Patent Publication Number: US-2007111593-A1

Title: Terminal box

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to a terminal box for providing a space for installation of a terminal to connect a electric wire, a telephone line, a designated Internet line, an antenna line or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to such a terminal box, in which the cover of a terminal box body can be used for connecting a plurality of terminal box bodies continuously by coupling a connection panel at both sides thereof, together with the existing working aperture.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      In general, a terminal box is embedded in a wall structure, when a detached house, a town house, or a lager building is built, and used for providing a space for installation of a terminal or a switch to connect the incoming electric wire, telephone line, designated Internet line, antenna line, and the like.  
      In order to install these terminal boxes in the wall, a prepared terminal box is placed in the wall structure with its opening directed inwards, and a cover is disposed thereabove, and then a cement mortar is placed, so that the terminal box can be embedded in the wall to thereby form a fixed structure.  
      However, plural terminal boxes can be embedded in the wall structure in the same manner as described above, but in this case a gap between neighboring terminal boxes can be necessarily maintained. If the gap is not properly maintained, the terminal box is tilted during the concrete placing work, thereby resulting in a faulty installation of the terminal box, and thus occasionally a reinstallation, which might lead to destruction of the wall structure.  
      Therefore, in order to avoid these faulty installation, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a separate fixing panel  20  formed of a metal plate is provided at the front side of terminal boxes  10 . The fixing panel is used for fixing plural terminal boxes  10  to thereby maintain a gap between the terminal boxes.  
      However, the convention terminal box employs the fixing panel  20  formed of a metal sheet, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost. That, a lid  12  is installed in the front side of the terminal box  10 , and the fixing panel  20  formed of a metal plate is installed in the front side of the lid  12 , so that the lid  12  and the fixing panel  20  are installed, in duplicate, in the front side of the terminal box  10 , thereby leading to an increase in the cost thereof.  
      In addition, an installation error of the fixing panel to the terminal box results in a significant reduction in the work efficiency.  
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION  
      The present invention has been made to solve the above problems in the art, and it is an object of the invention to provide a terminal box, in which, in the case where a plurality of terminal boxes are installed in a wall structure, a gap between neighboring terminal boxes can be maintained, thereby improving the installation efficiency and enabling the mass production thereof, which results in a cost reduction.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a terminal box, which can prevent the cover thereof from deformation such as sagging, or the like.  
      In order to accomplish the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal box internally having an accommodating space for installing a terminal and a switch, which connects an incoming communication or electric wire therethrough. The terminal box is embedded in a concrete wall. The terminal box includes: a terminal box body of a rectangular shape opened forwardly to from an opened portion and having a pair of wire inlets formed at each of both sides thereof so as to communicate with the accommodating space; a plate-shaped cover coupled to the front end of the terminal box body to cover the opened portion of the terminal box body, the cover being formed at the center portion thereof with an installation aperture for communicating with the accommodating space via the opened portion of the terminal box body, and being respectively formed at both sides thereof with an inwardly stepped-down resting face having with a certain width, the resting face having at least one coupling hole formed thereon; and a connection panel for connecting continuously neighboring covers in series such that it is installed on the resting face of the cover and forms the same plane with the cover, the width of the connection panel being twice as much as that of each resting face, the connection panel having at least one coupling projection formed on the rear surface thereof to be detachably coupled to the least one coupling hole formed on the resting face of the cover, the connection panel having the shape of a plate and being formed of the same material as the cover.  
      Preferably, the cover and the connection panel may further include, at the upper and lower portions thereof, a bent portion bent towards the terminal box body, respectively.  
      The coupling projection is in the form of a hook.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a terminal box having an accommodating space for installing a terminal and a switch, which connects an incoming communication or electric wire. The terminal box is to be embedded in a concrete wall. The terminal box comprises: a terminal box body of a rectangular shape opened forwardly to form an opened portion and having a pair of wire inlets formed at each of both sides thereof so as to communicate with the accommodating space; a plate-shaped cover coupled to the front end of the terminal box body to cover the opened portion of the terminal box body, the cover being formed at the center portion thereof with an installation aperture for communicating with the accommodating space via the opened portion of the terminal box body, and being respectively formed at both sides thereof with an inwardly stepped-down resting face having with a certain width, the resting face having at least one coupling hole; and a connection panel for connecting continuously neighboring covers in series such that it is installed on the resting face of the cover and forms the same plane with the cover, the width of the connection panel being twice as much as that of each resting face, the connection panel having at least one coupling projection formed on the rear surface thereof to be detachably coupled to the least one coupling hole formed on the resting face of the cover, the connection panel having the shape of a plate and being formed of the same material as the cover; and a support rod inserted into insert holes provided in projections, which are formed respectively in the rear surfaces of the connection panel and the cover so that the cover and the connection panel are integrally connected with each other by means of the support rod horizontally crossing the cover and the connection panel.  
      Preferably, the support rod is installed such that it is placed at the upper and lower portions of the rear surface of the cover and the connection panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows a conventional terminal box having a fixing panel for embedding it to a wall structure:  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the terminal box according to one embodiment;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a continuous connection of the terminal box covers by means of a connection panel;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a terminal box installed in the cover of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of a terminal box according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective exploded view of the terminal box of  FIG. 6 , which is seen from the rear side thereof;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the covers continuously connected in the terminal box of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a rear view of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I line in  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment, which has a plurality of covers and a plurality of connection panels correspondingly thereto;  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the rear view of  FIG. 13 , in which only the cover and connection panels are illustrated; and  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of  FIG. 14 , in which the covers are continuously connected by means of the connection panel. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      The preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      FIGS.  2  to  5  show a terminal box according to a first embodiment of the invention. More specifically,  FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the terminal box according to one embodiment,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a continuous connection of the terminal box covers by means of a connection panel,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a terminal box installed in the cover of  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5  is a top plan view of  FIG. 4 .  
      As shown in the figures, the terminal box according to the first embodiment of the invention is embedded in a concrete wall in order to provide a space, in which a terminal for connecting an incoming electric wire or the like can be installed. The terminal box is provided with a terminal box body  110 . The terminal box body  110  comprises a rectangular box, which is embedded in the wall, and has an accommodating space  112  for installing a terminal and a plurality of wire inlet holes  114  communicating to the accommodating space  112 . The wire inlet hole  114  is initially closed, and after embedded in the wall, can be punched out to make the inlet hole  114 . The wire inlet hole  114  is formed of a groove for the convenience of punching-out the hole.  
      The above-described terminal box body  110  is installed in a certain number thereof, usually two or three terminal boxes, depending on the place where it is installed.  
      In addition, the terminal box body  110  is opened to the front side thereof so as to communicate with the accommodating space  112 , so that a cover  120  is attached to the front side of the terminal box body. The number of the covers  120  corresponds to that of the terminal box body  110  to be installed. The cover  120  is installed in the front side of the terminal box body  110  and has an installation aperture  122  for installing a closure (not shown). At both sides of the cover is provided a stepped-down resting face  124 , on which about two coupling holes  126  are formed.  
      A closure to be installed in the installation aperture  112  is intended to prevent the concrete mortar from in-flowing to the accommodating space  112  of the terminal box body  110 , for example, during a concrete placing work or a plastering work. The concrete placing work or plastering work is carried out with the accommodating space closed by means of the closure installed in the installation aperture, and the closure is removed after finishing the work.  
      Furthermore, at both sides of the cover  120  is installed a connection panel  130 , preferably which is rested and installed in the resting face  124  of the cover  120  such that the front faces of the cover  120  and the connection panel  130  can be on the same plane.  
      The connection panel  130  is installed between neighboring covers  120  to maintain a gap therebetween and thus maintain a gap between the terminal box bodies  110  with the cover  120  connected thereto. Such a connection panel  130  has about two coupling projections  132  formed on the rear surface thereof in such a manner as to correspond to positions of the coupling holes  126 . Therefore, the connection panel  130  is firmly fixed to the cover  120  by the coupling hole and the coupling projection fitted together.  
      In addition, the connection panel  130  and the cover  120  respectively have a bent portion  128 ,  134  formed in the upper and lower portions thereof. The bent portions  128 ,  134  facilitate a firm and easy connection with the terminal box bodies  110 , and prevent a movement after connection thereof by supporting the upper and lower portions of the terminal box body  110  by means of the bent portions  128 ,  134 .  
      The above connection panel  130  is placed at both sides of the cover  120  and simply connected in such a manner that the coupling hole  126  formed in the cover  120  is fitted into the coupling projection  132  formed in the connection panel  130 , thereby maintaining a gap between the terminal box bodies  110  to be fixed to the cover  120 .  
      Furthermore, the connection panel  130  and the cover  120  may be mass-produced in a standardized fashion by an injection molding process, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency and reducing the manufacturing cost. The number of covers  120  and connection panels  130  can be determined, depending on the number of terminal box bodies  110  to be installed, thereby enabling various applications.  
      In addition, in case where the connection panel  130  and the cover  120  are assembled in plural to form a unitary assembly, it is preferable that the connection panel  130   a  to be placed at both ends thereof is provided with a support plate  130  formed by bending inwardly. When the unitary assembly of the connection panels  130  and the covers  120  is embedded, both side portions of the assembly can be supported by the support plate  131 .  
      According to the invention as described above, the terminal box is embedded beforehand when constructing a building. That is, after the terminal box body  110  with the cover  120  and the connection panel  130  assembled to the front face thereof is fixed to a supporting bar or the like forming a building frame structure, a concrete placing work is carried out. Therefore, the terminal box of the invention can be installed in a desired place of the wall while maintaining a certain gap between neighboring terminal box bodies.  
      FIGS.  6  to  15  show a terminal box according to a second embodiment of the invention. More specifically,  FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of a terminal box according to the second embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 7  is a perspective exploded view of the terminal box of  FIG. 6 , which is seen from the rear side thereof,  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the covers continuously connected in the terminal box of  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 9  is a rear view of  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I line in  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 12 .  
      As shown in the figures, the second embodiment of the invention has a similar construction to the previous first embodiment, and a similar element is denoted by a same reference numeral.  
      According to the second embodiment of the invention, the terminal box body  110  has the same construction as the first embodiment, except for its shape. In addition, similarly, the cover  120  and the connection panel  130  also is installed at the front face of the terminal box body  110  to maintain a gap between neighboring ones, which are different from the first embodiment in terms of their shape and pattern.  
      Furthermore, the coupling projection  132  formed in the connection panel  130  is preferred to be formed in the shape of a hook. Therefore, the cover  120  cannot be easily released after the coupling hole  126  is inserted and coupled into the coupling projection  132 .  
      As described above, according to the second embodiment of the invention, the connection panel  130  is provided at its rear surface with a first projection  142  projected rearwards through between the neighboring covers  120 , and the cover  120  is provided with a second projection  144  formed at the rear surface thereof with the same height as the first projection  142 . These first and second projections  142 ,  144  is internally provided with a first and second insert holes  141   a ,  144   a  in order for a support rod  140  to be inserted thereinto in a horizontal direction.  
      The support rod  140  is inserted horizontally into the first and second insert holes  142   a ,  144   a  so that the cover  120  and the connection panel  130  is prevented from sagging when assembled and connected with each other.  
      The insert holes  142   a ,  144   a  and the above support rod  140  inserted thereinto are preferred to be located at the upper and lower portions of the rear surface of the cover  120  and the connection panel  130 , thereby more surely preventing the sagging of the cover  120  and connection panel  130 .  
      Therefore, since the cover  120  and the connection panel  130  are firmly supported by the support rod  140 , during a concrete placing work the concrete mortar can prevent the cover  120 , the connection panel  130 , and the terminal box fixed to the cover  120  from sagging, so that the terminal box can be installed in the correct position, thereby avoiding a faulty installation of terminal box.  
      The second embodiment as described above illustrates two terminal box bodies  110 , and FIGS.  13  to  15  show three terminal box bodies  110 , but more than three terminal box bodies may be installed.  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment, which has a plurality of covers and a plurality of connection panels correspondingly thereto.  FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the rear view of  FIG. 13 , in which only the cover and connection panels are illustrated, and  FIG. 15  is a perspective view of  FIG. 14 , in which the covers are continuously connected by means of the connection panel.  
      The present invention shown in FIGS.  13  to  15  is different from the second embodiment, in terms of the number of the terminal box bodies  110  embedded in a wall, and the number of the covers  120  and the connection panels  130  installed forwards of the terminal box body  110 .  
      In this way, the number of the cover  120  and the connection panel  130  is determined, depending on a desired number of the terminal box bodies  110  to be embedded in a wall. Usually, two or three terminal boxes are used most.  
      According to the second embodiment of the invention having the above-described construction, the terminal box bodies  110  is embedded beforehand when constructing a building. That is, after the terminal box body  110  with the cover  120  and the connection panel  130  assembled to the front face thereof is fixed to a supporting bar or the like forming a building frame structure, a concrete placing work is carried out. Therefore, the terminal box of the invention can be installed in a desired place of the wall while maintaining a certain gap between neighboring terminal box bodies.  
      At this time, the terminal box is firmly supported by the cover  120  fixed to the front of the terminal box body  100 , the connection panel  130  connected between the covers  120 , and the support rod  140 . Therefore, the terminal box can sustain the pressure caused by the concrete mortar during the concrete placing work, so that the position of the terminal box is not displaced, thereby avoiding a faulty installation of terminal box.  
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
      As understood from the above description, according to the present invention, a single cover can serve to maintain a gap between the terminal box bodies, along with the function as a cover for the terminal box body, thereby enabling an easy installation and thus improving working efficiency when embedding the terminal box in a wall. In addition, the reduction of components in the terminal box results in a cost-down effect. Furthermore, it can avoid deformation caused by its self-gravity due to a large number of covers when plural terminal boxes are arranged.