FLUSH-MOUNTED SOCKET WITH USB

Description

[0001] The present invention is based on an electrical / electronic device for building installation technology designed according to the preamble of the main claim.

[0002] Such electrical / electronic devices are typically designed as earthed sockets, orientation lights, data connection devices, switching devices, dimmers, and so on, and are intended for connecting electrical consumers and / or controlling connected actuators, such as lighting devices, roller shutter controls, blind controls, heating controls, and so on. Electrical / electronic devices designed as earthed sockets and additionally featuring a USB port are now also known.

[0003] An electrical / electronic device has become known from DE 10 2016 111 957 B4. This electrical / electronic device, designed as a protective contact socket, comprises a central piece surrounded by a cover frame and a base part secured to a support ring. A power supply unit is secured to the base part, which, on the one hand, makes contact with the base part and, on the other hand, is provided for the electrical connection of a functional module. The functional module is assigned to a recess in the central piece.

[0004] Furthermore, EP 2 741 374 B1 discloses an electrical / electronic device for building installation technology, which has a functional assembly embodied as a USB port. In this embodiment, the USB port is attached to a central piece that can be detached from the socket base. To create electrical contact between the USB port attached to the central piece and the base, spring contacts are arranged on the base, against which the connection contacts of the USB port press when the central piece is mounted on the base.

[0005] EP 3 236 540 A1 discloses a power outlet with additional USB ports. The USB ports are attached to a circuit board, which is directly connected to and held by a circuit board associated with a socket part.

[0006] The electrical / electronic devices for building installations described above have a comparatively complex, space-consuming design, making their installation in a standard, standardized installation box challenging. This is especially true when different systems that may be sold in different regions of the world are to be assembled in a modular fashion. Not only can the plug-socket system be designed differently, but the fact that these different systems have different dimensions, especially in terms of depth, is also crucial for installation in an installation box.

[0007] For example, the design shown in EP 2 741 374 B1 with spring contacts in the depth direction is very space-consuming and expensive due to the spring mechanism. Furthermore, the contact pressure is not consistent if the center piece is spaced further away from the base part in a different configuration.

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating an electrical / electronic device which can be provided with at least one additional functional module in a modular manner in a particularly cost-effective and simple manner with compact dimensions.

[0009] This problem is solved by the features specified in the main claim.

[0010] By attaching the functional assembly to the support ring, not only is the base part easily assembled, but above all, the central plate is electrically and mechanically decoupled from the base part. The functional assembly can be connected to the base part at the factory. The central plate is used only as a cover. When designing the central plate, therefore, no consideration needs to be given to the connection of one or more functional assemblies. For this reason, the design freedom when constructing such a central plate is increased. Furthermore, such a central plate can also be designed with a smaller depth. When mounting the central plate on the base part, no additional electrical contact needs to be connected, thus meeting relevant safety requirements particularly easily.Since the functional assembly is connected to the support ring, it can be used immediately after installation without a cover, for example for testing purposes, if no covers or central pieces are yet available or installed in a new building.

[0011] Occasionally, the building wall in which the base section, including the supporting ring, housing, and functional assembly, is fixed is re-wallpapered or plastered. In this case, the center piece is typically removed from the base section to prevent it from becoming dirty and to allow the new wall covering to be applied underneath the center piece and a cover panel held by it. The base section itself usually remains in the wall. The wallpaper or plaster is applied at least up to the supporting ring. If the center piece, possibly including a cover panel arranged between the center piece and the base section, is reconnected to the base section, the center piece is further away from the base section by the thickness of the wallpaper or plaster than was previously the case.In order to create tolerance compensation, the functional assembly preferably engages at least partially in the central piece or in a recess assigned to it. The part of the recess into which the functional assembly engages with its end facing the central piece preferably has only a slightly larger clear width than required by the functional assembly. Any remaining gap between the functional assembly and the recess is therefore small, thus preventing the ingress of contaminants. The material thickness of the central piece at the point of the recess into which the functional assembly engages, at least partially, which is usually a few millimeters, typically 1 - 4 mm, creates tolerance compensation in the direction of the socket depth, which at the same time prevents contaminants from getting between the central piece and the functional assembly.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the recess is widened in a stepped manner toward the functional assembly by forming a shoulder. The functional assembly then engages only in the widened section of this recess in the center piece. The step prevents the functional assembly from penetrating further into the recess. This also creates a uniform, even surface for the user viewing the center piece from the side facing away from the functional assembly, so that any unevenness does not make it obvious to them that the functional assembly has been offset backwards due to tolerance compensation after wallpapering or plastering.

[0013] In order to accommodate and tolerate different socket formats and the associated different installation depths and / or arrangements of the base part relative to the support ring held in a building wall, the electrical circuit board of the functional assembly is provided with several plug pins for contacting a power supply unit associated with the base part. These plug pins interact with a plug socket strip to form contact. The electrical contact between the plug socket strip and the plug pins is achieved by a radial enclosure of each plug pin in a socket of the socket strip. This measure ensures consistently good electrical contact, even when the plug pins are positioned with different depths of engagement in the sockets.For example, the socket connector, typically located directly on the power supply unit, can also be designed to allow the connector pins to extend through the socket connector and, if applicable, the power supply unit. This measure provides length compensation between the at least one functional module mounted on the support ring and the power supply unit, so that, despite the different depths of different base parts, a functional module mounted on the support ring is electrically contacted as intended. Furthermore, this electrical / electronic device can be designed for use even in very confined spaces.

[0014] A particularly advantageous feature of an electrical / electronic device designed in this way is that a coordinated length and depth ratio between the connector pins of the functional module and the socket strip of the power supply unit makes it possible to implement various socket designs (Schuko socket, French / Belgian system) when using a uniformly designed power supply unit and, depending on the design, when using functional modules that are uniformly designed depending on the configuration. This design advantageously allows for a height adjustment of approximately three millimeters between the power supply unit and the functional module.

[0015] Furthermore, different functional modules and power supply units can be easily combined. Only the arrangement of the socket strip and the connector pins in the transverse plane relative to their longitudinal extension must be uniform; however, the connector pins can vary in length within a certain tolerance range. The same applies to the arrangement of the socket strip on the power supply unit in the longitudinal extension of the connector pins.

[0016] In order to supply the power supply unit with mains voltage, a preferred embodiment provides for the use of angled contact rails which are in operative contact connection with the power supply unit on the one hand and with the mains voltage connected to the socket on the other. The contact rails are preferably divided into three sections, which are typically arranged at opposite angles to one another. The middle section typically extends transversely to the installation depth of the socket. The operative contact connection is realized at least in sections with the end sections of the contact rails. In addition, it is provided that an insulator, such as a wall made of electrically non-conductive material, for example provided by a housing of the power supply unit, is provided between the section of the contact rails connecting the two end sections and the power supply unit.In this way, a safety distance is ensured between the mains voltage and the power supply unit, so that the required air and creepage distances are long enough to meet safety regulations, but at the same time the required installation space in terms of depth is significantly reduced.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the power supply unit can be provided with a housing. To ensure a uniformly flat finish for the housing top, the contact rails can be provided with their central sections recessed, at least in sections, in the housing top. In this way, the contact rails can be securely held to the housing top by a positive fit, which simplifies assembly.

[0018] Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous that the housing of the functional module, which is attached to the support ring, can be designed to accommodate differently designed functional modules. The functional modules can advantageously have different designs (e.g., a USB Type-A port and / or a USB Type-C port).

[0019] Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims. The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to three exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1: shows a schematic diagram of an electrical / electronic device designed as an electrical plug-in device according to the first exemplary embodiment, equipped with a functional module having a connection unit (USB connection type A), in a spatial, exploded view; Fig. 2: shows a schematic diagram of the Figure 1electrical / electronic device, in assembly, without cover frame and without central piece; Fig. 3: in principle the Figure 1 functional module, spatially, in an enlarged view; Fig. 4: schematically shows a section of the base part and the power supply unit in the area of ​​a contact rail, in section, in an enlarged view; Fig. 5: schematically shows an electrical / electronic device designed as an electrical plug-in device according to the second exemplary embodiment, equipped with a functional module having two connection units (USB connections Type-A and Type-C), spatially, in an exploded view; Fig. 6: schematically shows the according Figure 5 electrical / electronic device, in assembly, without cover frame and without central piece; Fig. 7: in principle the Figure 5functional module, spatially, in an enlarged view; Fig. 8: schematically an electrical / electronic device designed as an electrical plug-in device according to the third exemplary embodiment, equipped with a functional module having a connection unit (USB connection type-C), spatially, in an exploded view; Fig. 9: schematically the Figure 8 electrical / electronic device, in assembly, without cover frame and without central piece; Fig. 10: in principle the Figure 8 functional module, spatially, in an enlarged view; Fig. 11: principle of the housing of the functional module, which is used uniformly in all embodiments, spatially, in an enlarged view; Fig. 12: a rear view of a central piece according to the embodiment according to Figure 5 ; Fig. 13a, 13b: Central piece and functional assembly shown in section, interacting.

[0020] As can be seen from the drawings, such an electrical / electronic device for building installation technology essentially consists of a central piece 2 surrounded by a cover frame 1 and a base part 4 fixed to a support ring 3, wherein a voltage supply unit 5 can be fixed to the base part 4, which on the one hand comes into contact with the base part 4 and on the other hand is provided for the electrical connection of at least one functional module 6, wherein the functional module 6 with its connection unit 11 is assigned to a recess 7 present in the central piece 2.The at least one functional assembly 6 has at least one electrical circuit board 8, which is received in a housing 9 fixed to the support ring 3, wherein the at least one electrical circuit board 8 is equipped with a plurality of plug pins 10 at its first end region facing the power supply unit 5 for contacting the power supply unit 5, which plug pins interact in a contact-making manner with a socket strip 12 which is a component of the power supply unit 5, wherein the at least one electrical circuit board 8 is equipped with the at least one electrical connection unit 11 at its second end region assigned to the recess 7 of the central piece 2.

[0021] As can also be seen from the figures, the connector pins 10 of the functional modules 6 are combined to form a connector pin strip. The electrical connection units 11 are each designed as a USB port, with different USB port types being used, namely the USB Type-A port and the USB Type-C port. The housing 9 of the functional modules 6 has locking elements 13, with at least one of the locking elements 13 being operatively connected to the associated electrical circuit board 8 to secure its position. For this purpose, at least one bore 18 is made in the circuit board 8 at a corresponding location, into which bore the associated locking element 13 engages. The support ring 3 of the base part 4 is provided on its inner contour with a receiving area 14, which serves to secure the housing 9 of the associated functional module 6.For this purpose, the inner contour of the support ring 3 has notches dimensionally adapted to the housing 9. These notches enable, for example, the persons responsible for assembly to lock the housing 9 onto the support ring 3. This locking fastening of the housing 9 to the support ring 3 is achieved by a simple plug-in and twisting movement. Once the housing 9 has been secured to the support ring 3, the associated functional module 6 is installed by simply plugging this functional module 6 into the interior of the housing 9. During the plug-in process, the connector pins 10 of the functional module 6 come into contact with the socket strip 12 of the power supply unit 5. The connector pins 10 and the socket strip 12 are designed in such a way that a height compensation of several millimeters between the functional module 6 and the power supply unit 5 is possible.This is necessary so that differently designed electrical / electronic devices (Schuko socket, socket with earth pin, for example French / Belgian system, and so on) can be equipped with such a functional module 6 in a modular manner without requiring changes to the power supply unit 5.

[0022] As can be seen in particular from the Figures 1 to 3 As can be seen, the housing 9 is equipped with a functional module 6, the circuit board 8 of which has a single connection unit 11. This connection unit 11 is designed as a USB Type-A connector in the first embodiment. The electrical circuit board 8 used in the first embodiment has a single bore 18, into which the corresponding locking element 13 of the housing 9 engages to secure its position. The electrical / electronic device according to the first embodiment is designed as a Schuko socket.

[0023] As can be seen in particular from the Figures 1 , 4 , 5 and 8As can be seen, there are two guide channels 19 on the outside of the upper housing part 21 of the power supply unit 5, in which the two contact rails 15 are located in a space-saving manner. The contacting of the base part 4 and the power supply unit 5 is achieved by means of two contact rails 15, which are each connected on the one hand to a connection terminal 16 of the base part 4 and on the other hand to a socket 17 of the power supply unit 5. As already mentioned, each of the two contact rails 15 is accommodated in an associated guide channel 19 in a space-saving manner. After the supply board 20 of the power supply unit 5 has been installed in the upper housing part 21, a housing cover 22 is finally secured to the upper housing part 21 in a snap-in manner so that the interior of the power supply unit 5 is functionally closed.The contact rails 15 are made of a non-ferrous metal (e.g., brass) and are provided with barbs on the base side to prevent them from being removed from the base part 4 without damaging it. As already mentioned, a coordinated length and insertion depth ratio between the plug pins 10 of the printed circuit board 8 and the socket strip 12 of the power board 20 achieves a height adjustment of several millimeters. This allows the functional module 6, as already mentioned, to be used in a modular manner for different electrical / electronic devices (Schuko socket, socket with earth pin, e.g., French / Belgian system, and so on) without requiring any modifications to the power supply unit 5. This is necessary because the socket with earth pin (French / Belgian system) is three millimeters flatter than the Schuko socket.

[0024] As can be seen in particular from the Figures 5 to 7As can be seen, the housing 9 is equipped with a functional module 6, the printed circuit board 8 of which has two connection units 11. One of the two connection units 11 is designed as a USB Type-A port in the second embodiment, and the other of the two connection units 11 is designed as a USB Type-C port in the second embodiment. The electrical circuit board 8 used in the second embodiment has two bores 18 into which the corresponding locking elements 13 of the housing 9 engage to secure the position. The electrical / electronic device according to the second embodiment is designed as a Schuko socket. In the second embodiment, the printed circuit board 8 consists of two main circuit board areas 8a, 8b, which are functionally connected to one another by means of an intermediate circuit board area 8c. Only the main circuit board area 8a is equipped with the connector pins 10.

[0025] As can be seen in particular from the Figures 8 to 10 As can be seen, the housing 9 is equipped with a functional module 6, the circuit board 8 of which has a single connection unit 11. This connection unit 11 is designed as a USB Type-C connector in the third exemplary embodiment. The electrical circuit board 8 used in the third exemplary embodiment has a single bore 18, into which the corresponding locking element 13 of the housing 9 engages to secure its position. The electrical / electronic device according to the third exemplary embodiment is designed as a socket with an earth pin (French / Belgian system).

[0026] As is particularly evident from Figure 11As can be seen, the housing 9 of the functional assembly 6 for all embodiments consists of two main housing sections 9a, 9b, which are integrally connected to one another by means of an intermediate housing section 9c. A locking element 13 is formed on each of the main housing sections 9a and 9b, which engages the printed circuit board 8 to be inserted in a locking manner to secure its position.

[0027] Figure 12 shows the back of a central piece 2 according to the embodiment according to Figure 5 It can be seen that the recess 7 is stepped, so that it widens toward the viewer of the figure. The functional assembly 6 engages in this recess 7 with its connection unit 11.

[0028] The engagement of the connection unit 11 of the functional module 6 in the recess 7 is in the Figures 13a and 13bshown. In the section of the central piece 2, it can be seen that the recess 7 is stepped and widens towards the connecting unit 11 or the functional assembly 6. The step has only a small radius in its transition. The connecting unit 11 engages in this section with the larger cross-sectional area of ​​the recess 7. The connecting unit 11 comprises outwardly angled webs 23, which in Figure 13a rest on the step of recess 7.

[0029] In Figure 13ba state is shown in which the central piece 2 has moved away from the base part 4 as part of a tolerance compensation. The web 23 of the connection unit 11 is no longer in contact with the step of the recess 7. The spacing gap in the direction of the installation depth is clearly visible. Nevertheless, the distance between the web 23 and the radial shape of the recess 7 is small enough in three-dimensional space that contaminants cannot penetrate between them and enter the interior of the socket. In this way, a tolerance compensation in the longitudinal extension of the functional assembly 6 is created, by means of which the central piece can be moved away from the functional assembly 6 fixed to the support ring 3 by several millimeters.

[0030] Due to the stepped shape of the recess 7, only the front part of the recess 7, which has a smaller cross-sectional area, is visible to the user.

[0031] A difference between the two states according to Figures 13a and 13b is not recognizable by the user.

[0032] In a simple manner, an electrical / electronic device is thus realized which can be provided with at least one additional functional module 6 in a particularly cost-effective and simple manner with compact dimensions, wherein the housing 9 of the functional module 6 can advantageously be fixed to the support ring 3 in a locking manner.Advantageously, in an electrical / electronic device designed in this way, a coordinated length and depth ratio between the plug pins 10, the functional module 6, and the socket strip 12 of the power supply unit 5 creates the possibility of implementing various socket designs (Schuko socket, French / Belgian system) when using a uniformly designed power supply unit 5 and using uniformly designed functional modules 6 according to the present embodiment (one connection unit 11 or two connection units 11). Advantageously, such a design achieves height compensation of several millimeters between the power supply unit 5 and the functional module 6. The housing 9 of the functional module 6 is advantageously designed to accommodate differently designed functional modules 6.The functional modules 6 can have different designs (for example, one USB Type-A port and / or one USB Type-C port or two USB Type-A ports or two USB Type-C ports).

[0033] The proposed combination of the power strip and socket system, especially in conjunction with the aforementioned recess in the center piece into which the functional module engages, allows for more effective use of the overall installation space. Furthermore, modularity in the socket design is ensured. List of reference symbols:

[0034] 1Cover frame 2Central piece 3Support ring 4Base part 5Power supply unit 6Functional assembly 7Recess 8Electrical circuit board 8a, 8bMain circuit board areas 8cIntermediate circuit board area 9Housing 9a, 9bMain casing areas 9cIntermediate casing area 10Connector pins 11Connection unit 12Socket strip 13Locking element 14Receiving area 15Contact rail 16Connection terminal 17Socket 18Hole 19Guide channels 20Supply board 21Housing top section 22Housing cover 23Bridge

Claims

1. An electrical / electronic device for building installation technology, having a central piece (2) surrounded by a cover frame (1) and a base part (4) fixed to a supporting ring (3), wherein a voltage supply unit (5) is fixed to the base part (4), which unit comes into operative connection with the base part (4) in a contacting manner on the one hand and is provided on the other hand for the electrical connection of at least one functional assembly (6), wherein the functional assembly (6) is assigned to a recess (7) present in the central piece (2), wherein the at least one functional assembly (6) has at least one electrical printed circuit board (8) and is equipped with at least one electrical connection unit (11) at its second end region assigned to the recess (7) of the central piece (2), wherein the at least one electrical printed circuit board (8) of the functional assembly (6) is equipped, for contacting the voltage supply unit (5) at its first end region facing the voltage supply unit (5), with a plurality of plug pins (10) which interact in a contacting manner with a socket strip (12) which is a component of the voltage supply unit (5), characterized in that the functional assembly (6) is received by a housing (9) fixed to the supporting ring (3), so that the functional assembly (6) is fixed to the supporting ring (3).

2. The electrical / electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one electrical printed circuit board (8) has at least two printed circuit board regions (8a, 8b) which are each equipped with at least one electrical connection unit (11).

3. The electrical / electronic device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of plug pins (10) are combined to form a plug pin strip.

4. The electrical / electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one electrical connection unit (11) is designed as a USB connection.

5. The electrical / electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing (9) fixed to the supporting ring (3) has at least two housing regions (9a, 9b) which are connected to one another and are provided for receiving the functional assembly (6).

6. The electrical / electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (9) has at least one latching element (13) which comes into operative connection in a position-securing manner with the at least one electrical printed circuit board (8) of the functional assembly (6).

7. The electrical / electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the supporting ring (3) has on its inner contour at least one receiving region (14) for fixing the housing (9) of the functional assembly (6).

8. The electrical / electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the functional assembly (6) is equipped with at least one lighting means.

9. The electrical / electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the contacting of the base part (4) and voltage supply unit (5) is implemented by means of two contact rails (15) which are connected, on the one hand, to a respective connecting terminal (16) of the base part (4) and, on the other hand, to a respective socket (17) of the voltage supply unit (5).