FR2718524A1 - Anti-shock housing especially for portable measuring device. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anti-shock housing, in particular for a portable measuring device. The housing is characterized in that its bottom wall (3) comprises a cutout (4) defining a wall portion (5) hinged to the housing (1) and which can be released from the cutout (4) outside the housing. (1) and brought to at least one determined angular position relative to the bottom wall (3) so as to form a crutch (7, 8) making it possible to support the measuring device incorporated in the housing (1) at an inclined position on a support plane. The invention finds application for so-called multimeter measuring devices.

Description

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  The present invention relates to a shock-proof casing

  especially for portable measuring device.

  Such shock-proof housings are known which each comprise at their rear or back side a stand enabling the measuring device housed in the shock-proof casing to be placed at a position inclined on a support plane so as to facilitate the reading of values displayed by the meter. However, the support stand consists of an insert on the rear side of the shock-proof casing, which requires an additional piece for each set.

  consisting of the shock-proof housing and the measuring device.

  The present invention proposes an anti-shock box arranged so as to ensure itself the establishment of the measuring apparatus on a support plane or to maintain it at a determined position, preferably

  perpendicular, relative to a support plane.

  For this purpose, the shockproof casing for a portable measuring device is characterized in that the bottom wall of the casing comprises a cutout defining a wall portion articulated to the casing that can be disengaged from the cutout outside the casing and brought or at least one predetermined angular position relative to the bottom wall so as to form a stand for supporting the measuring apparatus at a position inclined on a support plane, or at a position substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the to form a tab that can be arranged on a support plane to maintain the measuring device at a position substantially

perpendicular to the support plane.

  Preferably, the articulated wall portion extends longitudinally over substantially the entire length of the

bottom wall of the housing.

  Advantageously, the articulated wall portion comprises two elements connected together by a substantially median hinge hinge for folding the two wall elements towards one another when the

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  articulated wall portion is disengaged from the cut-out until the hinged wall element is brought to the housing at the aforesaid determined angular position at which this wall element is held by the other wall element whose free end is removably locked; at the bottom wall of the

  housing by locking means.

  The hinge connecting the aforesaid wall portion to the upper portion of the housing acts resiliently on the wall portion in a direction tending to bias it toward the wall of the housing.

bottom of the case.

  The hinged wall portion may comprise transverse ridges formed on the inner face thereof or suction members attached thereto and preventing the wall portion from slipping on the support plane when used as a holding lug of the wall. 'apparatus

measurement.

  Preferably, the aforementioned locking means comprise two lateral pins integral with the free end of the other aforementioned wall element and respectively engaging in two receiving cavities formed in the bottom wall of the housing at the opposite edges of the housing. the cutout and each coming to bear on a stop wall of the corresponding receiving cavity which opens towards the rear wall of the measuring apparatus so that the aforementioned articulation elastically bears on the one hand the lugs on the walls of the respective abutment and secondly the free end of the other wall element

  on the rear wall of the measuring device.

  The hinged wall portion also comprises, at its end opposite the hinge, a beak snapping resiliently into a locking orifice formed in the lower part of the housing so as to maintain the hinged wall portion in the cutout and thus form the wall

bottom of the case.

  The hinged wall portion further comprises, integral with its outer or dorsal face, a head arranged to removably fix two probes for measuring

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  the measuring apparatus is in an inactive storage position, or at a position in which the two measuring probes of the probes protrude longitudinally from the housing by being spaced from each other by a distance enabling them to be driven into the socket outlets. The shock-proof housing is made of a moldable elastomeric material and the wall portion and its articulation to the housing, its lateral lugs, its locking nose and its probe fixing head are made

  in one piece by molding with the housing.

  The invention will be better understood and other purposes, features, details and advantages thereof

  will appear more clearly in the explanatory description

  which will follow with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating an embodiment of the invention and in which: - Figure 1 is a rear view of the shock-proof housing according to the invention;

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line II-

  II of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a partial sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 1; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the overturned housing so as to bring out the articulated bottom wall portion forming a stand; - Figure 5 is a side view showing the measuring apparatus and shock-proof housing in inclined position on a support plane by the stand; Fig. 6 is a view showing the use of the hinged bottom wall portion for holding the meter in a substantially vertical position; and FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to that of FIG. 1 where the measurement probes of the apparatus are respectively in active measurement and inactive positions

  row on the back side of the shock-proof case.

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  Referring to the figures, the reference numeral 1 denotes an impact-resistant casing made of a moldable elastomeric material into which a measuring apparatus 2 can be fitted, such as

represented in FIGS. 4 to 6.

  The bottom wall 3 of the housing 1 comprises a longitudinal cut 4 extending over substantially the entire length of the housing and defining a wall portion 5 which, in the inactive position, is housed in the cutout 4 so as to form with the wall 3 the entire wall of the bottom of the housing 1. The wall portion 5 is connected to the upper part of the housing 1 by a transverse joint 6 made in one piece by molding with the wall portion 5 and the housing 1. The hinge 6 is performed so as to exert a restoring force of the wall portion 5 in the cutout 4 and, more precisely, on the rear wall 2a of the measuring apparatus 2 housed in the casing 1, this rear wall 2a thus serving as means for supporting the articulated wall portion 5 at its inactive position shown in FIG.

  substantially in the same plane as that of the cutout 4.

  The hinged wall part 5 comprises two wall elements 7 and 8 connected together by a substantially median hinge hinge 9 so as to allow, when the wall portion 5 of the blank 4 is released towards the outside of the case 1 , folding or folding towards one another of the two wall elements 7, 8 to a position shown in particular in Figure 4 to which the wall element 8 connected to the housing 1 by the hinge 6 is maintained at a determined angular position x with respect to the plane of the bottom wall 3 by the other wall element 7 whose free end is removably locked to

  the bottom wall 3 by appropriate locking means.

  As shown, these locking means comprise two lateral pins 10 molded with the wall portion 5 at the free end thereof extending on either side of the portion 5 perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. The two lugs 10 respectively engage

2718524

  in two receiving cavities 11 formed in the bottom wall 3 of the housing 1 at the two opposite edges of the blank 4. The two receiving cavities 11 respectively comprise two abutment walls 12 located in the same plane perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall 3 and against which the two lugs 10 of the wall portion 5 come into abutment in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The two wall elements 7 and 8 thus configured constitute a stand enabling the measure 2 at a position inclined relative to a support plane P so as to allow a user to more easily read the information displayed by the device 2. It should also be noted that the cavities 11 defined in the bottom wall 3 open to the rear wall of the measuring apparatus 2 so that the free end of the wall element 7 is also supported on the rear wall of the apparatus 2. In addition, positions of the elements 7, 8 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the hinge 6 exerts a restoring force tending to maintain the lugs 10 and the free end of the element 7 bearing respectively on the abutment walls

  12 and the rear wall 2a of the apparatus 2.

  The wall portion 5 of the housing 1 can also be used as a holding tab of the measuring apparatus 2 at a substantially vertical position as shown in FIG. 6. It suffices for this purpose to disengage the part 5 from its rest position. in the cutout 4 and rotate it about the hinge 6 to a position substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall 3 of the housing 1 and to lay it on a support plane P1 with the two wall elements 7 and 8 in extension of one another. In this way, the housing 1 is maintained at a position substantially parallel to a bearing plane P2 perpendicular to the plane P1 while bearing on the plane P2 at its lower part. The restoring force exerted by the hinge 6 having a tendency to bring the wall part 5 closer to the casing 1, contributes to keeping the measuring apparatus 2 in the vertical position and to preventing any slippage of the part 5 on the plane P1,

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  streaks (not shown) may be provided on the inner face of the element 7 and / or the element 8 being disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the wall portion 5. It is possible to provide, at the place streaks, suction elements attached to the inner face of the element 7 to perform the same function as

streaks.

  The wall element 7 of the part 5 comprises on its outer face and in the vicinity of its free end a spout 13 integrally molded with the element 7 and can snap elastically into a locking hole 14 by exerting a longitudinal force on the element 7 in the opposite direction to the hinge 6 so as to elastically deform the hinge 9 having in cross section the shape of an inverted U and to bring the end portion 13a of the spout 13, perpendicular to the axis longitudinal section of the part 5, bearing against a transverse edge 14a of the orifice 14 made in

  the lower part of the bottom wall 3 of the housing 1.

  The engagement of the spout 13 in the orifice 14 can be facilitated by an orifice 15 pierced in the wall element 7

  allowing the passage of a finger of a hand.

  The wall portion 5 also comprises, molded therewith, a longitudinal head 16 preferably integral with the wall member 8 projecting from the outer or dorsal surface thereof. The head 16 has a T-shaped cross-section and comprises, beneath the two upper arms of the T, two lateral housings of curvilinear cross-section 17 intended to receive respectively two probes or measuring keys 18 with spikes.

contact 19.

  The two measurement probes 18 can be fixed in their respective housings 17 of the head 16 as shown in FIG. 7, where the two probes 18 have their tips 19 projecting clearly from the upper part of the casing 1 while being parallel to each other. the other of a distance allowing their insertion in the sockets of a socket. So the user can plug in

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  the measuring device directly into power outlets for making voltage measurements without having to separate the two probes 18 of the housing 1, which probes are of course connected to the measuring apparatus by measuring leads (not shown) . The holding of the two probes 18 in the position shown in FIG. 7 is ensured by the elasticity of the two upper branches of the T of the head 16 applying each probe 18 to aligned and spaced notches 20 made respectively on the hinge hinge 9, the wall element 8 and a transverse wall 21 of the housing 1. The axial retention of the probes 18 relative to the wall portion 5 is ensured by their collars 22 partially engaging in a transverse cavity 23 of the housing 1 defined

  between the wall 21 and the hinge 6.

  FIG. 8 shows the two probes 18 held by the fixing head 16 in the inactive position stored at the back of the case 1. For this purpose, the probes 18 are held elastically in abutment by the head 16 on the notches 20 of the FIG. wall 8 with their tips 19 located below the head 16 partially hidden by it and their flanges 22 engaged respectively in two notches

  offset transverse 24 made in the head 16.

  The impact-resistant casing according to the invention therefore makes it possible to ensure itself by its hinged bottom wall part the function of a stand for setting up a measuring device in an inclined position on a support or maintenance plane. this apparatus at a substantially vertical position to which it is held by the wall portion 5 resting on a corresponding support plane. It will also be noted that the shock-proof housing can be hooked by the orifice 15 with the wall elements 7, 8 fixed in alignment above the rear wall 2a of the appliance 2 by the spout 13. Of course, various modifications can be made to the shock-proof casing of the invention. Thus, the bottom wall 3 of the housing 1 may comprise several pairs of cavities 11 for receiving the lugs 10 so as to obtain several angular positions.

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  the stand to position the measuring device 2

  following a desired inclination. The shockproof housing can be applied to any type of measuring device, such as wattmeters, or remote controls for television, Hi-Fi channels, etc.

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Claims (10)

  A shock-proof housing, particularly for a portable measuring device (2), characterized in that the bottom wall (3) of the housing (1) comprises a cutout (4) defining a wall portion (5) hinged to the housing ( 1) being able to be disengaged from the cutout (4) outside the casing (1) and brought to at least one determined angular position relative to the bottom wall (3) so as to form a stand (7, 8) for supporting the measuring apparatus (2) at an inclined position on a supporting plane (P) or at a position substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall (3) so as to form a tab (7, 8) which can disposed on a support plane (P1) to maintain the measuring apparatus (2) at a position substantially   perpendicular to the support plane (P1).   Shockproof casing according to Claim 1, characterized in that the articulated wall portion (5) extends longitudinally for substantially the entire length.   of the bottom wall (3) of the housing (1).   3. impact-resistant housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wall portion (5) above comprises two elements (7, 8) connected together by a substantially central hinge hinge (9) for folding the l to one another the two wall elements (7, 8) when the wall portion (5) is disengaged from the cutout (4) to bring the hinged wall element (8) to the housing (1) at the aforesaid determined angular position at which this wall element (8) is held by the other wall element (7) whose free end is removably locked to the bottom wall (3) of the housing by means of locking.   4. Shockproof case according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the hinge (6) connecting the wall portion (5) to the upper part of the housing (1) 2718524   acts elastically on the part (5) in a direction tending to   bring it back to the bottom wall (3) of the housing (1).   Shock-absorbing casing according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the articulated wall portion (5) comprises transverse striations formed on the inner face thereof and preventing it from sliding on the support plane (P1) above when used as a paw of   holding the measuring device (2).   Shockproof casing according to one of claims 1   at 4, characterized in that the hinged wall portion (5) comprises suction members attached to the inner face thereof to prevent it from slipping on the above-mentioned support plane (P1) when used as a locking tab. retention of the measuring device (2).   Shockproof casing according to one of claims 3   at 6, characterized in that the locking means comprise two lateral lugs (10) integral with the free end of the other wall element (7) mentioned above and engaging respectively in two receiving cavities (11) formed in the bottom wall (3) of the housing at the opposite edges of the above-mentioned cut-out (4) and each bearing on an abutment wall (12) of the corresponding receiving cavity (11) which opens towards the rear wall ( 2a) of the measuring apparatus (2) so that the above-mentioned articulation (6) elastically bears on the one hand the lugs (10) on the respective abutment walls (12) and on the other hand the free end of the other wall element (7) on the rear wall (2a) of the appliance measuring (2).   Shockproof casing according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the articulated wall portion (5) also comprises, at its end opposite the articulation (6), a spout (13) snapping elastically into a locking hole (14) made in the lower part of the housing (1) so as to maintain the hinged wall portion (5) in the cutout (4) and thereby form the bottom wall of the housing (1). 11 2718524   Anti-shock housing according to one of the claims   characterized in that the hinged wall portion (5) further comprises, integral with its outer or dorsal surface, a head (16) arranged to detachably fix two measuring probes (18) of the measuring apparatus. (2) either at an inactive storage position or at a position in which the two measuring probes (19) of the probes (18) protrude longitudinally from the housing (1) while being spaced apart from each other; a distance allowing   their insertion into the sockets of a socket.   10. Housing according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it is made of moldable elastomeric material and in that the wall portion (5), its articulation (6) to the housing (1), the lateral lugs (10), the locking nose (13) and the fixing head (16) of the probes (18) are made in one piece by molding with the housing (1).