A blanking accessory for a device support allowing cable passage and an electrical assembly comprising a profiled conduit equipped with such a blanking accessory.

Abstract

The invention relates to a shutter accessory (100) to be inserted into a longitudinal opening of a device support, which has a front face (101A) and two external lateral faces (102A) each having in projection at least one snap-in tooth (105) with a hooking edge (105A) turned outwards from the accessory, said hooking edges being adapted to hook onto two parallel longitudinal hooking edges of said device support which delimit said longitudinal opening in such a way that said front face closes a part of said longitudinal opening. According to the invention, two outwardly open notches (106) are provided in two separate external edges (101B) of said front face, shaped to accommodate and retain in a sliding manner two separate parts (51A, 51B) of an electrical cable (51) so that a length of the electrical cable navigates under said front face of the accessory.

Description

Title of the invention: A shutter accessory for a support of equipment allowing the passage of a cable and an electrical assembly comprising a profiled conduit equipped with such a shutter accessory

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to accessories to be added to the longitudinal opening of a support for equipment next to various electrical and / or electronic equipment mechanisms mounted in said longitudinal opening.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a shutter accessory.

[0003] It also relates to a multi-device block equipped with such a shutter accessory.

[0004] The invention finds an advantageous application in the realization of a multi-device block to be placed on any support or to be embedded in such a support, to be connected to the local network to supply power to a power outlet of said block to which is connected an electrical cable which can be freely used by any user to electrically recharge a mobile device.

[0005] The invention relates more particularly to a shutter accessory to be inserted into a longitudinal opening of a device support, this accessory having a front face and two lateral external faces which extend along two opposite external edges of the front face, each lateral external face having in projection at least one snap-on tooth with a hooking edge turned outwards from the accessory, the hooking edges of said snap-on teeth being adapted to hook onto two parallel longitudinal hooking edges of said device support which delimit said longitudinal opening in such a way that said front face closes a part of said longitudinal opening.

[0006] We know from document EP2079138, belonging to the applicants, of such a sealing accessory which forms a reinforcement accessory placed in the longitudinal opening of an electrical profiled conduit, through it, in the vicinity of an electrical apparatus mounted directly on clipping strips of said profiled conduit, to prevent, at least locally, the separation of said longitudinal opening and to ensure the proper holding of the electrical apparatus on the profiled conduit.

[0007] The main object of the present invention is to improve the safety of a device support comprising a power outlet to which is connected an electrical cable made available to the public for the electrical charging of a device mobile in order to prevent a user from easily detaching this electrical cable from said equipment support to take it with him.

[0008] More particularly, the invention proposes a shutter accessory for equipment support, as defined in the introduction, in which two notches open outwards from the accessory are provided in two separate external edges of said front face, shaped to accommodate and retain in a sliding manner two separate parts of an electrical cable so that a length of the electrical cable, extending between said separate parts, navigates under said front face of the accessory.

[0009] Other features of the shutter accessory according to the invention are as follows:

[0010] - the two outer edges provided with the notches are parallel edges which extend perpendicularly to said lateral external faces bearing the ratchet teeth;

[0011] - a side wall running along each outer edge provided with one of said notches, is, in continuity with the notch, split along its entire height, the slot in said side wall being delimited between two opposite edges forming a V such that this slot has a width which increases from the entrance of the notch to the free edge of said side wall;

[0012] - each notch is delimited by an edge extending over an arc of a circle whose the length is between sixty percent and seventy percent of the complete circle so that the notch has an entry for the insertion of the corresponding part of the electrical cable whose width is less than the diameter of said notch;

[0013] - the edge of each notch has a rounded profile;

[0014] - it comprises fastening means, distinct from said ratchet teeth, formed along said lateral external faces bearing said snap-on teeth, and arranged to cooperate with clipping strips of said device support in order to locally stabilize the width of said longitudinal opening;

[0015] - said attachment means comprise, along each lateral outer face, a rib adapted to engage behind a longitudinal wing of the corresponding clipping strip of the equipment support;

[0016] - said fastening means form part of two side walls of which the external faces bear the ratcheting teeth;

[0017] - it is provided projecting from each lateral external face carrying the ratcheting tooth, a support edge which extends opposite the engagement rim of said ratchet tooth, and which is located at a determined distance from this engagement rim to sandwich part of the equipment support between said attachment edge and said support edge;

[0018] - it is formed of two separate sealing elements that can be joined or positioned at a distance from each other in the longitudinal opening of the device support, each sealing element comprising a part of the front face, two lateral external faces extending along two opposite external edges of said part of the front face, each lateral external face having a protruding ratchet tooth with the hooking edge turned outwards from the accessory, and one of the two notches provided in an external edge of said part of the front face;

[0019] - the two shutter elements are identical.

[0020] - each sealing element is a single piece made of plastic material molded;

[0021] - each sealing element is a rectangular parallelepiped hollow towards the rear, which comprises a closing wall whose flat front face forms said part of the front face, this closing wall being bordered by four lateral walls which extend perpendicularly to said flat front face, of which two parallel end walls bear said ratchet teeth and two parallel longitudinal walls, perpendicular to the two end walls, one of said longitudinal walls, running along the outer edge provided with said notch, being provided with a slot extending over its entire height from its free edge to the entrance of said notch;

[0022] -it is formed of a single monobloc element made of molded plastic material, this element being a rectangular parallelepiped hollow towards the rear, which includes a closing wall whose flat front face forms said front face, two parallel external edges of which are provided with said notches open in opposite directions, this closing wall being bordered by four lateral walls which extend perpendicularly to said flat front face, two first parallel walls carrying said ratchet teeth and two second parallel walls, perpendicular to said first walls, each second wall running along an external edge provided with said notch and being provided with a slot extending over its entire height from its free edge to the entrance of said notch;

[0023] The invention also relates to an electrical assembly comprising, on the one hand, a profiled conduit with two parallel longitudinal wings whose front edges define between them a longitudinal opening extending along the longitudinal axis of said profiled conduit, each wing having on an inner face, along said front edge, a hooking edge, and, on the other hand, a shutter accessory according to the invention carried in said longitudinal opening, across it, the ratcheting teeth of the shutter accessory being hooked to said hooking edges of the wings of the profiled conduit so that the front face of said shutter accessory closes a part of said longitudinal opening, the two notches of said shutter accessory being open in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis of the profiled conduit.

[0024] Advantageously, according to the invention, this electrical assembly forms a multi-device block to be placed on any support or to be embedded in a wall.

[0025] The following description with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

[0026] On the attached drawings:

[0027] [Fig-1] is a schematic three-quarter front perspective view of a multi-block apparatus according to the invention,

[0028] [Fig.2] is a schematic front perspective view of an embodiment preferred shutter accessory according to the invention equipped with a USB cable,

[0029] [Fig.3] is a rear view of [Fig.2],

[0030] [Fig.4] is a schematic perspective view of the shutter accessory of the [Fig.2] when connecting the USB cable,

[0031] [Fig.5] is a schematic three-quarter front perspective view of an element shuttering of the shutter accessory of the [Fig.2],

[0032] [Fig.6] is a schematic three-quarter rear perspective view of the element [Fig.5]

[0033] [Fig.7] is a front view of [Fig.5],

[0034] [Fig.8] is a view of the left side of [Fig.5],

[0035] [Fig.9] is a top view of [Fig.5],

[0036] [Fig. 10] is a front perspective view of the shutter element of [Fig. 5] equipped with a USB cable,

[0037] [Fig. 11] is an enlarged view of detail A of [Fig. 10],

[0038] [Fig. 12] is a partial enlarged perspective view of the notch of the element [Fig.5]

[0039] [Fig. 13] is a front detail view of [Fig. 12],

[0040] [Fig. 14] is a front perspective view of the multi-device block of [Fig. 1] with a tear-off at the level of the shutter accessory according to the invention,

[0041] [Fig. 15] is a side view of the cut end of the multi-device block of [Fig.14],

[0042] [Fig. 16] is an enlarged view of detail B of [Fig. 15],

[0043] [Fig. 17] is a side perspective view of a step in positioning the USB cable on the shutter element of [Fig. 5],

[0044] [Fig. 18] is a side perspective view of another step in positioning the USB cable on the shutter element of [Fig. 5],

[0045] [Fig. 19] is a perspective view of a step in the placement of the shutter accessory of [Fig.2] in the longitudinal opening of the multi-device block of [Fig.1],

[0046] [Fig.20] is a perspective view of a step in the implementation of a variant of realization of the shutter accessory according to the invention equipped with a USB cable in the longitudinal opening of a multi-device block similar to that of [Fig.1],

[0047] [Fig.21] is a front perspective view of a wall-mounted multi-device block including a variant of the shutter accessory according to the invention equipped with a USB cable,

[0048] [Fig.22] is a cross-sectional view along plane AA of [Fig.21], and

[0049] [Fig.23] is an enlarged view of detail C of [Fig.22].

[0050] In the following description, the terms front and rear shall be defined with respect to the user's perspective, the front of an element of the invention being oriented towards the user, while the rear of that element is oriented away from the user. Similarly, the terms inside or internal and outside or external shall be defined with respect to the center of the various elements according to the invention, the inside or internal side of an element of the invention being oriented towards the center while the outside or external side of that element is oriented away from that center.

[0051] Figures 1, 14, 19, and 20 show a multi-device block 1 designed to be placed on any surface (such as a desk or table). This multi-device block 1 constitutes a multi-device support because it supports several electrical devices. In this case, it is a multi-socket power strip. Naturally, such a multi-device block could be adapted to be recessed into such a support.

[0052] This multi-device block 1 comprises a housing having, at the front, a longitudinal opening IA extending along the longitudinal axis X of said multi-device block 1, and, at the rear, a back wall 40 facing said longitudinal opening IA. It is formed by a profiled conduit, with longitudinal axis X, the two ends of which are closed by end caps 20.

[0053] The multi-device block 1 here has two feet 30 by which it can rest on the receiving support.

[0054] As shown more particularly in Figures 1, 14, 19 and 20, the profiled conduit comprises two identical parallel wings 10. Several plates fixed to the wings 10 form the bottom wall 40 of the housing of said multi-device block 1.

[0055] Each wing 10 is made by extruding a synthetic or metallic material (such as aluminium).

[0056] Each wing 10 is in the form of a rectangular plate with a front longitudinal edge 11 and a rear longitudinal edge 11' parallel to the longitudinal axis X.

[0057] The longitudinal opening IA of the housing of the multi-device block 1 corresponds to the longitudinal opening of the profiled conduit. This longitudinal opening IA is defined between the front longitudinal edges 11 of the two wings 10. The bottom wall 40 of the housing of said multi-device block 1 closes the space defined between the rear longitudinal edges 11' of said wings 10.

[0058] The wings 10 and the bottom wall 40 delimit between themselves an interior housing IB open towards the front by said longitudinal opening IA.

[0059] Each wing 10 has a smooth outer face 10A and an inner face 10B which carries a plurality of ribs (see figures 14 and 15).

[0060] The front longitudinal edge 11 of each wing 10 is formed by a return which extends perpendicularly to said inner face 10B towards the other wing 10. This return 11 has a longitudinal drop edge 1 IA which extends towards the rear longitudinal edge 11', opposite the inner face 10B of the wing 10. The return 11, the drop edge 1 IA and a part of the inner face 10B of the wing 10 define a first groove 1 IB, open towards the rear of the profiled duct, which runs along the front longitudinal edge 11 of the wing 10.

[0061] Each wing 10 also has on its inner face 10B other ribs 13, 14, 15 and 16 which extend generally in parallel, along the front longitudinal edges 11 and rear 11'.

[0062] One of said ribs 14 located approximately halfway between the front longitudinal edges 11 and rear 11' of the wing 10, has a profile in the shape of a portion of a cylinder so that it internally defines a cylindrical conduit 14B (see figures 14 and 15).

[0063] As Figures 15 and 16 show in particular, another rib 13 located near the front longitudinal edge 11 has a T-shaped profile with a foot attached to the wing 10 and a longitudinal wing 13A provided at the free end of the foot, which extends on either side of the foot perpendicularly to it (parallel to the inner face 10B of the wing 10). The rib 13 with its longitudinal wing 13A forms a clipping strip for mounting bases of various electrical devices 2, 3 in the inner housing IB of the multi-device block 1. A portion of the longitudinal wing 13A directed towards the front longitudinal edge 11 of the wing 10 defines, with the foot of the rib 13, a groove open at the front. In addition, the foot of rib 13 bears a longitudinal heel 13C, directed towards the rear longitudinal edge 1l' and extending opposite the inner face 10B of wing 10.The heel 13C, the rib 13 and part of the inner face 10B of said wing 10 define a second groove 13B, open towards the rear of the profiled conduit, parallel to the first groove 11B (see [Fig. 16]).

[0064] Another rib 15 located between the rear longitudinal edge 11' of the wing 10 and the central rib 14, has an L-shaped profile with a drop edge 15A directed towards the rear longitudinal edge 11', extending opposite the inner face 10B of the wing 10. The rib 15 and part of the inner face 10B of said wing 10 define a third groove 15B, open towards the rear of the profiled duct, parallel to the first and second grooves 11B, 13B (see [Fig.15]).

[0065] Finally, another rib 16, located near the rear longitudinal edge 11' of the wing 10, also has an L-shaped profile with a sloping edge 16A directed towards the rear longitudinal edge 11', extending opposite the inner face 10B of the wing 10. The rib 16 and a portion of the inner face 10B of the wing 10 define a rearward-opening groove 16B. The grooves 16B of the two wings 10 accommodate two longitudinal ribs 41 of the plates forming the bottom wall 40. In addition, these plates have teeth 42 that hook onto the front faces (opposite the grooves 16B) of the ribs 16 of the two wings 10 for attaching the bottom wall 40 to the wings 10 of the multi-device block housing 1 (see [Fig. 15]).

[0066] Each end piece 20 comprises a structural element (in two assembled parts) and a cover 22. The structural elements of the end pieces 20 are attached to the end edges 12 of the wings 10 of the profiled conduit to close the space between said end edges 12 and fix the spacing between the two wings 10.

[0067] Each foot 30 forms a single piece with one of the parts of each structural element of each end piece 20. This part of each structural element has tabs 21 that slide into the grooves 11B, 13B, 15B provided on the inner faces 10B of the wings 10 to adjust the position of this part on said wings 10. In addition, two screws VS are provided, engaged through two sleeves of said part of the structural element belonging to the foot 30 and screwed into said cylindrical channels 14B of the two wings 10 to secure each structural part of each end piece 20 and each foot 30 associated with the ends 12 of said wings 10.

[0068] As shown in Figures 1, 19 and 20, the covers 22 of the end caps 20 are snapped onto the structural element to cover them and enhance the overall appearance. The outer face 22A of the covers 22 forms part of the outer face of the multi-device block 1 by extending flush with the outer face 10A of the flanges 10 of the profiled conduit and establishing a junction between said outer faces 10A of said flanges 10.

[0069] Finally, the other part of the structural element of each tip 20 includes a front wall 25 which forms part of the front face of the multi-device block 1.

[0070] The multi-device block 1 here comprises two device mechanisms 2, 3 housed in the internal housing IB of the profiled conduit. According to the configuration shown in Figures 1, 19 and 20, the multi-device block 1 comprises a Franco-Belgian power socket mechanism 3 and a USB socket mechanism 2. The bases of the switchgear mechanisms 2, 3 are clipped onto the clipping strip 13, 13A of the wings 10 so that the functional faces 2A, 3A of these mechanisms close the longitudinal opening IA of the housing of the multi-switchgear block 1.

[0071] According to the invention, the multi-device block 1 forms an electrical assembly which includes a shutter accessory 100;100' allowing the connection of a power cable 50 to be secured in a connection well of a socket mechanism mounted in the profiled conduit of the multi-device block 1 in such a way that this power cable 50 can be used by a user to connect said socket mechanism a mobile device to be recharged but which cannot be removed from the profiled conduit of the multi-device block 1 by this user to take it with him.

[0072] The power cable 50 comprises an electrical cable 51, each end of which is provided with a connection plug 52.

[0073] Here, the power cable 50 is a USB cable (more specifically, a USB-C cable) with one connector 52 inserted into one of the two connection wells 2B of the USB socket mechanism 2 of the multi-device unit 1, and the other connector 52 freely accessible outside the multi-device unit 1 for connection to the user's mobile device socket. However, it could also be a USB-A cable, or a power cable to be connected to the French-Belgian power socket mechanism 3 of the multi-device unit 1, or any other power cable with one connector attached to a power socket mechanism designed to receive such a connector.

[0074] Figures 1 to 19 show a preferred embodiment of the shutter accessory 100 according to the invention. Figure 20 shows an alternative embodiment of this shutter accessory 100'.

[0075] Figures 21 to 23 show another embodiment of the shutter accessory 100” according to the invention, specially adapted for mounting in the longitudinal opening 223 of a wall-mounted switchgear support 220. The specific features of this other embodiment will be described at the end of this description.

[0076] Regardless of the embodiments shown in the various figures, essentially, the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100” has a front face 101A; 101'A; 101”A and two lateral external faces 102A; 102'A; 102”A extending along two opposite outer edges 101C; 101'C; 101”C of the front face 101A; 101'A; 101”A, each lateral external face 102A; 102'A; 102”A having at least one protruding ratchet tooth 105; 105'; 105” with a latching edge 105A; 105'A; 105”A facing outwards from the accessory, the latching edges 105A ;105'A ;105”A of said ratchet teeth 105 ;105' ;105” being adapted to hook onto two longitudinal hooking edges 11A ;224 parallels of the housing of the multi-device block 1 or of the wall-mounted device support 220 which delimit the longitudinal opening IA ;223 of the latter in such a way that said front face 101A;101'A;101”A closes a part of said longitudinal opening IA ;223.

[0077] In the case of the multi-device block 1 shown in figures 1, 14, 15, 16, 19 and 20, the two hooking edges on which the hooking edges 105A;105'A of the ratchet teeth 105;105' of the obturator accessory 100;100' hook, are the falling edges 11A of the returns 11 of the wings 10 of the profiled conduit.

[0078] Remarkably, in accordance with the invention, two external edges 101B; 101'B; 101"B, distinct from the front face 101A; 101'A; 101"A of the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100", are provided with two notches 106; 106'; 106", open outwards from the accessory, shaped to accommodate and retain in a sliding manner two distinct portions 51A, 51B of the electrical cable 51 of said power cable 50, such that a length 51C of the electrical cable 51, extending between said distinct portions 51A, 51B, navigates under said front face 101A; 101'A; 101"A of the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100" (see in particular Figures 2, 3, 20 and 21).

[0079] Thus, advantageously, as Figures 2, 3, 20 and 21 better show, when the power cable 50 is mounted on the shutter accessory 100;100';100”, two end portions of the electrical cable 51 fitted with said plugs 52 extend forward, outside the shutter accessory 100;100';100”, two separate portions 51A, 51B of the electrical cable 51 are held in said notches 106;106';106” provided in two external edges of the shutter accessory 100;100';100” and a portion 51C of this electrical cable 51 passes behind the front face 101A;101'A;101”A of the shutter accessory 100;100' ;100”.

[0080] The shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100” equipped with the power cable 50 forms a unit element (shown in particular in Figures 2, 20) which can be inserted and snapped into place through the longitudinal opening IA; 223 of the profiled conduit of the multi-device block 1 or of the wall-mounted device support 220 so that, on the one hand, the front face 101A; 101'A; 101”A of the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100” locally closes this longitudinal opening IA;223, by positioning itself flush with the functional faces 2A, 3A, 4A of the switchgear mechanisms 2, 3, 4 of the multi-switchgear block 1 or the wall-mounted switchgear support 220, and, on the other hand, said part 51C of the electrical cable 51 navigating behind said front face of the shutter accessory 100;100';100” disappears into the multi-switchgear block 1 or under the wall-mounted switchgear support 220. This part 51C of the electrical cable 51 is therefore no longer accessible to a user.The power cable 50 is trapped in the profiled conduit of the multi-device block 1 or in the wall-mounted device support 220 with its two end parts fitted with plugs 52 which emerge at. the front and outside of the multi-device block 1 or the wall bracket 220 to be connected to the corresponding socket wells (that of the socket mechanism 2 of the block or the wall device bracket and that of the socket of the mobile device to be charged).

[0081] Regardless of the embodiment of the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100” shown, the two external edges 101B; 101'B; 101”B provided with the notches 106; 106'; 106” are parallel edges that extend perpendicularly to said lateral external faces 102A; 102'A; 102”A bearing the snap-in teeth 105; 105'; 105”. Thus, once mounted in the longitudinal opening IA; 223 of the housing of the multi-device block 1 or wall-mounted device support 220, said external edges 101B; 101'B; 101”B extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal edges 11A, 224 of the longitudinal opening IA; 223, along the edges of the functional faces 2A, 3A, 4A of said equipment mechanisms 2, 3, 4, with notches 106;106';106" open in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis X of the longitudinal opening IA.

[0082] Advantageously, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, each notch of the shutter accessory is delimited by an edge 106;106';106" extending over an arc of a circle whose length is between sixty percent and seventy percent of the complete circle so that the notch 106 has an entry for the insertion of the corresponding part of the electrical cable 51 whose width L (measured between the two ends 106A of the edge 106) is less than the diameter D of said notch 106. In addition, the edge 106;106';106" of each notch has a rounded profile.

[0083] The diameter D of the notch 106 corresponds, within a certain clearance, to the external diameter of the insulating sheath of the electrical cable 51. Here, it is between 6 and 7 mm. The diameter D is such that the electrical cable 51 can slide freely through each notch 106. By sliding the electrical cable 51 through each notch 106 of the shutter accessory 100, the desired cable length can be easily adjusted to be inserted behind the front face 101A of the shutter accessory 100.

[0084] The electrical cable 51 is nevertheless held in the notch 106 because it cannot spontaneously exit the notch 106 through the entry whose width L is slightly less than the external diameter of the insulating sheath of the electrical cable 51.

[0085] Each part 51 A, 5 IB of the electrical cable 51 is forcibly inserted into each notch 106; 106'; 106" of the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100", through the reduced width L entry by passing a hard point at the rounded free ends 106A of the edge 106 of the notch which delimit said entry.

[0086] It should be noted that once inserted into each notch 106; 106'; 106”, a portion of the insulating sheath of the electrical cable 51 may protrude slightly from each notch 106'; 106'; 106" of the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100", at the center of the notch entry. In this case, advantageously, when the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100" is mounted in the longitudinal opening IA; 223 of the housing of the multi-device block 1 or the wall-mounted device support 220, a side wall of each device adjacent to said shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100" or an edge of the finishing plate 210 (in the case of the wall-mounted device support), is able to slightly compress this part of the electrical cable 51 that protrudes from the notch, without preventing it from sliding in said notch. This arrangement allows for better control of the variation in the diameters of the electrical cables that can be associated with the shutter accessory 100; 100'; 100”.

[0087] According to the embodiments of the shutter accessory 100;100” shown in Figures 2 to 19 and 21 to 23, it is formed of two separate shutter elements 100A, 100B;100"A, 100"B (see [Fig.4]) which can be joined (see Figures 2 to 19) or positioned at a distance from each other (see Figures 21 to 23) in the longitudinal opening IA;223 of the housing of the multi-device block 1 or of the wall-mounted device support 220.

[0088] Each sealing element 100A, 100B; 100"A, 100"B comprises a portion of the front face 101A; 101"A, two lateral external faces 102A; 102"A which extend along two opposite external edges 101C; 101"C of said portion of the front face 101A; 101"A. Each external lateral face 102A;102"A has a projecting ratchet tooth 105;105" with the hooking edge 105A;105"A facing outwards from the accessory. Each shutter element 100A, 100B;100"A, 100"B has only one of the two notches 106;106" of the shutter accessory 100;100", provided in an external edge 101B;101"B of said part of the front face 101A;101"A.

[0089] The two shuttering elements 100A, 100B; 100"A, 100"B are advantageously identical.

[0090] Each sealing element 100A, 100B; 100"A, 100"B is a single piece made of molded plastic. The plastic material is a rigid plastic such as polycarbonate.

[0091] As Figures 5 to 9 show in particular, each shutter element 100A, 100B; 100"A, 100"B has a domino or piano key shape. It extends lengthwise along axis XI, widthwise along axis X2, and heightwise along axis X3. It is a rectangular parallelepiped, hollow towards the rear, which includes a closing wall 101; 101" whose flat front face forms said part of the front face 101A; 101"A. This closing wall 101; 101" is bordered by four lateral walls 102, 103, 104; 102" which extend perpendicularly to said flat front face, including two parallel end walls 102; 102" and two Longitudinal walls 103, 104 are parallel and perpendicular to the two end walls 102; 102”. Each sealing element 100A, 100B; 100”A, 100”B thus has five flat external faces: the front face, two parallel end lateral faces 102A; 102”A, and two parallel longitudinal lateral faces 103A. The end lateral faces are perpendicular to the longitudinal lateral faces. The end lateral faces and the longitudinal lateral faces are perpendicular to the front face.

[0092] The end walls 102; 102” carry said ratchet teeth 105; 105”. As shown more particularly in [Fig.9], each end wall 102 has a window 102B in which extends the ratchet tooth 105 which is attached to an edge of the window by a tab 105C articulated by a hinge 105D.

[0093] One of the two longitudinal walls 103, 104 of each sealing element 100A, 100B, running along the outer edge 101B provided with said notch 106, includes a slot 107 extending along its entire height from the free edge 104C of said longitudinal wall 103, 104 to the entrance of said notch 106. The other longitudinal wall 103, 104 of each sealing element 100A, 100B, extending along the outer edge 10IB of the part of the front face 101A without a notch, is not slotted (see [Fig.6]). The slot is delimited between two opposite edges 107 forming a V such that this slot has a width which increases from the entrance of the notch 106 to the free edge 104C of said longitudinal wall 103,104 (see figures 5 and 6).

[0094] This slot 107 forms a channel for engaging the portion of the electrical cable 51 in the corresponding notch 106 of the sealing element 100A, 100B. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the electrical cable 51 is passed behind the front face 101A of the sealing element 100A and then is engaged laterally in the wider part of the slot 107. It is then pushed laterally towards the entrance of the notch 106, guided by the edges 107 of the slot, until a portion 5IB of the electrical cable 51 is forced through the entrance of the notch 106 and engages in it (see Figures 10 and 11).

[0095] The two sealing elements 100A, 100B of the sealing accessory 100 are joined by the longitudinal walls 103, 104, which are without slots (see [Fig. 3]), so as to form a single closing wall 101 with a square front face 101A having two notches 106 on the outer edges 101B and two lateral walls 102 perpendicular to said outer edges 10IB, each having two snap-on teeth 105 (see [Fig. 2]). As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the portions 51A, 51B of the electrical cable 51 are engaged in the notches 106 and the corresponding slots 107, so that a portion 51C of the electrical cable 51 extends behind the closing wall 101.

[0096] As shown in [Fig. 21], it is possible to use the two shutter elements 100”A, 100”B of the shutter accessory 100”, spaced apart. The longitudinal walls without slots are always positioned on the same side, framing one or more control mechanisms 4 attached to the longitudinal opening of the control support 220. The front face 101”A of the shutter accessory 100”, is divided into two parts framing the control mechanism(s) 4. One of the front faces 101”A of the shutter accessory 100”, is positioned, in all cases, next to the functional face 2A of the socket mechanism 2, to which one of the plugs 52 of the power cable 50 must be connected in order to facilitate this connection.The 106” notches are oriented outwards from the shutter accessory 100”, one is open towards the socket mechanism 2 to which the power cable 50 must be connected and the other 106” notch is open in the opposite direction.

[0097] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 20], the shutter accessory 100' is formed of a single, one-piece element made of molded plastic (a rigid material such as polycarbonate). This element is a rectangular parallelepiped, hollow towards the rear, which includes a closing wall 101' whose flat front face with a square contour forms said front face 101'A, two parallel outer edges 101'B of which are provided with said notches 106' opening in opposite directions. This closing wall 101' is bordered by four lateral walls extending perpendicularly from said flat front face, the first two parallel walls 102' carrying said ratchet teeth 105' and the second two parallel walls 103', 104' being perpendicular to said first walls 102'.Each second wall 103', 104', running along an outer edge 101'B provided with said notch 106', is provided with a slot 107' extending along its entire height from the free edge 104'C of said second wall 103', 104' to the entrance of said notch 106'. The slot is delimited between two opposing edges 107' forming a V such that this slot has a width that increases from the entrance of the notch 106' to the free edge 104'C of said second wall 103', 104'. As previously described for the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, this slot 107' forms an engagement channel for part 51a, 51B of the electrical cable 51 into the corresponding notch 106' of the shutter accessory 100'.

[0098] Each first lateral wall 102' of the shutter accessory 100' carries, side-by-side, two ratchet teeth 105'. The ratchet teeth 105' are also placed in windows of each first lateral wall 102', they are each attached to an edge of the window by an articulated tab.

[0099] As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 16, advantageously, the shutter accessory 100 according to the preferred embodiment comprises attachment means 102C, distinct from said ratchet teeth 105, formed along said faces External lateral faces 102A bearing said engagement teeth 105, and arranged to cooperate with the clipping bands 13, 13A of the profiled conduit of the multi-device block 1 in order to locally stabilize the width of said longitudinal opening IA of said profiled conduit. These attachment means comprise, along each external lateral face 102A, a rib 102C adapted to engage in the groove behind a longitudinal wing 13A of the corresponding clipping band 13, 13A of the wing 10 of the profiled conduit of the multi-device block 1. Said attachment means 102C form part of the two lateral end walls 102, the external faces 102A of which bear the engagement teeth 105.

[0100] As shown better in [Fig.6], each rib 102C provided along each end wall 102 of the sealing element 100A of the sealing accessory 100 is offset relative to the edge 104C of a lower part 104 of the two longitudinal walls 103, 104 of this sealing element 100A so that a notch 108 is formed between the rib 102C and each longitudinal wall 103, 104 of the sealing element 100A of the sealing accessory 100.

[0101] When the obturator accessory 100 is placed in the longitudinal opening IA of the profiled conduit of the multi-device block 1, the ribs 102C provided on the two end sides of the obturator elements 100A, 100B of the obturator accessory 100 engage in the groove behind the forward-facing portions of the longitudinal wings 13A of the clipping bands of the two wings 10 of the profiled conduit. These portions of the longitudinal wings 13A are locked in the notches 108 of the obturator elements 100A, 100B of the obturator accessory 100 (see [Fig. 16]).

[0102] This arrangement of attachment means is also provided in the shutter accessory 100' comprising a single monobloc element shown in [Fig.20].

[0103] Figures 21 to 23 show an embodiment of the shutter accessory 100” specially adapted to be mounted in the longitudinal opening 223 of a wall-mounted equipment support 220.

[0104] The common parts of this 100” shutter accessory with the 100 shutter accessory shown in figures 2 to 19 have already been described previously, only the particularities of this 100” shutter accessory will be described below.

[0105] The switchgear support 220 is quite conventional. It is a multi-gang support in the form of a flat, rectangular frame consisting of a metal core 221 covered with an insulating (plastic) skin 222. The frame has a generally rectangular longitudinal opening 223 delimited by four sides by a mounting flange 224. Such a support is intended to be fixed to a flush-mounting box (not shown). Various switchgear mechanism bases, here a USB socket mechanism base and a power socket mechanism base 4, are mounted in the longitudinal opening 223 of the support. of devices 220 by being attached on two parallel longitudinal sides of the attachment rim 224.

[0106] This switchgear support 220 belongs to an electrical assembly 200 which includes a cover plate 210 attached and fixed (generally by snap-fitting) to the front face of the switchgear support 220 so that the peripheral edge 211 of the central opening of the cover plate 210 closely surrounds the functional faces 2A, 4A of the switchgear mechanisms 2, 4 which emerge in the central opening of the cover plate 210. The front face 210A of the cover plate 210 attached to the switchgear support 220 extends flush with said functional faces 2A, 4A.

[0107] As shown more particularly in Figures 22 and 23, the shutter accessory 100" has, projecting from each lateral outer face 102"A carrying the latching tooth 105", a bearing edge 101"E which extends opposite the latching edge 105"A of said latching tooth 105" and which is located at a determined distance from this latching edge 105"A so as to sandwich a portion of the gear support 220 between said latching edge 105"A and said bearing edge 101"E. This bearing edge 101"E forms the free end of a rear edge 101"D of the closing wall 101" of the shutter accessory 100" which extends rearward on each lateral face 102”A of the accessory in the direction of the corresponding ratchet tooth 105” carried by this lateral face 102” A.

[0108] The invention is not limited to the detailed description and various other modifications may be made to it within the scope of the annexed claims.

Claims

Demands

1. A shutter accessory (100; 100'; 100") to be inserted into a longitudinal opening (IA; 223) of a device support (1; 220), this accessory having a front face (101A; 101'A; 101"A) and two lateral external faces (102A; 102'A; 102"A) extending along two opposite outer edges (101C; 101'C; 101"C) of the front face (101A; 101'A; 101"A), each lateral external face (102A; 102'A; 102"A) having at least one projecting locking tooth (105; 105'; 105") with a hooking rim (105A; 105'A; 105"A) facing outwards the accessory, the hooking edges (105A; 105'A; 105”A) of said ratchet teeth (105; 105'; 105”) being adapted to hook onto two parallel longitudinal hooking edges (11A; 224) of said device support (1; 220) which delimit said longitudinal opening (IA; 223) in such a way that said front face (101A; 101'A; 101”A) closes a part of said longitudinal opening (IA;223), characterized in that it is provided in two external edges (101B; 101'B; 101”B) distinct from said front face (101A; 101'A; 101”A), two notches (106; 106'; 106”) open outwards from the accessory, shaped to accommodate and retain in a sliding manner two distinct parts (51A, 51B) of an electrical cable (51) such that a length (51C) of the electrical cable (51), extending between said distinct parts (51A, 51B), navigates under said front face (101A; 101'A; 101”A) of the accessory.;

2. Shutter accessory (100;100';100") according to claim 1, wherein the two external edges (101B;101'B;101"B) provided with the notches (106;106';106") are parallel edges which extend perpendicularly to said lateral external faces (102A;102'A;102"A) carrying the ratchet teeth (105;105';105").

3. A shutter accessory (100; 100') according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a side wall (103, 104; 103', 104') running along each outer edge (101B; 101'B) provided with one of said notches (106; 106') is, in continuity with the notch (106; 106'), slotted along its entire height, the slot of said side wall (103,104 ; 103', 104') being delimited between two opposite edges (107 ;107') forming a V such that this slot has a width which increases from an entrance of the notch (106 ;106') to a free edge (104C ;104'C) of said side wall (103,104 ;103', 104').

4. A shutter accessory (100; 100'; 100") according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each notch is delimited by an edge (106; 106'; 106") extending over an arc of a circle whose length is between sixty percent and seventy percent of the complete circle so that the notch has an entry for the insertion of a corresponding portion of the electrical cable whose width (L) is less than the diameter (D) of said notch.

5. Shutter accessory (100; 100'; 100") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge (106; 106'; 106") of each notch has a rounded profile.

6. A shutter accessory (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are provided hooking means (102C), separate from said ratchet teeth (105), formed along said lateral external faces (102A) carrying said ratchet teeth (105), and arranged to cooperate with clipping strips of said device support (1) in order to locally stabilize the width of said longitudinal opening (IA).

7. A shutter accessory (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said attachment means comprise, along each lateral outer face (102A), a rib (102C) adapted to engage behind a longitudinal wing (13A) of the corresponding clipping strip of the equipment support (1).

8. A shutter accessory (100) according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein said hooking means (102C) form part of two side walls (102) whose external faces (102A) carry the snap-on teeth (105).

9. A shutter accessory (100”) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a bearing edge (101”) is provided projecting from each lateral outer face (102”) carrying the ratcheting tooth (105”), extending opposite the hooking edge (105”) of said ratcheting tooth (105”) and situated at a specified distance from this hooking edge (105”) to take hold of sandwich a portion of the equipment support (220) between said hook edge (105”A) and said bearing edge (101”E).

10. Obturator accessory (100; 100”) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is formed of two separate obturator elements (100A, 100B; 100”A, 100”B) that can be joined or positioned at a distance from each other in the longitudinal opening (IA; 223) of the appliance support (1; 220), each obturator element (100A, 100B; 100”A, 100”B) comprising a portion of the front face (101A; 101”A), two lateral external faces (102A; 102”A) extending along two opposite external edges (101C; 101”C) of said portion of the front face (101A; 101”A), each lateral external face (102A; 102”A) having a projecting tooth snap-on (105;105”) with the hooking rim (105A;105”A) turned outwards from the accessory, and one of the two notches (106;106”) provided in an outer edge (101B;101”B) of said part of the front face (101A;101”A).

11. Shutter accessory (100;100”) according to the preceding claim, wherein the two shutter elements (100A,100B;100”A,100”B) are identical.

12. Shutter accessory (100;100”) according to any one of claims 10 and 11, wherein each shutter element (100A,100B;100”A,100”B) is a one-piece piece made of molded plastic material.

13. A shutter accessory (100; 100”) according to claim 4, wherein each shutter element (100A, 100B; 100”A, 100”B) is a rectangular parallelepiped hollow towards the rear, comprising a closing wall (101; 101”), a flat front face of which forms said part of the front face (101A; 101”A), this closing wall (101; 101”) being bordered by four lateral walls extending perpendicularly from said flat front face, two parallel end walls (102; 102”) carrying said ratchet teeth (105; 105”) and two parallel longitudinal walls (103, 104) perpendicular to the two end walls (102), one of said longitudinal walls (103, 104) running along the edge external provided with said notch (106), being provided with a slot (107) extending along its entire height from a free edge (104C) to the entrance of said notch (106).

14. A shutter accessory (100') according to claim 4, which is formed of a single, one-piece element made of molded plastic, this element being a rectangular parallelepiped hollow towards the rear, which includes a closing wall (101') having a flat front face forming said front face (101'A), two parallel external edges (101'B) of which are provided with said notches (106') open in opposite directions, this closing wall (101') being bordered by four lateral walls extending perpendicularly to said flat front face, of which two first parallel walls (102') carrying said ratchet teeth (105') and two second parallel walls (103', 104') perpendicular to said first walls (102'), each second wall (103', 104') running along an external edge provided with said notch (106'), being provided with a slot (107') extending along its entire height from a free edge (104'C) to the entrance of said notch (106').

15. An electrical assembly (1) comprising, on the one hand, a profiled conduit with two parallel longitudinal wings (10) whose leading edges (11) define between them a longitudinal opening (IA) extending along the longitudinal axis (X) of said profiled conduit, each wing (10) having on an inner face (10B), along said leading edge (11), a hooking edge (1 IA), and, on the other hand, a shutter accessory (100; 100') according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 10 to 14, provided in said longitudinal opening (IA), transversely thereto, the ratcheting teeth (105; 105') of the shutter accessory (100; 100') being hooked to said hooking edges (1 IA) of the wings (10) of the profiled conduit so that the front face (101 A) of said accessory shutter (100; 100') closes a part of said longitudinal opening (IA), the two notches (106; 106') of said shutter accessory (100;100' ) being open in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis (X) of the profiled conduit.;

16. Electrical assembly according to claim 15, which forms a multi-device block (1) to be placed on any support or to be embedded in a wall.