WO2021144744A1

WO2021144744A1 - Cable fastner device and container for an electronic device equipped therewith

Info

Publication number: WO2021144744A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/050283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuliano FAVERO; Francesco BORAN
Original assignee: Carel Industries S.p.A.
Priority date: 2020-01-15
Filing date: 2021-01-15
Publication date: 2021-07-22
Also published as: EP4091414A1; CN114946277A; IT202000000604A1; JOP20220139A1; BR112022012866A2

Abstract

A cable fastener device (10) comprising: - a base (11) fixable to a container (100) of an electronic device, or integral with the container (100); the base (11) being crossed by a channel (12) which extends along a longitudinal direction (A) between two passage ends thereof; the channel (12) having an upper opening (13) facing (106) a bottom (14) of the channel (12); - a lid (15) configured to close the upper opening (13) so as to prevent the escape of cables; - coupling means configured to lock the lid (15) to the base (11) in a closed position wherein the lid (15) engages the upper opening (13), closing it; - a sealing member (16) configured to engage the channel (12) so as to obstruct it upon the insertion thereof into the channel (12) and the closing of the upper opening (13) by means of the lid (15) so as to prevent a passage of water and/or dust through the channel (12).

Description

CABLE FASTNER DEVICE AND CONTAINER FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE EQUIPPED THEREWITH

This invention relates to a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device equipped therewith.

In particular, this invention relates to a cable fastener device adapted to be integrated in a container for an electronic device and suitable for achieving a degree of protection for the container in which it is integrated of IP54 according to International Standard IEC 60529. The cable fastener device in question effectively counteracts the passage of dust and sprayed water through it when it is in place.

Nowadays, in the field of apparatuses consisting of refrigerated display units such as vending machines for drinks and/or food products, or refrigerated cabinets for bottles, it is known that these apparatuses are equipped with a refrigerating machine provided with an electronic controller which, in addition to the running speed of the refrigerating machine, can also control the operating functions of the apparatus itself, such as lighting or ventilation of the display compartment provided therein.

In general, these apparatuses have a housing that houses the controller near the bottom of the housing.

Conventional controllers have a container that houses an electronic device, protecting the latter from dust, dirt and moisture.

Today, there is a strong need to improve the effectiveness of protecting electronic devices from dust and water sprays. One part of the controller that is particularly critical with regard to the possibility of dust and/or water penetrating the container is the cable openings that connect the electronic device to the operating members of the refrigerating machine and the apparatus in general.

The problem underlying this invention is to satisfy the above requirement. The main task of this invention is to make a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it, which solves this problem by resolving the drawbacks of the traditional controllers described above.

As part of this task, it is the aim of this invention to propose a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it which dramatically increases the tightness to dust and water as compared to conventional solutions.

Another aim of this invention is to make a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it, which is simple, easy to use and durable. Another aim again of the invention is to propose a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it, which maintains a high level of tightness to dust and water sprays as the number and size of the cables that use it varies.

A further aim of the invention is to propose a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it which is suitable for achieving a degree of protection of IP54 according to International Standard IEC 60529.

This task, as well as these and other aims which will emerge more fully below, are achieved by a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it according to the attached independent claims.

Detailed features of a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it according to the invention are given in the corresponding dependent claims.

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge more fully from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cable fastener device according to the invention.

- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cable fastener device in Figure 1.

- Figures 3 and 4 show a perspective and a partial sectional view the cable fastener device in Figure 1 , in two configurations during the use thereof.

- Figures 5 and 6 show a partial exploded and assembled perspective view, respectively, of a container for an electronic device according to the invention.

With particular reference to the above-mentioned figures, a cable fastener device is denoted in its entirety by 10 and comprises:

- a base 11 fixable to a container 100 of an electronic device, or integral with the container 100; the base 11 being crossed by a channel 12 which extends along a longitudinal direction A between two passage ends 12a, 12b thereof; the channel 12 having an upper opening 13 facing a bottom 14 of the channel 12;

- a lid 15 configured to close the upper opening 13 so as to prevent the escape of cables therefrom;

- coupling means configured to lock the lid 15 to the base 11 in a closed position, which is shown by non-limiting example in Figure 4 and 6, wherein the lid 15 engages the upper opening 13, closing it; - a sealing member 16 configured to engage the channel 12 so as to obstruct it upon the insertion thereof into the channel 12 and the closing of the upper opening 13 by means of the lid 15, so as to prevent a passage of water and/or dust through the channel 12. The base 11 may comprise two side walls 17 and 18 projecting from opposite edges of the bottom 14 so as to laterally delimit the channel 12 which is delimited at the bottom by the bottom 14.

In particular, the base 11 may have a flat face extending along the longitudinal direction A and defining the bottom 14. The side walls 17 and 18 may extend perpendicularly to the bottom 14 from the two opposite transverse edges of the latter.

In other words, the channel 12 may have a U-shaped section where the bottom 14 may extend between the side walls 17 and 18 in a direction which is transverse to the development direction A. The free end 17a and 18a of the side walls 17 and 18 laterally delimits the upper opening 13 of the channel 12.

The extension of the bottom 14, transversely to the development direction A, preferably is greater than the extension of the side walls 17 and 18, in direction transverse to the development direction A, so as to ensure solidity of the cable fastener device 10.

The channel 12 may be sized to receive a plurality of cable sections so that they cross the channel 12 from a first passage end 12a thereof to the second passage end 12b thereof.

The coupling means may be arranged at the free end 17a, 18a of the side walls 17 and 18 that is distal from the bottom 14. ln general, in a possible embodiment of the invention, said coupling means can include:

- teeth 19, 20 and 21 and

- seats 22, 23, 24 which are engageable by the teeth 19, 20 and 21.

The teeth 19, 20 and 21 may be projecting inside the channel 12 and the seats 22, 23, 24 may be correspondingly provided on the opposite sides 25, 26 of the lid 15, as illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached figures. Alternatively for example, the teeth 19, 20 and 21 could project from the opposite sides 25, 26 of the lid 15 and the seats 22, 23, 24 could be provided inside the channel 12.

However, the teeth 19, 20 and 21 and the seats 22, 23, 24 may be positioned in such a way that, following the positioning of the lid 15 in the upper opening 13, the teeth 19, 20 and 21 are aligned with the seats 22, 23, 24 and the teeth 19, 20 and 21 and the seats 22, 23, 24 are mutually engageable by sliding the lid 15 along the longitudinal direction A.

For example, the seats 22, 23, 24 may have an L-shaped development so as to be engaged by the teeth 19, 20 and 21 upon a double movement of the lid 15, comprising:

- an insertion movement, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom 14 and

- a locking movement in direction parallel to the longitudinal direction A. This makes it easy to couple the lid 15 to the base 11 and at the same time, makes such coupling stable.

The teeth 19, 20 and 21 and/or the seats 22, 23, 24 may be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction A or in particular, with respect to the bottom 14, in such a way that following a sliding of the lid 15 along the longitudinal direction A, which mutually engages the teeth 19, 20 and 21 and the seats 22, 23, 24, the lid 15 is guided close to the bottom 14 by the interaction of the teeth 19, 20 and 21 with the seats 22, 23, 24 in order to compress the sealing member 16 towards the latter.

In other words, the teeth 19, 20 and 21 and/or the seats 22, 23, 24 may define an inclined guide, or cam, to guide the lid 15 towards the bottom 14 when it is brought into the closed position, in order to compress the sealing member 16. The sealing member 16 may extend along a development direction B, transversely to which it may have a shape having a form which is substantially complementary to the form of a section that the channel 12 has transversely to the longitudinal direction A thereof.

The teeth 19, 20 and 21 may comprise three pairs of teeth where the teeth of each pair face each other in the channel 12. In the attached figures, the teeth of each pair have been indicated with the same reference and correspondingly, also the seats.

With particular reference to the above figures, a selected pair of teeth 19, 20 and 21 may extend significantly into the channel 12, transversely to the channel, in order to improve the retention of cables in the channel 12. This selected pair of teeth is indicated by reference 21 in the attached figures.

In fact operatively, the cables inserted into the channel 12 may be inserted under the teeth 21 of the selected pair which, in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction A, preferably define a passage for inserting the cables underneath them, where this passage preferably has a sufficient width for a cable to pass, i.e. greater than the overall transverse dimensions of the cable, for example it may have a width of about 0.5-1 cm.

The teeth 19, 20 and 21 may have a substantially parallelepiped form and as mentioned above, the seats 22, 23, 24 may be defined by an L-shaped groove allowing the entry therein of the corresponding tooth 19, 20 or 21 first by an insertion movement of the lid 15 along a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom 14 and then, by a locking movement by sliding the lid along the longitudinal direction A.

As mentioned above, the channel 12 may have a predominantly rectangular section and likewise, the sealing member 16 may have said rectangular form. The sealing member 16 and the channel 12 may have an overall substantially parallelepiped form.

In plan, the sealing member 16 may have a cross-shaped form, in particular, it may have two lateral expansions 16a which are transverse to the development direction B, and the lid 15 may have two recesses 15a adapted to be engaged by the lateral expansions 16a of the sealing member 16 in order to hold the latter against the lid 15 so as to allow the handling of both as a unit.

The sealing member 16 preferably has said shape which is oversized compared to said section of the channel 12 in order to allow a shape coupling with interference between the sealing member 16 and the channel 12, so as to optimise sealing against water and dust.

The sealing member 16 in particular may be sized in such a way that following the insertion thereof into the channel 12, with the development direction B parallel to the longitudinal direction A, the coupling of the lid 15 with the upper opening 13 requires and allows a compression of the sealing member 16 in the channel 12. ln this way, functionally, when the lid 15 is closed on the upper opening 13, it compresses the sealing member 16 by expanding it into the channel 12 to occupy the entire cable-free section thereof so as to prevent the passage of water and/or dust. The sealing member 16 may be made of elastomeric material, possibly foamed, for example it may comprise or consist of polychloroprene or ethylene- propylene diene monomer, EPDM in short, preferably with a Shore 00 hardness of between 20-30.

In particular, according to the contingent implementation requirements of the invention, the sealing member 16 may be made of an open-cell elastomeric foam material in order to achieve greater conformability of the sealing member 16 to the cables, or of a closed-cell material to ensure impermeability of the sealing member 16 or again, it may comprise an outer layer of open-cell elastomeric foam material with a core of closed-cell elastomeric foam material. A container 100 for an electronic device (not shown) is also the object of this invention.

The container 100 delimits an inner compartment for an electronic device and, according to an aspect of this invention, comprises at least one cable fastener device 10 as described above. The container 100 may comprise two complementary components 101 and 102, wherein a first 101 of the components 101 and 102 comprises a first edge 104 and the second 102 of the components 101 and 102 comprises a second edge 105 which is counter-shaped to the first edge 104 to couple with the latter according to a shape coupling. The first component 101 and the second component 102 may be mutually coupled and uncoupled at edges 104 and 105 in order to respectively switch from a closed configuration, in which the inner compartment is enclosed by the container 100, to an open configuration in which the inner compartment is accessible from the outside of the container 100. The base 11 of the cable fastener device 10 may be divided into two parts 11a and 11 b, a first 11 a of the parts 11 a and 11 b being integral with, or fixed to, the first edge 104, and the second 11 b of the parts 11 a and 11 b being integral with, or fixed to, the second edge 105.

The cable fastener device 10 may include: - first teeth 19, or first seats, fixed to or integral with the first part 11 a of the base

11 ;

- second teeth 20 and 21, or second seats, fixed to or integral with the second part 11 b of the base 11.

The lid 15 correspondingly may have third seats 22, 23, 24, or third teeth, respectively, to engage the first teeth 19, or first seats, and the second teeth 20 and 21 , or second seats, respectively, to lock the lid 15 to the base 11.

The container 100 may also comprise a third component 103; where:

- the first component 101 has a face 106 provided with electrical connectors 107 connectable to an electronic device, for connecting cables via the electrical connectors 107 to the electronic device housed in the container 100;

- the third component 103 is shaped to couple or decouple with/from said first component 101, according to an operative direction C.

The third component 103 may be configured in such a way that following the coupling thereof with the second component 102, it covers the face 106 to enclose the electrical connectors 107. The cable fastener device 10 may be provided on an operative wall 109 of the container 100, extending from the face 106 according to the operative direction C.

The third component 103 may comprise at least one compression element 108 protruding so as to engage the lid 15 to hold it against the base 11 upon the coupling of the third component 103 with the second component 102.

Preferably, the teeth 21 of the selected pair are in a position of the channel 12 that is distal from the face 106, where the first component 101 is coupled to the second component 102.

Furthermore, the lid 15 preferably has an edge 27 adapted to elastically couple with the teeth 21 of the selected pair when the teeth 19, 20 and 21 engage the seats 22, 23, 24 in order to keep the lid in the closed position of the upper opening 13.

Advantageously, the lid 15 also has a holding lip 28 shaped, preferably U- shaped, to couple with an end flap 108a of a compression element 108 when the third component 103 is coupled to the first component 101 along the operative direction C to keep the lid 15 in the closed position.

Sealing gaskets (not shown) may be provided between the first component 101 and the second component 102 and/or between the second component 102 and the third component 103 to ensure water and/or dust tightness.

From a functional point of view, the installation of a control apparatus comprising an electronic device housed in a container 100 according to the invention, may provide the coupling of cables to the electrical connectors 107 by means of pins, then the re-folding of the cables in order to insert them into one or more of the channels 12 provided on the operative wall 109. In particular, the insertion of cables into the channels 12 may provide inserting the cables under the teeth 21 which will hold them in place while the operator arranges for the closure of the upper opening 13 by means of the lid 15.

This can be done by pressing the sealing member 16, with the lid 15, into the channel 12 so that the sealing member is elastically deformed, thus invading the free space of the channel 12 above the cables.

The locking of the lid by means of the insertion and subsequent locking movement described above allows the cables to be held in the channel 12 while also sealing against water and dust. The third component 103 may then be coupled to the other two components 101 and 102, with the compression elements 108 engaging the lids 15 by pressing them into position and engaging the holding lips 28 thereof.

Said locking movement preferably is in a direction in which the lid 15 moves away from the face 106. In this manner, when the third component 103 is closed on the second component 102, the end flap 108a of the compression element 108 engages the holding lip 28 of the lid 15 so as to keep the latter with the teeth 19, 20, 21 engaged in the seats 22, 23, 24.

Structurally, the first passage end 12a may be adjacent to the face 106 and the second passage end 12b may be distal from the face 106; the seats 22, 23, 24 being configured such that the teeth 19, 20, 21 must slide in a direction from the first 12a towards the second passage end 12b in order to lock.

It has therefore been shown how this invention achieves the set task and aims.

In particular, a cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it, according to the invention, dramatically increases the tightness to dust and water as compared to traditional solutions, while being simple, easy to use and durable.

A cable fastener device and a container for an electronic device comprising it, according to the invention, moreover maintains a high level of tightness to dust and water sprays as the number and size of the cables that use it varies, thus achieving a level of protection of IP54 according to International Standard IEC 60529.

The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims. Further, all the details can be replaced by other technically-equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent forms and dimensions, can be varied according to the contingent requirements and the background art. Where the constructional and technical features mentioned in the following claims are followed by signs or reference numbers, the signs or reference numbers have been used only with the aim of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and, consequently, they do not constitute in any way a limitation to the interpretation of each element identified, purely by way of example, by the signs or reference numerals.

Claims

1. Cable fastener device (10) comprising:

- a base (11) fixable to a container (100) of an electronic device, or integral with said container (100); said base (11) being crossed by a channel (12) which extends along a longitudinal direction (A) between two passage ends thereof; said channel (12) having an upper opening (13) facing (106) a bottom (14) of said channel (12);

- a lid (15) configured to close said upper opening (13) so as to prevent the escape of cables from said upper opening (13); - coupling means configured to lock said lid (15) to said base (11) in a closed position in which said lid (15) engages said upper opening (13), closing it;

- a sealing member (16) configured to engage said channel (12) so as to obstruct it upon the insertion thereof into said channel (12) and a closing of said upper opening (13) by means of said lid (15) so as to prevent a passage of water and/or dust through said channel (12).

2. Cable fastener device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said base

(11) comprises two side walls (17, 18) projecting from opposite edges of said bottom (14) so as to laterally delimit said channel (12) which is delimited at the bottom by said bottom (14); said coupling means being arranged at a free end (17a, 18a) of said side walls (17, 18) which is distal from said bottom (14).

3. Cable fastener device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing member (16) extends along a development direction (B) transversely to which it has a shape having a form substantially complementary to the form of a section of said channel (12) transversely to said longitudinal direction (A).

4. Cable fastener device (10) according to claim 3, wherein said sealing member (16) and said channel (12) have a substantially parallelepiped form and said sealing member (16) has said shape which is oversized with respect to the section of said channel (12) to allow a shape coupling with interference of said sealing member (16) in said channel (12).

5. Cable fastener device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing member (16) is sized in such a way that following the insertion thereof into said channel (12), with said development direction (B) parallel to said longitudinal direction (A), the coupling of said lid (15) with said upper opening (13) requires a compression of said sealing member (16) in said channel (12).

6. Cable fastener device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said coupling means comprise teeth (19, 20, 21) and seats (22, 23, 24) engageable by said teeth (19, 20, 21); said teeth (19, 20, 21) projecting from opposite sides (25, 26) of said lid (15) or inside said channel (12) and said seats (22, 23, 24) being provided inside said channel (12) or on said opposite sides (25, 26) of said lid (15); said teeth (19, 20, 21) and said seats (22, 23, 24) being positioned so that following positioning of said lid (15) in said upper opening (13), said teeth (19, 20, 21) are aligned with said seats (22, 23, 24) and said teeth (19, 20, 21) and said seats (22, 23, 24) are mutually engageable by sliding said lid (15) along said longitudinal direction (A).

7. Cable fastener device (10) according to claim 6, wherein said teeth (19, 20, 21) and/or said seats (22, 23, 24) have an inclination with respect to said longitudinal direction (A) in such a manner that following a sliding of said lid (15) along said longitudinal direction (A), which mutually engages said teeth (19, 20, 21) and said seats (22, 23, 24), said lid (15) is guided by the interaction of said teeth (19, 20, 21) with said seats (22, 23, 24) approaching said bottom (14) to compress said sealing member (16) towards the latter.

8. Container (100) for an electronic device delimiting an inner compartment for an electronic device and comprising at least one cable fastener device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Container (100) according to claim 8, comprising two complementary components (101, 102) where a first of said components (101, 102) comprises a first edge (104) and the second of said components (101, 102) comprises a second edge (105) which is counter-shaped to said first edge (104) in order to couple with the latter according to a shape coupling; said first and second components (102) being mutually couplable and uncouplable, at said edges, to switch respectively from a closed configuration, in which said inner compartment is enclosed by said container (100), to an open configuration in which said inner compartment is accessible from the outside of said container (100); the base (11) of said cable fastener device (10) being divided into two parts (11a, 11b), a first (11a) of said parts (11a, 11b) being fixed to or integral with said first edge (104) and the second (11b) of said parts (11a, 11b) being fixed to or integral with said second edge (105).

10. Container (100) according to claim 9, wherein said at least one cable fastener is made according to claim 6, and which comprises:

- first teeth (19, 20, 21 ) or first seats (22, 23, 24), fixed to or integral with the first part (11 a) of said base (11 );

- second teeth (19, 20, 21) or second seats (22, 23, 24), fixed to or integral with the second part (11 b) of said base (11 ); said lid (15) being provided with third seats (22, 23, 24) or third teeth (19, 20, 21), respectively, for engaging respectively said first teeth (19, 20, 21) or first seats (22, 23, 24) and said second teeth (19, 20, 21) or second seats (22, 23, 24) through said third seats (22, 23, 24) or said third teeth (19, 20, 21) in order to lock said lid (15) to said base (11 ).

11. Container (100) according to one of claims 9 and 10, comprising a third component (103); where:

- said first component (101) has a face (106) provided with electrical connectors (107) which are connectable to an electronic device for connecting cables to said electronic device housed in said container (100) via said electrical connectors (107);

- said third component (103) is shaped to couple or uncouple to/from said first component (101) according to an operative direction (C); said third component (103) being configured in such a way that following the coupling thereof with said second component (102), it covers said face (106) to enclose said electrical connectors (107); said cable fastener device (10) being provided on an operative wall (107) of said container (100), which extends from said face (106) according to said operative direction (C); said third component (103) comprising at least one compression element (108) projecting so as to engage said lid (15) to hold it against said base (11), upon the coupling of said third component (103) with said second component (102).