JP7829377B2 - Intercom equipment installation structure - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an installation structure for an intercom system, for example, for installing an intercom sub-unit, which can be activated by a visitor, on the wall of an entrance hall or similar location.

Conventionally, the structure for installing intercom equipment on a wall surface generally involves screwing a mounting frame to a mounting box embedded in the wall, fixing the main unit of the intercom equipment to the mounting frame, and then attaching a decorative cover to the main unit (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-141163

In the conventional installation structure described above, the intercom equipment is screwed to the wall by screwing the screws perpendicular to the wall. Therefore, the screw heads are exposed, resulting in an unsightly appearance of the installed intercom equipment. While it's possible to consider installing a component to cover the screw holes, this would increase the number of parts and thus the cost.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide an installation structure for intercom equipment that can improve the appearance of the installed state of the intercom equipment at a low cost.

To achieve the above objective, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is an installation structure for an intercom device for installing an intercom device on the surface of a wall, wherein the intercom device side is provided with a decorative cover having a mounting rail extending in the left-right direction on its rear surface, and a device body attached to the mounting rail on the rear surface of the decorative cover, the position of the device body can be changed in the left-right direction by changing the mounting position of the device body to the mounting rail, and a fixing member having a first connecting hole that opens outward in the left-right direction is attached to the rear surface of the decorative cover, while the wall side is provided with a connecting part that protrudes forward, and a second connecting hole that penetrates in the left-right direction is drilled in the connecting part, and the intercom device is installed on the surface of the wall by aligning the two connecting holes with the second connecting hole located outside the first connecting hole in the left-right direction, and screwing a screw from the left and right outer sides of the second connecting hole through the second connecting hole into the first connecting hole, thereby integrating the intercom device side and the wall side.
According to the invention described in claim 1, a fixing member is attached to the rear surface of a decorative cover provided on the intercom equipment side, which has a first connecting hole that opens outward in the left-right direction. On the wall side, a connecting portion is provided that protrudes forward, and a second connecting hole that penetrates in the left-right direction is drilled in the connecting portion. With the second connecting hole positioned outside the first connecting hole in the left-right direction, the two connecting holes are aligned, and screws are screwed from the left and right outer sides of the second connecting hole through the second connecting hole into the first connecting hole, thereby integrating the intercom equipment side and the wall side, and installing the intercom equipment on the wall surface. Therefore, since the direction in which the screws are screwed in is substantially parallel to the surface of the wall, the screw fastening points can be easily hidden from the front without increasing the number of parts, and the appearance of the installed intercom equipment can be improved at low cost.
In addition, the intercom equipment includes a decorative cover with mounting rails extending horizontally on its rear surface, and the main unit of the equipment, which is attached to the mounting rails on the rear surface of the decorative cover. By changing the mounting position of the main unit of the equipment on the mounting rails, the position of the main unit can be changed horizontally. Therefore, although the position of the main unit of the equipment is limited to the horizontal direction, which is the direction in which the mounting rails extend, it is possible to easily change the position in this direction, thereby simplifying the installation work and reducing costs.

The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 , a rectangular frame-shaped fixing frame is provided on the wall side, which can be attached to a mounting box embedded in the wall, and a bent portion that is bent forward is provided on both the left and right edges of the fixing frame as a connecting portion.
According to the invention described in claim 2 , a rectangular frame-shaped fixing frame is provided on the wall side, which can be attached to a mounting box embedded in the wall, and the left and right edges of the fixing frame are provided with bent portions that are bent forward as connecting portions. Therefore, in the installation process, the main unit of the equipment is attached to the decorative cover before screwing it to the fixing frame, and then the decorative cover and the fixing frame are integrated so that the intercom equipment including the main unit is installed on the surface of the wall, thus improving the workability of the installation of the main unit of the equipment. In addition, since the decorative cover is screwed to the fixing frame, the installation strength of the decorative cover can be improved compared to structures in which the decorative cover is locked to the main unit case of the intercom equipment.

The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 2, the screw comprises a screw head, a male threaded portion projecting axially from the screw head, and a cylindrical portion projecting from the tip of the male threaded portion in the same direction as the male threaded portion, having no threads on its circumferential surface, and having a smaller diameter than the male threaded portion, while the fixing member is an aluminum column extending in the left-right direction, with first connecting holes opening on the left and right outer end faces of the fixing member, and slits extending in the left-right direction on the circumferential surface of the fixing member that communicate with the first connecting holes.
According to the invention described in claim 3, the screw comprises a screw head, a male threaded portion protruding axially from the screw head, and a cylindrical portion protruding from the tip of the male threaded portion in the same direction as the male threaded portion, having no threads on its circumferential surface and having a smaller diameter than the male threaded portion. On the other hand, the fixing member is an aluminum column extending in the left-right direction, with first connecting holes opening on the left and right outer end faces of the fixing member, and slits communicating with the first connecting holes extending in the left-right direction on the circumferential surface of the fixing member. Therefore, when screwing the screw into the fixing member, even if the screw is tilted relative to the first connecting hole, the fixing member deforms to allow the screw to be screwed in, and integration of the decorative cover and the fixing frame is achieved. Consequently, even if the first connecting hole, etc., is located close to the surface of the wall, making it difficult to screw in the screw from a direction parallel to the surface of the wall, the intercom sub-unit can be installed, and the decorative cover can be made thinner.

According to the present invention, a fixing member is attached to the rear surface of a decorative cover provided on the intercom equipment side, which has a first connecting hole that opens outward in the left-right direction. On the wall side, a connecting portion is provided that protrudes forward, and a second connecting hole that penetrates in the left-right direction is drilled in the connecting portion. With the second connecting hole positioned outside the first connecting hole in the left-right direction, the two connecting holes are aligned, and screws are screwed from the left and right outside of the second connecting hole through the second connecting hole into the first connecting hole, thereby integrating the intercom equipment side and the wall side, and installing the intercom equipment on the wall surface. Therefore, since the direction in which the screws are screwed in is approximately parallel to the wall surface, the screw fastening points can be easily hidden from the front without increasing the number of parts, and the appearance of the installed intercom equipment can be improved at low cost.
In addition, the intercom equipment includes a decorative cover with mounting rails extending horizontally on its rear surface, and the main unit of the equipment, which is attached to the mounting rails on the rear surface of the decorative cover. By changing the mounting position of the main unit of the equipment on the mounting rails, the position of the main unit can be changed horizontally. Therefore, although the position of the main unit of the equipment is limited to the horizontal direction, which is the direction in which the mounting rails extend, it is possible to easily change the position in this direction, thereby simplifying the installation work and reducing costs.

This is a perspective view diagram showing an intercom unit installed on the surface of a wall. This is a perspective diagram showing the intercom handset from the rear. This is a perspective view diagram showing the intercom sub-unit and installation structure disassembled and viewed from the front. This is a perspective view diagram showing the intercom unit and installation structure disassembled and viewed from the rear. This is a perspective view diagram showing the right side of the decorative cover from the rear. This is an oblique view diagram illustrating the camera device, with (a) showing the view from the front and (b) showing the view from the rear. These are perspective diagrams illustrating the call device, with (a) showing the view from the front and (b) showing the view from the rear. This is a perspective view diagram showing the right side of the fixed frame from the rear. This is an explanatory diagram showing the fixing screws. This is an explanatory diagram showing how the decorative cover and the fixing frame are integrated. This is an explanatory diagram showing the decorative cover and the fixing frame integrated into one unit. This is a block diagram of the intercom sub-unit. This is an explanatory diagram showing a modified installation position of the camera device in an intercom sub-unit.

The following describes in detail, based on the drawings, the installation structure of an intercom sub-unit, which is one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view diagram showing an intercom sub-unit installed on the surface of wall W. Figure 2 is a perspective view diagram showing the intercom sub-unit from the rear. Figure 3 is a perspective view diagram showing the intercom sub-unit and installation structure disassembled and viewed from the front. Figure 4 is a perspective view diagram showing the intercom sub-unit and installation structure disassembled and viewed from the rear. Figure 5 is a perspective view diagram showing the right side of the decorative cover 30 from the rear. Figure 6 is a perspective view diagram showing the camera device 10, with (a) showing it from the front and (b) showing it from the rear. Figure 7 is a perspective view diagram showing the call device 20, with (a) showing it from the front and (b) showing it from the rear. Figure 8 is a perspective view diagram showing the right side of the fixing frame 40 from the rear. Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the fixing screw 50. Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the decorative cover 30 and the fixing frame 40 are integrated. Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the decorative cover 30 and the fixing frame 40 are integrated. Figure 12 is a block diagram of the intercom sub-unit. Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the intercom sub-unit with a changed installation position for the camera device 10.

The intercom sub-unit comprises a camera device 10 having a camera unit 11, a call device 20 having a call button 21, and a decorative cover 30 positioned in front of the camera device 10 and the call device 20. The camera device 10 and the call device 20 are attached to the decorative cover 30 as described later, and the decorative cover 30 is fixed to a fixing frame 40 attached to the wall W, thereby being installed on the surface of a wall W, such as an entrance.

The camera device 10 has a first main body case 12, which is formed by assembling a front case and a rear case. The front of the first main body case 12 is provided with a camera unit 11 for imaging visitors and the surroundings, and a microphone unit 13 for communication. Inside the first main body case 12 are a main communication unit 15 for communication with an intercom master unit (not shown) installed in the dwelling unit, and a first sub-communication unit 16 for communication with the call device 20. Furthermore, a so-called main circuit board (a circuit board that controls the main operation of the intercom sub-unit) is installed inside the first main body case 12, and it is a main control unit 14 that controls the operation of the camera unit 11 and microphone unit 13, the communication operation with the intercom master unit, and the communication operation with the call device 20. In addition, the top and bottom surfaces of the first main body case 12 are provided with mounting pieces 18, 18 that protrude outward from the top and bottom, respectively, and each mounting piece 18 has a mounting hole drilled in it for screwing the camera device 10 to the decorative cover 30. Note that 17 is the power supply unit for the camera device 10.

The call device 20 is a separate case from the first main body case 12 of the camera device 10, and has a second main body case 22 which is made up of a front case and a rear case assembled together. On the front of the second main body case 22, there is a call button 21 which visitors press to call a resident, and a speaker unit 23 for communication. The operating surface of the call button 21 is made of a translucent synthetic resin, and an LED is installed behind the operating surface of the call button 21 inside the second main body case 22, so that the call button 21 also functions as a night illumination unit 24. Furthermore, inside the second main body case 22, there is a second sub-communication unit 26 for communication with the camera device 10, and a sub-control board etc. which is equipped with a switch (not shown) for detecting the pressing operation of the call button 21 is installed, and this is a sub-control unit 25 which controls the operation of the call device 20 and the communication operation with the camera device 10. In addition, mounting pieces 28 protruding outward from both the upper and lower surfaces of the second main body case 22 are provided, and mounting holes for screwing the call device 20 to the decorative cover 30 are drilled in each mounting piece 28. Note that 27 is the power supply unit for the call device 20.

The decorative cover 30 is formed in a U-shape in side view by bending the upper and lower edges of a long plate in the left-right direction backward, and comprises a cover body 31 and a nameplate 32 that is detachably attached to the cover body 31. The nameplate 32 is formed in a long strip in the left-right direction and can be attached to the central part of the cover body 31 in the vertical direction. The nameplate 32 also has windows 33, 33 for exposing the camera part 11 of the camera device 10 and the call button 21 of the call device 20. Furthermore, the flat part on the front of the nameplate 32 where there are no windows 33, 33 can be used as a display area for writing the resident's name, etc. On the other hand, mounting rails 34 are provided on the upper and lower parts of the rear surface of the cover body 31 (above and below the nameplate 32), and these rails extend in the left-right direction, and the camera device 10 and the call device 20 can be screwed to them. In addition, fixing members 35, 35 for securing the decorative cover 30 to the fixing frame 40 are provided along the lower rear edge of the cover body 31. Each fixing member 35 is an aluminum column extending in the left-right direction, with insertion holes 36 drilled into both left and right end faces (i.e., insertion holes 36 open on the outer end faces of each left and right fixing member 35). Furthermore, a slit 37 communicating with the insertion holes 36 extends from the left end to the right end of the fixing member 35, giving the fixing member 35 a roughly C-shape in side view. Fixing screws 50, described later, can be screwed into the insertion holes 36 from the outer end faces on each side.

The fixed frame 40 is a rectangular frame body having an upper edge, left and right side edges, and a lower edge, with a large opening 41 in the center. Its length in the left-right direction and width in the up-down direction are approximately the same as those of the decorative cover 30. Installation holes 42, 42... are drilled at the four corners of the fixed frame 40 for attaching it to the wall W. Furthermore, the outer edges of the left and right side edges of the fixed frame 40 are provided with bent portions 40a, 40a that are folded forward, and connecting holes 43 are drilled at the lower ends of these bent portions 40a for integrating the decorative cover 30 and the fixed frame 40.

The camera device 10 and the call device 20 described above are installed on the surface of the wall W as follows.
First, the camera unit 11 is exposed through the window 33, and the mounting pieces 18, 18... are screwed to the mounting rails 34, 34 to attach the camera device 10 to the rear surface of the decorative cover 30. Similarly, the call device 20 is attached to the rear surface of the decorative cover 30 by screwing the mounting pieces 28, 28 to the mounting rails 34, 34 while the call button 21 is exposed through the window 33. Meanwhile, the fixing frame 40 is screwed to a well-known mounting box (not shown) embedded in the wall W. Then, the camera device 10 and the call device 20 are made to protrude behind the fixing frame 40 by passing them through the large opening 41 from the front of the fixing frame 40, and the tips of the bent portions 40a, 40a of the fixing frame 40 are brought into contact with the rear surface of the decorative cover 30, aligning the insertion hole 36 with the connecting hole 43 (Figure 10). Then, the fixing screws 50 are screwed into the insertion holes 36 via the connecting holes 43 to integrate the decorative cover 30 and the fixing frame 40 (Figure 11). After that, the lid members 60, 60 are inserted from both the left and right sides of the decorative cover 30 into the openings formed at both ends of the decorative cover 30 (openings surrounded by the decorative cover 30 and the surface of the wall W), and the fixing screws 50, 50 are covered by the lid members 60, 60 and the openings are closed, thereby completing the installation of the camera device 10 and the calling device 20 on the surface of the wall W.

Furthermore, in the configurations shown in Figures 1 and 13(a), the camera device 10 and the call device 20 are installed on the right side of the decorative cover 30. However, if a user requests, for example, that the camera device 10 be installed on the left end of the decorative cover 30 and the call device 20 on the right end of the decorative cover 30, this request can be accommodated simply by changing the mounting positions of the camera device 10 and the call device 20 on the mounting rails 34, 34, and by changing the nameplate 32 to a different nameplate 61 with a different window opening position (Figure 13(b)).

The fixing screw 50 comprises a screw head 51, a male threaded portion 52 protruding axially from the screw head 51, and a cylindrical portion 53 that further protrudes from the tip of the male threaded portion 52 in the same direction as the male threaded portion 52, has no threads on its circumferential surface, and has a smaller diameter than the male threaded portion 52. When such a fixing screw 50 is screwed into the insertion hole 36 from the cylindrical portion 53 side, the cylindrical portion 53 pushes open the insertion hole 36, while the male threaded portion 52 bites into the inner surface of the insertion hole 36, thereby holding the fixing screw 50 in place within the insertion hole 36.

Furthermore, in the intercom sub-unit consisting of the camera device 10 and the call device 20 installed as described above, similar to conventional intercom sub-units, when a visitor presses the call button 21, the camera unit 11 captures an image of the visitor under the control of the main control unit 14 and calls the intercom master unit. Once the master unit responds, communication becomes possible between the two units. The camera device 10 and the call device 20 are connected wirelessly, and the camera device 10 and the intercom master unit are connected via a cable (not shown) for communication.

In the intercom sub-unit having the above configuration, the camera device 10, which has a camera unit 11 for imaging visitors and the surroundings, is provided on the front of the first main unit case 12, and the call device 20, which has a call button 21 for calling residents, is provided on the front of a second main unit case 22 separate from the first main unit case 12. Since the camera device 10 and the call device 20 are connected in a communicative manner, the positions of the camera unit 11 and the call button 21 can be appropriately changed according to user requests by independently changing the installation positions of the camera device 10 and the call device 20, respectively. Furthermore, since the main control unit 14, which controls communication with the intercom master unit and imaging operations by the camera unit 11, is provided within the first main unit case 12, noise is particularly less likely to occur in the communication of imaging data from the camera unit 11.

Furthermore, a decorative cover 30 is positioned in front of the camera device 10 and the call device 20, and mounting rails 34, 34 for attaching the camera device 10 and the call device 20 extend from the rear surface of the decorative cover 30 in the left-right direction. By changing the mounting position of the camera device 10 and the call device 20 on the mounting rails 34, 34, the positions of the camera device 10 and the call device 20 can be changed in the left-right direction. While the position changes of the camera device 10 and the call device 20 are limited to changes in the direction of extension of the mounting rails 34, 34 (i.e., left-right), this allows for easy position changes in this direction, simplifying installation work and reducing costs.

Furthermore, as an installation structure for the intercom sub-unit, aluminum columnar fixing members 35, 35 extending in the left-right direction are provided on the rear surface of the decorative cover 30 to which the camera device 10 and the calling device 20 are attached (i.e., the intercom equipment side). Each fixing member 35 has an insertion hole 36 that opens on the outer end face in the left-right direction. Meanwhile, the fixing frame 40, which is screwed to the wall W, has bent portions 40a, 40a that protrude forward, and each bent portion 40a has a connecting hole 44. With each connecting hole 44 positioned outside the corresponding insertion hole 36 in the left-right direction, the insertion hole 36 and the connecting hole 44 are aligned, and fixing screws 50 are screwed into the insertion hole 36 from the left and right outer sides of the connecting hole 44, thereby integrating the decorative cover 30 and the fixing frame 40. In this way, the decorative cover 30 and the camera device 10 and calling device 20 attached to the decorative cover 30, i.e., the intercom sub-unit, are installed on the surface of the wall W. In other words, since the direction in which the fixing screws 50 are screwed in is approximately parallel to the surface of the wall W, the screw locations can be easily concealed from the front, thereby improving the appearance of the installed intercom unit at a low cost.

Furthermore, since the decorative cover 30 is screwed to the fixing frame 40, the installation strength of the decorative cover 30 can be improved compared to structures in which the decorative cover is attached to the main body case of the intercom equipment.
Furthermore, the fixing screw 50 used to integrate the decorative cover 30 and the fixing frame 40 comprises a screw head 51, a male threaded portion 52 protruding axially from the screw head 51, and a cylindrical portion 53 that protrudes further from the tip of the male threaded portion 52 in the same direction as the male threaded portion 52, has no threads on its circumferential surface, and has a smaller diameter than the male threaded portion 52. On the other hand, insertion holes 36 are opened on the outer end faces on both sides of the columnar fixing member 35 made of aluminum, and slits 37 communicating with the insertion holes 36 are provided on the circumferential surface of the fixing member 35 in the left-right direction. Therefore, when screwing the fixing screw 50 into the fixing member 35, even if the fixing screw 50 is tilted relative to the insertion hole 36, the fixing member 35 deforms to allow the fixing screw 50 to be screwed in, and the integration of the decorative cover 30 and the fixing frame 40 is achieved. Therefore, even in situations where the insertion holes 36 etc. are located close to the surface of the wall, making it difficult to screw in the fixing screws 50 from a direction parallel to the surface of the wall, the intercom sub-unit can be installed, and consequently, the decorative cover 30 can be made thinner.

Furthermore, by attaching the camera device 10 and the call device 20 to the decorative cover 30 before screwing it to the fixed frame 40, and then integrating the decorative cover 30 with the fixed frame 40, the camera device 10 and the call device 20 are installed on the surface of the wall W. This improves the workability of the installation of the camera device 10 and the call device 20, and by changing the mounting position of the camera device 10 and the call device 20 on the decorative cover 30, the positions of the camera device 10 and the call device 20 can be easily changed, albeit within the range of the decorative cover 30.

Furthermore, the installation structure of the intercom equipment according to the present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above. The overall configuration of the intercom equipment, as well as the configuration related to the decorative cover and installation on the wall surface, can be modified as necessary, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the decorative cover and the fixing frame are integrated with screws, but it is also possible to adopt a structure in which a first connecting hole is provided on the side of the intercom equipment and a second connecting hole is provided on the mounting box (or fixing frame), and the intercom equipment is installed on the surface of the wall without the use of a decorative cover.
Furthermore, there is no problem in using conventionally known screws or components with screw holes to install the intercom equipment, instead of using the fixing screws or fixing members of the above embodiment.
Furthermore, although the embodiment describes an installation structure for an intercom sub-unit separated into a camera device and a calling device, the present invention can also be suitably adopted as an installation structure for a conventionally known intercom sub-unit that integrates a camera device and a calling device, and it can be suitably adopted not only as an intercom sub-unit but also as an installation structure for other intercom equipment such as an intercom master unit or a multi-unit entrance unit.

10...Camera device (main unit, intercom device side), 11...Camera unit, 13...Microphone unit, 14...Main control unit, 18...Mounting piece, 20...Calling device (main unit, intercom device side), 21...Call button, 23...Speaker unit, 28...Mounting piece, 30...Decorative cover (intercom device side), 34...Mounting rail, 35...Fixing member, 36...Insertion hole (first connecting hole), 37...Slit, 40...Fixing frame (wall side), 40a...Bent part (connecting part), 43...Connecting hole (second connecting hole), 50...Fixing screw, 51...Screw head, 52...Male threaded part, 53...Cylindrical part.

Claims (3)

An intercom equipment installation structure for installing intercom equipment on the surface of a wall,
The intercom device includes a decorative cover with a mounting rail extending horizontally on its rear surface, and a device body that is attached to the mounting rail on the rear surface of the decorative cover. By changing the mounting position of the device body on the mounting rail, the position of the device body can be changed horizontally.
A fixing member is attached to the rear surface of the decorative cover, the fixing member having a first connecting hole that opens outward in the left-right direction,
A connecting portion is provided on the wall side that protrudes forward, and a second connecting hole is drilled in the connecting portion that penetrates in the left-right direction.
An installation structure for an intercom device, characterized in that the intercom device is installed on the surface of the wall by aligning both connecting holes with the second connecting hole located outward in the left-right direction of the first connecting hole, screwing a screw from the left and right outer sides of the second connecting hole through the second connecting hole into the first connecting hole, and integrating the intercom device side and the wall side. On the wall side, a rectangular frame-shaped fixing frame is provided that can be attached to a mounting box embedded in the wall.
The installation structure for an intercom device according to claim 1, characterized in that the left and right edges of the fixed frame are provided with bent portions that are bent forward as connecting portions. The screw comprises a screw head, a male threaded portion projecting axially from the screw head, and a cylindrical portion projecting from the tip of the male threaded portion in the same direction as the male threaded portion, having no threads on its circumferential surface, and having a smaller diameter than the male threaded portion.
The aforementioned fixing member is an aluminum column extending in the left-right direction.
The installation structure for an intercom device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first connecting holes are opened on the left and right outer end faces of the fixing member, and slits communicating with the first connecting holes are provided on the circumferential surface of the fixing member, extending in the left-right direction.