FR2769124A1 - HOUSING FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

This is a covering comprising a plate (11), which is intended to be attached from the front on a support (12) forming a housing (13) for the mechanism (14) of the electrical equipment (15). ) concerned, with, in its central opening (16), on the one hand, a central member (18), on which the use of the mechanism (14) depends, and, on the other hand, a hubcap (19), which surrounds the central member (18). According to the invention, between the cover (19) and the plate (11), there are provided support means (30) which, in particular, operate substantially perpendicular to the plate 11 ), and from which it follows that any frontal impact exerted on the trim (19) is transmitted to the support (12) of the assembly by the plate (11). Application, for example, to switches.

Description

The present invention relates to "covering for electrical apparatus".

  in general, the dressing that it

  It is usual to have any electrical equipment on the front.

  As is known, such a covering usually comprises a plate, in the general shape of a frame, which is intended to be attached from the front onto a support forming a housing for the mechanism of the electrical apparatus concerned, namely that, in the case of a built-in electrical device, this support is directly a wall or any other surface of this type, or that, in the case of an electrical device to be protruded on such a wall or on a such surface, this support is a housing which is itself

  report on this wall or on this surface.

  By its central opening, the plate gives free access to an organ

  central on which depends the use of the mechanism of the electrical equipment under

jacent.

  When this electrical equipment is a switch, this organ

  central is for example a tilting operating finger.

  But it can also be a barrel, for a key command.

  For another type of electrical appliance, the central organ set up

  work is obviously of another type.

  Thus, from one electrical apparatus to another, the central organ can have

a different configuration.

  The present invention relates more particularly to the case where, in order to satisfy such different configurations for the central member of the electrical apparatus, provision is made to have, annularly, around this central member, between the latter and the plate, a peripheral organ,

  commonly known as a hubcap, shaped like a frame.

  To date, when, voluntarily or involuntarily, this hubcap is subject to a frontal mechanical shock, it transmits it in full to the

  underlying mechanism, at the risk of unacceptable damage to it.

  The present invention generally relates to a provision making it possible to avoid this drawback, and therefore to spare the

  mechanism of the electrical equipment.

  More specifically, it relates to a covering for electrical apparatus of the kind comprising a plate, generally in the form of a frame, which is intended to be attached from the front onto a support forming a housing for the mechanism of the electrical apparatus. concerned, with, in the central opening of this plate, on the one hand, a central member, on which the use of this mechanism depends, and, on the other hand, a hubcap, which extends annularly around the central member, between the latter and the plate, this covering being generally characterized in that, between the hubcap and the plate, there are provided support means, which, in particular, intervene substantially

perpendicular to the plate.

  Thus, any frontal impact exerted on the hubcap is transmitted to the support of the assembly by the plate, without repercussion on the mechanism of

electrical equipment.

  In other words, with regard to such a frontal impact, the covering according to the invention advantageously hinders the mechanism of the apparatus

  electric, and it is thus advantageously protected.

  Preferably, the central organ itself presents at least locally an appendage, which projects laterally, and by which it is inserted

between the hubcap and the plate.

  For example, when this central member is a tilting actuating finger, it comprises, in diametrically opposite positions with respect to each other, two appendages, which aligned with one another, materialize its pivot axis , and which are both inserted between the hubcap and

the plaque.

  Thus, any frontal impact of which this central organ could itself be the object is also transmitted to the support of the assembly by the plate, without

  repercussions on the mechanism of electrical equipment.

  This is thus completely protected from any frontal impact.

  Finally, when, for sealing reasons, seals are provided, in particular between the hubcap and the plate, these seals also advantageously serve as shock absorbers during such a possible

frontal impact.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention will moreover emerge from

  the following description, by way of example, with reference to the drawings

  attached schematics in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a covering according to the invention, shown in place on a support; Figure 2 is, with a local cutaway, an exploded perspective view; Figure 3 is a larger scale, a partial view in cross section along the line 111-111 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is, on the scale of Figure 3, and according to arrow IV of Figure 2, a top view of the plate that includes this covering; Figure 5 is, on the same scale, and along arrow V of Figure 2, a side view of the central member controlling the electrical equipment concerned; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of this central member, along the line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is, on the scale of Figure 3, and along arrow VII of Figure 2, a side view of the hubcap that includes the covering according to Il'invention; Figure 8 is a bottom view of this hubcap, along arrow VIII of Figure 7; Figure 9 is, along the line IX-IX of Figure 2, a cross-sectional view of a seal that also includes the covering according to the invention; Figure 10 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 9 identified

by an insert X in this figure 9.

  As illustrated in these figures, and in a manner known per se, the covering according to the invention comprises a plate 11, in the general shape of a frame, which is intended to be attached from the front onto a support 12 forming a housing 13 for the mechanism 14 of the electrical apparatus 15 concerned, with, in the central opening 16 of this plate 11, on the one hand, a central member 18, on which the use of this mechanism 14 depends, and, d on the other hand, a hubcap 19, which extends annularly around the central member 18, between

this one and the plate 1 1.

  In the embodiment shown, the support 12 is assumed, by way of example, to be a wall, in which the electrical equipment

  i 5, or, more precisely, its mechanism 14, must be recessed.

  In the housing 13 excavated for this purpose in this support 12 intervenes, therefore, in the usual way, a flush-mounting box 20, and it is this which

  more precisely ensures the housing, and the fixing, of the mechanism 14.

  The corresponding provisions being well known in themselves, and not directly pertaining to the present invention, they will not be

described in more detail here.

  In the embodiment shown, the electrical apparatus 1 5 is further assumed to be, for example, a switch, with, for the central member 18 controlling its mechanism 14, an operating finger

mounted tilting.

  This electrical equipment 15 also not falling within the scope of the present invention, nor will it be described in all its details here, in particular

  with regard to its mechanism 14.

  It will suffice to indicate that, in the embodiment shown, the central member 18 has, peripherally, a generally quadrangular outline. More specifically, in this embodiment, the central member 18 has a rectangular outline, with rounded angles, but, instead of being

  straight, its longitudinal edges are slightly convex.

  In the embodiment shown, the plate 11 has, itself, peripherally, a generally quadrangular contour, and more precisely

square, with rounded corners.

  Its central opening 16 has a rectangular outline, with rectilinear edges and rounded angles. The hubcap 19, which is in the form of a frame, and which is complementary both to the plate 11 and to the central member 18, therefore has, in the embodiment shown, a rectangular outline with rectilinear edges along its outer periphery, and a rectangular outline with longitudinal edges

  concaves along its inner periphery.

  In the embodiment shown, the plate 11 is moreover generally planar, although its front surface 22, that is to say its surface

  upper, may for example be more or less curved or curved.

  But, in any event, the support 12 to which it must be applied

  being planar, its lower surface 23 is itself generally planar.

  For its attachment to the support 12, the plate 11 includes, in each of its corner zones, for the passage of any fixing means, by

  example for the passage of a screw 24, as shown, a bore 25.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, this drilling 25 occurs at the bottom of a well 26 capable of being concealed on the front, that is to say at level with the front surface 22 of the

plate 11, by a cover 27.

  Preferably, also, and as shown, tranche 28 of

  this cover 27 is notched, so that it is difficult to extract.

  According to the invention, between the hubcap 19 and the plate 11, there are provided support means 30, which, in particular, operate substantially perpendicular to the plate 11, that is to say substantially perpendicular to the plane along which it extends, and from which it follows that any frontal impact exerted on the hubcap 19 is transmitted to the support 12 of

All by plate 11.

  In the embodiment more particularly shown in solid lines in the figures, these support means 30 comprise, on the plate 11, a flange 31, which borders the central opening 16 of this plate 11 on at least part of its periphery, and on which the hubcap 19 bears, at least locally, from the front, either directly or indirectly. Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the flange 31 which borders the central opening 16 of the plate 11

  extends over the entire periphery thereof.

  For example, and as shown, this rim 31 recedes relative to the front surface 22 of the plate 11, and the trim 19 is therefore

  at least partly embedded in this plate 11.

  In the embodiment shown, and for reasons which will emerge from the following, the transverse sides 32 of the flange 31 have a

  width greater than that of its longitudinal sides 33.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment

  shown, the hubcap 1 9 bears directly on the rim 31 of the plate 11.

  In the embodiment shown, it only carries locally, from place to place, on this rim 31, by means of legs 34 which, each individually, protrude on its lower surface in each of its

corner areas.

  In the embodiment shown, between the hubcap 19 and the plate 11, there are provided centering means, for positioning

  details of this hubcap 1 9 on this plate 11.

  For example, and as shown, these centering means comprise at least two pins 35, which, projecting from the lower surface of the hubcap 19, each cooperate individually in interlocking with housings

  36 provided in correspondence for this purpose on the rim 31 of the plate 11.

  In the embodiment shown, four pins 35 are thus

  provided, in a rectangle, at the rate of two per transverse side 32 of the rim 31.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, between the hubcap 19 and the plate 11, there are also provided indexing means, for a preferred orientation, in one direction or in

  the other, this hubcap 19 on this plate 11.

  For example, and as shown, these indexing means comprise at least one pin 38, which, projecting from the lower surface of the hubcap 19, cooperates in interlocking with a housing 39 provided in correspondence for this purpose on the flange 31 of plate 11, and, more precisely, on one of the sides

  transverse 32 of this rim 31, between two pins 35.

  Finally, in the embodiment shown, between the hubcap 19 and the

  plate 11, a gasket 40 is inserted.

  In the embodiment shown, this seal 40 extends continuously under the central member 18, more or less matching the shape of the latter, while being applied, by its peripheral edge 41, against

the rim 31 of the plate 11.

  In the corner areas of this peripheral edge 41, the seal 40 has notches 42, for the passage of the legs 34 of

Wheel cover 1 9.

  In this peripheral edge 41, it has, in addition, holes 43, for the passage of the pins 35 of the hubcap 19, and, in positions diametrically opposite with respect to each other, two holes 44, for the

  passage of the pin 38 of this hubcap 19.

  But, of course, depending on the orientation of the hubcap 19, only one of

these holes 44 is used.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the central member 18 has, itself, at least locally, an appendage 45, which projects laterally on one of its sides, and by which it is inserted between the hubcap 19 and the plate 11, so that, in the event that it is itself the object of a frontal impact, this frontal impact is also

  transmitted to the support 1 2 of the assembly by the plate 11.

  The central member 18 being an actuating finger mounted tilting in the embodiment shown, it comprises, in practice, in this embodiment, in positions diametrically opposite with respect to each other, two appendages 45, which , aligned with each other, each have, in hollow on their lower surface, a groove 46 with rounded transverse profile, and, in correspondence, the flange 31 of the plate 11 has, locally, projecting on its surface upper, two ribs 47 with rounded transverse profile complementary to the previous one. In the embodiment shown, the appendages 45 of the central member 18 extend parallel to its longitudinal edges, and they are

  generally curved, like round tiles.

  Jointly, the ribs 47 of the plate 11 protrude from the transverse sides 32 of its rim 31, in the median zone thereof, and this is one of the reasons why these transverse sides 32 have a width

  greater than that of the longitudinal sides 33 with which they alternate.

  For the crossing of the ribs 47 of the rim 31 of the plate 11, the peripheral edge 41 of the seal 40 is itself generally tiled, and it thus closes locally, in alignment with one another, on its sides

transverse, two arches 48.

  Similarly, the hubcap 19 has, on the lower surface of each of its transverse sides, in the median zone thereof, on the one hand, along its internal periphery, a notch 49, with rounded transverse profile, by which it covers the corresponding appendage 45 of the central member 18, and, on the other hand, along its external periphery, beyond the notch 49, a notch 50, with rounded transverse profile, the l amplitude is lower than that of the notch 49, and by which it covers the corresponding rib 47

  of the plate 11 beyond the appendix 45 of the central member 18.

  In the embodiment shown, the peripheral edge 41 of the seal 40, moreover, also, locally, projecting from its upper surface, four bosses 51, which, arranged in a rectangle, are intended to absorb the tilting of the operating finger formed by the organ

central 18.

  Finally, in the embodiment shown, the seal 40 has, in its central zone, at least one knockout cap 52, for the passage of the driver, not visible in the figures, that the central member 18 has usually protruding on its lower surface to act on the

  mechanism 14 of the electrical equipment 1 5.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, two knock-out lids 52 are provided, which are arranged in diametrically opposite positions relative to each other, and only one of which is used according to the orientation of the central body 18, and therefore of the hubcap 19,

compared to plate 11.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the hubcap 19 is integral with the plate 11 and thus forms therewith a unitary subassembly whose assembly is in practice carried out in the workshop. In the embodiment shown, for the attachment of the hubcap 19 to the plate 1 1, screws 53 pass from the rear edge 31 of the plate 11, using holes 54 provided for this purpose in the areas angle of this rim 31, and these screws 53 are in screwed engagement with wells provided in correspondence for this purpose on the hubcap 19, and, more

  specifically, on the lower surface of the legs 34 thereof.

  Because the central member 18 is inserted by appendages 45 between the hubcap 19 and the plate 11, it belongs by construction to the same

  sub-assembly than this hubcap 1 9 and this plate 11.

  The installation, in situ, of the covering 10 according to the invention on the

  support 1 2 is advantageously facilitated.

  In addition, the screws 53 acting from the rear, the hubcap 19 is

  cannot be dismantled from the front, and the same applies to the central body 18.

  It is therefore impossible to have access to the mechanism 14 of the apparatus.

  electric 15 without prior deposit of the plate 11.

  In the embodiment shown, a seal 56 is provided between the plate 1 1 and the support 12, to oppose, together with the seal 40, any moisture penetration into the housing 13

  in which the mechanism 14 of the electrical equipment 1 5 intervenes.

  Preferably, this seal 56 is glued under the plate 11 all along the periphery thereof, to participate in the same subset

that this plate 11.

  In its corner areas, the seal 56 has holes 57 for the passage of the screws 24 ensuring the attachment of the assembly to the support 12. In the embodiment shown, this seal 56 is at least partly engaged in a housing 58 provided for this purpose recessed on the

  bottom surface of the plate 11.

  In any case, it is at least partially overwritten when fixing

from this plate 1 1 to the support 12.

  The plate 11 can for example be made of metal or synthetic material duly reinforced by a frame, and, for example, by a

fiber reinforcement.

  It can be the same for the hubcap 1 9 and / or the central member 1 8.

  However, in all cases, the plate 11 advantageously collects any possible frontal impact of which the hubcap 19 and / or the central member 18 may come to be, thus sparing the mechanism 14 underlying

  the electrical equipment 1 5 concerned.

  It is also just as well able to absorb a possible shock

more or less oblique.

  According to an alternative embodiment shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 3, the support means 30 provided between the hubcap 19 and the plate 1 1 comprise, on the hubcap 19, a flange 59 by which the hubcap 19

  overflows, at least locally, on the plate 1 1.

  This rim 59 can intervene jointly with the rim 31 of the

  plate 1 1 or as a substitute for it.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant

  and / or a combination of their various elements.

  In particular, instead of wearing directly on the plate, as more particularly described or shown, the hubcap can also just as easily bear indirectly on this plate, by means of any intermediate piece, the essential being that, with regard to a possible frontal impact or more or less oblique, the plate is an obstacle between it and the

  mechanism of the underlying electrical equipment.

  In addition, the field of application of the invention is not limited to that of switches only, but on the contrary extends to that of any other type of electrical apparatus, and, for example, to bases of taking

current.

  Finally, instead of being embedded in a wall, the electrical equipment concerned can just as easily be projecting from such a wall, the support on which the corresponding covering must be attached then being formed by a

  housing itself duly attached to this wall.

Claims (13)

  1. Covering for electrical apparatus, of the type comprising a plate (1 1), in the general form of a frame, which is intended to be attached from the front onto a support (1 2) forming a housing (13) for the mechanism ( 14) of the electrical equipment (1 5) concerned, with, in the central opening (1 6) of this plate (11), on the one hand, a central member (1 8), on which the use of this mechanism (14), and, on the other hand, an embellishment (19), which extends annularly around the central member (18), between the latter and the plate (11), characterized in that, between the hubcap (1 9) and the plate (11), there are provided support means (30), which, in particular, intervene substantially   perpendicular to the plate (11).   2. Dressing according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means (30) provided between the hubcap (19) and the plate (11) comprise, on the plate (1 1), a flange (31), which borders the central opening (1 6) of this plate (11) on at least part of its periphery, and on which the hubcap (19)   door, at least locally, from the front, either directly or indirectly.   3. Dressing according to claim 2, characterized in that the flange (31) which borders the central opening (16) of the plate (11) extends over the whole around it.   4. Dressing according to any one of claims 2, 3,   characterized in that the rim (31) which borders the central opening (16) of the plate (11) extends back relative to the front surface (22) thereof.   5. Dressing according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that, between the cover (19) and the plate (11), there are provided centering means (35, 46).   6. Dressing according to claims 2 and 5, taken jointly,   characterized in that the centering means (35, 36) provided between the cover (19) and the plate (1 1) comprise at least two pins (35), which, projecting from the lower surface of the cover ( 19), each cooperate individually with housings (36) provided in correspondence for this purpose on the flange (31) of the plate (11).   7. Dressing according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that, between the hubcap (19) and the plate (11), there are provided indexing means (38, 39).   8. Dressing according to claims 2 and 7, taken jointly,   characterized in that the indexing means (38, 39) provided between the cover (19) and the plate (11) comprise at least one pin (38), which, projecting from the lower surface of the cover ( 19), cooperates with housing   (39) provided in correspondence for this purpose on the rim (31) of the plate (11).   9. Dressing according to any one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized in that between the cover (19) and the plate (11) is inserted a seal (40).   1 0. Dressing according to any one of claims 1 to 9,   characterized in that the hubcap (19) is integral with the plate (11) and forms   thus with this a unitary subset.   1 1. Dressing according to claims 2 and 10, taken together,   characterized in that, for the attachment of the hubcap (19) to the plate (11), screws (53) pass from behind the flange (31) of the plate (11), by means of holes ( 54) provided for this purpose therein, and these screws (53) are in screw connection with wells (55) provided in correspondence on the hubcap (19).   12. Dressing according to any one of claims 1 to 11,   characterized in that the central member (18) has at least locally an appendage (45), which projects laterally, and by which it is inserted between   the hubcap (19) and the plate (11).   13. Dressing according to claims 2 and 12, taken jointly,   characterized in that, the central member (18) being a tilting actuating finger, it comprises, in diametrically opposite positions with respect to each other, two appendages (45), which, aligned with the other, each have, in hollow on their lower surface, a groove (46) with rounded transverse profile, and, in correspondence, the rim (31) of the plate (11) has, locally, projecting on its upper surface , two ribs (47) with rounded transverse profile.   14. Dressing according to claims 9 and 13, taken jointly,   characterized in that the seal (40) inserted between the cover (19) and   the plate (1 1) extends continuously under the central member (18).   15. Dressing according to any one of claims 1 to 14,   characterized in that a seal (56) is glued under the plate (11)   all the way around it.