Encapsulation housing for a connected plug

Abstract

The present invention relates to an encapsulation housing (14) for a connected plug (12) comprising first and second half-shells (28, 30) that are shaped so that, when the encapsulation housing (14) is in the mounted position on the connected plug (12), the half-shells (28, 30) each cover opposite sides of the connected plug (12), the half-shells (28, 30) forming a front opening (36) for the passage of a male connector (24) and at least one secondary opening (40) for the passage of a cable (21) connected to a male plug (18). The encapsulation housing (14) also comprises a locking device (42) that allows the two half-shells (28, 30) to be rigidly secured together.

Description

[0001] TITLE: ENCAPSULATION BOX FOR A CONNECTED SOCKET

[0002] Technical field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a housing for a connected socket. Technical background

[0004] Smart plugs are already known and are used, for example, for home automation functions. A smart plug can be plugged into a standard power outlet, such as a wall socket, and allows you to connect an electrical device so that it can be controlled remotely by turning the power supply through the smart plug on or off.

[0005] A connected socket, for example, includes a wireless communication module such as a WiFi or Bluetooth module which allows you to control the power supply to the connected socket using a computer, tablet or telephone.

[0006] When this connected socket is used to connect a device with a screen such as a television or a games console, it allows certain parameters related to the use of this device to be monitored, for example the time spent by a user watching television or playing on the games console.

[0007] However, the user can easily distort the monitoring settings by unplugging the device's power plug from the connected outlet and plugging the device directly into a power outlet, bypassing the connected outlet.

[0008] There is therefore a need for a solution to detect such an operation or to dissuade the user from performing such an operation. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention proposes a housing for encapsulating a connected socket comprising, in a main longitudinal direction, at the front a male connector intended to be plugged into a mains socket, and at the rear a female connector intended to receive a male socket belonging to an electrical appliance, characterized in that it comprises:

[0010] - a first and a second half-shell which are shaped so that, when the encapsulation box is in the mounted position on the connected socket, the half-shells each envelop an opposite side of the connected socket, the half-shells forming a front opening for the passage of the male connector and at least one secondary opening for the passage of a cable connected to the male socket,

[0011] - at least one locking device which comprises a locked state which allows the two half-shells to be secured together in the mounted position and an unlocked state which allows the two half-shells to be separated, the locking device being arranged in the half-shells in such a way that it is necessary to disconnect the male connector from the mains socket for the locking device to be able to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0012] Thanks to the invention, the user is required to unplug the connected plug if he wishes to change the connection to the appliance's mains socket. The proposed solution is simple and reliable, requiring no electronic components or complex mechanisms.

[0013] According to other characteristics of the invention:

[0014] - access to the locking device is located in a front face of the encapsulation box;

[0015] - at least one half-shell has a front notch delimiting part of the front opening and at least one half-shell has a rear notch delimiting the secondary opening;

[0016] - the locking device comprises a longitudinal rod which is inserted entirely into a housing passing through the two half-shells, the housing comprising a single external opening located on a front face of the encapsulation housing;

[0017] - the housing is arranged in a first wall portion arranged on the first half-shell and at least a second wall portion arranged on the second half-shell; - the housing comprises a locking mechanism provided to retain the longitudinal rod in its housing in the locked position;

[0018] - the longitudinal rod comprises at its front end a stop element which is designed to cooperate with a stop surface provided on the encapsulation housing so as to retain the longitudinal rod in the housing in the mounted position of the encapsulation housing;

[0019] - the longitudinal rod has a length at least equal to the longitudinal travel required to disconnect the male connector from the mains socket;

[0020] - the housing comprises at least one hinge which connects the two half-shells together in a pivoting manner around a longitudinal pivot axis, the locking device being arranged on the side opposite the hinge.

[0021] The invention also provides a housing assembly comprising a connected socket encapsulated in an encapsulation housing according to one of the preceding characteristics.

[0022] According to an alternative embodiment of the housing assembly, the connected socket is fixed to one of the two half-shells. According to another alternative embodiment of the housing assembly, the body of the connected socket is made in one piece with one of the two half-shells, for example by 3D printing, or by molding, or by machining.

[0023] Brief description of the figures

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0025] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a housing assembly including an encapsulation housing according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0026] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the housing assembly of Figure 1 when the connected plug is encapsulated with the male plug in the encapsulating housing; Figure 3 is a longitudinal axial sectional view showing schematically the encapsulating housing in the mounted position when the connected plug is plugged into the mains socket;

[0027] Figure 4 is a longitudinal axial sectional view similar to that of Figure 3 which schematically represents the encapsulation housing in the disassembled position, when the connected plug is disconnected from the mains socket, just before the half-shells constituting the encapsulation housing are disassembled from each other;

[0028] Figure 5 is a perspective view schematically showing the encapsulation housing of Figure 1 in the disassembled position;

[0029] Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 5 which schematically represents a second embodiment of the encapsulation housing comprising a hinge;

[0030] Figure 7 is a top view showing the encapsulating housing of Figure 6 in the open position with the two half-shells pivoted relative to each other about the hinge;

[0031] Figure 8 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 5 which schematically represents a third embodiment of the encapsulation housing;

[0032] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the encapsulation housing of Figure 8 in the closed position;

[0033] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the encapsulation package.

[0034] Detailed description of the invention

[0035] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0036] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a housing assembly 10 comprising a connected socket 12 and an encapsulation housing 14 in accordance with the teachings of the invention. This housing assembly 10 is shown in a configuration of use where the connected socket 12 is connected to a mains socket 16, here a wall socket, and is used for connecting a male plug 18 connected to an electrical appliance 20, for example a games console or a television, by a cable 21.

[0037] In the remainder of the description, a front-to-rear orientation will be used, without limitation, along a main longitudinal direction A1 which corresponds to the direction of connection of the connected socket 12 and the mains socket 18.

[0038] The connected socket 12 here comprises a main body 22 which is extended at the front by a male connector 24 and which is provided at the rear with a female connector 26. The male connector 24 is intended to be connected to the mains socket 16 which is a female socket. The female connector 26 is intended to receive the male plugs of the mains socket 18 of the electrical appliance 20.

[0039] According to the example shown here, the main body 22 has a circular cylindrical shape. Of course, it could also be parallelepipedal or of another shape.

[0040] The encapsulation housing 14 is here formed of a first half-shell 28 and a second half-shell 30 which are intended to be assembled against each other in a mounted position, illustrated in FIG. 2, so as to be able to enclose the connected socket 12 inside a cavity 32 delimited by the walls of the half-shells 28, 30.

[0041] According to the first embodiment shown in particular in Figures 1 to 5, each half-shell 28, 30 has a front notch 34 which delimits, with the opposite half-shell 28, 30, a front opening 36 for the passage of the male connector 24 towards the outside of the encapsulation housing 14, and a rear notch 38 which delimits, with the opposite half-shell 28, 30, a secondary opening 40, here located at the rear of the encapsulation housing 14, for the passage of a cable 21 connecting the mains socket 18 to the device 20.

[0042] According to an alternative embodiment, the notches 34, 38 could be made on a single half-shell 28, 30.

[0043] The two half-shells 28, 30 are designed to be fitted into one another. They may include complementary shapes 41 to facilitate fitting and assembly, for example tabs or clipping elements.

[0044] It is noted that the connected socket 12 can be fixed to one of the half-shells 28, 30, for example by gluing, screwing, or interlocking. This facilitates the handling of the encapsulation housing 14 by the user and minimizes the number of non-integral parts. The main body 22 of the connected socket 12 could also be made in a single piece, for example by 3D printing, by machining on a numerically controlled machine, by polymer casting, by rotational molding, by vacuum molding, by injection molding, spinning or by blow molding, with one of the half-shells 28, 30.

[0045] Advantageously, the encapsulation housing 14 comprises at least one locking device 42 which comprises a locked state, illustrated in particular by FIGS. 2 and 3, in which it secures the two half-shells 28, 30 together, in the mounted position, and an unlocked state, illustrated in particular by FIGS. 1 and 4, which makes it possible to separate the two half-shells 28, 30.

[0046] The locking device 42 is arranged in the half-shells 28, 30 in such a way that it is necessary to disconnect the male connector 24 from the mains socket 16 so that the locking device 42 can move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0047] Considering the first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 to 5, the locking device 42 comprises a removable connecting element consisting here of two longitudinal rods 44 intended to be inserted entirely into two housings 46 passing through the two half-shells 28, 30.

[0048] More particularly, the first half-shell 28 comprises, on each side, a first wall portion 48 which is provided with a first longitudinal bore 50 capable of receiving a first section of the associated longitudinal rod 44. The second half-shell 30 comprises a second wall portion 52 which is provided with a second longitudinal bore 54 capable of receiving a second section of the associated longitudinal rod 44. In the locked position of the encapsulation housing 14, the two bores 50, 54 are aligned longitudinally on each side to form the housing 46 and allow the insertion of the associated longitudinal rod 44 through the two wall portions 48, 52, passing through an external opening 56 located on a front face of the encapsulation housing 14.

[0049] Advantageously, each longitudinal rod 44 comprises at its front axial end a stop element 58, for example a protrusion or flat head, which is provided to cooperate with a stop surface 60 provided on the encapsulation housing 14 so as to retain the longitudinal rod 44 in the associated housing 46 in the mounted position of the encapsulation housing 14.

[0050] Preferably, each longitudinal rod 44 has a length at least equal to the longitudinal travel required to disconnect the male connector 24 from the mains socket 16. Each longitudinal rod 44 has a length preferably between 0.5 cm and 5 cm. This length is of course adapted to the type of male connector 24 and the type of mains socket 16 used, depending on whether the standard is French, or from the United Kingdom, or from another country.

[0051] The operation of the housing assembly 10 with the encapsulating housing 14 according to the invention is now described.

[0052] From the disassembled position, which is illustrated in particular by FIG. 1, the male plug 18 is plugged into the female connector 26 of the connected socket 12.

[0053] The half-shells 28, 30 are then assembled against each other so as to envelop the connected socket 12 and the male socket 18, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Then the two longitudinal rods 44 are inserted longitudinally into the two associated housings 46, passing through the openings 56 located on the front face, until they come into abutment against the abutment surfaces 60, which makes the two half-shells 28, 30 completely integral with each other. The encapsulation housing 14 is then in a mounted position.

[0054] From this mounted position, the housing assembly 10, comprising the male plug 18 plugged into the connected socket 12, and comprising the encapsulating housing 14 enveloping the male plug 18 and the connected socket 12, a user can then plug the male connector 24 of the connected socket 12 into the mains socket 16, as illustrated by Figures 2 and 3.

[0055] From the mounted position illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, disconnecting the male plug 18 from the connected socket 12 first requires disconnecting the connected plug 12 from the mains socket 16 to provide access to the end of the longitudinal rods 44 and to allow disassembly of the encapsulation box 14 by removing the longitudinal rods 44 from their housings 46. Thus, any disconnection operation of this type can be detected via the network which communicates with the connected socket 12.

[0056] In Figures 6 and 7, a second embodiment of the encapsulation box 14 is shown in which one of the sides of each half-shell 28, 30 is connected to the other half-shell 28, 30 by a hinge 62. The other side comprises, as for the first embodiment, a first wall portion 48 and a second wall portion 52 capable of being connected by a longitudinal rod 44.

[0057] The hinge 62 here comprises two pierced arms 64 arranged on the first half-shell 28, a pierced central tongue 66 intended to be received longitudinally between the two pierced arms 64, and a longitudinal pin 68 which is received in the holes of the two pierced arms 64 and of the pierced central tongue 66 to form a pivot axis A2. The pin is for example force-mounted and is not intended to be removable.

[0058] It is noted that the second embodiment also illustrates a second embodiment of the secondary opening 40 in which the rear notch 38 of the first half-shell 28 has a different shape from the rear notch 38 of the second half-shell 30. In this exemplary embodiment, one of the rear notches 38 has a concave semicircular profile and the other rear notch 38 has the shape of a transverse slot opening onto a wall having a semicircular profile complementary to that of the opposite rear notch 38.

[0059] The operation of the encapsulation box 14 according to this second embodiment is generally the same as for the first embodiment. It differs therefrom by the fact that the two half-shells 28, 30 remain assembled by the hinge 62 in the disassembled position, and by the fact that it is sufficient to remove a single longitudinal rod 44 to be able to open the encapsulation box 14 in order to give access to the male plug 18 and allow it to be disconnected from the connected plug 12.

[0060] In Figures 8 and 9, a third embodiment of the encapsulation box 14 according to the invention is shown which comprises a lateral notch 70 intended to make the encapsulation box 14 compatible with a male plug 18 of the angled type, that is to say where the cable 21 exits at 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal connection direction A1 of the male plug 18. The lateral notch 70 thus makes it possible to form another secondary opening 40, called lateral opening 71, for the passage of the cable 21.

[0061] The principle of the encapsulation box 14 is here similar to that described for the second embodiment of figures 6 and 7, with the hinge system 62. We will therefore only describe here the technical differences compared to the second embodiment.

[0062] According to the embodiment, the lateral notch 70 extends over two faces of the second half-shell 30 starting from a rim 72 contiguous to the opposite rim of the first half-shell 28. It is noted that the lateral notch 70 here complements the rear notch 38, which allows the encapsulation box 14 to be able to receive indifferently an angled male plug 18, as illustrated by FIG. 9, and a straight male plug 18, as illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0063] According to this third embodiment, the second half-shell 30 is provided with a locking mechanism 74 intended to retain the longitudinal rod 44 in its housing 46 when the encapsulation housing 14 is handled. More precisely, the second half-shell 30 comprises a groove 76 which opens into the rim 72 and into which a lock 78 is inserted.

[0064] The lock 78 is designed to slide in the groove 76 between an unlocked position, illustrated in FIG. 8, and a locked position, illustrated in FIG. 9. In the locked position, the lock 78 closes the end of the housing 46 so as to prevent the longitudinal rod 44 from coming out therefrom. The unlocked position frees access to the housing 46, which allows the longitudinal rod 44 to come out freely therefrom or to be inserted therein. Since the groove 76 opens into the rim 72, it is easy to insert the lock 78 therefrom from the outside. Of course, the locking device 74 could take other forms.

[0065] Figure 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the encapsulation housing 14. According to this embodiment, the encapsulation housing 14 further comprises a return means which tends to move the longitudinal rod 44 out of the housing 46. In particular, the return means may be a helical spring 80 comprising a first end bearing on an external face of the encapsulation housing 14 and a second end bearing against a head of the longitudinal rod 44.

[0066] As long as the male connector 24 is connected to the mains socket 16, the longitudinal rod 44 is held in the housing 46 because it is in abutment against a face of the mains socket or against a face of a wall in which the mains socket is embedded. The return means is then under tension, in particular the spring 80 is at least partially compressed. The return force exerted by the return means is much less than the force necessary to extract the male connector 24 from the mains socket 16. Thus, the return means does not risk involuntarily disconnecting the male connector 24 from the mains socket 16.

[0067] Such a return means facilitates the handling of the encapsulation housing 14 since it allows easier access to the longitudinal axis 44 as soon as the male connector 24 is disconnected from the mains socket 16. Indeed, as soon as the male connector 24 is disconnected from the mains socket 16, at least a portion of the longitudinal axis 44 emerges from the housing 46 under the effect of the return means, which makes it easier to grip. Such a return means is compatible with the various embodiments previously described, in particular with the embodiments where the encapsulation housing 14 comprises two longitudinal axes 44.

[0068] According to an alternative embodiment (not shown), the locking device 42 could be configured so as to directly lock the second half-shell 30 against the first half-shell 28, in the manner of a lock or a latch, without the need to use a longitudinal rod 44. Such a locking device 42 would for example comprise a hook pivotally mounted on the second half-shell 30 so as to hook onto a surface of the first half-shell 28 in the locking position. Such a locking device 42 could be controlled by a push button or a tool such as a screwdriver, accessible only from the front face of the encapsulating housing 14, so as to always force the user to unplug the housing assembly 10 in order to be able to unplug the male plug 18.

[0069] The connectors and sockets shown in the figures correspond here to a standard socket format as used in France for connection to wall sockets supplied with a voltage of 220V. Of course, the invention applies in the same way to sockets of different formats, for example those used in the United Kingdom or the United States. The wall socket may in particular be a socket embedded in a wall, that is to say that the sockets of the wall socket extend inside the wall in which the wall socket is embedded.

[0070] Alternatively, the invention may also be applied to any other mains socket, in particular a power strip or a female socket of an electrical extension cord. For certain cases, an adapter (not shown) may be provided to be interposed between the male socket 24 and the mains socket 16. Such an adapter may comprise a female socket intended to cooperate with the male socket 24 and a male socket electrically connected to the female socket of the adapter, the male socket being intended to cooperate with the mains socket 16. The adapter further comprises a stop surface intended to form a stop for the longitudinal rod 44 to prevent the locking device from being unlocked. Such an adapter could be supplied with the encapsulation box 14 in the form of a kit.

[0071] The connected socket 12 is configured to allow remote control of the electrical appliance 20 to which it is connected via a computer communication protocol. The communication protocol may be, for example, a TCP / IP, MQTT, SMTP, http, FTP, or PPP protocol. The connected socket can thus be controlled remotely using a mobile application or an online interface via said computer communication protocol. The connected socket can thus be compatible with a wide range of operating systems such as iOS, Android, and Windows. This application or interface allows a user to define times for which the connected socket is switched on, and times for which the connected socket is switched off. When the connected socket is switched on, it allows an electric current to pass between its male connector 24 and its female connector 26.Conversely, when the connected socket is switched off, it no longer allows any electrical current to pass between its male connector 24 and its female connector 26. The connected socket therefore makes it possible to control the power supply to the electrical device(s) connected to its female connector 26. In addition, said application or interface can be configured to notify a user in the event of the connected socket being disconnected.

[0072] The connected socket 12 may include a means of connecting to the Internet. In particular, the connected socket 12 may include means of connecting to a local Wi-Fi network to enable wireless communication with other connected devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers.

[0073] The smart plug also includes a means of power supply. In particular, the smart plug can be supplied with electrical energy by the mains socket to which it is connected. The smart plug can also be configured to provide additional features such as monitoring energy consumption, programming multiple scenarios, and notifying you of surges or overheating. The smart plug can include safety features to prevent short circuits and surges. The smart plug can be designed with a compact design to easily fit into any standard wall socket without blocking adjacent sockets.

[0074] LEGEND housing assembly connected socket encapsulation housing mains socket male socket electrical appliance cable main body male connector female connector first half-shell second half-shell cavity front notch front opening rear notch secondary opening complementary shapes locking device longitudinal rod housing first wall portion first drilling second wall portion second drilling external opening stop element stop surface hinge drilled arm drilled central tab longitudinal pin lateral notch 71: lateral opening

[0075] 72: ledge

[0076] 74: locking mechanism

[0077] 76: groove

[0078] 78: lock

[0079] 80: spring

[0080] A1: main longitudinal direction

[0081] A2: longitudinal pivot axis.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Encapsulation housing (14) for a connected plug (12) comprising, along a main longitudinal direction (A1), at the front a male connector (24) intended to be plugged into a mains socket (16), and at the rear a female connector (26) intended to receive a male plug (18) belonging to an electrical appliance (20), characterized in that it comprises: - a first and a second half-shell (28, 30) which are shaped so that, when the encapsulation housing (14) is in the mounted position on the connected socket (12), the half-shells (28, 30) each enclose an opposite side of the connected socket (12), the half-shells (28, 30) forming a front opening (36) for the passage of the male connector (24) and at least one secondary opening (40) for the passage of a cable (21) connected to the male socket (18), - at least one locking device (42) which includes a locked state which allows the two half-shells (28, 30) to be joined together in the mounted position and an unlocked state which allows the two half-shells (28, 30) to be separated, the locking device (42) being arranged in the half-shells (28, 30) in such a way that it is necessary to unplug the male connector (24) from the mains socket (16) in order for the locking device (42) to be able to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

2. Encapsulation housing (14) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that access to the locking device (42) is located in a front face of the encapsulation housing (14).

3. Encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one half-shell (28, 30) has a front notch (34) delimiting a part of the front opening (36).

4. Encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one A half-shell (28, 30) has a rear notch (38) defining the secondary opening (40). An encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one half-shell (28, 30) has a lateral notch (70) defining the secondary opening (40), the lateral notch being intended to make the encapsulation housing (14) compatible with an angled male plug (18). An encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (42) comprises a longitudinal rod (44) that is fully inserted into a housing (46) passing through both half-shells (28, 30), the housing (46) having a single external opening (56) located on a front face of the encapsulation housing (14).An encapsulation housing (14) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the housing (46) is provided in a first portion of a wall (48) arranged on the first half-shell (28) and at least a second portion of a wall (52) arranged on the second half-shell (30). An encapsulation housing (14) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a locking mechanism (74) provided for retaining the longitudinal rod (44) in its housing (46) in the locked position. An encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the longitudinal rod (44) has at its front end a stop element (58) which is provided for cooperating with a stop surface (60) provided on the encapsulation housing (14) so ​​as to retain the longitudinal rod (44) in the housing (46) in the mounted position of the encapsulation housing (14).Encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the longitudinal rod (44) has a length at less than or equal to the longitudinal stroke required to disconnect the male connector (24) from the mains socket (16). Encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a return means, in particular a spring (80), which tends to move the longitudinal rod (44) out of the housing (46). Encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one hinge (62) which pivotally connects the two half-shells (28, 30) about a longitudinal pivot axis (A2), the locking device (42) being arranged on the side opposite the hinge (62). Housing assembly (10) comprising a connected socket (12) encapsulated in an encapsulation housing (14) according to any one of the preceding claims.A housing assembly (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connected plug (12) is fixed to one of the two half-shells (28, 30). A housing assembly (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that the body of the connected plug (12) is made in one piece with one of the two half-shells (28, 30), for example by 3D printing, or by molding, or by machining.

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