FR2881279A1 - Anti-pulling accessory for electrical wire, has housing receiving electrical wire loop comprising central part situated under rollers and ends maintained by rollers which present knurled surface - Google Patents

Abstract

The accessory has a housing receiving a loop of an electrical wire and delimited by a frame, a slide (13) and an access window (52), where wire is connected to a current plug. The loop has its central part situated under rollers (14) when inserted in the housing, where the rollers maintain the ends of the loop. The rollers are mounted at force in grooves of lateral walls and presenting knurled surfaces in rigid plastic material. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a current plug receiving assembly comprising an current socket and an anti-pulling accessory; (2) a method for preventing the untimely pulling of a plug engaged in a current socket.

Description

2881279 1

  FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention generally relates to preventing the inadvertent disconnection of an electrical wire.

BACKGROUND

  It is known that there are sockets with a cover admitting a closed position in which it covers the plug engaged in the socket and holds it there.

  OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention aims to prevent tearing of a plug engaged in a socket including if this socket has no cover and more generally the inadvertent disconnection of an electric wire.

  For this purpose, the invention proposes an anti-stripping accessory for electric wire, characterized in that it comprises means for fixing in a support in the manner of an electrical appliance, a front face having a window for access to an insertion housing adapted to receive said electrical wire, retaining means having a locking configuration in which they prohibit withdrawal of said wire from said housing and an unlocking configuration in which they allow said withdrawal, and control means of the configuration of said retaining means.

  Thus, for an electrical wire connected to a power plug connected to a power outlet, by inserting a loop of wire into the accessory housing, even if traction is exerted on the wire, the plug remains in the socket. The accessory prevents unintentional tearing of the plug from the socket and the wire from the plug.

  According to implementation characteristics that are particularly simple and convenient both for manufacture and use: said retaining means comprise two rollers biased toward said front face; and optionally said rollers have a knurled plastic surface; and / or - said retaining means are spontaneously in locking configuration, said retaining means passing from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration by the actuation of the control means or automatically when inserting a wire into said housing; and / or -said accessory comprises a body and a hubcap which said front face, said hubcap being mounted on said body; and optionally - said control means comprise a slider located inside said body, at least one spring located between the bottom of said body and said slider and urging said slider outwardly of said body, and a frame, fixed with respect to said body, disposed between said hubcap and said slide, this frame having a central opening aligned with said window of the hubcap; and possibly - said control means comprise two control fingers belonging to said slider and projecting out of said trim through two passages located on either side of said window; and optionally - said frame has two opposite side walls each having a V-shaped cutout pointing towards said trim; and optionally - said slider comprises two opposite side walls each adjacent to a respective one of said side walls of said frame, each of these walls having a pair of grooves forming a V pointing towards said hubcap more flared than are said cutouts; and possibly - said retaining means comprise two rollers biased towards said trim, each end of said rollers being adapted to move in a respective of said grooves, guided by one of said blanks, depending on the position of said slide relative to said frame.

  The invention also proposes an anti-tearing receiving assembly for a current plug, characterized in that it comprises a socket for the connection of said current plug to which an electric wire is connected, and an accessory as previously exposed. .

  According to one embodiment, this set comprises a common support in which said accessory and said socket are positioned.

  The invention also proposes a method for preventing the inadvertent tearing of a plug engaged in a socket, comprising the step of obtaining an accessory as previously described and the step of inserting the wire connected to said plug in said accessory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  The features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given by way of a preferred but nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an accessory according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view in the assembled state; Figure 3 is a view of an assembly according to the invention, the socket receiving a plug and the accessory receiving the wire associated with the plug; Figure 4 is a sectional view along the plane indicated by IV in Figure 3, when the plug and the wire are not positioned respectively in the socket and in the accessory, the socket and the support being shown in a support; Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, the plug and the wire being positioned respectively in the socket and in the accessory; Figure 6 is an elevational view of the slide according to the invention; Figure 7 is a sectional view along the plane indicated by VII-VII in Figure 6; Figure 8 is an elevational view of the side surface seen to the right of the slider of Figure 6; Figure 9 is an elevational view of the frame according to the invention; Figure 10 is a sectional view along the plane indicated by X-X in Figure 9; Figure 11 is an elevational view of the side surface that is seen to the right of the frame of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a top view of the hubcap of Figure 1; Figure 13 is a bottom view of the body of the accessory of Figure 1; and Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of the method according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT In the embodiment shown, the anti-tearing device 10 according to the invention comprises a body 11, two springs 12, a slide 13, two rollers 14, a frame 15 and a hubcap 16. The body 11, the slide 13, the frame 15 and the hubcap 16 are molded plastic.

  The body 11 is a parallelepiped box having a bottom wall 20 and four side walls 21. The body 11 is open opposite the bottom wall 20.

  The dimensions of the body 11, and more generally those of the accessory 10, are chosen so that the latter can be fixed in a support in the manner of an electrical appliance, this support being able to be a chute, a flush-mounting box or still a box projecting from the wall on which it is desired to fix it.

  The body 11 has on the outer surfaces of the side walls 21 a peripheral rectangular rib 22 intended in particular to serve as a support for the trim 16.

  The two side walls 21 extending along the width of the body 11 each comprise a window in which extends a tab 23 for latching the accessory 10 in its support. The tabs 23 extend mainly in the half-side wall 21 away from the bottom wall 20.

  The free end of each lug 23 is situated at the level of the rib 22 and itself comprises a portion of rib projecting outwardly complementing the rectangle formed by the rib 22.

  The two other side walls 21 each comprise two thin rectangular cutouts 24. These extend from the bottom wall 20 to the vicinity of the rib 22. Each cutout 24 of a side wall 21 is opposite a another cutout 24 of the other wall 21.

  On its inner surface, the bottom wall 20 comprises two pins 25 projecting for receiving the springs 12.

  The accessory 10 also comprises the slider 13. The latter comprises a bottom wall 30 and two opposite side walls 31 extending from the bottom wall 30. The side walls 31 extend in the direction of the width of the bottom wall 30 and have the same shape, substantially rectangular. Each wall 31 has near the bottom wall 30 two grooves 32 straight and thin, here through.

  The bottom of the slider 13 is defined on the side of the bottom wall 30 and, more generally, the bottom of the accessory on the side of the bottom wall 20 of the body 11.

  Each groove 32 has an end located near one of the two opposite bottom corners of the wall 31. The second end of each groove 32 is located away from the bottom wall 30. The two upper ends are closer together. one of the other than the two lower ends so that the pair of grooves 32 form a V pointing upwards.

  The high corners of the two side walls 31 are here rounded and the edge extending between these two corners has a slightly concave rounded shape.

  The free end of each side wall 31 forms a finger 36 intended to project out of the hubcap 16 through two passages of the hubcap 16.

  The bottom wall 30 has a cup profile so that the slider 13 has a U-shaped profile, the two side walls 31 forming the vertical branches of the U. The bottom wall 30 has two opposite edges 37 from which extend the side walls 31 and two other edges 38 each having a rim 33 extending transversely both to the wall 30 and to the walls 31. These flanges 33 extend upwardly from the edges 38 of the walls 30 to at the edges 37. Each rim 33 has two cutouts each on either side of their central zone.

  On its surface opposite the side walls 31, the wall 30 has two series of three feet 34 aligned parallel and halfway from the edges 38. The three legs 34 have heights adapted to make up the difference in height at their root so that the free ends of the feet 34 are aligned and substantially at the center of the bottom wall 30.

  The accessory 10 also includes the frame 15. The latter comprises a lateral wall 40 forming an oblong end frame delimiting an oblong opening 41.

  The wall 40 has an inner side surface 42 and an outer side surface 43. The wall 40 has two side panels 48, 49 extending in the width direction of the frame 15. The wall 40 has two opposite edges. The first edge is plane contrary to the second edge 44. This edge 44 has two parallel portions in the length direction.

  Between these portions, that is to say on the two panels 48, 49, the edge 44 has two rounded V-shaped portions pointing towards the other edge forming a V-shaped cutout 47 in each of the panels 48, 49.

  The frame 15 further comprises interlocking elements in the body 11, molded in one piece with the rest of the frame 15. The wall 40 has on its outer surface elongated elements 45 for adjusting the oblong shape of the wall 40 and its dimensions less than the dimensions and the rectangular shape of the body 11. It also comprises four locking feet 46 which extend under the wall 40 in the extension of certain elements 45. These snap-in feet 46 have one end. free hook intended to snap into the end portions of each cutout 24 of the body 11.

  The accessory 10 also comprises a hubcap 16 intended to be mounted on the body to close it. The hubcap has a rectangular wall 50 and four flanges 51 extending transversely from the edges of the top wall 50. The height of the flanges 51 is equivalent to the height of the side wall portions 21 between the rib 22 and their end. free. On its front face, the upper wall 50 has three openings. These openings correspond to an oblong window 52 and two fine and rectangular passages 53. The window 52 is of the same dimensions as the oblong opening of the frame 15. The passages 53 are located on either side of this window 52, they are each extends parallel to the width of the wall 50. The passages 53 and the window 52 have flanges extending inwardly of the trim 16 transversely to the front face.

  The accessory 10 further comprises rollers 14 and springs 12. The springs 12 are two metal springs with turns.

  The rollers 14 are two cylindrical rollers having at their ends smaller diameter journals. The rollers 14 are here made of rigid plastic whose surface is knurled.

  The assembly of the accessory 10 is now described. The two rollers 14 are force-fitted in the grooves 32.

  The two springs 12 are mounted on the pins 25 at the bottom of the body 11. The slide 13 is placed in the body 11, it then rests on the two springs 2881279 7 12. The frame 15 snaps over the slide 13 in the body 11 by snapping the feet 34 into the cutouts 24 of the body 11.

  Once snapped into the body 11, the frame 15 holds the slide 13 and the springs 12 in the body 11.

  The hubcap 16 covers the frame 15, the fingers 36 protruding out of the hubcap 16 by the passages 53.

  The actuation of the slider 13 is now described.

  By pressing on the two fingers 36, the slider 13 sinks into the body 11 by compressing the springs 12. When the slider is in the recessed position in the body 11, the ends of the rollers 14 are located in the bottom of the grooves 32.

  When releasing the pressure on the fingers 36, the springs urge the slide 13 upwards. The rollers 14 being embedded on the slider 13, these also have an upward displacement remaining in the bottom of the grooves 32. During their displacement, the rollers 14 come into contact with the V-shaped cutout 47 of the frame 15. When the slider 13 continues to rise away from the bottom wall 20, the rollers are then guided by the V-shaped cutouts 47. The distance between the two rollers 13 can only decrease because of the shape cutouts 47 and the rollers 14 are forced to rise in the grooves 32.

  As seen in Figure 3, the accessory 10 is here positioned next to a socket 60 that will not be described here in detail.

  The receptacle 60 also comprises a body 61, a motor, a hubcap 62 having a well comprising two cavities 63 for the passage of the pins 64 of a current plug 65.

  Referring to Figures 4 and 5 is now described the use of an assembly comprising an accessory 10 and a socket 60. The accessory 10 and the socket 60 are positioned next to each other in a support 66.

  In the absence of son inserted in the accessory, the slide 13 is away from the bottom wall 20, the fingers 36 project out of the hubcap 16 and the rollers 14 are located in the top of the grooves 32. When a plug 65 is plugged into the socket 60, seize the wire 70 which is inserted a loop in the accessory 10. The loop is inserted by force into the inner housing of the accessory 10. This housing is delimited by the frame 15, the slider 13 and the access window 52. During the insertion of the wire 70 into the housing, the wire firstly pushes on the rollers 14, they are forced to move away to leave passing the wire 70. As they move apart, they descend into the grooves 32 which causes the slider 13 to move towards the depressed position, the springs compressing accordingly. When the loop is well inserted in the housing, the central part of the loop of wire 70 is located under the rollers, the two ends of the loop are, they, held by the rollers 14 and the rest of the wire 70 spring of the 10. Due to the presence of the wire 70, the slider remains in a depressed position. The fingers 36 then protrude slightly from the hubcap 16.

  When it is desired to release the wire 70 is pressed simultaneously on the two fingers 36, the slide 13 then takes the most recessed position possible and the rollers 14 descend into the grooves 32 so that the wire 70 is no longer maintained by these rollers 14. The wire 70 can then be removed.

  When the wire 70 is held in the housing of the accessory 10. If inadvertent traction is exerted on the wire 70, it remains in the housing by the action of the rollers 14 which pinch. The greater the traction, the more the wire undergoes a force which tends to pull it towards the outside of the housing, the more the slider undergoes a force which tends to move it away from the bottom wall 20 of the body 11 and the more the rollers 14 tend to go up in the grooves 32. The rollers 14 then tighten all the more the thread in the housing.

  The knurled surface of the rollers increases the friction between the rollers 14 and the wire 70 to allow better retention of the wire 70 in the accessory 10. The accessory 10 is adapted to receive the electrical son of different diameters.

  Referring to Figure 14, the method is described for preventing inadvertent tearing of a plug engaged in a socket. The accessory 10 is first obtained (step I), the accessory is positioned next to a plug 60. The plug 65 is plugged into the socket 60 and the wire 70 connected to the plug 65 is inserted into the socket. accessory 10 (step II).

  According to a variant of the embodiment, the fingers are located parallel in the direction of the length.

  According to another embodiment, the accessory and the socket are rigidly connected, the bodies of one and the other being made in one piece, the accessory and the socket having a common hubcap.

  According to yet another embodiment, the pull-out attachment 10 is used in combination with other electrical equipment receiving a tear-off wire such as a low-current power plug, a cable outlet, or other.

Claims (13)

  1. Anti-tearing accessory for electric wire, characterized in that it comprises fixing means (22, 23) in a support in the manner of an electrical apparatus, a front face having a window (52) access an insertion housing adapted to receive said electrical wire (70), retaining means (14) having a locking configuration in which they prohibit removal of said wire (70) from said housing and an unlocking configuration in which they allow this withdrawal, and control means (12, 13, 15) of the configuration of said retaining means (14).   2. Accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining means comprise two rollers (14) biased towards said front face.   3. Accessory according to claim 2, characterized in that said rollers (14) have a knurled plastic surface.   4. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said retaining means (14) are spontaneously in locking configuration, said retaining means (14) passing from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration by actuating the control means (12, 13, 15) or automatically when inserting a wire (70) into said housing.   5. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a body (11) and a hubcap (16) to which said front face, said hubcap (16) being mounted on said body (11). ).   6. Accessory according to claim 5, characterized in that said control means comprise a slider (13) located inside said body (11), at least one spring (12) located between the bottom (20) of said body ( 11) and said slider (13) and urging said slider (13) outwardly of said body (11), and a frame (15) fixed with respect to said body (11) disposed between said hubcap (16) and said slider (13), this frame (15) having a central opening (41) aligned with said window (52) of the hubcap (16).   7. Accessory according to claim 6, characterized in that said control means (12, 13, 15) comprise two control fingers (36) belonging to said slide (13) and projecting out of said trim (16) through two passages (53) located on either side of said window (52).   8. Accessory according to claim 7, characterized in that said frame (15) comprises two opposite side walls (48, 49) each having a V-shaped cutout (47) pointing towards said trim (16).   9. Accessory according to claim 8, characterized in that said slide (13) has two side walls (31) opposite each adjacent to a respective one of said side walls (48, 49) of said frame (15), each of these walls having a a pair of grooves (32) forming a V pointing to said hubcap (16) more flared than said cutouts (47).   10. Accessory according to claim 9, characterized in that said retaining means comprise two rollers (14) biased towards said hubcap (16), each end of said rollers (14) being adapted to move in a respective one of said grooves (32). guided by one of said cutouts (47) as a function of the position of said slider (13) relative to said frame (15).   11. Receipt assembly with anti-pulling current plug, characterized in that it comprises a socket (60) for the connection of said plug to which is connected a wire (70), and an accessory (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.   12. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a common support (66) in which are positioned said accessory (10) and said socket (60).   13. A method for preventing inadvertent tearing of a plug engaged in a socket, comprising the step of providing an accessory (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and the step of inserting the wire (70) connected to said plug (65) in said accessory (10).