AU2009211963B2

AU2009211963B2 - Device for securing an installation box to an opening in a wall shell

Info

Publication number: AU2009211963B2
Application number: AU2009211963A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sergi Tornos Nunez; Julio Mila Prat; Markus Theuer
Original assignee: Hager Electro GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hager Electro GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2008-02-04
Filing date: 2009-02-03
Publication date: 2013-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-03
Also published as: IL206923A; IL206923A0; PL2240988T3; AU2009211963A1; WO2009097845A1; EP2240988A1; DE102008039383A1; EP2240988B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for securing an installation box, in particular a distribution box, to an opening in a wall shell. Said installation box rests on the edge of the wall shell against the front side of said wall shell by means of a stop element formed by the opening edge. Said device comprises an anchoring element that can be pivoted laterally over the box contour, that engages behind the wall shell (4) on the opening edge thereof, also comprising a pivoting and tensioning mechanism for the anchoring element (9), that comprises a screw (12) and that is accessible from the mounting side of the installation box. The claimed device is characterised in that the pivoting and tensioning mechanism comprises a screw (12) that can be introduced into an elongated hole (11) in the anchoring element (9) and that has at least one flat section of the cross section, and devices (16) for directly rotating the anchoring element (9) manually by moving the flattened screw (12) in relation to the elongate hole (11) are also provided.

Description

WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 Description: "Device for securing an installation box in an opening in a wall shell" 5 The invention relates to an arrangement for fastening an installation box, in particular a distribution box, in an opening in a wall shell, wherein the installation box abutts, by way of a stop formed on its opening periphery, 10 against the periphery of the wall shell, on the front side of the wall shell, having an anchoring element, which can be pivoted out laterally beyond the box contour and engages behind the wall shell on the opening periphery thereof, and having a pivoting and tensioning mechanism 15 for the anchoring element, this mechanism being accessible from the mounting side of the installation box and comprises a screw. Anchoring devices of this kind, in which pivoting of the 20 anchoring element over the entire pivoting range requires rotation of the screw of the pivoting and tensioning mechanism, are known through use. A new anchoring device of the type mentioned in the 25 introduction would be desirable if it permits quicker closure and release than the known devices. According to the invention there is provided an arrangement for fastening an installation box, in 30 particular a distribution box, in an opening in a wall shell, wherein the installation box abutts, by way of a stop formed on its opening periphery, against the periphery of the wall shell, on the front side of the wall shell, having an anchoring element, which can be pivoted 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 -2 out laterally beyond the box contour and engages behind the wall shell on the opening periphery thereof, and having a pivoting and tensioning mechanism for the anchoring element, this mechanism being accessible from 5 the mounting side of the installation box and comprises a screw, wherein the pivoting and tensioning mechanism has a screw, which can be introduced into a slot in the anchoring element and has at least one flattened portion in cross section, and devices for the direct manual 10 pivoting of the anchoring element, with the flattened screw being movable relative to the slot. The anchoring element can advantageously be moved quickly over a large portion of its pivoting range and into a 15 starting position for final anchoring. The installation box is ultimately secured in the wall shell opening by rotation of the screw merely through a further 90'. Two flat portions which are situated opposite one another 20 are expediently formed on the screw. When the screw is rotated through 900, the effective difference in diameter is of corresponding magnitude. While it would be conceivable to form thread sections in 25 the walls of the slot, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the screw thread cuts into the walls of the slot which are situated opposite one another. In a further refinement of the invention, devices for 30 holding the anchoring element in its pivoted position are provided, said devices being independent of the screw of the pivoting and clamping mechanism. 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 -3 These retaining devices can be formed, for example, by a slow acting rotary bearing means for the anchoring element. A preferred embodiment for such retaining devices for the anchoring element forms a latching arrangement. 5 Finally, the retaining devices could also be formed by it being possible for the screw which is inserted into the elongate hole to be difficult to displace in the elongate hole. 10 Devices for direct manual pivoting of the anchoring element primarily include a lever arm which is connected to the anchoring element. 15 The anchoring element forms a two-armed lever, with the shorter of the two levers being the lever which is provided for direct manual pivoting. A physical unit which comprises the pivot lever and 20 possibly the screw and can be connected to the installation box is provided, it being possible, in particular, for the physical unit to be connected to the installation box by means of a carrier element on which the anchoring element is mounted in a pivotable manner. 25 The carrier element can preferably be latched into the installation box in order to be connected to the installation box. In a further advantageous refinement of the invention, the abovementioned retaining devices for 30 the anchoring element have a toothing formation which is coaxial to the pivot axis of the anchoring element and in which a latching element, in particular a latching nose formed on the carrier element, engages. 4540031_1 (GHMatters) P84562.AU WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 3A In a further refinement of the invention, a stop can be provided on the lower side of the screw head, said stop interacting with stops which limit the rotation of the 5 screw in a hollow-cylindrical screw guide. Limiting by the stops can advantageously prevent the screw being rotated though more than 900 and therefore the screw connection being unintentionally released again. 10 The screw can have stop wings which project from the screw shaft in opposite directions, with these stop 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 -4 wings preferably merging directly with the screw head on that side which faces the screw head. The stop wings advantageously have edge faces which are 5 guided in the hollow-cylindrical screw guide and ensure exact positioning of the screw. In a further advantageous refinement of the invention, the stop wings each have a stepped arrangement on that 10 side of said stop wings which is averted from the screw head. The stop wings can be seated on a base wall of the hollow-cylindrical screw guide, which base wall has a passage opening, by way of the step face of said stop wing which is perpendicular or inclined in relation to 15 the screw axis. This ensures accurate axial positioning of the screw and therefore guarantees that the external thread of the screw can engage in a correspondingly formed internal thread without problems. Screw positions in which a tooth is on a tooth are precluded. 20 The stop wings preferably rest against the inner face of the passage opening by way of a step face which is parallel to the screw axis, this contributing to further guidance of the screw. 25 The inner face can have latching elements, which are arranged at an angular spacing of 900, in order to be latched to mating elements which are formed on the respective step face. Latching processes of this kind 30 reliably indicate whether the desired rotary position, in which the screw connection is open or closed, has actually been reached. In a further refinement of the invention, further wings 35 project, by way of an edge face which rests against the inner face of the passage opening, from the screw shaft in opposite directions and in a manner offset through WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 -5 900 in relation to the stop wings. This also further improves guidance of the screw. The edge face is preferably limited on its side which 5 is averted from the screw head by a latching lug which engages behind the passage opening. The screw is therefore captively connected to the part which forms the guide. 10 The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the appended drawings which relate to this exemplary embodiment and in which: 15 fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of an anchoring device according to the invention, fig. 2 shows the view from fig. 1 with a 20 sectioned anchoring element, fig. 3 shows a partly sectioned rear view of the anchoring device from figs 1 and 2, 25 fig. 4 shows the view from fig. 3 with an anchoring element illustrated in section, fig. 5 shows two perspective views of an 30 anchoring element which is used in the device from figs 1 to 4, fig. 6 shows two different perspective views of a separate carrier element for the 35 anchoring element from fig. 5, WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 -6 fig. 7 shows a screw which is used in the anchoring device according to figs 1 to 6, 5 figs 8 and 9 show different perspective views of a further screw which can be used in the anchoring device according to figs 1 to 6, 10 fig. 10 shows a screw connection which is established by the screw from figs 8 and 9 in the released state of the screw, fig. 11 shows the screw connection from fig. 10 15 in the closed state of the screw connection, and fig. 12 shows illustrations which explain the manner of operation of the screw 20 connection from figs 10 and 11. A corner portion of a distribution box, this corner portion being illustrated in section in figs 1 to 4, has a box base 1 and four side walls 2, each side wall 25 having an angled portion 3 at the free edge. The angled portions 3 form a peripheral flange which can be placed against the front side of a wall shell 4 of a, for example double-shelled, wall when the distribution box is recessed in a wall opening at the opening edge. 30 An integrally formed housing 5 is provided in each of the corners of the distribution box, the interior 29 of said housing delimiting the side walls 2 which meet in a perpendicular manner at the corner and also 35 delimiting two housing walls 6 which face the box interior. The housing interior 29 is covered by a carrier element 7, which can be latched in and forms a housing cover, in the direction of the open side of the WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 -7 distribution box. One of the two side walls 2 of the box, which side walls delimit the housing interior 29, has a slotted opening 8. 5 The element 7 which is illustrated separately in fig. 6 serves as a carrier for an anchoring element 9 which is mounted in a pivotable manner on carrier blocks 10 which project from the carrier element 7 into the housing interior 29. The anchoring element 9 has a 10 continuous elongate hole 11 into which a screw 12, which is illustrated separately in fig. 7, is inserted, the head 13 of said screw engaging behind the carrier element 7. As shown in fig. 7, the thread of the screw 12 has a flattened portion at 14. A similar flattened 15 portion is provided on that side of the screw thread which is situated opposite the flattened portion 14, the first-mentioned flattened portion not being shown in the figures. 20 As can be seen in the figures, the anchoring element 9 is in the form of a two-armed lever having a lever arm 15 which can be pivoted out of the distribution box through the slotted opening 8 and a short lever arm 16 which serves to manually pivot the anchoring element 9. 25 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the short lever arm 16 projects radially from a cylindrical part 17 of the anchoring element 9, which part has lateral pivot axis pins 26 and, on the axial sides, also has a tooth 30 system 18 which is coaxial to the pivot axis pin and partially surrounds the pivot axis pin. A portion of the cylindrical part 17 which is connected to the short lever arm 16 protrudes through an opening 35 19 in the carrier element 7. As further shown in fig. 6, the carrier element 7 has two latching lugs 20 for latching into the distribution box, with a tongue 21 WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 which is connected to the carrier element 7 engaging behind the wall of the housing 5. Latching lugs 22 which engage in the tooth systems 18 5 are formed on opposite sides of the opening 19. As an alternative, a latching lug could also engage in the tooth system 9 which is formed on the periphery of the cylindrical part 17. 10 The carrier element 7 also has a hollow-cylindrical guide 23 for the head 13 of the screw 12, with the hollow-cylindrical guide 23 being arranged coaxially to an opening 24 for the screw 12. The opening 24 may be in the form of an elongate hole, the thread of the 15 screw 12 cutting into the longitudinal walls of said elongate hole so that the screw is axially fixed in the opening 24 in a rotary position in which said screw can be moved relative to the elongate hole 11. Instead of the elongate hole, a block of material could also be 20 provided adjacent to the opening 24, the thread of the screw 12 cutting into this block of material. Grooves 25 are formed on the carrier blocks 10, said grooves enabling the pivot axis pins 26 to latch into 25 the carrier blocks 10. As can be seen in fig. 5, the anchoring element 9 has lateral recesses 27 which prevent the accumulation of material. 30 The manner of operation of the anchoring device described above will be explained in the text which follows. 35 In order to be able to anchor a distribution box in a wall opening, the anchoring elements 9 first have to be arranged within the interior 29 of the housing 5. In this state, the distribution box can be recessed into WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 -9 the wall opening until the angled edge portions 3 on the opening edge, which angled edge portions form the flange, come to rest against the front side of the wall shell 4 which delimits the wall opening. 5 Manual operation of the lever arm 16 allows the anchoring element 9 to be pivoted into the position shown in fig. 1 in which the longer lever arm 15 engages behind the wall shell 4 and, by way of its end, 10 rests against the wall shell 4. The latching lugs 22 which engage in the respective tooth systems 18 on the cylindrical part 17 of the anchoring element 9 hold the anchoring elements 9 in the pivoted position thereof, and therefore said anchoring elements remain in the 15 pivoted position shown in fig. 1. This pivoted position can differ depending on the thickness of the wall shell 4. During pivoting, the screw 12 was within the elongate 20 hole 11 in a rotary position in which the flattened portions 14 of the thread which are opposite one another face the longitudinal walls of the elongate hole 11. The thickness of the screw in this rotary position is somewhat smaller than the width of the 25 elongate hole. Therefore, the anchoring element 9 can be pivoted in this rotary position of the screw 12 without being obstructed by the screw 12. For final anchoring of the distribution box in the wall 30 opening, the screws 12 are then rotated through 900, with the screw thread cutting into the longitudinal walls of the elongate hole 11 which are opposite one another and, during rotation, ensuring that the screws are tightened and therefore the distribution box is 35 firmly clamped to the wall shell. The two stop lugs 30 and 31 for stop wings 32 which are formed on the screw head 13 are provided in the guide WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 10 23. The stop lugs 30 and 31 which project inward ensure that the rotation of the screw does not exceed 900 and therefore the screw cannot be loosened again. 5 The parts shown in figs 5 to 7 can be premounted and be supplied together with the distribution box. The anchoring device can then selectively be used on site and can be connected to the distribution box by means of the carrier element which can latch into the 10 distribution box. Reference will now be made to figures 8 and 9 which show different views of a further screw 12a which can be used in the device described above and has a screw 15 head 13a and flattened thread portions 14a. Like the screw 12 described above, the screw 12a also has stop wings 32a which merge with the screw head 13a and project from the screw shaft in opposite 20 directions. Edge faces 33 of the stop wings 32a, which edge faces are parallel to the screw axis, terminate flush with a cylindrical edge face 34 of the screw head 13a. 25 On their side which is averted from the screw head 13a, the stop wings 32a each have a stepped arrangement which forms step faces 35 which are parallel to the screw axis and step faces 36 which are perpendicular to the screw axis. 30 Further wings 37 project, in a manner offset through 900 in relation to the stop wings, from the screw shaft in opposite directions, the ends of said further wings which face the screw head 13a terminating approximately 35 flush with the step faces 36 of the stop wings 32a which are perpendicular to the screw axis. The further two wings 37 each have an edge face 38 which is parallel to the screw axis and which is adjoined by a WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 11 latching lug 39, which projects in the manner of a sawtooth, at their end which is averted from the screw head 13a. 5 According to figs 10 and 11, the screw head which is provided with the wings 32a and 37 engages in a hollow cylindrical guide 23 which is formed on one of the parts which can be connected to one another by the screw 12a. In a departure from the anchoring device 10 described above, figures 10 and 11 show, in a partial illustration and by way of example, a distribution box 40 and a covering hood 41 as the parts which are to be connected. In this case, the screw 12a serves to secure the covering hood 41 to the distribution box 40. 15 A base wall 42 of the pot-like guide 23a contains an opening for the screw 12a to pass through. The latching lugs 39 engage behind this opening, and therefore the screw 12a is connected to the covering hood 41 in a 20 captive manner. The edge faces 33 of the stop wings 32a rest against the cylindrical inner face of the guide 23a. The stepped faces 35 of the stop wings 32a and the edge faces 38 of the further wings 37 come to bear against an inner face of the opening in the base wall 25 42. The screw 12a is seated on the base wall 42 by way of the step faces 36. Fig. 10 shows the screw 12a in its released rotary position in which said screw is merely inserted into a 30 corresponding internal thread 43 which is formed on the distribution box 40 by way of the flattened thread. According to fig. 12b, the stop wings 32a rest against stop faces 44 and 45 in this rotary position, said stop faces being formed by projections which protrude into 35 the guide 23a. Fig. 11 shows the closed position, in which the screw 12a is rotated through 900 relative to the open WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 12 position. In this rotary position, the stop wings 32a rest against stop faces 46 and 47 which are formed at the ends of said protrusions which are remote from the stop faces 44 and 45 (fig. 12d). 5 As emphasized in fig. 12c, latching notches 48 in which latching lugs which project from- the step faces 35 latch both in the open and in the closed position of the screw 12a, are formed in said inner face of the 10 opening in the base wall 42 of the guide 23c with an angular spacing of 900. Guide faces 49 and 50 which are formed by the guide 23a are emphasized in fig. 12e. The edge faces 33 of the 15 stop wings 32a rest against the guide faces 49, the edge faces 38 of the further wings 37 rest against the guide faces 50. The screw is guided exactly and the open and closed 20 position of the screw 12a is exactly fixed by the described stops. Unintentional release or closing due to the rotary positions in question being overshot is precluded. The situation of the screw 12a reaching the open or closed position can be clearly detected by the 25 latching-in arrangement. The screw 12a is fixed axially in an accurate manner by the stop wings 32a being seated by way of their step faces 36, and therefore the remaining thread parts are guaranteed to engage in one another without problems when the screw is rotated. 30 The screw 12a forms a quick-action closure element which can be moved briefly into a starting position which is close to the closed position by an insertion movement and then can be moved into the closed position 35 merely by further rotation through 900.

WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 12A In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary 5 implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 10 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU

Claims

1. Arrangement for fastening an installation box, in particular a distribution box, in an opening in a wall 5 shell, wherein the installation box abutts, by way of a stop formed on its opening periphery, against the periphery of the wall shell, on the front side of the wall shell, having an anchoring element, which can be pivoted out laterally beyond the box contour and engages behind 10 the wall shell on the opening periphery thereof, and having a pivoting and tensioning mechanism for the anchoring element, this mechanism being accessible from the mounting side of the installation box and comprises a screw, 15 wherein the pivoting and tensioning mechanism has a screw, which can be introduced into a slot in the anchoring element and has at least one flattened portion in cross section, and devices for the direct manual pivoting of the anchoring element, with the flattened screw being movable 20 relative to the slot.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein two flattened portions are formed opposite one another on the screw. 25

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the screw thread cuts into mutually opposite walls of the slot. 30

4. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the provision of devices which are independent of the screw thread and are intended for retaining the anchoring element in its pivoted position. 35

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 14 wherein the retaining devices comprise a slow-acting rotary bearing means for the anchoring element.

6. Arrangement according to claim 4 or claim 5, 5 wherein the retaining devices comprise a latching means for the anchoring element.

7. Arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the retaining devices comprise a clamping holder 10 for the screw introduced into the slot.

8. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the devices for the manual pivoting of the anchoring element comprise a lever arm connected to the 15 anchoring element.

9. Arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the anchoring element forms a two-armed lever with a short lever arm and a long lever arm. 20

10. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the anchoring arrangement comprises a structural unit which comprises the anchoring element and possibly the screw and can be connected to the installation box. 25

11. Arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the structural unit can be connected to the installation box via a carrier element on which the anchoring element is mounted in a pivotable manner. 30

12. Arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the carrier element can be latched in on the installation box in order to be connected thereto. 35

13. Arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 12, 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 15 wherein the retaining devices have a toothing formation which is coaxial withthe pivot axis of the anchoring element and in which a latching element, in particular a latching nose formed on the carrier element, engages. 5

14. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the carrier element forms a covering for a housing which is arranged in the corner of the distribution box and accommodates the anchoring element in the open 10 position.

15. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the underside of the screw head has provided on it a stop which interacts with stops in a hollow-cylindrical 15 screw guide, these latter stops limiting the roatation of the screw.

16. Arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the screw has stop wings which project from the 20 screw shaft in opposite directions.

17. Arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the stop wings merge with the screw head on a side of said stop wings which faces the screw head. 25

18. Arrangement according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the stop wings have edge faces which are guided in the hollow-cylindrical screw guide. 30

19. Arrangement according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the stop wings each have a stepped arrangement on a side of said stop wings which is averted from the screw head. 35

20. Arrangement according to claim 19, 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU WO 2009/097845 PCT/DE2009/000166 - 16 wherein the stop wings are seated on a base wall of the hollow-cylindrical screw guide, which base wall has a passage opening, by way of a step face which is perpendicular or inclined in relation to the screw axis. 5 45400311 (GHMatters) P84562.AU