Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers

Definitions

• the present description relates to the technical field of electrical systems, especially homes and offices. More in particular, the present description relates to a group of parts for the wall mounting of at least one modular electrical apparatus as defined in the preamble of claim 1.
• electrical apparatus any electrical means or device generally being part of electrical installations in civil buildings and the like and usually intended for being mounted, for example embedded, on walls of such buildings.
• This definition thus includes, without limitations, switches, electrical mains sockets, data network sockets, TV plugs, telephone sockets, buttons, switches, diverters, electrical adjustment devices in general, connectors, thermostats, timers, fuse holders, ringers/buzzers, emergency lamps, for example removable, signalling lamps, for example step markers, screens, for example LCD and the like.
• a covering plate removably fixed to the support frame and provided with an opening for allowing a user to access, visually or manually, the electrical apparatuses installed on the support frame.
• the above may cause, for example, the risk of electrical discharges or lightning for a user.
• An object of the present description is to provide a group of parts for the wall mounting of at least one modular electrical apparatus which is capable of obviating the drawbacks discussed above with reference to the prior art.
• FIG. 1 shows an axonometric view of the front side of a currently preferred embodiment of a group of parts for the wall mounting of at least one electrical apparatus with a plurality of electrical apparatuses mounted to such group;
• figure 2 shows an axonometric view of the group of parts of figure 1 wherein a first component has been removed;
• - figure 3 shows an axonometric view of the group of parts of figure 2 wherein a component is shown detached;
• - figure 4 shows an axonometric view of the back side of the component removed in figure 2;
• figure 5 shows a plan view of the back side of the component of figure 4;
• figure 6 shows an axonometric view of an enlarged detail of figure 4.
• figure 7 shows a plan front view of a second component of the group of figure 1, such component being visible for example in figure 3;
• figure 8 shows a plan front view of the group of parts of figure 2 wherein the plurality of electrical apparatuses has been removed;
• figure 9 shows a cross section view along line A-A of the component of figure 7 ;
• figure 10 shows a cross section view along line B-B of the group of parts of figure 8.
• FIG 11 shows a cross section view along line C-C of the group of parts of figure 1, wherein the electrical apparatuses have been removed.
• reference numeral 10 globally denotes a group of parts for the wall mounting of at least one modular electrical apparatus.
• group 10 comprises a cover plate 20.
• Plate 20 in particular comprises a plate- -shaped plate body 22 that extends around at least one plate opening 24 suitable for allowing the visual and manual access to the at least one modular electrical apparatus.
• the plate body 22 is entirely made of a metal material.
• the plate opening extends around a plurality of modular electrical apparatuses, in particular 4 electrical button switches 26.
• Plate 20 comprises a front side 28, intended to be visible when group 10 is fixed to a respective mounting wall, and a back side 32 (figure 4), intended for facing the mounting wall.
• the role of plate 20 is both of ensuring a minimal protection for the electrical apparatuses, for example from dust, and of preventing dangerous access (for example, with pointed objects) to electrically conductive live or potentially live portions.
• Another fundamental task generally assigned to cover plates like plate 20, moreover, is that of hiding any imperfections produced for example by the presence of a cavity in the mounting wall, and by the presence of a mounting box and frame or support frame for electrical apparatus which, rather than having an aesthetic value, have a functional value difficult to reconcile with aesthetic requirements or rules .
• plate 20 comprises coupling elements 34 which are suitable for cooperating with matching coupling elements 36 provided on a support frame for electrical apparatus 40 for removably and directly fixing plate 20 to such support frame.
• the coupling elements 34 comprise quick fixing elements, preferably snap-wise hooking elements .
• the coupling elements 34 are elements separated by the cover plate which are firmly fixed to such plate.
• the coupling elements comprise a plurality of coupling spring clips 34 preferably made of a cut and bent metal sheet, preferably of stainless steel, whereas the matching coupling elements comprise a plurality of matching coupling openings 36.
• Clips 34 are separate elements and steadily fixed to the cover plate and they substantially project perpendicularly from the plate body 22. More in particular, according to a currently preferred embodiment, the coupling clips 34 comprise anchoring elements 42 that are suitable for cooperating with matching anchoring elements 44 formed integrally with the cover plate for fixing the coupling clips to the plate.
• the anchoring elements comprise a plurality of anchoring openings 42 whereas the matching anchoring elements comprise a plurality of rivets 44 projecting from the back side 32 of the plate that are suitable for crossing the anchoring openings and being riveted for allowing the fixing of clips 34.
• the anchoring elements and the matching anchoring elements respectively comprise two through anchoring holes 42 and two rivets 44 for fixing each clip 34.
• the cover plate preferably comprises centring elements 46, in the example four centring elements, which substantially project perpendicularly from the plate body and which are suitable for cooperating with matching centring elements 48 of the support frame 40 (figures 3 and 7) for allowing the centring of the cover plate.
• the centring elements 46 comprise a plurality of projecting channels having a cross section with a substantially "C" shaped profile whereas the matching centring elements 48 preferably comprise a plurality of passages 48, each defined between a pair of opposite ribbings, wherein the centring channels 48 fit.
• group 10 advantageously comprises a protection device 60.
• Such device 60 is separate from the cover plate and comprises a substantially plate-shaped device body 62 made of an electrically insulating material, preferably entirely made of hard plastic.
• the device body which is suitable for being operatively interposed between the cover plate 20 and the support frame 40 extends around at least one device opening 64 suitable for allowing the visual and manual access to the electrical apparatus 26.
• the device opening is substantially equal, by shape and dimensions, to the plate opening 24.
• the device opening and the plate opening are two rectangular openings having rectangle sides substantially of the same dimensions.
• the protection device comprises fixing elements 66 that are suitable for cooperating with matching fixing elements 68 of the support frame 40 for directly and removably fixing the protection device to such frame.
• the fixing elements 66 comprise quick fixing elements, preferably snap-wise hooking elements.
• the fixing elements 66 comprise a plurality of fixing teeth, in the example four teeth, which are formed integral with the protection device and which project substantially perpendicular from the device body 62.
• the matching fixing elements on the other hand, preferably comprise a plurality of matching fixing through openings 68 suitable for receiving the fixing teeth for allowing the snap-wise coupling of the protection device to the support frame 40.
• the device body 62 comprises an inner portion 72 and a frame-like peripheral portion 74 which is suitable for delimiting a region 76 in the example with a substantially square shape.
• Region 76 in particular includes the inner portion 72 and the device opening 64.
• the inner portion 72 includes a substantially continuous protection wall 77, that is, free from through openings, which is complimentary to the device opening 64 for defining region 76.
• region 76 is substantially defined by the device opening 64 and by the protection wall 77.
• the frame-like peripheral portion is provided with interconnection elements 78, 82 that are suitable for cooperating with the coupling elements 34 and/or with the matching coupling elements 36 for allowing the direct fixing of the cover plate to the support frame 40.
• such interconnection elements comprise a plurality of through interconnection openings 72 suitable for being crossed by clips 34 for allowing the last- mentioned to hook snap-wise into the matching coupling openings 36.
• the interconnection elements may comprise a plurality of through centring openings 82 which are suitable for being crossed by the centring channels 46 for allowing such channels to insert into passages 48.
• the interconnection elements comprise four interconnection openings 78 and four centring openings 82 delimited by portions of the support frame substantially shaped as a "C".
• the interconnection openings 78 are substantially arranged at the fixing teeth 66.
• such frame comprises a frame body 95 which extends around a frame opening 105.
• the frame opening 105 is in particular suitable for defining a mounting seat for receiving or retaining one or more of the button switches 26.
• the frame body may comprise a mounting crosspiece 107 which is suitable for dividing the frame opening 105 into two openings.
• a plurality of hooking elements 109 project from the frame body towards the frame opening, preferably along two parallel edges of the frame body that delimit such opening and along two opposite faces of the mounting crosspiece, if provided.
• the hooking elements 109 are such as to cooperate with matching hooking elements provided on two opposite sides of the button switches 26 to be hooked to the support frame.
• the hooking elements 109 allow obtaining a joint-wise and hooking of switches 26 to the support frame 40.
• the frame comprises a housing seat 112, 114 formed in the profile of the frame body 95 for receiving the device body 62.
• the frame body 95 comprises a frame- like edge portion 116 and a frame-like wall 112 which is retracted relative to the frame-like edge portion for defining the housing seat 112, 114.
• the frame-like edge portion 116 in particular is a retaining portion, preferably flattened, which is suitable for being arranged facing the mounting wall for allowing the anchoring of the support frame to such wall.
• the frame-like wall 112 is jointed to the frame-like edge portion 116 through a jointing wall 114.
• the frame body 95 comprises wall mounting elements or wall mounting through openings 118 that are suitable for cooperating with matching mounting elements 122 for fixing frame 40, and therefore group 10, to the respective mounting wall.
• the matching mounting elements comprise metal screws 122, four in the example, which are suitable for crossing the wall mounting openings 118.
• the functional elements of the support frame and more in particular the wall mounting elements 118, the matching coupling elements 36 and the matching fixing elements 68, are advantageously arranged internally to the housing seat 112, 114.
• each opening 68 is suitable for forming a substantially "L" shaped arrangement with a respective opening 36.
• the frame body 95 comprises a plurality of prefracturated portions 126, in the example eight prefracturated portions, which are arranged along the edge portion 116.
• the prefracturated portions 126 are removable, for example through a tool, for forming mounting seats suitable for receiving corresponding anchoring tabs of a hollow wall flush box when such box is mounted to the mounting wall.
• the anchoring tabs of the box are substantially flush with the edge portion 116 to the advantage of the compactness of group 10 when this is installed to the mounting wall.
• the cover plate 20 may be disconnected from the support frame for example using a tool, such as a suction cup applicable to the plate, for releasing the coupling clips 34 from the matching coupling openings 36. It should be noted that in figure 1, plate 20 is such as to entirely cover the protection device 60 and the edge portion 116 of the support frame. Moreover, it should be noted that while shown in figure 1, screws 122 are not actually visible when group 10 is fixed to the mounting wall .
• the protection device 60 when the cover plate is disconnected from the support frame, the protection device 60 remains constrained to such frame (figure 2) . Moreover, it should be noted that in the example shown, since no intermediate coupling elements are provided for fixing the cover plate to the protection device, it is sufficient to release the coupling clips 34 from the support frame 40 to remove the cover plate.
• the device body when the protection device is coupled to the support frame, the device body is suitable for covering the wall mounting openings for preventing access, for example by a tool, to screws 122.
• the device body is preferably suitable for closing a significant portion of the frame opening 105.
• the device body 62 when the protection device is coupled to the support frame, is such as to be comprised within the profile of the frame body 95 (figure 10) or such as to be substantially flush with the frame-like edge portion 116.

Landscapes

• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
• Mounting Components In General For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
• Finishing Walls (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=42668865

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (2)

Citations (2)

• 2010
  • 2010-01-28 IT ITRM2010A000029A patent/IT1398371B1/it active
• 2011
  • 2011-01-17 ES ES11700277.4T patent/ES2496090T3/es active Active
  • 2011-01-17 WO PCT/EP2011/050514 patent/WO2011092067A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-01-17 EP EP11700277.4A patent/EP2529383B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2011-01-17 PL PL11700277T patent/PL2529383T3/pl unknown
  • 2011-01-17 EA EA201201058A patent/EA020562B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (2)

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