Wall installation connection box unit

Abstract

A wall installation connection box unit, including a box housing body having a rear-side base portion and a sleeve portion projecting forward from the base portion, and a connector body disposed on the base portion. The sleeve portion peripherally surrounds an installation component mounting space, which space is accessible via an open front end face of the sleeve portion. The connector body includes an installation component connection contour facing the installation component mounting space and a conduit connection interface structure accessible on an outer side of the box housing body. Illustratively, the sleeve portion and the base portion of the box housing body are integrally formed from a synthetic foamed material, and the connector body is embedded in the synthetic foamed material of the base portion, wherein the conduit connection interface structure and the installation component connection contour are exposed.

Claims

1. A wall installation connection box unit, comprising: a box housing body having a rear-side base portion and a sleeve portion projecting forward from the base portion, which sleeve portion peripherally surrounds an installation component mounting space, which installation component mounting space is accessible via an open front end face of the sleeve portion; and a connector body disposed on the base portion of the box housing body, which connector body comprises an installation component connection contour facing the installation component mounting space, and a conduit connection interface structure accessible on an outer side of the box housing body; wherein: a single integrally formed piece of synthetic foamed material forms both the sleeve portion and the base portion of the box housing body, and the connector body is embedded in the synthetic foamed material of the base portion, wherein the conduit connection interface structure and the installation component connection contour are exposed.

2. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector body has an annular shape and is surrounded by adjacent synthetic foamed material of the base portion on a peripheral outer side.

3. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the base portion has a closed rearward bottom, and the connector body on a rear side adjoins the synthetic foamed material of the bottom.

4. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector body on a front side on a boundary region adjoins the synthetic foamed material of the base portion.

5. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector body has a closed annular shape, the installation component connection contour is provided on an inner peripheral side of the connector body, and the conduit connection interface structure is formed on an outer peripheral side of the connector body.

6. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector body has at least one passage opening extending from an outer side to an inner side, which opening is covered on the outer side by a sealing membrane portion of the synthetic foamed material of the base portion.

7. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 6, wherein the synthetic foamed material of the base portion comprises a tube insertion port opening which adjoins the sealing membrane portion at an outer side.

8. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion has a radially inwards projecting ridge protrusion on an inner peripheral side.

9. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one connection structure element is embedded into the synthetic foamed material of the base portion.

10. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic foamed material is a thermoplastic particle foamed material.

11. The wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, wherein the wall installation connection box unit is a sanitary wall installation connection box unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Advantageous exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. These and further illustrative embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a wall installation connection box unit configured as a sanitary wall installation connection box unit;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a front side view of the connection box unit from FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along a line in FIG. 2; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along a line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.

(7) The sanitary wall installation connection box unit illustrated in the figures with reference to an exemplary embodiment includes a box housing body 1 having a rear-side base portion 2 and a sleeve portion 3 projecting forward from the base portion 2, and a connector body 6 disposed on the base portion 2 of the box housing body 1. The sleeve portion 3 peripherally surrounds an installation component mounting space 4, in this case a sanitary component mounting space, which space is accessible via an open front end face 5 of the sleeve portion 3. The connector body 6 includes an installation component connection contour 7, in this case a sanitary component connection contour, facing the installation component mounting space 4, a conduit connection interface structure 9, here a fluid conduit connection interface structure, accessible on an outer side 8 of the box housing body 1, and a fluid channel structure 10. The fluid channel structure 10 ensures the required fluid connection of the fluid conduit connection interface structure 9 to the sanitary component connection contour 7.

(8) The base portion 2 and the sleeve portion 3 of the illustrative box housing body 1 are integrally formed from a synthetic foamed material. The connector body 6 is composed of a metal or plastics material that is stiffer and firmer by comparison and is embedded in the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2, wherein the fluid conduit connection interface structure 9 and the sanitary component connection contour 7 are exposed, i.e. are not covered by the synthetic foamed material of the box housing body 1. The synthetic foamed material therefore does not obstruct either the coupling of the connection box unit to a pipe conduit connection structure in the building via the fluid conduit connection interface structure 9 or the coupling of a sanitary component, which is introduced into the sanitary component mounting space 4 of the box housing body 1, to the connector body 6 via the connection contour 7 thereof. In the exploded view of FIG. 1, the connector body 6 is shown removed from its embedding in the box housing body 1 such that its contour can be seen more clearly.

(9) In corresponding illustrative embodiments, the connector body 6, as in the example shown, has an annular shape and is surrounded by adjacent synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2 of the box housing body 1 on a peripheral outer side. In other words, a peripheral outer side 6a of the connector body 6 is adjoined radially on the outside with touching contact by an inner side 2a of the base portion 2 of the box housing body 1, as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 3 and 4. This ensures reliable sealing between the connector body 6 and the box housing body 1 in this region. In the example shown, the connector body 6 has a closed annular shape; in alternative embodiments, it has an open annular shape or a shape differing from a ring, in particular also a shape as is known per se from conventional connector bodies used in wall installation connection box units.

(10) In advantageous embodiments, the base portion 2 of the box housing body 1, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, has a closed rearward bottom 11, and the connector body 6 on a rear side adjoins the synthetic foamed material of the bottom 11. In other words, a rear side 6b of the connector body 6 adjoins, with touching contact, a front side 11a of the rearward bottom 11, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 3. The closed design of the rearward bottom 11 provides a fluid-tight rear side closure of the box housing body 1, and the direct bearing of the rear side 6b of the connector body 6 and the front side 11a of the bottom 11 against each other ensures the fluid tightness between the connector body 6 and the box housing body 1 in this region.

(11) In corresponding embodiments, the connector body 6, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, on a front side on a boundary region 6c adjoins the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2 of the box housing body 1. In other words, the synthetic foamed material of the box housing body 1 in a corresponding boundary region 2b of the base portion 2 bears with touching contact against said front-side boundary region 6c of the connector body 6. This ensures reliable sealing between the connector body 6 and the box housing body 1 in this region.

(12) In advantageous embodiments, if the connector body 6 has a closed annular shape, the sanitary component connection contour 7 is provided on an inner peripheral side 6d of the connector body 6, and the fluid conduit connection interface structure 9 is formed on an outer peripheral side 6e of the connector body 6, as in the exemplary embodiment shown.

(13) Depending on requirements, the fluid conduit connection interface structure 9 has one, two or more connection interfaces. In the example shown, the fluid conduit connection interface structure 9 includes a plurality of connection interfaces, by way of example in the form of four connectors 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d offset by 90° in each case at a peripheral angular interval, wherein all of the connection interfaces are formed on the peripheral outer side 6e of the connector body 6. In alternative embodiments, one, more than one or all of the connection interfaces of the fluid conduit connection interface structure 9 are formed facing rearwards on the rear side 6b of the connector body 6.

(14) In corresponding embodiments, the connector body 6, as in the example shown, has at least one passage opening 12 extending from its outer side to its inner side, which opening is covered on an outer side by a sealing membrane portion 13 of the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2, as is apparent in particular from FIG. 4. In the example shown, there are four passage openings 12 which each extend from the peripheral outer side 6e of the connector body 6 to the peripheral inner side 6d thereof. The passage opening can be used, for example, for the passage of an electrical cable or of another elongate element, for which purpose the sealing membrane portion 13 is then suitably opened. If the passage opening 12 in the connector body 6 is not required for this purpose, it remains unoccupied and covered by the sealing membrane portion 13 of the synthetic foamed material of the box housing body 1. In alternative embodiments, the connector body 6 does not have such a passage opening 12.

(15) In corresponding realizations, the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2 of the box housing body 1, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, includes a tube insertion port opening 14 which adjoins the sealing membrane portion 13 at an outer side, as can likewise be seen in particular from FIG. 4. The tube insertion port opening 14 can be used in particular to insert, and thereby hold, a hollow tube or empty tube by its tube end region therein, wherein the hollow or empty tube, for its part, can be used to receive an elongate element, for example an electrical cable, which can then, by opening the sealing membrane portion 13, be guided further through the passage opening 12 into the sanitary component mounting space 4 or into the interior of the box housing body 1.

(16) In corresponding realizations, the sleeve portion 3 of the box housing body 1, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, has a radially inwards projecting ridge protrusion 15 on an inner peripheral side, i.e. on an inner side 3a of the sleeve portion 3, as is apparent in particular from FIG. 3. The ridge protrusion 15 can be used, for example, in a manner which is not shown, to guide and to hold an extension sleeve in a sealing manner in the sleeve portion 3 such that it can be adjusted in height continuously axially, in order, with the extension sleeve, to variably extend the axial extent of the box housing body 1 in the forwards direction beyond the free end face 5 of the sleeve portion 3, i.e. to the right in FIG. 3. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve portion 3 does not have such a ridge protrusion 15.

(17) In an advantageous realization, the box housing body 1 is formed integrally from a thermoplastic particle foamed material which acts in this case as the synthetic foamed material. This choice of material proves very favorable in terms of production and functionally for the intended use of providing the box housing body 1 for the sanitary wall installation connection box unit. Alternatively, the box housing body 1 is formed from a different synthetic foamed material.

(18) In advantageous embodiments, at least one connection structure element 16 is embedded into the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2 of the box housing body 1, as in the exemplary embodiment shown. The connection structure element 16 has a connection structure which, when required, can interact with a connection body (not shown) with which a functional surface body (not shown) can be held on the base portion 2, said functional surface body providing a functional surface radially outside the sleeve portion 2. This functional surface can be used in particular as a fastening and/or sealing surface in order to fasten the box housing body 1 to a wall surface of the building and/or to seal same in relation to a wall surface of the building.

(19) In the exemplary embodiment shown, specifically four such connection structure elements 16 are embedded into the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2, for example, as shown offset in each case by 90° in relation to one another in the peripheral angular direction in corner regions of the square base portion 2. In alternative embodiments, only one, two, three or more than four such connection structure elements 16 are embedded into the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2, and/or one or more such connection structure elements 16 are arranged in a different distribution or in other regions of the base portion 2, or the connection box unit is formed without such connection structure elements.

(20) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the base portion 2 has by way of example a square or quadratic, cuboidal form; in other embodiments, it is formed by a different shape, for example triangular or polygonal with more than four corner regions, or with a circular or oval cross section. In the example shown, the sleeve portion 2 is circular-cylindrical; in alternative embodiments, it can also be of a different shape, for example can have a polygonal or oval cross-sectional shape. In the example shown, the connection body 6 has radially inwards projecting holding extensions 18 with fastening openings, which are part of a connection means (otherwise not shown) for securing an installation component, which is introduced into the mounting space, to the connection body 6. In alternative embodiments, other conventional connection means are provided for this purpose.

(21) In corresponding embodiments, the box housing body 1, as in the example shown, has, on the front end face 5 of its sleeve portion 3, an aligning aid 17 which makes it easier for the installer to align the box housing body 1 during installation on a wall. The aligning aid 17 includes two axially projecting aligning webs 17a which each extend spaced apart from one another at a predetermined peripheral angular interval over a predetermined peripheral angular region and against the peripheral web ends of which an aligning means, for example in the form of a spirit level, level or circular level, can be placed in a manner known per se. This makes it easier for the installer to align the box housing body 1 vertically and/or horizontally before the final wall installation steps. Alternatively or, as in the example shown, additionally, the box housing body 1 includes an equivalent aligning aid in the form of one or, as shown, a plurality of level receiving openings 19 which are each in the form of a blind hole in the synthetic foamed material of the base portion 2 on the outer periphery thereof, optionally, as shown, on different or on all the peripheral sides, and into which a conventional circular level or the like can be inserted.

(22) As the exemplary embodiments which are shown and the other exemplary embodiments explained above make clear, the invention provides a wall installation connection box unit which provides advantages functionally and in terms of manufacturing, in particular on the basis of the integral formation of the base portion and the sleeve portion of the box housing body from a synthetic foamed material and on the embedding of the connector body into the synthetic foamed material of the base portion, and which can be correspondingly advantageously used in particular as a sanitary wall installation connection box unit in sanitary installation technology and as an electrical wall installation connection box unit in electrical installation technology.

(23) Although the invention has been described in detailed with reference to preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.