PT105632B - SUPPORT FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support bearing a frame provided with four blades which delimit between them an opening of reception according to the invention. THE FRAME COMPORDS SEPARATION MEANS OF AT LEAST ONE OF ITS RAMAIS TWO PIECES TO CREATE AN OPENING OF ACCESS TO THE SAME OPENING OF RECEPTION.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Support for electrical appliances

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of connecting electrical apparatus or apparatus to electrical supply cables which run into wall boxes or circulate within a rail.

It also relates more particularly to a support having a frame provided with four branches which delimit a reception opening and means for securing the frame to a wall box therebetween.

It also finds a particularly advantageous application in the making of a mirror holder whose receiving opening forms an electrical cable outlet.

PREVIOUS TECHNOLOGY

A support of the aforementioned type, which is usually in the form of a closed square or rectangular frame provided with securing means, has a wall box that intervenes in a diametrically opposite position on the frame. Such fastening means are generally in the form of simple holes in the form of closure holes suitable for the passage of bolts for fixing bolts in bolt-on recesses provided in the wall box.

In particular two types of supports are known.

The first brackets, called 'switchgear brackets', comprise, on the one hand, means for receiving a switchgear mechanism in the receiving aperture of its frame and, on the other hand, means for locking a mirror over its frame. In particular, these brackets allow the appliance mechanism to be carefully connected to the power supply cable which runs into the wall box.

The second brackets, called 'mirror brackets', thus contain only the means of blogging a mirror on their frame. These brackets are not in compensation designed to receive a switchgear mechanism in the receiving opening of their frame. They are instead used when connecting the cable of an electrical appliance (such as a convector) to the electrical supply cable is by means of a simple junction element (such as a junction bar) to be housed within the wall box. The bracket and mirror then allow the wall to be closed aesthetically.

Mounting one or the other of these brackets to the wall box breaks down into six main operations, consisting of:

- attach the bracket to the wall box;

- screw the retaining screws into the wall mounting bolts through the bracket holes to rigidly secure the wall mount bracket;

- pulling the power supply cable as it emerges from the wall box through the reception opening of the bracket frame;

- connect the electrical conductors of this cable to either the apparatus mechanism or the junction bar to which the electrical apparatus is connected, and then;

attaching either the switchgear to the receiving opening of the switchgear bracket to secure it, or the tie bar within the wall box to conceal it; and

- fix the mirror to the bracket.

It turns out, however, that the bonding operation must be carried out before the bracket is attached to the wall box.

This is typically the case during a job, when a heater assembles a convector to the power supply cable through a simple junction bar before the electrician has time to install the mirror bracket.

It is therefore inconvenient that, in order to fit the bracket to the wall box, the electrician must first disconnect the convector so that the power supply cable can be passed through the receiving opening of the bracket frame before reestablishing the electrical connection.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In order to remedy the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a support as defined in the introduction, wherein the frame comprises means for separating at least one of its extensions into two parts to create an opening of access to said reception opening.

Thus, thanks to the invention, when the connecting operation intervenes before the bracket is attached to the wall box or rail, it is possible to open the bracket frame so that the power supply cable can be routed into the frame receiving aperture without even have switched off the electrical appliance or the switchgear.

Under these conditions, installation of the bracket is thus not only facilitated but also faster to carry out.

The other advantageous and non-limiting features of the carrier according to the invention are as follows:

- said separating means comprise, along the frame, a boundary gap between two edges, and the frame may be deformed to allow said two edges to approach or move apart;

said separating means comprises zones of low resistance joining said two edges;

said two edges present a cooperation of form;

- said two edges support gear means;

- the frame comprises a hinge zone which is situated opposite said separating means with respect to said receiving aperture and which may be deformed;

- the frame is formed of one piece by molding a plastics material;

- the frame comes from molding with at least one of its branches separated into two parts;

- said separating means comprises two zones of low strength situated on one side and the other of a detachable portion of the frame;

- said separating means are located in a region of the frame distant from the securing means; and

- said separation means are centered on one of the branches of the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The following description, having regard to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, will enable a clear understanding of what the invention consists of and how it may be realized.

We drawings attachments: - a Fig. 1 is an schematic view in perspective of an mural and an junction bar housing inside . mural box; - a Fig. 2 is an schematic view front elevation in

a first embodiment of a support according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of zone III of Fig. 2, in which the frame is shown in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the detail of zone III of Fig. 2, in which the frame is shown in the open position;

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the detail of zone III of Fig. 2 during manufacture;

Fig. 6 is a schematic front elevational view of a second embodiment of the bracket according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic front elevational view of a third embodiment of the bracket according to the invention;

Figs. 8 and 9 are schematic elevational views along the planes A-A and B-B of Fig. 7 of two detachable portions of a branch of the support of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the two detachable parts of the holder shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in the assembled position;

Figs. 11 and 12 are schematic perspective views of the holder of Fig. 7, the frame of which is respectively shown in the open and closed position;

Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the bracket according to the invention; and

Fig. 14 is a schematic front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the support according to the invention.

It will be noted preliminarily that the identical or similar elements of the different embodiments and different embodiments of the invention represented in the different figures will, as far as possible, be referenced by the same reference signs and will not be described in turn.

In Fig. 1 we schematically depict a wall box 300 recessed in a cavity in a wall wall (here a dry partition), and a junction bar 200 securing to this wall box 300.

In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" will then designate respectively the installer-facing seat and the bottom-facing seat of the cavity.

As shown in Fig. 1, wall box 300 is a single position recessed box. It has a cylindrical side wall 301 of revolution about a major axis A0. It is open at the front and closed at the rear by a back wall 302. The side wall 301 is surrounded on the front face by an outer peripheral lip 304 which is arranged to apply against the front face of the wall when the wall box 300 is correctly led into the cavity in the wall.

The side and bottom walls 301, 302 of this wall box 300 are provided with breakable operatives 303 which provide an opening at the bottom of wall box 300 to pull an electrical supply cable 310 deep into this box.

The side wall 301 of the wall housing 300 on the other hand supports on its inner face two bolting recesses 305 extending parallel to the main axis A0, diametrically opposite to this axis.

These two recesses extend into the wall 300 and here from the outlet wall to the level of their bolt 305 bottom 302 of the outer peripheral lip 304.

In a variant, this box may have a different shape, for example a cubic shape. It may also be multi-position, so as to be able to receive a plurality of junction bars and / or apparatus mechanisms (power socket, shuttle, telephone socket ...).

As shown in Fig. 1, the junction bar 200 comprises only two electrically insulated conduits 201, 202 and two pairs of clamping screws, which enable the power cable phase and neutral conductors 311, 312 to be connected to the corresponding electrical conductors of a cable of an electrical appliance (not shown) such as a convector.

Wall box 300 and this junction bar 200 are not the subject matter of the present invention and are not described in more detail herein.

Wall housing 300 is intended to be closed in front by a substantially flat and square mirror (not shown).

To secure this mirror to the wall box 300, a bracket is used which is equipped not only with securing means for securing it to the wall box 300, but also with locking means for receiving the mirror.

In Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 13 four embodiments of this carrier 100 are shown.

In these different embodiments, the holder 100 comprises a square-shaped flat frame 101 having four branches 102, 103, 104, 105.

This frame 101 is defined between a square outer peripheral edge 107 and an equally square inner peripheral edge 108, delimiting an A1-axis receiving aperture 106.

The frame 101 has a rear face intended to be applied against the outer peripheral edge 304 of the wall housing 300, and an opposite front face.

As can be seen from Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 13, the frame 101 securing means 300 to the housing 300 comprise not only frame bolting means 110 of the frame 300 but also frame 120 engaging means 120 on the sidewall 301 of the frame mural 300.

The first and first means of frame 101 extends centered at 101.

In the center of a second and opposite branches 103, 105, a bolt-on hole comprises a closure hole 110 which, overall according to the opening axis A1, with a receiving arc 106 of the circle frame

For the previously end wall box to the diameter of the bolts

110 have an approximately slackable fastening part

305 of the head passage secured in the recesses 300, these circular holes of equal diameter of the heads of these fastening screws.

To form a rigid support for the heads of these setscrews, these holes 110 have an oblong portion of width between the diameter of the heads and that of the threaded setscrews.

The gear means comprises two circular holes 120 respectively disposed in the vicinity of two closing holes 110 in the inner side of the frame 101, as well as two clamping screws (not shown).

Each jaw bolt comprises a bolt secured in the corresponding hole 110 of frame 101 and a jaw located at the rear of frame 101 and adapted to pivot to engage the inner face of sidewall 301 of wall box 300. To form a rigid support for the heads of these clamping bolts, the circular holes 120 have an inwardly narrow section.

As depicted in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 13, the mirror locking means on the frame 101 of the holder 100 are retaining means 135.

In this case, each retaining means 135 comprises a pin receiving aperture 101 (not shown) adapted not only to engage the edge of this receiving aperture but, moreover, to retain a contact provided for in correspondence protruding from the rear face of the mirror.

To lock the convector power cable once the convector has been connected to the power supply cable 310 through the junction bar 200, a third branch 104 of the frame 101 of the bracket 100 has two threaded holes 145 which allow to fasten a cable clamp ( not shown) on frame 101.

In order to optimize the rigidity of the frame 101 and to force the convector power cord to take a desired trajectory in the wall box 300 to tighten cables, the receiving aperture 106 of the frame 101 is partially closed by two longitudinal walls 111 extending along first and second branches 103, 105 of frame 101, and a transverse wall 112 extending between the two longitudinal walls 111 along the third branch 104 of frame 101.

These longitudinal and transverse walls 111, 112 have thicknesses less than the thickness of the frame 101. They delimit with the fourth branch 102 of the frame 101 a window for the passage of the electric cable to the tightening cables.

As shown in Fig. 1, the junction bar 200 is no longer connected to either the electrical conductors 311, 312 of the power cord 310, or the convector electrical cable conductors.

When installing bracket 100, however, it may be that the junction bar 200 has already been connected to the electrical conductors 311, 312 of the power cord 310 and the convector power cord.

Then, in accordance with a particularly advantageous feature of the invention, to avoid having to disconnect the convector for the purpose of installing the bracket 100 to the wall box 300, the frame 101 of the bracket 100 comprises separating means 150; 160; 170; 180 in two parts 102A, 102B of at least one of its branches 102 to create an access opening 109 (Fig. 4) through which the cable can be secured to access the receiving opening 106 of the frame 101.

In each of the four bracket embodiments respectively shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 13, these separating means 150; 160; 170; 180 are located in the center of the fourth branch 102 of frame 101.

In the three bracket embodiments respectively shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, these separating means 150; 160; 170 comprise, at half length of the fourth branch 102 of the frame 101, an interrupt 151; 161; 171 bounded between two edges 152, 153; 172, 173, which is adapted to open and close again for the benefit of a deformation of the frame 101.

Thanks to this interruption 151; 161; 171 of varying size, the frame 101 may deform between an open position (Figs. 4 and 11) in which the two edges 152, 153; 172, 173 are spaced apart from the diameter of the electrical conductors 311, 312 of the power cord 310, and a closed position (Figs. 2 and 12) in which these two edges 152, 153; 172, 173 are situated against or in close proximity to one another (that is, at a distance from each other less than the diameter of the phase and neutral wires 311, 312 of electrical cable 310).

More particularly, in the bracket embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the interrupt forms a slit

151, 161 of reduced width and such that the two edges 152, 153 cooperate with each other in order to be in solidarity.

In these two embodiments, this slot 151, 161 is profiled in an orthogonal plane to the A1 axis. The two edges

152, 153 delimiting this slot 151, 161 are thus free to slide relative to each other along an axis parallel to the axis A1 to disengage the access opening 109 (Fig. 4).

In a first embodiment shown in Figs. 2 through 4, this slot 151 forms a dovetail. Thus, when the frame 101 is in the closed position, the two edges 152, 153 are fixed relative to each other at a time when the two parts 102A, 102B of the fourth branch 102 are exposed to compressive forces towards each other, at a distance from each other or from cutting (or 'twisting') according to an axis perpendicular to the axis A1.

In the second embodiment of the support shown in Fig. 6, slot 161 forms a niche. Thus, when the frame 101 is in the closed position, the two edges delimiting this slot 161 are fixed relative to each other when the two parts 102A, 102B of the fourth branch 102 are exposed to compressive forces towards each other or to each other. It is, however, cut along an axis perpendicular to the axis A1. These two edges are however movable relative to each other when these two parts 102A, 102B of the fourth branch 102 of the frame 101 are subjected to a pulling force at a distance from each other.

In other embodiments not shown, the slot may have another shape. It may for example have a straight shape to extend along a perpendicular or inclined axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fourth branch 102. More generally, this slot may have any shape, preferably such that the two edges are fixed relative to each other when the two parts 102A, 102B of the fourth branch 102 are subjected to at least two distinct types of stress (traction, shear, compression, ...).

In the two embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the slot 151, 161 may extend from the inner peripheral edge 108 of the frame 101 to the outer peripheral edge 107 of this frame 101. In this way, the two-part separation means 102A, 102B of the fourth branch 102 may be directly activated.

However, here, the slot 151, 161 does not flow into the two inner and outer peripheral edges 108 of the frame 101. It delimits in contrast with these last two low strength zones 154 (see Fig. 3).

These two low strength zones 154 have sections much smaller than the size of the rest of the fourth branch section 102. They can thus be cut to the extent that they are likely to be broken manually or cut with the aid of a blade (cutting means, cleaver ...) through reduced effort. Here, each zone of low strength 154 extends here in length over the entire thickness of frame 101 and has a reduced width of less than 3 millimeters.

Thanks to these low strength zones 154, the stiffness of the frame 101 remains optimal so much that these zones have not been broken.

To facilitate the cutting of these low strength zones 154 with the aid of the blade, the inner and outer peripheral edges 107, 108 of the frame 101 each have a bevelled groove extending over the entire thickness of the frame 101, and wherein the tip is oriented towards slot 151.

In the two embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 6, support 100 is made in one piece by molding an insulating plastics material such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). As shown in Fig. 5, the slot 151 is made therein during a punching operation of the molded support 100 with the aid of a punch 400.

In one embodiment, this slot 151 may also be made during the molding operation of the holder 100, which however adds to the difficulties of demoulding this holder.

Here, the frame 101 is molded in a closed position so that at rest the two edges 152, 153 are located in close proximity to each other.

In one embodiment, the frame 101 may be molded in the open position so that at rest the two edges are at a distance from each other.

It is furthermore the case of the third embodiment of the support shown in Figs. 7 to 12.

In this embodiment, the frame 101 comprises a substantially deformable hinge zone 178 and engaging means 174 for rigidly holding the frame 101 in the closed position.

The two edges 172, 173 delimiting the interruption 171 here have a flat shape oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fourth branch 102.

The hinge zone 178 is situated at the third branch 104 of the frame 101, as opposed to the fourth branch 102. It has an incision 179 extending along an axis perpendicular to the axis A1 and dividing the transverse wall 112 into two parts. Thanks to this hinge zone 178, the frame 101 may be deformed as it flexes with respect to the center of its third branch 104, which allows the two edges 172, 173 to be spaced or approached so as to detach the access opening 109.

As shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the engaging means includes, protruding from a first of the two edges 172, a prong 175 which is adapted to engage a recessed housing 176 in the second of the two edges 173.

Tip 175 comprises a parallelepiped foot and, at its free end, a head which delimits on one side and the other foot two support surfaces 177 facing the rear of the frame 101.

The housing 176 opens on the rear face of the frame 101 and has a window 178 which opposites into the front face of this frame 101.

In this manner, as shown more particularly in Fig. 10, the tip 175 may be joined to its housing 176 by the rear of the frame 101 and then engaged with its housing 176 such that these two bearing surfaces 177 engage with each other. on the front face of the frame 101. Thus, these gear means 174 allow the two parts 102A, 102B of the fourth branch 102 to be rigidly held together.

In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 11, the support 100 is presented to the user in the open position as a result of their molding. The power supply cable 310 can therefore be easily engaged with the receiving opening 106 of the frame through the access opening 109.

Once the power cord 310 is correctly secured to the receiving opening 106, it is then possible to close the frame 101 again (Fig. 12) so that it can be secured to the wall box 300 and the cable ties can be fixed. at its third branch 104 by means of two locking screws screwed into the threaded holes 145.

In the fourth embodiment of the bracket shown in Fig. 13, the separation means 180 of the fourth branch 102 of the frame 101 in two parts 102A, 102B have, in the fourth branch 102 of the frame 101, two low strength zones 181, 182 located one side and the other of a detachable portion 183 of the frame 101.

These two low strength zones 181, 182 have sections much smaller than the average size of the fourth branch section 102. They can thus be split and cut by hand as soon as the installer pivots the detachable portion 183 around the longitudinal axis of the fourth branch 102.

Thanks to its detachable portion 183, the frame 101 exhibits optimal rigidity so much that the low strength zones 181, 182 have not been broken.

Once this detachable portion 183 is extracted from the frame 101, the receiving opening 106 of the housing 101 opens laterally on the side of the housing 101, allowing the power supply cable 310 to be secured to the receiving opening 106.

The frame 101 then exhibits reduced stiffness but which, thanks in part to the longitudinal 111 and transverse walls 112, remains sufficient to properly maintain the mirror above the wall box 300.

In this embodiment, the support 100 is made of one piece by molding an insulating plastics material such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). It is more precisely molded in the closed position with its two low strength zones 181, 182.

Fig. 14 shows a fourth embodiment of the holder 100 according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the holder 100 is an apparatus holder. It is then designed to house and secure within its receiving opening 106 an apparatus mechanism such as a switch, socket, reciprocating, telephone socket or circuit breaker mechanism.

Its receiving aperture 106 is not in effect sealed by the longitudinal or transverse walls. By way of compensation, along a portion of its inner peripheral edge 108, a lip 190 is arranged to form a rear support for the base of the apparatus mechanism.

The frame 101 on the other hand comprises means for securing the base of the rigging mechanism against this rim 190. These securing means comprise, on either side of each hole 110, two mating ribs 130 into which they can engage. the gear means provided correspondingly in the base of the apparatus mechanism.

In this embodiment, the frame 101 comprises separation means 150 from its fourth branch 102 in two parts 102A, 102B, which are identical to those shown in Fig. 2.

These separation means, as soon as the installer has mistakenly connected the switchgear mechanism to the power cord 310 before securing the bracket 100 to the wall box 300, secures the power cord 310 to the receiving opening 106 of the frame. 101 without first having to turn off the switchgear.

The lip 190 is here interrupted along the fourth branch 102 of the frame 101 so as to allow the two edges 152, 153 to move relative to each other in order to twist the frame 101.

As shown in this Fig. 14, the fastening means 110, 120 of the frame 101 in the wall housing 300 on the other hand have a third closure hole 110 provided at half length of the third branch 104. Thanks to this third hole 101, the frame 101 may also be fixed horizontally as well as vertically to the wall box.

In each of these embodiments of the holder 100 shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7, 13 and 14, means are provided for ensuring perfect alignment of two juxtaposed brackets which can be used when wall box 300 is a multi-position box arranged to receive a plurality of brackets 100.

The frame 101 of the holder 100 more precisely comprises at least one of its branches 102-105, locking means 140 arranged to cooperate with the complementary locking means of a juxtaposed support.

In the brackets 100 shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 13, these engaging means 140 comprise, protruding from the outer peripheral edge 107 of the frame 101, two male elements 140 adapted to engage two female elements of complementary shapes provided in correspondence with the juxtaposed support.

In the apparatus support shown in Fig. 14, these engaging means 140 comprise, protruding from the outer peripheral edge 107 of the frame 101, two male elements 141, and, underneath this outer peripheral edge 107, two female elements 142 of complementary shapes. , which allow to juxtapose two identical mounting brackets 100.

On the other hand, in both of these embodiments of the holder 100 shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7, 13 and 14, provided at half the length of each branch 102 105 of the frame 101, a recess 146 delimiting a hollow free space in the front face of the frame 101.

Each recess 146 extends in an angular sector of about 10 degrees that is centered in the middle of the corresponding branch 102-105 of frame 101, and which is surrounded on one side by the outer peripheral edge 107 of frame 101 and on the other by a portion substantially. counter right 146.

Each recess 146, on the other hand, has a depth from the front face of frame 101 which is substantially equal to half the maximum thickness of frame 101.

Thanks to these recesses 146, the fastening of two brackets 100 in the juxtaposed position on the wall box 300 does not require complete unscrewing of the fastening screws previously fastened to the screw recesses 305 of this wall box 300.

As is well known, the brackets 100 are effectively slantedly joined to the wall housing 300 such that the heads of the securing screws secured in the screw recesses 305 pass through the circular ends of the holes 110. The brackets 100 are next such that the fixing screw heads can rest against the edges of the oblong portions of these holes 110. It is then understood that after a first bracket has been attached to the wall box, this first bracket hinders the securing of the second bracket so inclined way in the wall box.

prevents

One of which is joined of support corners comes, in effect, to touch first support.

against the face of the second front of the

Thanks to these recesses unscrew the screws slightly more height the necessary purpose bracket, with fixing ends

146, it is only securing the second support to a significant extent that the first may not be circular than the heads of these screws despite holes

110 through the second bracket. Without these it is necessary to deflect recesses, the screws completely out of their bolting recesses, being annoying to the installer.

would be of this framing unlike fixing to be revealed

The present invention is not in the manner described by those skilled in the art.

and represented any but variant one in

In particular, the two-part separation of the frame is located not in the center of one of the branches of this frame but above all in the corners of this frame. Thus, the separating means will be arranged to separate two adjacent branches in order to create an opening for access to the receiving opening of the frame.

at least one means of

Claims (11)

1 - Bracket (100) comprising a frame (101) provided with four branches (102 - 105), delimiting between them a reception opening (106), and securing means (110, 120) of the frame (101 ) to a wall box (300), characterized in that the frame (101) comprises means for separating (150; 160; 170; 180) from at least one of its branches (102) into two parts (102A, 102B) to create a access opening (109) to said receiving opening (106). Support (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that said separating means (150; 160; 170) comprise, along the frame (101), an interruption (151; 161; 171) delimited between two edges. (152, 153; 172, 173), and where the frame (101) may be deformed to allow said two edges (152, 153; 172, 173) to move closer or further apart. Support (100) according to Claim 2, characterized in that said separating means (150) comprise areas of low resistance (154) joining said two edges (152, 153). Support (100) according to one of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said two edges (152, 153) have a shape cooperation. Support (100) according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said two edges (172, 173) support gear means (174). Support (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the frame (101) has a hinge zone (178) which is situated opposite said separating means (170) with respect to said opening. reception (106) and that can be deformed. Support (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame (101) is formed by one piece by molding a plastics material. 2/2 Support (100) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the frame (101) comes from molding with at least one of its branches (102) separated into two parts (102A, 102B). Support (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that said separating means (180) comprise two areas of reduced resistance (181, 182) situated on either side of a detachable portion (183) of the frame. (101). Support (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said separating means (150; 160; 170; 180) are located in a region of the frame (101) distant from said securing means (110; 120). Support (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said separating means (150; 160; 170; 180) are centered on one of the branches (102) of the frame (101).