WALL-MOUNTED SUPPORT DEVICE FOR THE PROTECTION AND DEPLOYMENT OF ELECTRICAL CABLES

Abstract

Wall-mounted support device for the protection and deployment of electrical cables. The device according to the invention comprises a fixing bracket (1) made of sheet metal bent at a right angle to form two arms (1', 1''), one in the vertical plane (1') and the other in the horizontal plane (1''), said bracket (1) being fixed by its vertical arm (1') to a vertical wall near an electrical outlet. The device further comprises an arm (3) consisting of a rail, mounted for rotation on a vertical axis (4) at the end of the horizontal arm (1'') of the bracket (1) joining the vertical arm (1'). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: WALL-MOUNTED SUPPORT DEVICE FOR CABLE PROTECTION AND DEPLOYMENT ELECTRIC

[0001] The present invention relates to a device intended to serve as a wall support for an electrical cable within an enclosed space, such as a workshop or a garage, to allow it to be deployed and connected at one end to a power supply and at the other to a device or a battery, for example of an electric vehicle, while ensuring the protection of the cable.

[0002] The development of portable power tools or vehicles or other electrical devices powered by a battery requiring recharging by means of an electrical cable connected to a socket has highlighted the inadequacy of devices of known type.

[0003] For obvious reasons relating to the safety of users and premises, and to the protection of the integrity of the electrical cables used, it is not advisable to use extension cords with cables trailing on the floor, due to a risk of damage to these cables, but also of short circuits in the event that the floor is wet, as may be the case for example in a garage.

[0004] There are devices which consist of reel blocks which are to be fixed to the wall, one end of which is connected to an electrical outlet and the other end is free and has a male or female connector which allows, after unwinding the desired length of cable, to connect the vehicle or device to be recharged.

[0005] These devices are not necessarily suitable for domestic use insofar as they are heavy, bulky and therefore occupy a significant volume within the premises which are not always of expandable dimensions, such as a private garage.

[0006] Moreover, they are designed to wind and unwind relatively large lengths of cable, which does not meet the needs of an individual.

[0007] Moreover, when the cable is unwound from the reel block which is fixed at a height, it is no longer protected and the risk of it being damaged by friction on the ground or crushing is not eliminated since the length of electrical cable which has been unwound will tend to sag and fall towards the ground in the area which separates the wall support and the socket of the device or vehicle to be connected, which are not necessarily at the same level.

[0008] One such device among others known is described in document EP0488074, which illustrates a cable reel exerting a winding action on an electrical cable not interrupted by sliding contacts, the cable being wound from the end of the user plug onto an automatic winder using the energy stored in a spring pre-stressed by a prior forced unwinding.

[0009] The invention aims to overcome these various drawbacks by providing a wall-mounted device comprising a pivoting arm, said device being fixed to a wall near the power supply source, materialized by a power outlet, making it possible to prevent the risk of damage to the electrical cable and the outlet during use, and to ensure that the connector mounted at the other end of the cable is always located at the correct height without it being necessary to dismantle the device.

[0010] The invention will be better understood with reference to the following description of an embodiment and the accompanying figures, in which:

[0011] [Fig-1] is a three / quarter view of a support device according to the invention, fixed to a vertical wall with an electrical cable that has been inserted into the pivoting arm.

[0012] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of the arm.

[0013] [Fig.3] is a top view of the device shown [Fig.1], and showing the means ETB cable locking protection in the pivoting arm.

[0014] With reference to the attached figures, and in particular [Fig.1], the support device according to the invention comprises an L-shaped fixing bracket which is intended to be fixed by its arm located in the vertical plane to a vertical wall or to the vertical support near which the electrical supply outlet is located.

[0015] In the embodiment described here and shown in the figures, the power outlet is located at a certain height above the floor, as is typical in a room such as a garage. However, there is nothing to prevent the device according to the invention from being connected to a power outlet located lower down, closer to the floor.

[0016] The bracket (1) is made of a sheet metal bent at a right angle to form two arms (1', 1"), one in the vertical plane (1') and the other in the horizontal plane (1").

[0017] The so-called vertical branch (1') is intended to be fixed to a vertical wall (2).

[0018] The device according to the invention further comprises an arm (3) consisting of a rail pivoting, with a roughly square cross-section, which is open in its upper part.

[0019] By upper part we mean the part of the rail which will be located opposite the ceiling of the room to be equipped, the face of said arm located on the opposite side being turned towards the floor of that same room.

[0020] As can be seen [Fig.2], the arm (3) consists of an open rail obtained by folding a sheet to form a U-shaped profile, comprising a bottom wall (3a) and two side walls (3b) at right angles.

[0021] The side walls (3b) of the profile are each folded in their upper part towards the inside of the profile at an angle between 45° and 90°, to form edges (3c) leaving an opening (3d) between them.

[0022] By upper part, we mean the respective ends of the lateral branches (3b) which are opposite the bottom wall (3a).

[0023] By interior of the profile, we mean the area located between the two side walls (3b), in the plane parallel to that of the bottom wall (3a).

[0024] The arm (3) is mounted for rotation on a vertical axis (4) at the end of the horizontal arm (1”) of the bracket (1) joining the vertical arm (1'), so that the rail can move in rotation in the horizontal plane on either side of the axis (4) of rotation.

[0025] The arm (3) is fixed on the horizontal leg (1”) of the bracket (1) so as to leave a rear space between the rear end of the rail and the vertical leg (1') of the bracket (1) when their respective longitudinal axes are superimposed.

[0026] By rear end of the rail is meant the end which is turned towards the side of the bracket (1), i.e. the wall (2) on which the arm (3) will be fixed. By free part of the rail is meant the part located on the opposite side.

[0027] The bracket (1) is fixed to the vertical wall (4) by its vertical arm (1') in the immediate vicinity of a power outlet (5).

[0028] The space that has been provided between the rear end of the rail of the pivoting arm (3) and the vertical branch (1') of the bracket (1) has been defined to allow the insertion and passage without friction or force of an electrical cable (6) having at one of its ends a male type connector intended to be inserted into the power outlet (5) located near the arm (3), and whose other end has, depending on the needs, either another male connector or a female connector intended to connect the device to be charged or powered.

[0029] The electrical cable (6), once connected to the wall socket (5), is then slid along the rear space and then inside the opening (3d) of the rail of the arm (3) provided in the upper part of the rail of the pivoting arm (3), so that its opposite end, which includes the male or female connector to be connected to the device or apparatus to be powered, emerges at the free end of said rail.

[0030] By free end of the rail, we mean that which is located opposite the end fixed in rotation around the axis (4).

[0031] Protective means (not shown) for the cable sheath (6) are provided on the edge of the rear portion of the pivoting arm rail (3), such as flexible rubber tips or similar material. The cable will thus be protected against any risk of injury in the event of occasional friction of its sheath against the edges of the rail.

[0032] The edges (3c) formed in the upper part of each of the two walls lateral (3b) form a fold, which will allow, once the electrical cable (6) is inserted through the opening (3d), to hold it inside the rail of the arm (3), and to prevent it from coming loose under the effect of, for example, a shock or a pull, since the two folds (3c) will form a stop opposing the upward withdrawal of the cable.

[0033] Also with the aim of protecting the cable (6) and facilitating its guidance, as shown [Fig.3], a guide (7) made of flexible material, such as, for example, rubber or similar, may be provided on the lower bottom wall (3a) of the open rail. This guide will be inserted between the side walls (3b) of said rail and may extend beyond the free end of said rail in order to prevent the part (6') of the cable (6) protruding beyond the rail from falling to the ground, as is the case with known type cable reels, with the risk that the cable sheath may be damaged by friction on the open section of the rail.

[0034] The device is particularly simple to use and does not require being associated with storage drums since it is not necessary to wind or unwind the cable to use it.

[0035] All that is needed is a cable of sufficient length which will be connected to a wall electrical outlet, insert it into the rail, then pull the necessary length of cable so that the connector at the other end of the electrical cable is connected to the device to be powered.

[0036] Positioning can be ensured in the best possible way as the rail is pivoting and the presence of the flexible guide on the bottom of the open rail allows the cable to be kept in the correct position required.

[0037] When the charging or powering operation is complete, it will be sufficient to unplug the cable from the device, possibly retract a certain length of it from the end and the rail located on the wall side, and then simply fold the pivoting arm towards the wall, which will keep the cable ready for use for a later operation without it being necessary to wind or unwind it or to block it in any separate support, while avoiding occupying too much space in the room.

[0038] The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to protect the cable but also the socket located on the wall since the latter will not be subjected to any tension during the cable handling operations, unlike what happens when using a manual or mechanical winding device.

[0039] Similarly, the socket will not be subjected to shocks because it is not in contact with the guiding device.

[0040] It will no longer be necessary to dismantle and store the cables, in particular the cables fitted with specific plugs for charging electric vehicles which can be left in place on the device.

[0041] The cable itself will always be located at a height corresponding to the needs since it will be prevented from moving towards the ground.

[0042] Furthermore, and finally, the device according to the invention adapts to any type of cable and can be set up in an extremely easy and quick manner without the need to modify the configuration of the premises.

[0043] List of numerical references

[0044] 1. fixing bracket

[0045] 1': vertical branch

[0046] 1”: horizontal branch

[0047] 2: wall

[0048] 3: pivoting arm

[0049] 3a: bottom wall

[0050] 3b: side walls

[0051] 3c: edges

[0052] 3d: longitudinal opening

[0053] 4: axis of rotation of the arm

[0054] 5: power outlet

[0055] 6: electrical cable

[0056] 7: flexible guide

Claims

Demands

1. Wall-mounted support device for the protection and deployment of electrical cables comprising a fixing bracket (1) made of sheet metal bent at a right angle to form two arms (1', 1"), one in the vertical plane (1') and the other in the horizontal plane (1"), said bracket (1) being fixed by its vertical arm (1') to a vertical wall near an electrical power outlet, characterized in that it further comprises an arm (3) consisting of a rail, mounted for rotation on a vertical axis (4) at the end of the horizontal arm (1") of the bracket (1) joining the vertical arm (1').

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rail of the arm (3) is made up of a profile of substantially square cross section which is open in its upper part.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the rail of the arm (3) is fixed on the horizontal arm (1”) of the bracket (1) so as to leave a space between the rear end of the rail and the vertical arm (1') of the bracket (1).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail of the arm (3) is made of sheet metal folded to form a U-shaped profile, comprising a bottom wall (3a) and two side walls (3b) at right angles.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the side walls (3b) of the U profile are each folded in their upper part towards the inside of said profile to form edges (3c) leaving an opening (3d) between them.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means for protecting the cable sheath (6) are provided on the edge of the rear part of the pivoting arm rail (3), of the type of soft rubber tips or similar material.

7. Device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the open rail of the arm (3) has on its lower bottom wall (3a) a guide (7) of flexible material inserted between the side walls (3b) of said rail.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide (7) made of flexible material extends and prolongs beyond the free end of said rail.

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