Wall-mounted junction box unit with extension sleeve

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wall-mounted connection box unit comprising a box housing body with a rear base section and a sleeve section projecting forward from the base section, which sleeve section circumferentially surrounds a built-in component receiving space accessible via an open front end of the sleeve section, an extension sleeve which is configured for coaxial arrangement on the sleeve section and axially retractable relative to the sleeve section, and a holding structure which allows axial retraction of the extension sleeve on the sleeve section from an assembly position into an end-use position at a variable axial height and holds the extension sleeve on the sleeve section in the end-use position.

[0002] Such junction box units are used, for example, in sanitary installation technology for connecting built-in components in the form of sanitary components such as water outlet fittings for washbasins, bathtubs, shower heads or kitchen sinks or upstream sanitary thermostat, mixer and / or shut-off valve units to pre-installed water pipe connections in the building, and in electrical installation technology for connecting electrical built-in components such as sockets, junction boxes, sensors, actuators, light switches, etc. to pre-installed electrical cable connections in the building. Flush-mounted versions are particularly typical in this case, in which the wall-mounted junction box unit is installed in the relevant building wall in such a way that its front is as flush as possible with the finished building wall surface, e.g. a plastered wall surface or a tiled wall surface.It is understood that the building wall can be both a vertical building wall in the narrower sense and a floor wall or floor surface or a ceiling wall or ceiling surface of a building or room, in the sanitary case, for example, a shower room, a bathroom, a toilet room, a kitchen, etc.

[0003] A connector body arranged in the rear base section of the box housing body typically serves as the connecting link for connecting the built-in component to the building's line connections. The base section is configured accordingly for arranging or holding the connector body. The connector body has a built-in component connection contour facing the built-in component receiving space and a line connection interface structure accessible on an outer side of the box housing body.

[0004] The line connection interface structure typically includes one or more connection interfaces, in the sanitary case a fluid line connection interface structure in particular in the form of corresponding pipe connection nozzles for coupling to a corresponding building-side pipe connection nozzle, e.g. for cold water, hot water or mixed water made up of cold water and hot water, in the electrical case an electrical line connection interface structure in particular in the form of cable line connections.

[0005] The built-in component connection contour of the connector body—in the sanitary case, a sanitary component connection contour and in the electrical case, an electrical component connection contour—is designed to interact with a corresponding connection contour of a connected built-in component, such as a mixing and / or shut-off valve unit or a water outlet fitting in the sanitary case, or an electrical built-in component in the electrical case. In the sanitary case, the connector body includes a fluid channel structure for fluidly connecting the fluid line connection interface structure on the outside of the box to the sanitary component connection contour on the inside of the box; in the electrical case, it includes an electrically conductive connection between the electrical line connection interface structure on the outside of the box and the electrical component connection contour on the inside of the box.

[0006] The junction box unit is inserted into a building wall opening with its rear side or rear base facing forward, or is placed against a building wall, e.g., a drywall wall. The required cable connections are established between the building-side connections on the one hand and the connection interface structure of the junction box on the other. After the wall is completed, the installation component can be inserted into the receiving space of the junction box body via the open front end of the junction box body and coupled to the appropriate connection contour of the junction box body.

[0007] A known problem with the wall mounting of such and similar junction box units is that the position of the junction box unit in relation to the finished building wall surface, in particular with regard to its installation depth in the case of flush-mounted installation, is not yet precisely specified as long as the building wall is not yet finished, in particular not yet plastered, tiled or otherwise clad.

[0008] This problem is remedied in connection box units of the type under consideration here by the extension sleeve, which, using the holding structure, is arranged telescopically and movably on the sleeve section of the box housing body, i.e. arranged coaxially on the sleeve section and guided on this and relative to it so as to be axially height-adjustable, and can be held in a variably predeterminable, desired axial position on the sleeve section. In particular, the extension sleeve can be pushed back from an initial assembly position into a final end-of-use position by a variable axial amount, i.e. in the direction of the base section of the box housing body or in the direction of greater axial overlap with the sleeve section. Optionally, the extension sleeve can not only be moved back axially unidirectionally, but can also be moved forwards again bidirectionally, i.e. in the direction away from the base section of the box housing body or towards it.In the direction of less axial overlap with the sleeve section, the extension sleeve is guided along the inner or outer circumference of the sleeve section, depending on the requirements and application. In the former case, it has a suitably smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the sleeve section and is circumferentially surrounded by the sleeve section; in the latter case, it has a suitably larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the sleeve section and circumferentially surrounds the sleeve section.

[0009] To mount these junction box units on the building wall, the extension sleeve is initially held in the mounting position, which is a position that protrudes sufficiently far forward beyond the sleeve section. This ensures that, after wall mounting, the junction box unit extends forward with its extension sleeve at least as far as the planned finished building wall surface, preferably protruding forward beyond it and in any case not lagging behind it. Once the building wall is subsequently completed, the extension sleeve, if or to the extent that it protrudes beyond the surface of the finished building wall in its mounting position, can be pushed back axially into a position ultimately desired for use of the junction box unit after completion of the building wall surface, preferably until the front is flush or almost flush with the finished wall surface.This eliminates the need for laborious cutting off of a sleeve portion that protrudes beyond the finished wall surface, as is often necessary with conventional junction box units without such an extension sleeve. This ultimately desired position of the extension sleeve thus represents its respective end-use position, the axial height of which relative to the sleeve portion of the box housing body can vary depending on the resulting height of the finished wall surface, measured perpendicular to the wall surface. The holding structure allows this axial retraction of the extension sleeve on the sleeve portion from the assembly position to the end-use position at a variable axial height and ensures that the extension sleeve is held sufficiently securely on the sleeve portion in the end-use position.

[0010] The published patent application DE 10 2012 203 393 A1 discloses a wall-mounted connection box unit of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the extension sleeve, referred to there as a sleeve, is guided with its outer shell side on the inner shell side of the sleeve section of the box housing body in an axially continuously height-adjustable manner and the holding structure for this purpose includes a sealing ring which is received in an outer sealing ring receptacle of the sleeve so as to project radially outwards, so that it bears against the inner side of the sleeve section of the box housing body with a certain surface pressure in order to provide a continuously adjustable and sealing, frictionally engaged connection between the sleeve and the sleeve section of the box housing body.

[0011] The published patent application WO 2017 / 091839 A1 discloses a wall-mounted connection box unit of the type mentioned above, in which the axially height-adjustable extension sleeve is designed as a mounting sleeve having, at its free front end, a fastening means for attaching an add-on component, such as a sanitary mixer fitting, and in which the holding structure includes cooperating locking web structures, which are continuous along the circumference or formed only in segmental areas, on the mounting sleeve on the one hand and on the sleeve section of the box housing body on the other hand, whereby the mounting sleeve can be held locked in a stepped manner at several different axial height levels on the sleeve section of the box housing body. The locking can be secured by means of an additionally inserted securing sleeve.

[0012] The published patent application US 2017 / 0256930 A1 discloses a wall-mounted connection box unit for use in electrical installations, comprising a box housing body made of a metal material, alternatively a plastic material, which has a sleeve portion protruding from a base portion, and comprising an extension sleeve that can be axially inserted into the sleeve portion in a first rotational position and then, by rotating it into a second rotational position, can be axially fixed to the sleeve portion at a variable height in the manner of a bayonet lock. For this purpose, a corresponding bayonet lock holding structure with web-like radial projections and recesses is provided on an outer surface of the extension sleeve and an inner surface of the sleeve portion. Before inserting the extension sleeve, a cable separating insert can be inserted into the base portion of the box housing body via the sleeve portion.

[0013] Patent specification NO 336337 B1 discloses a wall-mounted connection box unit of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the extension sleeve is manufactured as a two-component adjusting ring with a fastening ring part and a sealing ring part made of a same elastic material and a ring body part made of a non-elastic material, and the holding structure includes a wedge ring which can be connected to the adjusting ring by means of screws and can be pressed axially against its fastening ring part, whereby the latter is pressed radially outwards against a grooved inner circumference of the sleeve section of the box housing body.

[0014] The published patent application EP 2 822 121 A2 discloses a wall-mounted connection box unit of the type mentioned above, which includes two extension sleeves that can be plugged into one another and rotated relative to one another via interacting threads. The threads can be overridden so that one extension sleeve can be inserted telescopically into the other extension sleeve as an alternative to screwing it in. For this purpose, the outer extension sleeve is made of a thinner and / or more flexible material than the extension sleeve attached to the sleeve portion of the housing.

[0015] Other conventional wall-mounted connection box units of a similar type are disclosed in the utility model CN ​​204732809 U and the published patent application EP 3 703 207 A1.

[0016] The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a wall-mounted connection box unit of the type mentioned at the outset, which offers, in particular, functional advantages and / or advantages with regard to manufacturing and / or assembly costs compared to the above-mentioned prior art.

[0017] The invention solves this problem by providing a wall-mounted junction box unit with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims, the wording of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the description. This includes, in particular, all embodiments of the invention resulting from the combinations of features defined by the references in the subclaims.

[0018] According to the invention, the holding structure includes a holding bead structure projecting radially from the sleeve portion, which is formed from a sealingly flexible material in one piece with at least one adjacent axial portion of the sleeve portion made of the sealingly flexible material, and a counter-holding structure which cooperates frictionally and / or positively with the holding bead structure and which is formed on the extension sleeve from a material which is stiffer than the sealingly flexible material.

[0019] By forming the retaining bead structure in one piece with the sleeve section as a whole or at least with an axial portion of the sleeve section adjacent to the retaining bead structure, additional component parts for providing the retaining bead structure and corresponding manufacturing effort can be saved.

[0020] Because the retaining bead structure is made of a sealingly flexible material, it can ensure a desired fluid-tight connection between the extension sleeve and the sleeve section of the box housing body through frictional and / or positive engagement with the stiffer counter-holding structure on the extension sleeve, without the need for additional, separate sealing measures. For example, a rubber material or a plastic foam material can be used for the retaining bead structure.

[0021] By forming the counter-holding structure on the extension sleeve from a material that is stiffer than the sealingly flexible material of the retaining bead structure, the material connection of the sealingly flexible, softer material on the one hand and the stiffer material on the other hand can provide a connection between the extension sleeve and the sleeve section that is both reliably sealing and reliably frictionally and / or positively retaining. This connection also allows for the telescopic axial height adjustment of the extension sleeve on the sleeve section of the box housing body. The stiffer material of the counter-holding structure can, for example, be a plastic material that is stiffer than the material of the retaining bead structure or a metal material. Depending on requirements and application, the extension sleeve can be formed entirely from the material of the counter-holding structure or only in the area of ​​the counter-holding structure.In particular, this embodiment of the holding structure according to the invention allows, if required, a continuous height adjustment of the extension sleeve relative to the sleeve section of the box housing body.

[0022] In a further development of the invention, the wall-mounted connection box unit comprises a removable spacer element which can be removably attached to the box housing body in a securing position in which it secures the extension sleeve in the mounting position against axial retraction.

[0023] With this spacer element, the junction box unit can be secured, in particular, against unintentional axial retraction of the extension sleeve relative to the sleeve section of the box housing body before and / or during assembly of the junction box unit. This can be advantageously used to hold the extension sleeve pre-assembled to the sleeve section of the box housing body in the assembly position, secured against retraction, in the as-delivered state of the junction box unit after its manufacture, or in any case before the junction box unit is mounted in or on a building wall. This assembly position can, for example, be a position in which the extension sleeve protrudes forward as far as possible beyond the sleeve section.When installing the junction box unit in a wall, the spacer element is removed, i.e., detached, at the latest after the building wall surface has been completed and the extension sleeve is to be pushed back from its assembly position to its final use position, in which its front end or edge is essentially flush with the finished wall surface, for example. The extension sleeve can then be pushed back axially by the desired amount. Depending on the design, the spacer element can be removed from the box housing body either non-destructively or by destroying the spacer element. In the former case, it can be reused if necessary; in the latter case, it is designed as a disposable component that can be removed without destructive intervention.

[0024] In a further development of the invention, the retaining bead structure includes a circumferentially continuous retaining bead that protrudes radially inward on an inner side of the sleeve portion or radially outward on an outer side of the sleeve portion. This represents a structurally and functionally advantageous implementation of the retaining bead structure. The retaining bead extends continuously over the entire circumference of the sleeve portion and can thus ensure both secure retention of the extension sleeve to the sleeve portion of the box housing body and reliable sealing of the connection between the sleeve portion and the extension sleeve.

[0025] As a counterholding structure, the extension sleeve preferably has a structured or profiled surface area that promotes the sealing hold on the sleeve section in cooperation with the retaining bead. Alternatively, the outer or inner sleeve surface of the extension sleeve alone is sufficient as the counterholding structure on the extension sleeve that interacts with the retaining bead. The retaining bead can form a sealing contact against the stiffer material of the counterholding structure in the corresponding profiled or non-profiled surface area of ​​the extension sleeve. In corresponding embodiments, the retaining bead structure includes only a single such retaining bead or any number of such retaining beads that are arranged at an axial distance from one another.

[0026] In a further development of the invention, the retaining bead structure is formed from a plastic foam material, in particular a thermoplastic particle foam material. This represents an advantageous realization of the retaining bead structure, which can in particular be combined with the measure that the sleeve section of the box housing body as a whole, in corresponding embodiments the entire box housing body, is formed from the plastic foam material or the thermoplastic particle foam material. The plastic foam material enables the functional properties required for the retaining bead structure to be provided in a simple manner in terms of production technology with regard to sufficiently axially displaceable guidance and secure holding of the extension sleeve on the sleeve section and with regard to a fluid-tight connection between the extension sleeve and the sleeve section. Alternatively, the retaining bead structure can, for example,may also be formed from a sealing rubber material or another material known per se to the person skilled in the art for sealing similar connections.

[0027] In a further development of the invention, the counter-holding structure comprises a holding tooth structure with a plurality of axially successive holding teeth which protrude radially outwards on an outer side of the extension sleeve or radially inwards on an inner side of the extension sleeve. This represents an advantageous implementation of the counter-holding structure with regard to the holding and sealing function. In this case, the counter-holding structure can engage with its holding teeth in the sealingly flexible material of the holding bead structure and in this way very simply and reliably ensure mechanically secure holding and fluidically secure sealing of the extension sleeve with respect to the sleeve section of the box housing body. Since several holding teeth are arranged axially successively orSince the engagement of the retaining teeth in the retaining bead structure is possible virtually steplessly at any axial height within the axial effective range of the retaining tooth structure and the retaining bead structure, the extension sleeve can be very easily and preferably steplessly adjusted axially on the sleeve section, in particular pushed back, and in this way brought into its respective desired optimal final use position on the sleeve section of the box housing body and kept reliably sealed.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the retaining tooth structure with its retaining teeth forms a sawtooth profile with flatter tooth rear flanks pointing in the direction of retraction of the extension sleeve and opposing, steeper tooth front flanks. This special design of the retaining teeth makes it more difficult to move the extension sleeve forward from the final use position than to move it back from the assembly position to the final use position, thereby achieving the desirable effect of preventing the extension sleeve from moving forward from its final use position or at least making it more difficult compared to the force required to push the extension sleeve back from its assembly position to its final use position.

[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the retaining tooth structure is arranged at an axial distance from a rear end of the extension sleeve, and a section of the extension sleeve extending axially from the rear end to at most the retaining tooth structure forms a pre-assembly plug-in area configured to hold the extension sleeve in its pre-assembled, plugged-in position on the sleeve section of the box housing body. This enables simple pre-assembly of the extension sleeve on the sleeve section of the box housing body by inserting the extension sleeve with its pre-assembly plug-in area into or onto the sleeve section.For this purpose, the retaining tooth structure does not yet need to be operatively connected to the retaining bead structure on the extension sleeve, so that the connection between the retaining tooth structure and the retaining bead structure is not subjected to any stress as long as the extension sleeve has not yet been pushed back into its final use position. The pre-assembly plug-in area can, for example, simply be formed by a non-specifically profiled end region of the inner or outer surface of the extension sleeve; alternatively, it can additionally have a profile that supports the temporary holding of the extension sleeve on the sleeve section of the box housing body in the assembled position.

[0030] In a further development of the invention, the extension sleeve has a radially outwardly projecting end ring flange at its front end. The end ring flange can be used for various applications, for example, for attaching a cover rosette or as a ring stop for resting against the finished surface of the building wall in the final use position of the extension sleeve. In alternative embodiments, the extension sleeve ends at the front end without a radially outwardly projecting end ring flange.

[0031] In a further development of the invention, a mounting cover can be removably attached to a front end of the extension sleeve, e.g. by simply plugging and pulling it off. The mounting cover can be used, for example, to protect the interior of the extension sleeve and the sleeve section of the box housing body from contamination before and / or during wall mounting of the junction box unit. Furthermore, it can be used if necessary to hold or apply a spirit level or bubble level. In this case, it preferably has a corresponding spirit level support structure or bubble level holder on the outside. Optionally, the mounting cover has a preferably central grip pin on the outside as a handling aid for the user. Once the wall mounting of the junction box unit is complete, the mounting cover is removed.

[0032] In a further development of the invention, the spacer element includes a spacer sleeve, which, in the secured position, is arranged coaxially on the sleeve section in an axial region behind the extension sleeve. In corresponding implementations, the spacer sleeve can be removably inserted into the sleeve section and circumferentially surrounded by it if the extension sleeve is guided on the inner circumference of the sleeve section, or alternatively, it can be removably arranged on the sleeve section, surrounding it circumferentially, if the extension sleeve is guided on the outer circumference of the sleeve section.

[0033] The spacer sleeve is preferably designed such that it can be manufactured with little effort and allows simple attachment and preferably non-destructive removal from the box housing body. Alternatively, the spacer sleeve can be designed as a disposable sleeve that can be removed without causing damage. In both cases, the spacer sleeve can be made from any material that allows the aforementioned properties and requires little implementation effort, e.g. from a suitably elastically or inelastically deformable material, such as cardboard or a flexurally elastic plastic. Depending on requirements and application, the spacer sleeve can be formed from a circumferentially continuous, closed sleeve part or alternatively from a circumferentially open sleeve part with a continuous axial slot, i.e. an open sleeve part extending only over a circumferential angle of less than 360°.It is only essential that the spacer sleeve withstands any axial pressure exerted by the extension sleeve before and / or during wall mounting of the junction box unit, in order to hold the extension sleeve in its mounting position even when an axial pressure force acts on the front end of the extension sleeve.

[0034] In alternative embodiments, the spacer element includes, for example, a blocking pin which projects radially from the sleeve section of the box housing body and is preferably removable, which blocks the axial movement path of the extension sleeve, or a detachable clip connection with which the extension sleeve is clipped to the sleeve section in its assembly position.

[0035] In one embodiment of the invention, the spacer sleeve is designed as a circumferentially open, contractible annular sleeve and has a user-operable closing actuation structure. This allows the user to very easily and non-destructively insert the spacer sleeve into the sleeve section of the box housing body and / or remove the spacer sleeve from the sleeve section by grasping the open annular sleeve at the closing actuation structure, which acts as a handling aid, e.g., with the fingers of one hand, and radially compressing it, i.e., contracting it, so that its radial expansion is reduced compared to its position of use in the sleeve section.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the spacer sleeve has a radially inwardly projecting flange structure at a front end. This flange structure can be used, for example, as a stop surface against which the extension sleeve rests when it is plugged into the sleeve section of the box housing body to be brought into its assembly position. The flange structure then prevents the extension sleeve from moving further axially back into the sleeve section of the box housing body. If necessary, the flange structure can also simultaneously function as the aforementioned closing actuation structure for the user.

[0037] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. These and other advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below. Herein: Fig. 1 a longitudinal sectional view of a wall-mounted connection box unit, half in an assembly position and half in a pushed-back end-use position of an extension sleeve, Fig. 2 a perspective exploded view of the connection box unit of Fig. 1 with additional, temporarily used components, Fig. 3 a longitudinal section view of the connection box unit of Fig. 2 in the assembled state of the individual parts, Fig. 4 a perspective view of the extension sleeve for the connection box unit of the Fig. 1 bis 3 , Fig. 5 a longitudinal sectional view of the extension sleeve of Fig. 4 , Fig. 6 a detailed view of an area VI in Fig. 5 , Fig. 7 a perspective view of a spacer element for the connection box unit of Fig. 2 and Fig. 8 a longitudinal sectional view of the connection box unit according to Fig. 1 with the extension sleeve in an opposite Fig. 1 less far pushed back final use position.

[0038] As illustrated by way of example in the embodiments shown, the wall-mounted connection box unit according to the invention comprises a box housing body 1 with a rear base section 2 and a sleeve section 3 projecting forwards from the base section, an extension sleeve 6 and a holding structure 7. The sleeve section 3 of the box housing body 1 surrounds a built-in component receiving space 4 accessible via an open front end 5 of the sleeve section 3, as can be seen, for example, from the Fig. 1 bis 3 The extension sleeve 6 is designed for coaxial arrangement on the sleeve section 3 and axial retraction relative to the sleeve section 3. The holding structure 7 allows axial retraction of the extension sleeve 6 on the sleeve section 3 from a position in the Fig. 1 , 3 and 8 visible mounting position MS into a position in the Fig. 1 and 8to be recognized end use position ES and holds the extension sleeve 6 in the end use position ES on the sleeve section 3. The assembly position MS is preferably a position of the extension sleeve 6 on the sleeve section 3 in which the extension sleeve 6, on the one hand, protrudes far enough beyond the sleeve section 3 of the box housing body 1 to continue to protrude beyond the relevant building wall surface during and after completion of the latter and in any case not to fall short of its final surface height level, and, on the other hand, is held sufficiently securely pre-assembled on the sleeve section 3 in that it already has a certain axial overlap with the sleeve section 3.

[0039] The final use position ES is located at a variable axial height HE , ie the extension sleeve 6 can be brought into its final use position ES at this desired axial height HE variably relative to the sleeve section 3 of the box housing body 1 and held there by the holding structure 7 secured against unintentional axial movement. Fig. 1 and 8 two different end-use positions ES , whereby the extension sleeve 6 in the case of Fig. 8 in a more forward end-use position ES than in the case of Fig. 1 , ie a front end face 6d of the extension sleeve 6 is located relative to the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1 in the case of Fig. 8 at a further axial height h2 than one in Fig. 8 For comparison purposes, the additional axial height h1 at which this front face 6d is located in the case of Fig. 1 The final use position ES of the extension sleeve 6, which is not pushed back so far into the depth of the building wall, according to Fig. 8 is suitable, for example, for cases where the completion of the building wall results in a greater additional wall thickness or where the building-side pipe connections are located deeper in the wall, ie further back, in relation to the surface of the finished wall surface than in the case of Fig. 1 . In this case, the directions front and rear refer, unless explicitly stated otherwise, to the directions perpendicular to the wall surface, outwards away from the wall or inwards into the wall.

[0040] In corresponding embodiments, the holding structure 7 includes, as in the exemplary embodiments shown, a holding bead structure 7a projecting radially from the sleeve section 3, which is formed integrally with at least one adjacent axial partial region 3a of the sleeve section 3 from a sealingly flexible material, and a counter-holding structure 7b that interacts with the holding bead structure 7a and is formed on the extension sleeve 6 from a material that is stiffer than the sealingly flexible material. This axial partial region 3a of the sleeve section 3 can be any partial region of the sleeve section 3 of any axial extent that also includes the holding bead structure 7a. Alternatively, the sleeve section 3 can be formed entirely from the sealingly flexible material; in corresponding implementations, the box housing body 1 is formed entirely from this material.In the interaction of the sealingly flexible material of the holding bead structure 7a with the stiffer material of the counter-holding structure 7b, the holding structure 7 advantageously enables, with relatively little implementation effort, a sufficiently secure holding of the extension sleeve 6 in its respective desired end-use position ES on the sleeve section 3 of the box housing body 1 and a sufficiently sealing connection of the extension sleeve 6 to the sleeve section 3 of the box housing body 1 by frictional engagement and / or positive engagement.

[0041] In corresponding embodiments, the wall-mounted connection box unit, as in the embodiments shown, comprises a spacer element 8 which is detachably attachable to the box housing body 1 in a securing position SS, in which it secures the extension sleeve 6 in the mounting position MS against axial retraction, ie axial displacement in a retraction direction ZR, as can be seen from Fig. 3 This can be used, in particular, to protect the extension sleeve 6 from unwanted, premature retraction from its mounting position MS before and during wall mounting of the junction box unit. Once the wall surface of the building wall in question, in or on which the junction box unit is mounted, is finished, this safeguard can be removed by detaching the spacer element 8 from the box housing body 1, i.e., removing it from it.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, both of the above-mentioned aspects of the invention are realized with regard to the formation of the holding structure 7 as a holding bead structure 7a and with regard to the temporarily used spacer element 8. In alternative embodiments, only one of these two aspects of the invention is realized.

[0043] The wall-mounted connection box unit shown can be configured in particular as a sanitary wall-mounted connection box unit for connecting sanitary components to building-side water pipe connections, as explained above, wherein the sleeve section 3 of the box housing body 1 circumferentially surrounds a built-in component receiving space 4, which is then configured as a sanitary component receiving space, which is accessible via an open front end 5 of the sleeve section 3 or the extension sleeve 6, via which the built-in component, such as a sanitary component, can be introduced into the box housing body 1, such as, for example, in the Fig. 1 and 8visible. In alternative embodiments not shown, the wall-mounted connection box unit is configured as an electrical wall-mounted connection box unit for connecting electrical components to building-side electrical line connections, as also explained above, wherein the built-in component receiving space 4 then forms an electrical component receiving space into which the relevant electrical component can be introduced into the box housing body 1 via the open front end 5 of the sleeve section 3.

[0044] A connection body 14 arranged or held in the base section 2 acts as a fluid or line-connecting link, which has a built-in component connection contour 15 facing the built-in component receiving space 4, i.e. in the sanitary case a sanitary component connection contour and in the electrical case an electrical component connection contour, a line connection interface structure 16 accessible on an outside of the box housing body 1, i.e. in the sanitary case a fluid line connection interface structure and in the electrical case an electrical line connection interface structure, and in the sanitary case a fluid channel structure 17 for fluidly connecting the fluid line connection interface structure 16 with the sanitary component connection contour 15, in the electrical case an electrically conductive connection of the box-outside electrical line connection interface structure with the box-inside electrical component connection contour, as can be seen in particular from the Fig. 1 bis 3 and8 Connection bodies with such functional components for use in sanitary or electrical installation technology are known per se to the person skilled in the art, and need not be discussed in detail here.

[0045] In advantageous embodiments, the retaining bead structure 7a, as in the exemplary embodiments shown, includes a retaining bead 9 that extends continuously around the circumference and, as shown, projects radially inward on an inner side 3b of the sleeve section 3 or, alternatively, radially outward on an outer side 3c of the sleeve section 3. In the example shown, the retaining bead structure 7a includes only a single retaining bead 9; in alternative embodiments, it includes a plurality of retaining beads that extend continuously around the circumference and are axially spaced from one another.

[0046] In advantageous embodiments, the retaining bead structure 7a is formed from a plastic foam material, which can in particular be a thermoplastic particle foam material, such as a polypropylene particle foam. Alternatively, the retaining bead structure 7a is formed from another sealingly flexible material, e.g., a sealing rubber material. In corresponding implementations, not only the retaining bead structure 7a, but also the sleeve section 3 or the box housing body 1 is formed from this plastic foam material. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the box housing body 1 is formed entirely in one piece, e.g., from a plastic foam material, or alternatively, from another sealingly flexible material, with the connecting body 14 being embedded in the plastic foam material of the base section 2 of the box housing body 1.

[0047] In advantageous embodiments, the counter-holding structure 7b, as in the example shown, includes a holding tooth structure 10 with a plurality of axially successive holding teeth 11, which extend circumferentially on an outer side 6a of the extension sleeve 6, as shown, project radially outwardly or alternatively radially inwardly on an inner side 6b of the extension sleeve 6. The holding teeth 11, made of the stiffer material of the counter-holding structure 7b, can engage or claw into the sealingly flexible material of the holding bead structure 7a, which results in a very secure and well-sealed holding of the extension sleeve 6 on the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1 in the end-use position ES, both through this positive engagement and through the frictional engagement provided by the pressing contact of the holding bead structure 7a against the counter-holding structure 7b made of the stiffer material.In addition, this design of the counter-holding structure 7b enables a practically stepless selection of the axial height of the end-use position ES for the extension sleeve 6 on the sleeve section 2.

[0048] In alternative embodiments, the counter-holding structure 7b can be formed by a differently structured or profiled surface area of ​​the extension sleeve 6, e.g., a wave-shaped profile or ribbing. In further alternative implementations, the counter-holding structure 7b is formed solely by the non-structured outer or inner sleeve surface on the outer side 6a or the inner side 6b of the extension sleeve 6.

[0049] In advantageous embodiments, the retaining tooth structure 10 with its retaining teeth 11 has a sawtooth profile with flatter tooth rear flanks 11a pointing in the pushing-back direction ZR of the extension sleeve 6 and opposite, steeper tooth front flanks 11b, as in the example shown and as can be seen in particular from Fig. 6 This design of the retaining tooth structure 10 provides a higher resistance to advancing, ie outward, the extension sleeve 6 in the opposite direction compared to the pushing-back force required to push back the extension sleeve 6 in the pushing-back direction ZR.

[0050] This is because, with its flatter tooth rear flanks 11a compared to the tooth front flanks 11b, the retaining bead structure 7a, such as the retaining bead 9, can slide relatively easily onto the retaining tooth structure 10 when the extension sleeve 6 is pushed back from its assembly position MS into its final use position ES, while the retaining teeth 11, with their steeper tooth front flanks 11b, engage more strongly in the retaining bead structure 7b, such as the retaining bead 9, and claw into it in a locking manner when an attempt is made to move the extension sleeve 6 axially out of the final use position ES relative to the holding section 2 of the box housing body 1, counter to the pushing-back direction ZR, i.e. to move it in the direction out of the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1. This tooth design consequently results in an asymmetry for moving the extension sleeve 6 into or out of the sleeve section 2.out of this, with a preferred direction of movement axially backwards in the direction into the sleeve section 2. In alternative embodiments, the holding tooth structure 7b with its holding teeth 11 can have a different type of tooth profile, e.g. a triangular tooth profile symmetrical with respect to the axial sleeve displacement direction without a preferred direction of movement of the extension sleeve 6 axially backwards.

[0051] In advantageous embodiments, the retaining tooth structure 10, as in the embodiment shown, is arranged at an axial distance from a rear end 6c of the extension sleeve 6, and a section of the extension sleeve 6 extending axially from the rear end 6c up to at most the retaining tooth structure 10 forms a pre-assembly plug-in area 12, which is designed to hold the extension sleeve 6 in its pre-assembled plug-in position MS on the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1.

[0052] Specifically, in the example shown, the pre-assembly plug-in area 12 of the extension sleeve 6 interacts with the retaining bead structure 10, such as the retaining bead 9, as can be seen in particular in the Fig. 1 and 3visible. In this case, the retaining bead structure 10 rests on the outside against the pre-assembly plug-in area 12, whereby the extension sleeve 6 is held in its assembly position MS on the sleeve section 2 primarily by means of frictional engagement. Since the pre-assembly plug-in area 12 lies axially behind the retaining tooth structure 10, the retaining tooth structure 10 is not yet in operative engagement with the retaining bead structure 7a in the assembly position MS of the extension sleeve 6. This has the consequence that the extension sleeve 6 can, if necessary, be moved outwards again from its assembly position MS on the sleeve section 2, i.e. moved away, or removed from the sleeve section 2 relatively easily, i.e. with comparatively little force required, whereas moving the extension sleeve 6 out of its end-use position ES preferably requires a significantly greater expenditure of force or is no longer possible at all without damaging the retaining bead structure 7a.

[0053] In corresponding implementations, the extension sleeve 6, as in the example shown, has a radially outwardly projecting end ring flange 13 at its front, free, open end 6d. This can be used, for example, as a stop surface with which the extension sleeve 6 comes into contact with a finished building wall surface when the extension sleeve 6 is pushed back into its final use position ES.

[0054] In corresponding implementations, as in the example shown, an optional mounting cover 17 can be attached to the front end 6d of the extension sleeve 6 in such a way that it can be easily removed again from the front end 6d of the extension sleeve 6. In the example shown, it is specially designed in a pot-shaped manner and is inserted with its pot base first up to its open pot rim into the extension sleeve 6 at its front end 6a and can be easily removed again from this position. In corresponding designs, the mounting cover 17 includes, as in the example shown, a preferably central grip pin 18 and / or a spirit level holder 19 for holding, preferably by clipping or otherwise detaching, a spirit level or circular spirit level that can be used as an alignment aid.

[0055] In advantageous embodiments, the spacer element 8, as in the embodiment shown, includes a spacer sleeve 20, which in the securing position SS is arranged coaxially on the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1 in an axial area behind the extension sleeve 6, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 3 can be seen, the shape of the spacer sleeve 20 being particularly evident from the Fig. 2 and 7 is evident.

[0056] In advantageous implementations, the spacer sleeve 20, as in the example shown, is designed as a circumferentially open, contractible annular sleeve 21 and has a user-operable closing actuation structure 22. Due to its circumferentially open design, the annular sleeve 21 has two circumferential end regions 21a, 21b spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, as shown in Fig. 7marked. Through this implementation, the spacer sleeve 20 can be gripped by the user at the closing actuation structure 22 and contracted, i.e., its radial extent narrowed, to a certain extent determined by the circumferential distance between the two circumferential end regions 21a, 21b. This facilitates the insertion of the spacer sleeve 20 into the interior of the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1 and, in the same way, the removal of the spacer sleeve 20 from the sleeve section 2.

[0057] In corresponding implementations, the spacer sleeve 20, as in the example shown, has a radially inwardly projecting flange structure 23 on a front end 20a, i.e. in the mounted position pointing opposite to the push-back direction ZR of the extension sleeve 6. This flange structure can serve as a contact surface against which the extension sleeve 6 comes to rest when the spacer sleeve 20 is in its mounted position in the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1 and the extension sleeve 6 is positioned on the sleeve section 2 and pushed back to its mounting position MS. Alternatively or additionally, the front edge of the front end 20a of the spacer sleeve 20 functions as such a stop for positioning the extension sleeve 6 in its mounting position MS.

[0058] Alternatively or in addition to this stop function, the flange structure 23 can function as the closing actuation structure 22. For this purpose, the flange structure 23 in the example shown includes two flange arms 23a, 23b, each on one of the two circumferential end regions 21a, 21b, which the annular sleeve 21 has due to its circumferentially open shape. When the spacer sleeve 20 is in its mounted position in the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1, the user can easily reach into the interior of the sleeve section 2 with one hand and grasp the two flange arms 23a, 23b with two fingers and move them towards each other to slightly pull the spacer sleeve 20 together. The user can then easily remove the spacer sleeve 20, which has been radially narrowed in this way, from the sleeve section 2 of the box housing body 1. In a similar way, the user can easily insert the spacer sleeve 20 into the sleeve section 2.

Claims

1. Wall installation connection box unit, comprising - a box housing body (1) having a rear-side base portion (2) and a sleeve portion (3) projecting forward from the base portion, which sleeve portion peripherally surrounds an installation component mounting space (4), which space is accessible via an open front end face (5) of the sleeve portion, - an extension sleeve (6) which is configured for coaxial arrangement on the sleeve portion and axial pushing back relative to the sleeve portion, and - a retaining structure (7) which allows axial pushing back of the extension sleeve on the sleeve portion from a mounting position (MS) to an end use position (ES) on a variable axial level (HE) and retains the extension sleeve in the end use position on the sleeve portion, - wherein the retaining structure (7) includes a retaining ridge structure (7a) radially projecting from the sleeve portion (3), and a counter-retaining structure (7b) provided on the extension sleeve and cooperating with the retaining ridge structure in a frictionally engaged and / or form-locking manner, characterized in that - the retaining ridge structure is formed integrally with at least an adjacent axial partial region (3a) of the sleeve portion (3) from a sealing resilient material, and the counter-retaining structure (7b) is made of a material which has greater stiffness as compared to the sealing resilient material.

2. Wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1, further characterized in that the wall installation connection box unit comprises a spacer element (8) which is attachable to the box housing body (1) in a securing position in a detachable manner, where the spacer element secures the extension sleeve in the mounting position (MS) against axial pushing back.

3. Wall installation connection box unit according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the retaining ridge structure includes a continuous circumferential retaining ridge (9) on its peripheral side, which retaining ridge protrudes radially inwards on an inner side (3b) of the sleeve portion, or radially outwards on an outer side (3c) of the sleeve portion.

4. Wall installation connection box unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that the retaining ridge structure is formed from a synthetic foamed material, preferably a thermoplastic particle foamed material.

5. Wall installation connection box unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the counter-retaining structure includes a retaining tooth structure (10) having a plurality of axially successive retaining teeth (11) which, extending peripherally, protrude radially outwards on an outer side (6a) of the extension sleeve, or radially inwards on an inner side (6b) of the extension sleeve.

6. Wall installation connection box unit according to claim 5, further characterized in that the retaining tooth structure with the retaining teeth thereof comprises a saw tooth profile including flatter tooth trailing edges (11a) pointing in the push-back direction (ZR) of the extension sleeve, and opposed thereto steeper tooth front edges (11b).

7. Wall installation connection box unit according to claim 5 or 6, further characterized in that the retaining tooth structure is disposed with an axial distance to a rearward end face (6c) of the extension sleeve, and a portion of the extension sleeve extending from the rearward end face axially up to at most to the retaining tooth structure provides a preassembly mating area (12) which is configured for preassembled plugged retaining of the extension sleeve in its mounting position on the sleeve portion of the box housing body.

8. Wall installation connection box unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that the extension sleeve has a radially outwards protruding blind ring flange (13) at a front end face (6d).

9. Wall installation connection box unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that a mounting cover (17) is attachable on a front end face (6d) of the extension sleeve in a detachable manner.

10. Wall installation connection box unit according to any one of claims 2 to 9, further characterized in that the spacer element includes a spacer sleeve (20) which in the securing position is disposed coaxially on the sleeve portion in an axial region behind the extension sleeve.

11. Wall installation connection box unit according to claim 10, further characterized in that the spacer sleeve is formed as a constrictable annular sleeve (21) which is open on its peripheral side and includes a user-operable tightening actuation structure (22).

12. Wall installation connection box unit according to claim 10 or 11, further characterized in that the spacer sleeve comprises a radially inwards projecting flange structure (23) on a front end face (20a).