FR2858105A1 - Support and trim plate assembling device for insetting electrical apparatus e.g. switch, on wall, has trim plate with guiding space for passage of fixation screw heads until support zone at plumb of orifice - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a support (11) with two openings (12) to cooperate with respective fixation screws (13) that are used to fix a trim plate (15) on the support. The plate has a guiding space (22) on its rear side (15b) with respect to the support for passage of heads (13a) of the respective screws until a support zone (19) arranged at the plumb of an orifice (10) opening towards a front side (15a) of the plate.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for assembling a

support and a hubcap plate.

  It relates generally to the mounting of electrical equipment, such as a switch, housed inside a support consisting of a box recessed or not in a wall.

  More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for assembling a support and a hub plate intended to be fixed on the support and to remain apparent.

  To allow this attachment, the support comprises at least two holes adapted to the passage of the body of a fixing screw.

  The trim plate similarly comprises at least two holes each adapted to the passage of the body of a fastening screw and forming a bearing area for each head of the fastening screws during tightening thereof.

  During assembly, after wiring of electrical equipment fixed to a rear face of the trim plate, the installer places this trim plate in front of the support so that the fixing holes of the trim plate and the support are arranged in vis-a-vis.

  The fixing screws are then put in place by trial and error until the body of the screw passes through the perfectly aligned holes of the hub plate and the support. Each fixing screw can then be tightened to allow the assembly of the hub plate and the support.

  This arrangement has the disadvantage for the installer to maintain on the one hand the trim plate properly positioned on the support and make by trial and error the introduction of the fixing screws in the appropriate holes.

  The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a simplified mounting assembly device.

  For this purpose, the present invention aims an assembly device comprising a support provided with at least two holes adapted to cooperate respectively with fixing screws, and a trim plate adapted to be fixed on the support by at least two screws of fixation.

  According to the invention, the trim plate comprises on a rear face intended to be placed opposite the support means of passage of each head fixing screws adapted to the passage of each screw head to a support zone arranged to the plumb with an opening opening on a front face of the plate hubcap.

  Thanks to these particular means of passage provided on the rear face of the trim plate, it is possible to place the rear of the hubcap plate on the screw heads and to move the hubcap plate to the support zone allowing the tightening the fixing screws.

  Thus, during assembly, the fixing screws can be placed previously on the support, in the orifices provided for this purpose.

  It is then sufficient to position the trim plate through the means of passage of the fixing screw heads, then to move the hubcap plate until the screw is opposite the support zone for clamping and fixing the plate hubcap on the support.

  According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the passage means of each screw head extend parallel to the rear face of the trim plate.

  These passage means thus make it possible to introduce the screw head in a staggered position with respect to the opening opening on the front face 25 of the trim plate and to allow the passage of this screw head to a zone d support formed at the base of this opening.

  Preferably, a piece is associated with the rear face of the trim plate and comprises a groove for passing the body of a fixing screw, a guide space of the head of the fixing screw being formed between the rear face of the the hubcap plate and said piece.

  One end of the passage groove forms the bearing zone in line with the opening opening on a front face of the trim plate.

  According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the passage means of each screw head extend perpendicularly to the rear face of the trim plate.

  These passage means make it possible to place the trim plate 5 in a movement perpendicular to the support, substantially in its final mounting position.

  According to an advantageous characteristic, the passage means comprise a substantially cylindrical orifice perpendicular to the opening opening on the front face of the hub plate, at least one retractable element 10 extending into the cylindrical orifice and constituting the zone support of the screw head.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will appear

  still in the description below.

  In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples - Figure 1 is a perspective diagram of an assembly device for illustrating the principle of the invention; FIG. 2A is a partial perspective view of the rear face of an embellisher plate of an assembly device according to a first embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2B is a partial sectional view along the line B-B in Figure 2A; FIG. 3A is a partial perspective view of a rear face of a trim plate of an assembly device according to a second embodiment of the invention; - Figure 3B is a partial sectional view along the line B-B in Figure 3A; - Figure 4A is a partial cross sectional view of a trim plate of an assembly device according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a locking blade illustrated in FIG. 4A; FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a rear face of an embellisher plate of an assembly device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a rear face of a trim plate of an assembly device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

  We will first describe with reference to Figure 1 the principle of the invention.

  By way of nonlimiting example, we consider in the following description an assembly device 10 of a hubcap plate and a support formed of a built-in box.

  Such a flush-mounted box is adapted to embed in a wall a product, such as an electrical switch illustrated here by way of non-limiting example.

  This insert box 11 is intended to be placed in a housing of complementary shape in a wall.

  Here, this flush-mounted box 11 has two orifices 12 each adapted to cooperate with a fastening screw 13.

  These orifices 12 are formed in fixing lugs 14 arranged symmetrically on either side of the flush-mounted box 1 1.

  In a conventional manner, these orifices 12 are threaded to allow screw fixing of the screws 13.

  This recessed box 11 cooperates with a hub plate 15.

  This trim plate 15 comprises, mounted on a rear face intended to be placed facing the built-in box 11, an electrical apparatus 16 which is mounted and wired before positioning the trim plate 15 on the built-in box 11.

  Actuating means 17 may be visible on a front face 15a of the trim plate 15 to allow a user to control the operation of this apparatus.

  To allow the attachment of this trim plate 15 to the insert box 11, openings 18 open on the front face 15a of the trim plate. In line with these openings 18, a bearing zone 19 is formed for clamping the screw heads 13a during assembly of the trim plate 15.

  As will be described more specifically with reference to the following figures, passage means of each screw head 13a are provided to allow the passage of each screw head 13a to a bearing zone 19.

  Thanks to this assembly device, it is possible to first position the screws 13 in each orifice 12 of the insert box 11, by introducing a threaded rod 13b of each screw 13.

  Then, the trim plate 15 can be brought into position thanks to the passage of the screw heads on the rear face 15b of this trim plate 15.

  When each screw head 13a is in the support zone 19, directly above each opening 18 opening on the front face 15a of the hub plate 15, it is possible for the installer to complete the assembly by tightening the screw 13, in a conventional manner by means of a screwdriver rotating the screw head 13a, introduced through each opening 18.

  Reference will first be made to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B of various embodiments of the present invention in which the passage means of each screw head 13a extend parallel to the face. rear 15b of the hub plate 15.

  Means of passage are made identically at each opening 18, and only one of these passage means is described below.

  In a first embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the passage means are formed in a part 20 associated with the rear face 15a of the trim plate 15.

  This part 20 is preferably obtained by molding in one piece with the hub plate 15.

  This part 20 comprises a passage groove 21 whose dimensions are adapted to the passage of the body 13b of the fixing screw 13.

  A guide space 22 is provided between the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15 and the part 20.

  This guide space 22 is adapted to the passage of the screw head 13a. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 2B, the part 20 comprises a face 22a defining this guiding space 22 and forming a guide ramp against which the screw head 13a can be supported during the displacement of the trim plate 15.

  This passage groove 21 and this guide space 22 communicate and extend longitudinally in a direction parallel to the plane of the rear face 15a of the trim plate 15, in line with each other to allow the passage simultaneous of the screw head 13a and the screw body 13b.

  This passage groove 21 thus extends between an end 21a disposed vertically above the opening 18 opening on the front face 15a of the trim plate 15 and an open end 21b.

  This piece 20 thus forms in a plane parallel to the trim plate 15 an opening in the form of a keyhole (in English "key hole"), the guide groove 21 being terminated by a semicylindrical end 21a.

  The first end 21a has a shoulder forming the semi-circular bearing zone 19 for clamping the screw head 13.

  The dimensions of this end of cylindrical shape 21a are such that its diameter is smaller than that of the screw head 13a but greater than that of the body 13b of the screw 13 so as to constitute the bearing zone 19 for clamping the screw head for mounting the trim plate.

  To facilitate the introduction of the screw head 13a into the guide space 22, the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15 may comprise at the end 21b of insertion of the screw a recess 15c.

  Figures 3A and 3B illustrate a second embodiment.

  The constituent elements identical to the first embodiment bear the same references and will not be redescribed here.

  In this second embodiment, the part 20 comprises a semi-cylindrical portion 23 adapted to guide the screw head during its introduction into the guide space 22.

  The diameter of this semi-cylindrical portion 23 is sufficient to allow the passage of the screw head 13a.

  This semi-cylindrical portion 23 facilitates the introduction of the screw head 13a and allows the installer to position the trim plate 15 on the screw heads 13a before moving in translation this hub plate 15.

  Then, the introduction and guiding of this screw inside the passage groove 21 and the guide space 22 are identical to those described above with reference to FIG. 2A.

  However, the guide ramp, defined by the face 22a defining the guide space 22 opposite the rear face 15b of the trim plate is here in the form of an inclined plane.

  This inclined plane face 22a makes it possible to guide the screw head 13a from an insertion point 21b into the passage groove 21 remote from the rear face 15b of the embellisher plate 15 to the end 21a carrying the zone d support 19 coming into contact with the rear face 15b of the hub plate 15.

  This inclined plane face 22a facilitates the passage of the screw head 13a from the rear of the trim plate 15 to the support zone 19 to allow it to be clamped when this plate 15 is mounted on the built-in box. 11.

  A third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

  This third embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment described in FIG. 2A.

  The constituent elements identical to this first embodiment carry the same references and will not be redescribed here.

  In this third embodiment, a locking blade 24 is inserted and fixed in the guide space 22.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4B, this locking blade 24 extends substantially in a longitudinal direction and comprises on either side fixing wings 25 enabling it to be mounted and fixed in the part 20.

  This locking blade 24 is inserted into a housing provided for this purpose on the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15.

  It further comprises a curved end 26.

  This end 26 thus extends through the opening 18 of the trim plate 15, towards the axis X of mounting of the screw 13.

  This end 26 has a terminal end 26a having a semicircular notch.

  This end end 26a is thus adapted to be housed in a thread of the body 13b of the fixing screw 13.

  When mounting this hub plate 15, the screw head 13a is guided in the guide space 22 along the guide ramp 22a.

  As it passes, the end 26 of the metal blade unfolds by coming into contact with the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15 so as to let the screw head 13a.

  When the fixing screw is in position along its axis X, the screw head 13a bears on the bearing zone 19, and the end end 26a of the blade 24 resumes its initial position, closing off the existing gap between the top of the screw head 13a and the guide space 22.

  This blade 24 avoids the existence of any space between the fastening screw 13 and the part 20, to prevent the passage of wiring son from the electrical equipment.

  This assembly device is thus in accordance with the IP20 standard since it does not allow the passage of wires of diameter greater than or equal to 1 mm.

  Reference will now be made to FIGS. 5 and 6 of other embodiments of the invention in which the means of passage of the screw head extend perpendicularly to the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15.

  Means of passage are made identically at each opening 18, and only one of these passage means is described below.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the passage means comprise a cylindrical orifice 50 disposed vertically above the opening 18 opening on the front face 15a of the hub plate 15.

  This cylindrical orifice 50 is formed in a cylindrical piece 51 integral with the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15.

  This cylindrical orifice 50 has a diameter sufficient to allow the screw head 13a to pass through the fastening screws 13.

  A retractable element 52, consisting of at least one projecting portion of a cylindrical wall 51a of the cylindrical orifice 50, is adapted to be retracted at the passage of the screw head 13a.

  In this embodiment, two retractable elements 52 extend into the cylindrical orifice 50.

  These retractable elements are protruding portions formed in a cylindrical wall 51a of the cylindrical part 51 and are diametrically opposed.

  Of course, the number of retractable elements 52 in the cylindrical wall 51a is not limited to two.

  These retractable elements 52 and form clips that are adapted to be retracted into the cylindrical wall 51a during the passage of a screw head 13a.

  In order to facilitate the passage and retraction of the elements 52, these 25 last have an inclined plane 53 thus forming a truncated cone-shaped opening whose apex is directed towards the opening 18 opening on the front face 15a of the plate 15. This inclined plane 53 is thus formed on a face facing away from the trim plate 15.

  During assembly, the screw head 13a comes into contact with the inclined plane 53 of the retractable elements 52 and pushes the latter back inside the cylindrical wall 51a.

  When the screw head has passed, the retractable elements 52 are elastically projecting back into the cylindrical opening 50.

  Screwing of the fixing screw 13 can then be achieved, the retractable elements 52 constituting the bearing zone 19 for clamping the screw head 13a.

  A fifth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 6 in which the means for passing the screw head 13a also extend perpendicular to the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15.

  In this embodiment, the passage means comprise a substantially cylindrical orifice 60 in line with the opening 18 opening on the front face 15a of the trim plate 15.

  This substantially cylindrical orifice 60 is defined by a fixed piece 61 secured to the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15.

  The part 61 thus defines a U-shaped orifice whose base constitutes the semi-cylindrical orifice 60.

  Between the branches of the U-shape is arranged an element

retractable 62.

  This retractable element 62 is held inside the orifice 60 by an elastic holding force exerted by a spring 63.

  This spring 63 can be kept compressed in a housing 64 formed on the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15. One end of this spring 63 abuts in the housing 64, the other end of the spring bearing against a face 62b of the retractable element 62.

  This retractable element 62 also has a face 62c in an inclined plane whose lowest point relative to the rear face 15b of the trim plate 15 is adjacent to an end 62a of the retractable element 62. This inclined plane is thus formed on a face 62c facing away from the hub plate 15. The end 62a of the retractable member 62 has a semi-cylindrical notch.

  The diameter of the cylindrical orifice 60 is adapted to the passage of the screw head 3a and the diameter of the semi-cylindrical notch of the end 62a of the retractable element 62 is adapted to the passage of the body 13b of the screw 13 .

  Upon insertion of this screw, the latter comes into contact with the inclined plane 62c of the retractable element 62 and pushes the latter against the elastic force exerted by the spring 63 so that the element 62 is retracted. outside the cylindrical orifice 60.

  When the screw head escapes the retractable element 62, it returns to its initial position inside the cylindrical orifice 60, the semi-cylindrical notch 62a having a sufficient size to accommodate the body 13b of the screw. fastening 13.

  This retractable element 62 thus forms a bearing zone 19 inside the orifice 60 to allow fixing of the screw 13 by clamping on this retractable element 62.

  With the spring 63, the retractable stop 62 is held in a reliable position so that a good tightening of the fixing screw is obtained.

  The notch of the end 62a of the retractable element 62 is adapted to the dimensions of the body 13b of the screw 13 in such a way that there is no free space capable of allowing wires to pass outside 20 I electrical equipment once the assembly carried out.

  Of course, many modifications can be made to the examples described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In particular, the described exemplary embodiments comprise two fixing screws.

  Of course, this number is not limiting since an assembly with more than two fixing screws can be envisaged.

Claims (10)

  1. An assembly device comprising a support (11) provided with at least two orifices (12) adapted to cooperate respectively with fixing screws (13), and a trim plate (15) adapted to be fixed on said support (11) by at least two fixing screws (13), characterized in that the trim plate (15) comprises on a rear face (15b) intended to be placed opposite said support (11), passage means (22, 50, 60) of each head (13a) fixing screws adapted to the passage of each screw head (13a) 10 to a bearing zone (19) disposed directly above an opening (18) opening on a front face (15a) of the trim plate (15).   2. Assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage means (22) of each screw head (13a) extend parallel to the rear face (15b) of the trim plate (15).   3. Assembly device according to claim 2, characterized in that a part (20) is associated with the rear face (15b) of the trim plate (15) and comprises a passage groove (21) of the body ( 13b) of a fixing screw (13), a guide space (22) of the head (13a) of the fastening screw (13) being formed between the rear face (15b) of the trim plate (15) and said piece (20) and an end (21a) of the passage groove (21) forming the bearing zone (19) in line with the opening (18) opening on the front face (15a) of the trim plate (15).   An assembly device according to claim 3, characterized in that a locking blade (24) extends in the guide space (22) and has a curved end (26) extending therethrough the opening (18) opening on the front face (15a) of the trim plate (15).   5. Assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage means (50, 60) of each screw head (13a) extend perpendicularly to the rear face (15a) of the plate hubcap ( 15).   6. Connecting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the passage means comprise a substantially cylindrical orifice (50, 60) in line with said opening (18) opening on the front face (15a) of the trim plate (15), at least one retractable element (52, 62) extending in the substantially cylindrical orifice (50, 60) and constituting said bearing zone (19) of the screw head (13a).   7. An assembly device according to claim 6, characterized in that said retractable element consists of at least a portion (52) projecting from a cylindrical wall (51a) defining the substantially cylindrical orifice (50), adapted to be retracted to the passage of the screw head (13a) in said cylindrical wall (51 a).   8. Assembly device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least two portions (52) projecting from said cylindrical wall (51a) diametrically opposite.   9. Assembly device according to claim 6, characterized in that the retractable element (62) is held in the substantially cylindrical orifice (60) by an elastic holding force exerted by a spring (63).   10. Assembly device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said retractable element (52, 62) comprises an inclined plane (53, 62c) on a face facing away from the trim plate (15). 20