Folding lid

Abstract

Hinged lid which is pivotably mounted on a housing part of an electrical / electronic installation device and which is acted upon by a spring element with a spring force acting counter to its opening movement, characterized in that at least one spring arm (3) is formed on the one hand on the housing part (2), which on the other hand is provided at its free end region with a bearing arrangement (4) for the pivotable mounting of the hinged lid (1), wherein in the event of increased force the spring arms (3) are deflectable so that the hinged lid (1) can be pushed over by a certain amount without damage occurring.

Description

[0001] The present invention is based on a hinged lid designed according to the preamble of the main claim.

[0002] Such hinged covers generally represent a protective mechanism for electrical / electronic installation devices, often also used for safety reasons. Such hinged covers are therefore used in connection with a wide variety of electrical / electronic installation devices installed in buildings, such as sockets, displays, switches, buttons, and so on. In this context, a wide variety of such hinged covers with different designs are already known. For the most part, such hinged covers are used for earthing contact sockets to protect them from the ingress of dirt, dust, moisture (splash protection), etc.

[0003] DE 42 14 031 C2 discloses a hinged lid for electrical / electronic installation devices corresponding to the preamble of the main claim. Such a hinged lid has a hinge joint for the open and closed positions, which is equipped with a preloaded spring element. The hinged lid is pivotally mounted on the housing of the electrical / electronic installation device and is subjected to a spring force acting counter to its opening movement. The hinge joint has an axis which interacts with a spring element. Due to this design, however, such a hinged lid is susceptible to damage if, for example, high forces are exerted on the hinged lid when the user presses it down. This can result in unsightly pressure marks or even breakage of the hinged lid.

[0004] US Pat. No. 7,626,121 B1 discloses an electrical or electronic installation device with a hinged lid. The hinged lid is connected to the installation device by means of two hinges and a bolt. The hinges are formed on the installation device and project forward in such a way that a stop is formed, which serves as an opening lock for the hinged lid. If the lid is opened too far, the hinge is locally compressed.

[0005] DE 44 30 519 A1 discloses an electrical installation device with a hinged lid. The hinged lid is held in a closed position by two wire springs. When the hinged lid is opened, it opens against the spring force of the two wire springs.

[0006] The document DE 10 2004 042 606 A1 discloses a hinged cover for a socket that can be locked in an open position. An additional locking component, in the form of a spring-loaded arm, ensures that the hinged cover remains in the open position.

[0007] Based on a hinged lid designed in this way for electrical / electronic installation devices, the present invention is based on the object of creating a hinged lid which is effectively protected from damage even when increased force is applied during the actuation or opening process.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features specified in the main claim.

[0009] A particularly advantageous feature of such a design is that the hinged lid is connected to the housing of the electrical / electronic installation device in a spring-loaded manner, thus creating a noticeable resistance for the user to further open the hinged lid, so that the user stops attempting to open it. Advantageously, the connection between the hinged lid and the housing of the electrical / electronic installation device consists of a few, easy-to-assemble individual parts.

[0010] Further advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are specified in the subclaims. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to four exemplary embodiments, in which: Fig. 1: principle of a housing part with molded spring arms, on which a hinged lid is pivotably mounted, enlarged in sectional view; Fig. 2: a schematic exploded view of a hinged lid which, according to the first embodiment, is pivotably mounted on a bearing element designed as a pin and a locking pin, and which interacts with a spring element designed as a coil spring; Fig. 3: principle of a functional assembly with closed hinged cover according to Fig. 2, as an assembly in plan view and a sectional view according to line AA. Fig. 4: a schematic exploded view of a hinged lid which, according to the second embodiment, is pivotably mounted by means of two spherical bearing elements and which interacts with a spring element designed as a coil spring; Fig. 5: principle of a functional assembly with closed hinged cover according to Fig. 4, as an assembly in plan view and a sectional view along line BB. Fig. 6: a principle of a hinged lid which, according to the third embodiment, interacts with an axis which is pivotably mounted in two pot-shaped bearing elements and on which a spring element designed as a coil spring is arranged, which interacts with the hinged lid, in an exploded spatial view; Fig. 7: principle of a functional assembly with closed hinged cover according to Fig. 6, as an assembly in plan view and a sectional view according to line CC. Fig. 8: a schematic exploded view of a hinged lid which, according to the fourth embodiment, is pivotably mounted on two bearing elements designed as pins and which interacts with a spring element designed as a bow spring; Fig. 9: principle of a functional assembly with closed hinged cover according to Fig. 8, as an assembly in plan view and a sectional view according to line DD.

[0011] As can be seen from the figures, such a hinged lid 1 is pivotally mounted on a housing part 2 of an electrical / electronic installation device, wherein the hinged lid 1 is subjected to a spring force acting counter to its opening movement. At least one elastic spring arm 3 is formed on the housing part 2 of the electrical / electronic installation device, which, on the other hand, is provided at its free end region with a bearing arrangement 4 for the pivotal mounting of the hinged lid 1. The spring force acting counter to the opening movement of the hinged lid 1 is generated by a spring element 5, which is mounted on the housing part 2 and interacts with the hinged lid 1. The housing part 2 represents the central piece of a protective contact socket.

[0012] As is particularly evident from Fig. 1, the spring arm 3 or the spring arms 3 are formed integrally with the housing part 2, with both the housing part 2 and the spring arm 3 being made of a polymer material. Each spring arm 3 is provided with a bearing arrangement 4 at its free end region in order to ensure precise pivoting mounting of the hinged lid 1. Such spring arms 3 serve, for example, the purpose of being able to automatically compensate for any height differences that occur in a simple manner and to provide protection against damage to the hinged lid 1 in the event of increased force. The damage protection results, for example, from the user feeling a significantly increased resistance to further opening of the hinged lid 1 and therefore not continuing the opening process. According to the invention, the hinged lid 1 can be pressed over by a certain amount due to the spring arms 3 deflecting under increased force without damage occurring.

[0013] As is particularly evident from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, two spring arms 3 are formed onto the housing part 2, each of which is provided at its free end region with a bearing arrangement 4 for the pivotable mounting of the hinged lid 1. According to the first exemplary embodiment, the bearing arrangement 4 formed onto one spring arm 3 is provided with a first bearing element 4a designed as a pin, and the bearing arrangement 4 formed onto the other spring arm 3 is provided with a second bearing element 4b designed as a locking pin. The hinged lid 1 is therefore provided on the one hand with a first bearing receptacle 1a, which is intended to interact with the first bearing element 4a designed as a pin, and on the other hand with a second bearing receptacle 1b, which is intended to interact with the second bearing element 4b designed as a locking pin.A spring element 5 in the form of a leg spring is mounted on the first bearing element 4a, which is designed as a pin. On the one hand, the spring element 5 is supported on the housing part 2 with its first free leg and on the other hand, its second free leg interacts with the hinged lid 1. Starting from its closed position, the hinged lid 1 can be pivoted more and more into its fully open position against the spring force of the spring element 5 in the form of a leg spring. During this opening movement, the leg spring is increasingly tensioned until the hinged lid 1 has reached its fully open position. If this fully open position is to be designed as a stable end position, locking elements on the hinged lid 1 and on the housing part 2 come into operative connection with one another, holding the hinged lid 1 stably in its fully open position.If such a stable position is not desired for this end position, the hinged cover 1 and the housing part 2 are designed without such locking elements. The subsequent return of the hinged cover 1 to its closed position is reliably achieved by the spring tension stored in the leg spring. Ultimately, the hinged cover 1 returns to its closed position, which is designed to be stable because a sufficiently high preload remains in the spring element 5, which is designed as a leg spring.

[0014] As is particularly evident from Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, two spring arms 3 are formed onto the housing part 2, each of which is provided on the other hand at its free end region with a bearing arrangement 4 for the pivotable mounting of the hinged lid 1. According to the second exemplary embodiment, each bearing arrangement 4 of the two spring arms 3 has a spherical bearing element K for the pivotable mounting of the hinged lid 1. The hinged lid 1 is therefore provided on the one hand with a first bearing receptacle 1a and on the other hand with a second bearing receptacle 1b, each of which is designed like a pan for interaction with the associated spherical bearing element K. In addition, the bearing arrangement 4 present on one spring arm 3 is provided in one piece with a first bearing element 4a designed as a pin.A spring element 5 in the form of a leg spring is mounted on the first bearing element 4a, which is designed as a pin. On the one hand, the spring element 5 is supported on the housing part 2 with its first free leg and on the other hand, its second free leg interacts with the hinged lid 1. Starting from its closed position, the hinged lid 1 can be pivoted more and more into its fully open position against the spring force of the spring element 5 in the form of a leg spring. During this opening movement, the leg spring is increasingly tensioned until the hinged lid 1 has reached its fully open position. If this fully open position is to be designed as a stable end position, locking elements on the hinged lid 1 and on the housing part 2 come into operative connection with one another, holding the hinged lid 1 stably in its fully open position.If such a stable position is not desired for this end position, the hinged cover 1 and the housing part 2 are designed without such locking elements. The subsequent return of the hinged cover 1 to its closed position is reliably achieved by the spring tension stored in the leg spring. Ultimately, the hinged cover 1 returns to its closed position, which is designed to be stable because a sufficiently high preload remains in the spring element 5, which is designed as a leg spring.

[0015] As is particularly evident from Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, two spring arms 3 are formed onto the housing part 2, each of which is provided at its free end region with a bearing arrangement 4 for the pivotable mounting of the hinged lid 1. According to the third exemplary embodiment, the first bearing element 4a and the second bearing element 4b of the two bearing assemblies 4 are each designed like a bore in order to pivotally accommodate an axle 6, made of metal, for example. The hinged lid 1 is in turn pivotally mounted on the two end regions of this axle 6. The hinged lid 1 is therefore provided with a first bearing receptacle 1a and a second bearing receptacle 1b, each of which accommodates an end region of the axle 6 in a pot-like manner. In addition, a spring element 5 designed as a leg spring is mounted on the axle 6, which is supported on the one hand with its first free leg on the housing part 2 and on the other hand with its second free leg interacts with the hinged lid 1.Starting from its closed position, the hinged lid 1 can be pivoted more and more into its fully open position against the spring force of the spring element 5 designed as a leg spring. During this opening movement, the leg spring is increasingly tensioned until the hinged lid 1 has reached its fully open position. If this fully open position is to be designed as a stable end position, locking elements on the hinged lid 1 and the housing part 2 come into operative connection with one another, holding the hinged lid 1 stably in its fully open position. If such a stable position is not desired for this end position, the hinged lid 1 and the housing part 2 are designed without such locking elements. The subsequent return of the hinged lid 1 to its closed position is reliably achieved by the spring tension stored in the leg spring.Finally, the hinged lid 1 returns to its closed position, which is stable because a sufficiently high preload remains in the spring element 5 designed as a leg spring.

[0016] As is particularly evident from Fig. 8 and Fig.As can be seen in Figure 9, two spring arms 3 are formed onto the housing part 2, each of which is provided at its other free end region with a bearing arrangement 4 for the pivotable mounting of the hinged lid 1. According to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the bearing arrangement 4 formed onto one spring arm 3 is provided with a first bearing element 4a designed as a pin, and the bearing arrangement 4 formed onto the other spring arm 3 is also provided with a second bearing element 4b designed as a pin. The hinged lid 1 is therefore provided, on the one hand, with a first bearing receptacle 1a, which is intended to interact with the first bearing element 4a designed as a pin, and, on the other hand, with a second bearing receptacle 1b, which is intended to interact with the second bearing element 4b designed as a pin. In addition, each of the two spring arms has a further pin 4c, which is intended to mount the spring element 5 designed as a bow spring.The spring element 5 is supported on the one hand with its two free legs on the housing part 2 and on the other hand with its central bracket interacts with the hinged lid 1. Starting from its closed position, the hinged lid 1 can be pivoted more and more into its fully open position against the spring force of the spring element 5, which is designed as a bracket spring. During this opening movement, the bracket spring is tensioned more and more until the hinged lid 1 has reached its fully open position. If this fully open position is to be designed as a stable end position, locking elements on the hinged lid 1 and the housing part 2 come into operative connection with one another, holding the hinged lid 1 stably in its fully open position. If such a stable position is not desired for this end position, the hinged lid 1 and the housing part 2 are designed without such locking elements.The subsequent return of the hinged lid 1 to its closed position is reliably achieved by the spring tension stored in the bow spring. Ultimately, the hinged lid 1 returns to its closed position, which is stable because a sufficiently high preload remains in the spring element 5, which is designed as a bow spring.

[0017] The invention is described using concrete embodiments, but there are numerous other possibilities for implementing the invention within the scope of the features shown - in other combinations of features. List of reference symbols 1 hinged lid 1a First inventory 1b Second bearing image 2 Housing part 3 spring arm 4 Bearing arrangement 4a First bearing element 4b Second bearing element 4c Additional cone 5 spring element 6 axis K Spherical bearing element Summary

[0018] A hinged lid is proposed which is pivotably mounted on a housing part of an electrical / electronic installation device and which is subjected to a spring force acting counter to its opening movement by a spring element. To create a hinged lid that is effectively protected from damage even under increased force during operation or the opening process, at least one spring arm is integrally formed on the housing part, which is also provided at its free end with a bearing arrangement for the pivotal mounting of the hinged lid.

Claims

[1] Hinged lid, which is pivotally mounted on a housing part of an electrical / electronic installation device and which is subjected to a spring force acting against its opening movement by a spring element, characterized by that on the one hand at least one spring arm (3) is formed onto the housing part (2), which on the other hand is provided at its free end region with a bearing arrangement (4) for the pivotable mounting of the hinged lid (1), wherein in the event of increased force the spring arms (3) are deflectable so that the hinged lid (1) can be pushed over by a certain amount without damage occurring. [2] Hinged lid according to claim 1, characterized by that at least two spring arms (3) are formed onto the housing part (2), and that at least one of the two spring arms (3) is assigned a spring element (5) which interacts with the hinged lid (1). [3] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized bythat the bearing arrangement (4) of at least one of the two spring arms (3) is provided with a bearing element (4a, 4b) designed as a pin. [4] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the bearing arrangement (4) of at least one of the two spring arms (3) is provided with a bearing element (4a, 4b) designed as a locking pin. [5] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that at least one bearing element (4a, 4b) of the bearing arrangement (4) is designed as a pot-shaped axle holder. [6] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that at least one bearing element (4a, 4b) of the bearing arrangement (4) is designed as a pan-like ball receptacle. [7] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that at least one bearing element (4a, 4b) of the bearing arrangement (4) is spherical. [8] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat at least one spring element (5) interacting with the hinged lid (1) is designed as a coil spring. [9] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that at least one spring element (5) interacting with the hinged lid (1) is designed as a leg spring. [10] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that at least one spring element (5) cooperating with the hinged lid (1) is designed as a bow spring. [11] Hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that at least one spring element (5) cooperating with the hinged lid (1) is designed as a torsion band.

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