GB2462259A - Temporary cover with cable end connector means for switch or socket back-box - Google Patents

Abstract

A temporary cover plate, for a back-box containing electrical cables and intended for attachment of a cover plate including functional electrical apparatus such as sockets, switches, fuse holders or telecommunication/computer connection sockets, is adapted to be mounted in place of a functional cover plates in new-builds. The temporary plate does not include any such functional electrical components and has an inner face 6 provided with a plurality of connectors 3 for gripping cable ends to prevent risk of short circuits, fires or electrocution. Test ports (6, fig.3) may be provided in the outer face of the temporary cover allowing access to electrical test terminals within the temporary cover plate connected to the cables by the connectors. Safe, simple and convenient protection of cabled back-boxes is thus provided, prior to final selection and fitting of functional cover plates. The optional test ports also provide the possibility of live electrical testing with reduced risk to the tester.

Description

Temporary Cover for Switch or Socket Back-Box The invention relates to electrical sockets and switches use in domestic and commercial buildings in order to provide electrical mains power to apparatus and lighting systems. In particular, the invention relates to cover plates intended for temporary use in place of functioning sockets and switches in new builds, prior to selection of final designs by an end-user. The invention is also applicable to telecommunication sockets and switches.

In new-builds (by which is meant buildings that have been newly constructed and internally completed save for furnishings) it is usual for the end-user of the building (i.e. the new occupier) to select the designs of electrical fittings, such as light switches and electrical sockets, after construction but prior to furnishing and occupancy of the new building. However, for safety reasons, it is necessary to provide the electrical back-boxes to which socket plates and switch plates are to be fitted with cover plates to prevent accidental human access to live electrical cables. This also applies to telecommunication equipment such as telephone sockets and computer connection sockets.

Up to now, it has been the practice to fit low-grade sockets and switches to new builds in order to ensure that all live cables are adequately masked whist final touches are being put to a new-build. These low-grade sockets and switches are then typically removed and replaced by the selected units chosen by the end-user prior to final furnishing and occupation by the end-user.

This is clearly a wasteful operation as the low-grade sockets are often damaged or stolen or scrapped and so cannot then be re-utilised for a further new-build.

A further problem associated with new builds is the need for an electrical safety check to be carried out in order to ensure that the new build can be safely released to the end-user. This conventionally entails the removal of the socket and switch panels in order to allow access to the live cables by an electrician in order to check the connectivity of the circuits. This entails risk of electrocution to the electrician, and is a laborious task, as the covers must be replaced for safety reasons after testing. Ideally, the testing would be carried out at the same time as replacement of the low-grade sockets and switches by the end-user-selected apparatus, but such project planning may be difficult to achieve for a new-build.

It would be desirable to overcome some or all of the above-mentioned problems for a new build. Hence it is an object of the present invention, amongst others, to provide methods and equipment that may be used to simplify and to reduce the cost and effort of dealing with finalising the electrical socket and switch equipment when a new-build is handed over to the end-user. It is a further object of the present invention to simplify the electrical safety testing of a new-build prior to hand-over to the end-user.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a temporary cover plate for a back-box adapted for mounting a plate holding a functional electrical component, said back-box having an interior holding electrical cables terminating in a plurality of cable ends, the temporary cover plate being adapted to be mounted in place of said plate holding functional electrical component, the temporary cover plate comprising: an inner face provided with a plurality of connectors adapted to releasably grip said cable ends, means for releasably attaching the temporary cover plate to said back-box, an outer face adapted to prevent manual access to said interior of said back-box when the temporary cover plate is mounted on said back-box, characterized in that the temporary cover plate does not comprise a functional electrical component.

By functional electrical component is meant a component used by the end-user such as a switch or socket, but may also be a power indication light or a fuse holder. Telecommunication and computer connection sockets are also included in the term. Such functional electrical components are not needed for the temporary cover plate of the first aspect of the invention, and so to improve simplicity and reduce manufacturing complexity, the temporary cover plate of the first aspect of the invention does not comprise such functional electrical components.

Typically, back-boxes for functional electrical components are either adapted to be mounted buried in a wall (so that inner surface of the plate mounted on the back-box is flush with the wall surface), or adapted to be mounted on a wall, standing proud of the wall. In either case, the back-boxes and their mounting arrangements for front plates are usually of a standard configuration. The temporary cover plate of the first aspect of the invention is suitably made to fit one of the standard configurations. Typically, the back-box is provided with tapped holes and the temporary cover plate will be attached to the back-box by screws passing though mounting holes in the temporary cover plate and screwed into the tapped holes of the back-box to hold the temporary cover plate in place.

Hence, the temporary cover plate preferably consists essentially of a plate having an inner face provided with a plurality of connectors adapted to releasably grip said cable ends, means for releasably attaching the temporary cover to said back box and an outer face adapted to prevent manual access to said interior of said back-box when the temporary cover is attached to said back box.

Preferably, each connector is electrically isolated from each other connector.

This provides the advantage that when the electrical power is live, no accidental short circuits take place. The electrical cable ends corresponding to each different circuit state: e.g. live, neutral, earth, loop live, may be gripped by different connectors.

The connectors may be any suitable connector adapted to releasably grip one or more electrical cable ends. Suitably, a conventional screw connector in the form of a metal cylindrical tube provided with a screw passing through a tapped hole in the side wall of the tube may be used as a connector: the screw being tightened onto the end of a cable in the tube in order to grip the cable end. Depending upon the size of the cylinder/screw combination, one or several electrical cable ends may be gripped by a single connector.

Preferably, each connector is conductively connected to a respective electrical test terminal accessible via a respective test port on the outer face. This provides the advantage that the electrical cables within the back box may be electrically tested whilst the temporary cover plate is in place, mounted on the back box. This means that the risk of electrocution to an electrician carrying out testing with live electrical cables is considerably reduced or removed completely. Typically, the electrician will be able to access the electrical test terminals within the temporary cover plate by means of the needle-like test probes of electrical test equipment.

Suitably, each test port is adapted to prevent accidental human contact with the respective electrical test terminal. Typically, each test port is an aperture in the outer face of the temporary cover plate leading to each respective electrical test terminal and each test port is adapted to prevent accidental human contact with the respective electrical test terminal. For instance, this may be achieved by each aperture having a size of 2 mm or less, preferably 1.5 mm or less. By "size" is meant the widest aperture width of the test port measured at the outer face of the temporary cover plate. Suitably, the electrical test terminals are each situated at least 2 mm below the outer face of the temporary cover plate, preferably at least 3mm, more preferably at least 4mm in order to minimise risk of accidental manual contact.

For simplicity of construction, each electrical test terminal is preferably a unitary part of its respective connector. In other words, the test terminal and the connector are suitably formed, moulded or stamped from a single piece of material, typically metal.

Preferably, the temporary cover plate comprises 3 or more electrical test terminals. This enables testing to be carried out for live, neutral and earth cable ends. More preferably, the temporary cover plate comprises 4 electrical test terminals, with the additional electrical test terminal allowing testing of loop live cables. For more sophisticated wiring systems, with more than 4 cables (for instance with environmental control cables also being present), further electrical test terminals may be provided.

There may be a 1:1 correspondence between connectors and electrical test terminal, or it may be appropriate to two or more connectors in electrical contact with some of the electrical test terminals. This allows for easier connection of the cable ends when there are several cable ends from the same circuit in a back-box.

A second aspect of the invention provides a termination box for electrical cables comprising a back-box and a temporary cover plate according to the first aspect of the invention. Preferred features of the first aspect of the invention are also applicable to the second aspect of the invention.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method for temporarily preventing manual access to a plurality of ends of electrical cables in a socket or switch back-box prior to fitting and connection of an electrical switch or socket plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a temporary cover plate having a plurality of connectors on its inner face, b) attaching the cable ends to the connectors, c) fastening the temporary cover plate to the back box whereby manual access to the cable ends is prevented, wherein the temporary cover plate does not comprise a functional electrical component.

Suitably, the temporary cover plate for the third aspect of the invention consists essentially of a plate adapted for mounting to the back-box and a plurality of electrical connectors on its inner face.

Preferably, the ends of the electrical cables are connected to separate, electrically isolated connectors, whereby unintended conductive contact between the ends is prevented.

The preferred features of the temporary cover plate of the first aspect of the invention are also applicable to this third aspect of the invention. Hence, the temporary cover plate used in the method further comprises a plurality of electrical test ports on its outer face allowing access to a plurality of electrical test terminals each in electrical contact with a respective electrical connector on the inner face whereby the electrical cables may be tested whilst the temporary cover plate is mounted on the back-box.

Also, the invention overcomes potential safety problems associated with mounting cable ends to a loose terminal block. There is a risk of loose terminal blocks moving and coming into contact with each other or with other surfaces, leading to risk of short circuit, fire or electrocution. In the various aspects of the invention, such risks are obviated because the electrical cable ends are rigidly mounted to connection terminals on the temporary cover plate.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the first embodiment and also acts as a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of the second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

Turning to the first embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a temporary cover plate I has an outer face 7 and an inner face 6. Mounting holes 2 pass through the plate 1 to allow it to be securely mounted to a back-box (not shown) by means of screws.

Connectors 3 are provided on the inner face 6 of the plate 1 in the form of brass tubes with screws 5 in tapped holes in walls of the tubes. The plate 1 is of moulded polymer and the connectors are rigidly set in the plate 1.

In use, the plate I is offered up to a back-box containing electrical cables with bared ends. The plate of the first embodiment is suitable for use with an electrical system having four different circuit types: such as switched live, neutral, earth and loop live. Cable ends corresponding to the different circuits are each gripped each in different connectors by first loosening the screws 5, pushing the bared cable ends into the tubes of the respective connectors 3, then tightening the screws 5 to grip the cable ends. Where two or more cable ends are held in a single connector 3, the cable ends may be first twisted together prior to insertion and gripping.

After the cable ends have been secured, the plate is then secured to the back-box using screws passing through the mounting holes 2, covering the inner space of the back-box and so preventing accidental human access to the cable ends.

Turning to the second embodiment as shown in figure 3, which has an inner face is identical to that shown in figure 2, connectors 3 are provided on the inner face 6 of the plate 1 in the form of brass tubes with screws 5 in tapped holes in walls of the tubes. The plate 1 is of moulded polymer and the connectors are rigidly set in the plate 1. Each connector has one end (not shown) acting as an electrical test terminal, buried within the body of the plate 1. The connector ends are each accessible through test ports 8 which are narrow-bore apertures in the form of shafts extending from the outer face 7 of a.

: the plate to the buried contact ends. The test ports have an internal diameter *::* 15 of 2mm and the contact ends are buried 4mm from the outer face 7 whereby accidental manual contact with the buried contact ends is prevented.

S..... * .

In use, the cables are affixed to the plate and the plate mounted to a back-box *".: as for the first embodiment. The circuits can then be made live (i.e. connected to the electrical mains supply) without risk of electrocution arising from accidentally contacting the outer face 7 of plate 1. The test ports 8 allow electrical testing of the cables within the back-box to be carried out by means of narrow, electrically conducting probes inserted into the test ports in order to contact the buried ends of the connectors 3 which act as electrical test terminals.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, rather than having connectors 3 directly mounted to the inner face 6 of the plate 1, a plurality of connectors could be provided in a terminal block, adapted to electrically insulate the contacts from each other, which is in turn mounted on the inner face 6 of the plate 1. In such a case, test ports 8 could be narrow shafts extending from the outer face 7 to the inner face 6 of the plate 1 and positioned to allow the connectors of the terminal block to be contacted by needle-like test-probes.

The described and illustrated embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as "preferable", "preferably", "preferred" or "more preferred" in the description suggest that a feature so described may be desirable, it may nevertheless not be necessary and embodiments lacking such a feature may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In relation to the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at least one," or "at least one portion" are used to preface a feature there is no intention to limit the claim to only one such feature unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a portion" is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

Claims (15)

1. Claims 1. A temporary cover plate for a back-box adapted for mounting a plate holding a functional electrical component, said back-box having an interior holding electrical cables terminating in a plurality of cable ends, the temporary cover plate being adapted to be mounted in place of said plate holding functional electrical component, the temporary cover plate comprising: an inner face provided with a plurality of connectors adapted to releasably grip said cable ends, means for releasably attaching the temporary cover plate to said back-box, an outer face adapted to prevent manual access to said interior of said back-box when the temporary cover plate is mounted on said back-box, characterized in that the temporary cover plate does not comprise a functional electrical component.
2. 2. A temporary cover plate according to claim 1 wherein the temporary cover plate consists essentially of a plate having an inner face provided with a plurality of connectors adapted to releasably grip said cable ends, means for releasably attaching the temporary cover to said back box and an outer face adapted to prevent manual access to said interior of said back-box when the temporary cover is attached to said back box.
3. 3. A temporary cover plate according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each connector is electrically isolated from each other connector
4. 4. A temporary cover plate according to any preceding claim wherein each connector is conductively connected to a respective electrical test terminal accessible via a respective test port on the outer face.
5. 5. A temporary cover plate according to claim 4 wherein one or more electrical test terminal is a unitary part of its respective connector.
6. 6. A temporary cover plate according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the temporary cover plate comprises three or more electrical test terminals.
7. 7. A temporary cover plate according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the temporary cover plate comprises four or more electrical test terminals.
8. 8. A temporary cover plate according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein each test port is adapted to prevent accidental human contact with the respective electrical test terminal.
9. 9. A temporary cover plate according to claim 8 wherein each test port is an aperture in the outer face of the temporary cover plate leading to each respective electrical test terminal.
10. 10. A temporary cover plate according to claim 9 wherein each aperture has a size of 2 mm or less.
11. 11. A termination box for electrical cables comprising a back-box and a temporary cover according to any preceding claim.
12. 12. A method for temporarily preventing manual access to a plurality of ends of electrical cables in a socket or switch back-box prior to fitting and connection of an electrical switch or socket plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a temporary cover plate having a plurality of connectors on its inner face, b) attaching the cable ends to the connectors, c) fastening the temporary cover plate to the back box whereby manual access to the cable ends is prevented, wherein the temporary cover plate does not comprise a functional electrical component.
13. 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the temporary cover plate consists essentially of a plate adapted for mounting to the back-box and a plurality of electrical connectors on its inner face.
14. 14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein ends of electrical cables are connected to separate, electrically isolated connectors, whereby unintended conductive contact between the ends is prevented.
15. 15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the temporary cover plate further comprises a plurality of electrical test ports on its outer face allowing access to a plurality of electrical test terminals each in electrical contact with a respective electrical connector on the inner face whereby the electrical cables may be tested whilst the temporary cover plate is mounted on the back-box.