MXPA00009750A - Support for an apparatus, especially an electrical apparatus, to be mounted in a cable duct - Google Patents

Abstract

The support (10) fits into trunking with a generally'U'-shaped profile, and has two transverse ends (25T') that clip in place between the walls of the trunking, and each carry a fixing (51) for the equipment to be mounted. The fixings are attached to the transverse ends by a flexible connection (61), allowing some movement of the fixings while the equipment is installed.

Description

SUPPORT FOR APPARATUS, PARTICULARLY FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, WHICH WILL BE TRANSPORTED ON A BASE OF A CHANNEL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in a general way to the support devices applied to transverse an apparatus on a gutter socle from one to another of two longitudinal walls thereof, which are lateral fins of this gutter socle , or that they are one or the other internal partitions that may eventually comprise for a fragmentation of their internal volume into two or more compartments, and is directed, more particularly, to the case in which this apparatus is an electrical appliance, such as for example a socket outlet. In particular, the present invention relates to a support for an apparatus to be transported on a base of a channel of returns directed towards each other, of the type comprising two crosspieces which, by means of coupling, are apt to be brought into contact with the returns, and of which each is equipped with a means of fixing the apparatus. By separating the crosspieces one from the other, it is advantageously possible to adapt the assembly to any distance between fixing axes parallel to the length of the base of the channel, and thus, parallel to the length of the cover. In certain already known embodiments, it is also possible, at least to a certain degree, to adapt the length of the crosspieces to the distance separating the two longitudinal walls concerned from the length of the channel from one another to the length of the channel. gutter For this, in these already known embodiments, each of the crosspieces has a central part and at each of its ends one or more divisible portions, and end parts comprising coupling means necessary for putting the assembly in contact with the concerned longitudinal walls of the gutter socket to be fitted, and which are to be transported, by adjustment, in the manner of ferrules, on the ends of the central part. To adapt a crossbar to the desired length, it is sufficient to eliminate one or more of the divisible portions of the central part of this crossbar. However, this arrangement has several drawbacks, which tend, essentially, to the dependence, which inevitably exists, between the adaptation of each crossbar to the length of the cover and the final position of the fixing means that equip each crossbar, which during the modification of the length of each crossbar they may be offset in relation to a position initially provided on the longitudinal axis of the channel's symmetry. Furthermore, in certain cases, for a given crossbar length, it is necessary to modify the position of the fixing means, which equip a crossbar to authorize a certain decentering of the apparatus to be fixed, for example when this apparatus is integral with a trim plate in relation to which he himself is off center, or for example in the case in which this apparatus presents an important posterior volume obstruction, so that when it is mounted on the support in the channel, it has support against an internal part of the channel , which has the consequence of decentering its fixation means in relation to a position initially provided on the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the channel. It is currently known, from the French patent application No. 95 13936 published under FR 2,741,755, a support for apparatus to be transported on the base of a trough of returns directed towards each other, comprising two crosspieces apt to be put in contact with the returns and of which each one is equipped with fixing means of the apparatus, mounted in a regulable way in position along it, by a complex system of cooperation of notches. If such an embodiment provides entirely satisfactory in the case where it is intended to allow a continuous or substantially continuous adjustment of position of the fastening means that equip the cross members on a relatively extended portion of the length of these cross members, this implies an additional cost and a complexity of implementation and application of the device support that are not justified when the regulation zone of the fixing means is particularly little extended to allow a slight decentering of the fixing means in relation to a expected origin position. Thus, in relation to the state of the art cited above, the present invention proposes a new arrangement of the crosspieces of an apparatus support, provided with fixing means whose position can be adjusted to that of the fixing means of a slightly offset device in relation to a position initially planned along the crosspieces, which is simple to carry out and inexpensive. More particularly, the invention relates to a support for apparatus of the type defined in the introduction, in which the fixing means are joined at each crosspiece by means of a flexible connection that allows a slight misalignment of the fixing means according to the direction of the crossbar relative to a position of stable origin, during the fixing of the apparatus on the support. Advantageously, according to the invention, the flexible connection joining the fixing means to each crosspiece allows a slight decentering of the fixing means, which allows a support of given length, mounted in a duct, to receive different devices, for example that compose a series, whose obstructions are different, which may cause during assembly a slight misalignment of its fixing means relative to a position of intended origin. Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the support for apparatus according to the invention are expressed hereafter. The misalignment of the fixing means is made by turning the flexible connection in the plane of the crossbar. The fastening means that equip a crossbar belong to a platform joined to the flexible connection, this platform can carry on both sides the flexible connection of the retaining stops apt to rest against a part of each crossbar to limit the course of the means of fixation. Each platform comes from formation with the associated flexible joint, and each flexible joint is constituted by a flexible tongue that extends perpendicularly to the general direction of a crossbar, this flexible tongue can come from forming by molding a plastic material with each crosspiece. The support comprises, in the general form of a frame, four sides, of which two longitudinal sides present externally, on its edge, own groove means for coupling the assembly on the returns of the base of the gutter to be equipped, and two transverse sides formed by the cross members, the sides internally define a central opening for the placement of at least one apparatus and are distributed in at least two parts articulated one with respect to the other by a hinge, forming a single piece, of luck which, to give lateral access to the central opening, are likely to be at least locally disjointed one from the other. According to this embodiment, the longitudinal sides of the support comprise stringers provided preferably with at least a portion divisible to form a passage hole of a cable 'power supply of a device. The description that follows, in relation to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, will be well understood as to what the invention consists of, and how it can be carried out. In the appended drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the support according to the invention to be transported on the base of a trough intended to be closed by a first type of closure cap; Figure 2 is a plan view of the support shown in Figure 1 positioned in the socket of the channel closed by the closure lid; - Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the support according to the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 and intended to be transported on a closed gutter by a second type of closure cap; - Figure 4 is a plan view of the support of Figure 3 mounted in the trough closed by the closure lid, and Figure 5 is a schematic detailed plan view of a support lug shown in Figures 1 to 4. In Figures 1 to 4, a support 10 of apparatus according to the invention is shown, intended to allow to transport, on the facade, on the base of a duct 12, any apparatus (not shown here). The channel 12 is well known per se, and will not be described in detail. Essentially, it comprises a base 11 having two returns 14, each arranged respectively along a free edge of its side flaps 15, and directed towards each other. The returns 14 each have a curved edge 14b inclined towards the outside of the channel. These curved edges 14b confer a certain aesthetics to the gutter. It is in favor of these returns 14 of the channel that the device support 10 is itself transported on the base 11. In the embodiment shown, the base 11 has, in cross section, a V-shaped profile, with a bottom 16 from which its side flaps 15 extend along divergent axes one with respect to the other and their returns 14 are parallel to this bottom 16. One could envisage, in a variant not shown, that the plinth, in cross section, has a profile in U, with a bottom perpendicular to its fins and returns parallel to the bottom. The gutter is completed by a lid for closing the base 11. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 18 comprises longitudinal edges 18a slightly curved so that they form sloping edges towards the outside of the gutter, intended to cover the curved outer edges 14b of the returns 14 of the gutter. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lid 18 'comprises longitudinal longitudinal edges 18'a which form longitudinal sharp edges. As more particularly shown in Figure 4, when a cap 18 'is mounted on the chute 12, it makes apparent the curved edges 14a of the returns 14 of the chute. For the seaming of each closing lid 18, 18 'on the gutter, the returns 14 of the gutter are each formed in a gutter 14a along its free edge, and each lid 18, 18' comprises two snap-on legs 18b, 18'b positioned parallel in the vicinity of their longitudinal edges 18a, 18 'and intended to engage by elastic deformation in each respective gutter 14a. In a manner known per se, the device support 10 according to the invention comes, locally, to replace the closure cap. The apparatus intended to be mounted on the support 10 is not shown, and may for example be a block of multiple takes. According to the examples represented in the figures, the apparatus support 10 according to the invention comprises, in the general form of a frame, four sides 25L, 25T, 25T ', which internally define a central opening 27 proper to the positioning of at least one apparatus, and in class, a single apparatus, and between which two opposite sides 25L, here the longitudinal sides, each one of them externally, on its edge, have slot means 28 proper to the coupling of the assembly on the returns 14 of the base 11 of the gutter 12 to be equipped, and more precisely, on the part formed in gutter 14a of these returns 14. The sides 25L, 25T, 25T 'of the apparatus support 10 are distributed in at least two parts A, A' which, to give access laterally to the opening 27, are capable of being at least locally disconnected one of the other. The parts A, A 'form one and the same part, and are here articulated with respect to one another by means of a hinge 30. Thanks to this hinge 30, the support of the apparatus 10 is capable of passing from an aperture configuration. , represented more particularly in Figures 1 to 4, to a closure configuration (not shown), and for its opening configuration it is advantageously given access laterally to its central opening 27. In the embodiment shown, one of the parts A comprises the two longitudinal sides 25L and a transverse side constituted by a cross member 25T, and the other part A 'comprises a single transverse side constituted by a cross member 25T'. This device support 10 opens according to the length of the base 11 of the channel 12. Its part A, which is formed of two longitudinal sides 25L having slot means 28 and a fixed cross-piece 25T, has, in one plane, a U-shaped contour. Its part A ', which is formed by a single transverse side 25T' mobile, is thus reduced to its own crosspiece to close the part A. The longitudinal sides 25L have, each cantilevered, over its entire length , a molding - 31, by which they are level with the returns 14 of the base of the channel 12, and a spar 48 destined to be positioned inside the channel with respect to a longitudinal rib that participates in the stiffening of the channel and extends together below the gutter 14a of a return 14. The crosspieces 25T, 25T 'each form, over their entire length, a tongue 32 of rectangular surface, which is rearward relative to the molding 31 of the longitudinal sides 25L and by which they are apt to be inserted under the corresponding sections of a closing lid or of a counter-joint (not shown) that establishes the union between an ornament covering an appliance and a closure lid, as will be described later.

Each tab 32 of the crosspieces 25T, 25T 'extends transversely cantilevered. On the lower surface of the support 10 at the four corners of the latter, it is provided with hooks 37 of its own so as to allow, if desired, any insulation box of an apparatus (not shown) to be hooked. As shown more particularly in Figure 5, according to the example shown of the support of the apparatus according to the invention, the hinge 30 intervenes between, on the one hand, a lateral edge 39 'of the cross member 25T' and, on the other hand, a second tongue 39 , which extends, locally, the longitudinal side 25L to which the cross member 25T 'is articulated, at the tip of this longitudinal side 25L. The tongue 39 is preferably rigid or semi-rigid. Preferably, it is provided with centering means between the two parts A, A 'in the vicinity of the hinge 30. For example, as shown in FIG.

Figure 5, these centering means comprise a projection 40, which is present in cantilever on the part A and a housing (not shown), which is made with caution hollowed out in the part A 'and at least locally complementary to this projection 40. The projection 40 belonging to the part A makes a cantilever on the inner surface of the tongue 30 that extends the longitudinal side 25L concerned by the hinge 30. The projection 40 comprises, from the back, parallel to the axis of the hinge 30, and perpendicular to the tab 39 that carries it, two centering facets 42, and the corresponding housing provided on the part A 'advantageously has two centering facets. The projection 40 also has above its centering facets 42, to facilitate its coupling in the corresponding housing, two facets of coupling 43 which, oblique to one another, forming a sharp dihedral between them. As shown, the projection 40 can also, on the side of this dihedron, be folded down by a chamfer 44, on one and / or another of its faces parallel to the plane according to which the support of apparatus 10 extends in a general manner. hinge 30 locally forms a tongue of lesser thickness that is flexible. It extends sensibly according to a quarter of a circle.

Preferably, and this is also the case in the illustrated embodiment, snap-fastening means 45, 45 'are provided between the two parts A, A' remote from the hinge 30. These snap-fastening means 45, 45 'intervene, for a part, between the end opposite the hinge 30 of the articulated cross member 25T 'and, on the other hand, the free end of the corresponding longitudinal side 25L. More particularly, a notch 45 'which is cantilevered from the lateral edge of this cross member is provided on the concerned end of the cross member 25T, and on the free end of the corresponding longitudinal side 25L a complementary notch 45. Advantageously, means are also provided. guide of the articulated cross member 25T 'during its seaming on the corresponding longitudinal side 25L. These guide means intervene between the ends of the crossbar and the corresponding longitudinal side. They comprise, on the one hand, a rounded ramp 47 'formed on the cross member 25T' just below the snap notch 45 'and, on the other hand, a slot 47 formed at the corresponding free end of the longitudinal side 25L, and intended for receiving the ramp 47 'for the purpose of seaming the seaming means. As shown more particularly by Figures 1 to 4, the longitudinal members 48 of the longitudinal sides 25L of the support 10 each comprise a divisible portion 48 'in the form of a disc portion of a thickness smaller than that of the longitudinal members, and joined to each longitudinal member by pins of the same thickness. Each divisible portion makes it possible to form a passage hole for power supply cables of an apparatus inserted in the central opening 27. Advantageously, each supporting cross-piece 10 shown is equipped with fixing means 51 of the apparatus. These fastening means 51 are attached to each cross member 25T, 25T 'by means of a flexible connection which allows a slight offset of the fastening means according to the general direction Y of the crossbar relative to a stable origin position (shown in solid lines). in Figure 5) during the fixing of the apparatus on the support. More particularly, as shown in Figure 5, the phase shift of the fixing means is realized by rotation of the flexible joint 61 in the X, Y plane of the cross member 25T '(the offset position is shown in dashed lines in Figure 5). ). This flexible connection is here constituted by a flexible tongue 61, which extends perpendicularly to the general direction Y of the cross member 25T '. This comes from training by molding a plastic material with each crossbar. Each flexible tab 61 is located in a recess 34 formed in each cross member 25T, 25T 'so that it does not exceed the outer longitudinal edge of the cross member. In addition, the fixing means 51 that equips a cross member 25T 'belong to a platform 50 joined to the flexible connection 61. Here, advantageously, each platform 50 comes forming with the associated flexible tongue 61 constituting the flexible connection, of It is fortunately located on one end 62 of the tongue 61, cantilevered from the crosspiece, towards the inside of the support 10. Each platform 50 carries on both sides of the flexible joint 61 retaining stops 52 which extend according to the general direction Y in a housing 33 provided in the cross member 25T '.

These detent stops 52 are apt to rest against a portion of each cross member 25T 'to limit the course of the attachment means. The angular movement of the platform 50 is set to allow a misalignment of the fixing means 51 according to the general direction Y of the cross member, of the order of ± 3 mm, for example. The retaining stops 52, which limit the course of the fixing means, make it possible to protect each flexible tab 61 so that they always deform elastically. The fastening means 51 provided by each cross member 25T, 25T 'advantageously comprise a threaded insert (not shown here) fitted in a housing provided on the platform 50. Thus, when an apparatus whose length of a semi-mechanism is higher in some millimeters to the half of the length of the opening 27 available in the support, is coupled to the support, comes from the side of this semi-mechanism in support against a support beam, or against a gutter of the gutter socket, which causes a slight decentering of its fixing means. To fix it to the support, it is sufficient then to decentralize the fixing means 51 that equip the crosspieces 25T, 25T ', by flexing the flexible tongues 61, to make the fixing means of the support 10 coincide with those of the apparatus. The fastening means attached to the support crosspieces 10 are thus held in position by the fact that the apparatus (not shown) is supported against the support or against the chute. When the apparatus in question is disassembled, the fixing means of the support crosspieces return to their original stable position according to the axis X (represented in Figure 5) by elastic return. On the other hand, advantageously, each cross member 25T, 25T 'comprises at least one finger that is cantilevered from the outer surface of the cross member 25T, 25T' to form a positioning stop of the closure lid 18 shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the gutter 12. Hereeach crossbar 25T, 25T 'is provided with two fingers 71, 72 located symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis X of the crossbar. Indeed, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lid 18 comprising longitudinal edges 18a covering the curved longitudinal edges of the channel, must be placed with its cut transverse edge 18c placed at a certain distance from the support 10 intended to receive the apparatus. This distance is fixed by the fingers 71, 72 provided on each crossbar. Whose length is determined to allow the seaming of a counter-joint on the crosspiece, this counter-joint not represented covers the part of each crosspiece that carries the fingers and forms the union between an ornament (not shown) located on the apparatus placed on the support 10 and the closure cap 18 of the channel. Advantageously, each of the fingers 71, 72 provided on each crosspiece can be concealed inside the crosspiece, to authorize the positioning of a closure cap 18 ', such as that shown in Figures 3 and 4, which covers the entire of a crossbar, with its cut transversal edge 18'c located adjacent to the fixing means of the apparatus that equips the crossbar. Each finger is constituted by an elastic tongue that comes from forming by molding with each crosspiece. Finally, each crosspiece comprises a central hole 73 that allows the assembly of a counter-joint that forms the connection between an ornament and a closure lid.

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described and represented, but the person skilled in the art can provide any variant according to his spirit here. In particular, it can be envisaged that the device support according to the invention comprises only two cross-pieces adapted to be brought into contact with one or the other of the concerned longitudinal walls of the base of the channel. These crosspieces can then be separated from each other in order to adapt the assembly to any distance between the fixing axes parallel to the length of the base of the channel and thus parallel to the length of the cover. In this case, in the context of the invention, advantageously, these crosspieces forming the support for the apparatus can have ends consisting of one or several divisible portions to be able to adapt to different lengths of channel. Furthermore, according to another variant of the invention, a single positioning stop finger can be provided on each crosspiece that is non-concealable, and allows only a cover to be positioned relative to an ornament intended to cover an apparatus located on the support.

The crosspiece carrying its non-conceivable retaining stop could then be covered by a counter-joint which internally comprises a cantilever reception housing of the external surface of each crosspiece.

Claims (23)

1. CLAIMS 1. Supports for apparatus, in particular for electrical apparatus, to be transported on the base of a return channel directed towards each other, of the type comprising two crosspieces which, by means of coupling are apt to be put in contact with the returns , and each one is equipped with fixing means for the apparatus, characterized in that the fixing means are connected to each crosspiece by means of a flexible connection that allows a slight misalignment of the fixing means according to the general direction (Y) of the crossbar with relationship to a stable original position, during the fixation of the device on the support.
2. 2. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the offset of the fixing means is carried out by turning the flexible connection in the plane (X, Y) of the cross member.
3. 3. Support according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing means equipped with a cross member belong to a platform integral with the flexible connection.
4. 4. Support according to claim 3, characterized in that each platform carries retaining stops on both sides of the flexible connection able to rest against a part of each cross member to limit the course of the fixing means.
5. 5. Support according to any of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that each platform comes from formation with the associated flexible connection.
6. 6. Support according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each flexible connection is constituted by a flexible tongue extending perpendicularly to the general direction (Y) of a cross member.
7. 7. Support according to claim 6, characterized in that each flexible tab comes from forming by molding a plastic material with each crosspiece.
8. 8. Support according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the fastening means equipped with a cross member comprise a threaded insert coupled in a housing provided on the platform.
9. 9. Support according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, under the general form of a frame, four sides, of which two longitudinal sides have externally, on its edge, own slot means for coupling the set on the returns of the base of the gutter to be equipped, and two transversal sides formed by the crosspieces, the sides internally define a central opening for the placement of at least one apparatus and are distributed in at least two parts articulated one with respect to the other by a hinge , forming one and the same piece, so that, to give lateral access to the central opening, they are likely to be at least locally disjointed one from the other.
10. 10. Support according to claim 9, characterized in that one (A) of the parts comprises three sides and the other (A ') comprises a crosspiece.
11. 11. Support according to any of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the hinge intervenes between an edge of a crossbar and a tongue that locally extends the longitudinal side to which this crosspiece is articulated.
12. 12. Support according to any of claims 9 or 11, characterized in that the centering means are provided between the two parts (A, A ') in the vicinity of the hinge.
13. 13. Support according to claim 12, characterized in that the centering means comprise a projection that is present in cantilever on one (A) of the parts and a housing that is made with caution hollowed on the other part (A ') in a complementary manner of this outgoing.
14. 14. Support according to any of claims 9 or 13, characterized in that the snapping means intervene, on the one hand, between the opposite end to the hinge of the articulated cross member and, on the other hand, the free end of the corresponding longitudinal side.
15. 15. Support according to claim 14, characterized in that the snap-fastening means comprise two notches cooperating with one another.
16. 16. Support according to any of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the guide means intervene between the ends of the crossbar and the corresponding longitudinal side that carry the snap means to guide them during the seaming.
17. 17. Support according to claim 16, characterized in that the guide means comprise on the one hand a rounded ramp formed on the cross member and a groove formed at the end of the corresponding longitudinal side, and intended to receive the ramp in order to snap the means of seaming.
18. 18. Support according to any of claims 9 or 17, characterized in that the longitudinal sides comprise stringers provided with at least a portion divisible to form a passage hole for power cables of an appliance.
19. 19. Support according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each cross member comprises at least one finger that is cantilevered from the external surface of the cross member to form a positioning stop of a closing cap of the channel.
20. 20. Support according to claim 19, characterized in that each finger is concealable inside the crosspiece.
21. 21. Support according to any of claims 19 or 20, characterized in that each finger is constituted by an elastic tongue that comes forming with each crosspiece.
22. 22. Support according to any of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that each crosspiece comprises two fingers located symmetrically with respect to the transverse center axis of the crossbar.
23. 23. Support according to any of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that each crosspiece comprises a mounting hole of a counter-joint forming the connection between an ornament located on the apparatus and a closing cap of the channel.