AU745816B2

AU745816B2 - Connection mechanism, in particular for flex outlets or junction boxes

Info

Publication number: AU745816B2
Application number: AU32283/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Christophe Coly; Christophe Prouteau
Original assignee: Legrand SNC
Current assignee: Legrand SNC; Legrand France SA
Priority date: 1998-05-28
Filing date: 1999-05-27
Publication date: 2002-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-27
Also published as: DE69923497D1; CN1257579C; FR2779278A1; TR199901025A2; CN1237812A; ES2237056T3; FR2779278B1; TR199901025A3; HUP9901748A3; DE69923497T2; AR018378A1; HU223546B1; HU9901748D0; EP0961353A1; EP0961353B1; AU3228399A

Description

riutuv 1 1 2851 Reguladon 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

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*5S* Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: CONNECTION MECHANISM, IN PARTICULAR FOR FLEX OUTLETS OR JUNCTION BOXES The following statement Is a full description of this Invention, Including the best method of performing It known to US "Connection mechanism, in particular for flex outlets or junction boxes" The present invention concerns connection mechanisms of the kind including, in an insulative material base, a terminal block including at least one set of two connection terminals electrically connected to each other, the connection terminals each having an insertion part into which an electrical cable or conductor is inserted and a actuation part for gripping the cable or conductor.

~It is more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, directed to connection mechanisms of the above kind which, like the mechanism of any other electrical device, for example a switch or a socket 15 outlet, are adapted to be housed in pattress for installing the mechanism within a support, for example a .'.wall or a partition wall, or a surface pattress mounted directly on and projecting from a support.

In either case, external fixing means for attaching the combination directly or indirectly to a support of S' the above kind are provided on the base.

The present invention is even more particularly directed to the situation in which, the base being of generally tubular shape so that it can be disposed in an orientation with its axis and its generatrices substantially perpendicular to the surface of the support which is to be fitted, the fixing means provided for attaching the combination to the support are between the two open ends of the base.

Connection mechanisms including a base of the above kind are used in flex outlets, for example.

A flex outlet of the above kind is used to connect an incoming cable or conductor that terminates inside the casing to an outgoing cable or conductor which emerges from the casing and is intended to be connected to an 2 electrical appliance.

At present the terminal block of a connection mechanism of the above kind "floats" in the base, like a terminal strip of the ordinary kind.

As a result, when connecting the outgoing cable or conductor the user may withdraw the terminal block from the base to a greater or lesser extent and thereby unintentionally gain access to the incoming cable or conductor, which may be live. This is dangerous.

In other embodiments, the terminal block is carried by a plate which has to be removed from the assembly to connect the outgoing cable or conductor, which accentuates the risk of possible unintentional contact with the incoming cable or conductor.

general aim of the present invention is an arrangement which avoids this drawback by systematically preventing such contact.

To be more precise, the invention provides a connection mechanism 15 including a generally tubular base with two open ends facing each other between S"which are external fixing means for attaching the assembly to a support of any kind and which houses a terminal block including at least one set of two e connection terminals electrically connected to each other, the connection terminals each having an insertion part for inserting an electrical cable or conductor and an actuation part for clamping the cable or conductor, wherein in that the terminal block is attached to the base and in that the actuation part at least of a first connection terminal is accessible to the user only from one of said two open ends of the base and the actuation part at least of the second connection terminal is accessible to the user only from the second of said two open ends.

By virtue of the above arrangement, when the connection mechanism in accordance with the invention is in place on its support, the operator has access to the actuation part only from one connection terminal of the terminal block, namely that which is at the open front end of the base, access to the actuation part of the other connection terminal, namely that at the open rear end of the base, requiring the base to be demounted.

In the case of a flex outlet, for example, the first connection terminal, i.e. the one at the open front end of the base, is used to connect the outgoing cable or conductor.

Accordingly, its insertion part and its actuation part are both accessible to the user via the open front end of the base.

The second connection terminal, i.e. the one at the open rear end of the base, is used to connect the 15 incoming cable or conductor and the actuation part and the insertion part of the second connection terminal are then preferably accessible to the user only from the .'.second open end of the base, i.e. its open rear end.

Using the invention, when the connection mechanism 20 in accordance with the invention is in place on its support, and in the case of a flex outlet, the user advantageously has direct access only to the connection terminal for connecting an outgoing cable or conductor, here the connection terminal at the open front end of the base of the connection mechanism, and the base does not need to be demounted for this.

All risk of accidental contact with the incoming cable or conductor at the rear of the protection mechanism is therefore eliminated, which is safer.

Of course, access to the second connection terminal, here the connection terminal at the open rear end of the base, remains possible but entails first demounting all of the connection mechanism in accordance with the invention, i.e. removing it from the support to which it has been attached.

Obviously the same applies if the connection mechanism in accordance with the invention is in a junction box.

In this case the user does not normally need to work on the connection mechanism because in order to carry out any operation, for example cleaning or repairing the support, the user removes the cover that usually fits over the base of the connection mechanism and/or the embellisher plate normally surrounding it.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the two connection terminals of each set of the terminal block of the connection mechanism in accordance with the invention are electrically connected to each other by a metal plate to which each of them is attached and they are back-to- 15 back relative to the metal plate.

Accordingly, each connection terminal is advantageously oriented directly towards the open end of the base from which at least its actuation part is accessible.

20 The metal plate carrying two connection terminals back-to-back is preferably plane and oblique in the base.

Accordingly, the actuation part of the connection terminal at the open front end of the base is also oblique, which is advantageous from the ergonomic point of view in that it facilitates access to it.

When the connection mechanism of the invention is mounted on a wall, for example, the actuation part of the connection terminal near the open front end of the base can therefore in practice be oriented upward, which is advantageous.

The insertion part of the connection terminal then faces downward, which is particularly advantageous when the connection mechanism of the invention is part of a flex outlet.

In all cases, the oblique orientation of the metal plate carrying the two connection terminals of each set of the terminal block of the connection mechanism of the invention advantageously leads to a compact assembly, representing a good compromise in the search for minimum axial and transverse overall dimensions of such an assembly.

The features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: *figure 1 is a perspective view of a connection *mechanism in accordance with the invention seen from S. above; figure 2 is another perspective view of it, seen 15 from below; figure 3 is a view of it in axial section taken along the line III-III in figure 1; figure 4 is a partial view of it in longitudinal section; 20 figure 5, which is derived from figure 1, is a .perspective view of the cap of the connection mechanism of the invention, seen from above; figure 6 is a perspective view of the cap seen from S.below; figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the sets of connection terminals of the terminal block of the connection mechanism of the invention; figure 8 is a view in axial section of a first embodiment of a connection mechanism in accordance with the invention shown in place on a support; and figure 9 is a view in axial section analogous to that of figure 8 of a second embodiment of the connection mechanism of the invention.

As shown in the figures, and as known per se, the connection mechanism 10 in accordance with the invention includes a generally tubular insulative material base 11 between two open ends 12A, 12B of which there are provided external fixing means 13, described in detail below, for attaching it to a support 14.

As shown in figures 8 and 9, for example, the support 14 is a wall into which the connection mechanism must be at least partly recessed.

In a manner that is known per se, the corresponding fixing uses an intermediate other support Because this support 15 is not relevant to the :.'":present invention, it is merely symbolized in chaindotted outline in figures 1 and 3.

It is shown in more detail in figures 8 and 9, :however.

15 As shown here, for example, it is a kind of frame with a central opening 16 to receive the connection mechanism 'The support 15 will not be described in further detail here.

20 Suffice to say that, relative to it, one of the ,open ends 12A, 12B of the base 11 (for example its open end 12A) can be regarded as its front open end, as shown here, while its other open end 12A, 12B (thus here the open end 12B) can be regarded as its rear open end.

As seen more clearly in figures 3, 8 and 9, the base 11 houses a terminal block 17 including at least one set 18 of two connection terminals 19A, 19B electrically connected to each other.

In the embodiment shown, the terminal block 17 includes several sets 18 of parallel connection terminals 19A, 19B.

As shown here, for example, there are three sets 18 of side-by-side connection terminals 19A, 19B.

All the sets 18 of connection terminals 19A, 19B are identical.

Therefore only one of them is described in detail hereinafter.

As known per se, and as described in detail below, each connection terminal 19A, 19B has an insertion part 20 into which an electrical cable or conductor 21A, 21B is inserted and an actuation part 22 for clamping the cable or conductor.

In accordance with the invention, the terminal block 17 is attached to the base 11 and the actuation 10 part 22 at least of a first connection terminal 19A, 19B of each set 18 of the terminal block 17, here the connection terminal 19A, is accessible to the user only from a first open end 12A, 12B of the base 11, here its open front end 12A, and the actuation part 22 at least of the second connection terminal 19A, 19B of each set 18 (here the connection terminal 19B) is accessible to the ee o user only from the second open end 12A, 12B, here the open rear end 12B.

As in the embodiment shown, the actuation part 22 20 of the second connection terminal 19B and its insertion part 20 are preferably accessible to the user only from the second open end 12A, 12B of the base 11, i.e. from its open rear end 12B.

When the base 11 is fitted to the support 15 and, by means of the latter, to the support 14, the user therefore has no access from the front to the connection terminals 19B of the terminal block 17.

The user has access only to the actuation part 22 at least of the connection terminals 19A of the terminal block 17.

When, as shown in figures 1 to 8, the connection mechanism 10 of the invention is part of a flex outlet 24, the user also has access from the front to the insertion part 20 of the connection terminals 19A, by means of arrangements described in more detail below.

8 However, when the connection mechanism 10 in accordance with the invention forms part of a junction box 24', as shown in figure 9, access to the insertion part 20 of the connection terminals 19A of the terminal block 17, for which there is no need, is prohibited.

In the embodiment shown, the base 11 of the connection mechanism 10 of the invention has a generally four-sided contour in cross section, i.e. substantially perpendicularly to its axis and its generatrices.

0 The sets 18 of connection terminals 19A, 19B of the terminal block 17 are parallel to two opposite faces of the base 11.

In the embodiment shown, the fixing means 13 outside the base 11 are on only the two opposite faces 26 thereof that alternate with the faces For example, and as known per se, the fixing means 13 include on each of the two faces 26 of the base 11 at least one bearing shoulder 27 projecting transversely outward on the base 11 and at least one snap fastener lug 20 28 attached to the base 11 on which is a detent 29 spaced from and parallel to the bearing shoulder 27.

As shown here, for example, two snap fastener lugs 28 are provided on each face 26 of the base 11, parallel to each other and to the axis and generatrices of the base 11.

In the embodiment shown, a plurality of spaced bearing shoulders 27 are provided at the same level, the bearing shoulders 27 forming part of a flange 30 near the open front end 12A of the base 11, but slightly set back from it.

In the embodiment shown, for attaching it to the base 11, the terminal block 17 is located between a separator partition 32 attached to the base 11 and extending within the base 11 between its two open ends 12A, 12B and a cap 33 attached to the base 11, the cap 33 extending globally parallel to the separator partition 32 and an access opening 34 being provided in line with the actuation part 22 of each connection terminal 19A, 19B of the terminal block 17.

As in the embodiment shown, the separator partition 32 is preferably oblique in the base 11.

In other words, it is at an angle other than 900 to the axis and generatrices of the base 11.

In the embodiment shown, the separator partition 32 in practice extends between an area 35 of one open end 12A, 12B of the base 11 and a compartmentalization partition 36 which divides the internal volume of the base 11 into two parts 38, 38' in the longitudinal direction, i.e. substantially parallel to the axis and generatrices of the base 11. This partition has an opening 39 in line with each of the corresponding access openings 34.

To be more precise, in this embodiment, the separator partition 32 extends from the open front end 20 12A of the base 11 to the opposite end of the ••co compartmentalization partition 36 and the area 35 of the open front end 12A through which it merges with the S. latter is formed by the corresponding edge of one of the faces 26 of the base 11 on which the fixing means 13 are provided.

The compartmentalization partition 36 extends from one open end 12A, 12B of the base 11 to the other, substantially parallel to the axis and generatrices of the base, to be more precise substantially parallel to the faces 26 of the base 11 carrying the fixing means 13.

The two parts 38, 38' delimited in the internal volume of the base 11 by the compartmentalization partition 36 are of very unequal size, the part 38 containing the terminal block 17 naturally being the larger of the two.

As in the embodiment shown, the separator partition 32 is preferably in one piece with the base 11, being moulded in one piece with it, and similarly the compartmentalization partition 36 is preferably in one piece with the base 11.

In the embodiment shown, at the open end 12A, 12B of the base 11, from an area 35 of which the separator partition 32 extends, i.e. at the open front end 12A of the base 11, the compartmentalization partition 36 is 10 connected by a plate 40 to an area 41 of the open end 12A opposite the aforementioned area 35 and formed by the edge of the nearer face 26.

In other words, in the embodiment shown, the base 11 has a plate 40 at its open front end 12A that partly blocks off the open front end 12A.

When the connection mechanism 10 of the invention is part of a flex outlet 24, the plate 40 preferably carries a cable clamp 42, as shown here.

In the embodiment shown, the separator partition 32 20 has an opening 43 in line with the insertion part 20 of each connection terminal 19A, 19B of each set 18 of the terminal block 17, providing access to the insertion part 20 from the open rear end 12B of the base 11.

When, as shown in figures 1 to 8, the connection mechanism 10 in accordance with the invention is part of a flex outlet 24, the cap 33 has an opening 44 in line with the corresponding insertion part 20 of one connection terminal 19A, 19B of each set 18 of the terminal block 17, here the connection terminal 19A, providing access to the insertion part 20 from the open front end 12A of the base 11.

In this case, and as described in more detail below, each connection terminal 19A of the terminal block 17 has two insertion parts 20 back-to-back.

In the embodiment shown, the separator partition 32 11 forms a compartment 45 for one connection terminal 19A, 19B of each set 18 of the terminal block 17, there the connection terminal 19B, and the cap 33 forms a compartment 46 for the other connection terminal 19A, 19B, here the connection terminal 19A.

Each compartment 45, 46 opens laterally outward, in a back-to-back arrangement, through an access opening 34.

As in the embodiment shown, the cap 33 is preferably clipped to the base 11.

As shown here, for example, the cap 33 has at the open front end 12A of the base 11 a snap fastening lug 48 by means of which it is clipped onto the separator partition 32, by means of an opening 49 therein, and on the same side as the compartmentalization partition 36 it has at least one immobilizer lug 50 by means of which it is engaged with the compartmentalization partition 36, by means of a notch 51 therein.

In the embodiment shown there are two spaced parallel immobilizer lugs In the embodiment shown, the two connection terminals 19A, 19B of each set 18 of the terminal block 17 are electrically connected to each other by a metal plate 52 to which each of them is attached.

As in the embodiment shown, the two connection terminals 19A, 19B are preferably back-to-back relative to the metal plate 52 to which they are attached.

In the embodiment shown the metal plate 52 is plane.

Because it lies between the separator partition 32 and the cap 33 and because the separator partition 32 is oblique, starting from the cap 33 it is itself oblique in the base 11, like the separator partition 32 and the cap 33.

In the embodiment shown, the two connection terminals 19A, 19B of each set 18 of the terminal block 12 17 each have a tubular shaft 53 substantially perpendicular to the metal plate 52 to which they are attached and at least one end of an axial bore 54 therein forms an insertion part When, as mentioned above, the connection mechanism of the invention is part of a flex outlet 24, the tubular shaft 53 forms an insertion part 20 at each end of its axial bore 54 for one of the connection terminals 19A, 19B, here the connection terminal 19A.

As shown here, for example, the tubular shaft 53 of *each connection terminal 19A, 19B is crimped to the metal plate 52 to which it is attached.

Finally, in the embodiment shown, the actuation part 22 of each of the two connection terminals 19A, 19B of each set 18 of the terminal block 17 is formed by a screwthreaded hole 56 which intersects the axial bore 54 of their tubular shaft 53 transversely and with which a clamping screw 57 is engaged.

In other words, in the embodiment shown, and in a manner that is known per se, the connection terminals 19A, 19B of the terminal block 17 are screw terminals.

When, as shown in figure 8, the connection mechanism 10 of the invention is part of a flex outlet 24, the support 15 carrying it can be attached to a pattress 58 for installing the assembly within the support 14 concerned, for example, in which terminates an incoming cable or conductor, here the electrical cable or conductor 21B.

The electrical cable or conductor 21B is naturally connected to the connection terminals 19B of the terminal block 17 before the connection mechanism 10 is attached to its support In the embodiment shown, the connection mechanism is simply clipped to the support The electrical cable or conductor 21A is an 13 outgoing cable or conductor and all the user then has to do is to connect the electrical cable or conductor 21A to the connection terminals 19A of the terminal block 17.

When these connections are made there is no risk of the user accidentally touching the electrical cable or conductor 21B forming the incoming cable or conductor.

A cover 60 can be attached to the base 11 in the usual way, for example by means of lugs 61 provided for this purpose from place to place on the base, the cover 60 incorporating a notch 62 through which the electrical cable or conductor 21A is fed out.

An embellisher plate 63 can also be attached to the :support 15 in the usual way, around the base 11 and its cover In the case of a junction box 24' (figure the arrangements are substantially the same as before but the electrical cables or conductors 21A, 21B are both inside the pattress 58, the electrical cable or conductor 21A forming the incoming cable or conductor and the "20 electrical cable or conductor 21B forming the outgoing cable or conductor, or branch cable or conductor, for .example.

e pThis is why the cap 33 then has no opening in line with the insertion part 20 of the connection terminals 19A at the open front end 12A of the base 11.

Likewise, the cover 60 has no outlet notch.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, but encompasses any variant execution thereof.

In particular, the fixing means of the connection mechanism in accordance with the invention can be of any kind.

For example, the frame forming the support to which the base of the connection mechanism is directly attached could be integral with the base.

14 Furthermore, instead of being plane, the metal plate to which the two connection terminals of a set of connection terminals of the terminal block of the connection mechanism of the invention are attached can be cranked, for example.

"Ccmprises/cnprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

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Claims

1. A connection mechanism including a generally tubular base with two open ends facing each other between which are external fixing means for attaching the assembly to a support of any kind and which houses a terminal block including at least one set of two connection terminals electrically connected to each other, the connection terminals each having an insertion part for inserting an electrical cable or conductor and an actuation part for clamping the cable or conductor, wherein the terminal block is attached to the base and the actuation part at least of a first connection terminal is accessible to the user only from one of said two open ends of the base and the actuation part at least of the second connection terminal is accessible to the user only from the second of said two open ends. e• S

2. A connection mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the actuation part and the insertion part of the second connection terminal are accessible to the user only from the second open end of the base.

S3. A connection mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, for attaching it to the base, the terminal block is placed between a separator partition attached to the base and extending between the two open ends thereof and a cap attached to the base, the cap being globally parallel to the separator partition and an access opening being provided in line with the actuation part of each connection terminal of the terminal block.

4. A connection mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the separator partition is oblique in the base.

A connection mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the separator partition is between an area of one open end of the base and a compartmentalization partition which divides the internal volume of the base longitudinally into two parts and which has an opening in line with each of the corresponding access openings.

6. A connection mechanism according to claim wherein the compartmentalization partition extends from one open end of the base to the other, substantially parallel to the axis thereof.

7. A connection mechanism according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein, from an area at the open end of the base from which the separator partition extends, a plate connects the compartmentalization partition to an area of the open end opposite the aforementioned area. 10

8. A connection mechanism according to claim 7 "wherein the plate carries a cable clamp.

9. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the compartmentalization partition is in one piece with the base.

10. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein the separator partition includes an opening in line with the insertion part of each connection terminal of each set of the terminal block.

11. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 10 wherein the separator partition is in one piece with the base.

12. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 11 wherein the cap has an opening in line with the corresponding insertion part of one connection terminal of each set of the terminal block.

13. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 12 wherein the cap is clipped to the base.

14. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the two connection terminals of each set of the terminal block are electrically connected to each other by a metal plate to which they are attached.

A connection mechanism according to claim 14 wherein the two connection terminals are back-to-back relative to the metal plate to which they are attached.

16. A connection mechanism according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the metal plate is plane.

17. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the metal plate is oblique in the base.

18. A connection mechanism in accordance with claim 3 in conjunction with claim 15 wherein the separator partition forms a compartment for one connecting terminal of each set of the terminal block and 09 99 10 the cap forms a compartment for the other connection terminal. 49

*19. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the two connection terminals of 9. *9 £9 *4 each set of the terminal block include a tubular shaft substantially perpendicular to the metal plate to which they are attached and at least one end of an axial bore of which forms an insertion part.

A connection mechanism according to claim 19 wherein the actuation part of each connection terminal of each set of the terminal block is formed by a screwthreaded bore which intersects the axial bore of the tubular shaft transversely and with which a clamping screw is engaged.

21. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the terminal block has a plurality of sets of connection terminals which are parallel to each other.

22. A connection mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the fixing means external to the base include, on each of two opposite faces thereof, at least one bearing shoulder projecting transversely on the base and at least one snap fastener lug attached to the base and carrying a detent at a distance from the bearing shoulder. DATED this 27th day of May 1999. LEGRAND and LEGRAND SNC WATEFMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN. VIC. 3122.