WO2012056289A1

WO2012056289A1 - Decoration plate and plate device including same

Info

Publication number: WO2012056289A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/002527
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takahiro Sakaji; Masayuki Mimura; Toru Honda; Kenichi Miyazaki; Hirohisa Okuno
Original assignee: Panasonic Corporation
Priority date: 2010-10-25
Filing date: 2011-10-24
Publication date: 2012-05-03
Also published as: JP5874046B2; JP2012095384A

Abstract

A plate device 1 includes a mounting frame 2 in which embedded wiring accessories such as a switch 101 and a receptacle 101 are installed; and a decoration plate 3 attached to a front side of the mounting frame 2. The decoration plate 3 includes a plate frame having a plate body 4, and decorative sheets 5a and 5b attached to recesses 42 formed in both left and right sides of the plate body 4. A plurality of grooves 52 is formed in a front surface of the decorative sheets 5a and 5b. The decorative sheet 5a is disposed in front of a light-emitting block 8 attached to the mounting frame 2, and an aperture 53 penetrating the decorative sheet 5a in a front-back direction is formed in a portion of the grooves 52 of the decorative sheet 5a. A protrusion part of a lens body 6 through which light of the light emitting block 8 is emitted forwardly from the aperture 53 is inserted into the aperture 53.

Description

DECORATION PLATE AND PLATE DEVICE INCLUDING SAME

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a decoration plate and a plate device using the same.

Background of the Invention A decoration plate is attached to a front surface of a mounting frame in which an embedded wiring accessory is installed, and improves its design by covering the front surface (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-166050) .

The wiring accessory such as a switch or the like may include a light-emitting unit serving as a position indicator therein. In cases where the wiring accessory has no space for the light-emitting unit due to its dimensional limitation, however, the light-emitting part is disposed on a rear side of the decoration plate. In this case, it is necessary to irradiate light of the light-emitting unit disposed on the rear side of the decoration plate forwardly outwardly. Conventionally, on a front surface of the plate, there is disposed a light-transmitting member such as a lens, through which the light of the light-emitting part is irradiated forwardly. Due to the light-transmitting member disposed on the front surface of the plate, the appearance of the decoration plate is deteriorated.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above, the present invention provides a plate device in which light of a light-emitting part can be transmitted outside without deteriorating the appearance of the plate device.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a decoration plate to be attached on a front side of a mounting frame to which embedded wiring accessories are installed. The decoration plate includes a plate frame having grooves formed in at least a portion of a front surface of the plate frame. An aperture penetrating the plate frame in a front-rear direction is provided in a portion of the grooves. In the aperture, there is disposed a light-transmitting member through which light of a light- emitting unit provided on a rear side of the plate frame is irradiated forwardly through the aperture.

The plate frame may include a plate body, and a decorative sheet attached to the plate body. In this case, the grooves and the aperture are formed in the decorative sheet, and the plate body has an aperture corresponding to the aperture of the decorative sheet. Accordingly, the light of the light-emitting unit is irradiated forwardly through the apertures of the plate body and the decorative sheet .

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate device including: a mounting frame in which embedded wiring accessories are installed; and the above-described decoration plate attached on a front side of the mounting frame, wherein the light- emitting unit is attached to the mounting frame.

In the plate device, one of the mounting frame and the light-emitting part is preferably provided with a locking claw to be locked in a locking hole provided in the other of the mounting frame and the light-emitting part.

According to the decoration plate and the plate device of the present invention, the aperture is opened at a portion of the grooves provided in the plate frame and the light-transmitting member through which the light of the light-emitting unit is irradiated forwardly is disposed in the aperture. Therefore, the aperture in which the light- transmitting member is disposed is made inconspicuous. Consequently, it is prevented that the appearance of the plate frame is deteriorated due to the light-transmitting member, thereby improving both usability and appearance of the decoration plate and the plate device. Brief Description of the Drawings

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a plate device of the present invention viewed from its front side;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the above plate device viewed from its rear side;

Fig. 3 is a front view showing a state where the above plate device is installed;

Fig. 4 is an external perspective view of the above plate device;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a decoration plate constituting the above plate device;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the main part of the decoration plate constituting the above plate device;

Fig. 7A is a front view of a mounting flame constituting the above plate device, and Fig. 7B is an external perspective view of a sleeve;

Fig. 8 is an external perspective view of another decoration plate constituting the above plate device; and Figs. 9A to 9C are front views showing other configurations of the plate device when being installed. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

A decoration plate and a plate device using the same in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 9C. Hereinafter, up-down, left-right and front-rear directions are defined based on the directions shown in Fig. 1. However, the above directions are defined for convenience of explanation, and do not necessarily coincide with the directions in the actual use state of the wiring device.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a plate device 1 in accordance with the present embodiment includes a mounting frame 2 for an embedded wiring accessory; and a decoration plate 3 attached to a front side of the mounting frame 2. In the present embodiment, up to three pieces of an embedded wiring accessory with a single unit size can be installed to the plate device 1, for example. Fig. 3 shows the state where a receptacle 101 and a switch 100 as the embedded wiring accessory are installed to the plate device 1, in which the receptacle 101 has a double unit size and the switch 100 has the single unit size. Note that the plate device 1 is not limited to the above, but various kinds of plate devices to which four, six or eight pieces of a wiring accessory with the single unit size can be installed as shown in Figs. 9A to 9C, may be employed. In Figs. 9A to 9C, a reference numeral 104 denotes a television receptacle, and a reference numeral 105 denotes an operating switch for a ventilation fan.

First, the mounting frame 2 will be described. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7A, the mounting frame 2 is made into a rectangular frame shape by using a metal plate, and includes a frame body 20 of which a center portion is opened to form a rectangular mounting hole 21 in which the wiring accessories are installed from its front side. On both upper and lower sides of the frame body 20, a plurality of ribs 22 (six ribs in the present embodiment) is protruded rearwardly from an inner peripheral edge of the frame body 20 (mounting hole 21) and arranged at regular intervals in the left-right direction. A front end of each rib 22 is connected to the frame body 20, and a rear end thereof is connected to a hooking piece 23 extending along a direction parallel to the frame body 20 (the left-right direction) .

Further, in each of the left and right sides of the frame body 20, an elongated hole 24 is formed at substantially the center in the up-down direction thereof. Fixing screws (not shown) are respectively inserted into the elongated holes 24 and then screwed into thread parts of an embedded box (not shown) , so that the frame body is fixed to the embedded box. In each of the left and right sides of the frame body 20, a forwardly protruding rib 25a is provided on an outer side of a peripheral edge of the elongated hole 24. When the fixing screw is fastened into the thread part of the embedded box, a screw head of the fixing screw comes into contact with the rib 25a. Since the rib 25a is provided on the outer side of the elongated hole 24, the screw head of the mounting screw is avoided from pushing the frame body 20 inwardly. In other words, the frame body 20 is prevented from being deformed to sink its center portion rearwardly due to the stress caused by the screw fixing. Furthermore, a part of the frame body 20 is pressed from its rear side to form a rib 25b protruded forwardly over an entire peripheral portion of the frame body 20, thereby improving strength of the frame body 20.

Still further, in each of the left and right sides of the frame body 20, there are provided: a rectangular aperture 26 for exposing a light-emitting portion of a light emitting block 8 (light-emitting unit) described below; and a pair of locking holes 27 to which locking claws of the light-emitting block 8 are to be locked, the locking holes being located at both upper and lower sides of the aperture 26. Herein, the apertures 26 and the locking holes 27 are disposed diagonally (upper-left and lower-right sides) in the frame body 20. Even if the frame body 20 is installed on an installation surface upside down, the light emitting block 8 will be positioned at the lower-right side of the frame body 20.

Furthermore, in both the upper and lower sides of the frame body 20, attachment holes 28 for attaching sleeves 7 made of a synthetic resin are provided spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Each attachment hole 28 is formed into a square shape of which one corner is cut obliquely viewed from its front. Besides, the upper attachment holes 28 located above the mounting hole 21 and the lower attachment holes 28 located below the mounting hole 21 are disposed symmetrically. Accordingly, even if the frame body 20 is installed on an installation surface upside down, the attachment holes 28 will remain the same position and shape.

The sleeve 7 is formed into substantially a square tubular shape whose center portion is opened as shown in Fig 1 and Fig. 7B. When the sleeve 7 is attached to the attachment frame 2, its inner surface faces to the attachment hole 21. On the inner surface, there is provided a locking protrusion 70 to be engaged with a locking claw 44 of the decoration plate 3 (plate body 4) described later. Further, a rear portion of the sleeve 7 is formed to have an expanded part 71 that is expanded more widely than the other parts thereof in the left-right direction. A front portion of the sleeve 7 located in front of the expanded part 71 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped of which one corner (close to the locking protrusion 70) is cut obliquely viewed from the front. As such, the front portion of the sleeve 7 is formed to have the same shape as that of the attachment hole 28, so that the sleeve 7 can be guided to be attached correctly to the mounting frame 2 by the cutout portion provided at the corner. The locking protrusion 70 is located close to the mounting hole 21 when the sleeve 7 is attached to the attachment hole 28. Further, the front portion of the sleeve 7 is formed to have claws 72 which respectively are extended from its front end in the up and down directions, and a slit 73 is formed to extend from the front end to the expanded part 71, thereby making the front portion of the sleeve 7 more flexible. Thus, when the front portion of the sleeve 7 is inserted into the attachment hole 28 from the rearward, the claws 72 of the sleeve 7 is locked to a front peripheral edge of the attachment hole 28, and the expanded part 71 comes into contact with the rear surface of the frame body 20. As a result, the sleeve 7 is attached to the mounting frame 2. If the locking claws 44 of the decoration plate 3 are directly locked to the mounting frame 2 made of a metal plate, the locking claws 44 made of a synthetic resin may be worn away. In the present embodiment, however, since the locking claws 44 are locked to the sleeves 7 made of a synthetic resin, the locking claws 44 are avoided from being worn away. Note that in the present embodiment, the sleeves 7 formed separately from the mounting frame 2 are attached to the mounting frame 2 but, for example, the sleeves 7 made of a synthetic resin may be formed integrally with the mounting frame 2 made of a metal plate by insert molding.

Next, the decoration plate 3 will be described. The decoration plate 3 includes a plate body 4 made of a synthetic resin, and decorative sheets 5a and 5b attached to the plate body 4. The plate body 4 and the decorative sheets 5a and 5b constitute a plate frame of the decoration plate 3.

The plate body 4 is formed into a rectangular frame shape and has a size capable of covering substantially the entire front surface of the mounting frame 2. At a center of the plate body 4, there is provided a rectangular opening 41 for exposing a front surface of the embedded wiring accessory installed in the mounting frame 2. Both the left and right sides -of the plate body 4 are partially recessed rearwardly than the other portions thereof to provide recesses 42 on both left and right sides of the opening 41, each of which has substantially the same length in the up- down direction as that of the aperture 41. Further, in both the left and right sides of the plate body 4, an outer edge of each of the recesses 42 is recessed inwardly than that of the other parts of the plate body 4. Furthermore, in both upper and lower portions of each recess 42, there are provided locking holes 43 to be engaged with locking claws 54 provided on the decorative sheets 5a and 5b, respectively. The locking hole 43 has an inner hole portion and an outer hole portion, the inner hole portion having a greater dimension than the outer hole portion in the up-down direction. The light of a light emitting diode 81 of the light-emitting block 8 is irradiated through the inner hole portion of the locking hole 43 forwardly. Furthermore, on the rear surface of the plate body 4, the locking claws 44 are provided at positions corresponding to the sleeves 7 attached to the mounting frame 2, respectively. When the plate body 4 is attached to the front side of the mounting frame 2, the locking claws 44 are respectively engaged with the locking protrusions 70 of the sleeves 7, so that the plate body 4 is fixed to the mounting frame 2.

The decorative sheets 5a and 5b are made of a synthetic resin and formed to have substantially the same shape as each other. Each of the decorative sheets 5a and 5b includes a main part 50 of a rectangular plate for covering the front surface of the recess 42; and a side part 51 protruding rearwardly from an outer edge of the main part 50 for covering the outer edge of the recess 42. In a front surface of the main part 50, a plurality of grooves 52 extending along the left-right direction (i.e., the direction in which the wiring accessories are arranged) is formed at regular intervals in the up-down direction. These grooves 52 configure a surface design of the decoration plate 3. Further, two locking claws 54 to be locked to the locking hole 43 of the frame body 4 are provided on each of upper and lower edges of the main part 50. Furthermore, in the decorative sheet 5a disposed in front of the light emitting block 8, a portion of the grooves 52 (e.g., the bottom groove 52) is opened to have an aperture 53 penetrating the main part 50 in the front-rear direction.

A part of a lens body 6 (light-transmitting member) made of a translucent synthetic resin is inserted into the aperture 53. The lens body 6 has a protrusion part 61 formed into an elongated shape of which a front view is substantially the same as that of the aperture 53, and a flange part 62 formed integrally with a rear end of the protrusion part 61. When the protrusion part 61 of the lens body 6 is inserted into the aperture 53 of the decorative sheet 5a from the rearward, the flange part 62 of the lens body 6 comes into contact with a peripheral portion of the aperture 53, whereby the protrusion part 61 is prevented from passing through the aperture 53. Further, when the decorative sheet 5a in which the protrusion part 61 of the lens body 6 is inserted into the aperture 53 is attached to the recess 42 of the plate body 42, the lens body 6 is held between the recess 42 and the decorative sheet 5a. Herein, on a rear surface of the decorative sheet 5a, a recess 55 is formed around the aperture 53 for the purpose of avoiding interference with the flange 62 of the lens body 6. Note that, although the decorative sheet 5b is provided with no aperture 53 into which the protrusion part 61 of the lens body 6 is inserted, the same one as the decorative sheet 5a may be employed as the decorative sheet 5b. In this case, the number of kinds of components can be reduced. By the way, if a resin is injected into the plate body 4 from near the center of each of the upper and lower sides of the plate body 4 during molding process, a weld line will be caused at a middle portion of each of the left and right sides (i.e., on the recess 42) . This makes the external appearance of the plate body 4 unattractive. In the present embodiment, however, since the decorative sheets 5a and 5b cover the front surfaces of the recesses 42 on which the weld line is caused, the external appearance can be improved.

Note that the decoration plate 3 includes the plate body 4 and the decorative sheets 5a and 5b attached on the plate body 4 in the present embodiment, but the plate body 4 and the decorative sheets 5a and 5b may be molded integrally to provide a plate frame 30 as shown in Fig. 8. The grooves 52, which configure the surface design, are formed on at least a part of the front surface of the plate frame 30. The aperture 53 penetrating the plate frame 30 in the front- rear direction is formed at a part of the grooves 52. The lens body 6 is held by the plate frame 30 in the state where the protrusion part 61 is inserted into the aperture 53.

The light emitting block 8 is attached to the plate device 1, which emits light for the purpose of indicating an installed position of the plate device 1 (i.e., the wiring accessories installed in the plate device 1) . The light emitting block 8 is provided with a housing 80 of substantially rectangular parallelepiped. A light emitting diode 81 serving as a light source, a lighting circuit thereof, and so-called screw- less terminals for connection of external wires are accommodated in the housing 80. Wire insertion holes 83 are opened in a rear surface of the housing 80. When power lines are respectively connected to the screw- less terminals through the wire insertion holes 83, the light emitting diode 81 is lit on by the lighting circuit.

A light-emitting portion of the light emitting diode 81 is exposed outside through an opening provided in a front surface of the housing 80. Further, locking claws 82 are provided on the front surface of the housing 80 to protrude forwardly from both upper and lower sides of the exposed part of the light emitting diode 81. Herein, the locking claws 82 and 82 are aligned with the locking holes 27 and 27, and then the housing 80 is brought close to the mounting frame 2 from the rearward. Then, the locking claws 82 are fitted in and locked to the respective locking holes 27, so that the housing 80 is fixed to the frame body 20. At this time, since the light emitting diode 81 of the light emitting block 8 is exposed forwardly through the aperture 26, the light of the light emitting diode 81 can be emitted forwardly through the aperture 26.

The plate device 1 in accordance with the present embodiment has the above configuration. The assembly of the plate device 1 is completed in such a manner that the decorative sheets 5a and 5b and the lens body 6 are attached to the decoration plate 3 and then the decoration plate 3 is fixed to the mounting frame 2 to which the sleeves 7 are attached. Further, when the embedded wiring accessories 100 and 101 are inserted into the opening 41 and the mounting hole 21 from the front side of the plate device 1, mounting claws 102 formed on the embedded wiring accessories 100 and 101 are hooked on the hooking piece 23, so that the embedded wiring accessories 100 and 101 are installed in the mounting frame 2. At this time, the ribs 22 of the mounting frame 2 are fitted into depressed grooves (not shown) provided on both upper and lower sides of the embedded wiring accessories 100 and 101. Therefore, misalignment of the embedded wiring accessories 100 and 101 in the left-right direction can be suppressed.

As described above, the decoration plate 3 in the present embodiment is provided with the plate frame including: the plate body 4 attached to the front side of the mounting frame 2 for the embedded wiring accessories; and the decorative sheets 5a and 5b in which the grooves 52 are formed on the front surface thereof. Further, the aperture 53 penetrating the plate frame (includes the frame body 4 and the decorative sheets 5a and 5b) in the front- rear direction is formed at a portion of the grooves 52. In the aperture 53, there is disposed the lens body 6 (light- transmitting member) through which the light of the light emitting block 8 disposed on the rear side of the plate frame is irradiated forwardly through the aperture 53.

As such, the aperture 53 in which the lens body 6 is disposed is provided at a portion of the grooves 52. This makes the aperture 53 for disposing the lens body 6 inconspicuous. Accordingly, the appearance of the plate frame is prevented from being deteriorated due to the lens body 6 disposed in the plate frame. As a result, it is possible to provide a decoration plate through which light can be irradiated outward without deteriorating the appearance of the decoration plate. Further, since the above-described grooves 52 partially configure the surface design, there is no need to form a separate groove 52 for only the purpose of disposing the aperture 53. Furthermore, the light emitting block 8 is used as a position indicator, which emits the light to indicate the location of the wiring accessories in a dark place.

Further, the plate device 1 in accordance with the present embodiment includes: the mounting frame 2 in which the embedded wiring accessories are installed; and the decoration plate 3 attached to the front side of the mounting frame 2, wherein the light emitting block 8 for indicating its location is attached to the mounting frame 2.

As such, since the aforementioned decoration plate 3 and the mounting frame 2 constitute the plate device 1, operability and appearance of the plate device 1 can be improved .

Further, in the plate device 1 of the present embodiment, one of the mounting frame and the light-emitting block 8 is provided with the locking claws 82 to be locked to the locking holes 27 provided in the other.

Thus, the light emitting block 8 for indicating the location can be attached to the mounting frame 2 without an additional part such as a screw and a tool such as a driver, which makes it easier to attach the light emitting block 8 to the mounting frame 2. Note that, although the locking holes 27 are provided in the mounting frame 2 and the locking claws 82 are provided to the light emitting block 8 in the present embodiment, the locking holes may be provided in the light emitting block 8 and the locking claws may be provided in the mounting frame 2.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A decoration plate to be attached on a front side of a mounting frame to which one or more embedded wiring accessories are installed, the decoration plate comprising: a plate frame having grooves formed in at least a portion of a front surface thereof,

wherein an aperture penetrating the plate frame in a front-rear direction is provided in a portion of the grooves; and a light-transmitting member through which light of a light-emitting unit provided on a rear side of the plate frame is irradiated forwardly through the aperture is disposed in the aperture.

2. The decoration plate as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the plate frame comprises a plate body, and a decorative sheet attached to the plate body;

the grooves and the aperture are formed . in the decorative sheet;

the plate body has an aperture corresponding to the aperture of the decorative sheet; and

the light of the light-emitting unit is irradiated forwardly through the apertures of the plate body and the decorative sheet.

3. A plate device, comprising: a mounting frame to which one or more embedded wiring accessories are installed; and

the decoration plate as set forth in Claim 1 or 2 , attached to a front surface of the mounting frame,

wherein the light-emitting unit is attached to the mounting frame.

4. The plate device as set forth in Claim 3, wherein one of the mounting frame and the light-emitting unit has a locking claw to be locked in a locking hole provided in the other of the mounting frame and the light-emitting unit.