CN111555090B

CN111555090B - Wiring device, mounting frame and wiring device system

Info

Publication number: CN111555090B
Application number: CN202010456587.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 氏原秀哲; 早船正实; 米田孝; 泷井利之
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-09-15
Filing date: 2017-09-15
Publication date: 2022-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-15
Also published as: JP2018045916A; CN107834264A; PH12017000267B1; PH12017000267A1; CN107834264B; CN111555090A; JP6390981B2

Abstract

A wiring device, a mounting frame, and a wiring device system enable the amount of projection of the mounting frame from a mounting surface to be limited to a small amount. A pair of device-side attachments (102) are provided on opposite sides of the case (4) in the left-right direction. Each of the pair of device-side attachments (102) includes a first attachment (57) having a front surface facing forward and a second attachment (58) having a rear surface facing rearward. Each of the pair of device-side attachment members (102) is configured such that a front surface of the first attachment member (57) is in contact with the mounting frame (8) and a rear surface of the second attachment member (58) is in contact with the mounting frame (8) to restrict movement of the case (4) relative to the mounting frame (8) in the front-rear direction. The first attachment piece (57) and the second attachment piece (58) are disposed at positions different from each other in the up-down direction.

Description

Wiring device, mounting frame and wiring device system

The present application is a divisional application of patent applications having application dates 2017, 9 and 15, application number 201710832126.9, entitled "wiring device, mounting frame, and wiring device system".

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to wiring devices, mounting frames, and wiring device systems. In particular, the invention relates to a wiring device to be attached to a mounting frame, a mounting frame to which the wiring device is to be attached, and a wiring device system comprising the wiring device and the mounting frame.

Background

Various types of wiring devices that can be attached to a mounting frame for an embedded wiring device have been proposed (see, for example, document 1: JP 2002-. The wiring device (switching device) described in document 1 includes: a body having an open front surface; a cover disposed adjacent to the open front surface of the body; and a pair of assembly frames. Each of the pair of assembly frames has assembly holes into which assembly protrusions formed to bridge the body and the cover are fitted so that the body and the cover are not separated from each other.

Further, in document 1, the mounting frame (plate frame) has a rectangular opening window and a retainer groove serving as a device attachment section at a portion along the longitudinal direction of the opening window. The assembly projections are provided on the surfaces of the body and the cover, and these surfaces face a portion of the mounting frame in the longitudinal direction of the opening window. The assembly frame has an attachment claw as a device attachment section attachment for attaching the assembly frame to the mounting frame. The wiring device is attached to the mounting frame by bending the mounting frame along a portion of the longitudinal direction of the opening window to engage the attachment claw with the holder groove.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

However, in the wiring device described above, the structure (the device attachment section and the attachment section) for attaching the wiring device to the mounting frame has a relatively large size in the front-rear direction and hinders the mounting frame from being reduced in size in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the mounting frame is attached to, for example, a mounting surface such as a wall surface, the amount of protrusion of the wiring device or the mounting frame from the mounting surface is large.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a wiring device, a mounting frame, and a wiring device system that allow the amount of projection of the mounting frame from the mounting surface to be limited to a small amount.

Means for solving the problems

A wiring device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a housing and a pair of device-side attachments. In a state where the housing is inserted into the opening window, the housing is attached to a mounting frame having the opening window penetrating the mounting frame in the first direction. A pair of device-side attachments are provided on opposite sides of the case in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the pair of device-side attachment members includes a first attachment member having a front surface facing forward as one side in the first direction, and a second attachment member having a rear surface facing rearward as the other side in the first direction. Each of the pair of device-side attachment members is configured such that a front surface of the first attachment member is in contact with the mounting frame and a rear surface of the second attachment member is in contact with the mounting frame to restrict movement of the housing in the first direction relative to the mounting frame. The first attachment piece and the second attachment piece are disposed at positions different from each other in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

The mounting frame according to one aspect of the present invention includes a frame body having an opening window penetrating the frame body in a first direction, and into which the wiring device is to be inserted for attaching the wiring device to the frame body. The frame body includes a pair of frame-side attachment pieces on opposite sides of the opening window in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the pair of frame-side attachment pieces includes a second stopper having a front surface facing the front as one side in the first direction, and a first stopper having a rear surface facing the rear as the other side in the first direction. Each of the pair of frame-side attachment members is configured such that the rear surface of the first stopper is in contact with the wiring device and the front surface of the second stopper is in contact with the wiring device to restrict movement of the wiring device in the first direction relative to the frame body. The first stopper and the second stopper are disposed at positions different from each other in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

A wiring device system according to one aspect of the invention includes a wiring device and a mounting frame.

Advantageous effects of the invention

The present invention provides an advantage that the amount of protrusion from the mounting surface can be limited to a small amount.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a wiring device system according to a first embodiment of the present invention in an attached state;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the wiring device system;

fig. 3 is a right side view showing a body and a cover of the wiring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a disassembled state;

fig. 4 is a rear view showing the wiring device in a state where the assembly frame is detached;

fig. 5A is a right side view showing an assembly frame of the wiring device, fig. 5B is a left side view showing the assembly frame of the wiring device, and fig. 5C is a bottom view showing the assembly frame of the wiring device;

fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the wiring device;

fig. 7A is a perspective view showing a main part of the wiring device in a state where the assembly frame is detached, and fig. 7B is a perspective view showing a main part of the wiring device in a state where the assembly frame is attached;

fig. 8A is a front view showing a mounting frame according to the first embodiment, and fig. 8B is a sectional view taken along line X1-X1 of fig. 8A;

fig. 9 is a rear view showing the mounting frame;

fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting frame;

fig. 11 is a cut-away perspective view showing a mounting frame;

fig. 12A is a perspective view showing a mounting frame, and fig. 12B is an enlarged view showing an area a2 of fig. 12A;

fig. 13 is a front view showing a mounting frame with wiring devices attached thereto;

fig. 14 is a right side view showing the mounting frame with the wiring device attached thereto;

fig. 15 is a bottom surface view showing the mounting frame with the wiring device attached thereto;

fig. 16 is an enlarged view showing a region a3 of fig. 13;

fig. 17A is a perspective view showing a section taken along line X1-X1 of fig. 16, and fig. 17B is a perspective view showing a section taken along line X2-X2 of fig. 16;

fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a wiring device according to a first modification of the first embodiment;

fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a mounting frame according to a second modification of the first embodiment;

fig. 20 is a perspective view showing an assembly frame of a wiring device according to a third modification of the first embodiment; and

fig. 21A is a perspective view showing a main part of the wiring device according to the fourth modification of the first embodiment in a state where the assembly frame is detached, and fig. 21B is a perspective view showing a main part of the wiring device in a state where the assembly frame is attached to the wiring device.

Fig. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing a wiring device according to the second embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

1,1A,1B,1C wiring device

4,4A,4C casing

6,6A frame side attachment

8,8A mounting frame

10 wiring device system

57,57C first attachment

58,58C second attachment

61 first stop

62 second stop

80 frame body

81 opening window

83 vertical frame

102,102C device side attachment

571 front surface (of the first attachment)

580 second attachment piece

581 (of the second attachment member) rear surface

582 (of the second attachment) front surface

611 (of the first stop)

612 dowel

613 reinforcing rib

620 second stop tab

621 front surface (of second stopper)

831 inner side surface

832 stop recess

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

(1) Overview

First, referring to fig. 1 and 2, an outline of the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

The wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment is a socket to which a plug of an electric device is to be connected to supply electric power to the electric device. Here, as the wiring device 1, a duplex receptacle having a ground electrode and used in an alternating current of 220V is shown. Two plugs may be simultaneously connected to the duplex receptacle. Further, in the present embodiment, as the wiring device 1, for example, the wiring device 1 to be attached to a building wall and used indoors is shown. Examples of the building in which the wiring device 1 is installed include a free-standing house, a multi-dwelling collective house, an office, a shop, and a nursing facility.

The wiring device 1 is attached to the installation surface 800 (here, a wall surface of a building) in a state where the electric cables are electrically connected to the wiring device 1. The wiring device 1 has a front surface 31 having an insertion hole 311, and inserting a pin or blade of a plug of an electric device into the insertion hole 311 establishes an electrical connection of the plug, which enables electric power to be supplied from the wiring device 1 to the electric device. Here, the wiring device 1 is an embedded wiring device and is attached to the mounting surface 800 by using a mounting frame 8 (see fig. 2). The mounting frame 8 has an opening window 81. In a state where the wiring device 1 is fitted in the opening window 81, the mounting frame 8 is attached to the mounting surface 800. Specifically, the mounting frame 8 is fixed, for example, in an embedded box, and thus the mounting frame 8 is attached to the mounting surface 800. Here, the embedment cartridge is a box-shaped member having an open front surface, and is mounted in the wall such that the front surface is exposed frontward through a structural hole formed in the mounting surface 800. In this way, the wiring device 1 is attached to the mounting surface 800 in a state where the front surface 31 is exposed forward and at least a part (rear part) of the wiring device 1 is embedded in the wall (embedded in the box).

A decorative plate 9 is attached to the mounting frame 8. The decorative plate 9 is made of synthetic resin. The decorative panel 9 has a rectangular frame shape having an opening hole 91. The decorative plate 9 is attached to the mounting frame 8 so as to cover substantially the entire mounting frame 8 from the front surface of the mounting frame 8 to the peripheral surface of the mounting frame 8. The decorative panel 9 has a rear surface provided with a plurality of (four in the example of fig. 2) hook-like projections 92 projecting rearward. The plurality of hook-like projections 92 hook on the edges of the plurality of attachment holes 82 of the mounting frame 8 so that the decorative panel 9 is held by the mounting frame 8. The opening hole 91 has a rectangular shape to match the shape of the front surface 31 of the wiring device 1. Therefore, as shown in fig. 1, in a state where the decorative panel 9 is attached to the mounting frame 8, the front surface 31 of the wiring device 1 is still exposed frontward.

In the present embodiment, the wiring device system 10 includes the wiring device 1 and the mounting frame 8. That is, the components of the wiring device system 10 include the wiring device 1 and the mounting frame 8. Further, the trim panel 9 may, but need not, be included in a component of the wiring device system 10. Further, the wiring device 1 and the mounting frame 8 together form the wiring device system 10, and the wiring device 1 is not limited to a socket but may be, for example, a switch.

As shown in fig. 2, the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a body 2 and a cover 3, the body 2 having an opening surface 21 (see fig. 3) at a front surface of the body 2, and the cover 3 being combined with the body 2 to cover the opening surface 21 of the body 2. The body 2 and the cover 3 are combined with each other to form the housing 4. The housing 4 accommodates internal components such as a tab receiving member and a terminal block. The body 2 and the cover 3 are coupled to each other by using a plurality of (here, four) assembling frames 5. In other words, the wiring device 1 includes the housing 4 and the plurality of assembling frames 5, the housing 4 includes the body 2 and the cover 3, and the assembling frames 5 are used to couple the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other.

In the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment, the size of the body 2 is larger than the size of the cover 3 in the second direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the first direction (front-rear direction) in which the body 2 and the cover 3 are combined with each other. That is, the cover 3 is wider than the body 2 in the second direction. In other words, both end surfaces 32 (see fig. 4) of the cover 3 orthogonal to the second direction are located outside both end surfaces 22 (see fig. 4) of the body 2 orthogonal to the second direction. Here, "both end surfaces 32 of the cover 3 in the second direction are located outside both end surfaces 22 of the body 2 in the second direction" means that both end surfaces 32 of the cover 3 are not located between (i.e., inside) both end surfaces 22 of the body 2 in the second direction, but are located outside both end surfaces 22. In this way, when the wiring device 1 is viewed from the front side (front), the dimension of the wiring device 1 in the second direction, that is, the area of the front surface 31 of the wiring device 1 can be made larger than the dimension of the body 2. On the other hand, the size of the body 2 accommodated in the wall (embedded in the box) in the second direction, that is, the area of the rear surface of the wiring exclusive device 1, can be made smaller than the size of the cover 3.

Therefore, in the wiring device 1, in a state where the wiring device 1 is attached to the mounting surface 800, the size of the portion housed in the wall (embedded in the box) can be limited to a small size, while the size of the portion exposed frontward increases. The forwardly exposed portion of the wiring device 1, i.e., the front surface 31, is a portion on which an operation (in the case of a socket, insertion and removal of a plug) is performed when a user uses the wiring device 1. Therefore, increasing the size of the portion improves the handling performance and the design performance of the wiring device 1. Further, when the wiring device 1 is a socket, increasing the size of the front surface 31 increases the insulation distance between each insertion hole 311 formed in the front surface 31 and each of the mounting frame 8 and the decorative plates 9 located in the peripheral edge of the front surface 31. In particular, when the decorative plate 9 is made of metal, it is useful to increase the insulation distance between each insertion hole 311 and the decorative plate 9. On the other hand, reducing the size of the portion of the wiring device 1 that is accommodated in the wall (embedded in the box) provides extra space in the periphery of the wiring device 1 in the wall to easily ensure a space in which the electric wire or the like is to be accommodated.

As described above, in the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment, the body 2 and the cover 3 having different sizes at least in the second direction are coupled to each other by the plurality of assembling frames 5. A plurality of (here, four) assembly frames 5 are attached on both sides of the case 4 in the second direction in a state where the body 2 and the cover 3 are coupled to each other. In other words, at least one pair of coupling structures for coupling the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other are provided on opposite sides of the housing 4 (the body 2 and the cover 3) in the second direction.

According to the wiring device 1 of the present embodiment, the plurality of assembly frames 5 also serve as the device-side attachments 102 for attaching the wiring device 1 to the mounting frame 8 (see fig. 5A). That is, the wiring device 1 includes at least one pair of device-side attachments 102 on both sides of the housing 4 in the second direction. Each of the at least one pair of device-side attachments 102 is formed by an assembly frame 5. Each of the plurality of assembly frames 5 includes a pair of second attachment pieces 58 (see fig. 2) as at least a pair of attachment claws that protrude from both end surfaces of the wiring device 1 (the housing 4) in the second direction. At least one pair of stop recesses 832 (see fig. 2) are formed on the inner side surface of the opening window 81 of the mounting frame 8 at positions corresponding to the at least one pair of second attachment pieces 58. The wiring device 1 is attached to the mounting frame 8 in a state where the at least one pair of second attachment pieces 58 are inserted into the at least one pair of stopper recesses 832.

(2) Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below.

In the description of the present embodiment, in a state where the wiring device 1 is attached to the wall surface of the building, that is, the mounting surface 800, a direction orthogonal to the mounting surface 800 is defined as a "front-rear direction" and a side facing the front surface 31 of the wiring device 1 is defined as a "front". Further, in the specification, a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and parallel to the horizontal plane is defined as a "left-right direction", a right side of the wiring device 1 viewed from the front side is defined as a "right side", and a left side of the wiring device 1 viewed from the front side is positioned as a "left side". Further, in this specification, a direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, i.e., a direction perpendicular (orthogonal) to a horizontal plane, is defined as an "up-down direction", and a lower side (in the direction of gravity) of the wiring device 1 viewed from the front side is positioned as an "lower side". When the direction is defined as described above, "front-rear direction" corresponds to "first direction", "left-right direction" corresponds to second direction, and "up-down direction" corresponds to third direction. In the drawings, arrows indicating "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are shown only for descriptive purposes and are not accompanying entities.

Note that these directions are not intended to limit the direction of use of the wiring device 1. For example, when the wiring device 1 is attached to a floor surface instead of a wall surface, the first direction (front-rear direction) is a direction perpendicular to a horizontal plane, and the second direction (left-right direction) and the third direction (up-down direction) are directions parallel to the horizontal plane. Even in the case of attaching the wiring device 1 to the wall surface, if the wiring device 1 is attached to the wall surface in an orientation in which the "up-down direction" is a direction parallel to the horizontal plane, the "left-right direction" is a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

(2.1) Wiring device

First, referring to fig. 2 to 4, the configuration of the wiring device 1 will be described.

As described above, the wiring device 1 includes the body 2, the cover 3, and the assembly frame 5. The assembly frame 5 is a member for coupling the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other. In the present embodiment, the body 2 and the cover 3 are coupled to each other at four positions. Thus, the wiring device 1 includes four assembly frames 5. The plurality of (here, four) assembling frames 5 have a common configuration. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, one of the assembly frames 5 will be described later. If the remaining assembly frames 5 have the same configuration, a description of the remaining assembly frames 5 will be omitted.

As shown in fig. 3, the body 2 is box-shaped, and one surface (front surface) of the body 2 in the front-rear direction includes an opening surface 21. The opening surface 21 of the body 2 has a rectangular shape that is long in the up-down direction. The cover 3 is combined with the body 2 from the front to cover the opening surface 21 of the body 2. The cover 3 has a box shape, and one surface, i.e., a rear surface, of the cover 3 facing the body 2 includes an opening surface 33. The opening surface 33 of the cover 3 is in a rectangular shape long in the up-down direction, similarly to the opening surface 21 of the body 2. Note that, in the present embodiment, the cover 3 is wider than the body 2 in the left-right direction (second direction). Therefore, in the second direction, the opening surface 33 of the cover 3 is slightly larger than the opening surface 21 of the body 2. Fig. 3 shows the body 2 and the cover 3 in a separated (unassembled) state, and the cover 3 combined with the body 2 is indicated by a broken line (two-dot chain line). In the example shown in fig. 3, the body 2 has a peripheral wall surrounding the opening surface 21, and a central portion of the peripheral wall in the up-down direction has a forwardly convex shape. The cover 3 has a peripheral wall surrounding the opening surface 33, and a central portion of the peripheral wall in the up-down direction has a forwardly concave shape complementary to the forwardly convex shape.

The body 2 and the cover 3 are combined with each other to form a housing 4. In the present embodiment, the housing 4 is plane-symmetric in the left-right direction. In the wiring device 1, internal components such as the tab receiving member and the terminal board are accommodated in a space between the body 2 and the cover 3, that is, an internal space of the housing 4. That is, the wiring device 1 includes a housing 4, and the housing 4 includes a body 2 and a cover 3 that can be separated from each other. The wiring device 1 is assembled by joining the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other by means of the assembly frame 5 so as to accommodate the internal components in the internal space of the housing 4. That is, each assembly frame 5 forms an assembly member 50 (see fig. 2) for assembling the wiring device 1. Further, the device body 40 (see fig. 2) is a part of the wiring device 1 and includes the body 2 and the cover 3 which are joined to each other by the assembly frame 5. The apparatus body 40 further includes internal components in addition to the housing 4 (the body 2 and the cover 3). That is, the wiring device 1 includes a device body 40 and an assembly frame 5. Note that, in all the drawings, the internal components housed in the housing 4 are omitted.

Here, all of the body 2, the cover 3, and the assembly frame 5 are made of electrically insulating synthetic resin. The body 2 and the cover 3 forming the case 4 for accommodating the internal components are made of an electric leakage preventing thermosetting resin, such as urea resin. On the other hand, the assembly frame 5 is made of a thermoplastic resin, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), an ABS resin, or Polycarbonate (PC). If at least one of the body 2 and the cover 3 is made of thermoplastic resin, a claw is provided on one of the body 2 and the cover 3 and a hole for fitting the claw is formed in the other of the body 2 and the cover 3. In this way, the so-called snap structure enables the body 2 and the cover 3 to be coupled to each other. That is, one of the body 2 and the cover 3 is elastically deformed to fit the claw in the hole, so that the body 2 can be coupled to the cover 3. In contrast, when the body 2 and the cover 3 are made of thermosetting resin as in the present embodiment, it is difficult to impart sufficient elasticity to the body 2 and the cover 3, and therefore, it is difficult to adopt the above-described snap structure. Therefore, in the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment, the assembly frame 5, which is a member different from the body 2 and the cover 3, is used to join the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other.

The cover 3 has a front surface serving as the front surface 31 of the wiring device 1 and having the plurality of insertion holes 311. Pins or blades of a plug of an electrical device are inserted into the plurality of insertion holes 311 to electrically connect the plug to the wiring device 1. Here, as shown in fig. 2, the wiring device 1 has two sets of three insertion holes 311 so as to be compatible with plugs each having a pair of power supply electrodes (L electrode and N electrode) and a ground electrode. Each set of insertion holes 311 has a shape compatible with both a type and C type plugs. Each set of three insertion holes 311 is provided such that two of the three insertion holes 311 are paired to correspond to the paired power supply electrodes and are aligned in the left-right direction, and the insertion hole 311 corresponding to the ground electrode is located above the paired insertion holes 311. Further, two sets of insertion holes 311 are provided in the up-down direction.

As shown in fig. 4, the housing 4 has a rear surface serving as the rear surface 23 of the wiring device 1, and a terminal hole 231 for connecting an electric cable (electric wire) is formed in the rear surface. The housing 4 accommodates a terminal including a terminal plate at a position corresponding to the terminal hole 231. The terminals are so-called cable wire insertion type quick-connect terminals in which cable wires are connected to the terminals by being inserted into the terminal holes 231. In the present embodiment, a total of three electric cables, i.e., a pair of power lines and a ground conductor (ground cable), are connected to the wiring device 1. Further, the wiring device 1 includes a feeding terminal for a feeding cable, and up to six cable lines may be connected to the terminal. The rear surface of the wiring device 1 has a release operation hole 232 formed in a lateral side of the terminal hole 231. A front end portion of a jig such as a screwdriver is inserted into the release operation hole 232. The holding state of the electric cable in the terminal is released by inserting a jig such as a screwdriver through the release operation hole 232.

As shown in fig. 4, in the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment, the size of the body 2 is larger than the size of the cover 3 in the left-right direction, i.e., the cover 3 is wider than the body 2. The body 2 and the cover 3 have substantially the same size in the up-down direction. Fig. 4 is a rear view showing the wiring device 1 seen from the rear, in which the assembly frame 5 is separated from the housing 4 (the body 2 and the cover 3) and a hatched (dot-hatched) area represents the cover 3.

That is, as shown in fig. 4, a distance L2 between both end faces 32 (left and right end faces) of the cover 3 in the left-right direction is longer than a distance L1 between both end faces 22 (left and right end faces) of the body 2 in the left-right direction (L1< L2). Further, in the present embodiment, the housing 4 is plane-symmetrical in the left-right direction, and therefore, both end faces 32 of the cover 3 in the left-right direction extend beyond both end faces 22 of the body 2 in the left-right direction, and both end faces 32 of the cover 3 are located outside both end faces 22 of the body 2. In other words, a step is formed between each end face 32 of the cover 3 and each end face 22 of the body 2. Since the case 4 has a symmetrical shape in the left-right direction, the distance from each end face 32 of the cover 3 to each end face 22 of the body 2 is expressed as "(L2-L1)/2". In this way, when the wiring device 1 is viewed from the rear, the rear surface of the cover 3 is exposed on both sides of the body 2 at least in the second direction.

Here, each of the assembly frame 5, the first protrusion 34 of the cover 3, and the second protrusion 24 of the body 2 collectively form a coupling structure 101 (see fig. 4) for coupling the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other. That is, the coupling structure 101 includes one assembly frame 5, the first protrusion 34 of the cover 3, and the second protrusion 24 of the body 2.

At least one pair of coupling structures 101 is provided on opposite sides of the set of body 2 and cover 3 in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, two pairs (two sets) of the joining structures 101 are provided, wherein each pair of the joining structures 101 is provided on respective end surfaces (right end surface and left end surface) of the housing 4 in the left-right direction. Two pairs of the joining structures 101 are provided at four respective corners of the housing 4 as viewed from the front side such that the joining structures 101 are aligned in the up-down direction on each end face (each of the right end face and the left end face) of the housing 4 in the left-right direction. In this way, the body 2 and the cover 3 are joined at four corners of the housing 4 as viewed from the front side.

Specifically, the cover 3 includes a first protrusion 34 that protrudes from one end face 32 (left end face or right end face) of the cover 3 in the left-right direction. Similarly, the body 2 includes a second protrusion 24 that protrudes from one end surface 22 (left end surface or right end surface) of the body 2 in the left-right direction. Each assembly frame 5 is attached to the case 4 to embrace the first and

second protrusions

34 and 24 from both sides in the front-rear direction, thus coupling the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other. In other words, in a state where the body 2 and the cover 3 are combined with each other in the front-rear direction, the assembly member 5 holds the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 24 in the first direction, thus preventing the first protrusion 34 from being separated from the second protrusion 24. This prevents a space between the body 2 and the cover 3 and couples the body 2 and the cover 3.

Here, when the wiring device 1 is attached to the mounting surface 800 (see fig. 1), for example, in a state where the rear surface of the cover 3 is in contact with the mounting surface 800, the fixing screw may be further tightened. In this case, in order to avoid damage to the first protrusion 34 of the cover 3, the rear surface of the first protrusion 34 is positioned slightly forward of the four corners of the cover 3 when viewed from the rear. That is, in this case, the four corners of the cover 3 are in contact with the mounting surface 800 before the first protrusion 34 is in contact with the mounting surface 800. Therefore, it is possible to avoid damage to the first projection 34 required to couple the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other.

(2.2) bonding Structure

Hereinafter, referring to fig. 5A to 7B, the bonding structure 101 of the wiring device 1 will be described in detail. Since the plurality of (here, four) bonding structures 101 have a common configuration, a description will be given hereinafter by focusing on one of the bonding structures 101 unless otherwise indicated. If the remaining coupling structures 101 have the same configuration, description of the remaining coupling structures 101 will be omitted. Here, attention is paid to the bonding structure 101 located at the upper right corner (a portion identified by "a 1" in fig. 4) among the four corners of the wiring device 1 viewed from the front side. Arrows indicating the "front-rear direction", "right-left direction", and "up-down direction" in fig. 5A to 7B will be illustrated with reference to the bonding structure 101 located at the upper right corner among the four corners. Therefore, for example, for the upper left corner among the four corners of the wiring device 1 viewed from the front side, the left and right sides in the following description are reversed.

As shown in fig. 5A to 5C, the assembly frame 5 of the coupling structure 101 includes a first side portion 51, a second side portion 52, and a coupling portion 53. The first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 are disposed such that a predetermined space is provided between the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 in the front-rear direction, and the first side portion 51 is located on the front side. The first side portion 51 is in contact with the first protrusion 34 from a side opposite to the second protrusion 24 in the front-rear direction (i.e., from the front side), which will be described in detail later. The second side portion 52 is in contact with the second protrusion 24 from the side opposite to the first protrusion 34 in the front-rear direction (i.e., from the rear side). The coupling portion 53 joins the first side portion 51 to the second side portion 52.

In the present embodiment, the coupling portion 53 includes three clamping plates 531 aligned in the up-down direction. That is, the first side portion 51 is joined to the second side portion 52 by the three clamping plates 531. Here, among the three clips 531, the clip 531 (upper clip 531) located on the upper side in the up-down direction couples the upper ends of the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 in the up-down direction, and the clip 531 (lower clip 531) located on the lower side in the up-down direction couples the lower ends of the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 in the up-down direction. Of the three clamping plates 531, the clamping plate 531 located at the center (center clamping plate 531) joins the center portions of the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 in the up-down direction. In other words, the first side portion 51, the second side portion 52, and the upper and

lower splints

531 and 531 of the three splints 531 are arranged to form a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the right or left side in the left-right direction. Further, the first side portion 51, the second side portion 52, and the upper and

lower clips

531, 531 of the three clips 531 surround an area having a pair of assembly holes 54 separated in the up-down direction by the center clip 531.

Here, in the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the cover 3 is wider than the body 2 in the left-right direction. Therefore, there is a step between each end face 32 of the cover 3 and each end face 22 of the body 2. Therefore, in order to accommodate such a step, the assembly frame 5 to be attached to both end faces of the set of the body 2 and the cover 3 in the left-right direction has the following configuration.

That is, the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 are disposed in a staggered relationship in the left-right direction. That is, the first side portion 51 adjacent to the cover 3 is disposed outside in the left-right direction adjacent to the second side portion 52 of the body 2 to be fitted to the cover 3 wider than the body 2. The phrase "outside in the left-right direction" herein means a side opposite to the center of the case 4 in the left-right direction, that is, "right side" in the case where the assembly frame 5 is attached to the right end face of the case 4, and "left side" in the case where the assembly frame 5 is attached to the left end face of the case 4. Specifically, the coupling portion 53 has a step portion 534 in a portion in the front-rear direction. The coupling portion 53 (the cleat 531) is shaped such that: with the step portion 534 as a boundary, a portion adjacent to the first side 51 is positioned further outward in the left-right direction than a portion adjacent to the second side 52 (on the right side of the portion adjacent to the second side 52 in the example of fig. 5C). Here, the step portion 534 is provided such that a surface of the first side portion 51 facing the cover 3 in the left-right direction (in the example of fig. 5C, the left end surface) is flush with an end surface of the second side portion 52 opposite to the body 2 in the left-right direction (in the example of fig. 5C, the right end surface).

The assembly frame 5 further includes a leg piece 55 that protrudes from the assembly frame 5 in the left-right direction facing the surfaces (in the example of fig. 5C, the left end surface) of the body 2 and the cover 3. In the present embodiment, the assembly frame 5 includes two leg pieces 55 that are paired and aligned in the up-down direction. Each leg piece 55 has a front end portion provided with a hanging claw 551 to be hooked to at least one of the body 2 and the cover 3.

The assembling frame 5 further includes a side wall 56 that covers a part of the pair of assembling holes 54 from the outside in the left-right direction. The side wall 56 does not completely cover the pair of assembly holes 54, but closes only a portion of the pair of assembly holes 54 adjacent to the first side 51 with the stepped portion 534 as a boundary. The side wall 56 and a surface of the first side portion 51 located on the outer side in the left-right direction (in the example of fig. 5C, a right end surface) are flush with each other. In a state where the assembly frame 5 is attached to the housing 4, the side wall 56 abuts on a front end surface of the first projection 34 in the left-right direction, which will be described later in detail.

The assembly frame 5 includes a device-side attachment 102 (see fig. 5A), the device-side attachment 102 being used to attach the case 4 to the mounting frame 8 (see fig. 2). The device-side attachment member 102 includes a first attachment member 57 and a second attachment member 58. The first attachment 57 includes a front facing surface 571. The second attachment member 58 includes a rear surface 581 facing rearward. The first attachment piece 57 and the second attachment piece 58 are disposed at different positions in the up-down direction.

In the present embodiment, the first attachment piece 57 includes a pair of first attachment pieces 570 that are separated in the up-down direction. The second attachment member 58 includes a pair of second attachment pieces 580 that are separated in the up-down direction. The pair of first attachment pieces 570 project in the upward direction and the downward direction from the end face of the assembly frame 5 in the up-down direction. Here, the pair of first attachment pieces 570 is provided on a portion of the clip 530, which is adjacent to the first side 51 with respect to the step portion 534. The pair of second attaching pieces 580 protrude from a surface (in the example of fig. 5C, a right end surface) located on the outer side of the assembly frame 5 in the left-right direction. Here, a pair of second attachment tabs 580 are located in an area extending across the first side 51, the cleat 531 and the sidewall 56. Thus, the first attachment piece 57 and the second attachment piece 58 are disposed at positions different in the up-down direction such that the pair of second attachment pieces 580 are located inside the pair of first attachment pieces 570 in the up-down direction.

The second attachment member 58 includes a front facing surface 582. The front surface 582 of the second attachment piece 58 (the pair of second attachment pieces 580) is an inclined surface that is inclined so as to position the edge opposite to the case 4 in the left-right direction (in the example of fig. 5C, the right edge) to the rear of the edge adjacent to the case 4 in the left-right direction (in the example of fig. 5C, the left edge). That is, the front surface 582 of the second attachment member 58 is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the outside in the left-right direction. Here, the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57 is positioned behind the front surface 582 of the second attachment piece 58. When the front surface 582 of the second attachment piece 58 is an inclined surface as in the present embodiment, the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57 is positioned rearward of the edge (in the example of fig. 5C, the right edge) serving as the rear end of the front surface 582. The device-side attachment 102 will be described in detail in item "(2.4) attachment structure of a wiring device to a mounting frame".

The assembly frame 5 includes a plurality of press-fitting ribs 59 protruding from the inner peripheral surface of each of the pair of assembly holes 54 to the inside of the assembly hole 54. In the present embodiment, the first side portion 51, the second side portion 52, the coupling portion 53, the leg piece 55, the side wall 56, the device-side attachment 102 (the first attachment 57 and the second attachment 58), and the plurality of press-fitting ribs 59 are integrally formed by resin molding.

As shown in fig. 6, the assembly frame 5 having the above-described configuration is attached to the housing 4 in a state where the body 2 and the cover 3 are combined with each other in the front-rear direction. In a state where the assembly frame 5 is attached to the housing 4, the first side portion 51 is in contact with the first projection 34 from the side opposite to the second projection 24 in the front-rear direction (i.e., from the front side). Similarly, the second side portion 52 contacts the second projection 24 from the side opposite to the first projection 34 in the front-rear direction (i.e., from the rear side). Therefore, the assembly frame 5 grips the first and

second protrusions

34 and 24 in the front-rear direction by the first and

second side portions

51 and 51 to couple the body 2 and the cover 3 to each other.

In other words, as shown in fig. 7A and 7B, the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 24 are fitted in the pair of assembly holes 54 of the assembly frame 5, thus preventing a space between the body 2 and the cover 3. Thus, the coupled state of the body 2 and the cover 3 is maintained. Here, the side wall 56 abuts on a front end surface of the first projection 34 in the left-right direction. That is, the front end surfaces of the first protrusions 34 fitted in the pair of assembly holes 54 abut against the side walls 56 that cover a part of the pair of assembly holes 54 from the outside in the left-right direction.

Further, in a state where the assembly frame 5 is attached to the housing 4, the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 34 are press-fitted into the assembly hole 54 so that the plurality of press-fitting ribs 59 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the assembly hole 54 are pressed. In this way, dimensional changes among the pair of assembly holes 54, the first protrusions 34, and the second protrusions 24 can be compensated by deformation (plastic deformation) of the press-fitting ribs 59, and thus, rattling of the mounting frame 5 with respect to the housing 4 is reduced.

Here, in the present embodiment, a plurality of press-fitting ribs 59 are provided except for a portion of the coupling portion 53 adjacent to the first side portion 51 with respect to the step portion 534. In other words, the press-fitting ribs 59 of the coupling portion 53 are omitted at the position of the pair of assembly holes 54 where the portions of the holes located on the outer sides in the left-right direction are closed by the side walls 56. That is, at a portion of the coupling portion 53 adjacent to the first side portion 51 with respect to the step portion 534, a space between the adjacent clips 531 is restricted by the side wall 56, and therefore, a space between the adjacent clips 531 located on the outer side in the left-right direction (adjacent to the side wall 56) is substantially unchanged. Therefore, if the press-fitting rib 59 is provided to a portion of the coupling portion 53 adjacent to the first side portion 51 with respect to the step portion 534, the assembling frame 5 is deformed to be open on the opening side (inner side in the left-right direction), which may deteriorate the attachment of the assembling frame 5 to the housing 4. In contrast, when the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 24 are press-fitted into the pair of assembly holes 54, the configuration of the present embodiment makes it possible to reduce the opening of the opening side (the inner side in the left-right direction) at the portion that is located outside the pair of assembly holes 54 in the left-right direction and is closed by the side wall 56.

Here, as shown in fig. 7A, the cover 3 further has an assembly groove 321 in the front-rear direction on each end face 32 in the left-right direction. The coupling portion 53 of the assembly frame 5 is configured to be fitted in the assembly groove 321. In the present embodiment, the coupling portion 53 includes three clamping plates 531, and therefore, the cover 3 has three assembling grooves 321 corresponding to the three clamping plates 531. In the present embodiment, three assembly grooves 321 extend from the cover 3 to the body 2.

Further, the first protrusion 34 includes a pair of first protrusions 341 separated in the up-down direction by a central clip 531 of the three clips 531. Similarly, the second protrusion 24 includes a pair of second protrusions 241 separated in the up-down direction by a central clip 531 of the three clips 531. In other words, the first protrusion 34 is divided into a pair of first protrusions 341 by one of the three assembly grooves 321 (the central assembly groove 321) located at the center. Similarly, the second protrusion 24 is divided into a pair of first protrusions 241 by a central assembly groove 321 among the three assembly grooves 321. In this way, in a state where the assembly frame 5 is attached to the housing 4, one of the first protrusions 341 and one of the second protrusions 241 are fitted in one of the assembly holes 54, and the other of the first protrusions 341 and the other of the second protrusions 241 are inserted into the other of the assembly holes 54.

Further, the housing 4 has a pair of hooking holes 41 formed at positions corresponding to the pair of leg pieces 55. The pair of leg pieces 55 are to be inserted into the pair of hooking holes 41. In the present embodiment, each of the pair of hooking holes 41 extends across the body 2 and the cover 3. The assembly frame 5 is attached to the housing 4 in such a manner that the hanging claws 551 of the pair of leg pieces 55 are hooked on the edges of the pair of hooking holes 41. That is, since the first projection 34 and the second projection 24 are press-fitted in the assembly hole 54, the possibility that the assembly frame 5 is dropped from the housing 4 is reduced, and the possibility that the assembly frame 5 is dropped from the housing 4 by the pair of leg pieces 55 is reduced.

(2.3) mounting frame

Hereinafter, with reference to fig. 8 to 12B, the configuration of the mounting frame 8 is described.

As shown in fig. 8A, the mounting frame 8 includes a frame body 80. The frame body 80 has an opening window 81 penetrating the frame body 80 in the front-rear direction. The opening window 81 has a rectangular shape that is long in the up-down direction. The frame body 8 includes a pair of vertical frame portions 83 and a pair of horizontal frame portions 84. The vertical frame portions 83 face each other, and the opening window 81 is provided between the vertical frame portions 83 in the left-right direction. The horizontal frame portions 84 face each other, and the opening window 81 is provided between the horizontal frame portions 84 in the up-down direction. The pair of vertical frame portions 83 connect both end portions in the left-right direction of one (upper horizontal frame portion) of the pair of horizontal frame portions 84 to both end portions in the left-right direction of the other (lower horizontal frame portion) of the pair of horizontal frame portions 84. That is, the frame body 80 has a rectangular frame shape surrounding the opening window 81 by a pair of vertical frame portions 83 and a pair of horizontal frame portions 84.

Each of the pair of horizontal frame portions 84 has a first fixing hole 85 having an oval shape and has a second fixing hole 86. The first fixing hole 85 penetrates the mounting frame 8 in the front-rear direction and is a hole through which a fixing screw for fixing the mounting frame 8 to an embedded box or the like is inserted. Each of the second fixing holes 86 penetrates the mounting frame 8 in the front-rear direction and is a hole through which a fixing screw for directly attaching the mounting frame 8 to the mounting surface 800 is inserted.

The wiring device 1 is inserted into the opening window 81 of the frame body 80 to attach the wiring device 1 to the frame body 80. The frame body 80 includes a pair of frame-side attachment pieces 6 (see fig. 8B) provided on opposite sides of the opening window 81 in the left-right direction. At least one pair of the frame-side attachment 6 and the device-side attachment 102 provided to the wiring device 1 together form an attachment structure for attaching the wiring device 1 to the mounting frame 8, and at least one pair of the frame-side attachment 6 is provided to the pair of vertical frame portions 83. That is, the attachment structure includes the frame-side attachment 6 and the device-side attachment 102.

In the present embodiment, a mounting frame 8 for three sockets is shown. Up to three housings 4A (see fig. 18) each having a unit size described below may be attached to the mounting frame 8 in the up-down direction. The mounting frame 8 comprises three pairs (three sets) of frame side attachments 6. Any number of cases 4A each having a unit size can be attached to the mounting frame 8, varying from one case 4A to three cases 4A. In the present embodiment, the size of the housing 4 corresponds to the size in which a total of three housings 4A each having a unit size are aligned in the up-down direction. Further, the wiring device 1 includes device-side attachments 102 (assembly frames 5) at four corners of the housing 4 as viewed from the front side. Therefore, the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment is attached to the mounting frame 8 by using two pairs of frame-side attachment 6 out of three pairs of frame-side attachment 6, wherein the frame-side attachment 6 in each of the two pairs is located on the respective side in the up-down direction.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 is elastically deformable in the right-left direction over the entire width in the right-left direction. Therefore, the mounting frame 8 can temporarily enlarge the size of the opening window 81 in the left-right direction. This allows the wiring device 1 to be attached to the opening window 81 and allows the wiring device 1 to be removed from the opening window 81.

Here, as shown in fig. 9, the vertical frame portion 83 on the right side (right vertical frame portion 83) has a slit 833 extending in the up-down direction so that the right vertical frame portion 83 is easily elastically deformed, particularly in the left-right direction. Further, the pair of vertical frame portions 83 have front surfaces having a plurality of deformation preventing recesses 834. In a state where the decorative plate 9 (see fig. 2) is attached to the mounting frame 8, the deformation preventing protrusions 93 (see fig. 2) protruding from the rear surface of the decorative plate 9 are inserted into the plurality of deformation preventing recesses 834 of the mounting frame 8. In this way, in the state where the decorative panel 9 is attached, the deformation (elastic deformation) of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 of the mounting frame 8 is reduced. Of the three deformation preventing dents 834 formed on the right vertical frame portion 83, the deformation preventing dents 834 on both sides in the up-down direction are connected to the slit 833.

Here, as shown in fig. 10, the frame body 80 includes a resin frame 71 and a reinforcing member 72.

The resin frame 71 is made of electrically insulating synthetic resin. The resin frame 71 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as ABS resin, Polycarbonate (PC), or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The resin frame 71 includes the pair of vertical frame portions 83 and the pair of horizontal frame portions 84, and the pair of vertical frame portions 83 and the pair of horizontal frame portions 84 form a rectangular frame shape surrounding the opening window 81. Here, the pair of vertical frame portions 83 includes a root 836 that is connected to the pair of horizontal frame portions 84. In the present embodiment, each of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 includes a pair of root portions 836 that are connected to the pair of horizontal frame portions 84. Therefore, the resin frame 71 includes four root portions 836 in total.

The reinforcing member 72 is made of a metal material such as a zinc steel plate (zinc-plated steel plate). The reinforcing member 72 is fixed to the resin frame 71. The reinforcing member 73 is a member for reinforcing the resin frame 71. The reinforcing member 72 is attached to the front surface 711 of the resin frame 71 to cover a portion of the front surface 711 of the resin frame 71 facing the front. The reinforcing member 72 includes a first portion 721 and a second portion 722. The first portion 721 is positioned forward of a pair of horizontal frame portions 84. The second portion 722 is positioned forward of the root portions 836 of the pair of upright frame portions 83. The root portion 836 is connected to at least a pair of horizontal frame portions 84.

Further, each of the root portions 836 of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 includes a bulging portion 837 bulging frontward at its end portion adjacent to the opening window 81 in the left-right direction. The reinforcing member 72 further includes a third portion 723 that joins the first portion 721 to the second portion 722. Each third portion 723 has a ridge shape rising forward along the ridge 837.

In the present embodiment, the first portion 721 and the second portion 722 are formed integrally with the third portion 723. Specifically, the reinforcing member 72 includes a pair of metal plates 720. Each of the pair of metal plates 720 includes a first portion 721, a second portion 722, and a third portion 723. That is, the reinforcing member 72 is not an integrally formed single metal plate but includes a pair of metal plates 720 that are physically separated. Here, each of the pair of metal plates 720 is not in a flat plate shape but in a three-dimensional shape having a third portion 723 raised forward.

The reinforcing member 72 is fixed to the resin frame 71 at both the first portion 721 and the second portion 722. Specifically, each of the vertical frame portions 83 of the resin frame 71 has a plurality of (here, two) caulking projections 712 projecting from the front surface 711. The second portion 722 of the reinforcing member 72 has a plurality of (here, two) caulking holes 724 penetrating the second portion 722 in the front-rear direction. The second portion 722 of the reinforcing member 72 is fixed to the resin frame 71 by caulking the plurality of caulking projections 712 in a state where the plurality of caulking projections 712 are inserted into the plurality of caulking holes 724. Similarly, each horizontal frame portion 84 of the resin frame 71 has a plurality of (here, four) caulking projections 714 projecting from the front surface 711. The first portion 721 of the reinforcing member 72 has a plurality of (here, four) caulking holes 726 that penetrate the first portion 721 in the front-rear direction. The first portion 721 of the reinforcing member 72 is fixed to the resin frame 71 by caulking the plurality of caulking projections 714 in a state where the plurality of caulking projections 714 are inserted into the plurality of caulking holes 726. A plurality of (here, four) caulking holes 726 are provided in the first part 721 to surround the first fixing holes 85.

Here, as shown in fig. 11, the reinforcing member 72 further includes a protective protrusion 725 protruding from a surface of the second portion 722 facing the front surface 711 of the resin frame 71. The protection protrusion 725 is inserted into the protection recess 713 formed in the resin frame 71. In the up-down direction, the protection protrusion 725 is located between the caulking hole 724 and the center of each vertical frame portion 83 in the up-down direction. That is, the protection protrusion 725 is located inside the caulking hole 724 of each vertical frame portion 83 in the up-down direction (adjacent to the center of the vertical frame portion 83 in the up-down direction). In this way, when the vertical frame portion 83 is elastically deformed in the left-right direction, shear stress is exerted on the protection protrusions 725, thus enabling reduction of shear stress exerted on the caulking protrusions 712.

In the present embodiment, the reinforcing member 72 has a front surface provided with a rib 727 formed along the longitudinal direction of the oval first fixing hole 85. The rib 727 is located on the side of the first fixing hole 85 opposite to the opening window 81 in the up-down direction. Therefore, the reinforcing member 72 reinforces a portion of the rib 727, which is located in the peripheral edge of the first fixing hole 85 and to which a force is particularly applied by tightening the fixing screw. Thus, the deformation of the mounting frame 8 is reduced. The first reinforcing member 72 also has a portion recessed rearward in the up-down direction between the fixing hole 85 and the opening window 81, compared with a portion located on the opposite side of the first fixing hole 85 from the opening window 81. Therefore, when the fixing screw is tightened through the first fixing hole 85, a force from the fixing screw is applied to a portion of the reinforcing member 72 on the opposite side of the first fixing hole 85 from the opening window 81. Therefore, the torsional moment applied to the reinforcing member 72 can be limited to a low degree.

Thereafter, referring to fig. 12A and 12B, the frame-side attachment 6 on the mounting frame 8 will be described in detail. In fig. 12B, the assembly frame 5 is indicated by a broken line (two-dot chain line). Since the plurality of (here, six) frame-side attachment pieces 6 have a common configuration, unless otherwise indicated, a description will be given hereinafter by focusing on one of the frame-side attachment pieces 6. If the remaining frame-side attachments have the same configuration, the description of the remaining frame-side attachments is omitted. Here, when the mounting frame 8 is viewed from the front side, attention is paid to the frame-side attachment 6 located at the upper right corner (denoted by "a 2" in fig. 12A).

As shown in fig. 12B, the frame-side attachment 6 includes a first stopper 61 and a second stopper 62. The first stopper 61 has a rear surface 611 facing rearward as a contact surface to the first attachment piece 57 of the device-side attachment piece 102 of the wiring device 1. The second stopper 62 has a front surface 621 facing the front as a contact surface to the second attachment 58 of the device-side attachment 102 of the wiring device 1. Each of the pair of frame-side attachment pieces 6 is configured to restrict the movement of the wiring device 1 in the front-rear direction with respect to the frame body 80 in the following manner: the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 is in contact with the wiring device 1 and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 is in contact with the wiring device 1. The first stopper 61 and the second stopper 62 are provided at positions different in the up-down direction.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 12B, the first stopper 61 includes a pair of first stopper pieces 610 that are separated in the up-down direction. The second stopper 62 includes a pair of second stopper pieces 620 divided in the up-down direction. The pair of first stopper pieces 610 are provided at positions corresponding to the pair of first attaching pieces 570 of the assembly frame 5. The pair of second stopper pieces 620 is provided at positions corresponding to the pair of second attaching pieces 580 of the assembly frame 5. Therefore, the first stopper 61 and the second stopper 62 are disposed at positions different in the up-down direction such that the pair of second stopper pieces 620 are located on the inner sides of the pair of first stopper pieces 610 in the up-down direction.

The first stopper 61 is a protrusion that protrudes from each of a pair of inner side surfaces 831 (see fig. 8A) of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 facing the opening window 81 to the inside of the opening window 81. Here, the protrusions include a plurality of protrusions grouped in pairs such that each pair corresponds to a pair of the first stopper pieces 610, and as shown in fig. 12A, three pairs of protrusions (six protrusions) are provided on each of a pair of the vertical frame portions 83. The first stopper 610 from the top second and the first stopper 610 from the top third are integrally formed, and the first stopper 610 from the top fourth and the first stopper 610 from the top fifth are integrally formed.

The second stopper 62 is a rear wall of a stopper recess 832 formed in each of a pair of inner side surfaces 831 of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 facing the opening window 81. The stopper recess 832 is a recess that opens toward the front and the opening window 81. That is, the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 is a bottom surface of the stopper recess 832, which faces forward. Here, the stop recesses 832 include a plurality of stop recesses 832 grouped into pairs such that each pair corresponds to a pair of the second stop pieces 620, and three pairs of stop recesses 832 (six stop recesses 832) are provided on each of the pair of vertical frame portions 83.

In the right vertical frame portion 83, the inside surface 831 directed toward the opening window 81 has a release recess 835. The release recess 835 is a recess opened to the front and the opening window 81. Here, three release recesses 835 are formed in the right vertical frame portion 83 so as to be located between the pair of stopper recesses 832. The releasing recess 835 is used when the wiring device 1 is detached from the mounting frame 8 in such a manner that the front end of a jig such as a screwdriver is inserted into the releasing recess 835 to bend (elastically deform) the right vertical frame portion 83 to the right.

Further, the second stopper 62 has a rear surface 622 facing rearward (see fig. 8B). The rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 is positioned forward of the rear surface 622 of the second stopper 62.

Further, the frame-side attachment member 6 further includes a dowel 612 (see fig. 9) that protrudes from at least one of the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62. In the present embodiment, the dowel 612 is provided to the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61. In a state where the wiring device 1 is attached to the frame body 80, the dowel pin 612 is pressed and deformed by the wiring device 1, which will be described later in detail.

In addition, the frame-side attachment member 6 further includes a reinforcing rib 613 that protrudes rearward from the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61. In the present embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 613 are provided only between the first stopper 610 second from the top and the first stopper 610 third from the top and between the first stopper 610 fourth from the top and the first stopper 610 fifth from the top. In a state where the wiring device 1 is attached to the frame body 80, a rear surface of the reinforcing rib 613 facing rearward is not in contact with the wiring device 1, which will be described later in detail.

(2.4) attachment structure of wiring device to mounting frame

Thereafter, referring to fig. 13 to 17B, the attachment structures (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) for attaching the wiring device 1 to the mounting frame 8 will be described in further detail. Unless otherwise indicated, the description is given hereinafter by focusing on one attachment structure (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6). If the other attachment structures have the same configuration, the description thereof will be omitted. Here, attention is paid to the attachment structures (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) located in the upper right corner (in the region identified by "a 3" in fig. 13) of the four corners of the wiring device 1 as viewed from the front side. Therefore, for example, for the attachment structure located in the upper left corner among the four corners of the wiring device 1 as viewed from the front side, the right and left sides in the following description are reversed.

As shown in fig. 13 and 14, the wiring device 1 is attached to the mounting frame 8 in a state where at least the cover 3 is inserted into the opening window 81 of the mounting frame 8. Here, when the wiring device 1 is attached to the mounting frame 8, the wiring device 1 is inserted into the opening window 81 from the rear of the mounting frame 8. Here, the worker first inserts the second attachment piece 58 as an attachment claw provided to the assembly frame 5 on the left side of the wiring device 1 into the stopper recess 832 of the vertical frame portion 83 on the left side of the mounting frame 8. Subsequently, the worker pushes the right end portion of the wiring device 1 from behind, so that the second attachment piece 58 as an attachment claw provided to the assembly frame 5 on the right side of the wiring device 1 is fitted into the stopper recess 832 of the right vertical frame portion 83 of the mounting frame 8 while bending the right vertical frame portion 83 of the mounting frame 8 to the right.

Here, the wiring device 1 and the mounting frame 8 are coupled to each other within the dimension of the mounting frame 8 in the front-rear direction. Further, as shown in fig. 15, the mounting frame 8 is attached to the mounting surface 800 in a state where the rear surface of the frame body 80 contacts the surface of the mounting surface 800. Therefore, the amount of projection of the mounting frame 8 from the mounting surface 800 depends on the dimension of the attachment structures (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) in the front-rear direction, and reducing the dimension of the attachment structures in the front-rear direction reduces the amount of projection of the mounting frame 8 from the mounting surface 800. Fig. 15 is a bottom view showing the wiring device 1 attached to the mounting frame 8 viewed from the lower side, and a hatched (dot-hatched) area indicates the cover 3. In fig. 15, the mounting surface 800 is indicated by a broken line (two-dot chain line).

As described above, in the wiring device 1, the dimension of the cover 3 is larger than the dimension of the body 2 in the left-right direction, that is, the cover 3 is wider than the body 2. Further, the dimension of a portion of the cover 3 positioned to the rear of the surface of the mounting surface 800, i.e., in the left-right direction in the wall (embedded in the box), is the same as the dimension of the body 2 in the left-right direction. Therefore, as shown in fig. 15, the mounting frame 8 and the cover 3 do not have a projection in the left-right direction at a position rearward of the surface of the mounting surface 800, and the size of the portion of the wiring device 1 accommodated in the wall (embedded in the box) can be reduced.

As shown in fig. 16, in a state where the wiring device 1 is attached to the mounting frame 8, the first attachment piece 57 and the second attachment piece 58 of the device-side attachment piece 102 are in contact with the first stopper 61 and the second stopper 62 of the frame-side attachment piece 6, thus fixing the wiring device 1. That is, the device-side attachment 102 restricts the movement of the housing 4 relative to the mounting frame 8 in the front-rear direction in the following manner: the front surface 571 of the first attachment 57 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 from the rear, and the rear surface 581 of the second attachment 58 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 from the front. In other words, the frame-side attachment 6 restricts the movement of the wiring device 1 relative to the frame body 80 in the front-rear direction in the following manner: the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 contacts the wiring device 1 from the front, and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 contacts the wiring device 1 from the rear.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 17A, the device-side attachment member 102 is brought into contact with the rear surface 611 (see fig. 12B) of the first stopper 61 (the pair of first stopper pieces 610) of the frame-side attachment member 6 through the front surface 571 (see fig. 5A) of the first attachment member 57 (the pair of first attachment pieces 570). This restricts the forward movement of the wiring device 1 with respect to the frame body 80. Here, the dowel 612 provided to the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 is pressed and plastically deformed by the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57. Therefore, even when a slight dimensional error occurs between the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6, the plastic deformation of the dowel pin 612 absorbs the influence of the dimensional error and reduces the sound of the wiring device 1 with respect to the mounting frame 8. Further, in this state, the front surface 571 of the first attachment 57 is in contact with only the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 but is not in contact with the rear surface of the reinforcing rib 613.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 17B, the device-side attachment member 102 is brought into contact with the front surface 621 (see fig. 12B) of the second stopper 62 (the pair of second stopper pieces 620) of the frame-side attachment member 6 through the rear surface 581 (see fig. 5A) of the second attachment member 58 (the pair of second attachment pieces 580). This restricts the wiring device 1 from moving backward with respect to the frame body 80. Therefore, the movement of the wiring device 1 in the front-rear direction with respect to the frame body 80 is restricted.

Further, the dimension of the wiring device 1 in the up-down direction is substantially the same as the dimension of the opening window 81 in the up-down direction, and the dimension of the wiring device 1 in the left-right direction except for the second attachment 58 is substantially the same as the dimension of the opening window 81 in the left-right direction. This restricts the movement of the housing 4 in the up-down direction and the left-right direction with respect to the mounting frame 8. Further, both walls of the release recess 835 in the up-down direction may be sandwiched between the pair of second attaching pieces 580 to restrict the movement of the housing 4 in the up-down direction with respect to the mounting frame 8.

However, in the wiring device 1 to be attached to the mounting surface 800 (see fig. 1) using the mounting frame 8 as described above, a relatively large force may be exerted on the wiring device 1 in the front-rear direction, for example, during mounting (attaching) of the wiring device 1 or use of the wiring device 1. For example, when the mounting frame 8 to which the wiring device 1 has been attached is attached to the mounting surface 800, the electric wire or the like connected to the wiring device 1 applies a force to the wiring device 1 in a direction in which the wiring device 1 is pressed forward. Further, when the wiring device 1 in use is unplugged in a so-called "sluggish manner of unplugging" by pulling the power supply line and when a person stumbles on the power supply line of the wiring device 1 in use, a force is applied to the wiring device 1 in a direction of pulling the wiring device 1 forward. Further, in order to use the wiring device 1, a backward pressing force is applied to the wiring device 1 by inserting the plug of the wiring device 1. Even when such a force is applied, in the wiring device 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the movement of the wiring device 1 in the front-rear direction with respect to the frame body 80 is restricted, and therefore, the sound of the wiring device 1 is reduced.

(3) Modification examples

The wiring device 1, the mounting frame 8, or the assembly frame 5 according to the first embodiment is only an example of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment. Even in other embodiments than the first embodiment, various modifications may be made in accordance with the design and the like without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. A modification of the first embodiment will be described below.

(3.1) first modification

A wiring device 1A according to a first modification of the first embodiment is different from the wiring device 1 according to the first embodiment in that a housing 4A having a cell size is provided as shown in fig. 18. That is, the wiring device 1A includes a device body 40A having the following dimensions: this dimension enables attachment of up to three device bodies to the mounting frame 8. In the wiring device 1A, the body 2A and the cover 3A are joined to each other by using a pair of assembly frames 5. The wiring device 1A has a front surface 31A including only a pair of insertion holes 311A. That is, the wiring device 1A is a single outlet. The wiring device 1A is attached to, for example, the center of the opening window 81 in the up-down direction.

(3.2) second modification

The mounting frame 8A according to the second modification of the first embodiment is different from the mounting frame 8 for the triple outlet according to the first embodiment in that the mounting frame 8A is a mounting frame for the double outlet as shown in fig. 19. That is, any number of cases 4A from one to two cases 4A each having a unit size may be attached to the mounting frame 8A. The mounting frame 8A includes two pairs of frame-side attachments 6A aligned in the up-down direction. Each frame-side attachment 6A includes a first stopper 61 (a pair of first stopper pieces 610) and a second stopper 62 (a pair of second stopper pieces 620), similarly to the frame-side attachment 6 of the mounting frame 8 according to the first embodiment.

(3.3) third modification

As shown in fig. 20, an assembly frame 5A according to a third modification of the first embodiment is different from the assembly frame 5 according to the first embodiment in that a first attachment 57 (see fig. 5A) is omitted. That is, the assembly frame 5A does not include the pair of first attachment pieces 570 (see fig. 5A) that protrude in the upward and downward directions from the end surfaces of the assembly frame 5 in the up-down direction, and therefore the size of the assembly frame 5A in the up-down direction can be limited to a small size. The wiring device 1 including the assembly frame 5A is attached to the mounting frame 8 by bringing the front surface of the first side portion 51 into contact with the mounting frame 8 from behind in place of the front surface 571 of the first attachment 57 (see fig. 5A). That is, when attaching the wiring device 1 including this assembly frame 5A, a mounting frame having a stopper is used at a position that is in contact with the front surface of the first side portion 51 instead of the first stopper 61 (see fig. 16).

(3.4) fourth modification

As shown in fig. 21A and 21B, a wiring device 1B according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment differs from the wiring device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the assembly frame 5B further includes an auxiliary rib 532 that is in contact with the first protrusion 34B from a side (from the rear) adjacent to the second protrusion 24 in the front-rear direction. That is, the assembling frame 5B has the auxiliary rib 532 at a position facing the first side 51 and leaves a certain space in the front-rear direction. The auxiliary rib 532 is provided between the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 in the front-rear direction. In the example of fig. 21, the inner peripheral surface of each of the pair of assembly holes 54 has a pair of auxiliary ribs 532. The assembly frame 5 includes four auxiliary ribs 532 in total. A pair of auxiliary ribs 532 provided on each of the assembly holes 54 protrudes from a portion of the coupling portion 53 adjacent to the first side portion 51 with respect to the step portion 534 (see fig. 5B) so as to be close to each other in the up-down direction.

Further, in the wiring device 1B according to the fourth modification, the first protrusion 34 includes a pair of tabs 342 protruding from the rear surfaces of the pair of first protrusions 341. Each tab 342 is provided at a central portion of a rear surface of each first protrusion 342 in the up-down direction. In other words, the rear surfaces of the pair of first protrusions 341 are not flat surfaces, but both end portions of each rear surface in the up-down direction are recessed.

As shown in fig. 21B, in a state where the assembly frame 5B is attached to the housing 4, the pair of auxiliary ribs 532 are in contact with the pair of first protrusions 341 from a side (from the rear) adjacent to the second protrusion 24 in the front-rear direction. That is, the assembly frame 5B is attached to the housing 4 in a state where the pair of first protrusions 341 are sandwiched between the pair of auxiliary ribs 532 and the first side portion 51. Here, the tab 342 of the first protrusion 34B is caught between the pair of auxiliary ribs 532 in the up-down direction.

According to the configuration of the wiring device 1B of the fourth modification, the first protrusion 34B is supported from the side adjacent to the second protrusion 24 in the front-rear direction (from the rear) by the auxiliary rib 532. Therefore, a force applied to the first protrusion 34B from the side opposite to the second protrusion 24 in the front-rear direction (from the front) can be received by the auxiliary rib 532. Therefore, even when a large force is applied in a direction of pressing (or pulling) the wiring device 1 forward, for example, during mounting (attaching) of the wiring device 1 or during use of the wiring device 1, the auxiliary rib 532 protects the first protrusion 34B, thus reducing damage to the first protrusion 34B.

Note that, in this case, in a state where the wiring device 1B is attached to the mounting surface 800 (see fig. 1), substantially the entire tab 342 is accommodated in the wall (embedded in the box). Therefore, the dimension in the left-right direction of the wiring device 1B to be accommodated into the wall (embedded in the box) is larger than the dimension in the left-right direction of the wiring device 1 according to the first embodiment.

(3.5) other modifications

Other modifications in addition to the first to fourth modifications of the first embodiment will be described below.

The wiring device 1 is not limited to indoor use and may be an outdoor device used outside a building. The wiring device 1 is not limited to a wiring device including a ground electrode, but may be a wiring device without a ground electrode or may be, for example, a socket for 100V alternating current or for direct current. The wiring device 1 is not limited to the sockets corresponding to the a-type and C-type plugs, but may be a socket to which only the a-type plug can be connected or may be a socket to which a plug such as a B-type plug, a BF-type plug, a C-type plug, or an O-type plug can be connected. The wiring device 1 is not limited to the duplex receptacle, but may be a single receptacle or a triplex receptacle. The wiring device 1 is not limited to the socket, but may be a switch, a human body sensor, a timer, or the like. The wiring device 1 may be a socket with a human body sensor, which is an example of a combination of two or more functions of a socket, a switch, a human body sensor, a timer, and the like. The terminals of the wiring device 1 do not have to be quick-connect terminals, but may be, for example, screw-type terminals.

The configuration of the wiring device 1 is not limited to a configuration in which the rear portion of the wiring device 1 is mounted in a wall (a built-in mounting type), but may be a configuration in which the wiring device 1 is mounted on a wall while the entire wiring device 1 is exposed (an exposed mounting type). The configuration of the mounting frame 8 is not limited to the configuration of fixing the mounting frame 8 to the embedment box, but may be a configuration of attaching the mounting frame 8 to the mounting surface 800 by using, for example, a clamping tool.

In the assembly frame 5, the first side portion 51 and the second side portion 52 only need to be provided by being shifted relative to each other in the left-right direction. For example, the position of the first side portion 51 may partially overlap the position of the second side portion 52 in the left-right direction. In this case, the second side portion 52 is partially located in a projection area of the first side portion 51 in the front-rear direction.

The hanging claw 551 provided at the front end portion of the leg piece 55 only needs to be hooked on at least one of the body 2 and the cover 3. Thus, for example, the hanging claw 551 may be configured to hook only on the body 2 or only on the cover 3.

The configuration of the assembly frame 5 is not limited to the configuration including the three clamping plates 531. The assembly frame 5 may include one to two clamping plates 531 or more than four clamping plates 531. For example, when the assembling frame 5 includes two clamping plates 531, the assembling frame 5 has a rectangular frame shape. In this case, the first protrusion 34 has a shape in which the pair of first protrusions 341 are integrated, and the second protrusion 24 has a shape in which the pair of second protrusions 241 are integrated.

The assembly frame 5 does not have to be separated from the mounting frame 8. The assembly frame 5 may be integral with the mounting frame 8. In this case, the body 2 and the cover 3 are coupled to each other by using an assembly frame 5 integrated with the mounting frame 8.

The dowel 612, which is elastically deformed in attaching the wiring device 1 to the mounting frame 8, only needs to protrude from at least one of the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62. The dowel 612 may protrude from the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62. In this case, the dowel 612 is pressed and plastically deformed by the rear surface 581 of the second attachment member 58.

The front surface 571 of the first attachment element 57 may be located at the same position in the first direction as the rear surface 581 of the second attachment element 58. In this configuration, the second attachment member 58 is moved rearward to a position where the rear surface 581 of the second attachment member 58 is flush with (the same as) the front surface 571 of the first attachment member 57, as compared with the wiring device 1 according to the first embodiment. That is, in the wiring device 1 according to the first embodiment, the front surface 571 of the first attachment 57 is positioned slightly (e.g., by 0.5mm) in front of the rear surface 581 of the second attachment 58, but the front surface 571 and the rear surface 581 may be flush with each other. Thus, this configuration limits the amount of forward projection of the second attachment piece 58 from the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57 to a low amount and enables the thickness of the pair of device-side attachment pieces 102 in the first direction to be reduced. Similarly, in the mounting frame 8, the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 may be located at the same position as the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 in the first direction. However, the front surface 571 of the first attachment member 57 and the rear surface 581 of the second attachment member 58 do not necessarily have to be located at the same position in the first direction. As long as the front surface 571 and the rear surface 581 are regarded as being substantially flush with each other, it is possible to secure strength and reduce the thickness of the attachment structures (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6). For example, the front surface 571 of the first attachment member 57 may be located at a position displaced in the front-rear direction relative to the rear surface 581 of the second attachment member 58 in the range of greater than or equal to 0mm to less than 3 mm.

(4) Summary of the invention

As described above, the wiring device 1 according to an aspect of the present invention includes the housing 4 and the pair of device-side attachments 102. In a state where the housing 4 is inserted into the opening window 81, the housing 4 is attached to the mounting frame 8 having the opening window 81 penetrating the mounting frame 8 in the first direction (front-rear direction). A pair of device-side attachments 102 are provided on opposite sides of the case 4 in a second direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the pair of device-side attachments 102 includes a first attachment 57 having a front surface 571 facing the front as one side in the first direction, and a second attachment 58 having a rear surface 581 facing the rear as the other side in the first direction. Each of the pair of device-side attachment members 102 is configured such that the front surface 571 of the first attachment member 57 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 and the rear surface 581 of the second attachment member 58 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 to restrict movement of the housing 4 in the first direction relative to the mounting frame 8. The first attachment piece 57 and the second attachment piece 58 are provided at positions different from each other in a third direction (up-down direction) orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

With this configuration, the first attachment 57 in which the front surface 571 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 and the second attachment 58 in which the rear surface 581 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 are disposed at positions different from each other in the third direction. This makes it possible to limit the dimension of the attachment structure (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) in the first direction to a small dimension. For example, when the rear surface 581 of the second attachment 58 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 from the front, and the front surface 582 of the second attachment 58 is in contact with the mounting frame 8 from the rear, the mounting frame 8 needs a structure for restricting the wiring device 1 from moving to the front and the rear of the second attachment 58. The first aspect in which the first attachment 57 and the second attachment 58, which are provided at different positions from each other in the third direction, are in contact with the mounting frame 8 makes it possible to limit the size of the attachment structure (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) in the first direction to a small size, as compared with this case. Limiting the dimension of the attachment structure (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) in the first direction to a small dimension results in a reduced thickness of the mounting frame 8, and limits the amount of protrusion of the mounting frame 8 from the mounting surface 800 to a small amount. As a result, the amount of protrusion of the wiring device 1 attached to the mounting frame 8 from the mounting surface 800 is also limited to a small amount.

In the wiring device 1 according to the second aspect with reference to the first aspect, the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57 is preferably positioned rearward of the front surface 582 of the second attachment piece 58 facing forward. With this configuration, the front surface 571 of the first attachment 57 that contacts the mounting frame 8 from behind and the rear surface 581 of the second attachment 58 that contacts the mounting frame 8 from front may be disposed close to each other in the first direction. Therefore, the thickness of the pair of device-side attachments 102 in the first direction can be reduced. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the wiring device 1, and the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57 may be positioned in front of the front surface 582 of the second attachment piece 58.

In the wiring device 1 according to the third aspect with reference to the second aspect, the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57 and the rear surface 581 of the second attachment piece 58 are preferably located at the same position in the first direction. This configuration limits the forward protrusion of the second attachment piece 58 from the front surface 571 of the first attachment piece 57 to a small amount, and thus the thickness of the pair of device-side attachment pieces 102 in the first direction can be reduced. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the wiring device 1, and the front surface 571 of the first attachment 57 and the rear surface 581 of the second attachment 58 may be located at positions different from each other in the first direction.

In the wiring device 1 according to the fourth aspect with reference to any one of the first to third aspects, the second attachment piece 58 preferably protrudes from each of the two end faces 22 (or the two end faces 32) of the housing 4 in the second direction. With this configuration, the second attachment 58 having a bump shape can be realized without increasing the size of the wiring device 1 in the third direction. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the wiring device 1, and for example, the second attachment 58 may include a recess.

In the wiring device 1 according to the fifth aspect with reference to the fourth aspect, the front surface 582 of the second attachment 58 facing forward is preferably an inclined surface that is inclined such that an edge of the front surface 582 that is opposite to the housing 4 in the second direction is positioned rearward of an edge of the front surface 582 that is adjacent to the housing 4 in the second direction. With this configuration, the case 4 is pressed into the opening window 81 from the rear with respect to the mounting frame 8, and therefore the case 4 can be attached to the mounting frame 8 while the mounting frame 8 is bent by the front surface 582, which is the inclined surface, of the second attachment 58. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the wiring device 1, and the front surface 582 of the second attachment 58 need not necessarily be an inclined surface.

In the wiring device 1 according to the sixth aspect referring to the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect, the second attachment piece 58 preferably includes a pair of second attachment pieces 580 that are separated in the third direction. With this configuration, at least one pair of second attaching pieces 580 restrict the movement of the housing 4 rearward with respect to the mounting frame 8, and therefore, the housing 4 can be securely attached to the mounting frame 8 as compared with a configuration including one second attaching piece 580. Further, in a configuration in which a portion of the mounting frame 8 (for example, two walls in the up-down direction of the release recess 835 shown in fig. 16) is grasped between the pair of second attaching pieces 580, the movement of the housing 4 in the third direction with respect to the mounting frame 8 can be restricted. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the wiring device 1, and the second attachment 58 does not necessarily need to include the pair of second attachment pieces 580.

The mounting frame 8 according to the seventh aspect includes a frame body 80 having an opening window 81 which penetrates the frame body 80 in the first direction and into which the wiring device 1 is to be inserted for attaching the wiring device 1 to the frame body 80. The frame body 80 includes a pair of frame-side attachment pieces 6 on opposite sides of the opening window 81 in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the pair of frame-side attachment members 6 includes a second stopper 62 having a front surface 621 facing forward as one side in the first direction, and a first stopper 61 having a rear surface 611 facing rearward as the other side in the first direction. Each of the pair of frame-side attachments 6 is configured such that the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 is in contact with the wiring device 1 and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 is in contact with the wiring device 1 to restrict movement of the wiring device 1 in the first direction relative to the frame body 80. The first stopper 61 and the second stopper 62 are provided at positions different from each other in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

With this configuration, the first stopper 61 of which the rear surface 611 is in contact with the wiring device 1 and the second stopper 62 of which the front surface 621 is in contact with the wiring device 1 are disposed at positions different from each other in the third direction. Therefore, the dimension of the attachment structure (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) in the first direction can be restricted. For example, when the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 contacts the wiring device 1 from the rear and the rear surface 622 of the second stopper 62 contacts the wiring device 1 from the front, the wiring device 1 needs a configuration of restricting the movement of the wiring device 1 to the front and the rear of the second stopper 62. In the seventh aspect in which the first stopper 61 and the second stopper 62, which are provided at different positions from each other in the third direction, are in contact with the wiring device 1, the dimension of the attachment structure (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) in the first direction can be limited to a small dimension, as compared with this case. Limiting the dimensions of the attachment structures (the device-side attachment 102 and the frame-side attachment 6) in the first direction results in a reduction in the thickness of the mounting frame 8 and the amount of protrusion of the mounting frame 8 from the mounting surface 800. As a result, the amount of protrusion of the wiring device 1 attached to the mounting frame 8 from the mounting surface 800 can be limited to a small amount.

According to the mounting frame 8 of the eighth aspect with reference to the seventh aspect, the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 is preferably positioned forward of the rear surface 622 of the second stopper 62 facing rearward. With this configuration, the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61, which is in contact with the wiring device 1 from the front, and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62, which is in contact with the wiring device 1 from the rear, can be disposed close to each other in the first direction, and therefore, the thickness of the frame-side attachment 6 in the first direction can be reduced. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the mounting frame 8, and the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 may be positioned forward of the rear surface 622 of the second stopper 62.

In the mounting frame 8 according to the ninth aspect with reference to the eighth aspect, the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 are preferably located at the same position in the first direction. This configuration limits the amount of forward projection of the first stopper 61 from the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 to a relatively small amount, and therefore, the size of the pair of frame-side attachment members 6 in the first direction can be reduced. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the mounting frame 8, and the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62 may be located at positions different from each other in the first direction.

In the mounting frame 8 according to the tenth aspect with reference to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the frame body 80 preferably includes a pair of vertical frame portions 83 that face each other in the second direction and between which the opening window 81 is provided. In this case, the second stopper 62 preferably includes a rear wall of a stopper recess 832 formed in each of a pair of inner side surfaces 831 facing the opening window 81 of the pair of vertical frame portions 83. With this configuration, the second stopper 62 can be realized without increasing the size of the wiring device 1 in the third direction. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the mounting frame 8, and for example, the second stopper 62 may be a projection.

In the mounting frame 8 according to the eleventh aspect with reference to the tenth aspect, the second stopper 62 preferably includes a pair of second stopper pieces 620 divided in the third direction. With this configuration, at least one pair of second stopper pieces 620 restricts the movement of the wiring device 1 in the rearward direction with respect to the mounting frame 8. In this configuration, the housing 4 is more firmly attached to the mounting frame 8 than in a configuration including a second stopper piece 620. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the mounting frame 8, and the second stopper 62 does not necessarily include the pair of second stopper pieces 620.

In the mounting frame 8 according to the twelfth aspect referring to any one of the seventh to eleventh aspects, each of the pair of frame-side attachment pieces 6 preferably further includes a dowel 612 protruding from at least one of the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61 and the front surface 621 of the second stopper 62. In this case, the dowel 612 is preferably configured to be plastically deformed by being pressed by the wiring device when the wiring device 1 is attached to the frame body 80. With this configuration, the wiring device 1 is attached to the frame body 80 in a state where the dowel 612 is pressed, and therefore, even when there is a slight dimensional error between the first wiring device 1 and the frame body 80, the influence of the dimensional error is absorbed by the plastic deformation of the dowel 612, and the sound of the wiring device 1 is reduced. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration for the mounting frame 8, and the dowel 612 may be omitted accordingly.

In the mounting frame 8 according to the thirteenth aspect with reference to any one of the seventh to twelfth aspects, each of the pair of frame-side attachment members 6 preferably further includes a reinforcing rib 613 protruding rearward from the rear surface 611 of the first stopper 61. In this case, the rear surface of the reinforcing rib 613 facing rearward is preferably not in contact with the wiring device 1. With this configuration, the reinforcing ribs 613 reinforce the strength of the first stopper 61, and the forward force applied from the wiring device 1 to the frame body 80 can be reliably received by the first stopper 61. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the mounting frame 8, and the reinforcing rib 613 may be omitted accordingly.

In the mounting frame 8 according to the fourteenth aspect with reference to any one of the seventh to thirteenth aspects, the frame body 80 preferably includes a pair of vertical frame portions 83 which face each other in the second direction and between which the opening window 81 is provided. In this case, at least one of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 is preferably elastically deformable in the second direction over the entire width of the vertical frame portion in the second direction. With this configuration, the entirety of at least one of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 is elastically deformed in the second direction, and therefore, the width dimension (dimension in the second direction) of at least one of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 can be reduced to a relatively small dimension. Therefore, a large size of the opening window 81 in the second direction can be secured while the peripheral size of the frame body 80 remains unchanged. Note that this configuration is not a necessary configuration of the mounting frame 8, and for example, only a portion (end portion adjacent to the opening window 81) of the pair of vertical frame portions 83 in the second direction may be elastically deformed.

The wiring device system 10 according to the fifteenth aspect comprises a wiring device 1 according to the first aspect and a mounting frame 8 according to the seventh aspect. This configuration provides the following advantages: the amount of protrusion of the wiring device 1 to be attached to the mounting frame 8 from the mounting surface 800 can be limited to a small amount. Note that the components included in the wiring device system are not limited to the components included in the combination. The wiring device system 10 may comprise the wiring device 1 according to any of the first to sixth aspects and the mounting frame 8 according to any of the seventh to fourteenth aspects.

(second embodiment)

As shown in fig. 22, a wiring device 1C according to the second embodiment is different from the wiring device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the wiring device 1C is a switch including a switch handle 400. Components also shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals hereinafter, and descriptions thereof are omitted accordingly.

The wiring device 1C according to the present embodiment includes a device body 40C and a switch handle 400 to be attached to the device body 40C to cover the front surface 31C of the device body 40C. The apparatus body 40C includes a housing 4C including a body 2C and a cover 3C, and a handle 401. The housing 4C accommodates internal components such as terminal boards and contacts for opening and closing a feed line between the terminal boards. The handle 401 is exposed from the front surface 31C of the housing 4C. Switch handle 400 is attached to handle 401.

The wiring device 1C is a so-called rocker switch. Therefore, when the right or left end portion of the front surface of the switch handle 400 is pressed, the handle 401 moves to the housing 4C to switch the state of the contacts (on/off). Here, the case 4C has a size (unit size) capable of attaching up to three cases to the mounting frame 8 (see fig. 2). The mounting bracket 8 to which the wiring device 1C is to be mounted has the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

Here, similarly to the first embodiment, the cover 3C is larger than the body 2C in the left-right direction (second direction). That is, the cover 3C is wider than the body 2C in the left-right direction. The body 2C and the cover 3C are coupled to each other by a plurality of coupling structures 101C. In other words, the wiring device 1C includes the housing 4C including the body 2C and the cover 3C and the plurality of joining structures 101C for joining the body 2C and the cover 3C to each other.

At least one pair of coupling structures 101C is provided, wherein the coupling structures 101C are provided on respective sides of one set of the body 2C and the cover 3C in the up-down direction (third direction). In the present embodiment, two pairs (two sets) of the joining structures 101C are provided, wherein the joining structures 101C of each pair are provided on respective end surfaces (upper end surface and lower end surface) of the case 4C in the up-down direction. The two pairs of coupling structures 101C are arranged at four respective corners of the housing 4C as viewed from the front side such that the coupling structures 101C are aligned in the left-right direction on each end surface (each of the upper end surface and the lower end surface) in the up-down direction of the housing 4C. In this way, the body 2C and the cover 3C are joined at four corners of the housing 4C seen from the front side.

Here, each of the plurality of coupling structures 101C includes a coupling frame 35C protruding rearward from the rear surface of the cover 3C and a coupling claw 25C protruding in the up-down direction from each end surface (each of the upper end surface and the lower end surface) of the body 2C. The coupling frame 35C is integrated with the cover 3C. The coupling claw 25C is integrated with the body 2C. The coupling structure 101C is a so-called snap-fit structure in which the coupling claw 25C is fitted in a hole of the coupling frame 35C while the coupling frame 35C is elastically deformed, thereby coupling the body 2C and the cover 3C to each other.

Here, the wiring device 1C according to the present embodiment further includes a pair of device-side attachments 102C provided on opposite ends of the cover 3C in the left-right direction. The mounting frame 8 has an opening window 81 (see fig. 2) passing through the mounting frame 8 in the front-rear direction (first direction), and the body 2C and the cover 3C are configured to be attached to the mounting frame 8 by a pair of device-side attachments 102C in a state where the body 2C and the cover 3C are inserted into the opening window 81.

Each of the pair of device-side attachments 102C is realized as a configuration in which a part of the assembly frame 5 (see fig. 7A) of the wiring device 1 of the first embodiment is integrated with the cover 3C. That is, a configuration in which the second side portion 52 (see fig. 7A) and the coupling portion 53 (see fig. 7A) of the assembly frame 5 are omitted is provided on both sides of the cover 3C in the left-right direction, thereby realizing the pair of device-side attachments 102C. Thus, as shown in fig. 22, each of the pair of device-side attachment pieces 102C includes a first attachment piece 57C and a second attachment piece 58C. The first attachment piece 57C and the second attachment piece 58C correspond to the first attachment piece 57 (see fig. 16) and the second attachment piece 58 (see fig. 16), respectively, of the assembly frame 5 of the first embodiment.

That is, in the first embodiment, the coupling structure 101 (see fig. 4) and the device-side attachment 102 (see fig. 16) are provided on both sides of the case 4 in the left-right direction, and the coupling structure 101 and the device-side attachment 102 share the assembly frame 5. In contrast, in the second embodiment, at least one pair of coupling structures 101C are provided on opposite sides of the set of body 2C and cover 3C in the up-down direction, and at least one pair of device-side attachments 102C are provided on opposite sides of the cover 3C in the left-right direction.

As described above, at least one pair of coupling structures 101C is preferably provided on opposite ends of the set of the body 2C and the cover 3C in the third direction (up-down direction) orthogonal to the first direction (front-back direction) and the second direction (left-right direction). That is, the cover 3C is wide in the second direction, but the coupling structures 101C are provided at both ends in the third direction instead of the second direction. With this configuration, a space (volume of the case 4C) corresponding to the cover 3C being larger than the width of the body 2 in the second direction can be used for components other than the coupling structure 101C for coupling the body 2C to the cover 3C.

Further, as with the second embodiment, the wiring device 1C preferably further includes a pair of device-side attachments 102C provided on opposite sides of the cover 3C in the second direction. In this case, the body 2C and the cover 3C are preferably configured to be attached to the mounting frame 8 by the pair of device-side attachments 102C in a state where the body 2C and the cover 3C are inserted into the opening window 81 (the mounting frame 8 has the opening window 81 penetrating the mounting frame 8 in the first direction). That is, the cover 3C is wide in the second direction, but the pair of device-side attachments 102C are provided on the opposite sides of the second direction. With this configuration, a space corresponding to the width of the cover 3C wide in the second direction can be used for the device-side attachment 102C that attaches the body 2C and the cover 3C to the mounting frame 8. Note that this configuration is not a necessary structure of the wiring device 1C, and the pair of device-side attachments 102C may be provided on the opposite side of the third direction of the cover 3C.

The configuration of this embodiment is merely an example. For example, the wiring device 1C need not be a rocker (seesaw) switch, but may be a piano handle switch. Further, various configurations (including variations) described in the second embodiment may be used in combination with the configurations (including variations) described in the first embodiment.

Claims

1. A wiring device comprising:

a housing mounted to a mounting frame having an opening window penetrating in a first direction; and

a pair of device-side attachments provided on both sides of a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the housing, wherein

Each of the pair of device-side attachments comprises

A first attachment projecting in a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction; and

a second attachment piece protruding toward the second direction,

a front surface of the first attachment facing one direction, i.e., the front, of the first direction is in contact with the mounting frame, and a rear surface of the second attachment facing the other direction, i.e., the rear, of the first direction is in contact with the mounting frame, thereby restricting movement of the housing relative to the mounting frame in the first direction,

the first attachment piece and the second attachment piece are arranged to be in different positions from each other in the third direction.

2. The wiring device according to claim 1, wherein

The front surface of the first attachment is positioned rearward of a forward facing front surface of the second attachment.

3. The wiring device according to claim 2, wherein

The front surface of the first attachment piece and the rear surface of the second attachment piece are located at the same position in the first direction.

4. A wiring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

The housing is made of a thermosetting resin,

the device-side attachment is made of a thermoplastic resin.

5. A wiring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

The front surface of the second attachment member facing forward is an inclined surface inclined such that an edge of the side opposite to the case in the second direction is positioned rearward of an edge of the case side.

6. A wiring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

The second attachment member includes a pair of second attachment pieces separated in the third direction.

7. A wiring device comprising:

a housing mounted to the mounting frame; and

a device-side attachment mounted on the housing, wherein

The device-side attachment includes: a first attachment having a first surface facing one of the first directions; and a second attachment member having a second surface facing the other one of the first directions,

the second attachment piece protrudes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

the first attachment piece protrudes in a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction,

the first surface of the first attachment member is in contact with the mounting frame and the second surface of the second attachment member is in contact with the mounting frame, thereby restricting movement of the housing relative to the mounting frame in the first direction,

8. The wiring device recited in claim 7 wherein

The first surface of the first attachment member and the second surface of the second attachment member are located at the same position in the first direction.

9. Wiring arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, wherein

The housing is made of a thermosetting resin,

the device-side attachment is made of a thermoplastic resin.

10. Wiring arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, wherein