Wiring tool mounting frame

Abstract

To provide a wiring tool mounting frame in which multiple wiring tool mounting frames can be arranged to be connected, and a wiring tool 20 can be mounted without large rotational operation.SOLUTION: A locking projection 13 is formed on one side edge of a mounting frame body 10, and a support plate part 14 bent so as to extend from a front surface toward a rear surface is disposed on the other side edge. A claw fixation part 15 is formed in the support plate part 14. The claw fixation part 15 includes a guidance gap 16 and a caulking part 17. To dispose a wiring tool 20 to be inserted from the rear side of the mounting frame body 10 into an inner opening 11, a locked claw 25 of the wiring tool 20 is disposed in the guidance gap 16 and the locked claw 25 is moved along the guidance gap 16. Further, the locked claw 25 disposed on an end of the guidance gap 16 is caulked and fixed to the claw fixation part 15 with the caulking part 17.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiring device mounting frame used for mounting wiring devices such as switches and outlets on an indoor wall surface or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] This type of wiring device mounting frame has been widely known, and it is also well known that the wiring device to be mounted has locking fittings 23 attached to both sides as shown in Figure 1. Locking fitting 23 has locking groove 24 formed in the center, and locking claws 25 protrude from both sides of locking groove 24.

[0003] Conventionally, two main methods have been adopted for mounting wiring devices to wiring device mounting frames. These two methods are described in Patent Document 1, and will be described with reference to this document. Note that the reference characters and figure numbers used in the following description of Patent Document 1 are the reference characters and figure numbers given in Patent Document 1.

[0004] The first method, as described in Figures 8 and 9 of Document 1 and paragraph "0003" of the specification, is a method that utilizes the locking hole 108 of the switch 102 (wiring device), in which the fixed locking portion 107 of the mounting frame 101 is inserted into one of the locking holes 108 of the switch 102 to lock it, and then the crimped locking portion 109 of the mounting frame 101 is inserted into the other locking hole (not shown) of the switch 102 to lock it, thereby attaching the switch 102 to the mounting frame 101. The crimping locking portion 109 is formed by a cloud-shaped portion 110 facing the opening 104 and a notch portion 111 formed in the device support portion 105b along the cloud-shaped portion 110. With the locking hole (not shown) of the switch 102 facing the cloud-shaped portion 110, a flathead screwdriver or the like is inserted into the notch portion 111 to deform the cloud-shaped portion 110 toward the locking hole, so that the crimping locking portion 109 deforms so as to protrude into the opening 104. This operation causes the crimping locking portion 109 to be inserted into the locking hole (not shown) of the switch 102. As a result, the switch 102 is attached to the mounting frame 101 in a crimped state.

[0005] The second method, as described in paragraph "0004" of the specification of the same document 1, utilizes the locking claw 112 of the wiring device, and is a method in which a device support part and a movable locking part are provided to clamp the locking claw 112 provided on the wiring device, thereby enabling the switch to be attached with one touch. The movable locking part is elastically deformable in the extending direction of the locking claw 112. Therefore, when the wiring device is locked to the device support part and then rotated around the locking part as a fulcrum to attach it to the mounting frame, the locking claw 112 of the wiring device elastically deforms the movable locking part and overcomes the movable locking part, and is locked to the movable locking part.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 also discloses a wiring device mounting frame of a type (third type) that mixes the above two types. That is, paragraph "0033" of Patent Document 1 states the following: "In a state where the fixed locking portion 5 of the device support portion 3 is inserted and locked into the locking hole 108 provided on one side of the switch 102 (see FIG. 5(a)), the action portion 103 of the switch 102 is inserted into the opening 2 of the frame body 4. Then, with the insertion operation, the locking claw 112 extending laterally from the other side of the switch 102 overcomes the locking action portion 13 of the movable locking portion 6 while elastically deforming the movable locking portion 6. As a result, the locking claw 112 of the switch 102 is clamped and locked between the back surface of the device support portion 3b and the movable locking portion 6. In this state, the switch 102 is With its front surface abutting and supported against the back surface of one of the instrument support parts 3a and with its front surface abutting and supported against the back surface of the other instrument support part 3b via a metal elastic piece 11, its two sides are engaged with the fixed engagement part 5 and the movable engagement part 6, and the switch 102 is attached to the mounting frame 1 with the action part 103 inserted through the opening 2 of the frame body 4 (see FIG. 5(b)). In other words, the switch 102 can be easily attached to the mounting frame 1 by the simple operation of inserting the action part 103 of the switch 102 into the opening 2 of the frame body 4 with one side of the switch 102 engaged with the fixed engagement part 5." The locking hole 108 in the document 1 corresponds to the locked groove 24 shown in FIG. 1 of the present application, and the locking claw 112 in the document 1 corresponds to the locked claw 25 shown in FIG. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-37038 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The above-mentioned conventional wiring device mounting frame of the first type requires the cloud-shaped portion 110 for pressing and deforming the crimping engagement portion 109, the notch 111 for inserting a tool such as a flat-head screwdriver, and the like, and therefore inevitably has a dimensional structure that protrudes significantly to the side. On the other hand, when multiple wiring device mounting frames are used side by side, in a so-called connected arrangement, the center-to-center distance between each wiring device mounting frame (distance between screw fastening lines) is standardized by the wiring industry's own standard (Japan Wiring System Industry Association standard) (JWDS0032). As described above, the first type of wiring device mounting frame is non-standard due to the dimensional structure in which the crimped engagement portion protrudes significantly to the side, and has the disadvantage that it cannot be used in a connected arrangement.

[0009] In addition, in the wiring device mounting frames of the above-mentioned conventional second type and the third type disclosed in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 5a in Patent Document 1, when mounting a switch 102 to the mounting frame 1, the switch 102 is rotated around a fixed locking portion 5 that is locked in a locking hole 108 provided on one side of the switch 102 as a fulcrum, and a locking claw 112 extending from the other side of the switch 102 is locked to a movable locking portion 6. Because switch 102 (i.e., the wiring device) requires such a large rotational operation, in a wiring device (e.g., an optical fiber outlet) that has a component that protrudes significantly from the surface (boss surface), there is a risk that the component will interfere with the mounting frame when the rotational operation is performed, making it impossible to install the device.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a wiring device mounting frame that can be installed by arranging multiple panels in series and that allows wiring devices to be attached without having to make large rotational operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directed to a wiring device which has an engaging portion on one side and an engaging claw protruding from the other side, has an inner opening for placing the wiring device, and a mounting frame main body is formed to surround the inner opening, and a locking portion for fixing the engaging portion of the wiring device is formed on the inner edge of one side edge of the mounting frame main body which contacts the inner opening, and a support plate portion is provided on the other side edge of the mounting frame main body which is bent so as to extend from the front side to the back side, and a claw fixing portion is formed on this support plate portion for fixing the engaging claw of the wiring device. The claw fixing portion is characterized in that it comprises a guide gap for guiding the engaging claw of the wiring device to avoid interference with the engaging claw when the wiring device is inserted into the inner opening from the back side of the mounting frame body, and a crimping portion for crimping and fixing the engaging claw, which is positioned at the end of the guide gap, to the claw fixing portion when the wiring device is positioned in the inner opening.

[0012] In addition, the present invention can also be configured so that the crimping portion has an elastic leg portion extending like a rod and a crimping claw portion formed at the tip portion of the leg portion, and the crimping claw portion is positioned so as to protrude into the rear space side of the inner opening, and when the wiring device is placed in the inner opening, the crimping claw portion abuts against the wiring device and presses the wiring device toward one of the inner edges on which the engagement portion is formed.

[0013] The guide gap of the claw fixing portion is formed by hollowing out the support plate portion, and the crimping portion can be formed so that the leg portion rises from the base of the support plate portion along the guide gap. Effect of the Invention

[0014] In the wiring device mounting frame according to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the side edge of the mounting frame main body is bent so as to extend from the front to the back surface to provide a support plate portion, and the claw fixing portion is formed on this support plate portion, so that even if a guide gap or a crimp portion is formed on the claw fixing portion, the size and shape of the support plate portion simply expands in the back surface direction and does not protrude significantly to the side of the mounting frame main body. Therefore, it is possible to install multiple pieces in a connected arrangement. Furthermore, when attaching the wiring device, the hook-fitted claws are inserted into the guide gaps and moved and guided along the guide gaps, so that the wiring device can be attached without requiring significant rotational operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a wiring fixture to be attached. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a wiring device mounting frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view for explaining a process of mounting a wiring device on a wiring device mounting frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a process of mounting a wiring device on the wiring device mounting frame according to the embodiment of the present invention, following FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 13(a) to 13(c) are enlarged partial side views showing the claw fixing portion. [Figure 6] 1A is an enlarged partial side view illustrating the operation of crimping and fixing the engaging claw of a wiring device to the claw fixing portion, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged partial side view illustrating the operation of removing the engaging claw of the wiring device that has been crimped and fixed from the claw fixing portion. [Figure 7] 5(a) and 5(b) are enlarged cross-sectional views taken along the line AA in FIG. 5(b), showing the configuration of the crimped portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a configuration example of a wiring device 20 to be mounted on a wiring device mounting frame according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The wiring device 20 shown in Fig. 1 is an outlet installed on a wall surface or the like indoors, and has a pair of plug insertion holes 22 provided on a surface (boss surface) 21 of the device body. Lockable metal fittings 23 are attached to both sides of the device body. Lockable metal fittings 23 have a square cutout hole provided in the center, which forms a lockable groove (lockable portion) 24. Although only the lockable groove 24 of the lockable metal fitting 23 attached to one side can be seen in Fig. 1, the lockable metal fitting 23 attached to the other side also has a similar lockable groove 24 formed therein. Furthermore, a pair (two) of lockable claws 25 are provided on both sides of the lockable groove 24 of the lockable metal fitting 23, protruding laterally.

[0017] For example, if it is a switch, an operation button is provided on the boss surface 21, and if it is an optical fiber outlet, an optical fiber connection port and a bulging cover portion for protecting the optical fiber connection port are provided. However, regardless of the function of the wiring device 20, the engaging metal fittings 23 are attached to both sides.

[0018] Next, the wiring device mounting frame according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The wiring device mounting frame is manufactured by pressing a metal plate. The wiring device mounting frame has a mounting frame body 10 whose outer edge is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and a substantially rectangular inner opening 11 is formed by cutting out the inside of the mounting frame body 10. The wiring device 20 is mounted by being disposed inside this inner opening 11 with a boss surface 21 protruding from this inner opening 11 to the front side.

[0019] Mounting holes 12 are provided on the upper and lower edges of the mounting frame body 10. Fasteners such as bolts and screws are inserted into these mounting holes 12, and the mounting frame body 10 is fixed to a recessed box or the like embedded in an indoor wall using the fasteners. When wiring device mounting frames are arranged in series, the center-to-center distance between the mounting holes 12 in each wiring device mounting frame must be within a certain dimension.

[0020] A locking protrusion (locking portion) 13 is formed on one side edge of the mounting frame body 10 on the inner edge that contacts the inner opening 11. This locking protrusion 13 has the function of being inserted into a locking groove 24 of the wiring device 20 to lock the locking groove 24. The wiring device mounting frame shown in the drawings is configured so that three wiring devices 20 can be attached, and therefore the locking projections 13 are provided at three locations on one inner edge. Claw fixing portions 15, which will be described later, are also similarly provided at three locations facing the locking projections 13. The number of these locking projections 13 and claw fixing portions 15 can be arbitrarily designed depending on the number of wiring devices 20 that can be attached.

[0021] A support plate portion 14 is provided on the other side edge of the mounting frame body 10, which is bent almost vertically from the front and extends toward the rear surface. A claw fixing portion 15 is formed on the support plate portion 14. The claw fixing portion 15 has the function of fixing the engaging claw 25 of the wiring device 20. The claw fixing portion 15 is formed with a guide gap 16 formed by hollowing out the support plate portion 14, and a crimping portion 17 for crimping and fixing the engaged claw 25 of the wiring device 20.

[0022] The guide gap 16 has a width that allows one locked claw 25 to be inserted, extends linearly from near the base end edge of the support plate portion 14 toward the front direction of the device body, and the end portion near the front of the device body is aligned with the position where the locked claw 25 of the wiring device 20 is crimped and fixed. The wiring device 20 with the locked claw 25 crimped and fixed in that position is properly attached to the wiring device mounting frame. In addition, each claw fixing portion 15 is formed with two guide gaps 16 for inserting and guiding the pair of engaged claws 25, and two crimping portions 17 for crimping and fixing the pair of engaged claws 25.

[0023] The crimping portion 17 includes an elastic leg portion 17a extending like a rod and a crimping claw portion 17b formed at the tip portion of the leg portion 17a, and is formed so that the leg portion 17a rises along the guide gap 16 from the base of the support plate portion 14. By bending the leg portion 17a with a tool such as a flat-head screwdriver, the crimping claw portion 17b is pressed against the interlocking claw 25 of the wiring device 20, and the interlocking claw 25 can be crimped and fixed to the end portion of the guide gap 16 (the end portion near the front of the mounting frame main body 10).

[0024] Next, a process for mounting the wiring device 20 on the wiring device mounting frame according to this embodiment and its functions and effects will be described with reference to Figs. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the wiring fixture 20 is placed on the back side of the mounting frame main body 10, and the engaging claws 25 of the wiring fixture 20 are inserted into the guide gaps 16 formed in the claw fixing portion 15 (see also FIG. 5(a)).

[0025] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5( b ), the wiring device 20 is fitted into the inner opening 11 of the mounting frame body 10 while the engaged claws 25 are moved along the guide gaps 16 . During this process, the wiring device 20 is tilted slightly to insert the locking projection 13 of the mounting frame body 10 into the locked groove 24 of the wiring device 20. Since it is sufficient to tilt the wiring device at a position where the locked groove 24 has been moved close to the locking projection 13, it is possible to insert the locking projection 13 into the locked groove 24 by simply tilting the wiring device 20 slightly. Furthermore, since the boss surface 21 of the wiring device 20 has already passed through the inner opening 11 at this position, there is no risk of the boss surface 21 interfering with the mounting frame body 10.

[0026] In addition, if there are no components that protrude significantly from boss surface 21 of wiring device 20 and wiring device 20 is rotated during installation without interfering with mounting frame body 10, first, locking protrusion 13 can be inserted into locking groove 24, and then wiring device 20 can be rotated to insert locking claw 25 into guide gap 16.

[0027] After the locking projection 13 is inserted into the locking groove 24, the locking claw 25 is moved to the end of the guide gap 16 (the end near the front of the mounting frame body 10) (see FIG. 5(b)). When the locking claw 25 is moved to the end of the guide gap 16, the wiring device 20 is properly fitted into the inner opening 11 of the mounting frame body 10, and the locking groove 24 is locked by the locking projection 13. Then, using a tool 30 such as a flathead screwdriver, the leg 17a of the crimping portion 17 is bent to press the crimping claw portion 17b against the interlocking claw 25, and the interlocking claw 25 is crimped and fixed to the end of the guide gap 16 (the end near the front of the device body) (see Figs. 4 and 5(c)). By this crimping operation, the wiring device 20 is attached to the mounting frame body 10.

[0028] Here, as shown in Fig. 6, the claw fixing portion 15 of the support plate portion 14 has a crimping wall portion 18 formed at a position facing the base of the leg portion 17a of the crimping portion 17 with a gap for inserting a tool. The crimping wall portion 18 is a wall that serves as a fulcrum when the crimping portion 17 is crimped with a tool 30 such as a flat-head screwdriver. That is, as shown in Fig. 6(a), the tool 30 such as a flat-head screwdriver is inserted between the crimping wall portion 18 and the leg portion 17a, and the tool 30 is turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6(a) with the crimping wall portion 18 as a fulcrum, thereby bending the leg portion 17a of the crimping portion 17 and crimping and fixing the engaged claw 25 of the wiring device 20.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 6, the claw fixing portion 15 of the support plate portion 14 has a crimp-release wall portion 19 formed at a position facing the leg portion 17a of the crimping portion 17 across the guide gap 16. The crimp-release wall portion 19 is a wall for releasing the crimped state of the locked claw 25 fixed by crimping, thereby enabling the wiring device 20 to be removed from the mounting frame body 10. That is, as shown in Fig. 6(b), a tool 30 such as a flathead screwdriver is inserted between the crimp-release wall portion 19 and the leg portion 17a, and the tool 30 is turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6(b) with the crimp-release wall portion 19 as a fulcrum, thereby returning the leg portion 17a of the crimping portion 17 to its original state (the state before crimping), and the crimped state of the locked claw 25 can be released.

[0030] In addition, in the wiring device mounting frame of this embodiment, the crimping portion 17 provided on the claw fixing portion 15 of the support plate portion 14 is configured to function as a means for preventing rattling of the wiring device 20. That is, as shown in Fig. 7(a), the crimping claw portion 17b formed at the tip portion of the crimping portion 17 is disposed so as to protrude into the space behind the inner opening 11 of the mounting frame body 10. As the wiring device 20 moves along the guide gap 16, the base end edge portion 26 (see FIG. 1) where the locked claw 25 of the locked metal fitting 23 rises comes into contact with the crimped claw portion 17b (see FIG. 7(b)). Then, this crimped claw portion 17b presses the locked metal fitting 23 (i.e., the wiring device 20) toward one inner edge portion where the locking projection 13 is formed, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 7(b). As a result, the wiring device 20 attached to the mounting frame body 10 is fixed between the locking projection 13 and the crimped portion 17 without any rattling.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the locked portion and the locked claw of the wiring device to be attached do not have to have the shape and structure as shown in Fig. 1, and the locked portion may be groove-shaped instead of protruding. In this case, the locking portion of the wiring device mounting frame is made to have a protruding shape that can be inserted into the groove of the locked portion. Furthermore, wiring devices in which the engaging portion and the engaging claw are formed directly on the main body of the wiring device, rather than on the engaging metal fitting 23 as shown in Figure 1, can also be attached.

[0032] Furthermore, the locking portion and the claw fixing portion formed on the wiring device mounting frame do not need to have the shape and structure shown in FIG. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 10: Mounting frame body 11: Inner opening 12: Mounting hole 13: Locking protrusion (locking portion) 14: Support plate part 15: Claw fixing part 16: Guide gap 17: Crimping part 17a: Legs 17b: Crimping claw part 18: Wall for crimping operation 19: Wall for releasing crimping 20: Wiring equipment 21: Surface (Boss side) 22: Plug insertion hole 23: Locking metal fitting 24: Locked groove (locked part) 25: Locking claw 26: Proximal edge part 30: Tools such as flathead screwdrivers

Claims

1. The wiring device to be attached has a locking portion on one side and a locking claw protruding from the other side, The wiring device is disposed in an inner opening, and a mounting frame body is formed so as to surround the inner opening. A locking portion for fixing a locked portion of the wiring device is formed on an inner edge of one side edge of the mounting frame body that is in contact with the inner opening, A support plate portion is provided on the other side edge portion of the mounting frame body so as to be bent so as to extend from the front side toward the back side, and a claw fixing portion for fixing a claw to be engaged of the wiring device is formed on the support plate portion, The claw fixing portion is a guide gap for guiding the engaging claw of the wiring device while avoiding interference with the engaging claw when the wiring device is inserted into the inner opening from the back side of the mounting frame body and placed therein; a crimping portion that crimps and fixes the engaging claw, which is arranged at the end of the guide gap, to the claw fixing portion when the wiring device is arranged in the inner opening.

2. The crimping portion has an elastic leg portion extending in a rod shape and a crimping claw portion formed at a tip portion of the leg portion, The crimping claw portion is disposed so as to protrude toward the rear space side of the inner opening, 2. The wiring device mounting frame as described in claim 1, characterized in that, when the wiring device is placed in the inner opening, the crimping claw portion abuts against the wiring device and presses the wiring device toward one of the inner edge portions on which the engaging portion is formed.

3. The guide gap of the claw fixing portion is formed by hollowing out the support plate portion, 3. The wiring device mounting frame according to claim 1, wherein the crimping portion is formed such that the leg portion rises from a base portion of the support plate portion along the guide gap.

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