WO2007003983A1

WO2007003983A1 - Apparatus for quick positioning and mounting of built-in boxes for electric, electronic, telephone, junction and similar components

Info

Publication number: WO2007003983A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/003403
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Bottoli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2005-11-15
Publication date: 2007-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-30
Also published as: ITTV20050097A1

Abstract

An Apparatus for quick positioning and installation of built-in boxes for electric, electronic, telephone, junction and similar components, characterized in that it comprises a substantially plate-like support element (2), which is designed to be secured in a predetermined position to a wall (P) and has one or more apertures (3) in a substantially central position, each having a predetermined shape and size, for receiving and stably retaining a flush mount box(4) without using any measuring or checking instrument.

Description

APPARATUS FOR QUICK POSITIONING AND MOUNTING OF BUILT-IN BOXES FOR ELECTRIC, ELECTRONIC, TELEPHONE, JUNCTION AND SIMILAR COMPONENTS

Field of the invention

This invention finds application in the field of electric components, and particularly relates to an apparatus for wall mounting and positioning of electric, electronic, telephone connection, junction boxes, or the like.

The device is particularly useful for precise positioning and wall mounting of built-in or flush mount boxes for use in civil and industrial applications, such as electrical enclosures, wire junction boxes, telephone and/or Intranet network connection boxes or the like.

State of the art

In electrical or telephone system installation works in civil or industrial premises, wall mounting of boxes for electric components, such as electrical enclosures or wire junction boxes, to be flush mounted before tubing installation, requires particular care and an especially precise positioning.

The operator shall first form a groove in the wall, make a receptacle therein for receiving the box and, in a last step, secure the box in the receptacle using cement mortar.

This prior art solution has a number of apparent drawbacks, associated both to the apparent box positioning difficulty and to the long times required for mortar to harden and allow laying of tubing or required connections.

First, the box should be positioned so that its outermost surface is perfectly aligned to the support wall, once the latter has been finished, to prevent burrs from forming on i the periphery of the box or undesired slits from appearing between the wall and its finishing plate.

Therefore, during positioning, the box shall be held at a predetermined distance from the rough wall, generally at about 1 cm. This operation requires high skills, wherefore the operator shall be a qualified technician.

The need of waiting for full cement set further prevents the operator from positioning the wire guides immediately after positioning the box, which increases the times and especially the costs associated to the whole operation.

Furthermore, if several horizontally or vertically aligned boxes are to be positioned, care must be taken of the spacing therebetween, as any spacing below the required values would cause overlapping of the finishing plates, and any excessive spacing or misaligned positioning would result in a sub-optimal aesthetic effect.

Finally, another drawback is that, once equal spacing between the boxes is achieved, it is difficult to create the same conditions within the same building unit.

Summary of the invention

The object of this invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, by providing a device for positioning and quick installation of flush mount electric, electronic, telephone connection, junction boxes or the like that achieves high efficiency and has a relatively simple construction.

A particular object is to provide a device that allows precise built-in or flush mount box positioning to occur in a very quick and simple manner, without requiring specially skilled technicians, and reducing the overall installation costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device whose positioning instantly has the requested stability, to allow immediate use thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide a device that allows precise alignment of several boxes, which shall not necessarily be identical and may be even placed on different walls of the same building, thereby improving the aesthetical value of the works.

Another important object is to provide a device that does not require the use of containers for cement mortar and tools for application thereof, thereby suppressing undesired loads for the operator.

These objects, as well as other objects that will be apparent hereafter, are fulfilled by an apparatus for quick positioning and installation of built-in or flush mount boxes for electric, electronic, telephone, junction or the like, characterized in that it comprises a substantially plate-like support element, which is designed to be secured in a predetermined position to a wall and has one or more apertures in a substantially central position, each having a predetermined shape and size, for receiving and stably retaining a flush mount box without using any measuring or checking instrument.

Thanks to this feature, the invention allows very quick and simple precision positioning of one or more flush mount boxes in a suitable receptacle formed in a wall.

Advantageously, the receiving apertures may include at least one removable edge portion, for adjusting the shape and size thereof to comply with different flush mount box configurations.

Preferably, each removable edge portion may consist of a strip of base material, which is connected to the peripheral portion of the support element by frangible connection extensions or weakened lines.

Furthermore, a plurality of aligned apertures may be provided for positioning respective boxes in horizontally or vertically aligned positions. Suitably, these apertures may have rectangular, polygonal or circular shapes.

Thanks to this particular configuration, the invention may provide an apparatus that allows either horizontal or vertical precise alignment of several boxes, which are not necessarily identical and may be placed on different walls of the same building, thereby improving the aesthetical value of the works.

Preferably, the apparatus may include means for stably securing the support element to the wall on which the boxes are to be mounted.

Preferably, these stable attachment means may include one or more through cavities in the peripheral portion of the support element for the passage of a filler material for securing the support element to the wall.

Also, the apparatus may include pre-positioning means of the type that comprises adhesive pads attached to one face of the support element at the outer peripheral edges to allow preliminary positioning thereof before stable attachment.

Thanks to this feature of the invention, the apparatus may be positioned in an instantly stable manner to allow immediate use thereof.

Advantageously, means may be provided for quick mounting of one or more boxes to the support element, the boxes being positioned in corresponding apertures of suitable shapes and sizes.

Preferably, the quick mounting means may include at least one resilient hook-like member for snap connection with a peripheral flange of the box to be connected.

Advantageously, the support element may be divided into two or more panels by hinge means, whereby the panels may be folded on themselves. Thanks to this particular configuration, the apparatus allows wall mounting of flush mount boxes to be also performed by technicians having no special skill and without using containers for mortar and tools which might damage the operator, with increased safety and cost-effectiveness.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of a few preferred, non-exclusive embodiments of an apparatus for positioning and quick mounting of boxes according to the invention which are described as non-limiting examples with the help of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a detail of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a detail of FIG. 2 in a typical application;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a third embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Referring to the above figures, the apparatus according to the invention may be utilized for precise positioning and quick wall mounting of flush mount electric, electronic, telephone connection or junction boxes, without using cement mortars that would require continuous box position adjustments with the help of measuring and checking instruments.

The apparatus may be used for mounting flush mount boxes on any type of fixed or movable wall, not necessarily having a flat and/or vertical orientation. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention, generally designated by numeral 1 , comprises a substantially plate-like support element 2, which is designed to be secured in a predetermined position to a wall P and has one or more apertures 3 in a substantially central position, each having a predetermined shape and size, for receiving and stably retaining a flush mount box 4 without using any measuring or checking instrument, such as tape measures, spacers, or the like.

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus having one central aperture 3 for receiving a corresponding box 4 of a predetermined shape and size, substantially coinciding with the shape and size of the opening 3.

The aperture 3 further includes removable edge portions 5, for adjusting the shape and size thereof to comply with different configurations of the flush mount box 4.

However, any number of apertures 3 may be provided, without limitation, and each aperture 3 of a support element 2 may have different shapes and sizes to receive boxes 4 of various types and/or configurations.

The apertures 3 shall not necessarily have a rectangular shape, but may also be polygonal, circular or have any other shape to comply with the various available configurations of flush mount boxes 4.

As a result, the support element 2 may also have various shapes and sizes to meet specific needs, without limitation to the functionalities of the device 1. The support element 2 shall be sufficiently larger than the boxes 4 to allow proper and stable positioning.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus 1 , in which the support element 2 has three apertures 3', 3", 3'" having different configurations.

Each aperture 3', 3", 3'" has corresponding removable edge portions 5, essentially consisting of strips 6 of base material, which are connected to the support element 2 by frangible connection extensions 8 and weakened lines 9, which form substantially thin areas to facilitate removal of the strips 6.

The removable strips 6 may be disposed either all along the periphery of the apertures 3', 3", 3'" or on some sides thereof, to be removed by simple breaking movements at the weakened lines 9 and connecting extensions 8.

In a particular application, only some of these strips 6 may be removed so that more than one aperture 3', 3", 3'" or a portion thereof may be used together as a receptacle of a single box 4.

The support element 2 may be made by molding plastic materials and may be supplied without flush mount boxes 4 or with the latter integrally formed with the support element 2.

The plate-like support element 2 will preferably have a substantially constant thickness of 2 mm to 10 mm.

FIG. 4 shows a particular application of an apparatus 1 with a flush mount box 4 attached thereto, to be stably fitted in a suitable receptacle S formed in the wall P, into which tubes shall be possibly led for guiding wires from specific devices.

Once the receptacles S for the boxes 4 have been formed in the wall P, the support element 2 shall be applied on the wall P with its back face 10 above the receptacles S, which are arranged to correspond with the apertures 3', 3", 3'".

The apertures 3', 3", 3'" will be preferably aligned to allow uniform positioning of the corresponding boxes 4, either horizontally or vertically.

Stable attachment of the support element 2 to the wall P will be obtained by appropriate fastening means 11 which may be of either the chemical or the mechanical type. The stable attachment means 11 may include a plurality of through cavities 12 in the peripheral portion of the support element 2 for a filler material 13 to be fed therein, and adhere to the support element 2 and the wall P for mutual attachment.

The filler material 13 will be selected from the group consisting of glues, adhesives, foams and the like, and may be, for example, a polyurethane foam.

The use of such filler material 13 provides quick attachment 13 of the support element 2, as well as the box 4 to be wall mounted, without using cement mortars, that would require forcibly long waiting times before laying wire guide tubes.

In addition to the above cavities 12, the stable attachment means 11 may include a plurality of through holes 14 at the outer peripheral edges 15 of the support element 2 and adapted to allow the passage of mechanical fastener means, such as pins, screws or the like, to be fastened to the wall, and not shown due to their being commonly known.

To facilitate preliminary positioning of the support element 2 before stable fastening thereof by introducing attachment material 13 in one or more cavities 12 or suitable mechanical means, there may be provided pre-positioning means 16 of the type that comprises adhesive pads 17 attached to the back face 10 of the support element 2 at the outer peripheral edges 15.

Conveniently, the adhesive pads 17 are covered by a protective layer 20 which is designed to be peeled off immediately before bringing the support element 2 in contact with the wall P.

Furthermore, quick mounting means 18 are provided, which may be substantially snap-operated and will hold the boxes 4 in their respective suitably shaped and sized apertures 3, with the support element 2 stably fixed to the wall P. The quick mounting means 18 will essentially consist of resilient hook-like members disposed along the edges 5 of the apertures 3 for connection, with a slight press fit, with a peripheral flange of their respective boxes 4 to be mounted.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, to be intended without limitation, each aperture 3 will be equipped with at least one pair of hook-like members 18', 18", placed along diametrically opposite edges 5, 5' respectively.

As shown in the configuration of FIG. 2, the support element 2 may be divided into two panels 21, 22, even though it can be divided into a greater number of not necessarily identical panels, by hinge means 23, adapted to allow them to fold on themselves and lie over each other.

The hinge means 23 may be arranged, for instance, along a center line X of the support element 2 and parallel to its shorter side to have a compacter size during transportation.

Also, the possibility of folding the support element 2 allows to change the configuration of the support element 2, and divide the latter into two portions, to be used separately.

According to a further arrangement of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, each aperture 3 may be enabled to be reclosed by a corresponding protective cover 24, which is integrated in the support element 2 and configured to be removable with the help of pre-cut weakened lines. Thus, the boxes 4 may be protected when the wall P is coated with finishing plaster.

The cover may include a housing 26 for temporarily receiving a level L for assuring proper wall positioning of the support element 2, to be removed once the element has been fixed. The above disclosure clearly shows that the device of the invention fulfills the proposed objects and particularly allows precise flush mount box positioning to occur in a very quick and simple manner, without requiring specially skilled technicians.

Thanks to the use of fast set filler materials for wall mounting of the support element, no specially skilled technicians will be required, and manpower may be reduced, which involves a reduction of the overall costs for the works.

The apparatus according to the invention is susceptible of a number of changes and variants, falling within the inventive scope defined in the appended claims. All the details thereof may be replaced by other technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary depending on different needs, without departure from the scope of the invention.

While the apparatus has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning and quick installation of flush mount electric, electronic, telephone connection, junction boxes or the like, characterized in that it comprises a substantially plate-like support element (2), which is designed to be secured in a predetermined position to a wall (P) and has one or more apertures

(3) in a substantially central position, each having a predetermined shape and size, for receiving and stably retaining a flush mount box (4) without using any measuring or checking instrument.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said one or more apertures (3) further include at least one removable edge portion (5), for adjusting the shape and size of said apertures (3) to comply with different configurations of the flush mount box (4).

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each removable edge portion (5) consists of a strip of base material (6), which is connected to the peripheral portion of said support element (2) by frangible connection extensions (8) or weakened lines (9).

4. Apparatus as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a plurality of aligned apertures (3', 3", 3'") for positioning respective boxes (4) in horizontally or vertically aligned positions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apertures (3) have rectangular, polygonal or circular shapes respectively.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it includes means (11) for stably securing said support element (2) to the wall (P) on which the boxes

(4) are to be mounted.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said stable attachment means (11) include one or more through cavities (12) in the peripheral portion of said support element (2) for the passage of a filler material (13) for securing said support element (2) to the wall (P).

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said filler material (13) is selected from the group consisting of glues, adhesives, foams and the like.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said stable attachment means (11) include a plurality of through holes (14) at the outer peripheral edges (15) of said support element (2) for the passage of pins or screws to be secured to the wall (P).

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it includes pre- positioning means (16) of the type that comprises adhesive pads (17) attached to one face (10) of said support element (2) at the outer peripheral edges (15) to allow preliminary positioning of said support element (2) before stable attachment thereof.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said adhesive pads (17) are covered by a protective layer (20) which is designed to be peeled off immediately before contact with the wall (P).

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises means (18) for quick mounting of one or more boxes (4) to the support element (2), the boxes (4) being positioned in corresponding ones of said apertures (3) having suitable shapes and sizes.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said quick mounting means (18) include at least one resilient hook-like member for snap connection with a peripheral flange of the box (4) to be connected.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that it includes at least one pair of said hook-like members (18) placed along diametrically opposite edges of said apertures (3).

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said support element (2) is divided into two or more panels (21 , 22) by hinge means (23), whereby said panels (21 , 22) may be folded on themselves.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said apertures (3) of said support element (2) may be reclosed by a corresponding protective cover (24).

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said protective cover (24) is integrated in said box (4) and designed to be removable with the help of pre-cut weakened lines (25).

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it has flush mount boxes (4) integrally formed with said support member (2).

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said substantially plate-like support element (2) is made by molding plastic materials.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said substantially plate-like support element (2) has a substantially constant thickness of 2 mm to 10 mm.