Connection device

Abstract

To provide an implantable connection device which is thin and can hide a connection portion of a cable and has a good appearance in a connection state of the cable.SOLUTION: An implantable connection device 1 includes a device main body 2 having a first cable connection part 15 and a second cable connection part 16, and a cover 3 movably attached to the device main body 2 between a position of covering the first cable connection part 15 and a position of exposing the first cable connection part. The first cable connection part 15 includes an insertion port 15a disposed in a direction in which a first cable can be inserted and removed from a direction intersecting a front-rear direction. A concave part 12 capable of accommodating at least a part of a connector of the first cable is formed in the front surface part 11 of the device main body 2 along the insertion / removal direction of the first cable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connection devices, and more particularly to embedded network connection devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a recessed connection device that is installed in a recessed hole formed in a construction surface such as a wall has been widely known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a multimedia connection device that is installed in a recessed hole in a wall and that is equipped with an information outlet including a modular outlet for LAN, a modular outlet for telephone, and a TV outlet, as well as multiple power outlets. The connection device in Patent Document 1 has multiple outlets formed on the front of the device and is configured to allow cables to be connected perpendicular to the front of the device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-288163 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a cable is connected perpendicularly to the front of the device, as in the connection device of Patent Document 1, the cable protrudes significantly from the construction surface, which results in a poor appearance of the device when the cable is connected. It is also possible to increase the thickness of the connection device to hide the cable, but in this case, the device protrudes significantly from the wall surface, which results in a poor appearance of the connection device, similar to when the cable protrudes. The objective of this disclosure is to hide the cable connection portion in a thin connection device, thereby improving the appearance of the device when the cable is connected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The connection device of the present disclosure is a recessed type connection device that is installed in a recessed hole formed in a construction surface, and is characterized in that it comprises a device main body having a first cable connection portion that allows a first cable to be inserted and removed from the front of the device, and a second cable connection portion that allows a second cable to be inserted and removed from the rear of the device, and a cover that is attached to the device main body so that it can move between a position that covers the first cable connection portion and a position that exposes it, and the first cable connection portion includes a first socket that is positioned in an orientation that allows the first cable to be inserted and removed from a direction that intersects the front-to-back direction of the device, and a recess that can accommodate at least a portion of the connector of the first cable is formed in the front portion of the device main body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The connection device according to the present disclosure is thin yet can hide the cable connection portion, resulting in a neat front portion of the device and an improved appearance when the cable is connected. The cable is arranged along the construction surface at the front portion of the connection device and is concealed by the cover without protruding significantly from the construction surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a connection device according to an embodiment is installed in an embedding hole in a wall. [Figure 2] 1 is a front perspective view of a connection device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a connection device according to an embodiment, seen from the front, with the cover open; [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a connecting device as an example of an embodiment, as viewed from the rear. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a LAN cable is connected to a first cable connection portion of a connection device that is an example of an embodiment, and an optical fiber is inserted into a notch. [Figure 6] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connecting device as an example of an embodiment, as viewed from the front. [Figure 7]1 is an exploded perspective view of a connecting device according to an embodiment, as viewed from the rear. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first modified example of a connection device. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the connection device. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a third modified example of the connecting device. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third modified example of the connection device, showing a state in which a LAN cable is connected to the first cable connection portion and an optical fiber is inserted into the notch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An example of an embodiment of an embedded connection device according to the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present disclosure includes configurations that selectively combine the components of the multiple embodiments and variations described below.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connection device 1 according to an embodiment, and shows the state in which the connection device 1 is installed in an embedding hole 101 formed in a wall 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection device 1 includes a device main body 2 and a cover 3, and is installed in the wall 100, which is a construction surface of a building. An embedding hole 101 is formed in the wall 100, and the connection device 1 is an embedding type connection device in which a part of the device main body 2 is inserted into the embedding hole 101. The embedding hole 101 is a through-hole that is slightly larger than the cover 3, and has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front.

[0010] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connection device 1 is embedded in a wall 100 of a building, but the connection device 1 can also be installed on the floor of a building, or on furniture such as a desk, shelf, counter, or bed, or on vehicles such as a bus, train, airplane, or ship. In other words, the construction surface on which the connection device 1 is installed is not limited to the construction surface of a building, but may also be the construction surface of furniture, a vehicle, or the like. However, the connection device 1 is generally installed on a wall inside a room. Hereinafter, the surface of the wall 100 facing inside the room will be referred to as the "wall surface."

[0011] The connection device 1 includes a decorative cover 4 having a rectangular frame shape with an opening 4a formed therein, through which a slope 13 and a cover 3, which are part of the device main body 2, are exposed. The decorative cover 4 is a plate having a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the front, and covers the mounting frame and the like installed around the embedding hole 101 so that they cannot be seen. As will be described in detail later, the connection device 1 has a structure in which the device main body 2 and the mounting frame are integrated, and the base portion 10 and the mounting frame portion 20 (see FIG. 2, etc.) that constitute the device main body 2 are integrally molded. The decorative cover 4 is fixed to the mounting frame portion 20, for example, by fitting or screwing it into the mounting frame portion 20. The shape of the decorative cover when viewed from the front is not particularly limited, and it may be a cover having a circular outline, for example.

[0012] For ease of explanation, terms indicating the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are used in this specification for each component of the connection device 1. The front-rear direction of the connection device 1 is the thickness direction of the connection device 1, and is the direction perpendicular to the front surface of the cover 3, the front surface of the decorative cover 4, and the wall surface (normal direction). The up-down direction of the connection device 1 is the direction along the vertical direction, and the left-right direction is the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. The left and right refer to the left and right when the connection device 1 is viewed from the front.

[0013] A cable 110 is connected to the connection device 1 from the front. The cable 110 is connected to a first cable connection section 15 (see FIG. 3, etc., described later) covered by a cover 3. The connection device 1 also includes a second cable connection section 16 (see FIG. 4, etc., described later) into which a second cable can be inserted and removed from the rear. The connection device 1 is provided with one first cable connection section 15 and multiple second cable connection sections 16. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the cable 110 is connected to a router 120. The cable 110 (first cable) connected to the first cable connection section 15 and the second cable connected to the second cable connection section 16 are, for example, LAN cables.

[0014] The connection device 1 functions as a LAN hub, and branches the cable 110 connected to the router 120 into multiple second cables. The second cables are connected to information outlets installed in each room. The information outlets are, for example, outlets including LAN modular outlets, and may also include TEL modular outlets, TV outlets, etc. Near the connection device 1, for example, an optical network unit (ONU) is located in addition to the router 120. As will be described in more detail later, the connection device 1 has a notch 27 (see FIG. 3, etc.) for passing an optical fiber connected to the ONU.

[0015] In the example shown in Figure 1, the connection device 1 is used alone, but the connection device 1 may also be combined with at least one type selected from, for example, a power outlet and other information outlets to form a multimedia outlet.

[0016] The configuration of the connection device 1 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the connection device 1 as seen from the front. Figure 2 shows a state in which the cover 3 is closed, and Figure 3 shows a state in which the cover 3 is open. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connection device 1 as seen from the rear. In addition to Figures 2 to 4, Figure 5 will also be referred to as appropriate. Figure 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a cable 110 is connected to the first cable connection section 15 and a cable 111 is inserted into the notch 27 of the device main body 2. For example, the cable 110 is a LAN cable, and the cable 111 is an optical fiber.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the connection device 1 includes a device main body 2 having a first cable connection portion 15 and a second cable connection portion 16, and a cover 3 attached to the device main body 2 so as to be movable between a position covering the first cable connection portion 15 and a position exposing the first cable connection portion 15. In this specification, a state in which the cover 3 is in a position covering the first cable connection portion 15 is referred to as a closed state of the cover 3, and a state in which the cover 3 is in a position exposing the first cable connection portion 15 is referred to as an open state of the cover 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first cable connection portion 15 is provided so that a cable 110 can be inserted and removed from the front of the connection device 1. The second cable connection portion 16 is provided so that a second cable (not shown) can be inserted and removed from the rear of the connection device 1.

[0018] As will be described in more detail below, the first cable connection section 15 includes a receptacle 15a oriented in such a way that the cable 110 can be inserted and removed in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction of the connection device 1. The receptacle 15a is covered and concealed by the cover 3. Furthermore, a recess 12 capable of accommodating at least a portion of the connector 110a (see FIG. 5) of the cable 110 is formed in the front portion of the device body 2 along the insertion and removal direction of the cable 110. The connection device 1 is thin yet can conceal the connection portion of the cable 110, improving the appearance of the device when the cable 110 is connected. The cable 110 is arranged along the wall surface and is concealed by the cover 3 without protruding significantly from the wall surface.

[0019] As described above, the connection device 1 has one first cable connection section 15 and four second cable connection sections 16. As a result, one cable 110 (first LAN cable) connected to the router 120 branches into four second LAN cables. In this embodiment, a total of five LAN cable connection sections are arranged in a line in the left-right direction of the connection device 1. However, the number of each cable connection section is not limited to this. A plurality of first cable connection sections 15 may be provided, as shown in FIG. 8 described later.

[0020] The connection device 1 further includes a rear cover 5 that covers the rear portion of the device main body 2. The device main body 2 includes two circuit boards (see FIGS. 6 and 7 described below), which are housed within the rear cover 5. The rear cover 5 is screwed to the device main body 2 and placed within the recess 101. The rear cover 5 also has an opening 5a that exposes the socket 16a of the second cable connection portion 16 and an opening 5b that exposes the power cable connection portion 17a. A power cable (not shown) for supplying power to the connection device 1 is connected to the power cable connection portion 17a. An opening 5d that exposes the notch 27 of the device main body 2 is also formed on the right side of the rear cover 5.

[0021] The connection device 1 is generally attached to a switch box (not shown) fixed to a wall 100 or the like. In this case, the connection device 1 is installed in the recessed hole 101 via the switch box. The switch box is slightly larger than the rear cover 5 and is arranged to cover the entire rear cover 5. The switch box has openings through which, for example, the second cable connected to the second cable connection portion 16 and the power cable connected to the power cable connection portion 17a can pass. A duct through which the cables can be inserted may be attached to the openings of the switch box. Note that a conventionally known switch box can be used.

[0022] The device main body 2 has a base portion 10 in which a recess 12 is formed, and a mounting frame portion 20 that protrudes from the base portion 10. In this embodiment, the device main body 2 is made of a resin material, and the mounting frame portion 20 is integrally molded with the base portion 10. By using a device main body 2 in which the base portion 10 and the mounting frame portion 20 are integrally molded, the number of parts can be reduced and the workability of the connection device 1 is improved. The base portion 10 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and the mounting frame portion 20 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the front, surrounding the base portion 10. The mounting frame portion 20 is fixed to the switch box, and a portion of it abuts against the wall surface around the embedding hole 101.

[0023] The device main body 2 is a portion to which components such as the cover 3 and rear cover 5 that constitute the connection device 1 are attached. The device main body 2 also has a first board 17 and a second board 18, which will be described later. The base portion 10 of the device main body 2 covers the embedding hole 101 together with the decorative cover 4 (see FIG. 1 ) and functions as a top cover for the connection device 1. In this embodiment, the first cable connection portion 15 is disposed behind the base portion 10, and the base portion 10 has an opening 10a formed therein that allows access to the first cable connection portion 15.

[0024] Most of the front surface 11 of the base 10, which is the portion visible from the front of the connection device 1, including the opening 10a, is covered and concealed by the cover 3. As described above, the first cable connection portion 15 includes the outlet 15a oriented in such a way that the cable 110 can be inserted and removed in a direction intersecting the front-to-rear direction. Although the first cable connection portion 15 can be provided on the front surface 11, from the viewpoints of making the connection device 1 thinner and improving its design, it is preferable to arrange the first cable connection portion 15 behind the base 10 and form an opening 10a in the base 10 that exposes the outlet 15a.

[0025] The inlet 15a of the first cable connection portion 15 is preferably disposed in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear and left-right directions. Similarly, the opening 10a of the base portion 10 is preferably formed in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear and left-right directions. The first cable connection portion 15 is disposed so that the inlet 15a faces the opening 10a and is adjacent to the opening 10a. In this embodiment, the opening 10a opens vertically downward and is disposed adjacent to the opening 10a so that the inlet 15a is exposed from the opening 10a. In this case, the cable 110 can be disposed along the wall surface, making it easy to insert and remove the cable 110. Furthermore, since the opening 10a is formed in a portion of the front surface 11 of the base portion 10 that is covered by the cover 3, the connection portion of the cable 110 can be hidden by the cover 3.

[0026] A recess 12 capable of accommodating at least a portion of the connector 110a of the cable 110 is formed in the front surface 11 of the base 10 along the insertion / removal direction of the cable 110. The recess 12 is preferably formed with a depth such that the cover 3 and the cable 110 do not interfere with each other when the cable 110 is connected to the first cable connection portion 15 and the cover 3 is closed. That is, it is preferable that the entire connector 110a be accommodated in the recess 12. In this embodiment, an opening 10a exposing the insertion port 15a of the first cable connection portion 15 is formed in the recess 12. The recess 12 extends in the vertical direction, and the opening 10a is formed at the upper end of the recess 12, and the insertion port 15a is located at the upper end of the recess 12. That is, the recess 12 and the first cable connection portion 15 are aligned in the vertical direction.

[0027] The front surface 11 of the base 10 has an exposed portion that is not covered by the cover 3. A cable 110 connected to the first cable connection portion 15 is pulled out from between the front surface 11 and the cover 3 at the exposed portion (see FIG. 1). In this embodiment, a slope 13 is formed on the exposed portion. The portion where the slope 13 is formed is part of the recess 12. That is, the recess 12 is configured so that a portion of the recess 12 is exposed when the cover 3 is in a position covering the socket 15a (opening 10a) of the first cable connection portion 15, and the cable 110 connected to the first cable connection portion 15 extends from between the front surface 11 and the cover 3 at the exposed portion.

[0028] An opening 14a of a cover accommodating portion 14 is further formed in the front surface 11 of the base portion 10. The cover accommodating portion 14 can accommodate at least a portion of the cover 3 when the cover 3 is in a position that exposes the socket 15a of the first cable connection portion 15, i.e., when the cover 3 is open. The cover accommodating portion 14 is provided above the socket 15a on the base portion 10. The rest of the front surface 11, excluding the recess 12, the cover accommodating portion 14, etc., is a flat surface that extends in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0029] The recess 12 is a groove-shaped recess that is recessed toward the rear and extends longer in the up-down direction than in the left-right direction, and is formed with a depth that can accommodate the entire connector 110a of the cable 110, as shown in Fig. 5. That is, the recess 12 has a depth that prevents the connector 110a from protruding forward beyond other parts of the front surface 11 of the base unit 10 when the cable 110 is connected to the first cable connection portion 15. In this case, the cable 110 extends in the up-down direction along the recess 12, and the cover 3 can be closed with the cable 110 connected to the first cable connection portion 15. As a result, the cable 110 is arranged along the wall surface and is concealed by the cover 3 without protruding significantly from the wall surface.

[0030] Although the recess 12 can be disposed in the center of the connection device 1 in the left-right direction, it is preferable to dispose it at the left-right end of the base unit 10 from the viewpoints of improving design and arranging each cable connection unit. In this embodiment, the recess 12 is formed at the right end of the front surface 11 of the base unit 10. The recess 12 has a substantially constant width and depth in the area covered by the cover 3. The recess 12 has a width slightly larger than the width of the connector 110a of the cable 110. The recess 12 extends downward beyond the area covered by the cover 3 and is formed across the exposed portion. This allows the cable 110 to be pulled out from the exposed portion of the front surface 11 to the front of the connection device 1 without interfering with the cover 3.

[0031] The portion of the recess 12 exposed from the cover 3 has a slope 13 that is gradually inclined toward the socket 15a of the first cable connection portion 15. The portion where the slope 13 is formed is within the recess 12, but the depth of the recess 12 where the slope 13 is formed gradually becomes shallower toward the bottom of the connection device 1. The slope 13 is formed at a position that is aligned at least with the socket 15a in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the slope 13 is formed at the lower end of the base portion 10 over substantially the entire length of the base portion 10 in the left-right direction. In this case, the design of the connection device 1 is improved compared to, for example, a case where the slope 13 is formed only directly below the socket 15a.

[0032] The inclined surface 13 may be gently curved, but in this embodiment, it is formed at a substantially constant inclination angle. The inclination angle of the inclined surface 13 with respect to the vertical direction is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 40° to 70°, or 45° to 60°. From the viewpoint of improving the design of the connection device 1, it is preferable that the inclination angle of the inclined surface 13 is substantially constant along the left-right direction of the base portion 10. It is also preferable that the vertical length (width) of the inclined surface 13 is substantially constant along the left-right direction of the base portion 10. The inclined surface 13, for example, suppresses bending of the cable 110 and enables the cable 110 to be drawn along the inclined surface 13. Furthermore, forming the inclined surface 13 makes it difficult for dust to accumulate at the lower end of the base portion 10, making cleaning easier.

[0033] The cover accommodating section 14 is provided at the upper end of the base section 10 and has an opening 14a formed over substantially the entire length in the left-right direction. The cover 3 is supported by the cover accommodating section 14 in a state in which it can rotate up and down. As will be described in detail later, when the cover 3 is lifted upward and opened to expose the insertion port 15a of the first cable connection section 15, the upper end of the cover 3 enters the inside of the cover accommodating section 14 through the opening 14a, allowing the cover 3 to remain open. The cover 3 opens when the cable 110 is inserted or removed, and is closed when the cable 110 is connected to the first cable connection section 15. For this reason, the cover accommodating section 14 need only accommodate the cover 3 to an extent that it can remain open even when released; it does not need to accommodate the entire cover 3.

[0034] The first cable connection unit 15 is a LAN modular outlet and has a plurality of contact pins electrically connected to the connector 110a of the cable 110, which is, for example, a LAN modular plug, and a terminal unit electrically connected to the contact pins. The terminal unit includes a plurality of insulation displacement terminals also known as IDC terminals. As described above, the first cable connection unit 15 is provided so that the cable 110 can be inserted and removed from the front of the connection device 1. The first cable connection unit 15 is disposed at the right end of the base unit 10, between the recess 12 and the cover housing unit 14.

[0035] The receptacle 15a of the first cable connection unit 15 is preferably arranged facing downward so that the cable 110 can be inserted and removed in a direction intersecting the front-to-rear direction. For example, the receptacle 15a can be arranged facing downward toward the front, but it is preferable that the receptacle 15a faces directly downward (vertically downward). As described above, the receptacle 15a and the opening 10a that exposes the receptacle 15a are located at the upper end of the recess 12 that is formed as a groove in the up-down direction. In this case, the cable 110 can be arranged along the wall surface, improving the appearance of the connection device 1 when the cable 110 is connected.

[0036] It is preferable that at least a portion of the receptacle 15a is located within the recess 101. More preferably, the first cable connection unit 15 is arranged so that 50% or more, 60% or more, or 70% or more of the front-to-rear length of the receptacle 15a is located within the recess 101. In this case, the thickness of the connection device 1 that protrudes from the wall surface can be reduced, improving the appearance of the device. Similarly, the position of the opening 10a in the base unit 10 that exposes the receptacle 15a is formed so that 50% or more, 60% or more, or 70% or more of the front-to-rear length of the opening 10a is located within the recess 101. The position of the receptacle 15a will be described below, but the receptacle 15a in this description can be read as opening 10a.

[0037] On the other hand, if the entirety of receptacle 15a is located within receptacle hole 101, it may interfere with inserting and removing cable 110, so it is preferable that a portion of receptacle 15a be located forward of the wall surface. As a suitable example, 60% to 90% of the length of receptacle 15a in the front-to-rear direction is located within receptacle hole 101, and 10% to 40% is located forward of the wall surface. In this case, it is easy to insert and remove cable 110, and the thickness of connection device 1 that protrudes from the wall surface can be reduced.

[0038] The first cable connection part 15 is provided at a position overlapping with the recessed hole 101 in the front-rear direction such that part of the receptacle 15a is located rearward and the remaining part is located forward of the rear surface (the surface facing rearward of the connection device 1) of the mounting frame 20 that abuts against the wall surface. Specifically, 60% to 90% of the front-rear length of the receptacle 15a is located rearward of the rear surface of the mounting frame 20, and 10% to 40% is located forward of the rear surface of the mounting frame 20. This allows the above-mentioned arrangement of the receptacle 15a to be achieved when the connection device 1 is attached to the recessed hole 101.

[0039] The front surface 11 of the base 10 is further formed with an opening 10b into which the lower protrusion 32 of the cover 3 is inserted, and an opening 10c through which the selector switch 18a is exposed. The openings 10b are formed in positions facing the lower protrusions 32 of the cover 3, specifically on both the left and right sides of the lower part of the front surface 11. In this embodiment, when the cover 3 is closed, the lower protrusions 32 are inserted into the openings 10b and catch on the edges of the openings 10b, thereby maintaining the cover 3 in a closed state. The selector switch 18a is an operating unit for turning the power on and off, and is mounted on a second substrate 18 described below. The selector switch 18a has a shape that allows it to be exposed and operable without protruding from the openings 10c, for example.

[0040] The mounting frame 20 is formed in a rectangular frame shape surrounding the base 10. While it is possible to assemble a separate mounting frame to the base 10, in this embodiment, the base 10 and mounting frame 20 are integrally molded, eliminating the need to assemble the mounting frame during installation, making the connection device 1 easier to install. Furthermore, the device body 2 does not need to be provided with the fitting structure required for assembling the mounting frame, and the width of the base 10 can be increased to increase the number of cable connection sections lined up in the left-right direction. The mounting frame 20 includes an upper frame 21, a lower frame 22, a left vertical frame 23, and a right vertical frame 24. For example, portions of the rear surfaces of the upper frame 21 and the lower frame 22 abut against the wall surface around the embedding hole 101.

[0041] The upper frame portion 21 and the lower frame portion 22 are formed with horizontally elongated through-holes 25 through which screws (not shown) for fixing the mounting frame portion 20 to the switch box are passed. The upper frame portion 21 and the lower frame portion 22 are also formed with screw holes 26 through which screws (not shown) for fixing a decorative cover are fastened. The mounting frame portion 20 has a structure standardized by, for example, JIS. The upper and lower ends of the vertical frame portions 23, 24 are provided with through-holes 28 through which screws 29 for fixing the rear cover 5 are attached.

[0042] The device body 2 has a notch 27 that connects the recess 12 and the embedding hole 101 and through which a cable 111 (third cable) is passed. By providing the notch 27, when installing the connection device 1, for example, when replacing an existing device, it is not necessary to drill a through-hole in the wall 100 or the base 10 to pass the cable 111, and it is also not necessary to perform processing such as cutting the cable. As described above, an example of the cable 111 is an optical fiber. The cable 111 is pulled out from inside the wall 100 through the notch 27 and connected to an ONU located near the connection device 1. The ONU is connected to the router 120 (see FIG. 1) by a LAN cable.

[0043] The notch 27 is formed in the vertical frame portion 24 of the mounting frame 20 and in the side wall portion of the recess 12 at the right end of the device main body 2, and allows the cable 111 inside the wall 100 to be introduced into the recess 12. The cable 111 introduced into the recess 12 is pulled out to the front of the connection device 1 from the exposed portion of the front surface 11, similar to the cable 110. The notch 27 may be formed by removing a portion of the device main body 2, but is preferably formed using a mold when the device main body 2 is molded. The right side of the base 10 is covered by the rear cover 5, and an opening 5d is formed in the right side of the rear cover 5 to expose the notch 27. In this case, the cable 111 can be easily introduced into the recess 12.

[0044] The notch 27 is formed in the shape of a groove that crosses the vertical frame portion 24 and extends along the front-rear direction on the side wall portion of the recess 12, bending at a right angle. The notch 27 is formed with a constant width in the left-right direction when viewed from the front of the device main body 2. By placing the cable 111 in the notch 27, the cable 111 can be pulled out into the room while maintaining the connection between the cable 111 and the ONU. The notch 27 is formed in the portion covered by the cover 3, for example, extending to the deepest part of the recess 12. Furthermore, to avoid interference between the connector 110a of the cable 110 and the cable 111, it is preferable that the notch 27 be formed at a position away from the opening 10a by at least the length of the connector 110a.

[0045] As described above, the cover 3 is attached to the device main body 2 so as to be movable between a position that covers the first cable connection portion 15 and a position that exposes it. The cover 3 has a plate-shaped cover main body 30 that covers the front surface 11 of the base unit 10, an upper protrusion 31 formed on the upper part of the cover main body 30, and a lower protrusion 32 formed on the lower part of the cover main body 30. The upper protrusion 31 and the lower protrusion 32 protrude from the rear surface of the cover main body 30, and a total of four upper protrusions 31 and lower protrusions 32 are formed, one at each corner of the cover main body 30. The cover 3 is attached to the base unit 10 in a state in which the upper protrusions 31 are caught in the cover housing portion 14 to prevent it from slipping out forward, and in a state in which the cover 3 can be rotated up and down by a predetermined angle to open and close the socket 15a of the first cable connection portion 15.

[0046] The cover body 30 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and its vertical length is shorter than that of the base portion 10. The cover body 30 also has, for example, a flat front surface that is disposed on substantially the same plane as the front surface of the decorative cover 4 (see FIG. 1). In other words, when the cover 3 is closed, the front surfaces of the cover body 30 and the decorative cover 4 are flush with each other. It is preferable that there are no large gaps between the cover body 30 and the decorative cover 4 on the top, left, and right sides. In this case, the design of the connection device 1 is improved. The cover body 30 does not cover the entire front surface 11 of the base portion 10, and is sized to expose the lower end of the front surface 11 where the slope 13 is formed.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, the second cable connection portion 16 is provided at the rear of the base portion 10, which is the top cover, so that the second cable can be inserted and removed. In this embodiment, multiple second cable connection portions 16 are arranged in a row in the left-right direction, and the sockets 16a of each connection portion face the same direction. The second cable connection portions 16 are housed within the rear cover 5, which has an opening 5a that exposes the sockets 16a. Like the first cable connection portion 15, the second cable connection portion 16 is a LAN modular outlet.

[0048] It is preferable that the socket 16a of the second cable connection unit 16 be oriented in a direction that allows the second cable to be inserted and removed along the front-to-rear direction. All of the multiple sockets 16a face the rear of the connection device 1 and are exposed from horizontally elongated openings 5a formed in the rear surface of the rear cover 5. The second cable connection unit 16 is housed in the upper part of the rear cover 5, but the upper part of the rear cover 5 is recessed further forward than the lower part of the connection device 1. Therefore, a space for routing the second cable is secured in the location opposite the upper part of the rear cover 5 within the switch case, allowing the use of, for example, a switch box with a narrow depth.

[0049] For example, in a side view of the device main body 2, the second cable connection unit 16 may be arranged so that at least a portion of the connection unit vertically overlaps the rear surface of the mounting frame unit 20 that abuts against the wall surface, or may be arranged further forward of the rear surface of the connection device 1. As will be described in detail later, by mounting the second cable connection unit 16 on a second board 18 located in front of the connection device 1, the second cable connection unit 16 can be arranged as far forward as possible, and even when a switch box with a small depth is used, space for routing the second cable can be secured.

[0050] The internal structure of the connection device 1 covered by the rear cover 5 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the connection device 1 as seen from the front, and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the connection device 1 as seen from the rear.

[0051] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the device main body 2 has a first board 17 on which a first cable connection portion 15 is mounted and a second board 18 on which a second cable connection portion 16 is mounted. The first board 17 is a board slightly larger than the second board 18 and includes electronic components such as a power cable connection portion 17a, an AC power supply that outputs DC, and various noise suppression components in addition to the first cable connection portion 15. In addition to the second cable connection portion 16, the second board 18 also includes electronic components such as a selector switch 18a, a switching IC, and an LED. The first board 17 and the second board 18 are arranged opposite each other in the front-to-rear direction, fixed to each other, and electrically connected.

[0052] The first cable connection unit 15 is mounted on the front surface of a first board 17 facing the front of the connection device 1, and the second cable connection unit 16 is mounted on the rear surface of a second board 18 facing the rear of the connection device 1. The second board 18 is not located in front of the first cable connection unit 15, and the first board 17 is not located behind the second cable connection unit 16. The two boards are housed within the rear cover 5 with the socket 15a of the first cable connection unit 15 exposed through the opening 10a of the base unit 10 and the socket 16a of the second cable connection unit 16 exposed through the opening 5a of the rear cover 5. The rear cover 5 has bosses 5c to which screws 29 are fastened, and is screwed to the mounting frame 20 of the device main body 2.

[0053] The first board 17 is disposed rearward of the device body 2 relative to the second board 18. That is, the first cable connection portion 15 is mounted on the board disposed on the rear side of the device, and the second cable connection portion 16 is mounted on the board disposed on the front side of the device. The first board 17 and the second board 18 are disposed opposite each other as described above, and are assembled to each other so that the first cable connection portion 15 and the multiple second cable connection portions 16 overlap in the left-right direction for the most part or substantially in their entirety. By mounting the first cable connection portion 15 on the front surface of the first board 17 and the second cable connection portion 16 on the rear surface of the second board 18, and arranging the positions of the cable connection portions to be offset in the left-right direction, the thickness of the boards including the cable connection portions can be significantly reduced compared to, for example, when the cable connection portions are disposed on the front and rear surfaces of a single board.

[0054] The first cable connection portion 15 is mounted on the upper part of the first board 17 with the socket 15a facing downward. Because the cable 110 is inserted into and removed from the first cable connection portion 15 in the vertical direction from below the connection device 1, it is preferable to arrange the first cable connection portion 15 on the upper part of the first board 17 from the viewpoint of improving operability. Furthermore, a relatively large electronic component such as a power cable connection portion 17a is mounted on the lower part of the rear surface of the first board 17. Therefore, the lower part of the rear cover 5 protrudes rearward more than the upper part by the thickness of the electronic component. In other words, because the upper part of the rear cover 5 is recessed forward more than the lower part, a space for routing the second cable is secured behind the opening 5a of the rear cover 5.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, the cover accommodating section 14 has a horizontally elongated opening 14a that penetrates the base section 10 in the thickness direction, and guides 14b that protrude rearward around the opening 14a. The upper end of the cover 3 is inserted into the opening 14a and can move slightly rearward along the guides 14b. Note that because the rear surface of the rear cover 5 is located behind the guides 14b, only a portion of the cover 3 is accommodated in the cover accommodating section 14. A wall that stops the upper protrusion 31 is formed in front of the guides 14b, preventing the cover 3 from falling forward out of the cover accommodating section 14.

[0056] The vertical length of opening 14a is set to a length close to the thickness of cover body 30, within a range that does not interfere with opening and closing cover 3. In this case, when cover 3 is opened and the upper end is inserted into opening 14a, cover body 30 hits the edge of opening 14a, and cover 3 can be maintained in an open state. Since cover 3 can be maintained in an open state even if you let go of it, cover 3 does not get in the way when inserting or removing cable 110, and good operability is achieved.

[0057] As described above, the connection device 1 having the above configuration can conceal the connection portion of the cable 110 despite its thin design. The cable 110 connected to the first cable connection portion 15 is accommodated in the recess 12 formed in the front surface 11 of the connection device 1 and arranged along the wall surface, and is concealed by the cover 3 without protruding significantly from the wall surface. As a result, the front surface 11 of the connection device 1 is neat and tidy, improving the appearance of the device when the cable 110 is connected. Furthermore, the cable 110 can be easily inserted into and removed from the socket 15a located at the upper end of the recess 12 in the vertical direction.

[0058] The above-described embodiment can be appropriately modified in design without impairing the objectives of the present disclosure. For example, the above-described embodiment uses two boards: a first board 17 on which the first cable connection portion 15 is mounted, and a second board 18 on which the second cable connection portion 16 is mounted. However, it is also possible to mount all the cable connection portions on a single board. Specifically, the first cable connection portion 15 is mounted on the front surface of the board, and the second cable connection portion 16 is mounted on the rear surface of the board. However, in this case, the thickness of the board including the cable connection portions will be greater than in the above-described embodiment.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a connection device 1X, which is a first modified example of the above embodiment. Below, components common to the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 8, the connection device 1X is similar to the connection device 1 in that it includes a device main body 2X and a cover 3. On the other hand, the connection device 1X differs from the connection device 1 in that the device main body 2X includes a plurality of first cable connection portions 15. Furthermore, horizontally elongated openings 10aX are formed side by side in the left-right direction on the front surface 11X of the base portion 10X. Each first cable connection portion 15 is positioned so that its socket 15a faces downward and is exposed from the opening 10aX.

[0060] A recess 12X capable of accommodating a cable connector is formed in the front surface 11X of the base 10X along the cable insertion / removal direction. The recess 12X differs from the recess 12 of the above embodiment, which can accommodate a single cable, in that it has a left-right length capable of accommodating multiple (three) cables. Note that, like the recess 12 of the above embodiment, the recess 12X preferably has a depth capable of accommodating the entire connectors of three cables. The opening 10aX is formed at the upper end of the recess 12X and is concealed by the cover 3. The connection device 1X includes, for example, a number of second cable connection parts that is fewer than the number of first cable connection parts 15. The second cable connection parts are arranged side by side with the first cable connection parts 15 in the left-right direction, and the number of the second cable connection parts may be one.

[0061] In the example shown in FIG. 8, three first cable connecting portions 15 are provided, but the number of first cable connecting portions 15 may be two, or four or more.

[0062] 9 shows a connection device 1Y, which is a second modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the connection device 1Y is similar to the connection devices 1 and 1X in that it includes a device main body 2Y and a cover 3. However, the device main body 2Y of the connection device 1Y differs from the device main bodies of the connection devices 1 and 1X in that the receptacle 15a of the first cable connection unit 15 faces rightward instead of downward. An opening 10aY exposing the receptacle 15a is formed in the front surface 11Y of the base 10Y in a range covered by the cover 3 within a recess 12Y capable of accommodating a connector of the first cable, but the opening 10aY faces toward the right of the device main body 2Y.

[0063] In the connection device 1Y, a notch 27 is formed in the right sidewall of the recess 12Y, and an opening 10aY is formed in the left sidewall. The notch 27 and the opening 10aY are arranged offset in the vertical direction so as not to face each other in the horizontal direction. In this case, the first cable connected to the first cable connection part 15 and the third cable passed through the notch 27 are less likely to interfere with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the opening 10aY is arranged lower on the device main body 2Y than the notch 27. Note that, similar to the connection device 1X, a plurality of first cable connection parts 15 may be provided, and sockets 15a (openings 10aY) may be provided in both the sidewall and upper end of the recess 12Y.

[0064] In the connection device 1Y, the first cable connected to the first cable connection portion 15 extends in the left-right direction from the opening 10aY, bends downward in the recess 12Y, and is pulled out to the front of the connection device 1Y from the exposed portion of the front surface portion 11Y. For this reason, the recess 12Y is formed longer in the left-right direction than the recess 12 of the connection device 1. On the other hand, the vertical length of the recess 12Y is shorter than the vertical length of the recess 12. In the connection device 1Y, the first cable connection portion 15 is located lower in the device than in the case of the connection device 1.

[0065] 10 and 11 show a connection device 1Z, a third modification of the above-described embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the connection device 1Z is similar to the connection devices 1, 1X, and 1Y in that it includes a device main body 2Z and a cover 3. An opening exposing the socket is formed in the front surface 11Z of the base 10Z within a recess 12Z capable of accommodating the connector 110a of the cable 110, within the area covered by the cover 3. Meanwhile, the device main body 2Z of the connection device 1Z differs from the device main bodies of the connection devices 1, 1X, and 1Y in that it includes a notch 27Z formed obliquely with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions. Similar to the notch 27 in the above-described embodiment, the notch 27Z is a groove formed in the vertical frame portion 24 of the mounting frame 20 and the side wall portion of the recess 12 at the right end of the device main body 2Z, allowing the cable 111 inside the wall 100 to be introduced into the recess 12.

[0066] The notch 27Z is formed at an angle relative to the vertical and horizontal directions of the device so that it gradually becomes lower on the device body 2Z from the right end of the vertical frame portion 24 located at the right end of the device body 2Z toward the recess 12. If the opening of the notch 27Z on the right end side of the vertical frame portion 24 is defined as a first opening and the opening of the notch 27Z on the recess 12 side is defined as a second opening, the notch 27Z is inclined relative to the vertical and horizontal directions so that the second opening is located lower on the device body 2Z than the first opening. As shown in FIG. 11 , the cable 111 often extends from above the wall 100 toward the embedding hole 101. Therefore, the inclined notch 27Z allows the cable 111 to be smoothly introduced into the recess 12 without being significantly bent.

[0067] The second opening of the notch 27Z is located away from the socket 15a and below the portion of the recess 12 that is covered by the cover 3. In this case, interference between the cable 111 introduced into the recess 12 from the second opening and the connector 110a of the cable 110 connected to the socket 15a is suppressed. In addition, the upper wall 27Za that constitutes the groove wall of the notch 27Z has a larger inclination angle in the left-right direction than the lower wall 27Zb, and the notch 27Z has a tapered shape in which the second opening is smaller than the first opening. By making the first opening larger, it becomes easier to introduce the cable 111 into the notch 27Z, while by making the second opening smaller, it is possible to restrict the movement of the cable 111.

[0068] The vertical length of the first opening of the notch 27Z is, for example, 2.0 to 5.0 times, or 2.5 to 4.5 times, the vertical length of the second opening. As in the above embodiment, an opening 5dZ that exposes the notch 27Z is formed in the right side surface of the rear cover 5Z, but the notch 27Z is longer in the vertical direction than the notch 27 in the above embodiment, and therefore the opening 5dZ is larger than the opening 5d in the above embodiment.

[0069] The present disclosure is further illustrated by the following embodiments. (Configuration 1) A recessed connection device that is installed in a recessed hole formed in a construction surface, comprising: a device main body having a first cable connection portion that allows a first cable to be inserted and removed from the front of the device, and a second cable connection portion that allows a second cable to be inserted and removed from the rear of the device; and a cover that is attached to the device main body so that it can move between a position that covers the first cable connection portion and a position that exposes it, wherein the first cable connection portion includes a first socket that is oriented so that the first cable can be inserted and removed from a direction that intersects the front-to-back direction of the device, and a recess that can accommodate at least a part of the connector of the first cable is formed in the front part of the device main body along the insertion and removal direction of the first cable. (Configuration 2) The connection device described in Configuration 1, wherein the recess of the device body is configured to be partially exposed when the cover is in a position covering the first cable connection portion, and the first cable connected to the first cable connection portion extends from between the front portion and the cover at the exposed portion. (Configuration 3) The connection device according to configuration 2, wherein the portion of the recess exposed from the cover has a slope that gradually slopes toward the first socket and is positioned toward the rear of the device. (Configuration 4) The connection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the second cable connection section includes a second insertion port formed in an orientation that allows the second cable to be inserted and removed along the front-rear direction. (Configuration 5) The connection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the device body has a base portion in which the recess is formed and a mounting frame portion extending from the base portion, and the mounting frame portion is integrally molded with the base portion. (Configuration 6) A connection device described in any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the device main body has a first board on which the first cable connection portion is mounted and a second board on which the first cable connection portion is mounted, and the first board is positioned behind the device main body relative to the second board. (Configuration 7) The connection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the device body has a cover accommodating portion that can accommodate at least a portion of the cover when the cover is in a position that exposes the first cable connection portion. (Configuration 8) 8. The connection device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the device body has a notch that connects the recess and the embedding hole and through which a third cable is passed. (Configuration 9) 9. The connection device according to configuration 8, wherein the notch is formed obliquely with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions of the device so as to be positioned gradually lower on the device body toward the recess. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1. Connecting Device 2. Device body 3 Cover 4. Cosmetic cover 4a aperture 5 Rear cover 5a,5b,5d opening 5c Boss part 10 Base 10a,10b,10c opening 11 Front part 12 recess 13 Slope 14 Cover housing 14a aperture 14b Guide 15 First cable connection 15a outlet 16 Second cable connection 16a outlet 17 First board 17a Power cable connection 18 Second board 18a Changeover switch 20 Mounting frame 21 Upper frame 22 Lower frame part 23,24 Vertical frame section 25,28 Insertion holes 26 screw holes 27 Notch 29 screws 30 Cover body 31 Upper projection 32 Lower protrusion 100 Wall 101 Embedded hole 110,111 Cable 110a connector 120 Router

Claims

1. A built-in connection device that is installed in a built-in hole formed on a construction surface, a device body having a first cable connection section provided at the front of the device so that a first cable can be inserted and removed therefrom, and a second cable connection section provided at the rear of the device so that a second cable can be inserted and removed therefrom; a cover attached to the device body so as to be movable between a position covering the first cable connection portion and a position exposing the first cable connection portion; Equipped with the first cable connection portion includes a first insertion port that is oriented in such a way that the first cable can be inserted and removed in a direction that intersects with the front-rear direction of the device; A connection device, wherein a recess capable of accommodating at least a part of a connector of the first cable is formed in a front portion of the device body along an insertion / removal direction of the first cable.

2. 2. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the recess of the device body is configured so that a portion of the recess is exposed when the cover is in a position covering the first cable connection portion, and the first cable connected to the first cable connection portion extends from between the front portion and the cover at the exposed portion.

3. 3. The connection device according to claim 2, wherein a slope is formed in the portion of the recess exposed from the cover, the slope being gradually inclined toward the first socket so as to be positioned rearward of the device.

4. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the second cable connection portion includes a second socket disposed in an orientation that allows the second cable to be inserted and removed along the front-rear direction.

5. the device body has a base portion in which the recess is formed and a mounting frame portion that protrudes from the base portion, 2. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting frame is integrally formed with the base.

6. the device body has a first board on which the first cable connection portion is mounted and a second board on which the second cable connection portion is mounted, The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first board is disposed rearward of the device body relative to the second board.

7. 2. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the device body has a cover accommodating portion capable of accommodating at least a portion of the cover when the cover is in a position that exposes the first cable connection portion.

8. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the device body has a notch that connects the recess and the embedding hole and through which a third cable is passed.

9. 9. The connection device according to claim 8, wherein the notch is formed obliquely with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions of the device so as to be positioned gradually lower on the device body toward the recess.

Images