142 includes a circular hole 143. A respective pair of side supports 144 is located along each longer side of the opening 141, and is recessed below the upper surface of the plate 140. The side supports 144 extending along each side of the opening 141 are separated from each other and the corner supports 142 by gaps 145. A plurality of recesses 146 are located along each of 20 the shorter sides of the opening 141, and a respective recess 147 is located adjacent to each gap 145. A respective pair of catches 148 extends from each end of the mounting plate 140. A button surround 150 of the ganged electrical switch assembly is depicted in figure 11. Surround 150 also functions as a carrier for supporting a plurality of rocker 25 switches 100. Surround 150 has a substantially rectangular shape. The surround 150 includes six circular openings 151 that are each defined by a respective circular protrusion 152 extending from a front face of the mounting plate 150. A respective collar 153 extends rearwardly from each opening 151. Each 30 collar 153 comprises four arcuate plate-like portions 154 that are separated from each other by a respective recess 155 and that are supported by struts (not depicted). Each 12 recess 155 is substantially L-shaped and has a vertical leg portion, a horizontal leg portion, and a small domed portion 156 at the end of the horizontal leg portion. A respective switch 100 is able to be secured to each collar 153 by attaching the switch housing 101 to the collar 153 by twist lock action which is similar to that 5 described in connection with the assembly 130 depicted in figure 9. Button surround 150 also includes a plurality of catches 157 extending rearwardly from each of the longer sides of the surround 150, and a respective catch 158 extending rearwardly from each of the shorter sides of the surround 150. Each catch 157 corresponds to a respective gap 145 and recess 147 of the mounting plate 10 140, and each catch 158 corresponds to a respective recess 146 of the mounting plate 140. A respective blind circular hole (not depicted) extends into the button surround 150 from the rear thereof and is located adjacent to each corner of the surround 150. Each hole corresponds to a respective one of the holes 143 of the 15 mounting plate 140. Figure 12 depicts the button surround 150 secured to the mounting plate 140. Surround 150 is detachably secured to the plate 140 by firstly inserting it into the opening 141 so that each catch 157 is received by its corresponding gap 145 and recess 147 and catches against the plate 140, and so that each catch 158 is received by 20 its corresponding recess 146 and catches against the plate 140 as well. Once the surround 150 has been fully inserted into the opening 141, a lower surface of the surround 150 rests on the supports 142, 144. Each hole 143 in the mounting plate 140 is aligned with a respective one of the blind holes in the button surround 150. Each pair of aligned holes receives a respective screw which is screwed into the holes. 25 The six ganged electrical switch assembly also includes a full face-style cover plate (not depicted) that is designed to be detachably secured to the mounting plate 140, and to cover the front and sides of the plate 140. The cover plate and the mounting plate 140 are adapted to detachably clip together. In particular, the respective pair of catches 148 at each end of the mounting plate 140 designed to 30 detachably engage with a respective pair of catches of the cover plate. The cover plate includes six circular openings that each receive a respective 13 one of the protrusions 152. The openings in the cover plate allowed the buttons 102 of the switches 100 that are secured to the surround 150 to be accessed. Figure 13 depicts a five ganged electrical switch assembly 160. Assembly 160 includes a mounting plate which is similar to the mounting plate 140. It also has 5 a button surround 161 which is similar to the surround 150 except that surround 161 only has five openings 151. Moreover, assembly 160 includes a cover plate 162 that includes five openings 163 and that is detachably secured to the mounting plate of the assembly 160. Throughout the specification and the claims, unless the context requires 1o otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to 15 the value for the range qualified by the terms. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and 20 ambit of the invention as herein set forth. It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, that reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.