EP0802585B1 - Cover for the housing of an electrical device, in particular 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 electrical equipment, and it targets more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, those of these electrical appliances which are for domestic use.

This is the case, for example, of multiple socket blocks, whether it’s mobile power strips or whether it’s of fixed multiple outlet 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 easily, quickly and economically vary their "aesthetic", that is to say their external appearance, or, more specifically, that of their case, both with regard to the color of this case as regards its shape and / or the nature of the material which constitutes it.

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

Besides that such a solution implies to intervene expensive on the production lines corresponding, it cannot be easily applied to electrical equipment already existing, except to change it, each time, equally expensive, all or part of the case.

In order to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, the document DE 9314538 U proposes a covering to be brought back on the casing of such an apparatus.

For this purpose, this covering comprises, on the one hand, a recess, which is suitable for an engagement of this housing, and, on the other hand, stop means, which are suitable to intervene with restraint with regard to this case, both in a sense than in the other.

By its mere presence on the switchgear housing electric it equips, the dressing significantly changes the appearance exterior of this case, and, therefore, its aesthetics.

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

The dressing does not influence nothing about the technical characteristics of the switchgear electric that it equips, there is, advantageously, a large freedom in the choice of material likely to be used work for its realization.

The relevant electrical equipment remaining by itself unchanged, the skin can advantageously be attached to electrical equipment already existing, which advantageously opens up the possibility to customers interested in fitting this dressing themselves such electrical equipment, or to change as desired dressing, depending for example on the environment in which intervenes the corresponding electrical equipment.

Compared to the aforementioned prior art takes further advantage of such a skin, by conferring not only an aesthetic function, but also a technical function.

According to the corresponding development of the invention, the covering according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 1.

So the possibly excess length of this cord in use can advantageously be stored, and hidden, in this accommodation, for the benefit of a lesser influence over the surrounding environment.

But this can also be the case when, for example example, some impact protection is sought.

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

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

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 covering according to 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, application of the invention in the case where the apparatus electric 10 to be equipped is a power strip, and, more precisely, a mobile multi-socket block permanently equipped a cord 11 suitable for servicing them.

Such electrical equipment 10 is well known by itself, and not specifically falling under this invention, it will not be described in full detail here.

It will suffice to indicate that it includes a box 12, which has, on the surface, a plurality of socket-outlets current 13 each intervening at the bottom of a well 14, and to which the cord 11 is connected.

In the embodiments shown or schematically, the housing 12 has, externally, a shape generally globally parallelepipedic, and it is formed of two parts, namely an upper part 12A, on which intervene the socket outlets 13, and a part lower 12B.

In the embodiments more particularly shown or shown schematically in Figures 1 to 8, this housing 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 at its favor that is done the relative interlocking with respect to the other of the two parts 12A, 12B constituting this case 12.

In the embodiment shown schematically in lines interrupted 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 presents, at 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 at the favor of which intervene the screws ensuring the assembly to each other of the two parts 12A, 12B of the housing 12.

In the embodiments shown, four screwing excavations 16 are thus planned, at a rate of two near each of the transverse ends of the case 12, and, to form studs 17 projecting from the surface bottom of the housing 12, each of them is surrounded by a bead at its outlet.

According to the invention, it is associated with the apparatus electric 10, a casing 18, which is to be reported on its housing 12, and which 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, according to methods described in more detail subsequently, stop means 20, which are suitable for intervene in restraint with regard to this case 12, both in a sense than in the other, these two senses being appreciated by relation to the same direction which corresponds in practice overall 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 outline presented in plan by the housing 12 of electrical equipment 10 disregarding its possible bead 15.

In practice, this recess 19 opens on the surface by a outlet 22, which is suitable for giving access to the apparatus electric 10 and, more specifically, in this case, to the bases of socket 13 which it comprises, and which, in the forms of shown, extends generally in one plane.

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

More specifically, 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, which is generally trunk-pyramidal in practice, and a straight section 23B, which is the section lower, and which, of lower 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 extends the recess 19.

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 embodiments shown, at least one notch 25, for the passage of the cord 11 of the electrical equipment 10.

In practice, only one notch 25 is provided, and, at the like the cord 11, it acts on one of the sides of narrower width of the straight section 23B of the skirt 23, in the middle area on this side.

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

In practice, there are several legs elastically deformable 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, as shown, and, to cooperate in restraint with the bead 15 in either direction, these legs elastically deformable 26 all have transversely, on the same level, two notches 27A, 27B, which, turned towards each other, form for each side a groove 28 by which they are all able to come engaged with this bead 15.

In practice, too, these legs elastically deformable 26 extend freely at the edge of the recess 19, from 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 furthest from this outlet 22, is preceded by an oblique chamfer 29.

In the embodiments shown, the height H1 of the elastically deformable legs 26 to be counted of outlet 22 of recess 19 is less than the height H2 of the skirt 23 from this same outlet 22, and this height H2 is itself at least equal to the height H3 of the box 12 of the electrical equipment 10 between its surfaces upper and lower, preferably being slightly higher than this height H3, Figure 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 legs elastically deformable 26.

The engagement of the housing 12 of the apparatus electric 10 in this recess 19 is therefore done from the bottom, that is to say on the side of the straight section 23B of the skirt 23, along arrow F1 in Figure 2.

As is easy to understand, this commitment is facilitated by the oblique chamfers 29 which this effect the elastically deformable legs 26, and it temporarily involves elastic deformation of these latest.

By construction, it is made 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 covering 18, with its bead 15 in engagement with the groove 28 of the legs elastically deformable 26 of it, it outcrops with the outlet 22 of this recess 19 by the upper surface of its part upper 12A, however that the lower surface of its lower part 12B is slightly set back by relative to the edge formed by the skirt 23 at its base.

Thus, in the embodiments shown on 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 next 18 skin the invention is thus in place on the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10, everything happens as if this covering 18 was part of this case 12.

It also results from the flaring 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 elastically deformable tabs 26, a housing 30.

According to a development of the invention, it is drawn take advantage of this accommodation 30 to ensure the reception of a part at least the cord 11 of the electrical equipment 10, by winding of it around the recess 19, and, therefore, around the housing 12 of this electrical equipment 10, such as shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 5 and as shown in solid line in Figure 7.

As a corollary, the covering 18 according to the invention then comprises, for the retention of this cord 11, means holding 32 suitable for closing, at least partially, on request, housing 30.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in Figures 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 thereof, over at least part of the distance corresponding.

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 housing 12 of the apparatus electric 10.

As a corollary, in this embodiment, the holding means 32 formed by these bars 33 include fitting means 34 suitable for enabling secure them to the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10.

In practice, these means of fitting 34 are made up of two studs 35 that each of the bars 33 has a protruding distance from each other to cooperate with the two corresponding screwing excavations 16 of the box 12 of the electrical equipment 10.

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

They then extend cantilevered relative to this one.

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

On the contrary, they can stay away from one and / or the other of these edges, provided that the possible space correspondent is not enough to let the cord 11 of the electrical equipment 10.

In the embodiment shown in the figure 8, the holding means 32 are in one piece with the skirt 23, being permanently linked to it.

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

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

By pivoting around this area of least thickness 36, and as shown by an arrow F3 for one of them in figure 8, they can go from one open position, of the type shown on the right part of this figure 8, at a position of closure, for which, as shown on the part of left of figure 8, they are applied on the box 12 of the electrical equipment 10.

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

It goes without saying that, according to an alternative 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 legs elastically deformable 26 advantageously facilitates removal of the covering 18 according to the invention when this removal proves necessary, that this removal be done using a common tool, such as for example the blade of a screwdriver, or make it more simple by hand.

In the embodiment shown in the figure 9, the abutment 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 schematically in this figure 9, this housing 12 is in does not have such a bead 15.

In the embodiment shown, these means stop have a notch 27'A, which, at least locally, protrudes 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 on the volume inside of this recess 19.

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

Jointly, the stop means 20 comprise, in in addition, 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 means holding 32 are formed by a base 38 capable of closing the skirt 23 completely, at the base thereof.

To do this, these holding means 32 comprise fitting means 39 suitable for enabling them to be report on this skirt 23.

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

Jointly, the skirt 23, and more precisely the straight section 23B thereof, present, annularly, in hollow on its inner surface, a groove 42, which is complementary to the bead constituting the means 39 associated socket, 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 restraint, in a sense, of the housing 12 of the electrical equipment 10, however that restraint of it 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 apparatus electric 10.

In the embodiment shown, this base 38 presents, locally, on the one hand, hollow on its surface upper, in correspondence with the studs 17 of the housing 12 electrical equipment 10, clearances 43 allowing these pads 17 to be received without interfering with them, and, on the other hand, projecting from its lower surface, 17 'studs, which, in a way, replace the 17 studs precedents.

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

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

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

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

Furthermore, instead of being fully engaged in the covering according to the invention, this case can just as easily much more or less overflowing with this covering, both in its part higher than its lower part.

Finally, when, between this covering and this case, a engagement is made between a bead and notches, the bead can just as easily belong to the covering and the notches in the case, unlike the more particularly described and shown.

Claims (23)

1. Cover for a casing (12) of an electrical appliance (10) comprising a recess (19) capable of engaging with said casing (12) and abutment means (20) capable of retaining said casing (12) in both directions, characterized in that internally, the cover at least locally forms a housing (30) around its recess (19) for receiving at least a portion of any cable (11) serving the electrical appliance in question (10).
2. Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (30) extends completely around said recess (19).
3. Cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that since its recess (19) opens at the surface via an orifice (22to provide access to the electrical appliance in question (10), it comprises at its periphery a skirt (23) which overall, flares out from said orifice (22).
4. Cover according to claim 3, characterized in that said skirt (23) comprises, in succession from said orifice (22), an oblique section (23A) then a vertical section (23B).
5. Cover according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the skirt (23) locally comprises at its base at least one notch (25) for passage of the cable (11), optionally serving the electrical appliance (10) in question.
6. Cover according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that it comprises holding means (32) which can at least partially close the housing (30) on demand.
7. Cover according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise fitting means (34) that allow them to be fixed to the casing (12) of the electrical appliance (10) in question.
8. Cover according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise fitting means (39) that enable then to be applied to the skirt (23).
9. Cover according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding means (32) are formed as a single piece with the skirt (23) and are permanently articulated thereon.
10. Cover according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise at least one strip (33) that can extend transversely between two opposed edges of the skirt (23) at the base thereof over at least a portion of the corresponding distance.
11. Cover according to claim 10, characterized in that the strip (33) is divided into two half-strips (33') each respectively associated with the two opposed edges of the skirt (23).
12. Cover according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that the holding means (32) comprise two strips (33) which extend parallel to each other at a distance from each other.
13. Cover according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the holding means (32) are formed by a base (38) that can completely close the skirt (23) at the base thereof.
14. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises abutment means (20) that can cooperate with a bead (15) extending at least locally and projecting from the periphery of the casing (12) of the electrical appliance in question.
15. Cover according to claim 14, characterized in that the abutment means (20) comprise at least one elastically deformable tab (26) having at least one transverse notch (27A, 27B) to retain the bead (15) of the casing (12) of the electrical appliance in question (10) in at least one direction.
16. Cover according to claim 15, characterized in that in order to cooperate in both directions with the bead (15) of the casing (12) of the electrical appliance in question (10), the elastically deformable tab (26) has two transverse notches (27A, 27B) which are turned towards each other to form the flanks of a groove (28) via which it can come into contact with said bead (15).
17. Cover according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterized in that, since its recess (19) opens at the surface via an orifice (22) to provide access to the electrical appliance in question, the elastically deformable tab (26) extends freely at the edge of said recess (19) from said orifice (22).
18. Cover according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that a plurality of elastically deformable tabs (16) are distributed about said recess (19).
19. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the abutment means (20) comprise a notch (27'A) which, at least locally, projects towards the interior of said recess (19).
20. Cover according to claim 19, characterized in that, since its recess (19) opens at the surface via an orifice (22) to provide access to the electrical appliance in question, the notch (27'A) forms part of a lip (37) which at said orifice (22) goes over into the inner volume of said recess (19).
21. Cover according to claim 19, characterized in that the lip (37) extends completely around the orifice (22) of the recess (19).
22. Cover according to claims 8 to 19, taken in combination, characterized in that the abutment means (20) comprise a shoulder (27'B) forming part of the holding means (32).
23. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that it is at least partially formed from an elastic material.

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