EP0802585A1 - Cover for the housing of an electrical device, and in particular its use for multi-socket outlets - Google Patents

Abstract

The cover (18) which is fitted over the housing (12) of the sockets (13) recessed into cylindrical wells (14), has a central aperture (19) which engages the housing, and abutments (20) with elastically deformable tabs (26) featuring catches (27A,27B) which cooperate with a flange (15) around it. The catches face each other so as to form the walls of a groove (28) into which the flange enters when the cover is applied. Engagement is facilitated by oblique chamfers (29) on the ends of the tabs.

Description

The present invention relates generally to electrical equipment, and it relates more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to those of these electrical equipment which are for household use.

This is the case, for example, of multi-socket blocks, whether they are mobile multi-socket blocks or whether they are fixed multi-socket blocks.

To follow, or attract, interested customers, and thus meet market requirements, it is desirable, for the manufacturer of these electrical devices, to be able to vary easily, quickly and economically, their "aesthetics", that is to say -to say their external appearance, or, more precisely, that of their casing, both with regard to the color of this casing and with regard to its shape and / or the nature of the material which constitutes it.

Most commonly, to date, it is proposed to do this, to change all or part of such a housing, for example by intervening on its bottom and / or on its cover.

Besides that such a solution implies to intervene in an expensive way on the corresponding manufacturing lines, it cannot easily be applied to the already existing electrical apparatuses, except to change them, each time, in an equally expensive way, all or part of the housing.

The present invention generally relates to an arrangement which, while making it possible to modify the aesthetics of an electrical appliance in a simple and satisfactory manner, avoids these drawbacks and also leads to other advantages.

More specifically, it relates to a covering to be attached to the housing of such electrical equipment, this covering being in this respect generally characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, a recess, which is suitable for at least partial engagement of this housing, and, on the other hand, according to very different possible embodiments, stop means, which are suitable for intervening in restraint with regard to this box, both in one direction and in the other, to prevent it from untimely dissociating from this covering.

By its mere presence on the casing of the electrical apparatus which it equips, the casing according to the invention modifies, as desired, significantly, the external appearance of this casing, and, therefore, its aesthetics.

As a corollary, the technical characteristics of this electrical apparatus, and, in particular, its electrical insulation, its resistance to fire, and its other safety characteristics, are fully preserved, the presence of the covering having no effect on them.

Since the covering according to the invention does not in any way affect the technical characteristics of the electrical apparatus which it equips, there is advantageously great freedom in the choice of the material capable of being used for its production.

There is also great freedom in the choice of its own shape as well as that of its color, which, with the same basic electrical equipment, advantageously opens the possibility of offering customers a very wide range of equipment externally distinct electrics but of which only differs in practice only the covering, for the benefit of minimizing the costs of the whole.

In addition, the covering according to the invention having in practice internally only a simple shape, limited to that of the recess which is necessary for it to receive the casing of the electrical apparatus to be fitted, it is advantageously capable of economical manufacturing, this manufacturing being able for example to be done by injection using a particularly simple mold, and it is thus advantageously recoverable from a manufacturing in small series allowing to follow at best, and quickly, the requirements of the market .

Finally, the electrical equipment concerned remaining unchanged by itself, the covering according to the invention can advantageously be attached to an already existing electrical appliance, which advantageously opens the possibility for interested customers to equip themselves with this covering such an electrical appliance, or to change this covering as desired, depending for example on the environment in which the corresponding electrical equipment operates.

According to a development of the invention, an additional advantage can be taken of such a covering, by conferring on it not only an aesthetic function, but also a technical function.

This may be the case, for example, when the electrical equipment concerned is permanently fitted with a cord ensuring its service.

According to the corresponding development of the invention, the covering according to the invention is further characterized in that, internally, it forms, at least locally, around its recess, a housing suitable for receiving at least a portion of this possible cord.

Thus, the possibly excess length of this cord in use can advantageously be stored, and hidden, in this housing, for the benefit of a lesser grip on the ambient environment.

But this can also be the case when, for example, a certain protection against impacts is sought.

According to the corresponding development of the invention, the covering according to the invention is further characterized in that it is at least partly made of elastic material, of the rubber type for example.

It is thus advantageously able to absorb certain shocks by itself.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareillage électrique équipé d'un habillage suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée de cet appareillage électrique et de cet habillage ;
• la figure 3 en est une vue de dessous, suivant la flèche III de la figure 1, pour un déroulement complet du cordon assurant la desserte de l'appareillage électrique ;
• la figure 4 est, à échelle supérieure, et suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 2, une vue en coupe transversale de l'habillage suivant l'invention, représenté isolément ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale analogue à celle de la figure 4, pour une variante de réalisation ;
• la figure 6 est, à échelle différente, une vue en perspective d'une des barrettes de maintien mises en oeuvre dans cette variante de réalisation ;
• la figure 7 est, en corrélation avec celle de la figure 3, et à la même échelle que celle de celle-ci, une vue de dessous de cette variante de réalisation illustrant le rangement total ou partiel qu'elle permet pour le cordon assurant la desserte de l'appareillage électrique concerné, avant la mise en place des barrettes de maintien correspondantes ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe transversale analogue à celle de la figure 5, pour une variante de réalisation ;
• la figure 9 est une autre vue en coupe transversale analogue à celle de la figure 5, pour une autre variante de réalisation.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical apparatus equipped with a following covering the invention;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of this electrical equipment and this covering;
• Figure 3 is a bottom view, along arrow III of Figure 1, for a complete unwinding of the cord ensuring the service of electrical equipment;
• Figure 4 is, on a larger scale, and along the line IV-IV of Figure 2, a cross-sectional view of the covering according to the invention, shown in isolation;
• Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 4, for an alternative embodiment;
• Figure 6 is, on a different scale, a perspective view of one of the holding bars used in this alternative embodiment;
• Figure 7 is, in correlation with that of Figure 3, and on the same scale as that thereof, a bottom view of this alternative embodiment illustrating the total or partial storage it allows for the cord ensuring the service of the electrical equipment concerned, before the installation of the corresponding retaining bars;
• Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 5, for an alternative embodiment;
• Figure 9 is another cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 5, for another alternative embodiment.

These figures illustrate, by way of example, the application of the invention in the case where the electrical equipment 10 to be fitted is a multiple socket block, and, more precisely, a mobile multiple socket block permanently equipped with a clean cord 11 to provide service.

Such an electrical apparatus 10 being well known in itself, and not belonging specifically to the present invention, it will not be described in all its details here.

It will suffice to indicate that it comprises a housing 12, which has, on the surface, a plurality of socket outlets 13 each acting at the bottom of a well 14, and to which the cord 11 is connected.

In the embodiments shown or shown diagrammatically, the housing 12 has, on the outside, a generally generally parallelepiped shape, and it is formed of two parts, namely an upper part 12A, on which the socket outlets 13 operate, and a lower part 12B.

In the embodiments more particularly shown or shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 to 8, this box 12 comprises, at least locally, projecting, at its periphery, a bead 15.

In practice, this bead 15 extends annularly all around the periphery of the housing 12, and it is to its advantage that the two parts 12A, 12B making up relative to each other are made. this box 12.

In the embodiment shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 9, the housing 12 is devoid of any bead at its periphery.

Anyway, in the embodiments shown or shown schematically, the housing 12 has, on its back, that is to say hollow on its lower surface, and, more precisely, on the lower surface of its lower part 12B, a plurality of excavations 16, in the form of a well.

These are, for example, screwing excavations by means of which the screws ensure the assembly of the two parts 12A, 12B of the housing 12 to each other.

In the embodiments shown, four screwing excavations 16 are thus provided, two in the vicinity of each of the transverse ends of the housing 12, and, to form studs 17 projecting from the lower surface of the housing 12, each of 'they are surrounded by a bead at its outlet.

According to the invention, it is associated with the electrical equipment 10, a covering 18, which is to be attached to its housing 12, and which comprises, on the one hand, a recess 19, which is suitable for at least partial engagement of this box 12, and, on the other hand, according to methods described in more detail later, abutment means 20, which are capable of acting as a restraint with respect to this housing 12, both in one direction and in the other, these two meaning being appreciated with respect to the same direction which in general corresponds to the direction in which the housing 12 can be engaged in the recess 19 of the covering 18.

In the embodiments shown, the recess 19 of the covering 18 has, in plan, a closed contour complementary to the contour that presents in plan the housing 12 of the electrical apparatus 10 apart from its possible bead 15.

In practice, this recess 19 opens on the surface by an outlet 22, which is suitable for giving access to the electrical equipment 10 and, more specifically, in this case, to the socket outlets 13 which it comprises, and which , in the embodiments shown, extends generally in one plane.

In the embodiments shown, the covering 18 comprises, peripherally, a skirt 23, which generally flares from the outlet 22 of its recess 19, and, for the most part, it is reduced to this skirt 23 .

More precisely, in these embodiments, the covering 18 comprises, successively, from the outlet 22 of the recess 19, an oblique section 23A, which is the upper section, and which in practice is generally trunk-pyramidal, and a straight section 23B, which is the lower section, and which, of lesser height than the oblique section 23A, is in practice generally cylindrical.

In practice, the edge of the skirt 23, that is to say the lower edge of its straight section 23B, extends in a plane, parallel to that in which the outlet 22 of the recess 19 extends.

At its base, that is to say on the side opposite the outlet 22 of the recess 19, and, therefore, at the base of its straight section 23B, the skirt 23 has, locally, on its edge, in the forms of embodiment shown, at least one notch 25, for the passage of the cord 11 of the electrical equipment 10.

In practice, a single notch 25 is provided, and, in the manner of the cord 11, it acts on one of the narrower sides of the straight section 23B of the skirt 23, in the median zone on this side.

In the embodiments more particularly shown in Figures 1 to 8, the stop means 20 involve the bead 15 of the housing 12 of the electrical apparatus 10, and they comprise, for this purpose, at least one elastically deformable tab 26 having, transversely, to cooperate in retention with this bead 15 in at least one direction, at least one notch 27A, 27B.

In practice, there are several elastically deformable legs 26 distributed from place to place all around the recess 19, for example, two along each of the two longer sides of this recess 19, such that shown, and, to cooperate in retention with the bead 15 in both directions, these elastically deformable tabs 26 all have, transversely, at the same level, two notches 27A, 27B, which, turned one towards each other, each forms the sides of a groove 28 by which they are all able to come into engagement with this bead 15.

In practice, too, these elastically deformable tabs 26 extend freely at the edge of the recess 19, from the outlet 22 thereof, and substantially perpendicular to the plane in which this outlet 22 extends.

Their notches 27A, 27B are also generally parallel to this plane.

Preferably, and as shown, the notch 27B, which is the one farthest from this outlet 22, is preceded by an oblique chamfer 29.

In the embodiments shown, the height H1 of the elastically deformable tabs 26 from the outlet 22 of the recess 19 is less than the height H2 of the skirt 23 from this same outlet 22, and this height H2 is itself even at least equal to the height H3 of the box 12 of the electrical apparatus 10 between its upper and lower surfaces, preferably being slightly greater than this height H3, FIG. 4.

It follows from the above that the recess 19 of the covering 18 according to the invention is delimited, laterally, from place to place, by the elastically deformable tabs 26.

The engagement of the housing 12 of the electrical apparatus 10 in this recess 19 is therefore made from the bottom, that is to say on the side of the straight section 23B of the skirt 23, according to the arrow F1 in FIG. 2.

As is easy to understand, this engagement is facilitated by the oblique chamfers 29 which for this purpose have the elastically deformable tabs 26, and it temporarily involves an elastic deformation of the latter.

By construction, it is ensured, in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8, that when the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10 is in place in the recess 19 of the casing 18, with its bead 15 in engagement with the groove 28 of the elastically deformable tabs 26 thereof, it is flush with the opening 22 of this recess 19 by the upper surface of its upper part 12A, while the lower surface of its lower part 12B is slightly set back from the edge formed by the skirt 23.

Thus, in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8, the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10 is fully engaged, and more precisely embedded, in the recess 19 of the covering 18 according to the invention, in being sort of hanging inside of it.

Anyway, when the covering 18 according to the invention is thus in place on the box 12 of the electrical equipment 10, everything happens as if this covering 18 formed part of this box 12.

It also results from the widening of the skirt 23 of the covering 18 according to the invention, that, internally, this covering 18 forms, at least locally, around its recess 19, and, in practice, all around it, beyond the elastically deformable tabs 26, a housing 30.

According to a development of the invention, advantage is taken of this housing 30 to ensure the reception of at least part of the cord 11 of the electrical equipment 10, by winding it around the recess 19, and , therefore, around the box 12 of this electrical apparatus 10, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 5 and as shown in solid line in FIG. 7.

As a corollary, the covering 18 according to the invention then comprises, for the retention of this cord 11, holding means 32 capable of making it possible to close, at least partially, on demand, the housing 30.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, these holding means 32 comprise at least one bar 33 able to extend, transversely, between two opposite edges of the skirt 23, at the base of the latter , over at least part of the corresponding distance.

In practice, two bars 33 are provided, parallel to each other, and at a distance from each other, at the rate of one per end of the box 12 of the electrical equipment 10.

As a corollary, in this embodiment, the holding means 32 that constitute these bars 33 comprise fitting means 34 suitable for allowing them to be secured to the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10.

In practice, these interlocking means 34 consist of two studs 35 that each of the bars 33 projects at a distance from one another to cooperate with the two corresponding screwing excavations 16 of the housing 12 of the electrical equipment. 10.

As shown schematically in broken lines for one of them in FIG. 5, the bars 33 can thus be attached to this housing 12, according to arrow F2 in this FIG. 5.

They then extend cantilevered relative thereto.

As is easy to understand, it is therefore not necessary that they extend over the entire distance separating from one another the two edges concerned of the skirt 23 of the covering 18.

On the contrary, they can remain at a distance from one and / or the other of these edges, provided that the corresponding corresponding space is not sufficient to allow the cord 11 of the electrical equipment 10 to escape.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the holding means 32 are in one piece with the skirt 23, being permanently hinged thereto.

These are, for example, two bars 33, which, as before, extend parallel to one another, and at a distance from each other, but, in the embodiment shown, each of these bars 33 is divided into two half-bars 33 'each associated respectively with the two opposite opposite edges concerned of the skirt 23.

In practice, the half-bars 33 ′ thus used are connected to the edge which the skirt 23 has at its base by a zone of lesser thickness 36 forming a hinge.

By pivoting around this area of reduced thickness 36, and as shown diagrammatically by an arrow F3 for one of them in FIG. 8, they can pass from an open position, of the type shown in the part on the right of this FIG. 8, in a closed position, for which, as shown on the left-hand part of FIG. 8, they are applied to the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10.

As before, the holding means 32 thus formed comprise fitting means 34 formed of studs 35 suitable for securing them to the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10 by engagement in the corresponding screwing excavations 16 thereof.

It goes without saying that, according to a variant embodiment not shown, it can be substituted for the half-bars 33 ′ flaps extending over the entire length of the skirt 23.

In all cases, the oblique chamfer 29 of the elastically deformable tabs 26 advantageously facilitates the removal of the covering 18 according to the invention when this removal proves to be necessary, whether this removal is done using a standard tool, such as for example the blade of a screwdriver, or that it is done more simply by hand.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the stop means 20 provided for retaining the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10 relative to the covering 18 according to the invention do not cooperate with the bead 15 of this housing 12 and are therefore particularly suitable for the case where, as shown diagrammatically in this FIG. 9, this box 12 is in fact devoid of such a bead 15.

In the embodiment shown, these abutment means comprise a notch 27'A, which, at least locally, projects towards the inside of the recess 19.

In practice, this notch 27'A belongs to a lip 37 which, at the outlet 22 of the recess 19, bites onto the interior volume of this recess 19.

Preferably, and as shown, this lip 37 extends continuously all around the outlet 22 of the recess 19.

Together, the stop means 20 further comprise, on the opposite side of the skirt 23, a shoulder 27'B which belongs to the associated holding means 32.

In the embodiment shown, these holding means 32 are formed by a base 38 capable of completely closing the skirt 23, at the base thereof.

To do this, these holding means 32 comprise fitting means 39 suitable for allowing them to be attached to this skirt 23.

In practice, these interlocking means 39 are constituted by a bead that has annularly projecting outwardly a flange 40 of the base 38.

Jointly, the skirt 23, and more precisely the straight section 23B thereof, has, annularly, in hollow on its inner surface, a groove 42, which is complementary to the bead constituting the fitting means 39 associated, and with which this bead is able to cooperate in engagement by simple snap-fastening.

When the base 38 is snapped onto the skirt 23, it jointly ensures, on the one hand, the retention, in one direction, of the box 12 of the electrical apparatus 10, while the retention of the latter in the opposite direction is jointly provided by the notch 27'A formed by the lip 37, and, on the other hand, the retention of the cord 11 of this electrical equipment 10.

In the embodiment shown, this base 38 has, locally, on the one hand, recessed on its upper surface, in correspondence with the pads 17 of the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10, clearances 43 allowing it to receive these pads 17 without interfering with them, and, on the other hand, projecting on its lower surface, pads 17 ', which, in a way, replace the previous pads 17.

If desired, the base 38 can also include, at its periphery, one or more notches, not shown, making it possible to insert between it and the covering 18 a common tool, for example the blade of a screwdriver, to facilitate its removal, that is to say its separation from the covering 18, when this removal is necessary.

The present invention is moreover not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant embodiment and / or combination of their various elements.

For example, in the case where protection against shocks is sought, the covering according to the invention can be at least partly made of elastic material.

In addition, the assembly of the two constituent parts of the housing of the electrical equipment concerned is not necessarily done by screwing, but can on the contrary be done just as well by another technique, and, for example, by welding or snap-fastening.

Furthermore, instead of being fully engaged in the covering according to the invention, this box can just as much extend beyond this covering, both at its upper part and at its lower part.

Finally, when, between this covering and this housing, a commitment is made between a bead and notches, the bead can just as easily belong to the covering and the notches to the housing, unlike the arrangement more particularly described and represented.

Claims (24)

Cover to be attached to the housing (12) of an electrical apparatus (10), characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, a recess (19), which is suitable for at least partial engagement of this housing ( 12), and, on the other hand, stop means (20), which are capable of acting as a restraint with respect to this housing (12), both in one direction and in the other. Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, internally, it forms, at least locally, around its recess (19), a housing (30) suitable for receiving at least part of a possible cord (11 ) providing service to the electrical equipment (10) concerned. Cover according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing (30) extends all around the recess (19). Covering according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, its recess (19) opening on the surface by an outlet (22) suitable for giving access to the electrical equipment (10) concerned, it comprises, peripherally, a skirt (23), which generally flares out from this outlet (22). Dressing according to claim 4, characterized in that said skirt (23) comprises, successively, from said outlet (22), an oblique section (23A) then a straight section (23B). Cover according to any one of claims 4, 5, characterized in that the skirt (23) has, locally, at its base, at least one notch (25) for the passage of the cord (11) possibly serving the electrical equipment (10) concerned. Covering according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it comprises holding means (32) suitable for enabling the housing (30) to be closed, at least partially, on demand. Cladding according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise fitting means (34) suitable for allowing them to be secured to the housing (12) of the electrical equipment (10) concerned. Dressing according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise fitting means (39) suitable for allowing them to be attached to the skirt (23). Dressing according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding means (32) are integral with the skirt (23), being permanently articulated thereto. Covering according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise at least one bar (33) capable of extending, transversely, between two opposite edges of the skirt (23), at the base of it, over at least part of the corresponding distance. Covering according to claim 11, characterized in that the bar (33) is divided into two half-bars (33 ') each associated respectively with the two opposite opposite edges of the skirt (23). Cover according to any one of claims 11, 12, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise two bars (33) which extend parallel to one another, at a distance from one other. Covering according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the holding means (32) are formed by a base (38) capable of completely closing the skirt (23), at the base thereof. Covering according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the housing (12) of the electrical equipment (10) concerned comprising, at least locally, projecting, at its periphery, a bead (15), stop means (20) involve this bead (15). Cover according to claim 15, characterized in that the stop means (20) comprise at least one elastically deformable tab (26) having transversely at least one notch (27A, 27B) for cooperating in retention with the bead (15) of the housing (12) of the electrical equipment (10) concerned in at least one direction. Cover according to claim 16, characterized in that, in order to cooperate in one and the other direction with the bead (15) of the housing (12) of the electrical equipment (10) concerned, the elastically deformable tab (26) has, transversely, two notches (27A, 27B), which, facing one another, form the sides of a groove (28) by which it is able to come into engagement with this bead (15). Covering according to any one of claims 16, 17, characterized in that, its recess (19) opening on the surface by an outlet (22) suitable for giving access to the electrical equipment (10) concerned, the elastically deformable tab ( 26) extends freely at the edge of this recess (19) from this outlet (22). Cover according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that there are several elastically deformable tabs (26) distributed from place to place around the recess (19). Cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the stop means (20) comprise a notch (27'A) which, at least locally, projects towards the inside of the recess (19) . Covering according to claim 20, characterized in that, its recess (19) opening on the surface on an outlet (22) suitable for giving access to the electrical equipment (10) concerned, the notch (27'A) belongs to a lip (37) which, at said outlet (22), bites onto the interior volume of this recess (19). Dressing according to claim 20, characterized in that the lip (37) extends all around the opening (22) of the recess (19). Dressing according to claims 9 and 20, taken together, characterized in that the stop means (20) have a shoulder (27'B) which belongs to the holding means (32). Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that it is at least partly made of elastic material.

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