Background of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a connection box, which is intended to be arranged in a structure and to which a protective pipe may be connected, in which protective pipe a water pipe may be arranged, which is intended to be connected to a water fitting, and the connection box comprising a detachable cover through which the water pipe is connected to the water fitting.

[0002] In water supply systems, for example, connection boxes are used where a water pipe is connected to a water fitting. The connection box is arranged in a structure, such as a partition wall. The connection box is connected with a protective pipe, inside which the actual water pipe is fitted. The protective pipe is arranged tightly in connection with the connection box, and thus, in case of potential leakage, water flowing in the water pipe remains inside the protective pipe and is not able to wet the structures. Examples of connection boxes are presented in publications EP 2 014 838 and Fl 298 (U1 ).

Brief description of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a novel connection box.

[0004] The connection box of the invention is characterized in that the cover comprises an openable part, the surface area of which is smaller than the total surface area of the cover.

[0005] This specification discloses a connection box intended to be arranged in a structure. The connection box may be connected with a protective pipe, inside which a water pipe may be fitted. The water pipe is intended to be connected to a water fitting. The connection box comprises a detachable cover, through which the water pipe is connected to the water fitting. The cover comprises an openable part, the surface area of which is smaller than the total surface area of the cover. It is thus easy to open the connection box, and it is easy to check, and possibly replace, or otherwise service the pipes and other equipment inside the connection box. It is possible to provide the connection box with a relatively small openable part but, as a whole, the connection box is, however, fairly spacious, and it is rather easy to perform service operations in connection with the connection box. Brief description of the figures

[0006] The invention will be described in greater detail in the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a connection box,

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the solution of Figure 1 with an opened cover,

Figure 3 is a schematic front view of the solution of Figure 1 ,

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a cover of the connection box seen obliquely from below,

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a second cover of the connection box seen obliquely from below, and

Figure 6 is a schematic view or the cover of the connection box of Figure 5 seen obliquely from above.

[0007] In the figures, some embodiments of the invention are shown simplified for the sake of clarity. Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the figures.

Detailed description of the invention

[0008] In Figure 1 , a connection box 1 is arranged in a wall structure 2. Instead of a wall structure 2, the connection box 1 may also be arranged in some other structure, such as a floor structure. The wall structure 2 typically comprises wall panels 3 and an intermediate space 4 between them, in which, for instance, a heat insulation may be fitted. On the wall panel 3 in the interior of a room, a surface structure 5 may further be provided. The surface structure 5 may be, for instance, a wall tile in a bathroom.

[0009] A frame 6 of the connection box 1 comprises a fitting 7 for a protective pipe. A protective pipe 8 is arranged tightly at the frame 6 of the connection box 1 so that water cannot flow from between the frame 6 and the protective pipe 8 into the structure. For the sake of clarity, the attached figures do not show seals between the protective pipe 8 and the frame 6.

[0010] A water pipe 9 is fitted inside the protective pipe 8. In connection with the connection box 1 , the water pipe 9 is connected to a water fitting 10. The water fitting 10 may be, for example, a tap or a shower mixer or other similar water fitting. In this case, the connection box 1 is used in a water supply system. The connection box 1 may also be used in other systems. If the connection box 1 is used, for instance, in heating and/or cooling systems, the water fitting may be a thermostat, connector or manifold, for example. In Figure 1 , the water fitting 10 is only shown as reference by the broken line.

[0011] In the embodiment of Figure 1 , the water pipe 9 and the water fitting 10 are connected to one another by a tap elbow 11. Thus, the connection box 1 in the embodiment of Figure 1 is a termination box. However, it is not necessary to use a tap elbow 11 , if the water pipe 9 can be bent, for instance in the connection box 1 , in a suitable direction for connecting the water fitting 10. The tap elbow 1 1 extends through the cover 12 of the connection box 1.

[0012] The cover 12 comprises a protrusion 13, which is set in connection with the wall of the frame 6 of the connection box 1. The cover 12 also comprises connection projections 4, which are locked by shape locking to the frame 6. The connection projections 14 are formed to be elastic so that the cover 12 can be snapped to its place in connection with the frame 6 of the connection box .

[0013] The frame 6 of the connection box 1 and the cover 12 may be formed of a plastic material, for example. Examples of plastic materials suitable for this purpose are polyethylene PE, polypropylene PP, polycarbonate PC, polyamide PA and acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene ABS.

[0014] In Figure , a cover flange 5 is also shown as reference by the broken line. The cover flange 15 is arranged to cover a hole 16 provided in the surface structure 5.

[0015] The cover 2 comprises an openable part 12a. Figure 2 illustrates opening of the cover 12. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the openable part 12a can be bent outwards from the connection box 1 while the rest of the cover 12 remains in its place in connection with the connection box. Between the openable part 12a and the rest of the cover 12 there is a weakening that enables the openable part 2a to be bent or, if required, removed from the rest of the cover 12. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the weakening is a groove 17.

[0016] When the cover 12 is opened, it is possible to check the condition of the water pipe 9 and the connectors, such as the tap elbow 1 . Furthermore, if required, the water pipe 9 and the connector, such as the tap elbow 1 , may be replaced via the opened cover 12. [0017] After the openable part 12a has been opened, it can thus be turned to the side for the time of necessary measures. After this, the openable part 2a may be turned back to its place. On the other hand, after the openable part 12a has been opened, the entire cover 12 can be removed. This is performed by sliding the cover 2 in such a manner that the protrusion 13 can be moved away from below the wall of the frame 6 and the entire cover 12 can be removed from its place through the hole 6. After the necessary measures, the same cover or, if required, a new cover may be fitted into its place at the location indicated by Figure 1. At the weakening, the openable part 12a may also be detached from the rest of the cover 12, if desired. If the cover 12 need not be watertight with respect to the connection box 1 , only the openable part 12a may be installed in its place, if desired, in which case the connection box 1 is open at the location where the rest of the cover would be.

[0018] The surface area of the openable part 12a is thus smaller than the total surface area of the cover 12. Consequently, it is possible to provide the connection box with a relatively small openable part but, as a whole, the connection box 1 is, however, fairly spacious, and it is rather easy to perform service operations in connection with the connection box 1.

[0019] Figure 3 illustrates the solution of Figure 1 from the front. As it appears from Figure 3, the surface structure 5 comprises a hole 16, which is larger than the openable part 12a of the cover 12. However, the hole 16 is so small that the whole cover 12 cannot be seen through the hole 16. Thus, the hole 16 need not be so large that the cover 12 could be opened completely so that it is moved through the hole 16 towards the room. For checking and service measures it is thus sufficient that only the openable part 12a of the cover 12 is opened. Only if desired, the cover 12 may be slid obliquely through the hole 16 to remove the entire cover 12.

[0020] Figure 4 shows the cover 12 shown in Figure 1. The cover 12 is preferably elongated. Thus, the part of the cover of the connection box 1 may also be formed to be elongated, and the connection box may be provided in such a manner that installation and service measures performed in connection with the connection box are relatively easy. The openable part 12a is provided eccentrically at the cover 12. This enables a simple and easy opening of the connection box 1. In this embodiment, the groove 17 is straight and extends perpendicularly across the cover 12, whereby it serves very well as a hinge when the cover 12 is opened. The groove 17 may also be formed to be curved.

[0021] Figures 5 and 6 show the cover of the connection box, where the weakening between the openable part 12a of the cover and the rest of the cover 12 is a perforation 18. In this embodiment, the perforation 18 is curved, whereby, for example, the openable part 12a can be easily detached from the rest of the cover 12 and removed through the hole 6 in the surface structure 5. Figures 4, 5 and 6 also show an opening 19, through which the water pipe 9 is connected to the water fitting 10 by means of a tap elbow 11 , for example.

[0022] When the weakening is a perforation 8, the openable part 12a can be detached from the rest of the cover 12 rather easily, if desired. When the openable part 12a is detached from the rest of the cover 12, it is easy to provide space for installation and service measures.

[0023] The weakening, such as a groove 17 or a perforation 18, may thus provide a hinge mechanism between the openable part and the rest of the cover. The hinge mechanism may thus be a hinge mechanism integrated into the cover. The hinge mechanism may also be provided at the cover 12 without a weakening. In that case, the hinge mechanism is formed between the openable part and the rest of the cover by using a softer material than what the cover is otherwise made of. This softer material may be a rubbery material, an elastomer or some other suitable bendable material, for instance. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned softer material is used, it is at the same time possible to use a weakening, such as a groove 17 or a perforation 18. In this or other context, it is furthermore at the same time possible to provide a groove 17 and a perforation 18 at the cover 12.

[0024] The openable part may also be arranged to be openable from the rest of the cover in such a manner that there is some other mechanism than the above-mentioned hinge, groove and perforation between the openable part and the rest of the cover. Such a mechanism may be a threaded connection or bayonet connection, for example.

[0025] The cover 12 may be fitted in a water-tight manner with respect to the frame 6 of the connection box 1. In this case, a suitable seal, for example, is provided between the cover 12 and the frame 6. Furthermore, if desired, it is also possible to seal the space between the hole 19 and the structure extending through it, such as the tap elbow 11. [0026] In some cases, features disclosed in this application may be used as such, regardless of other features. On the other hand, when necessary, features disclosed in this application may be combined in order to provide various combinations.

[0027] The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. Details of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims.