EP0797271A1 - Base for current socket - Google Patents

Abstract

The socket includes a protective device (35), including the moving shutters (37), which is fixed to the mechanism (11) by a support interposed in the space in the observation window (38,39). Each window is at least sufficiently narrow locally to oppose the passage of a test finger by the normal arrangement of the insulating material of the body (12). The window is at least partially covered by a transparent disc belonging to a small transparent plate which is common to the assembly and also is fixed to and overhangs from the device. The measurement of at least one of the windows in the direction of engagement is greater than half the mean diameter of the holes at rest.

Description

The present invention relates generally to socket outlets, and it relates more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to those of these socket outlets, commonly known as socket outlets to be built in, which, to be implanted in any support, and for example in a wall or a partition, are adapted to be housed in a box, commonly known as a mounting box, itself arranged in a recess provided for this purpose in such a support.

Such a socket outlet comprises, overall, on the one hand, a mechanism, which has, in an insulating body, at least two conductive cells and at least two connection terminals, and, on the other hand, under the shape, in practice, of a frame intended to allow the attachment of the assembly to the embedding box, a support, the mechanism of which is integral, and which, by its central recess, gives free access to it- ci, in particular as regards its conductive cells and as regards the clamping screws of its connection terminals.

In practice, it is attached, on the front, to such a socket outlet, a hub cap, which, in turn, only allows access to the conductive cells of the mechanism, to allow the engagement, in these, of the pins a plug socket outlet duly matched, and which, on the other hand, obscures access to the clamping screws of the connection terminals, and, more generally, access to all the active parts of the mechanism other as its conductive cells, that is to say to all the metal parts of this mechanism likely to be under tension with them.

For security reasons, in particular with regard to children, provision is also made to control access to the conductive cells of the mechanism by superimposing on it a protection device, commonly called "eclipses", comprising a movable shutter, which, at rest, prohibits access to these conductive cells, and which, when engaging the pins of a socket outlet, and under the very effects of this engagement, authorizes on the contrary this access to these pins.

In certain embodiments known to date, this protection device is worn by the hubcap.

It follows that, on a socket outlet already installed, the removal of this cover, necessary, for example, to control the connection of the electrical conductors, leads to leaving direct access to at least some of the active parts of the mechanism, both to the touch by hand, to the detriment of safety, and, a fortiori, to the touch with the test finger provided for by certain normative provisions in the matter, and, more precisely, by standard IEC 60529, to the detriment of the obtaining the corresponding level of certification.

This is the case, in particular, both for the conductive cells and for the connection terminals, when, made of metal, the support constitutes a separate part on which the mechanism is attached by its body, free access then being most often largely left all around the latter.

But this is also the case for conductive cells when, as a variant, the body of the mechanism is in one piece with the support, the assembly then forming a single piece which, precisely, essentially leaves access only to these conductive cells, even if, for other reasons, it also has windows which open onto the outlet of the connection terminals.

In other embodiments already known, the protection device is carried by the mechanism itself, so that the removal of the hubcap does not free access to the conductive cells of this mechanism.

As, moreover, the body of the mechanism is integral with the support, total security is then preserved.

But, jointly, the part which this body and this support constitute with each other leaves no visibility as regards the outlet of the connection terminals, and therefore as regards the connection of the electrical conductors, the windows that this part presents, however, being used to secure the protection device, in practice by snap-fastening, and therefore being obscured.

It follows that, to control, during an installation, and after this, the connection of the electrical conductors, it is necessary, to turn it over, to dismantle the socket-outlet, i.e. to disconnect from the installation box, again at the expense of safety.

The present invention generally relates to a provision making it possible to reconcile security requirements with the possibility of controlling without dismantling the connection of electrical conductors.

More specifically, it relates to a socket outlet of the kind comprising, on the one hand, a mechanism, which has, in a body of insulating material, at least two conductive cells and at least two connection terminals, and, on the other hand, a support, the mechanism of which is integral, and which, by a central recess, gives free access thereto, this socket outlet socket being generally characterized in that, jointly, on the one hand, it is superimposed on the mechanism, a protective device comprising, in a manner known per se, a movable shutter, which, at rest, prohibits access to the conductive cells of this mechanism, and which, when of the engagement of a plug, authorizes this access to the pins of this plug, and, on the other hand, there is provision, at the outlet of each of the connection terminals of the mechanism, an observation window.

In practice, the observation windows thus implemented operate at the level of the front face of the mechanism and are elongated in the form of lights.

For example, each of them is, at least locally, sufficiently narrow to oppose the passage of the test finger provided for by the normative provisions in the matter.

As a variant, or in addition, at least one of them is at least partially closed by a transparent porthole.

In both cases, in cooperation with the protection device present on the very surface of the mechanism, the desired security remains ensured when the hubcap is removed, the active parts of the mechanism being generally the subject of a sufficient overlap so that, even taking into account the clamping screws of the connection terminals, which remain accessible on the front panel using a tool, any direct access to the active parts of the mechanism is prohibited by touch or finger. test.

At the same time, the observation windows make it possible to visually control the connection of the electrical conductors, and, more precisely, the arrangement and the number of these, without it being necessary to intervene in any way on the socket outlet, and, in particular, without it being necessary to remove it from the flush-mounting box to which it is attached.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un socle de prise de courant suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 2 en est une vue en perspective partiellement éclatée, seul étant extrait de l'ensemble le dispositif de protection rapporté sur le mécanisme ;
• la figure 3 est, à échelle supérieure, une vue partielle en coupe transversale de ce dispositif de protection, suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en plan du socle de prise de courant suivant l'invention, suivant la flèche IV de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 en est, à échelle supérieure, une vue partielle en coupe transversale, suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue partielle en plan, qui, analogue à celle de la figure 4, représente le socle de prise de courant suivant l'invention en place dans un support, avec les conducteurs électriques assurant sa desserte ;
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle en plan, qui, analogue, elle aussi, à celle de la figure 4, se rapporte à une variante de réalisation ;
• la figure 8 est une vue partielle en coupe transversale de cette variante de réalisation, suivant la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 7.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a socket outlet according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view, only being removed from the assembly the protection device attached to the mechanism;
• Figure 3 is, on a larger scale, a partial cross-sectional view of this protection device, along the line III-III of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a plan view of the socket outlet according to the invention, according to arrow IV of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a larger scale, a partial view in cross section along the line VV of Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a partial plan view, which, similar to that of Figure 4, shows the socket outlet according to the invention in place in a support, with the electrical conductors providing its service;
• Figure 7 is a partial plan view, which also similar to that of Figure 4, relates to an alternative embodiment;
• FIG. 8 is a partial view in cross section of this variant embodiment, along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

As illustrated in these figures, and in a manner known per se, the socket outlet socket 10 according to the invention comprises, on the whole, on the one hand, as is better visible in FIGS. 2 and 5, a mechanism 11, which has, in a body 12 of insulating material, at least two conductive cells 13 and at least two connection terminals 14, and, on the other hand, a support 15, of which the mechanism 11 is integral, and which, by a central recess 16, leaves free access thereto.

In the embodiment shown, the contour of the central recess 16 of the support 15 is generally circular, at least in two zones of this central recess 16 diametrically opposite one with respect to the other.

In a manner also known per se, and as illustrated by FIG. 6, the socket outlet socket 10 according to the invention is, in practice, intended to be installed in any support 18, a wall or a partition for example , being for this purpose attached to a mounting box, not shown, housed in an excavation 19 provided for this purpose in this support 18.

In a manner known per se, finally, the body 12 of the mechanism 11 is, in the embodiment shown, in one piece with the support 15, the assembly forming a single piece 20 obtained by molding of any suitable synthetic material.

In the embodiment shown, the support 15 is in the general form of a flat plate, of generally rectangular outline.

The part 20 to which it belongs forms, along the perimeter of its central recess 16, a housing 21, which has, peripherally, a side wall 22, and on the bottom 23 of which intervenes the mechanism 11.

In practice, in the embodiment shown, the socket outlet socket 10 according to the invention comprises, for example, only two conductive cells 13, which are each respectively in electrical connection with the two connection terminals 14 , and it is equipped with an earth pin 24, which extends between the two conductive cells 13, projecting from the bottom 23 of the housing 21, and which is itself in electrical connection with a connection terminal 25.

The connection terminals 14, 25 open, laterally, on the same wall 26 of the body 12 of the mechanism 11.

As can be seen for one of them in FIG. 5, they benefit, for this purpose, on this wall 26, from an outlet 28, into which can be engaged, as shown diagrammatically by an arrow F on FIG. 5, the end, previously stripped, of the conductive core 29 of an electrical conductor 30.

Each of the connection terminals 14, 25 comprises, in a manner known per se, on the one hand, a block 31, of metal, which, parallel to the bottom 23 of the housing 21, is perforated with a bore 32 aligned with the outlet 28 corresponding, and, on the other hand, a clamping screw 33, which, intervening in a well 34 of the body 12, is in screw connection with the block 31 by transversely cutting the bore 32 thereof.

In the embodiment shown, the connection terminal 25 associated with the grounding pin 24 is double, and therefore has two clamping screws 33, to allow possible transplanting.

The foregoing provisions are well known in themselves, and, not pertaining specifically to the present invention, they will not be described in more detail here.

It will suffice to indicate that, intended to receive the pins of a socket-outlet plug, the conductive cells 13 of the mechanism 11 are generally cylindrical, and that, to ensure by elasticity a good electrical contact with these pins, they are elastically deformable radially.

Let D _{1 be} the average diameter of these conductive cells 13 at rest, FIG. 2.

According to the invention, and jointly, on the one hand, it is superimposed, on the mechanism 11, at the bottom 23 of the housing 21, a protective device 35 comprising, in a manner known per se, sheltered from a upper plate 36, a movable shutter 37, which, at rest, prevents access to the conductive cells 13 of this mechanism 11, and which, when engaging a plug, not shown, and by reason of this engagement , authorizes this access to the pins of this plug, and, on the other hand, there is provision, at the outlet 28 of each of the connection terminals 14, 25 of the mechanism 11, an observation window 38, 39.

The observation windows 38, which each correspond respectively to the connection terminals 14 relating to the conductive cells 13, extend, each respectively, on either side of the observation window 39, which itself corresponds to the connection terminal 25 relating to the earth pin 24.

In practice, in the embodiments shown, the wall 26 of the body 12 of the mechanism 11 on which the connection terminals 14, 25 open recedes with respect to the side wall 22 of the housing 21, and, for the formation observation windows 38, 39, the bottom 23 of this housing 21 is at least locally hollowed out.

In practice, also, in these embodiments, the connection terminal 25 is offset transversely relative to the connection terminals 14, by virtue of a boss 40 of the body 12 of the mechanism 11 which protrudes from the wall 26 of this body 12.

The observation windows 38 thus extend each respectively on either side of this boss 40, while the observation window 39 extends, it, in line with the latter, biting in practice slightly on the side wall 22 of the housing 21 by means of a notch 41 of this last.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, each of the observation windows 38, 39 is, at least locally, sufficiently narrow to oppose the passage of the test finger provided for by the normative provisions in the matter.

More precisely, in this embodiment, on the side opposite the body 12 of the mechanism 11, at least one of the observation windows 38, and, in practice, each of these, is at least locally delimited by a portion remaining 42 from the bottom 23 of the housing 21.

In practice, for each of the observation windows 38, this remaining portion 42 extends to the boss 40 of the body 12 of the mechanism 11, and it has, in plan, a generally triangular contour.

On one side, it longitudinally borders the observation window 38 concerned, extending substantially parallel to the wall 26 of the body 12, and, on another side, it forms the corresponding transverse edge of the observation window 39.

The observation windows 38 are thus substantially elongated in a rectangle, in the manner of lights, and, in practice, it is generally the same for the observation window 39.

Taking into account the dimensions of the test finger provided for by the normative provisions in the matter, the width of the observation windows 39, or, more precisely, their dimension D ₂ measured along the direction of engagement F of an electrical conductor 30 in the corresponding connection terminal 14, 25, can be of the order of 3 to 3.5 mm.

Such a width or dimension D ₂ is effectively sufficiently small to effectively oppose the engagement of a test finger, but, to fix ideas, it is greater than half the average diameter D ₁ of the conducting cells 13 of mechanism 11 at rest.

Indeed, this mean diameter D ₁ is usually of the order of 3 mm.

Under known arrangements, the protection device 35 will not be described here.

It will suffice to indicate that, in the embodiment shown, its upper plate 36 follows, on a part of its perimeter, the wall 26 of the body 12 of the mechanism 11, and that, on the remaining portion of this perimeter, it is fitted into a rebate 44 provided for this purpose on the surface of this body 12.

Of course, the protective device 35 is suitably subject to the mechanism 11, and, more precisely, to the body 12 thereof.

According to the invention, the corresponding holding means, which are not shown in the figures, operate away from the observation windows 38, 39.

In practice, these holding means result from ultrasonic welding.

For focusing the energy developed during such welding, the upper plate 36 of the protection device 35 comprises, initially, projecting on its lower surface, as is visible in FIG. 3, a bead 45, which, present, at least locally, from place to place, along its perimeter, is then crushed during this welding.

When the socket outlet socket 10 according to the invention is in place in the support 18 to be fitted, as shown in FIG. 6, none of the active parts of its mechanism 11 is directly accessible, except, of course understood, clamping screws 33 of its connection terminals 14, 25.

At the same time, and as can be seen from FIG. 6, the observation windows 38, 39 provided according to the invention advantageously make it possible to visually check the connection of the electrical conductors 30 in these connection terminals 14, 25.

Of course, it is usually associated with the socket outlet socket 10 according to the invention, a cover, not shown, which, while covering the wells 34 giving access to the clamping screws 33 of the connection terminals 14, 25, gives access to the conductive cells 13 of the mechanism 11, under the control of the protection device 35.

This hubcap is for example attached by screwing.

To this end, for cooperation with the corresponding screw, the body 12 of the mechanism 11 comprises, between the conductive cells 13, on the side opposite to the grounding pin 24, a well 47, and, in correspondence, the protection device 35 has a bore 48.

According to the variant embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, at least one of the observation windows 38, 39 is at least partially closed by a transparent window 49.

In practice, each of the observation windows 38, 39 is thus at least partially closed by a transparent porthole 49, and this belongs to a transparent plate 50 common to the assembly.

In the embodiment shown, this transparent plate 50 is integral with the protection device 35.

It comes locally to replace the upper plate 36 of this protection device 35, locally presenting holes 52, to allow access to the wells 34 of the connection terminals 14, 25 as well as to leave a passage for the earth pin 24, and, beyond the wall 26 of the body 12 of the mechanism 11, it extends cantilevered from the protection device 35.

At the same time, for each of the observation windows 38, the remaining portion 42 of the bottom 23 of the housing 21 in line with the observation windows 38 is reduced to a flange to which the corresponding edge of the transparent porthole 49 superimposed associated with such a window is superimposed. observation 38, and therefore, in practice, that of the transparent plate 50.

Thus, the observation windows 38 can have a width or dimension D ₂ greater than the previous one, without safety being compromised.

On the other hand, for the observation window 39, the width or dimension D ₂ remains the same as the previous one.

In practice, for this observation window 39, one day remains between the bottom of the notch 41 of the side wall 22 of the housing 21 and the edge of the corresponding transparent porthole 49, and therefore that of the transparent plate 50 , but this day is minimal.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant and / or combination of their various elements.

Claims (12)

Socket socket of the kind comprising, on the one hand, a mechanism (11), which has, in a body (12) of insulating material, at least two conductive cells (13) and at least two connection terminals (14 , 25), and, on the other hand, a support (15), whose mechanism (11) is integral, and which, by a central recess (16), leaves free access thereto, characterized in that , jointly, on the one hand, it is superimposed on the mechanism (11), a protective device (35) comprising, in a manner known per se, a movable shutter (37), which, at rest, prevents access to conductive cells (13) of this mechanism (11), and which, when a plug is engaged, authorizes this access to the pins of this plug, and, on the other hand, it is provided, at the outlet right ( 28) of each of the connection terminals (14, 25) of the mechanism (11), an observation window (38, 39). Socket socket according to claim 1, characterized in that, the protection device (35) being secured to the mechanism (11) by holding means, these holding means operate away from the observation windows ( 38, 39). Socket socket according to any one of claims 1, 2, characterized in that each of the observation windows (38, 39) is, at least locally, sufficiently narrow to oppose the passage of the test finger provided for by the relevant normative provisions. Socket socket according to any one of claims 1, 2, characterized in that at least one of the observation windows (38, 39) is at least partially closed by a transparent window (49). Socket socket according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the observation windows (38, 39) is at least partially closed by a transparent window (49) and this belongs to a common transparent plate (50) to all. Socket socket according to claim 5, characterized in that said transparent plate (50) is secured to the protection device (35). Socket socket according to claim 6, characterized in that said transparent plate (50) extends in overhang from the protection device (35). Socket socket according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, measured along the direction of engagement (F) of an electrical conductor (30) in the corresponding connection terminal (14, 25) , the dimension (D ₂ ) of at least one of the observation windows (38, 39) is greater than half the average diameter (D ₁ ) of the conductive cells (13) of the mechanism (11) at rest. Socket socket according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the body (12) of the mechanism (11) is integral with the support (15), the assembly forming a single and same part (20). Socket socket according to claim 9, characterized in that, said part (20) forming, along the perimeter of the central recess (16) of the support (15), a housing (21) on the bottom (23) from which the mechanism (11) intervenes, the wall (26) of the body (12) of the mechanism (11) on which the connection terminals (14, 25) of the latter open recessed with respect to the side wall (22) of said housing (21), and, for the formation of observation windows (38, 39), the bottom (23) of this housing (21) is at least locally hollowed out. Socket socket according to claim 10, characterized in that, on the side opposite the body (12) of the mechanism (11), at least one of the observation windows (38, 39) is at least locally delimited by a remaining portion (42) of the bottom (23) of said housing (21). Socket socket according to claims 4 and 11, taken together, characterized in that said remaining portion (42) of the bottom (23) of the housing (21) is reduced to a flange to which is superimposed the corresponding edge of the transparent window ( 49) associated.

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