GB2552971A

GB2552971A - Electrical connection apparatus and making wiring connections thereto

Info

Publication number: GB2552971A
Application number: GB1614004.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Wilks Paul; Fazakerley Stephen
Original assignee: Sk Wilks Ltd
Current assignee: Sk Wilks Ltd
Priority date: 2016-08-16
Filing date: 2016-08-16
Publication date: 2018-02-21
Also published as: GB201614004D0

Abstract

An electrical connection apparatus 10 comprising a chassis 20, and one or more electrical connection devices (30a-e, 50a-e; 32a-c, 52a-c; 34a-c, 54a-c; 36a-b, 56a-b) carried thereon, wherein the, or each, electrical connection device comprises a lever-operated mechanism (30a-e, 32a-c, 34a-c, 36a-b) by which a wired electrical connection may be made thereto, and the, or each, electrical connection device is carried on the chassis in a substantially fixed manner relative thereto. The electrical connection apparatus may be a wiring plate of a ceiling rose, or various other types of electrical connection devices or fittings. In preferred embodiments the, or each, electrical connection device is an individual wiring connector of a respective WAGO-type connector (70, 72, 74, 76, figure 3). Preferably the electrical connection device comprises a compression or friction based wire retention mechanism. The electrical connection device may comprise a lever-operated wire-retention or wire-tapping mechanism. Preferably the lever is resiliently biased.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

SK Wilks Limited (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2282494 A US 5810628 A US 20100304619 A1

WO 2010/138235 A2 US 4995829 A US 20010053625 A1 (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

Barnsley Street, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 4EH, United Kingdom (58) Field of Search:

INT CL H01R Other: EPODOC, WPI (72) Inventor(s):

Paul Michael Wilks Stephen Fazakerley (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Jonathan Linn

Bings Road, WHALEY BRIDGE, Derbyshire, SK23 7ND, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Electrical connection apparatus and making wiring connections thereto Abstract Title: Electrical connection apparatus comprising a lever-operated mechanism (57) An electrical connection apparatus 10 comprising a chassis 20, and one or more electrical connection devices (30a-e, 50a-e; 32a-c, 52a-c; 34a-c, 54a-c; 36a-b, 56a-b) carried thereon, wherein the, or each, electrical connection device comprises a lever-operated mechanism (30a-e, 32a-c, 34a-c, 36a-b) by which a wired electrical connection may be made thereto, and the, or each, electrical connection device is carried on the chassis in a substantially fixed manner relative thereto. The electrical connection apparatus may be a wiring plate of a ceiling rose, or various other types of electrical connection devices or fittings. In preferred embodiments the, or each, electrical connection device is an individual wiring connector of a respective WAGO-type connector (70, 72, 74, 76, figure 3). Preferably the electrical connection device comprises a compression or friction based wire retention mechanism. The electrical connection device may comprise a lever-operated wire-retention or wire-tapping mechanism. Preferably the lever is resiliently biased.

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Fig. 1(a)

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS AND MAKING WIRING CONNECTIONS

THERETO

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to electrical connection apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to electrical connection apparatus of the nature of various types of electrical fitting, such as ceiling roses for light fittings, other lighting mountings or fittings, light switches, other switched units, power sockets, spur connection units, fused units, junction boxes and suchlike, as well as more generally to fuse boxes, distribution boards and suchlike, and to the means by which electrical wiring connections may be made to such apparatus. The invention also relates to methods of making wiring connections to such electrical fittings and other electrical connection apparatus.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Many types of electrical fitting, in particular ceiling roses for light fittings, e.g. pendant or angled batten-type ceiling roses, are notoriously difficult to wire up correctly and safely. For one thing, often many different wires are required to be connected up to the correct terminals within the fitting, such as onto a wiring plate or chassis forming part thereof. For another thing, in the case of some types of fitting, e.g. ceiling light fittings, this often has to be done in inconvenient locations, e.g. up against a ceiling, where working space may be limited, ambient light may be poor, and thus the overall job may be difficult and fiddly.

Hitherto the electrician’s or other installer’s job is made all the more difficult by the fact that conventionally the majority of electrical fittings rely on screwed terminal connections, e.g. of brass or other good electrical conductor, which necessitate the use of a screwdriver to actually connect and secure the necessary wires to their respective terminals within the fitting. Apart from the fiddliness and difficulty of manipulating what are often small screws in a limited space and often under poor lighting conditions, such conventional screwed terminal connections also present other problems:

For example, the screws themselves are at risk of not being tightened enough during the connection procedure, so they run the risk of coming loose, especially during the remainder of the fitting mounting operation. The screws can also easily be over-tightened (perhaps partly as a result of seeking to mitigate against the preceding issue), which can lead to shearing of screws or failure of their threaded socket connections, or even complete twisting or shearing off of the mounting block or other attachment site within the fitting. The screws can also come loose over time, as a result of improper tightening at the outset or movement of the fitting or the wires connected thereto, leading to poor electrical connections which may in turn lead to hazards such as overheating or even fire.

Such problems in being able to readily and optimally make electrical wiring connections are also encountered with a variety of other types of electrical fitting and other connection apparatus, such as light switches, switched units, power sockets (e.g. single or double), spur connection units, fused units, junction boxes, fuse boxes, distribution boards, and suchlike, as well as sites of electrical connection integrated within electrical devices or equipment themselves.

There is therefore a long-standing need in the art for the task of making electrical wiring connections to a variety of electrical fittings and other electrical connection apparatus to be made easier and more reliable. Thus, it is a primary object of this invention to address and ameliorate the above shortcomings of known electrical fittings and other electrical connection apparatus and the manner in which electrical wiring connections are made to them, and to provide a design of such fitting or other apparatus which enables it to be wired up more easily and more reliably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical connection apparatus comprising a chassis and one or more electrical connection devices carried thereon, wherein the or each electrical connection device comprises a lever-operated mechanism by which a wired electrical connection may be made thereto, and the or each electrical connection device is carried on the chassis in a substantially fixed manner relative thereto.

In embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that the “substantially fixed” manner in which the or each electrical connection device is carried on the chassis may mean that the or each electrical connection device is mounted on or attached to the chassis in a substantially permanent and/or substantially non-removable fashion. Preferably that “substantially permanent” and/or “non-removable” manner of mounting or attachment is such that the or each electrical connection device is fixed in place on the chassis so as to be not able readily (especially manually) to be removed therefrom by a user or consumer (by which terms it is intended to encompass electricians or fitters who may be installing the apparatus).

In practising some such embodiments the substantially permanent and/or substantially nonremovable mounting or attachment of the or each electrical connection device on or to the chassis may be effected in a factory-based manufacturing step during a process of manufacture of the apparatus. Alternatively, it may be effected by a user or consumer (or electrician or fitter) who may mount or attach the or each electrical connection device on or to the chassis in a one-off, substantially non-reversible assembly step.

However, within the scope of these terms “substantially fixed”, “substantially permanent” and “substantially non-removable” as they apply to embodiments of this invention, it may still be possible - and still within the scope of this invention - for the or each electrical connection device to be removable from the chassis by use of appropriate measures, such as a dedicated tool, e.g. in the event that a particular device needs to be replaced or reconfigured.

In some embodiments of the invention the chassis may comprise a wiring plate, for example a structure in the form of a generally planar plate, especially a backing- or base-plate, comprising means for attaching the plate to a surface, e.g. a ceiling, wall or other structure, and attachment means via which the said one or more electrical connection devices are attached to the chassis. Examples of such chassis include the wiring back- or base-plates of ceiling roses for light fittings and other ceiling- or wall-mounted electrical connection apparatus. Such wiring plates may be conveniently formed for example by a process comprising moulding, optionally in combination with one or more additional manufacturing or processing steps such as machining, stamping, welding, embossing, adhering, drilling, cutting, and suchlike.

In other embodiments the chassis may comprise a wiring support structure in the form of a box, frame or block, comprising means for attaching the structure to a surface, e.g. a wall, ceiling, floor or other structure, and attachment means via which the said one or more electrical connection devices are attached to the chassis. Examples of such chassis include the internal support structures within light switches, switched units, power sockets (e.g. single or double), spur connection units, fused units, junction boxes, fuse boxes, distribution boards, and suchlike. In general such wiring support structures may be conveniently formed by any known techniques or steps or combinations thereof that are already used for the production of corresponding known wiring support structures, as the skilled person will be readily cognisant of.

It is to be understood that, in accordance with the invention, the provision of the or each electrical connection device on the chassis in a substantially fixed manner has the advantage that the or each electrical connection device is, during normal installation and use of the apparatus in the making of electrical wiring connections thereto, always remains fixedly mounted or attached on or to the chassis, even during the making or unmaking of the electrical wiring connections. Thus, the or each electrical connection device never becomes free of the chassis, e.g. so as to be detached therefrom or to move freely relative thereto, and always remains securely united therewith.

In some practical embodiments of the invention the aforementioned substantially fixed manner of mounting, or the substantially permanent and/or substantially non-removable mounting or attachment, of the or each electrical connection device on or to the chassis may be accomplished by virtue ofthe or the respective electrical connection device being attached or mounted to a respective attachment or mounting site or portion of the chassis by being integrally moulded or formed therewith. In other such embodiments it may instead be accomplished by virtue of the chassis and the or the respective electrical connection device being united by any suitable attachment means, e.g. a suitable adhesive or any suitable form and/or number of connection means, e.g. screw-threaded devices, rivets, clip arrangements, detents, inter-engaging elements, snap-fit components, or substantially non-releasable retention devices. In yet other such embodiments it may be accomplished or facilitated by any combination of any two or more of any of the aforementioned mounting, attachment or connection means.

Some specific practical examples of how in practice the substantially fixed manner of mounting of the or each electrical connection device on the chassis may be effected will be described further below in the context of example embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the invention the or each electrical connection device comprises a leveroperated mechanism by which a wired electrical connection may be made thereto. Put another way, in accordance with the invention the or each electrical connection device may instead be defined as comprising a screw-less electrical wire retention mechanism. Put yet another way, in accordance with the invention the or each electrical connection device may instead be defined as comprising a friction-based or friction-reliant or compression-based electrical wire retention mechanism.

In some embodiments the or each electrical connection device may comprise a lever5 operated wire-retention or wire-trapping mechanism. In some embodiments that wireretention or wire-trapping mechanism may be manually operable to selectively trap or release from entrapment an electrical connection wire in or from the respective device upon manipulation of the lever between respective retention or trapping (e.g. “closed”) and release (e.g. “open”) configurations or positions. For this purpose the lever may conveniently be pivoted or hinged relative to the chassis or a support block or frame which carries or has mounted therein the components of the lever operated wire-retention or wire-trapping mechanism. The said manipulation may conveniently be manual, although alternatively or additionally a tool may be employed for the same purpose, e.g. in the case of a small or crowded internal space within the apparatus and/or fat fingers of the user/installer.

In some embodiments the lever of such a wire-retention or wire-trapping mechanism may be biased towards or into its “closed” trapping or retention configuration or position, such as by means of a resilient biasing member, e.g. a spring, especially a leaf spring.

Alternatively or additionally the mechanism may further include releasable locking means arranged to securely hold the or the respective lever in its “closed” wire-trapping or wireretention configuration or position once placed therein. Such releasable locking means may for instance comprise one or more inter-engageable clip or detent formations, e.g. snap-fit elements, provided on either or both of the pivotable/hingeable lever and/or an adjacent portion of the chassis or support block/frame.

If desired or necessary in certain embodiments, the wire-retention or wire-trapping mechanism may additionally comprise a secondary biasing device, e.g. a snap-fit detent arrangement, to facilitate the holding of the lever in its “open” wire-releasing or non-trapping configuration or position. This may assist in the overall manual manipulation of the mechanism, so that the lever is held more securely open while the respective wire is placed inside the mechanism, before the lever is pivoted back into its closed position to effect the trapping or retention action.

In embodiments of the invention any suitable number and spatial arrangement of electrical connection devices may be provided, for example depending on the number, type, polarity, voltage or current parameters, and spatial positioning of the one or more electrical connection wires that are required or intended to be connected by the said electrical connection devices, or that the apparatus is intended to be able to accommodate in a variety of operational wiredup configurations. To this end, in some embodiments the chassis may comprise one or more dedicated seating, attachment or mounting portions in and/or on which the respective one or more electrical connection devices are seated, attached or mounted.

In the case of plural electrical connection devices in a given apparatus, two or more such electrical connection devices may be arranged side-by-side, with their respective leveroperated mechanisms all lying to the same lateral side thereof, and connected together via a common electrically conductive track, strip, tongue, wire, bus or other conductor, whereby that two or more devices form a group, array or bank, and each of a plurality of electrical connection wires may be trapped or retained in a respective one of that group, array or bank of two or more devices, with the result that those wires of that plurality are then all electrically connected together. To facilitate the stability and integrity of this arrangement the electrical connection devices within each group, array or bank may be united, e.g. by adhesive or integral moulding upon manufacture or sharing of common walls or other structural elements, into a unitary block or unit. Any suitable number, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or even more than 6, discrete electrical connection devices may be grouped or banked together into one or more blocks or units in this manner, for example depending in the number of electrical connection wires, or groups of connection wires, that need to be electrically connected together by the apparatus.

In some embodiments, in order to fulfil its function as a lever-operated wire-retention or wiretrapping mechanism, the or each electrical connection device may further comprise electrically conductive wire accommodating means, e.g. a channel, tube, aperture or shaped wall, against which the lever-operated wire-retention or -trapping mechanism acts. In some embodiments such wire accommodating means may be dimensioned and/or configured and/or shaped such that only a single electrical connection wire is able to be readily accommodated therein. However, in certain other embodiment forms it may be possible for such wire accommodating means may be dimensioned and/or configured and/or shaped such that a plurality of, for example two or three or more, or perhaps even as many as four or more than four, electrical connection wires are able to be accommodated simultaneously therein, for the purpose of connecting those said plurality of wires together directly in or by a single electrical connection device within the apparatus.

In one family of example forms, according to some embodiments of the apparatus of the invention, the or each electrical connection device may comprise, or may be based on the basic construction and operation of, an electrical wiring connector already known in the art and manufactured and sold by the company WAGO Ltd.

Such “WAGO connectors” (“WAGO” being a registered trade mark of Wago-Kontakttechnik

GmbH) include various designs of lever-operated clamping connectors, including for example the recent designs known as the “221 series” and the “222 series” connectors. Any of such designs, or even other designs, of WAGO connectors may be suitable for use in embodiments of electrical connection apparatus according to the present invention. Such WAGO connectors, any of which may be suitable for use in embodiments of this invention, may themselves incorporate one or more, often 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or even more individual electrical connection devices arranged side-by-side in electrically inter-connected groups, arrays or banks of such individual connectors in a single overall block or grouping. Alternatively any such WAGO connectors, whether or not of single- or plural-connector species, may be used either singly or in combinations of two or more such connectors or connector groupings in any given electrical connection apparatus according to embodiments of the invention.

However, other designs, constructions and makes of screw-less or clamping-type electrical wiring connectors may also be available in the art and able to be usefully employed as the or each electrical connection device in some embodiments of the invention.

Furthermore, combinations of any of the aforesaid designs, constructions and makes of screw-less or clamping-type wiring connectors may also be employed in embodiments of the invention where plural such electrical connection devices are needed in a given apparatus.

For employment in embodiments of the present invention, any such WAGO and/or other lever-operated clamping connectors may often suitably be used in substantially their asmanufactured forms. Alternatively they may be modified in any suitable manner, e.g. in their outer peripheral designs, to facilitate their mounting or attachment on or to the chassis of the apparatus of the invention. For this purpose, in some embodiments the chassis of the apparatus may itself be designed so as to include one or more, or any appropriate number of, seating, mounting or attachment formations via which the relevant electrical connection device(s) is/are mounted, attached or otherwise substantially fixedly and/or substantially permanently and/or substantially non-releasably carried on the chassis.

Some specific practical examples of such WAGO connectors and how in practice they may be employed in embodiments of the invention will be described further below in the context of example embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings.

In practising some embodiments of the electrical connection apparatus of the invention, the apparatus may be provided ready for use or installation in an as-assembled state, i.e. with the one or more electrical connection devices already pre-mounted or pre-attached on or to the chassis.

However, in other embodiments, the apparatus may be provided in the form of a kit of parts suitable and intended for assembly into the said electrical connection apparatus by a user, consumer, electrician or fitter. Accordingly, and in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for assembly into an electrical connection apparatus, the kit comprising:

a chassis, and one or more electrical connection devices;

wherein the or each electrical connection device comprises a lever-operated mechanism by which a wired electrical connection may be made thereto, and the or each electrical connection device is configured for attachment to or mounting on the chassis in a substantially fixed manner relative thereto.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making one or more electrical wiring connections to an electrical connection apparatus, the apparatus being an apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof, the method comprising:

providing at least one electrical connection wire for connection to a or a respective electrical connection device carried on the chassis of the apparatus, operating the lever mechanism of the or the respective electrical connection device so as to trap or retain therein the said wire in an electrical conductive relationship therewith.

In practising some embodiments of the above method, if desired or necessary according to the electrical connections needing or desired to be made, two or more wires, or optionally possibly 3, 4 or even more than 4 wires, may simultaneously or sequentially be connected together within any single given one of the electrical connection devices in the apparatus.

Embodiments of the invention may be applied to the provision and use of a wide variety of electrical connection apparatuses. In one particularly useful embodiment, the apparatus may be a wiring plate of a ceiling rose, such as is used for attaching a light fitting to a surface such as a ceiling, e.g. in a domestic or business or industrial setting. However, other embodiments of the invention may be just as advantageously applied to other electrical connection apparatuses, such as various other forms of electrical fitting, including for example other lighting mountings or fittings, light switches, switched units, power sockets (e.g. single or double), spur connection units, fused units, junction boxes, fuse boxes, distribution boards, and suchlike.

Within the scope of this application it is envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives, and in particular the individual features thereof, set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, may be taken independently or in any combination. For example features described in connection with one particular embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless expressly stated otherwise or such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1(a) is a front perspective view of a ceiling rose wiring back plate according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 1(b) is an enlarged view of region “B” labelled on FIG. 1(a);

FIGURE 2(a) is a rear perspective view of the embodiment ceiling rose wiring back plate as shown in FIG. 1(a);

FIGURE 2(b) is an enlarged view of region “A” labelled on FIG. 2(a);

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the embodiment ceiling rose wiring back plate as shown in FIG. 1(a);

FIGURE 4 is a right-side view of the embodiment ceiling rose wiring back plate as shown in FIG. 1(a);

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment ceiling rose wiring back plate as shown in FIG. 1(a);

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view from the front and above of the embodiment ceiling rose wiring back plate as shown in FIG. 1(a);

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view from the rear and below, inverted, of the embodiment ceiling rose wiring back plate as shown in FIG. 1(a); and

FIGURE 8 is a 3D front perspective view of the embodiment ceiling rose wiring back plate corresponding to that shown in FIG. 1(a), but with the various wiring connectors omitted for clarity, showing the basic structure of the unitary moulded back plate itself.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 collectively (wherein it is to be noted that, for clarity purposes, not all reference numerals denoting particular features are shown in each and every Figure), the electrical connection apparatus according to this embodiment of the invention is in the form of a wiring plate 10 of a ceiling rose for mounting a light fitting on a ceiling. However, this is just one example type of an electrical connection apparatus to which embodiments of this invention may be applied, and many other types of electrical connection apparatus are possible within the scope of the invention.

The wiring plate 10 comprises, generally, a chassis in the form of a moulded backplate 20, which comprises an arrangement of moulded-in mounting or seating portions, beds or wells 40, 42, 44, 46, each of which is dimensioned and configured for accommodating therewithin a respective one of a plurality of WAGO-type wiring connectors 70, 72, 74, 76. The backplate 20 is of a unitary moulded construction, such as of a suitably hard and tough plastics material, practical examples of which are well known in the art. The backplate 20 is provided with a suitable number and arrangement of holes or apertures 23H for use in attaching the wiring plate 10 to the ceiling (or other surface) in question, e.g. using screws.

Each seating portion, bed or well 40, 42, 44, 46 is sized, configured and positioned to provide the appropriate sites of electrical connection of the various wires (not shown) which are typically required of the ceiling rose wiring plate apparatus. Furthermore, it is possible that even though four such seating portions, beds or wells 40, 42, 44, 36 are provided, it may not be necessary for all of them to be fitted with a respective WAGO connector, or even if all four are provided with respective WAGO connectors, then not all of the individual connection devices within each connector may need to be fully connected up with respective wires therein. This may enhance the flexibility of use of a given wiring plate 10, depending on the precise wiring arrangement and requirements of a particular electrical connection scenario.

Each WAGO connector 70, 72, 74, 76 comprises an appropriate or desired number of individual side-by-side, unitarily joined or united lever-operated electrical connection devices, each for trapping or retaining a desired electrical connection wire therewithin. Each WAGO connector comprises a unitary, e.g. moulded, body or housing containing each of its individual electrical connection devices and their component parts. The individual electrical connection devices within each connector 70, 72, 74, 76 are electrically conductively connected together via a common bus or connector strip (not shown) embedded within the body or housing of each respective connector. Thus, by inserting each of a given plurality of electrical connection wires into respective ones of the individual electrical connection devices within a given one of the connectors, the wires of that given plurality can be conductively connected together. And because of the screw-less, lever operated nature of the individual electrical connection devices within each connector 70, 72, 74, 76, this wiring connection operation can be accomplished simply, quickly and with ease.

In this illustrated example there are five individual electrical connection devices within connector 70, three within connector 72, three within connector 74, and two within connector 76. Of course, however, other numbers and permutations of individual connection devices within each connector are possible in other example embodiments, depending for example on the number of wires needing to be connected together in any given scenario for which the wiring plate or other apparatus may be specifically designed.

Each individual electrical connection device within each connector 70, 72, 74, 76 comprises a lever-operated wire-trapping or wire-retention mechanism. Thus:

- each respective connection device (a, b, c, d, e) within connector 70 comprises a respective lever 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e (e.g. of metal) hinged to the body of that connector which acts together with a respective electrically conductive wire accommodating tube or shaped wall 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e to form the wire-trapping or wire-retention mechanism of that device;

- each respective connection device (a, b, c) within connector 72 comprises a respective lever 32a, 32b, 32c (e.g. of metal) hinged to the body of that connector which acts together with a respective electrically conductive wire accommodating tube or shaped wall 52a, 52b, 52c to form the wire-trapping or wire-retention mechanism of that device;

- each respective connection device (a, b, c) within connector 74 comprises a respective lever 34a, 34b, 34c (e.g. of metal) hinged to the body of that connector which acts together with a respective electrically conductive wire accommodating tube or shaped wall 54a, 54b, 54c to form the wire-trapping or wire-retention mechanism of that device; and

- each respective connection device (a, b) within connector 76 comprises a respective lever 36a, 36b (e.g. of metal) hinged to the body of that connector which acts together with a respective electrically conductive wire accommodating tube or shaped wall 56a, 56b to form the wire-trapping or wire-retention mechanism of that device.

Each lever of each connection device has or carries, e.g. on its innermost side within each connector, a bearing portion (not visible) intermediate its hinge and its free manipulation end, which is forced, upon pivoting of the lever into its “closed” position, into abutment against or toward an interior bearing surface of the respective wire accommodating tube or shaped wall, in order to effect the wire-trapping and -retention action.

Each lever is spring-biased, e.g. by a leaf spring mounted within the body of the connector, into its closed wire-trapping or -retaining position. It is furthermore additionally biased into its fully open wire-releasing or non-retaining position by a snap-fit detent arrangement. Thus, the lever may conveniently be selectively pivoted into either one of its closed or open positions and held there by the relevant biasing member or arrangement until the lever is manually moved again.

By way of example, each of the connectors 70, 72, 74, 76 may be constituted by a respective one of a family of connectors of the WAGO type (as mentioned hereinabove), such as of the “221 series” type. Such connectors are readily commercially available.

However, other screw-less or lever operated wiring connectors may be available in the art and usable instead in other example embodiments of the invention.

Each of the connectors 70, 72, 74, 76 is mounted or attached in or to its respective seating portion, bed or well 40, 42, 44, 46 on the backplate 20 in a substantially fixed manner, which is to say that each respective connector 70, 72, 74, 76 is mounted or attached in or to its respective seating portion, bed or well 40, 42, 44, 46 in a substantially permanent and/or substantially non-removable fashion once it has been so mounted or attached. That mounting or attachment may be effected from the front side of the arrangement (although in alternative embodiments with a different backplate construction it may be possible for the attachment or mounting to be effected from the rear side instead). For this purpose, each seating portion, bed or well 40, 42, 44, 46 has associated therewith a respective clip or detent element 60, 62, 64, 66, e.g. provided on the backplate 20 itself or as an extension of the body of the respective connector, or optionally a combination of both. Each respective clip or detent element 60, 62, 64, 66 thus provides a substantially “one-way” and nonremovable/releasable locking device by which the respective connector is securely and substantially permanently mounted or attached onto the backplate 20.

It is to be understood that although the terms “substantially fixed”, “substantially permanent” and “substantially non-removable” have been used hereinabove as referring to the nature of the attachment or mounting of the various connectors 70, 72, 74, 76 on the backplate 20, it may still be possible - and still within the scope of this and other embodiments of this invention - for the or each connector 70, 72, 74, 76 to be removable from the backplate 20 by use of appropriate measures, such as a dedicated tool, e.g. in the event that a particular connector needs to be replaced, repaired or reconfigured.

This mounting/attachment of the respective connectors may be carried out either in a factorybased manufacturing step during a process of manufacture of the apparatus, or alternatively it may be effected by a user or consumer (or electrician or fitter) who may mount or attach the or each connector on the backplate 20 in a one-off, substantially non-reversible assembly step, e.g. using a kit of parts comprising the backplate 20 and the relevant connectors 70, 72, 74, 76. Such a kit may in practice further comprise appropriate instructions for assembly and use.

FIG. 8 shows alone for clarity the basic structure of the wiring backplate 20 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, with the various WAGO connectors omitted for clarity. This view illustrates the basic features of the backplate 20 moulding from which it is formed, e.g. from any suitably hard and tough plastics material. If desired or necessary in the manufacture of the final basic backplate 20, once the basic structure has been formed by moulding, any other necessary or desirable post-moulding operations, e.g. drilling out of the various mounting holes (e.g. 23H) or other cutting, machining or finishing steps, may be carried out to produce the finished backplate 20, ready for snap-fit insertion of the various WAGO connectors 70, 72, 74, 76.

It is to be understood that although the above-described embodiment relates to a ceiling rose wiring plate, the same type of electrical connection devices, e.g. WAGO connectors, may be installed in a corresponding manner in other types of electrical connection apparatuses, such as other electrical fittings, including for example other lighting mountings or fittings, light switches, switched units, power sockets (e.g. single or double), spur connection units, fused units, junction boxes, fuse boxes, distribution boards, and suchlike. Such other apparatuses would simply require appropriate reconfiguring of the respective connector-receiving seating portions, beds or wells and their associated clip/detent elements.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and linguistic variations of those words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, mean “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, elements, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless expressly stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless expressly stated otherwise or the context requires otherwise.

Features, components, elements, integers, characteristics, properties, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith or expressly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. An electrical connection apparatus comprising a chassis and one or more electrical connection devices carried thereon, wherein the or each electrical connection device comprises a lever-operated mechanism by which a wired electrical connection may be made thereto, and the or each electrical connection device is carried on the chassis in a substantially fixed manner relative thereto.

2. An electrical connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the or each electrical connection device is mounted on or attached to the chassis in a substantially permanent and/or substantially non-removable fashion.

3. An electrical connection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein either:

(i) the substantially permanent and/or substantially non-removable mounting or attachment of the or each electrical connection device on or to the chassis is effected in a factory-based manufacturing step during a process of manufacture of the apparatus; or (ii) the substantially permanent and/or substantially non-removable mounting or attachment of the or each electrical connection device on or to the chassis is effected by a user, consumer, electrician or fitter who mounts or attaches the or each electrical connection device on or to the chassis in a one-off, substantially non-reversible assembly step.

4. An electrical connection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chassis comprises a wiring plate comprising means for attaching the plate to a surface, and attachment means via which the said one or more electrical connection devices are attached to the chassis.

5. An electrical connection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chassis comprises a wiring support structure in the form of a box, frame or block comprising means for attaching the structure to a surface, and attachment means via which the said one or more electrical connection devices are attached to the chassis.

6. An electrical connection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the or the respective electrical connection device is attached or mounted to a respective attachment or mounting site or portion of the chassis by being integrally moulded or formed therewith.

7. An electrical connection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the chassis and the or the respective electrical connection device are united by one or more attachment, mounting or connection means.

8. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each electrical connection device comprises a screw-less electrical wire retention mechanism.

9. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each electrical connection device comprises a friction-based or friction-reliant or compression-based electrical wire retention mechanism.

10. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each electrical connection device comprises a lever-operated wire-retention or wire-trapping mechanism.

11. An electrical connection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the said wireretention or wire-trapping mechanism is manually operable to selectively trap or release from entrapment an electrical connection wire in or from the respective device upon manipulation of the lever between respective retention or trapping and release configurations or positions.

12. An electrical connection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lever of the wire-retention or wire-trapping mechanism is either one or both of:

(i) biased towards or into its trapping or retention configuration or position by means of a first resilient biasing member or arrangement; and/or (ii) biased towards or into its non-trapping or non-retention configuration or position by means of a second resilient biasing member or arrangement.

13. An electrical connection apparatus according to any one of claims 10 or 12, wherein the wire-retention or wire-trapping mechanism includes releasable locking means arranged to securely hold the or the respective lever in its wire-trapping or wire-retention configuration or position once placed therein.

14. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the chassis comprises one or more dedicated seating, attachment or mounting portions in and/or on which the respective one or more electrical connection devices are seated, attached or mounted.

15. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of the said electrical connection devices, and two or more of the said electrical connection devices are arranged side-by-side, with their respective leveroperated mechanisms all lying to the same lateral side thereof, and connected together via a common electrically conductive track, strip, tongue, wire, bus or other conductor, whereby that two or more devices form a group, array or bank, and each of a plurality of electrical connection wires may be trapped or retained in a respective one of that group, array or bank of two or more devices, with the result that those wires of that plurality are then all electrically connected together.

16. An electrical connection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the stability and integrity of the arrangement of the said electrical connection devices is facilitated by the electrical connection devices within each group, array or bank being united into a unitary block or unit.

17. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each electrical connection device further comprises electrically conductive wire accommodating means against which the lever-operated wire-retention or -trapping mechanism acts.

18. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each electrical connection device comprises a WAGO-type connector, optionally a “221 series” or a “222 series” WAGO-type connector.

19. An electrical connection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the chassis includes one or more seating, mounting or attachment formations via which the or the respective said electrical connection device(s) have already been substantially fixedly and/or permanently and/or non-releasably mounted, attached or otherwise carried on the chassis.

20. A kit of parts for assembly into an electrical connection apparatus, the kit comprising:

a chassis, and one or more electrical connection devices;

21. A method of making one or more electrical wiring connections to an electrical connection apparatus, the apparatus being an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, the method comprising:

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein two or more wires are simultaneously or sequentially connected together within any single given one of the electrical connection devices in the apparatus.

23. An electrical connection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, or a method of making one or more electrical wiring connections to an electrical connection apparatus, wherein the apparatus is selected from any of: a wiring plate of a ceiling rose, a lighting mounting or fitting, a light switch, a switched unit, a power socket, a spur connection unit, a fused unit, a junction box, a fuse box, or a distribution board.

24. An electrical connection apparatus, or a kit of parts, or a method of making one or more electrical wiring connections to an electrical connection apparatus, substantially as described herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1614004.8 Examiner: Mr Tobias Tribe