GB2399956A - Electrical device with metal earthing mounting strip - Google Patents

Electrical device with metal earthing mounting strip Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2399956A
GB2399956A GB0404785A GB0404785A GB2399956A GB 2399956 A GB2399956 A GB 2399956A GB 0404785 A GB0404785 A GB 0404785A GB 0404785 A GB0404785 A GB 0404785A GB 2399956 A GB2399956 A GB 2399956A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
metal strip
base
electrical device
embellisher
plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0404785A
Other versions
GB2399956B (en
GB0404785D0 (en
Inventor
Zsolt Zsibok
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Legrand SA
Legrand SNC
Original Assignee
Legrand SA
Legrand SNC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Legrand SA, Legrand SNC filed Critical Legrand SA
Publication of GB0404785D0 publication Critical patent/GB0404785D0/en
Publication of GB2399956A publication Critical patent/GB2399956A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2399956B publication Critical patent/GB2399956B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/648Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices, e.g. anti-static shielding  
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/58Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation characterised by the form or material of the contacting members
    • H01R4/64Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/02Details
    • H02G3/08Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
    • H02G3/12Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes for flush mounting

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)
  • Patch Boards (AREA)
  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical device (100) adapted to be attached to any support and comprising an embellisher plate (110) with holes (111) adapted to receive metal fixing members for fastening the embellisher plate to said support, a base (120) for at least one electrical device mechanism comprising an earth terminal, and a generally U-shaped metal strip (130) electrically connected to said earth terminal, said metal strip straddling the back of the base, being fastened to said embellisher plate and having free ends (131) that are electrically connected to said fixing members. According to the invention, said metal strip comprises clipping means (134) adapted to cooperate with complementary clipping means (124) on the outside face of the base to fasten the base to said embellisher plate.

Description

Electrical Device with Metal Earthing Strip
-
The present invention relatea generally to electrical devices adapted to be attached to a support. of any kind, in particular a support for a flush-monnt box or a support for bunking.
It relates more particularly to an electrical device comprising an embellisher plate with holes adapted to receive metal fixing members for fastening the embellisher plate to said support, a base of at least one electrical device mechanism comprisihg an earth terminal, and a metal strip electrically connected to said earth terminal and having free ends that are electrically connected directly or indirectly to said fixing members.
Some applicable standards, and especially British Standards, require that any metal member accessible from IS the outside of an electrical device be connected to the earth terminal thereof.
This means that the metal fixing members provided for fixing the embellisher plate to said support, the heads of which are accessible from the outside, are connected to the earth terminal by a metal strip provided on the back of the electrical device.
In prior art electrical devices the metal strip
is generally U-ahaped and straddles the back of the bane with its free ends fastened to said embellisher plate, The mets1 strip is also fixed by any appropriate means to the back of the base. The base is also fixed to the rear face of the embellisher plate by screws, a system of clips or rivets.
The main drawback of electrical devices of the above kind is that they are complex because it is necessary First of all to fix the electrical device mechanism base to the rear face of the embellisher plate, before attaching.and fixing the metal strip thereto.
Compared to the prior art previously cited, the
invention proposes a simplified electrical device in a which the metal strip fastened to the embellisher plate fastens' the base to ache arrellishex plate as well as making the electrical conneccion between the metal f icing members of the embellisher plate and the earth te=Tina of the device mechanism.
To be more precise, the invention proposes an electrical device adapted to be attached to any support and comprising an embellisher place.vith holes adapted to receive metal fixing members for fastening the embellisher plate to said support, a base for at least one electrical devlc. mechanism comprising an earth terminal, and a generally U-shaped metal strip electrically connected to said earth terminal, said metal strip straddling the back of the base, being fastened to said embellisher plate and having free ends that are I electrically connected to said fixing members.
This electrical device is characterlsed in that said metal strip comprises clipplug means adapted to cooperate with complementary clipping means on the outside face of the base to fasten the base to said embellisher plate.
Thus the base is fastened to the embellisher plate only by the motel strip fixed to the embellisher plate and, to assemble the electrical device, the base and the metal strip are fixed to the embellisher plate in a single operation.
Of course, the metal strip in accordance with the invention may be fixed to the embellisher plate by any means.
The free ends of the motel strip may be connected to rivets crimped into the holes provided in the embellisher plate for inserting members for fixing it to the support. The free ends of the metal strip may equally I extend freely into the holes in the embellisher plate to make the electrical contact with the metal fixing members I thereof, with the metal strip clipped, screwed, riveted or Fixed by any other means to the rear face of said embellisher plate.
Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the electrical device of the invention are an follows: - said clipping means of the metal strip are on the parallel branches of the U-shape; - said clipping means of the metal strip are on the base of the U-shape; - said clipping means of the metal strip comprise apertures having an edge adapted to hook over a tooth projecting from the outside face of the base; - maid clipping means of the metal strip comprise lugs on the edges of said metal strip with edges at their free ends adapted to hook over teeth projecting from the outside face of the base; and.
- said metal strip is made in one piece from steel plate from 0.8 mm to 1 mm thick.
The following description given by way of non
ao limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings explains in what the invention consists and how it can be put into effect.
In the appended drawing: - figure is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly in section, of a first embodiment of the electrical device of the invention; - figure HA is a partial view in section of the figure 1 electrical device in the area of one of the holes in the embellisher plate; - figure ZB is a detail view in perspective of the Figure ZA embellisher plate; - figurer 3A is a partial view in section of another embodiment of the electrical device of the invent on; - figure 3B is a detail view in perspective of the figure 3A embellisher plate; - figure 4 is a partial diagrammatic view in perspective of another embodiment of the alectrlca device of the invention; and - figure 5 is a view in section taken along the line A-A in figure 4.
Figures 1, IA, SIB, 3A, 3B show an electrical device 100, a switch in this instance, adapted to be attached to a support (not shown) for flush- mount box.
The electrical device 100 comprises an embellisher plate 110 which has a rectangular central opening llOA providing the user with access to an operating member (not shown) of the electrical device 100.
The embellisher plate 110 4e preferably mounded from a thermosetting plastics material and comprisee, on respactivc opposite sides of the rectangular central opening llOA, holes 111 that pass through it And are adapted to receive metal fixing members 113 for fastening it to the support that i" not shown.
Here te metal fixing member 113 are screws (see figure A) and each hole 111 in the embellisher plate 110 comprises a cylindrical portion lllA on an aria x adapted to have the cylindrical body of a screw 113 pass through it. The cylindrical portion Lila of each hole 111 opens onto the front face or facade of the embellisher plate via a flared portion adapted to receive the head of a screw 113 (see figure 3A).
The electrical device 100 further comprises a base L20 for at least one electrical device mechanism.
Here the base 120 contains a single electrical device mechanism, namely the machine em of a switch, but in other embodiments that are not shown the base way contain the 3S mechanism of a double switch or the mechanism of a single or double socket outlet, possibly associated with a switch (as per British Standards).
The base 120 comprises an' insulative material envelope of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape receiving the electrical components of the device mechanism, not shown. The electrical components comprise two electrical connection terminals, namely a live terminal and a neutral terminal, and an earth terminal 1 (see figure 5) for earthing the electrical device 100.
The insulative envelope of the base 120 is fastened to the rear face of the embellisher plate 110.
As shown in the figures, the electrical device also comprises a metal strip 130 adapted to be electrically connected to the earth terminal 1 of the base 120. The metal "trip 130 electrically connects the metal members 113 for fixing the embellisher plate lie and the earth terminal 1 of the base loo.
Here the meta1 strip 13e is generally U-ahaped and straddles the back of the base 120. To this end, an inside face 121 of the insulative envelope of the base comprises a groove 120A adapted to receive the metal strip 130. The metal strip 13 comprises an opening 130C in the base 13OA of the U-shape through which the connection to the earth terminal 1 is made (figure 5).
The metal strip 130 has free enda 131 adapted to engage in the holes 111 in the embellisher plate 110 to make the electrica1 contact with tHe fixing members 113, here with the body of the screws 113.
According to one particularly advantageous feature of the electrical device loo of the invention, said free "nets 131 of the metal strip 130 comprise clipping means 132 adapted to cooperate with complementary clipping means 1l? in the holes 111 in the embellisher plate 110 to fasten the metal strip 130 to asid embellisher plate 110.
Here, each free end of the metal "trip 130 taken the form of a lug 131 bont relative to the corresponding branch 130B of the U-shape forming the metal strip 130 and whose outside face 131A is adapted to make electrical contact with a metal fixing member 113 inserted into one of the holes 111 in the Embellisher plate 110.
Each lug 131 of the metal strip 130 comprises, by way of clipping mean=, a tongue 13Z cut into the lug 131 concerned and whose free edge 132A is adapted to bear against a tooth 112 in each hole Ill of the embellisher plate. Each tongue 132 cut into the corresponding lug 131 is inclined so that it projects from the inside face 131B thereof opposite said outride face 131A making electrical contact with the corresponding metal fixing member 113.
Bach of the holes, 111 in the embellisher plate incorporates slot lllB that encroaches on said cylindrical portion Ella of the hole 311 and opens via a lateral opening lllC into said cylindrical portion lilA, said slot llIB being adapted to receive the lug 131 forming one free end of the metal strip 130. The electrical contact between each lug 131 of the metal otrlp 130 and the body of the corresponding metal fixing member 113 inserted in the hole 111 of the embellisher plate 110 is established within the lateral opening lllC of the slot 1118.
As shown in figures l, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B in particular, each slot lllB has, on a wall lllD opposite said lateral opening 1116., a tooth 112 having bearing surface 112A perpendicular to the direction in which said free end 131 of the metal: strip 130 is inserted into the slot ills and adapted to. receive in bearing engagement the free edge 132A of the tongue 132 of said free end 131 of the metal strip 130.
As shown in figures 2A and 2B, on the one hand, and figures 3^ and as, on the other hand, the tongue 132 cut into each lug 131 of the metal strip 130 is inclined to the corresponding inside face 131B of the lug 131 to a degree that varies as a function of the distance of the tooth 112 from the axis X of the corresponding hole 111.
As shown in figures 2A and 2B, the inclination of the tongue 132 may be very slight because the attachment tooth 112 of the tongue 132 is close to the axis X of the cylindrical portion lllA of the hole 111 in the embellisher plate 111; alternatively, as shown in figures 3A and 3B, the tongue 132 may be more steeply inclined so that it bears against the tooth 112 in the slot lllB farthest from the axis X of the cylindrical portion lllA of the corresponding hole 111.
Each lug 131 of the metal strip 130 preferably includes another tongue 133 cut into said lug 131 and inclined so that it protects from the outside face 131A of said lug 131, i.e., the side opposite that from which the clipping tongue 132 of the lug 131 projects, the tongue 133 having a free edge 133A adapted to cooperate with the corresponding fixing member 113 inserted in the hole 111 in the embellisher plate 110 to hold it in place therein.
The other tongue 133 cut into each lug 131 of the metal strip 130 has the advantage of trapping the fixing member placed in the corresponding hole 111 in the embellisher plate 110 before it is fixed to the corresponding support.
As is also shown in the figures, each lug 131 of the metal strip 130 has on its lateral edges detents that are adapted to penetrate the material of the embellisher plate llO when the lug 131 is inserted into the corresponding slot lllB. This strengthens the clipping of the metal strip 130 to the embellisher plate 110.
The metal strip 130 is advantageously made in one piece from steel plate from 0.8mm to lmm thick.
As shown in the figures, the metal strip 130 includes clipping means 134; 134' adapted to cooperate with complementary clipping means 124; 124' on the outside face 121 of the base 120 to fasten said base l2O to the embellisher plate 110.
Thie has the advantage that the metal strip 130 is first fastened to the back of the base:20 of the mechanism of the electrical device,00 and is then Clipped to the embellisher plate 110 to press the base 120 onto the rear face of the embellisher plate 110.
No other fixing means are required to fasten the base l2O to the embelliner plate 110.
In a first embodiment of the metal strip 130, shown in figures l, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, the clipping means 134 are on the parallel branches,13Cn of the U-shape.
They comprise apertures 134, one edge 13SA of which is adapted to hook onto a tooth 124 projecting from the outside face lal of the base 120, In a different embodiment of the metal strip 130, the clipping mean. 134' of the metal strip 130 are at the base of the U-shape. They comprise lugs 134' on the parallel edges of the portion 130A forming the base of the Ushape of the metal strip 130. The lugs 134' are substantially perpendicular to said portion 130A of the metal strip 13 a, extend outward relative to the base 120, and have free edges 134'A at the end adapted to hook over teeth 124' that face each other inside the groove 120A in the base 120 receiving the metal strip 130 and project from the outside face let of said basso 120.
There are two lugs 134' on each parallel edge of the portion 13eA forming the base of the U-shape of the metal strip 130, add the base 120 carries in corresponding relationship thereto teeth 124' on each of the facing faces of bpe groove 120A in the bare 120 receiving the motel strip 130.
=e present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shoom, to which the person skilled in the art may apply any modif ication c:anforning to the spirit of the invention.

Claims (6)

CIAIMS
1. An electrical device (100) adapted to be attached to any support and comprising an embellisher plate (110) with holes (111) adapted to receive metal fixing members (113) for fastening the embellisher plate to said support, a base (120) for at least one electrical device mechanism comprising an earth terminal, and a generally U-shaped metal strip (130) electrically connected to said earth terminal, said metal strip (130) straddling the back of the base (120), being fastened to said embellisher plate (110) and having free end (131) that are electrically connected to said fixing members (113), wherein said metal strip (130) comprises clipping means (134; 134') adapted to cooperate with complementary clipping means (124; 124') on the outside face (121) of the base (120) to fasten the base (120) to said embellisher plate (110).
2. An electrical device (100) according to claim 1, wherein said clipping means (134) of the metal strip (130) are on the parallel branches of the U shape.
3. An electrical device (100) according to claim 1, wherein said clipping means (134) of the metal strip (130) are on the base of the U-shape.
4. An electrical device (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said clipping means of the metal strip (130) comprise apertures (134) having an edge (134A) adapted to hook over a tooth (124) projecting from the outside face (121) of the base (120).
5. An electrical device (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said clipping means of the metal strip (130) comprise lugs (134') on the edges of said metal strip (130) with edges (134'A) at their free ends adapted to hook over teeth (124') projecting from the outside face (121) of the base (120).
6. An electrical device according to any preceding claim, wherein said metal strip (130) is made in one place from steel plate from 0.8mm to lmm thick.
GB0404785A 2003-03-03 2004-03-03 Electrical device with metal earthing strip Expired - Fee Related GB2399956B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0302554A FR2852152A1 (en) 2003-03-03 2003-03-03 Electrical installation e.g. interrupter, for e.g. embedding case support, has metallic grip fastening buckle interlocked to hub cap plate and having complementary lock mechanism unit on external face of base of mechanism

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0404785D0 GB0404785D0 (en) 2004-04-07
GB2399956A true GB2399956A (en) 2004-09-29
GB2399956B GB2399956B (en) 2006-09-13

Family

ID=32088449

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0404785A Expired - Fee Related GB2399956B (en) 2003-03-03 2004-03-03 Electrical device with metal earthing strip

Country Status (3)

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CN (1) CN1527659B (en)
FR (1) FR2852152A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2399956B (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9385442B2 (en) * 2014-05-20 2016-07-05 Cooper Technologies Company Integral grounding hub

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US861713A (en) * 1907-05-14 1907-07-30 William Henry Dow Shears.
US1882080A (en) * 1928-08-17 1932-10-11 Jr Harvey Hubbell Electrical receptacle
US3310770A (en) * 1964-10-05 1967-03-21 Sierra Electric Corp Electrical receptacle with strap interlock
US3688239A (en) * 1971-03-03 1972-08-29 Hubbell Inc Harvey Electrical device having an improved mounting strap

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL103148C (en) * 1958-05-13
US3963292A (en) * 1972-06-27 1976-06-15 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Wiring device with self-grounding element
US4203638A (en) * 1978-10-10 1980-05-20 Eagle Electric Mfg. Co., Inc. Electrical receptacle and grounding strip therefor
US4375307A (en) * 1981-03-30 1983-03-01 General Electric Company Grounding receptacle with low resistance ground
US4552421A (en) * 1984-01-23 1985-11-12 Pass & Seymour, Inc. Electric outlet having novel screw anchor and ground connection
US4711506A (en) * 1985-05-28 1987-12-08 Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd. Socket of electrostatic protection type
GB2281450B (en) * 1993-08-27 1997-08-13 Contactum Ltd Electrical component with improved earth bar securing method
US5484309A (en) * 1994-10-31 1996-01-16 Hubbell Incorporated Electrical receptacle assembly with interference fitting and latching parts
US5967815A (en) * 1998-03-19 1999-10-19 Marc A. Schlessinger Variable orientation switching type electrical receptacle
US6313403B1 (en) * 1999-08-06 2001-11-06 Pass & Seymour, Inc. Wiring device with integral axially oriented ground plate

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US861713A (en) * 1907-05-14 1907-07-30 William Henry Dow Shears.
US1882080A (en) * 1928-08-17 1932-10-11 Jr Harvey Hubbell Electrical receptacle
US3310770A (en) * 1964-10-05 1967-03-21 Sierra Electric Corp Electrical receptacle with strap interlock
US3688239A (en) * 1971-03-03 1972-08-29 Hubbell Inc Harvey Electrical device having an improved mounting strap

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2399956B (en) 2006-09-13
CN1527659A (en) 2004-09-08
CN1527659B (en) 2011-05-18
GB0404785D0 (en) 2004-04-07
FR2852152A1 (en) 2004-09-10

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Legal Events

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20140303