Device support to be mounted in a thin wall and device module comprising such support

Abstract

The invention relates to a prosthesis support (100) comprising a rim (110), a side wall (120) provided with a guide channel (130), and a fixing element (150) having proximal (153B) and distal ends, proximal (153) and distal (151) portions, and first and second attachment portions (152, 154). According to the invention, said first attachment portion has a first tooth carried by said distal portion near said distal end, and the second attachment portion has a second tooth carried by said proximal portion near said proximal end. The guide channel has a notch (122) and a lateral opening (134). The fixing element is threaded into the guide channel so that said first tooth engages with said notch and said second tooth passes through said lateral opening, just below said rim.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to the embedding of equipment modules in a wall of various furniture.

[0002] It finds a very advantageous application in the production of a switchgear module to be mounted in a wall with a thickness of only a millimeter.

[0003] More specifically, the invention relates to a device support intended to be inserted into an opening in a receiving wall, which comprises: at the front, a defined rim between a front face and a rear face; at the rear, a lateral wall extending from the rear face of said rim to a certain height; this lateral wall comprising at least one guide channel extending over at least a portion of the height of said lateral wall; said guide channel having a front end open on the front face of said rim and, opposite said front end, a rear end distant from said rim; and at least one fastening element intended to be threaded into said guide channel, comprising, on the one hand, from a proximal end, a proximal portion extending into a distal portion extending to a distal end; said proximal portion being capable of flexing relative to said distal portion; and, on the other hand,a first attachment part for fixing it to the equipment support and a second attachment part for fixing it to the receiving wall.

[0004] Documents US20060131046, US20140224533, EP2056418, and DE102013200405 already describe device supports of the aforementioned type in which the fixing elements are flexible brackets. These brackets have, on the one hand, near their distal end, an attachment element for the receiving wall in which the device support is embedded, and, on the other hand, in a region located near their proximal end, one or more notches for their attachment to the device support.

[0005] This flange-based fixing method is not reliable for attaching such a device support to a thin receiving wall. Furthermore, it does not allow for easy removal and installation of the device support from the front of the receiving wall.

[0006] Finally, document FR3013159, belonging to the applicants, describes a device support not intended to be hung on the edge of an opening in a receiving wall, but rather to be fixed in a flush-mounting box using screws screwed into screw holes in that box. According to this document, two fixing elements are provided for this purpose. Each fixing element is a blade with a tongue and a tab hinged to the tongue by a connecting joint. The tongue of each fixing element has a cutout forming a locking tooth. Furthermore, the free end of the tab has a U-shaped notch. When the tongue of the fixing element is slid into a guide or passage slot provided in a kind of side panel on the device support, the locking tooth engages with a notch in this guide slot.Simultaneously, the free end of the tab forming the notch of each fixing element remains, in its deployed or resting position, recessed from the lateral opening and the peripheral edge of the device support. This lateral opening of the device support is designed to accommodate the screw, the shank of which fits into the notch of the fixing element's tab, so that the free end of the tab is positioned behind the screw head. The device support is secured by screwing the screws into the shanks of the flush-mounting box to wedge each tab between the head of each screw and the edge of the corresponding screw shank.

[0007] Such a support is relatively complex and is not at all suitable for direct mounting in an opening in a thin receiving wall.

[0008] In order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a prosthesis support as defined in the introduction, in which said first attachment part of each fixation element has a first tooth carried by said distal part in the immediate vicinity of said distal end and the second attachment part of each fixation element has a second tooth carried by said proximal part in the immediate vicinity of said proximal end, and in which each guide channel has a notch located near its rear end and a lateral opening located at least near its front end, just below the rear face of said rim,each fixing element being threaded into each guide channel via said front end thereof such that said first tooth of said fixing element engages said notch of said guide channel and said second tooth of said fixing element protrudes on said side wall of the equipment support, through said lateral opening of said guide channel, just below the rear face of said rim.

[0009] Advantageously, thanks to the invention, the appliance support can be easily installed without tools by the installer in the receiving opening of a thin wall, on the order of a millimeter. The installer simply places the side panel of the appliance support in said receiving opening so that the rear face of the edge of this appliance support rests on said wall, around the receiving opening, and then inserts each fixing element into the corresponding guide channel in the side panel so that the first tooth, supported by its distal part, engages with the notch of said guide channel and the second tooth, supported by its proximal part, engages under the wall.The said equipment support is then held in the said receiving opening by sandwiching the said wall around the said receiving opening, between the edge of the said equipment support and the second tooth of each fixing element hooked in each guide conduit of the side wall of the said equipment support.

[0010] Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the equipment support according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows: Disengageable retention means are provided to maintain the second tooth of each fixing element recessed from the external face of said lateral wall; said retention means include elastically deformable means; said retention means belong to said fixing element; the distal part is an elongated piece extending along an X axis from an intermediate rigid platform to which it is rigidly attached, and the proximal part is an elongated piece along the X axis, attached by a pivot hinge to said intermediate rigid platform; the distal part extends from a rear face of said intermediate rigid platform perpendicular to it, and the proximal part extends cantilevered from this intermediate platform from an edge thereof to which it is connected by the pivot hinge;the distal and proximal parts of each fixing element are two rigid tabs, faces oriented on the same side of which bear, respectively, the first and second teeth, each of the first and second teeth being connected to said face of the corresponding tab by an inclined engagement ramp; said retention means comprise at least one stud capable of pressing against a rigid operating tab forming the proximal end of the proximal part of said fixing element;Each fixing element comprises, on the one hand, two rigid bars extending generally in the same direction as the proximal part, from two other parallel edges of said intermediate rigid platform, being connected to them by pivot hinges, each bar having a lug on one face opposite the other bar, and, on the other hand, an operating tab attached to said proximal end of said proximal part, the lugs on said bars being able to apply themselves against said operating tab when the pivot hinge of said proximal part and of said pivot hinges of said bars are flexed; the two bars extend along two axes Y1 and Y2 inclined with respect to said axis X and forming an acute angle between them; each fixing element is a single piece made by molding a plastic material;Each guide channel is formed by a groove open laterally on the external face of said side wall; said lateral opening of each groove comprises two parts separated by a part of said side wall, namely a front part extending from the front end of said groove to a front edge of this part of said side wall and a rear part extending from a rear edge of this part of said side wall to the rear end of said groove, said rear edge forming said notch on which said first tooth of the fastener threaded into said groove engages; said side wall has at least two guide channels positioned diametrically opposite and accommodating two fasteners; said side wall has three guide channels regularly distributed around its perimeter and accommodating three fasteners;A washer is provided, engaged from the rear on the said side wall against the rear face of said rim, this washer having a width greater than that of said rim so that it overhangs it; and the washer is held in position on the equipment support by all the second teeth of said fixing elements.

[0011] The invention also proposes a switchgear module comprising a switchgear support as described above and at least one switchgear mechanism mounted in said switchgear support such that the functional part of each switchgear mechanism is surrounded by the rim of the latter.

[0012] The description that follows, with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

[0013] Regarding the attached drawings: there figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a switchgear module according to the invention, the figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an assembly phase of the switchgear module of the figure 1 in the opening of a receiving wall, the figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the assembled switchgear module of the figure 1 with the fixing elements of its equipment support in the hanging position, the figure 4 is a schematic rear perspective view of the switchgear module of the figure 3 with its washer ready to be fitted from the rear onto the side wall of the equipment support, the figure 5 is a view similar to that of the figure 4 with the washer in place on the side wall of said equipment support, the figure6 is a schematic view of the front face of the switchgear module of the figure 3 , there figure 7 is a schematic view of the rear face of a finishing washer of the switchgear module of the figure 1 , there figure8 is a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the figure 6 with the materialization of the receiving wall in which the switchgear module is embedded, with the fixing elements of its switchgear support in the disengaged position for the removal of said switchgear module, the figure9 is a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the figure 6 with the materialization of the receiving wall in which the switchgear module is embedded, the figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along plane BB of the figure 6 with the materialization of the receiving wall in which the switchgear module is embedded, with the fixing elements of its switchgear support in the disengaged position for the removal of said switchgear module, and the figure 11 is a cross-sectional view along plane BB of the figure 6 with the materialization of the receiving wall in which the equipment module is embedded.

[0014] In the description that follows, by convention, the term "front" will refer to the side of a described element facing a user when that element is in a position for use on a receiving medium, while the term "rear" will refer to the opposite side of that element, facing the inside of that medium.

[0015] Furthermore, in the description that follows, by convention, the term "proximal" will refer to the side of a described element located closest to a user when that element is in a position of use on a receiving medium, while the term "distal" will refer to the opposite side of that element, located furthest from the user.

[0016] On the figures 1 à 11 A module of switchgear 10 to be recessed into an opening in a receiving wall P has been shown (see the figures 8 à 11 ).

[0017] Thanks to its equipment support 100, which will be described in great detail later in the text, the equipment module 10 shown is advantageously suited to be mounted in a receiving wall P of low thickness between 0.8 and 1.2 millimeters.

[0018] This thin P receiving wall can be a metal sheet like those used for shelves or storage lockers or changing rooms, such as those that allow a mobile phone to be charged during an activity.

[0019] To allow it to be mounted in thicker furniture panels, the 100 device support is equipped with additional mounting means (not described but visible on the figures 4 et 5 ), classically consisting of two claw / worm gear sub-assemblies.

[0020] The 100 device support is also particularly suitable for a structural wall of seating furniture such as an armchair or sofa which has a rigid structure covered with a flexible material.

[0021] The switchgear module 10 shown here is a single-gang module which includes a single switchgear mechanism 200 but, according to other variants not shown, it could be a multi-gang module with several switchgear mechanisms mounted side by side in the same switchgear support.

[0022] As shown in particular by figures 1 And 8 à 11 , the switchgear module 10 includes a switchgear support 100 and a switchgear mechanism 200 mounted in said switchgear support 100 so that the functional part 230 of this mechanism is accessible to a user on the front face of said switchgear module 10.

[0023] The 200 switchgear mechanism here is a classic Franco-Belgian type power outlet mechanism.

[0024] Essentially, it comprises a base made of insulating material, with two parts assembled together, including a rear part 220 enclosing three electrical terminals: a phase terminal, a neutral terminal, and an earth terminal connected to an earth pin 250.

[0025] The rear part 220 of the base has a front opening closed by the closing wall of a front part 210 of the base, attached to the rear part 220.

[0026] This front part 210 includes a cylindrical side wall which, together with the closing wall, defines a cylindrical well for inserting an electrical plug.

[0027] The closing wall of the front part 210 is pierced with three openings. Two of these three openings give access to the sockets of the phase and neutral terminals housed in the rear part 220 of the base and the third is crossed by the earth pin 250 connected to the earth terminal in the rear part 220 of the base.

[0028] The ground pin 250 then emerges in the cylindrical well of the front part 210.

[0029] At the rear, the said rear part 220 of the base has openings for accessing the electrical terminals. Electrical wires from a power cable C taken from the electrical network are inserted through these rear openings and connected to the electrical terminals to power the said power socket mechanism 200.

[0030] At the front, the cylindrical side wall of the front part 210 of the base is bordered by an external collar 211, here circular. The external collar 211 forms a mounting means for the base of the control gear mechanism 200 in the control gear support 100 of the control gear module 10.

[0031] The current-pickup mechanism 200 shown here is a mechanism provided with a circular piston wall 230, movable between, on the one hand, a standby position in which this piston wall 230 closes the cylindrical well of the front part 210, coming into contact with the front face of said external collar 211, as shown in the figures 8 à 11 and, on the other hand, an operating position in which this piston wall 230 is depressed by the electrical plug inserted into the well. As is known, this piston wall 230 is constantly returned to its standby position by an internal spring (not referenced but visible on the figures 8 à 11 ). This piston wall 230 is pierced with three circular openings 231 (see figure 9 ). Two of these three openings 231 give the pins of the electrical plug access to the sockets of the phase and neutral terminals of the power outlet mechanism 200 and the third opening is passed through by the earth pin 250 of the power outlet mechanism 200 when the piston wall 230 is pushed in so that this earth pin 250 is inserted into the earth terminal provided in the electrical plug.

[0032] This 200 power outlet mechanism being well known in itself, it will not be described in more detail here.

[0033] Moreover, according to other variants not shown of the switchgear module according to the invention, it will be possible to provide other power outlet standards, other types of switchgear mechanism such as a USB outlet mechanism or an RJ outlet or a telephone outlet or a power outlet whose bottom of the well is fixed or even any kind of switch mechanism or any kind of control mechanism.

[0034] The switchgear support 100 of the switchgear module 10 comprises, at the front, an external rim 110 defined between a front face 111 and a rear face 112, and, at the rear, a side wall 120 extending from the rear face 112 of said rim 110, over a certain height H (see figure 1 ).

[0035] The rim 110 and the side wall 120 of the equipment support 100 belong to a single, advantageously molded, one-piece piece made of plastic.

[0036] The rim 110 has an external edge 110A, which is circular here. The side wall 120 is generally a cylindrical wall of revolution. The rim 110 runs along the front edge of this side wall 120 and forms an annular collar that extends beyond the cylindrical external face 120A of this side wall 120.

[0037] As shown by figure 1 , the rim 110 has a thickness d and the side wall 120 extends at the rear over a height H much greater than this thickness d.

[0038] The side wall 120 internally defines a housing in which the base of the control mechanism 200 is mounted. This internal housing is open at the front. The front opening of this internal housing has a circular contour formed by the inner edge of the rim 110.

[0039] As shown in particular by figures 8 à 11 The external collar 211 of the base of the control gear mechanism 200 mounted in the internal housing of the control gear support 100 rests on the front face 111 of the rim 110 of said control gear support 100 in order to retain the base of the control gear mechanism 200 rearward on the control gear support 100. There are also internal arrangements (not visible in the figures) of the side wall 120 of the control gear support 100, which cooperate with additional arrangements (not visible in the figures) of the base of the control gear mechanism 200 to retain the base of the control gear mechanism 200 forward on the control gear support 100.

[0040] At the rear, the internal housing of the switchgear support 100 is closed by a cover 140 attached to the rear edge of the side panel 120 of the switchgear support 100. The cover 140 is advantageously made of molded plastic. It is held to the side panel 120 by screws driven through openings in the cover 140 into threaded channels provided on the inner face of this side panel 120.

[0041] A cylindrical end 123 is fitted into a notch provided in the rear edge of the side wall 120 and into a lateral opening in the cover 140 aligned with this notch, for the entry of one end of the power cable C into the internal housing of the equipment support 100 (see figure 1 For example).

[0042] As shown in particular by figures 1 à 3 And 6, the side wall 120 of the equipment support 100 includes at least one guide conduit 130 extending over at least part of the height H of said side wall 120.

[0043] Here, the said side wall 120 has three guide conduits 130 which extend along three generatrices G of the side wall 120. These guide conduits 130 are distributed regularly around the perimeter of the side wall 120 but, according to another variant not shown, it could be provided that it has only two guide conduits positioned diametrically opposite.

[0044] Each guide conduit 130 has a front end 133 open on the front face 111 of said rim 110 of the equipment support 100 and, opposite said front end 133, a rear end 135 away from said rim 110.

[0045] Each guide conduit 130 has a notch 122 located near its rear end 135 and a lateral opening 134 located at least near its front end 133, just below the rear face 112 of said rim 110 of the equipment support 100.

[0046] Preferably, each guide conduit 130 is formed by a groove provided in the recess of the external face 120A of the side wall 120.

[0047] This groove 130 is open laterally on the external face 120A of said side wall 120. It has a rectangular profile and opens onto the front face 111 of said rim 110 through an end opening 133 with a rectangular cross-section (see figure 1 ).

[0048] Each groove 130 is delimited by two longitudinal faces 131 facing each other and by two lateral faces 132 facing each other. One of the longitudinal faces 131 of each groove 130, the one located on the side of the external face 120A of the lateral wall 120, is split along its height h by the lateral opening 134 which opens to the outside of the equipment support 100. The lateral opening 134 of each guide conduit 130 has a width less than the length of the corresponding longitudinal face 131 of that conduit. The lateral opening 134 extends from the front face 111 of said rim 110, through the thickness d of the latter, and then along the entire height H of the lateral wall 120. It therefore has a length h equal to the sum of the thickness d of the rim 110 and the height H of the lateral wall 120 of the equipment support 100 (see figure 1 ).

[0049] The lateral opening 134 of each guide conduit 130 is, near the rear end 135 of said guide conduit, partially closed over a length h2 by a portion 121 of the lateral wall 120. This lateral opening 134 then comprises two parts 134A, 134B separated by said portion 121 of said lateral wall 120, namely a front portion 134A extending over a length hl from the front end opening 133 of said groove 130 to a front edge of this portion 121 of said lateral wall 120 and a rear portion 134B extending over a length h3, significantly lower hl, from a rear edge 122 of this part 121 of said side wall 120 to the rear end 135 of said groove 130, said rear edge forming said notch 122 of said guide conduit 130.

[0050] Advantageously, the equipment support 100 includes a fixing element 150 intended to be threaded into each guide conduit 130.

[0051] Therefore, three fixing elements 150 are provided here to be inserted into the three guide channels 130 of the side wall 120.

[0052] As shown by figure 1 Each 150 fixing element is a kind of elongated clip along an X axis. It is advantageously a one-piece part made by molding a plastic material.

[0053] Each fixing element 150 comprises, on the one hand, from a proximal end 153B, a proximal part 153 which is extended by a distal part 151 extending to a distal end 151A, said proximal part 153 being able to flex relative to said distal part 151, and, on the other hand, a first hooking part 152 for its fixing to said equipment support 100 as well as a second hooking part 154 for its fixing to said receiving wall P.

[0054] The first hooking part 152 of each fixing element 150 has a first tooth 152A carried by said distal part 151 in the immediate vicinity of said distal end 151A and the second hooking part 154 of each fixing element 150 has a second tooth 154A carried by said proximal part 153 in the immediate vicinity of said proximal end 153B.

[0055] As the figures 1 And 9 , the distal part 151 of each fixing element 150 is an elongated piece which extends along the X axis from an intermediate rigid platform 151B to which it is rigidly attached and the proximal part 153 is an elongated piece along the X axis, attached by a pivot hinge to said intermediate rigid platform 151B.

[0056] The distal part 151 extends from a rear face of said intermediate rigid platform 151B perpendicularly to it and the proximal part 153 extends cantilevered from this intermediate platform 151B from an edge thereof to which it is connected by the pivot hinge 153A.

[0057] The distal part 151 and the proximal part 153 of each fixing element 150 are two rigid tabs whose faces oriented on the same side bear, respectively, the first and second teeth 152A, 154A, each of the first and second teeth 152A, 154A being connected to said face of the corresponding tab 151, 153 by an inclined engagement ramp 152B, 154B.

[0058] The length of each fastening element 150 is approximately equal to the length of each guide channel 130. Each fastening element 150, for example, has a length of approximately 45 millimeters. The width of each rigid tab 151, 153 of each fastening element 150 is equal, within a certain clearance, to the width of the lateral opening 134 of each guide channel 130. This width is, for example, approximately 5 millimeters. Each rigid tab has a thickness of approximately one millimeter. Each engagement ramp 152B, 154B is inclined at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the face of the rigid tab 151, 153 on which it is mounted. The gripping surface of the first tooth 152A forms, for example, an angle of 60 degrees with the face of the rigid tongue 151 which carries it, while the gripping surface of the second tooth 154A forms a right angle with the face of the rigid tongue 153 which carries it.The rigid tab 153 which forms the proximal part of each fixing element 150 has a length, equal here to about 27 millimeters, greater than that (of the order of 18 millimeters) of the rigid tab 151 forming the distal part of each fixing element 150.

[0059] The pivoting hinge of the proximal part 153 is made by an elbow which connects the rigid tongue 153 to the edge of said intermediate platform 151B.

[0060] Each 150 fixing element is designed to be threaded according to arrow F (see figure 2 ) in each guide conduit 130 via said front end 133 thereof so that said first tooth 152A of said fastening element 150 engages said notch 122 of said guide conduit 130 and said second tooth 154A of said fastening element 150 protrudes from said side wall 120 of the equipment support 100, through said side opening 134 of said guide conduit 130, just below the rear face 112 of said rim 110 (see figures 9 And 11 ).

[0061] Advantageously, disengageable retaining means are provided to keep the second tooth 154A of each fastening element 150 recessed from said lateral opening 134 of said guide conduit 130 (see figures 8 And 10 ).

[0062] These restraint means include elastically deformable means.

[0063] According to the preferred example shown in the various figures, the said restraining means belong to said fixing element 150.

[0064] More specifically, said retention means include at least one nipple 156 capable of pressing against a rigid operating tab 153B forming the proximal end of the proximal part 153 of said fastening element 150 (see figure 1 ).

[0065] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, each fixing element 150 comprises, on the one hand, two rigid bars 155 extending generally in the same direction as the proximal part 153, from two other parallel edges of said intermediate rigid platform 151B, being connected to them by pivot hinges 155A, each bar 155 having, near its free proximal end 155B, a stud 156 on one face opposite the other bar 155, and, on the other hand, an operating tab 153B attached to said proximal end of said proximal part 153, the studs 156 carried by said bars 155 being able to bear against said operating tab 153B during flexion of the pivot hinge 153A of said proximal part 153 and of said pivot hinges 155A of said bars 155.

[0066] As shown by figure 1 , the two bars 155 extend along two axes Y1 and Y2 inclined with respect to said axis X of the rigid tabs 151, 153 and forming an acute angle between them, for example of the order of 7 degrees.

[0067] The pivot hinges 155A of said bars 155 are formed by elbows connecting the latter to said edges of the intermediate platform 151B.

[0068] The operating tongue 153B has a width slightly less than that of the rigid tongue 153 which carries it and which forms the proximal part of the fixing element 150. This width is for example on the order of 4 millimeters.

[0069] Finally, the equipment module 10 shown on the figure 1 includes a finishing washer 160 to be attached to the front face 111 of the rim 110 of the equipment support 100, around the external collar 211 of the equipment mechanism 200, so as to completely cover the front face 111 as well as the external edge 110A of this rim 110 to perfect the aesthetics of the whole.

[0070] As shown in particular by figure 7 This finishing washer 160 conventionally has a central opening 163 delimited by a circular inner edge 162. This central opening 163 has a diameter equal, within a clearance, to the external diameter of the external flange 211 of the control gear mechanism 200. The finishing washer 160 has an external diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of the rim 110 of the control gear support 100. Its annular front face 160A is bordered externally by a band 161 intended to cover the external edge 110A of said rim 110 of the control gear support 100. The free edge 161A of this band 161 has four teeth 165 extending towards the central opening 163 of the finishing washer 160. Correspondingly, notches 114 are provided on the external edge 110A of the rim 110 of the control gear support 100 for the hooking of the teeth 165 of the finishing washer 160.The rear face 160B of the finishing washer 160 has two centering studs 164 and, correspondingly, the rim 110 of the equipment support 100 has at least two circular openings or notches 113 (here four to allow orientation of the finishing washer, in particular in the event of the presence of a marking) accommodating these studs 164.

[0071] Furthermore, as the figures 4 et 5 Preferably, a washer 170 made of rigid metallic or plastic material is provided, engaged from the rear on the side wall 120 of the equipment support 100 against the rear face 112 of the edge 110 of the equipment support 100. This washer 170 has a width greater than that of the edge 110 so that it protrudes beyond it. In fact, as shown in the figure 5 , this washer 170 has an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the side wall 120 and an external diameter identical or slightly greater than that of the finishing washer 160. Advantageously, the washer 170 is held in position on the equipment support 100 by the set of second teeth 154A of said fixing elements 150.

[0072] We will now describe the installation of the equipment module 10 in the opening of a receiving wall P, the front face of which P1 is covered with a flexible covering such as a fabric (not shown in the figures).

[0073] The side wall 120 of the equipment support 100, equipped with its equipment mechanism 200 but not with its fixing elements 150, is engaged in the opening of this receiving wall P so that the rear face 112 of the rim 110 of the equipment support 100 rests on the front face P1 of this receiving wall P. The washer 170, previously threaded from the rear onto the side wall 120, advantageously allows, when the said side wall 120 is engaged, the flexible coating to be compressed and thus prevent it from forming a bulge that would prevent the clipping of the finishing washer 160.

[0074] As shown in figures 1 to 3, each fastening element 150 is engaged via the front end 133 in a guide conduit 130.

[0075] During this engagement, the rigid tongue 151, forming the distal part of the fixation element 150, slides between the longitudinal edges of the lateral opening 134 of this guide channel 130 until the inclined engagement ramp 152B of the first hooking part 152 meets the front edge of the part 121 of the lateral wall 120. This inclined engagement ramp 152B then forces the distal part 151 of the fixation element 150 to slide behind this part 121 of the lateral wall until the first tooth 152A it carries hooks onto the notch 122 of the guide channel 130. Concurrently, the rigid tongue 153, forming the proximal part of the fixation element 150, slides between the longitudinal edges of the lateral opening 134 of this guide channel 130.When the inclined engagement ramp 154B of the second hooking part 154 meets the edge of the opening of the receiving wall P, the latter slides on this edge and forces said proximal part 153 to flex inwards into the guide channel 130 so that the second tooth 154A which bears said proximal part 153 passes under said receiving wall P. When this second tooth 154A has passed under the receiving wall P, said proximal part 153 elastically returns to its original position, aligned with the distal part 151, and the elbow forming the pivoting hinge 153A of said proximal part 153 comes to rest against the front edge of said part 121 of the lateral wall 120.In this position, the fixing element 150 is hooked and locked in the corresponding guide channel 130 of the side wall 120 of the appliance support 100 and the second tooth 154A which bears said proximal part 153 rests against the rear face P2 of the receiving wall P (see . figures 9 And 11 ). Simultaneously, the bars 155 of the fixing element 150 slide along the lateral faces 132 opposite the guide channel 130. They pivot slightly towards each other by flexing their pivot hinge 155B, leaving a slight clearance 136 between them and said lateral faces 132 of the guide channel 130. In the fully engaged position within the engagement channel 130, the lugs 156 on the bars 155 face each other and align with said operating tab 153B of the proximal part 153 of the fixing element 150 (see figures 9 And 11 ).

[0076] The equipment support 100 of the equipment module 10 is then fixed in the opening of the receiving wall P held in a vise between the rear face 112 of the rim 110 of the equipment support 100 and the hooking surfaces of the second teeth 154A of the fixing elements 150.

[0077] It is then simply a matter of placing the finishing washer 160 onto the rim 110 of the device support 100, around the functional part 230, 211 of the device mechanism 200, to perfect the overall appearance. This finishing washer 160 is centered on the rim 110 by the engagement of its studs 164 in the corresponding openings 113 of the rim 110, and it hooks by its teeth 165 onto the corresponding notches 114 of said rim 110. A recess 114A in the shape of an arc is made near each notch 114 to facilitate the inward movement of said notch 114 as the corresponding tooth 165 passes.

[0078] To remove the control gear module 10 from the opening in the receiving wall P, simply remove the finishing washer 160 and push the operating tab 153B of each fixing element 150 towards the bottom of the corresponding guide channel 130, opposite the side opening 134, until it is locked behind the lugs 156 of the bars 155 (see figures 8 And 10 ). In this retained position, the rigid tongue 153 forming the proximal part of each fixing element 150 is pivoted inwards into the guide channel 130 by flexing its pivot hinge 153A, and the second tooth 152A it carries is retained, set back from the outer face 120A of the lateral wall 120 and from said lateral opening 134, inside said guide channel 130, disengaged from its support against the receiving wall P (see figures 8 And 10). When all the fixing elements 150 are positioned in this way, away from the support against the receiving wall, the equipment support 100, equipped with its fixing elements 150, held in place on it by the hooking of the first teeth 152A on the notches 122 of the guide conduits 130, can be easily slid out of the opening of the receiving wall P.

[0079] This appliance module 10, once removed, can be reused by inserting it, in the "released" state described above, into a new opening in a receiving wall until the rim 110 of its appliance support 100 rests against the receiving wall, around the opening. It is then sufficient to release, one after the other, the operating tabs 153B from the pins 156 of the fixing elements 150, so that, elastically, the proximal parts 153 pivot towards their original position aligned with the corresponding distal parts 151 and the second tooth 154A that each proximal part 153 carries engages against the underside of the receiving wall, thus locking the appliance support 100 in said opening of the receiving wall.

[0080] If the appliance support 100 described here is advantageously suited for mounting in a wall close to one millimeter thick, it is sufficient to provide another set of fixing elements in which the second tooth supported by the proximal part is offset towards the rear by a few millimeters to adapt such an appliance support for mounting in a wall a few millimeters thicker.

[0081] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and represented in the various figures, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with their spirit.

Claims

1. Equipment support (100) intended to be mounted in an opening in a receiving wall, comprising: at the front, a lip (110) defined between a front face (111) and a rear face (112); at the rear, a side wall (120) extending from the rear face (112) of said lip (110) over a certain height (H); this side wall having at least one guide channel (130) extending over at least a portion of the height of said side wall; said guide channel (130) having a front end (133) open on the front face (111) of said lip (110) and, opposite said front end, a rear end (135) distant from said lip (110); and at least one fastening element (150) intended to be inserted into said guide channel (130), comprising, on the one hand, from an end proximal (153A), a proximal part (153) which is extended by a distal part (151) extending to a distal extremity (151A),said proximal portion (153) being capable of flexing relative to said distal portion (151), and, on the other hand, a first attachment portion (152) for its fixation to said appliance support and a second attachment portion (154) for its fixation to said receiving wall, appliance support in which said first attachment portion (152) of each fixation element has a first tooth (152A) borne by said distal portion (151) in the immediate vicinity of said distal end (151A) and the second attachment portion (154) of each fixation element has a second tooth (154A) borne by said proximal portion (153) in the immediate vicinity of said proximal end (153B), and in which each guide channel has a notch (122) located near its rear end (135) and a lateral opening (134) located at least near its front end (133), just below the face rear (112) of said rim (110),each fixing element (150) being threaded into each guide conduit (130) via said front end (133) thereof such that said first tooth (152A) of said fixing element engages said notch (122) of said guide conduit (130) and said second tooth (154A) of said fixing element (150) protrudes onto said side wall (120) of the equipment support (100), through said side opening (134) of said guide conduit, just below the rear face (112) of said rim (110).

2. Device support (100) according to claim 1, in which disengageable retention means are provided to hold the second tooth (154A) of each fixing element recessed from the external face (120A) of said side wall (120).

3. Equipment support (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said retaining means comprise elastically deformable means.

4. Equipment support (100) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein said retaining means belong to said fixing element (150).

5. Device support (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distal part (151) is an elongated piece extending along an X axis from an intermediate rigid platform (151B) to which it is rigidly attached and the proximal part (153) is an elongated piece along the X axis, attached by a pivot hinge (153A) to said intermediate rigid platform (151B).

6. Device support (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the distal part (153) extends from a rear face of said intermediate rigid platform (151B) perpendicularly thereto and the proximal part (153) extends cantilevered from this intermediate platform (151B) from an edge thereof to which it is connected by the pivoting hinge (153A).

7. Appliance support (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distal part (151) and the proximal part (153) of each fixing element (150) are two rigid tabs, faces oriented on the same side of which bear, respectively, the first and second teeth (152A, 154A), each of the first and second teeth being connected to said face of the corresponding tab by an inclined engagement ramp (152B, 154B).

8. Device support (100) according to claim 4, wherein said retention means comprise at least one nipple (156) capable of pressing against a rigid operating tab (153B) forming the proximal end of the proximal part (153) of said fixing element (150).

9. Device support (100) according to claims 6 and 8, wherein each fixing element (150) comprises, on the one hand, two rigid bars (155) extending generally in the same direction as the proximal portion (153) from two other parallel edges of said intermediate rigid platform (151B), being connected thereto by pivot hinges (155A), each bar (155) having a stud (156) on one face opposite the other bar (155), and, on the other hand, an operating tab (153B) attached to said proximal end of said proximal portion (153), the studs (156) carried by said bars (155) being able to bear against said operating tab (153B) during flexion of the pivot hinge (153A) of said portion proximal (153) and said pivot hinges (155A) of said bars (155).

10. Equipment support (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the two bars (155) extend along two axes Y1 and Y2 inclined with respect to said axis X and forming an acute angle between them.

11. Equipment support (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each fixing element (150) is a one-piece part made by molding a plastic material.

12. Equipment support (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each guide conduit (150) is formed by a groove opened laterally on the external face (120A) of said side wall (120).

13. Equipment support (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said lateral opening (134) of each groove comprises two parts separated by a part (121) of said lateral wall (120), namely a front part (134A) extending from the front end of said groove to a front edge of this part (121) of said lateral wall (120) and a rear part (134B) extending from a rear edge of this part of said lateral wall to the rear end of said groove, said rear edge (122) forming said notch on which said first tooth (152A) of the fastening element (150) threaded into said groove hooks.

14. Equipment support (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said side wall comprises at least two guide conduits (130) positioned diametrically opposite and accommodating two fixing elements (150).

15. Equipment support (100) according to the preceding claim, in which said side wall has three guide conduits (130) distributed regularly around its perimeter and accommodating three fixing elements (150).

16. Equipment support (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a washer (170) is provided engaged from the rear on said side wall against the rear face of said rim, this washer having a width greater than that of said rim (110) so that it overhangs it.

17. Device support (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the washer (170) is held in position on the device support (100) by the set of second teeth (154A) of said fastening elements (150) 18. Switchgear module (10) comprising a switchgear support (100) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one switchgear mechanism (200) mounted in said switchgear support (100) such that the functional part (230) of each switchgear mechanism is surrounded by the rim (110) of the latter.