GB2489414A

GB2489414A - A weatherproof cover for an alarm button

Info

Publication number: GB2489414A
Application number: GB201105017A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Roy Slack
Original assignee: Cooper MEDC Ltd
Current assignee: Eaton MEDC Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-24
Filing date: 2011-03-24
Publication date: 2012-10-03
Also published as: GB201105017D0

Abstract

A housing 12 partly contains an activating means such as an alarm pushbutton switch and has a locking element 34 that is engaged by a locking element 32 of a cap 14 that holds the cap in a closed position where, with the housing, it provides an enclosure for the pushbutton. The locking elements are releasable allowing the cap to be opened so that the button is accessible by a user. The cap can be coupled to the housing by a hinge comprising a bar shaped pivot 16 about which it rotates. The cap can be removable, having C-shaped members 22 that snap fit over the pivot bar 16. The bar 16 can be part of a pivot block (fig 5) that is attached to the housing by a screw, allowing its replacement. When closed the cap can be sealed to the housing by an O-ring and a rim around the housing, which engages a recess in the cap. The cap can be held closed by a lip 32 engaging a lip 34 on the housing and opened by deforming a resilient member 36 on the cap. The weatherproof cover can be used to protect an alarm push button from the ingress of water and remains closed in high winds.

Description

Ingress Protection Cover The present invention relates to a protector) adapted to protect an activator such as a button or switch e.g. for raising an alarm. In particular, the present invention relates to a protector which is able to provide improved weatherproof) particularly windproof) functionality.

Emergency switches and alarm buttons exist in outdoor environments as well as indoor environments. For example) such devices are present on oil rigs deployed on open seas. To maintain reliability such devices are typically housed within a protective cover. Such a cover is often formed of a housing at least partly containing the button and a movable cap which is movable relative to the housing to obscure (e.g. cover) close) an aperture formed in the housing by which the user can activate the button or switch.

Conventional protectors of this type are often provided with a sprung hinge, which is configured to urge the cap to close the aperture. However, in extreme weather environments, such as on an oil rig, the weather can be such that the strength of the wind is enough to displace the cap from its closed position, thereby leading to ingress of undesired liquids, solids and fluids into the interior space of the housing, which may adversely affect the operation of the switch or button. Indeed, the sprung hinge is often formed of a metallic material and in inhospitable environments, such as the briney environment of oil rig, the hinge can corrode to the extent that it is no longer capable of functioning appropriately.

Furthermore, in high winds, the conventional protective covers can "rattle" as a consequence of the force of the wind overcoming the resilient force of the sprung hinge urging the cap to the closed position. Whilst this can be considered a problem

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due to the lack of ingress protection offered by such a protective cover, it is also highly irritating for those trying to work, rest or sleep in the locality of the rattling protective cover.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention proposes a protector having a housing for partly containing activating means, the housing including a first locking element, and a cap movably coupled to the housing, the cap being movable between a first position in which the housing and cap cooperate to provide an enclosure containing the activating means and second position in which the activating means is accessible by a user, the cap including a second locking element; wherein the first and second locking elements are releasably lockably mutually engageable to hold the cap in the first position.

In the present application, an activator is intended to mean a device which is manually operated (activated) to result in an event taking place. The activator may be mechanically or electrically operable. An activator may include a switch. A switch is intended to include a button, e.g. an electrical button, e.g. a depressible button.

When operated, the switch may cause an alarm signal to be activated (an alarm to sound or a light to illuminate and/or extinguish) and/or a door to open or close and/or other event(s) to take place.

According to the present invention, the cap is (releasably) lockable in the closed position, thereby preventing ingress of undesired material into the interior of the housing and/or preventing the cap from rattling and disturbing people nearby.

The cap may be movably coupled to the housing by hinging means, thereby allowing easy access to the activator by the user. The housing is preferably provided with a pivot, about which the cap is rotatable. S.

The pivot may include a generally elongate bar shaped member, providing a robust structure which is able to withstand extreme weather.

The cap preferably includes engagement means releasably couplable to the pivot to allow the cap to rotate about the pivot, thereby allowing the cap to be replaced if damaged, and allowing for a simplified method of construction. To facilitate an even more simplified method of manufacture and/or repair, the engagement means may be configured to form a snap fit with the pivot.

The engagement means may include one or more generally C-shaped members which are couplable to the pivot bar, to facilitate simplified repair and/or manufacture, without hindering the pivoting action of the cap relative to the (rest of the) housing.

Preferably, the housing and/or the cap includes sealing means which prevents the ingress of fluids into the internal space of the housing when the cap is in the first position.

The sealing means preferably includes a raised member around the rim of the housing. Preferably, the cap includes a recess for complementary engagement with the raised member. The sealing means preferably act as a weatherproof seal.

The sealing means may include a recess formed around the rim of the housing. The cap may include a raised member for complementary engagement with the recess.

The sealing means preferably act as a weatherproof seal.

The locking elements preferably cooperate to form a releasable snap fit to hold the cap in the first position. *1

When the cap is in the first position, the locking elements are preferably mutually opposed to one another to prevent the cap from being moved from the first to the second position.

The locking elements preferably include a first lip and a complementary second lip provided on a deformable member, the lips being mutually engageable to hold the cap in the first position. Preferably, the housing is formed to include the first lip.

Preferably, the deformable member projects from the cap. Preferably, the deformable member projects from the cap along a sidewall of the housing. Preferably, the deformable member is resiliently deformable. Preferably, the deformable member is deformable to disengage the first and second lips.

The protector may further include release means to assist in deforming the deformable member to disengage the first and second lips.

It is preferred that the protector be a weatherproof protector. Accordingly, preferably, the housing and the cap provide a weatherproof seal when the cap is in the first position.

Preferably, the releasably lockably mutual engagement between the first and second elements is sufficient to maintain the cap in the first position in winds of up to Force 12 on the Beaufort scale.

The protector may further include a mounting member adapted to be attached to a wall.

The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. I shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the cap is in the closed position; Fig. 2 shows an example of a housing, or a portion of housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a close up view of a pivot block and a portion of a housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a preferred cap coupled to a pivot block, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 shows a pivot block, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 shows an ingress protection cover according to the present invention, and indicates a preferred axis of rotation of the cap; Fig. 8 shows a plan view of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention in the closed arrangement; Fig. 9 shows a cross section of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention in the closed arrangement, the cross section being taken from B-B shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 shows a close up view of the portion of the ingress protection cover of Fig. 9 indicated by the G; Fig. 11 shows a plan view of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention in the closed arrangement; Fig. 12 shows a cross section of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention in the closed arrangement, the cross section being taken from C-C shown in Fig. II; Fig. 13 shows a close up view of the portion of the ingress protection cover of Fig. 12 indicated by the H; and Fig. 14 shows a preferred ingress protection cover according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows an illustrative example of a protector 10 according to the present invention, having a housing 12 and a movable cap 14. The cap is preferably movable by virtue of hinging means. For example, the cap 14 is preferably rotatable about pivot 16. The pivot 16 is preferably provided in the form of an elongate bar, projecting from a pivot block 18. The pivot block 18 may be disassemblable to permit replacement of the pivot 16.

Fig. 2 shows a protector according to an aspect of the present invention with the cap 14 removed. Preferably, the device that the protector is intended to protect is locatable within the interior of the housing 12. Fig. 3 shows a close up view of a pivot block 18 and of a generalized form of a pivot 16 according to the present invention.

The cap 14 is preferably snap fittable to the pivot block 18, to be movable about the pivot 16.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a preferred form of cap 14 movably coupled to a preferred form of pivot block 18. The cap is preferably couplable to the pivot block 18 by engagement means 20 being snap fittable around at least a first portion 1 6a of the pivot 16. Snap fitting is preferred so that the cap is decouplable from the pivot block.

Therefore, should the cap or the pivot block be damaged, the damaged part can be replaced without having to replace the entire protector. The cap 14 may, however, be formed so as to be non-removable from the pivot block 18.

A preferred pivot block 18 is shown in Fig. 5. The pivot block preferably includes a pair of first portions 16a to which the cap is couplable, and about which the cap is rotatable. Preferably, a respective collar 1 6b is formed at the distally opposing ends of the first portions I 6a. Preferably, the or each collar I 6b is formed as a flange which extends radially outwards of its respective first portion I 6a.

Preferably, the pivot block 18 is decouplable from the housing 12. Accordingly, the pivot block preferably includes means 19 for allowing it to be decouplably attached to the housing 12. Thus, the pivot block 18 can be easily replaced if damaged. Means 19 may be a bore through which fixing means, such as a screw, is passable to engage with the housing 12 to hold the pivot block 18 in place. However, the pivot block 18 may include means 19 for mutual engagement with complementary means (not shown) provided by the housing 12 to releasably couple the pivot block 18 and the housing 12 together. The pivot block may be releasably snap fittable to the housing 12.

Fig. 6 provides another view of a cap 14 according to the present invention. The figure shows the engagement means 20 for coupling the cap 14 to the pivot 16. The engagement means preferably includes a first set of (one or more) pivoting elements 22 for releasably coupling to the pivot 16, in particular to the first portion 16a, to allow the cap to move about the pivot; preferably rotate about the pivot. In the present example, the first set of pivoting elements 22 includes a pair of generally C-shaped bodies, configured to be capable of snap fitting around at least a portion of the first portion 16a.

The collar is preferably formed to prevent the first set of pivoting elements 22 from being decoupled from the pivot 16 (in particular from the first portion I 6a) by being slid axially along the pivot 16, in particular along the first portion 16a. Accordingly, preferably, the or each collar 16b is formed as a flange which extends radially outwards of its respective first portion 16a to first set of pivoting elements 22 from being axially slid off the pivot 16 (in particular off the first portion I 6a).

Preferably, there is also provided a second set of one or more pivoting elements 24, which are able to engage the collar 16b about its perimeter, which is preferably a circumference. Each element of the second set of pivoting elements 24 is preferably provided in the form of a generally C-shaped member for mutual engagement with a respective collar 16b. The second set of pivoting elements 24 may be snap fittable to the collars I 6b, to be removably attachable to the pivot block 18, in particular the pivot 16, more particularly the collars 16b.

However, the second set of pivoting elements 24 may not be removably attachable to the collars 16b. In an embodiment the second set of pivoting elements 24 do not couple the cap 14 and the pivot bock 18 together. Preferably, the second set of pivoting elements 24 engage the collars 16b to help stabilize the cap during rotation about the pivot 16-the cap being (removably) coupled to the pivot by mutual engagement of the first set of pivoting elements 22 and the first portion 16a of the pivot 16 as described above. For example, each of the second set of pivoting elements 24 may extend around no more than half the perimeter (e.g. circumference) of the respective collar I 6b.

Preferably, each of the first set of pivoting elements 22 extend around more than half of the perimeter (circumference) of the pivot 16 (preferably of the first portion 1 6a), and around the axis of rotation, so as to releasably but lockably couple the cap 14 to the housing 12 via the pivot 16.

The respective sets of pivoting elements 22 and 24 preferably have concentric axes of rotation when the cap 14 is coupled to the pivot 16 and rotated about it.

Fig. 6 also shows the locking member 30 which is arranged to include engagement means 32 for engaging with complementary engagement means 34 (see Fig. 2) to releasably lock the cap 14 and housing 12. In a preferred embodiment, the locking member 30 includes a lip 32 acting as the engagement means. Preferably, the lip is formed to engage with a complementary lip 34 formed on the housing 12. The locking member 30 is preferably resiliently deformable to allow for the respective engagement means to (releasably) lockably engage, e.g. as shown in the cross- section presented in Figs. 9 and 10. See Fig. 8 for an indication of where section B-B is taken. Fig. 9 shows a head-on view of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention, where the cap is in the locked (or closed) position.

Fig. 10 shows a close up view of the engagement means 32 and 34 engagedly arranged, in the closed arrangements. In this arrangement, the cap can be said to be locked closed. In this arrangement it is preferred that the ingress protection cover provides a watertight seal between the exterior environment and the interior space of the housing at atmospheric pressure.

When in the closed arrangement, the mutual engagement of the engagement means 32 and 34 is sufficient to maintain the closed arrangement even in winds up to 12 on the Beaufort scale.

Preferably, the locking member 30 includes deforming means 36, which is usable to deform the locking member to disengage the respective engagement means.

Preferably the deforming means 36 is provided in the form of a member projecting from the locking means, arranged to be usable as a lever to cause deformation of the locking means 30 resulting in disengagement of the engagement means.

The cap 14 may include a recess 38 shaped to receive a portion of the housing, so as to form a seal between the interior of the housing and the external environment against unwanted particles and/or fluids from entering the interior of the housing.

The housing may be formed to include a flange which stands proud of a portion of the housing. At least a portion of the flange may be receivable in the cap recess.

The flange may extend around the entire rim of the housing. The flange and/or recess may be shaped to receive a sealing element, e.g. an 0' ring. The sealing element may be provided as a distinct element, not integrally formed with the flange and/or recess. The sealing element may be removable. The sealing element may be formed of a rubber material. The sealing element may provide for a waterproof ingress protection cover, e.g. it preferably provides a watertight seal at atmospheric pressure.

Preferably, when the cap 14 is in the closed position, the sealing element is compressed between the cap 14 and the housing 12, thereby forming a seal (e.g. the aforementioned watertight seal). The sealing element is preferably resiliently compressible.

Fig. 6 shows a preferred configuration of the internal surface of the cap 14, which includes a perimeter channel 38a in which is locatable the sealing element. To ensure that the sealing element is seated correctly in the cap, the cap may be provided with a locating means 38b for mutual cooperation with a complementary shaped portion of the sealing element. By engaging the mutually cooperating portions of the sealing element and the cap 14, the user can be confident that the sealing element is seated correctly in the cap 14. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the locating means 38b is provided in the form of a channel located between a pair of raised members, a suitably formed portion of the sealing element may be receivable in the channel to orient and seat the sealing element in the desired position within the cap 14.

Fig. 7 shows an example of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention, where the cap 14 is shown in the open position, giving a view of the interior space 40 of the housing 12. The cap 14 is movable between the closed (or locked) position, as shown in e.g. Fig. 1, and the open position shown in Fig. 7 by being rotatable around one or more pivots 16. Preferably, the cap 14 is freely rotatable about the or each pivot.

Fig. 12 shows a cross-section of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention, to display the hinging means (H), which in a preferred embodiment is provided in the form of one or more pivots about which the cap is arranged to be rotatable. The region of the ingress protection cover in which section C-C shown in Fig. 12 is taken is indicated in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 shows a magnification of the region H of Fig. 12, in which an example is given of a pivoting element coupled to the pivot 16.

In Fig. 14 is shown a preferred embodiment of an ingress protection cover according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the cover includes a cap 14 having instructions formed in an instruction region 14A. Region 14A may be a plate attached to the external surface of the cap 14, such that different instructions can be applied at the user's discretion. Region 14A may be removable. However, the cap may have the instructions contained within region 14A moulded into the surface at the time of manufacture.

The housing 12 may extend to include a housing plate 12A. The housing plate 12A may include means I 2C for allowing the plate to be attached to a surface, e.g. a wall.

Screw holes 12C may be provided as the means, for example.

Furthermore, the housing plate may include a function label I 2B for indicating the function of e.g. the switch contained inside the housing. The function label I 2B may be removable, The function label may be moulded into the surface of the housing plate during manufacture, and thus may be irremovable.

Preferably, the cap 14 and/or the housing 12 and/or the pivot block 18 and or the pivot 16 is formed of injection moulded thermoplastic material, preferably with a wide operating temperature range, e.g. in the range -55C to +90C.

An ingress protection cover according to the present invention may include urging means arranged to urge the cap 14 from an open to the closed position. The means may include resiliently deformable means suitably arranged to urge the cap to the closed position. The urging means may be configured to be capable of providing sufficient closing force as to cause the engagement means 32 and 34 to (releasably) lockably engage. Therefore, even if a user fails to place the cap in the correct closed position, an ingress protection cover according to the present invention fails-safe and the cover places itself in the closed arrangement.

The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments.

Modifications of these embodiments, further embodiments and modifications thereof will be apparent to the skilled person and as such are within the scope of the invention.

The invention includes the combination of the aspects and preferred features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A protector having a housing for partly containing activating means, the housing including a first locking element, and a cap movably coupled to the housing, the cap being movable between a first position in which the housing and cap cooperate to provide an enclosure containing the activating means and a second position in which the activating means is accessible by a user, the cap including a second locking element; wherein the first and second locking elements are releasably lockably engageable to hold the cap in the first position.
2. A protector according to claim I wherein the cap is movably coupled to the housing by hinging means.
3. A protector according to claim I or 2 wherein the housing is provided with a pivot, about which the cap is rotatable.
4. A protector according to claim 3 wherein the pivot includes a generally elongate bar shaped member.
5. A protector according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the cap includes engagement means releasably couplable to the pivot to allow the cap to rotate about the pivot.
6. A protector according to claim 5 wherein the engagement means are configured to form a snap fit with the pivot.
7. A protector according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the engagement means include one or more generally C-shaped members which are couplable to the pivot bar.
8. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing and/or the cap includes sealing means which prevents the ingress of fluids into the internal space of the housing when the cap is in the first position.
9. A protector according to claim 8 wherein the sealing means includes a raised member around the rim of the housing.
10. A protector according to claim 9 wherein the cap includes a recess for complementary engagement with the raised member.
11. A protector according to claim 8 wherein the sealing means includes a recess formed around the rim of the housing.
12. A protector according to claim 11 wherein the cap includes a raised member for complementary engagement with the recess.
13. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking elements cooperate to form a releasable snap fit to hold the cap in the first position.
14. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, when the cap is in the first position, the locking elements mutually oppose one another to prevent the cap from being moved from the first to the second position.
15. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking elements include a first lip and a complementary second lip provided on a deformable member, the lips being mutually engageable to hold the cap in the first position.
16. A protector according to claim 15 wherein the housing includes the first lip.
17. A protector according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the deformable member projects from the cap.
18. A protector according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the deformable member projects from the cap along a sidewall of the housing.
19. A protector according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the deformable member is resiliently deformable.
20. A protector according to any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein the deformable member is deformable to disengage the first and second lips.
21. A protector according to any one of claims 16 to 20 further including release means to assist in deforming the deformable member to disengage the first and second lips.
22. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protector is a weatherproof protector.
23. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing and the cap provide a weatherproof seal when the cap is in the first position.
24. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the activator is a button.
25. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the activator is a push button.
26. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the activator is an emergency and/or an alert button.
27. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the releasably lockably mutual engagement between the first and second elements is sufficient to maintain the cap in the first position in winds of up to gale Force 12 on the Beaufort scale.
28. A protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protector further includes a mounting member adapted to be attached to a wall.
29. A protector substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Figs. ito 14.