Electrical outlet with USB ports and methods of its installation inside a through-housing unit that includes a wall of furniture.

Abstract

Electrical outlet with USB ports and installation instructions for a through-hole in a piece of furniture. The outlet (1) comprises a housing (5) delimited by an upper wall (6) overhanging a lower base (7) of the housing (5), and a peripheral side wall (8) of the housing (5). The housing (5) contains columns (21a, 21b) having an opening (22) to the outside of the housing (5) and housing notched clips (14) which are operated by means of operating screws (17a, 17b). The feet (16a, 16b) are guided by sliding motion inside the columns (21a, 21b), between an inactive position of the feet (16a, 16b) retracted inside the columns (21a, 21b) and an active position of the feet (16a, 16b) emerging through the lateral opening (22) of the columns (21a, 21b), their serrations (14) providing an anchor for the grip (1) inside the wall of the cabinet. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Electrical outlet with USB ports and methods of installing it inside a through-housing included in a wall of a piece of furniture. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of USB port sockets fitted to a wall of a piece of furniture, such as a work surface of a piece of furniture - table or desk for example - for connecting an electronic device such as a computer, a screen or a mobile phone for example. The invention relates to the arrangement of such a USB port socket and the methods of installing it inside a wall of a piece of furniture. Prior art

[0002] It is common to equip a wall of a piece of furniture, such as for example a furniture worktop, with an electrical outlet with USB ports, comprising USB connectors via which an electronic device can be supplied with electrical energy. The outlet with USB ports is installed inside a housing that the worktop comprises, and the USB connectors are supplied with electrical energy from a current converter connected to an electrical energy supply source.

[0003] The term USB is commonly identified by the acronym for the expression Universal Serial Bus in English or Bus Universel en Série in French. A socket may be equipped with various USB connectors, such as a USB-C, USB-A or USB-B connector, which are of differentiated conformations and / or deliver different electrical powers. An advantage of USB-C connectors is that they are bidirectional and allow the delivery of greater electrical power than USB-A or USB-B connectors.

[0004] According to a common arrangement, the electrical outlet comprises a housing mounted inside a through-housing that the worktop comprises. The outlet is connected to the converter supplying the USB connector(s) with electrical energy, the converter itself being connected to a source of electrical power, in particular by a cable.

[0005] The housing is provided with a suspension holding member inside the housing, and is potentially equipped at its periphery with centering members inside the housing. An upper wall of the housing has one or more openings therethrough through which the USB connector(s) are accessible by a user to connect an electronic device to the socket.

[0006] In this context, it is noted that the frequency and / or efforts of bringing into cooperation or conversely of removal by the user of the cooperating USB connectors with the one or those equipping the socket, could alter the quality and durability of its maintenance in the correct position inside the work surface.

[0007] It emerges that a problem to be solved is to organize the socket so that its installation and maintenance inside the housing is robust, reliable and durable. However, it is also noted on the contrary that it is at least appropriate: -) that the socket itself is intrinsically robust and durable and operates reliably, despite potentially high frequency of use; -) that the socket is ergonomic for its user. It should be taken into account that the thickness of the wall of a piece of furniture and / or its extension along its plan may be modest. In this context, it is necessary to avoid the socket having an obstruction likely to cause discomfort for the user, in particular with regard to an inopportune emergence of the socket from the wall of a piece of furniture, such as for example an emergence of the socket under and / or excessively above a work surface. It should be taken into account that the socket is commonly equipped with a cover installed outside the housing by emerging from the upper face of the work surface, and which is therefore exposed to potential impacts, both vertically and laterally; -) that the socket is ergonomic for the assembly of its components together, and for its robust installation by an installer inside the housing that receives it. It is desirable that the layout of the pre-assembled socket allows its installation inside the housing which is easy and quick to carry out. Conversely, it is also useful to allow quick and easy access to the components housed inside the socket, to allow possible maintenance and / or repair operations of the components of the socket. Overall, it is best to avoid complicating the actions to be carried out by the installer. Presentation of the invention

[0008] In this context, the invention has the following object: -) an electrical outlet equipped with USB connectors, which is designed to be installed inside a housing passing through a wall of a piece of furniture, such as in particular a furniture worktop, and -) the methods of mounting the electrical outlet inside the said through housing which is included in the wall of the furniture.

[0009] The aim of the invention is to seek compromises and to propose compatible and / or combined solutions, to overcome at least the problems and related difficulties which have been previously identified.

[0010] To do this, an electrical outlet with USB ports is proposed, of the type designed for installation inside a through housing such as a worktop, for example. The housing is oriented in a vertical direction which is perpendicular dicular to the extension plane of the worktop, opening at each of its vertical ends respectively to the upper face and the lower face of the worktop. The socket extends in a vertical direction corresponding to the vertical direction of extension of the through housing that the worktop includes, so that the socket can be installed or removed by sliding vertically inside the housing.

[0011] The relative notions used to describe the invention are specified here, such as in particular the following notions: -) The notions upper and lower, or other related notions such as for example under and above or above, or overhang or rise and below, base and top, are relative notions considered according to the vertical direction of extension of the electrical outlet and / or the housing which receives it, with regard to the direction of insertion of the outlet inside a worktop considered for example. The notion of elevation is defined in a direction opposite to said direction of insertion, from the base towards the top of the electrical outlet. -) The lateral concept is notably applied to a position distant from and / or to an extension parallel to the vertical direction of extension of the electrical outlet and / or the vertical direction of extension of the housing. -) The transverse concept is a relative concept considered perpendicular to the vertical extension direction of the electrical outlet and / or to the vertical extension direction of the housing, considered according to the example of application of the invention to a worktop.

[0012] More specifically, the socket comprises a housing whose interior volume is delimited between an upper wall overhanging a lower bottom of the housing. A peripheral side wall of the housing extends between the upper wall and the bottom of the housing. The socket also comprises an upper cover comprising an access passage to at least one USB connector - hereinafter referred to as service connector(s) - via which a user can connect an electronic device to be supplied with electrical energy. The upper cover, shaped as a hollow disc, provides a covering mask for the housing by resting vertically against the upper face of a work surface.

[0013] The housing is preferably provided with transverse support members at a lateral distance from the housing, the concepts transverse and lateral distance being applied here to said support. The support members constitute members for centering the socket inside the housing which receives it, by applying the support members against the wall of a work surface delimiting the housing.

[0014] The USB port socket comprises said at least one service connector(s), the upper end of which passes through an opening in the upper wall of the housing and which opens onto a passage provided through the upper cover. The service connector(s) is thus accessible by a user through the top cover and the opening in the top wall of the housing. The cooperation between the service connector(s) and a cooperating connector equipping the electronic device is potentially achieved by direct interlocking or via an intermediate cable.

[0015] The electrical outlet is also provided with a connector for supplying the outlet with electrical energy, hereinafter referred to as the power connector. The power connector can be connected to an electrical current converter remote from the outlet - in particular by cable - via which the service connector(s) is supplied with electrical energy by the power connector.

[0016] The converter is notably installed on the furniture at a distance from the electrical outlet. Since the furniture often has a specific architecture, the positioning of the converter on the furniture is then chosen by the installer to avoid the converter being a source of inconvenience or discomfort for the user.

[0017] A particular feature of the socket is recognizable in that it is equipped with a mechanism for locking the socket inside the housing which receives it, via the said transverse support members with which it is equipped. The locking mechanism comprises the said transverse support members which are formed by notched shoes which can be operated by operating screws. The shoes can be operated between an inactive station in which the shoes are retracted inside the housing and an active station in which the projecting notches which the shoes comprise emerge from the housing, for their embedding in the cohesive mass of the work surface following a movement of the shoes by the operating screws.This results in a robust blocking inside the worktop of the socket previously introduced in the installation position in the housing of the worktop which receives it, preferably in correlation with other advantageous arrangements of the socket described later.

[0018] The shoes are housed and maneuvered between their inactive station and their active station, inside reserves formed by identical columns which extend in elevation between the bottom and the upper wall of the housing. The columns are integrated into the peripheral side wall and the bottom of the housing, each being individually formed by a partitioning of the interior volume of the housing which is integrated into the side wall of the housing and its bottom.

[0019] The shoes and the reserves have complementary transverse profiles, the reserves providing guide passages for the shoes between their active station and their inactive station. At least one set of two columns, the reserves of which respectively house the shoes equipping the socket, are provided inside the housing symmetrically at a transverse distance from each other relative to a vertical direction of extension of the socket on which the socket is centered.

[0020] The columns each have a lateral outlet provided through the peripheral wall of the housing and open towards the outside of the socket, to allow the progressive emergence of the notches with which the shoes are provided which emerge progressively and partially transversely from the columns. Said lateral outlet is oriented transversely opposite a lateral wall of the columns forming ramps for guiding the shoes between their inactive station and their active station.It is understood that the upward movement of the shoes against the guide ramps can be carried out both in an upward direction from their inactive station to their active station to anchor the socket inside the work surface, and conversely in a downward direction from their active station to their inactive station to allow, if necessary, a withdrawal of the socket from the work surface, such as to carry out, for example, a maintenance operation on the socket.

[0021] The operating screws are housed inside the housing below its upper wall, being able to be rotated by an operator using a tool, such as a screwdriver for example. The operating screws are individually accessible from outside the housing by the tool which is introduced inside the housing via passages passing through its upper wall. The columns comprise upper partitions for closing the reserves which are inclined relative to the vertical direction of extension of the grip. Said upper partitions provide at the top of the columns chambers housing the head of the operating screws which pass through the upper partitions via a conduit guiding them into engagement by screwing inside the shoes.

[0022] The rear faces of the shoes are applied against the guide ramps assigned to them, for their sliding guidance inside the reserves between their active station and their inactive station. The guide ramps are inclined relative to the vertical axis of extension of the grip from the bottom of the housing in the direction of the lateral outlet of the columns following a constant slope. The front face of the shoes provided with the notching extends parallel to the vertical direction of extension of the grip, providing anchoring of the shoes in the mass of the work surface when they are maneuvered by the maneuvering screws.

[0023] More precisely, the guide ramps, the rear faces of the shoes as well as the operating screws, are inclined identically according to a constant slope relative to the vertical direction of extension of the grip, from the bottom of the housing towards the lateral outlet of the columns. In the inactive station, the shoes are housed inside the reserves at the bottom of the housing, the notching with which the shoes are provided being able to alternatively emerge slightly outside the reserves. As a result of the upward movement of the shoes by the operating screws, the shoes slide according to said constant slope along the guide ramps towards their active station, the notches of the shoes penetrating into the mass of the work surface.

[0024] The robustness of the hold of the socket inside the worktop is evaluated by the operator progressively and alternately maneuvering the operating screws of the shoes inside the columns, in correlation with a support of the housing against the upper face of the worktop. This has the effect of providing a blocking of the socket inside the housing of the worktop which receives it, from a vertical clamping of the housing between its shoulder and the shoes anchored in the mass of the worktop.

[0025] Furthermore, the columns - preferably two in number - are oriented transversely opposite each other, providing between them a transversely median space for receiving an electronic card inside the housing. The electronic card is equipped with at least the service connector(s) and the power connector which delivers - via the electronic card - electrical energy to the service connector(s). The electronic card is mounted inside the housing vertically along its plane between the columns, being oriented perpendicular to a transverse distance of the columns from each other.

[0026] The service connector(s) is / are installed at the top of the electronic card and the power connector is installed at the base of the electronic card, being oriented parallel to the extension plane of the electronic card. The service connector(s) and the power connector are mounted vertically on the electronic card respectively at its top and at its base, to facilitate their access from outside the housing.

[0027] The service connector(s) are accessible from outside the housing through the vertical extension opening(s) assigned to them and included in the upper wall of the housing, via the vertical extension passage(s) included in the upper cover equipping the socket. The power connector is accessible from outside the housing through a vertical extension opening included in the bottom of the housing.

[0028] The electronic card is mounted inside the housing via facing rails which are integrated into the internal face of the peripheral side wall of the housing. Preferably, the upper wall of the housing and the bottom of the housing each integrate a set of cleats extending vertically and transversely inside the housing, being arranged in the middle zone of the electronic card along its transverse extension. The electronic card is held in a stable position along its extension plane at its top between the cleats integrated into the upper wall of the housing, and at its base between the cleats integrated into the bottom of the housing.

[0029] It will be noted that the columns and the rails are integrated into the housing at its peripheral side wall and at its bottom, such as by forming the housing by molding. The columns are integrated into the peripheral side wall of the housing transversely opposite along a first transverse direction. The electronic card installation rails are integrated into the peripheral side wall of the housing transversely opposite each other along a second transverse direction which is perpendicular to the first transverse direction.

[0030] The columns and said vertical extension rails which are integrated into the side wall of the housing, jointly constitute a reinforcement frame for the housing. The columns, limited to two in number to provide the space for receiving the electronic card between them, nevertheless cooperate with the mounting rails of the electronic card to stiffen the peripheral side wall. In addition, the reinforcement of the housing is completed vertically by a robust vertical assembly between the upper wall of the housing and the bottom of the housing, as referred to below.

[0031] It follows that the methods of reinforcing the housing and / or its firm support inside the through-housing provided by the shoes placed in the active position, as well as the columns and the mechanical members that they house for fixing the socket to the worktop via the shoes, are isolated from the interior space of the housing housing the electronic members known to be fragile equipping the socket - in particular the electronic card provided with the connectors - which are thus protected.

[0032] The space provided transversely between the columns makes it easier for an installer to insert the electronic card into the mounting position inside the housing, via the rails that comprise the peripheral side wall of the housing. Stable holding of the electronic card in position inside the housing is obtained via the sets of cleats that are distributed transversely inside the housing between the columns. The lateral edges of the electronic card are threaded vertically inside the rails and its lower and upper edges are nested vertically between the cleats integrated respectively into the upper wall of the housing and into the bottom of the housing.

[0033] A vertical reinforcement of the housing is achieved by a robust screw assembly between the bottom of the housing and its upper wall. More particularly for this purpose, fixing screws each extend vertically inside the housing, from the bottom of the housing towards its upper wall. An operator operates from outside the housing the fixing screws which pass through the bottom of the housing and which are each introduced respectively inside a set of coaxial barrels which are respectively assigned to them and which are arranged at a distance from the electronic card. Each of the sets of coaxial barrels is composed of a guide barrel for the fixing screws which is integral with the bottom of the housing, and which is coaxial with a fixing barrel which is integral with the upper wall of the housing and inside which the fixing screws are screwed.

[0034] According to an alternative embodiment, the screws can be respectively screwed into single-piece barrels secured to the upper wall of the housing, the single-piece barrels comprising at their base a smooth section for guiding the fixing screws, which is extended towards their top by a threaded section inside which the fixing screws are screwed.

[0035] The upper wall of the housing and the bottom of the housing are thus firmly fixed to each other by the barrels inside which the fixing screws are deeply screwed, vertically reinforcing the housing by the robust fixing between the upper wall of the housing and the bottom of the housing. The barrels and the fixing screws which they respectively house further collectively provide an additional internal reinforcement of the housing in its vertical direction of extension.

[0036] The upper wall and the bottom of the housing are connected to each other not only by the peripheral side wall of the housing which is reinforced vertically and transversely by the columns and the rails integrated and angularly distributed integrally with the peripheral side wall of the housing and its bottom, but also by the barrels inside which the fixing screws are screwed, forming tie rods reinforcing the housing vertically between its bottom and its upper wall.

[0037] In addition: -) The housing and the components of the socket it houses can be pre-assembled in an inactive station of the shoes retracted inside the reserves, particularly in the workshop. The housing forms a robust single-piece unit housing the functional parts of the socket, being easily handled by an installer. The housing can be easily introduced by the installer inside the housing, until the application against the upper face of the work surface of a shoulder which is integrated into the upper wall of the housing. -) The box being housed as a whole suspended inside the housing via said shoulder of the upper wall of the box, the fitter can easily fix the box firmly inside the housing via the operating screws of the shoes, from outside the box from the upper face of the worktop. The box being reinforced, the anchoring of the socket inside the worktop can be robust without altering the socket whose box is reinforced. -) The shoulder of the upper wall of the housing forms a support member for the suspension grip on the work surface, and cooperates vertically with the shoes placed in the active station to block the housing inside the work surface, by vertically clamping the housing inside the work surface between its upper wall and the shoes operated from the upper wall of the housing. -) The upper partition of the columns connecting their side partitions is used to participate in the vertical movement of the shoes between their inactive station and their active station. The operating screws and the shoes are installed inside the columns, thus avoiding impacting the electronic card to preserve it. -) In the active position of the clogs, their anchoring in the cohesive mass of the work surface strengthens and maintains the robust, stable position of the socket inside the housing, despite repeated uses of the socket.

[0038] The housing housing the functional components of the socket forms a robust whole, while being of limited size. The housing is reinforced and the socket is firmly held in position inside the housing: -) by support via the shoulder that the upper wall of the housing has, which is firmly fixed to the bottom of the housing, and by anchoring the shoes in the mass of the worktop causing the housing to be firmly pressed against the worktop; -) by reinforcing on the one hand the side wall of the housing by the said partitions protecting the columns and by the rails, and on the other hand by vertical tightening by screwing between the upper wall and the bottom of the housing; -) by intrinsic reinforcement of the upper wall of the housing via which the socket is supported inside the housing, by its assembly to the bottom of the housing via the fixing screws secured by screwing to the fixing barrels which are integrated into the upper wall of the housing. The fixing screws and the fixing barrels jointly form vertical stiffening rods of the housing by extending between its upper wall and its bottom against which the heads of the fixing screws bear on its outer face facing the outside of the housing.

[0039] The cover equipping the socket is generally shaped as a hollow disc covering the upper wall of the housing. The disc bears horizontally via its lower face against the upper face of the work surface, forming a mask of the upper wall of the housing. The recess in the disc provides an access passage to the service connector(s) which are accessible through the opening(s) in the upper wall of the housing.

[0040] The disc is shaped like a plate, being formed of a wall whose peripheral edge provides at its base a seat for applying the disc against the upper face of the work surface. The wall forming the disc extends in elevation, raising its base, comprising intersecting flanks which are inclined relative to each other. A first flank of the disc is a peripheral flank whose peripheral edge provides the seat for applying the disc against the upper face of the work surface. The peripheral flank rises in elevation, being inclined relative to the seat of the disc, up to an inflection zone of the wall of the disc providing a second flank of the disc inclined towards the inner edge of the disc, delimiting its recess.

[0041] The inverse inclination of the sides of the disc relative to each other provides a disc-reinforcing rib between them. The disc recess is used to center the disc on the housing, by adjusted fitting of the disc recess around a cylindrical riser integrated into the upper face of the upper wall of the housing. The reinforcing rib is used for fixing the disc to the upper wall of the case by hooking.

[0042] For this purpose, the disc incorporates hooks - preferably integrated into the reinforcing rib to reinforce said hooking - which cooperate by pivoting the disc with grooves distributed around the periphery of the shoulder of the upper wall of the housing. It follows that the disc is intrinsically stiffened by the reinforcing rib and that its fitting onto the housing by hooking - advantageously via the reinforcing rib - is robust.

[0043] In the event of moderate impact shocks applied laterally or vertically against the disc, the disc is held in position in application against the upper face of the work surface. The robustness of the grip is reinforced and its maintenance in the correct position inside the housing is secured against potential lateral and / or vertical shocks of moderate impacts. In addition, the flat conformation of the disc provided by the second side of the disc forms a visual and / or tactile guide for the user, facilitating the connection gesture by the user of the electronic device to the service connector(s) equipping the socket.

[0044] Synthetically as described above, the invention relates to an electrical outlet with USB ports for equipping a wall of a piece of furniture - such as in particular a furniture worktop - inside a through-housing that it comprises, the electrical outlet extending in a vertical direction. In the installation position inside said housing, the electrical outlet extends inside the housing which receives it perpendicular to the wall of the furniture.

[0045] The electrical outlet comprises at least: -) a housing whose internal volume is delimited between an upper wall overhanging a lower bottom of the housing, and a peripheral side wall of the housing extending vertically between the upper wall and the bottom of the housing. The housing is equipped with transverse support members participating in a means of centering the electrical socket perpendicular to its vertical direction of extension; -) at least one USB service connector housed inside the housing and being accessible from outside the housing via at least one opening in the upper wall of the housing assigned to said at least one service connector, as well as a USB power supply connector of the socket which is housed inside the housing and is connected by cable to a current converter. The power connector is accessible from outside the housing via an opening in a bottom of the housing; and -) a cover for covering the upper wall of the housing, comprising an access passage to said at least one service connector.

[0046] In this context, the electrical outlet of the invention is mainly recognizable in that the housing is centered on the vertical direction of extension of the electrical outlet. and comprises internal partitions which delimit vertical extension columns which are integrated into the bottom and the side wall of the housing. The columns delimit in their internal volume reserves each housing a shoe, the shoes constituting transverse support members. The columns each have a lateral outlet towards the outside of the housing which is provided through the side wall of the housing.

[0047] The shoes each have a notch provided on their front face oriented towards the lateral outlets of the columns which house them respectively. The shoes are maneuverable and guided in sliding inside the columns following their vertical extension, between an inactive station of the shoes retracted inside the reserves and an active station of the shoes moved overhanging the bottom of the housing while partially emerging from the reserves through the lateral outlet of the columns. The shoes are maneuverable from outside the housing by maneuvering screws which are respectively assigned to them and which are housed inside the housing.

[0048] Other specific characteristics of an electrical socket according to the invention, which are neither restrictive nor limiting with regard to other characteristics which it may include, are the following.

[0049] The transverse profiles of the shoes and the reserves are of complementary shapes, the reserves constituting a guide corridor for the shoes which they house respectively between their inactive station and their active station. A transversely rear lateral partition of the columns extending opposite each other at a transverse distance from their lateral outlet, provides a guide ramp for the shoes which they house respectively between their inactive station and their active station, via the rear face of the shoes which is applied against the guide ramp assigned to them.

[0050] The guide ramps, the operating screws and the rear faces of the shoes are inclined relative to the vertical direction of extension of the electrical outlet according to a constant slope. The guide ramps extend from the bottom of the housing while being inclined towards the lateral outlet of the columns.

[0051] The operating screws are housed inside the housing below its upper wall which has passages for introducing a tool for driving the operating screws in rotation. The columns each have an upper partition of transverse extension which is arranged inside the columns below the upper wall of the housing.

[0052] The upper partitions vertically enclose the reserves, each providing at the top of the columns a chamber for receiving a drive and guide head for the operating screws and for guiding the operating screws towards the shoes to which the operating screws are respectively engaged by screwing. Rotating the operating screws moves the shoes inside the reserves between their inactive station and their active station.

[0053] The columns are at least two in number, being arranged two by two symmetrically in transverse opposition to each other with respect to the vertical direction of extension of the socket. Two columns arranged symmetrically in transverse opposition provide between them inside the housing a transversely median space for receiving an electronic card which is equipped with said at least one service connector and the power connector.

[0054] The electronic card is mounted between the columns inside said transversely median space, via vertical extension rails extending parallel to the vertical direction of extension of the electrical outlet. The rails are integrated into the internal face of the peripheral side wall of the housing and are arranged transversely opposite each other. The transverse direction opposite the columns and the transverse direction opposite the rails are oriented perpendicularly to each other. In other words, the columns and the rails are alternately distributed angularly to the internal face of the side wall of the housing at 90° (ninety degrees) around the vertical direction of extension of the electrical outlet. The rails and the columns constitute stiffening members of the peripheral side wall of the housing.

[0055] The bottom of the housing and the top wall of the housing are assembled together by screwing, via fixing screws which extend vertically inside the housing by passing through the bottom of the housing from the outside of the socket. The fixing screws are respectively introduced inside sets of coaxial barrels which are respectively assigned to them and which extend vertically between the bottom of the housing and the top wall of the housing.

[0056] Each of the sets of coaxial barrels comprises a guide barrel integrated into the bottom of the housing and a fixing barrel integrated into the upper wall of the housing. The heads of the fixing screws bear against the outer face of the bottom of the housing and are guided via the guide barrels towards the fixing barrels inside which the fixing screws are screwed. The sets of coaxial barrels are arranged at a distance from the electronic card and form an internal reinforcement frame for the housing reinforced by the fixing screws providing tie rods between the bottom of the housing and the upper wall of the housing.

[0057] The upper wall of the housing comprises a shoulder providing a support member for suspending the housing. The cover is arranged in a hollow disc centered along the vertical direction of extension of the socket, via its recess which is fitted onto a cylindrical riser integrated into the upper face of the upper wall of the housing. The disc covers the upper wall of the housing by extending transversely beyond the periphery of the upper wall of the housing. The recess of the disc provides the access passage to said at least one service connector. Said passage is arranged opposite said at least one opening that the upper wall of the housing comprises. The disc is fixed by hooking to the upper wall of the housing, via hooking members cooperating with each other with which the disc and the shoulder of the upper wall of the housing are respectively equipped.

[0058] The disc is formed of a wall whose peripheral edge provides at its base a seat of the disc extending along a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction of extension of the grip. The wall forming the disc extends in elevation in a raised position of its seat by comprising flanks of concurrent orientations which are inclined relative to each other inversely towards the seat of the disc. The flanks comprise in particular a peripheral flank of the disc providing its seat, which is extended by a central flank delimiting the recess of the disc. A circular rib for stiffening the disc is provided at the junction between the peripheral flank of the disc and the central flank comprising its recess.

[0059] The hooking members cooperating with each other with which the disc and the shoulder of the upper wall of the housing are respectively equipped, comprise hooks equipping the disc by being integrated into the stiffening rib of the disc. The hooks are angularly distributed along the circular extension of said rib and cooperate by reversible interlocking with respective grooves which are provided on the periphery of the shoulder of the upper wall of the housing.

[0060] According to a method of mounting an electrical outlet as just described, inside a housing passing through a wall of a piece of furniture, in particular vertically a piece of furniture worktop for example, the method comprises at least the following operations: -) Install the service connectors and the power connector inside the housing, in particular by installing the electronic card via the rails fitted to the housing. Then install the shoes in the inactive station inside the reserves assigned to them and the operating screws in engagement by screwing via their lower end inside the shoes. Then assemble the housing, in particular by fixing its upper wall to the bottom of the housing, via the fixing screws inserted inside the sets of barrels respectively assigned to them. -) Then, before installing the socket inside the through-housing, connect the cable equipping the converter to the power connector, via the lower outlet of the through-housing open to the underside of the worktop and the opening provided for this purpose in the bottom of the box. -) Then vertically insert the box following the extension direction of the socket, inside the through housing from its upper outlet open to the upper face of the worktop, until the upper wall of the box rests against the upper face of the worktop, in particular via the shoulder that the upper wall of the box has. -) Then move the shoes inside the reserves from their inactive station to their active station, the notching of the shoes gradually penetrating inside the mass of the worktop until obtaining a robust anchoring of the electrical outlet inside the housing of the worktop which receives it.

[0061] The assembly of the housing inside the through-housing is carried out by an installer in the absence of the installation on the housing of said cover, in particular formed by the hollow disc. This allows the installer to move the shoes inside the reserves from their inactive station to their active station, via the operating screws which are accessible by the installer through the passages provided for this purpose in the upper wall of the housing.

[0062] The housing being previously mounted inside the through-housing, the method comprises a final operation of fixing said cover to the housing - in particular formed from the disc - in application against the upper face of the work surface.

[0063] This final operation is carried out by the fitter by hooking the disc on the periphery of the shoulder that the upper wall of the housing comprises. To do this, the disc is fixed by the fitter to the upper wall of the housing, by vertical introduction of the hooks equipping the stiffening rib of the disc inside the grooves that the shoulder of the upper wall of the housing comprises on its periphery. The hooking of the disc on the upper wall of the housing is then carried out by the fitter by pivoting the disc around the vertical direction of extension of the grip, causing the reversible cooperation of the hooks inside the grooves. Presentation of the figures

[0064] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of a socket with USB ports according to the invention, in relation to the following figures: [Fig.l] is an exploded perspective illustration of a socket with USB ports according to the invention, which is arranged as equipment for a real estate worktop as shown in [Fig.9]. The socket extends along a vertical axis of assembly between them of the components that it comprises, essentially a housing housing an electronic card carrying USB connectors and a mechanism for locking the socket inside a housing of a furniture worktop as successively illustrated in Figures 7 to 9. [Fig.2] is a perspective illustration in assembled view of the socket shown in [Fig.l]. The socket is shown in cutaway along a vertical section plane, highlighting the mounting methods of the electronic card installed inside the housing, as well as the fixing methods by screwing between a bottom of the housing and an upper wall of the housing. [Fig.3] is a perspective illustration from below and in assembled view of the socket shown in Figures 1 and 2. In [Fig.3] - as also illustrated in [Fig.2] - the locking mechanism is shown in the inactive position. In the inactive position of the locking mechanism, anchoring members placed in the inactive position are each retracted almost entirely inside respective reserves which are provided inside the housing, to allow the introduction of the housing inside a housing which is included in the worktop as illustrated in [Fig.7]. [Fig.4] is a perspective illustration from below and in assembled view of the socket shown in Figures 1 to 3. In [Fig.4], the locking mechanism is shown in the active station according to which the anchoring members placed in the active station emerge from the reserves provided inside the housing, to allow the housing to be locked inside the housing included in the worktop as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional representation along a vertical plane of the housing illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. The locking mechanism is shown in the inactive station, prior to its transition to the active station as illustrated in [Fig.6]. The anchoring members can be operated by an operator from outside the housing between their active station and their inactive station, via a tool for driving the rotation of operating screws installed inside the housing. [Fig.6] is a sectional illustration along a vertical plane of the grip shown in Figures 1 to 5. The locking mechanism is shown in the active station as a result of an operation of the anchoring members in the active station via the operating screws, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In [Fig.6], the locking mechanism is in the active station and the tool is withdrawn from the housing by the operator. A removable cover arranged as a disc is fixed by the operator to the upper wall of the housing as shown in [Fig.9]. [Fig.7] is a schematic representation in section along a vertical plane, of a furniture worktop comprising a through-housing for installing the socket illustrated in figures 1 to 6. [Fig.7] illustrates a first step of a method of mounting the socket inside the through-housing, the pre-assembled box comprising the socket being introduced inside the through-housing from the upper face of the worktop and is connected to the current converter. [Fig.8] is a schematic cross-sectional representation along a vertical plane of the worktop illustrated in [Fig.7], the box being installed anchored inside the through-housing it comprises. [Fig.8] illustrates a second step in the method of mounting the socket inside the through-housing, according to which the locking mechanism is in an active immobilization station by firmly anchoring the box inside the worktop via the anchoring members. [Fig.9] is a schematic cross-sectional representation along a vertical plane of the worktop illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The box being installed and anchored inside the through-housing which receives it, [Fig.9] illustrates a third step in the method of mounting the socket inside the through-housing. According to this third step, the cover which the socket comprises is assembled to the box by applying it against the upper face of the worktop. Detailed description of the invention

[0065] The figures and their detailed, non-limiting descriptions set out the invention according to particular methods which are not restrictive as to the scope of the invention. The figures and their detailed descriptions of an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be used to better define it, if necessary in relation to the general description which has just been given.

[0066] Furthermore, to avoid overloading the figures and thus facilitate their reading, the reference numbers assigned to the terms and / or concepts used to describe the invention and indicated in any one of the figures are potentially repeated in the description of any other figure without implying their presence in all of the figures.

[0067] In [Fig.l], an electrical socket 1 with USB ports is configured as equipment for a work surface 2 of furniture illustrated in figures 7 to 9. The socket 1 extends from its top towards its base in a vertical direction DV1, in correlation with a vertical direction DV2 of extension of a through housing 3 that the work surface 2 comprises, as illustrated in figures 7 to 9.

[0068] From its top to its base, the socket 1 comprises a cover C4 arranged in a hollow disc 4a, and a housing 5 arranged in an enclosure housing an electronic card 10 on which are installed connectors 10a, 10b, 10c of the USB port type. The connectors 10a, 10b, 10c comprise two service connectors 10a, 10b and a power supply connector 10c of the socket 1 with electrical energy. According to the example illustrated, the service connectors 10a, 10b comprise a connector 10a of the USB-C type and a connector 10b of the USB-A type. The power supply connector 10c is preferably of the USB-C type.

[0069] Along the vertical direction DV1 of extension of the socket 1, the housing 5 incorporates at its base a bottom 7 for closing its internal volume, which is raised by a peripheral side wall 8. The side wall 8 of the housing 5 extends vertically around the vertical direction DV 1 of the socket 1 from the bottom 7 of the housing 5 into which it is integrated. An upper wall 6 of the housing 5 closes the enclosure delimited by the peripheral side wall 8 of the housing 5. The service connectors 10a, 10b are accessible from the outside of the socket 1, to allow a user to connect a electronic device to the electronic card 10 via one or other of the service connectors 10a, 10b. The upper wall 6 of the housing 5 has for this purpose openings 12a, 12b which are arranged vertically through it and which are individually accessible by the user from the upper face 2a of the work surface 2, through the recess 4a of the disc 4.

[0070] Visible in figures 2 to 4, the bottom 7 of the housing 5 has vertically through it an opening 13 to allow the connection - via an electric cable 14 - of the power connector 10c to an electric current converter 15 remote from the socket 1 as illustrated in figures 7 to 9. In figures 7 to 9, the converter 15 is installed for example on the furniture remote from the socket 1, under the work surface 2 on its lower face 2b.

[0071] The upper wall 6 of the housing 5 is removably mounted on the side wall 8 of the housing 5, to allow access to the interior volume of the housing 5. The removable mounting of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 makes it possible to install inside the enclosure functional components of the socket 1 - such as in particular the electronic card 10 and a locking mechanism 16 of the socket 1 inside the work surface 2 as described below - and / or conversely makes it possible to carry out a maintenance operation on the socket 1.

[0072] For this purpose in [Fig. 1] and more visible in [Fig. 2], the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 is integrally and reversibly assembled to the bottom 7 of the housing 5 by screwing. The upper wall 6 of the housing 5 has a fitting rib 27a inside a groove 27b that the side wall 8 of the housing 5 has at its outlet vertically opposite the bottom 7 of the housing 5. The upper wall 6 of the housing 5 is thus positioned on the side wall 8 of the housing 5, prior to its fixing by screwing to the bottom 7 of the housing 5.

[0073] For its attachment to the bottom 7 of the housing 5, the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 and the bottom 7 of the housing 5 each incorporate several sets - four in number according to the illustrated example - of two coaxial vertically extending barrels 28a, 28b, via which the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 is screwed to the bottom 7 of the housing 5. The coaxial barrels 28a, 28b extend inside the housing 5 between the lower face of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 and the upper - or in other words inner - face of the bottom 7 of the housing 5. The barrels 28a, 28b of the same set comprise guide barrels 28b and fixing barrels 28a which are respectively integrated into the bottom 7 of the housing 5 and its upper wall 6.

[0074] The guide barrels 28b constitute guides for introducing into the housing 5 fixing screws 9 which are respectively assigned to them and which are introduced vertically from the outside of the housing 5 by passing through its bottom 7, as shown in Figures 2 to 4. In [Fig.2], the fixing screws 9 are introduced at inside the guide barrels 28b which guide them towards the inside of the fixing barrels 28a, inside which the fixing screws 9 are screwed until a firm vertical pressing of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 is obtained against the upper edge of the peripheral side wall 8 of the housing 5.

[0075] In [Fig. 1] and in figures 5 and 6, the housing 5 also houses the locking mechanism 16 of the socket 1 inside the housing 3 which the worktop 2 comprises as illustrated in figures 8 and 9. The locking mechanism 16 comprises shoes 16a, 16b provided with nuts 18a, 18b, the shoes 16a, 16b being mounted movably inside the housing 5 via operating screws 17a, 17b. The shoes 16a, 16b and the operating screws 17a, 17b are housed inside the housing 5, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The shoes 16a, 16b are more specifically housed inside reserves 20a, 20b which are formed by the interior volume of vertical extension columns 21a, 21b which are arranged transversely opposite each other symmetrically with respect to the vertical extension direction DV1 of the socket 1.

[0076] The columns 21a, 21b are formed by an internal partitioning of the housing 5 for protecting the electronic card 10 equipped with the connectors 10a, 10b, 10c. The electronic card 10 is installed vertically along its extension plane inside the housing 5, being arranged in a transverse space formed between the columns 21a, 21b. The columns 21a, 21b are integrated into the side wall 8 and the bottom 7 of the housing 5, and each have a lateral outlet 22 towards the outside of the housing 5 to allow the emergence of the shoes 16a, 16b from the reserves 20a, 20b following their displacement by the operating screws 17a, 17b inside the columns 21a, 21b.Following their transverse extension, the shoes 16a, 16b are guided in mobility inside the columns 21a, 21b via their rear face 23a, and each comprise a notch 24 arranged on their front face 23b transversely opposite their rear face 23a, the notches 24 being oriented emerging from the lateral outlets 22 of the columns 21a, 21b.

[0077] In [Fig.l] and detailed in figures 5 and 6, the shoes 16a, 16b are housed inside the reserves 20a, 20b assigned to them. The shoes 16a, 16b and the reserves 20a, 20b have transverse profiles of complementary shapes, the reserves 20a, 20b providing guide corridors for the shoes 16a, 16b inside the columns 21a, 21b. The shoes 16a, 16b are guided vertically inside the columns 21a, 21b, by bearing against guide ramps 25a assigned to them.

[0078] The guide ramps 25a are formed by respective rear lateral partitions 30b of the columns 21a, 21b, which extend opposite the lateral outlet 22 of the reserves 20a, 20b towards the outside of the housing 5. The guide ramps 25a and the rear face 23a of the shoes 16a, 16b are inclined relative to the vertical direction DV1 extension of the electrical socket 1, according to a constant slope PI inclined from the bottom 7 of the box 5 towards the top of the lateral outlet 22 of the reserves 20a, 20b.

[0079] The operating screws 17a, 17b are installed inside the housing 5 below the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 and being inclined parallel to the guide ramps 25a respectively assigned to the shoes 16a, 16b. More particularly, the reserves 20a, 20b are each closed at their top by an upper partition 30 of the columns 21a, 21b of transverse extension, which extends overhanging the bottom 7 of the housing 5. The upper partitions 30 of the columns 21a, 21b each provide at the top of the columns 21a, 21b a chamber 30a housing a drive head 17c of the operating screws 17a, 17b.

[0080] The upper partitions 30 of the columns 21a, 21b are inclined perpendicularly to said slope PI, guiding the operating screws 17a, 17b along said slope PI towards the shoes 16a, 16b, through a conduit 30c which each of the upper partitions 30 of the columns 21a, 21b comprises. The operating screws 17a, 17b extend inside the columns 21a, 21b along said slope PI, up to the shoes 16a, 16b inside which the operating screws 17a, 17b are screwed along said slope PL The upper wall 6 of the housing 5 comprises passages 32 via which an operator can introduce inside the columns 21a, 21b a tool 31 for driving the operating screws 17a, 17b in rotation. The shoes 16a, 16b can thus be maneuvered by the operator from their inactive position to their active position and vice versa, after the assembly of the housing 5 by fixing its upper wall 6 to its bottom 7.

[0081] In [Fig. 5], the locking mechanism 16 is in the inactive position. The shoes 16a, 16b are retracted in the inactive position inside the reserves 20a, 20b, in application against the bottom 7 of the housing 5.

[0082] Preferably, when the shoes 16a, 16b are inactive, the notching 24 that they comprise can more or less emerge from the reserves 20a, 20b, being understood on condition of not obstructing the introduction of the socket 1 inside the housing 3 of the work surface 2 which receives it as illustrated in [Fig.7]. This makes it possible to limit the travel of the shoes 16a, 16b inside the columns 21a, 21b between their inactive station and their active station - and consequently to limit the transverse and vertical size as well as the mass of the socket 1.

[0083] In [Fig. 6], the locking mechanism 16 is in the active station. The shoes 16a, 16b applied against the guide ramp 25a assigned to them are gradually moved by an operator from their inactive station to their active station via the operating screws 17a, 17b. In the active station, the shoes 16a, 16b are placed close to - or at most as illustrated in abutment against - the upper partition 30 of the columns 21a, 21b. In active station, the notches 24 which the shoes 16a, 16b respectively comprise emerge from the reserves 20a, 20b.

[0084] The notches 24 of the shoes 16a, 16b penetrate into the mass of the work surface 2 to block the socket 1 inside the housing 3 which receives it, by vertically clamping the housing 5 between the shoes 16a, 16b which are anchored in the mass of the work surface 2, and the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 which bears against the upper face 2a of the work surface 2 as illustrated in [Fig.8]. The housing 5 being anchored inside the work surface 2, the operator can install the disc 4 on the housing 5.

[0085] Furthermore, in [Fig. 1], the electronic card 10 is installed vertically along its extension plane inside the housing 5, via rails 11a, 11b which are arranged transversely T2 opposite each other and which are integrated into the side wall 8 of the housing 5. In [Fig. 1], it should be noted that the transverse direction T1 of orientation opposite the columns 21a, 21b towards each other and the transverse direction T2 of orientation opposite the rails 11a, 11b towards each other are perpendicular to each other.

[0086] The columns 21a, 21b and the rails 11a, 11b integrated into the side wall 8 of the housing 5 are oriented vertically parallel to each other, being angularly distributed at 90° alternately inside the housing 5. The columns 21a, 21b and the rails 11a, 11b, as well as the bottom 7 and the side wall 8 of the housing 5, are integrated into a single body, such as by molding or by sealing for example.

[0087] The columns 21a, 21b and the rails 11a, 11b thus constitute members for stiffening the side wall 8 of the housing 5, collectively providing a reinforcement frame for the housing 5. The robustness of the housing 5 is increased, in addition to its reinforcement by vertical assembly between the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 and the bottom 7 of the housing 5, via the set of fixing screws 9 cooperating with an internal thread of the fixing barrels 28a integrated into the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 which are assigned to them.

[0088] Furthermore, in [Fig. 2], the electronic card 10 is installed inside the housing 5 via the rails 11a, 11b as illustrated in [Fig. 1], being held in a stable position along its extension plane by cleats 29a, 29b. Two upper cleats 29a are integrated into the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 and two lower cleats 29b are integrated into the bottom 7 of the housing 5, only one of the upper cleats 29a and only one of the lower cleats 29b being visible in [Fig. 2]. The upper cleats 29a and the lower cleats 29b are arranged at a transverse distance in the middle zone of the upper and lower edges respectively of the electronic card 10, transversely on either side of the connectors 10a, 10b, 10c.

[0089] In [Fig.l], the upper tabs 29a and the lower tabs 29b are fitted onto the electronic card 10 via notches 29c which it comprises in the middle zone of its upper and lower edges respectively. The depth of the notches 29c and / or the vertical positioning of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 by fitting vertical of the nesting rib 27a inside the rebate 27b are calibrated to prevent vertical stressing of the electronic card 10, as a result of the screwing of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 from the bottom 7 of the housing 5.

[0090] In Figures 5 and 6, the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 and its bottom 7 further comprise internal shoulders 33a, 33b which are arranged at the edge of the openings 12a, 12b and 13 for access to the service connectors 10a, 10b and to the power connector 10c. Said internal shoulders 33a, 33b are thus arranged on either side of the upper edge and the lower edge of the electronic card 10.

[0091] The cleats 29a, 29b and said internal shoulders 33a, 33b, which extend along the edge of the connectors 10a, 10b, 10c, reinforce the holding of the electronic card 10 inside the housing 5 in a stable position along its extension plane. The electronic card 10 is thus held between the cleats 29a, 29b and said shoulders 33a, 33b, in a stable position along its extension plane oriented vertically inside the housing 5, and this without inducing stress or a risk of deterioration of the electronic card 10.

[0092] In [Fig. 1], the disc 4 is centered on the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 by sliding fitting of its recess 4a around a cylindrical riser 6b integrated into the upper face of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5. Following its centering on the upper wall 6 of the housing 5, the disc 4 is fixed to the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 by hooking. The disc 4 forms a covering mask for the upper wall 6 of the housing 5, the recess 4a of the disc 4 providing access to the service connectors 10a, 10b via the openings 12a, 12b included in the upper wall 6 of the housing 5.

[0093] The disc 4 is shaped as a plate, being formed of a wall 26 comprising two consecutive flanks 26a, 26b which are inversely inclined relative to the vertical direction DV1 of extension of the socket 1. In the installation station on the work surface 2, a peripheral flank 26a of the disc 4 provides at its periphery a seat 26c of the disc 4 in application against the upper face 2a of the work surface 2, as illustrated in [Fig.9]. The peripheral flank 26a rises in elevation while being inclined towards the center of the disc 4, up to an inflection zone of the wall 26 of the disc 4 which provides a central flank 26b of the disc 4.

[0094] The central flank 26b of the disc 4 is inversely inclined relative to the peripheral flank 26a, being furthermore progressively curved towards the center of the disc 4. The central flank 26b comprises the recess 4a of the disc 4 providing the access passage to the service connectors 10a, 10b via the openings 12a, 12b which the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 comprises for this purpose. The inclinations of the flanks 26a, 26b relative to each other being concurrent, a circular rib 26d for stiffening the disc 4 is provided in the junction zone of the flanks 26a, 26b between them. Circular rib 26d is used to fix the disc 4 to the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 by hooking, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

[0095] In [Fig. 1] and Figures 3 and 4, the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 comprises a peripheral shoulder 6a for supporting the housing 5 against the upper face 2a of the work surface 2 when it is introduced inside the housing 3 that the work surface 2 comprises as illustrated in [Fig.7]. The peripheral shoulder 6a of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 comprises a plurality of grooves 34 which are angularly distributed and extend along its circumference.

[0096] The rib 26d that the disc 4 comprises is provided with hooks 35 which are angularly distributed along the circumference of the rib 26d of the disc 4. The disc 4 is assembled to the peripheral shoulder 6a of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5, by introducing the hooks 35 inside clearances 36 of the grooves 34 which are respectively assigned to them, then by reversible pivoting PV1 of the disc 4 around the vertical direction DV1 of extension of the grip 1 causing the introduction of the hooks 35 inside the grooves 34. It should be noted that a work surface 2 is often cluttered and / or that a sharp gesture can be laterally or vertically applied negligently by an individual.To prevent a moderate impact from causing damage to the disc 4 and / or its separation from the housing 5, the disc 4 is reinforced by the rib 26d which it comprises and is firmly assembled to the housing 5 by cooperation between the hooks 35 integrated into the rib 26d of the disc 4 and the grooves 34 which the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 comprises.

[0097] In Figures 7 to 9, the steps of installing the socket 1 inside the vertical extension housing 3 DV2 that the worktop 2 comprises are successively illustrated. As previously mentioned, the converter 15 is installed at a distance from the housing 3, for example being fixed under the worktop 2 of the furniture on its lower face 2b.

[0098] In [Fig.7], the housing 5 is electrically connected to the converter 15 prior to its introduction inside the housing 3. The cable 14 - fixedly and / or removably connected to the converter 15 - is introduced inside the housing 3 through its outlet open on the lower face 2b of the work surface 2. The cable 14 comprises a USB connector 10d which is fitted by the installer to the power supply connector 10c housed inside the housing 5 while being accessible through the opening 13 in the bottom 7 of the housing 5.

[0099] Then in [Fig.8], the fitter introduces the housing 5 inside the housing 3 - from its open outlet on the upper face 2a of the work surface 2 - until the shoulder 6a of the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 is applied against the upper face 2a of the work surface 2. The fitter moves the shoes 16a, 16b inside the columns 21a, 21b from their inactive station to their active station, via the tool 31 for driving the operating screws 17a, 17b in rotation, such as, according to the example illustrated, a cross-head screwdriver whose tip is shown. The notches 24 which the shoes 16a, 16b comprise emerge from the reserves 20a, 20b by penetrating transversely into the mass of the wall 2c of the work surface 2 delimiting the housing 3, to cause the anchoring of the socket 1 inside the work surface 2.

[0100] Then in [Fig.9], the fitter installs the disc 4 on the housing 5 by hooking, from a reversible pivoting PV1 of the disc 4 around the vertical direction DV1 of extension of the socket 1. The disc 4 then masks the upper wall 6 of the housing 5 from its shoulder 6a towards the cylindrical extension 6b. The recess 4a of the disc 4 allows access to the openings 12a, 12b formed through the upper wall 6 of the housing 5, which allows a user of the socket 1 to access the service connectors 10a, 10b to connect one or more electronic devices.

[0101] It will be noted that although an electrical outlet of the invention installed on a piece of furniture worktop is previously described and shown, the invention is of course, by transposition, applicable to such an electrical outlet installed on any wall of a piece of furniture, such as a side panel of a piece of furniture for example - or in other words a side wall of the piece of furniture - or for example an interior partition of the piece of furniture.

Claims

Claims

1. Electrical socket (1) with USB ports for equipment on a wall of a piece of furniture, such as a work surface (2) of furniture, inside a through housing (3) which it comprises, the electrical socket (1) extending in a vertical direction (DV1) and comprising at least: -) a housing (5) whose internal volume is delimited between an upper wall (6) overhanging a lower bottom (7) of the housing (5), and a peripheral side wall (8) of the housing (5) extending vertically between the upper wall (6) and the bottom (7) of the housing (5), the housing (5) being equipped with transverse support members participating in a means of centering the electrical socket (1) perpendicular to its vertical direction (DV1) of extension, -) at least one USB service connector (10a, 10b) housed inside the housing (5) and being accessible from outside the housing (5) via at least one opening (12a, 12b) in the upper wall (6) of the housing (5) assigned to said at least one service connector (10a, 10), as well as an electrical USB power connector (10c) of the socket (1) which is housed inside the housing (5) and being connected by cable (14) to a current converter (15), the power connector (10c) being accessible from outside the housing (5) via an opening (13) in a bottom (7) of the housing (5), and -) a cover (C4) for covering the upper wall (6) of the housing (5), comprising a passage (4a) for access to said at least one service connector (10a, 10b), characterized: in that the housing (5) is centered on the vertical direction (DV1) of extension of the electrical socket (1) and comprises internal partitions which delimit vertical extension columns (21a, 21b) which are integrated into the bottom (7) and the side wall (8) of the housing (5), the columns (21a, 21b) delimiting in their internal volume reserves (20a, 20b) each housing a shoe (16a, 16b), the shoes (16a, 16b) constituting said transverse support members, the columns (21a, 21b) each comprising a lateral outlet (22) towards the outside of the housing (5) which is formed through the side wall (8) of the housing (5), in that the shoes (16a, 16b) each comprise a notch (24) formed on their front face (23b) oriented towards the lateral outlets (22) of the columns (21a, 21b) which house them respectively, the shoes (16a,

2.

3. 16b) being maneuverable and guided in sliding inside the columns (21a, 21b) following their vertical extension, between an inactive station of the shoes (16a, 16b) retracted inside the reserves (20a, 20b) and an active station of the shoes (16a, 16b) moved overhanging the bottom (7) of the housing (5) by partially emerging from the reserves (20a, 20b) through the lateral opening (22) of the columns (21a, 21b), the shoes (16a, 16b) being maneuverable from outside the housing (5) by maneuvering screws (17a, 17b) which are respectively assigned to them and which are housed inside the housing (5). Electrical socket (1) according to claim 1, characterized: in that the transverse profiles of the shoes (16a, 16b) and the reserves (20a, 20b) are of complementary shapes, the reserves (20a, 20b) constituting a guide corridor for the shoes (16a, 16b) which they house respectively between their inactive station and their active station, in that a transversely rearward lateral partition (30b) of the columns (21a, 21b) extending opposite each other at a transverse distance from their lateral outlet (22), provides a guide ramp (25a) for the shoes (16a, 16b) which they house respectively between their inactive station and their active station via the rear face (23a) of the shoes (16a, 16b) which is applied against the guide ramp (25a) assigned to them, and in that the ramps guide (25a), the operating screws (17a, 17b) and the rear faces of the shoes (16a,16b) are inclined relative to the vertical direction (DV1) of extension of the electrical socket (1) according to a constant slope (PI), the guide ramps (25a) extending from the bottom (7) of the housing (5) while being inclined in the direction of the lateral outlet (22) of the columns (21a, 21b)., Electrical socket (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized: in that the operating screws (17a, 17b) are housed inside the housing (5) below its upper wall (6) which comprises passages (32) for introducing a tool (31) for driving the operating screws (17a, 17b) in rotation, and in that the columns (21a, 21b) each comprise an upper partition (30) of transverse extension which is arranged inside the columns (21a, 21b) below the upper wall (6) of the housing (5), the upper partitions (30) vertically closing the reserves (20a, 20b) while each arranging at the top of the columns (21a, 21b) a chamber (30a) for receiving a drive head (17d) and guiding the operating screws (17a, 17b) towards the shoes (16a, 16b) to which the operating screws (17a, 17b) are respectively engaged by screwing, a rotation of the operating screws (17a, 17b) moving the shoes (16a, 16b) inside the reserves (20a, 20b) between their inactive station and their active station.

4. Electrical socket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the columns (21a, 21b) are at least two in number, being arranged two by two symmetrically in transverse opposition to each other with respect to the vertical direction (DV1) of extension of the socket (1), two columns (21a, 21b) arranged symmetrically in transverse opposition providing between them inside the housing (5) a transversely median space for receiving an electronic card (10) which is equipped with said at least one service connector (10a, 10b) and the power connector (10c).

5. Electrical socket (1) according to claim 4, characterized: in that the electronic card (10) is mounted between the columns (21a, 21b) inside said transversely median space via vertical extension rails (11a, 11b) extending parallel to the vertical direction (DV1) of extension of the electrical socket (1) by being integrated into the internal face of the peripheral side wall (8) of the housing (5) and arranged transversely opposite each other, the transverse direction (T1) opposite the columns (21a, 21b) and the transverse direction (T2) opposite the rails (11a, 11b) being oriented perpendicularly to each other, the columns (21a, 21b) and the rails (11a, 11b) being alternately distributed angularly to the internal face of the side wall (8) of the housing (5) to 90° around the vertical direction (DV1) of extension of the electrical socket (1).

6. Electrical socket (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the rails (11a, 11b) and the columns (21a, 21b) constitute members for stiffening the peripheral side wall (8) of the housing (5).

7. Electrical socket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized: in that the bottom of the housing and the upper wall (6) of the housing (5) are assembled together by screwing, via fixing screws which extend vertically inside the housing (5) passing through the bottom of the housing (5) from the outside of the socket (1), the fixing screws being respectively introduced inside sets of coaxial barrels which are respectively assigned to them and which extend vertically between the bottom of the housing (5) and the upper wall (6) of the housing (5), in that each of the sets of coaxial barrels comprises a guide barrel integrated into the bottom of the housing (5) and a fixing barrel integrated into the upper wall (6) of the housing (5), the heads of the fixing screws bearing against the outer face of the bottom of the housing (5) and being guided via the guide barrels towards the fixing barrels inside which the fixing screws are screwed, and in that the sets of coaxial barrels are arranged at a distance from the electronic card (10) and form an internal reinforcement frame for the housing (5) reinforced by the fixing screws providing tie rods between the bottom of the housing (5) and the upper wall (6) of the housing (5).

8. Electrical socket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized: in that the upper wall (6) of the housing (5) comprises a shoulder (6a) providing a support member for suspending the housing (5), in that the cover (C4) is arranged in a hollowed-out disc (4a) centered in the vertical direction (DV1) of extension of the socket (1), via its recess (4a) which is fitted onto a cylindrical riser (6b) integrated into the upper face of the upper wall (6) of the housing (5), in that the disc (4) covers the upper wall (6) of the housing (5) by extending transversely beyond the periphery of the upper wall (6) of the housing (5), the recess (4a) of the disc (4) providing the passage (4a) for access to said at least one service connector (10a, 10b), said passage (4a) being arranged opposite said at least one opening (12a, 12b) which the upper wall (6) of the housing (5) comprises,in that the disc (4) is fixed by hooking to the upper wall (6) of the housing (5), via hooking members (34, 35) cooperating with each other with which the disc (4) and the shoulder (6a) of the upper wall (6) of the housing (5) are respectively equipped.,

9. Electrical socket (1) according to claim 8, characterized: in that the disc (4) is formed of a wall (26) whose peripheral edge provides at its base a seat (26c) of the disc (4) extending along a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction (DV1) of extension of the socket (1), in that the wall (26) forming the disc (4) extends in elevation in a rise from its seat (26c) by comprising flanks (26a, 26b) of concurrent orientations which are inclined relative to each other inversely towards the seat (26c) of the disc (4), of which a peripheral flank (26a) of the disc (4) providing its seat (26c) which is extended by a central flank (26b) delimiting the recess (4a) of the disc (4), a circular rib (26d) for stiffening the disc (4) being provided at the junction between the peripheral flank (26a) of the disc (4) and the central flank (26b) comprising its recess (4a).

10. Electrical socket (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the hooking members (34, 35) cooperating with each other with which the disc (4) and the shoulder (6a) of the upper wall (6) of the housing (5) are respectively equipped, comprise hooks (35) equipping the disc (4) by being integrated into the rib (26d) for stiffening the disc (4), the hooks (35) being angularly distributed along the circular extension of said rib (26d) and cooperating by reversible interlocking with respective grooves (34) which are provided on the periphery of the shoulder (6a) of the upper wall (6) of the housing (5).

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