EP0940349A1 - Case consisting of releasably, hingedly connected elements, especially for luminaires - Google Patents

Abstract

The housing comprises two sections (10A, 10B) each with an assembly zone (14) equipped with catch (22A, 22B) and hinge (23A, 23B) components, forming a snap fit hinge allowing the two sections to be opened or separated. One of the sections can have its catch components mounted on a flexible arm divided into a number of separate elements.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the housings of the genre comprising two housing elements attached to each other following a confrontation surface, jointly defining any housing, and releasably connected to each other in each of two opposite assembly areas.

These boxes find their application in particular for luminaires, for which, for maintenance reasons, it is frequently desirable that relatively easy access is possible to their interior volume while being duly controlled.

One of the housing elements constituting such a housing then constitutes a base, suitable for fixing the assembly to any support, while that, acting in the manner of a cover with respect to this base, the other of these housing elements constitutes for example a verrine.

The present invention generally relates to a layout allowing simple and efficient easy and controlled access to the interior volume of housings of this type and also leading to other benefits.

More specifically, it relates to a housing of the kind comprising two housing elements attached to one another according to a confrontation surface and disengageable from each other in each of two opposite assembly zones, this housing being in a way general characterized in that, at each of the assembly zones, each housing elements comprises, on the one hand, at least one member latching, by which it is able to cooperate in hooking with a member additional snap-in provided in correspondence on the other element of housing, and, on the other hand, at least one journal member, by which it is able to cooperate in pivoting with a journal member complementary also provided in correspondence on the other element of housing, and in that, for at least one of the housing elements, the member at least, is carried by an elastically deformable arm, in being, for example, disposed at the end thereof.

Thus, according to the invention, it is associated in each of the zones assembly occurring between the two housing elements, on the one hand, snap-in means, which make reporting very easy and quickly these housing elements one on the other, by a simple engagement by force of one on the other, and, on the other hand, journaling means, which allow to proceed, if desired, to an opening of the assembly without complete separation of the two housing elements, one with respect to the other, by ensuring only on one side the separation of these while leaving articulated to each other on the other side.

But, in both cases, that the separation only intervenes on one side or that it works on both sides, it requires calling on a tool, even a simple screwdriver blade, to act on the elastically deformable arm carrying the corresponding latching member.

It is therefore impossible for anyone who does not have such a tool to carry out such a separation, and, therefore, at the opening of the assembly, this which, when the case concerned belongs to a luminaire, satisfies in a way very simple to the normative requirements in this area.

In addition, the two assembly zones of the housing according to the invention thus both using snap-fastening means and journaling means, they can each be used interchangeably, and alternatively, of opening zone or articulation zone, so that the opening of this case can advantageously intervene either side or the other.

Finally, with regard to the offset provided by the elastically deformable arm that they comprise, which leads to separate them from the housing elements between which they intervene, both of these assembly zones are each advantageously capable of allowing a very wide opening of the housing according to the invention.

Preferably, this opening is thus likely to occur on at least 180 °.

According to a simplified embodiment of the invention, the journaling of the housing element, the latching member of which is worn by an elastically deformable arm forms a single piece with this latching member.

But, as a variant, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this journal member is dissociated from this member and forms a separate part therefrom.

It is thus advantageously possible to optimize each individually the snap-in and articulation functions.

This is how, thanks to this dissociation, it is advantageously possible to ensure that, on the one hand, when a housing element is attached to the other, or when it is released from both sides, only are in causes the latching means, which facilitates the intervention thereof, both when fitting and when removing, and that, on the other hand, when the assembly is opened on one side, the journaling means present on the other side immediately take charge of the corresponding assembly link, which ensures the permanence of this assembly link, without risk of untimely detachment of the housing elements on this other side.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un boítier suivant l'invention ;

la figure 2 reprend, à échelle supérieure, le détail de la figure 1 qui, repéré par un encart Il sur cette figure 1, est relatif à l'une des zones d'assemblage intervenant entre les deux éléments de boítier constitutifs de ce boítier ;

la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée concernant cette zone d'assemblage ;

la figure 4 est, à échelle supérieure, et suivant la flèche IV de la figure 3, une vue partielle de dessus d'un des éléments de boítier dans cette zone d'assemblage ;

les figures 5, 6 et 7 sont des vues partielles en coupe transversale de cet élément de boítier, suivant, chacune respectivement, les lignes V-V, VI-VI et VII-VII de la figure 4 ;

les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues partielles en coupe transversale de l'autre élément de boítier, suivant, chacune respectivement, les lignes VIII-VIII et IX-IX de la figure 3 ;

la figure 10 est, à échelle différente, et suivant la ligne X-X de la figure 1, une vue partielle en coupe transversale du boítier suivant l'invention, pour la position de fermeture de celui-ci ;

la figure 11 reprend, à échelle supérieure, le détail de la figure 10 repéré par un encart XI sur cette figure 10 ;

les figures 12 et 13 sont des vues respectivement analogues à celles des figures 10 et 11, pour la position d'ouverture du boítier suivant l'invention ;

la figure 14 est une vue partielle en perspective analogue à celle de la figure 2, pour une autre forme de réalisation de l'invention.

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 housing according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 1 which, identified by an insert II in this Figure 1, relates to one of the assembly zones occurring between the two housing elements constituting this housing;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of this assembly area;

Figure 4 is, on a larger scale, and according to arrow IV of Figure 3, a partial top view of one of the housing elements in this assembly area;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are partial cross-sectional views of this housing element, along, each respectively, the lines VV, VI-VI and VII-VII of Figure 4;

Figures 8 and 9 are partial cross-sectional views of the other housing element, along, each respectively, the lines VIII-VIII and IX-IX of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is, on a different scale, and along the line XX of Figure 1, a partial cross-sectional view of the housing according to the invention, for the closed position thereof;

Figure 11 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 10 identified by an insert XI in this Figure 10;

Figures 12 and 13 are views respectively similar to those of Figures 10 and 11, for the open position of the housing according to the invention;

Figure 14 is a partial perspective view similar to that of Figure 2, for another embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in these figures, the housing 10 according to the invention is of kind comprising, overall, two elements of housings 10A, 10B, which, reported one on the other along a confrontation surface 11, defining together any housing 12, are connected to each other so disengageable in each of two opposite assembly zones 14.

It is, for example, a housing 10 for lighting.

The housing element 10A then constitutes a base, which is suitable for allow the whole to be reported on any medium, and, intervening at like a cover, the housing element 10B then constitutes jointly a verrine.

For convenience, it has been assumed, in the figures, that the housing 10 generally had a generally parallelepiped shape and that it shared substantially by half between the two housing elements 10A, 10B which constitute it, along a confrontation surface 11 which, moreover, is substantially flat.

It goes without saying, however, that it may be otherwise, particularly in that which concerns the general shape of this housing 10.

The housing elements 10A, 10B will also not be described in all their details here.

It will suffice to indicate that, in the embodiments shown, the housing element 10A forms, externally, projecting from its side wall, in the vicinity of its outlet 15, but slightly behind it, a gutter 16, which runs all along its periphery, being open from the side of confrontation surface 11, to serve as a housing for a seal seal 17, and the free edge of which belongs to the confrontation surface 11, and that, jointly, the housing element 10B forms, throughout its perimeter, at its own outlet 18, in correspondence with the gutter 16 of the housing element 10A, a tongue 19, by which it is able to act in compression on the seal 17, with, externally, projecting on its side wall, a flange 20, which, intended to be applied on the edge free from the gutter 16 of the housing element 10A, belongs, like this one, on the confrontation surface 11, and which, in practice, is locally interrupted at the right of each of the two assembly zones 14.

In the embodiments shown, the two areas assembly 14 intervene, back to back, in the middle zone of two faces opposite housing elements 10A, 10B, for example in the area median of their small faces, each extending on either side of the confrontation area 11.

Preferably, these two assembly zones 14, only one of which is visible in the figures, have identical constitutions.

Only, therefore, one of them will be described here.

According to the invention, at each of the assembly zones 14, each of the housing elements 10A, 10B comprises, on the one hand, at least one member 22A, 22B, by which it is able to cooperate in picking with a complementary latching member 22B, 22A provided in correspondence on the other housing element 10B, 10A, and, on the other hand, at least one member journal 23A, 23B, by which it is able to cooperate in pivoting with a complementary journalling member 23B, 23A also provided in correspondence on the other housing element 10B, 10A, and, for one at less of the housing elements 10A, 10B, the latching member 22A, 22B, at less, is carried by an elastically deformable arm 24.

In the embodiments shown, only the latching member 22B of the housing element 10B is carried by an elastically arm deformable 24, and it is disposed at the end thereof.

The latching member 22A of the other housing element 10A, 10B, in the case of the housing element 10A, is itself rigidly linked thereto.

In the embodiments shown, there is, in practice, for each of the two assembly zones 14, two latching members 22B arranged at the end of the same elastically deformable arm 24 on the element of case 10B concerned, with, in correspondence, on the other element of housing 10A, 10B, in this case on the housing element 10A, two members additional snap fasteners 22A.

For example, and as shown, the two latching members 22B extend back to back at the free end of the elastically deformable arm 24 who wears them.

Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiments shown, the elastically deformable arm 24 is connected to the element of housing 10A, 10B which carries it, in this case the housing element 10B, at a distance of the confrontation surface 11, and it extends cantilevered towards this one.

For example, and as shown, the elastically deformable arm 24 extends beyond the confrontation surface 11, and, therefore, beyond the flange 20 of the housing element 10B.

In practice, in the embodiments shown, the arm elastically deformable 24 extends even beyond the free edge of the tab 19 of the housing element 10B.

In the embodiments shown, the arm resiliently deformable 24 is divided into parallel flanges 26 which, at their end free, are connected to each other by the same cross 27.

For example, and as shown, six flanges 26 are provided for the constitution of the elastically deformable arm 24, and they are divided into two groups of three, with, between these two groups, for reasons which will appear below, a space 28 sufficient to allow the insertion of a any tool, not shown.

In the embodiments shown, the flanges 26 of the same group are, from their root, and over a fraction of their length, connected two by two by spacers 29 which unify them.

In practice, the flanges 26 constituting the resilient arm deformable 24 extend perpendicular to the side wall of the element of housing 10B, and perpendicular to the confrontation surface 11; jointly, the crosspiece 27 which connects these flanges 26 extends parallel to the side wall of the housing element 10B and parallel to the surface confrontation 11.

In the embodiments shown, the latching members 22B carried by the elastically deformable arm 24 are lugs which make laterally projecting at the free end of this elastically deformable arm 24, being each respectively constituted by the corresponding end of the cross member 27 provided at this level.

In the embodiments shown, there is, for each of the two assembly zones 14, two journaling members 23A, 23B on each of the housing elements 10A, 10B.

In the embodiment more particularly represented on the Figures 1 to 13, the journal members 23B of the housing element 10B whose snap-fastening members 22B are carried by an elastically arm deformable 24 are dissociated from these latching members 22B and form thus separate pieces of these.

Therefore, in this embodiment, these latching members 22B, on the one hand, and these journaling members 23B, on the other hand, can advantageously have separate profiles.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 12, the lugs forming the catch members 22B carried by the arm elastically deformable 24, that is to say the pins forming the organs latching 22B of the housing element 10B have, overall, in section transverse, a quarter-circle profile, with a curvilinear side 30 which extends from the side opposite to the side wall of the housing element 10B, a flat 31, which extends parallel to the confrontation surface 11, and, in square with the previous one, a flat 32, which extends from the side of the wall side of the housing element 10B.

As a corollary, the snap-fastening members 22A of the other element of housing 10A, 10B, in this case the housing element 10A, have, overall, in cross section, an awning profile, and, as it is better visible by example in Figure 5 for one of them, they extend substantially parallel to the confrontation surface 11.

On the side of their upper surface, i.e. on the side of the surface confrontation 11, these latching members 22A are, preferably, and as shown, each shot by an engagement profile 34, which generally extends obliquely towards their free end.

This is for example a straight chamfer or a curved profile.

In the embodiment shown, the latching members 22A of the housing element 10A have, in fact, on the side of their surface upper, a dihedral profile with the point extending towards the surface confrontation 11.

On the side of their lower surface, that is to say on the side opposite to the confrontation surface 11, the latching members 22A of the element of housing 10A have, jointly, in cross section, in this form of realization, a circular arc profile, which extends substantially over 90 °, and whose concavity is turned in the opposite direction to the confrontation surface 11, being oriented substantially at 45 ° relative to the latter.

In the embodiment shown, these latching members 22A are each leaned, laterally, on that of their sides which is the most outside, to a fixed flange 36 which stiffens them.

In practice, these snap-fastening members 22A face each other, at a distance from each other, on their respective flanges 26, and, established at the same level, both extend generally in withdrawal with respect to the surface confrontation 11.

In the embodiment shown, there is provided, between these members latching 22A, a boss 37, which, to buttress the crosspiece 27 of the elastically deformable arm 24 of the housing element 10B, shape, parallel to the confrontation surface 11, and at a level lower than that latching members 22A, a shoulder 38 in an arc.

In practice, in this illustrated embodiment, this boss 37 is split into flanges 39, which, parallel to each other, are offset relative to the flanges 26 forming the elastically deformable arm 24 of the housing element 10B, to be able to nest therewith.

The cross member 27 of the elastically deformable arm 24 of the element housing 10B being stiffened by a rib 40 in space 28, the flanges 39 present in the central region of the boss 37 of the housing element 10A are of lesser height, so as not to interfere with this rib 40.

In the embodiment shown, each of the journal 23B of the housing element 10B is a protruding lug laterally on an individual support arm 41.

Preferably, this support arm 41 is rigid.

To do this, it takes root over its entire height at the side wall of the housing element 10B from the flange 20 thereof.

In practice, in the embodiment shown, the support arm 41 thus carrying a journal member 23B has the same configuration that the flanges 26 constituting the elastically deformable arm 24 carrying the snap members 22B, and it extends parallel thereto.

Two journalling members 23B being provided, there is, in practice, two support arms 41, and these frame the arm elastically deformable 24 carrying the snap members 22B, at a distance from this arm elastically deformable 24.

In the embodiment shown, the pins forming the organs journal 23B have, generally, in cross section, a profile circular, and, in correspondence with each other, they each contain side opposite to the side wall of the housing element 10B, a flat 42 which extends substantially perpendicular to the confrontation surface 11.

In practice, the lugs forming the swiveling members 23B of the housing element 10B are coaxial with the lugs forming the members latching 22B of this housing element 10B, and they extend in opposite directions to each other.

In other words, unlike the two latching members 22B, which extend back to back, the two journal members 23B extend in towards each other.

For each of the journal members 23B of the housing element 10B, the journal member 23A of the other housing element 10A, 10B, in this case the housing element 10A, comprises, at the edge of a passage engagement 43 parallel to the confrontation surface 11, at the end of this engagement passage 43 opposite this confrontation surface 11, a rounded shoulder 44, the concavity of which generally faces the wall side of the housing element 10A, being oriented substantially at 45 ° by compared to the confrontation area 11.

In practice, this swiveling member 23A operates at a distance from the side wall of the housing element 10A, substantially parallel to this side wall, and, like a trigger guard or a spacer, it extends between, on the one hand, the corresponding flange 36, on the side thereof opposite to that on which intervenes a latching member 22A, and, on the other hand, a flange 45 parallel to the flange 36, being integral with one and the other of these flanges 36 and 45.

As a corollary, the flange 45, which has a configuration similar to that flange 36, present, on its edge, on the side of the confrontation surface 11, a U-shaped notch 46, FIG. 6, capable of forming a cradle at its bottom for the corresponding journal member 23B of the housing element 10B.

In practice, the distance D1 separating from the gutter 16 the journal 23A is substantially equal to the dimension D2 of the swivel 23B at the right of its flat 42, FIG. 8, while being slightly greater than this dimension D2.

Finally, in the embodiment shown, the housing element 10A door, also, beyond the flanges 45, for guiding the support arms 41 carried by the housing element 10B, flanges 47, which, parallel to flanges 45, have, like these, a configuration analogous to that of flanges 36 and 39.

As shown by an arrow F1 in Figure 3, the assembly of the housing 10 according to the invention is done by simple engagement by force of one of its housing elements 10A, 10B relative to each other.

At the end of this engagement, which is facilitated by the engagement profile 34 of the latching members 22A of the housing element 10A, the members latching 22B of the housing element 10B are caught under these latching members 22A, due to elastic deformation temporary of the elastically deformable arm 24 which carries them.

Together, thanks to their flat 42, the journal members 23B of the housing element 10B engage between the bodies of journal 23A of the housing element 10A and the gutter 16 thereof, up to come to the right of the rounded shoulder 44 of these bodies of journal 23A, as can be seen for one of them in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Due to the interconnection between the latching members 22A, 22B, the housing elements 10A, 10B are then joined to one another to each of their assembly zones 14.

For their separation, it must be acted on one and / or the other of these assembly zones 14, depending on whether this separation must be total or partial.

In both cases, this must be done again by provoking temporary elastic deformation of the elastically deformable arm 24 bearing the locking members 22B of the housing element 10B, so that that, following a reverse movement from the previous one, these latching members 22B can escape from the latching members 22A of the housing element 10A.

But, it is necessary to do this, to use a tool, such as mentioned above.

This tool, which can for example be a simple screwdriver blade, is insert between the cross member 27 carried by the elastically deformable arm 24 and the side wall of the housing element 10B, using the space 28 provided for this effect, to leverage this cross 27 by building on this side wall.

When only partial decoupling is sought, i.e. when this separation only affects one of the assembly zones 14, the other assembly zone 14 then intervenes advantageously in the manner a hinge, thereby allowing the housing 10 to be opened on one side only, as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

From the start of this opening, the journal members 23A of the housing element 10A are caught under the organs of journal 23B of the housing element 10B, in favor of the shoulder rounded 44 of these, as shown for one of them in the figures 12 and 13, and they thus ensure a hold in engagement of the two elements of housing 10A, 10B relative to each other, without risk of separation untimely of these at this level.

As shown, the opening of the housing 10 according to the invention can advantageously intervene over 180 °.

If desired, it can however be limited, by providing, for example, on the housing element 10B, as shown in broken lines on the Figure 3, flanges 50 by which this housing element 10B is likely to come to bear on the boss 37 of the housing element 10A.

In the simplified variant shown in FIG. 14, the journalling members 23B of the housing element 10B including the members 22B are carried by an elastically deformable arm 24 each form one and the same piece respectively with these members 22B.

For the rest, the provisions are substantially the same type as those previously described.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the forms of realization described and represented, but includes any variant and / or a combination of their various elements.

In particular, the respective roles of the two housing elements, and / or those of their latching members or their journaling members, can be reversed.

In addition, for each of the housing elements, the organ or organs at least, could be carried by an elastic arm deformable.

Claims (24)

Case of the kind comprising two case elements (10A, 10B) attached to each other along a confrontation surface (11) and connected one to each other disengageably in each of two assembly zones (14) opposite, characterized in that, at each of the assembly zones (14), each of the housing elements (10A, 10B) comprises, on the one hand, at least one latching member (22A, 22B), by which it is able to cooperate in hooking with a complementary locking device (22B, 22A) provided in correspondence on the other housing element (10B, 10A), and, on the other hand, at least one journal member (23A, 23B), by which it is able to cooperate in pivoting with a journal member (23B, 23A) complementary also provided in correspondence on the other element of housing (10B, 10A), and in that, for at least one of the housing elements (10A, 10B), the latching member (22A, 22B), at least, is carried by a elastically deformable arm (24). Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm elastically deformable (24) is connected to the housing element (10B) which door at a distance from the confrontation surface (11) and it extends cantilevered towards it. Housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the arm elastically deformable (24) extends beyond the confrontation surface (11). Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elastically deformable arm (24) is divided into flanges (26) parallel, which, at their free end, are connected to each other by a crosspiece (27). Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the latching member (22B) carried by the resilient arm deformable (24) is a lug which projects laterally. Housing according to claim 5, characterized in that the lug forming the latching member (22B) carried by the resilient arm deformable (24) has, generally, in cross section, a quarter profile circle. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the latching member (228) carried by the resilient arm deformable (24) is disposed at the end thereof. Housing according to any one of claims 1, 7, characterized in that the latching member (22A) of the other housing element (10A) has overall an awning profile, and it extends substantially parallel to the confrontation surface (11). Housing according to claim 8, characterized in that, on the side of the confrontation surface (11), the latching member (22A) carried by the other housing element (10A) is brought down by an engagement profile (34). Housing according to any one of claims 8, 9, characterized in that the latching member (22A) of the other housing element (10A) is rigidly linked to it. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the latching member (22A) of the other element housing (10A) generally extends back from the surface confrontation (11). Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the journal member (23B) of the housing element (10B) whose latching member (22B) is carried by an elastically arm deformable (24) forms a single piece with this member latching (22B). Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the journal member (23B) of the housing element (10B) whose latching member (228) is carried by an elastically arm deformable (24) is dissociated from this latching member (22B) and forms a separate piece of it. Housing according to claim 13, characterized in that the swivel (23B) is a lug which projects laterally on a shaft of individual support (41). Housing according to claim 14, characterized in that the arm of support (41) of the journal member (238) is rigid. Housing according to any one of claims 14, 15, characterized in that the lug forming the swiveling member (23B) has, overall, in cross section, a circular profile, and it comprises a flat (42) which extends substantially perpendicular to the surface confrontation (11). Housing according to claims 5 and 14, taken together, characterized in that the lug forming the journal member (238) is coaxial of the lug forming the latching member (22B). Housing according to claim 17, characterized in that the lug forming the journal member (23B) and the lug forming the member latching (22B) extend in opposite directions with respect to the other. Housing according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the journal member (23A) of the other element housing (10A) comprises, at the edge of an engagement passage (43), a rounded shoulder (44), the concavity of which is generally turned towards the side wall of this housing element (10A). Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that, for each of the two assembly zones (14), there are two latching members (228) arranged at the end of the same arm elastically deformable (24) on the housing element (10B) concerned, with, in correspondence, on the other housing element (10A), two bodies additional snap-fastening (22A). Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that, for each of the two assembly zones (14), there are two journaling members (23A, 23B) on each of the elements of housing (10A, 10B). Housing according to any one of claims 20, 21, characterized in that the two latching members (22B) extend back to back to the free end of the elastically deformable arm (24) which carries them. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the housing element (10B) comprising an arm elastically deformable (24) at the end of which is arranged at least one member latching (22B) occurs in the manner of a cover. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the two assembly zones (14) have constitutions identical.

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