Concealed outlet with tilting insert

Abstract

An electric device comprising: - a frame (2) defining a housing (20); - a concealed electrical outlet (3) placed in said housing (20); - a cover (4) slidable between an open position in which it makes said outlet (3) accessible to a user and a closed position in which it hides the underlying outlet (3); the closed position of the cover (4) corresponding to a first position of the outlet (3), an open position of the cover (4) corresponding to a second position of the outlet (3); - a kinematic mechanism (5) for moving the outlet (3) as a function of a movement of the cover (4); at least one section of the displacement of the cover (4) between the open position and the closed position corresponding to a displacement of the electrical outlet (3).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Concealed outlet with tilting insert

[0003] Field of the art

[0004] An object of the present invention is an electric device comprising a concealed outlet.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] Electrical devices are known comprising concealed outlets. Such devices are provided with an openable door which allows access to a housing in which an electrical outlet is placed. The door can be closed again both for safety reasons and so that the surface on which the device is placed appears more uniform.

[0007] Such a housing, even with the door closed, allows an electrical plug to be housed. In this regard, the device has a slot which allows the electrical wire to exit from the plug. Therefore, even when the door is closed, the electrical outlet can be used to power an electrical user.

[0008] Technical solutions are also known in which the door is rotatable about a rotation axis which is fixed in space and the outlet is solidly constrained to the door. Thereby, when the door is open, the outlet is easily accessible by the user (increasing the convenience of use), but at the same time, when the door is closed, the outlet protrudes further inside the wall, allowing the plug to be housed.

[0009] A drawback of such a solution is related to the fact that such a solution necessarily requires the door to be rotatable and therefore such a solution is cumbersome and often does not adapt to solutions in which the space in front of the outlet is reduced, perhaps due to the presence of furniture or other obstacles.

[0010] Object of the invention

[0011] The task of the present invention is to provide an electric device which allows to integrate a concealed outlet in an environment with little space, while maintaining maximum comfort and convenience for the user.

[0012] Brief description of the drawingsAdditional features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of an embodiment of an electric device.

[0013] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention Such a description will be set forth herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for merely indicative and therefore nonlimiting purposes, wherein:

[0014] - Figures 1 and 2 show the device according to the present invention in two different configurations;

[0015] - Figure 3 shows a view of the device connected to an electrical user; - Figures 4 and 5 show the device, with some parts partially sectioned, in the different configurations of Figures 1 and 2;

[0016] - Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the present invention connected to an electrical user;

[0017] - Figures 7 and 8 show, with some parts sectioned, the device of the present invention connected to an electrical user;

[0018] - Figure 9 shows a further perspective view of the device according to the present invention;

[0019] - Figures 10 and 11 show views of components of the device according to the present invention;

[0020] - Figure 12 shows a further view of the device according to the present invention with some parts removed to better highlight others thereof.

[0021] In the appended drawings, reference number 1 denotes an electric device. The device 1 comprises a frame 2 defining a housing 20. The frame 2 is typically made of plastic material. Suitably, it is a single monolithic body. Advantageously, the frame 2 is recessed in a wall or in another support. Typically the frame 2 is housed in a recessed box, typically placed in a wall.

[0022] The device 1 suitably comprises a concealed electrical outlet 3 placed in the housing 20. The electrical outlet 3 can comprise an electrical power outlet, but could possibly comprise an electrical signal outlet, for examplea USB outlet. Suitably, the electrical outlet 3 can comprise an electrical insert. The device 1 can comprise a single electrical insert, but possibly (solution not illustrated) it can comprise several electrical inserts side by side. Suitably, what is described in the present discussion with reference to the electrical outlet 3 can be repeated for all the side-by-side electrical inserts indicated above.

[0023] Suitably, the device 1 can comprise a support 30 of the electrical outlet 3. Suitably, the support 30 is integral with the electrical outlet 3. Suitably, said support 30 can support one or more electrical inserts.

[0024] The device 1 can also comprise a cover 4 slidable between an open position (see Figures 1, 5, 6, 7, 12) in which it makes said outlet 3 accessible to a user and a closed position (see Figures 2, 3, 4, 8, 9) in which it hides the underlying outlet 3. The cover 4 comprises an outer surface 42 facing the outside of the device 1 and an inner surface 43 facing said housing 20 (at least in the closed position of the cover 4). The outer surface 42 and the inner surface 43 are preferably parallel.

[0025] Suitably the cover 4 and the frame 2 (in particular the edge portion 22 defined below) comprise snap-fitting means 24 which interact in the open position and in the closed position. This facilitates a stable positioning of the cover 4 in the open position and in the closed position. In particular, the snap-fitting means 24 comprise a recess 240 and a first and a second relief 241, 242. The recess 240 in the open position interacts with the first relief 241. The recess 240 in the closed position interacts with the second relief 242. Advantageously, the recess 240 is obtained in the frame 2 while the first and second reliefs 241, 242 are obtained in the cover 4. The first and second reliefs 241 , 242 are aligned along the movement direction 40. The first relief 241 is located in front of the second relief 242 along a direction that leads to the closure of the cover 4.

[0026] Moving from the open position to the closed position, the cover 4 moves lying in an imaginary lying plane 8. In the closed position, the cover 4 obstructs an opening 21 for access to the housing 20 more than in theopen position. Suitably, the frame 2 comprises an edge portion 22 which surrounds an access opening 21.

[0027] The closed position of the cover 4 corresponds to a first position of the outlet 3. An open position of the cover 4 corresponds to a second position of the outlet 3. Suitably, the closed position and the open position of the cover 4 are end-stroke positions. The outlet 3 in the first position is farther away from the imaginary lying plane 8 of the cover 4 than in the second position. Suitably the outlet 3 in the first position is rotated with respect to the second position by an angle comprised between 30° and 60°.

[0028] The device 1 further comprises a kinematic mechanism 5 for moving the outlet 3 as a function of a movement of the cover 4. At least one section of the displacement of the cover 4 between the open position and the closed position corresponds to a displacement of the electrical outlet 3. Suitably, the kinematic mechanism 5 during at least one section of the displacement stroke of the cover 4 between the closed and open positions causes a movement of the outlet 3.

[0029] Suitably in the preferred solution the kinematic mechanism 5 is a cam kinematic mechanism 50.

[0030] The cam kinematic mechanism 50 comprises at least a first and a second element 51, 52 which mutually engage. The first element 51 is obtained on the cover 4 and the second element 52 is integral with the electrical outlet 3. Suitably, the first element 51 comprises a slide 511 which is inclined with respect to the imaginary lying plane 8 of the cover 4. The first element 51 also comprises a section 512 which is substantially parallel to the imaginary lying plane 8 of the cover 4 (or in any case inclined with respect to such an imaginary plane 8 minus the slide 511). The first element 51 comprises a concavity 510, the slide 511 contributing to define (being part of) such a concavity 510. Such a concavity 510 faces the frame 2. The section 512 and the slide 511 are consecutive. The section 512 and the concavity 510 are consecutive. The second element 52 defines a protrusion 521 intended to interact with the slide 511 and the section 512.The protrusion 521 is intended to be inserted into the concavity 510 in the closed position of the cover 4. Passing from the closed position of the cover 4 to the open position of the cover 4, the protrusion 521 first contacts the concavity 510 (or the slide 511) and then the section 512. Suitably in the open position (meaning that of maximum opening) of the cover 4, the protrusion contacts the section 512.

[0031] The slidable cover 4 can translate along a predetermined direction between the open position and the closed position. Suitably the frame 2, preferably the edge portion 22, defines guide means of the cover 4. In particular, the guide means 23 defines a guide rail 230 of the cover 4. Such a rail 230 can be obtained on two parallel sides of the edge portion 22. The rail 230 comprises two grooves placed on opposite sides of the edge portion 22 (only one of the two grooves of the rail 230 is shown in Figure 6; the other is arranged symmetrically). During a stroke between the closed position and the open position, the kinematic mechanism 5 receives sliding movement (typically a translation) of the cover 4 as input and transmits a displacement (typically rotation / overturning) to the electrical outlet 3.

[0032] The electrical outlet 3 is more recessed inside the housing 20 in the closed position than in the open position. Thereby, an electrical plug connected to the outlet 3 can be received inside the housing 20 even when the cover 4 is closed.

[0033] In the closed position, the cover 4 defines between the frame 2 and the cover 4 a slot of at least 25mm2to allow the transit of an electrical wire between inside and outside said housing 20 even with the cover 4 closed. Suitably, a sliding of the cover 4 from the closed to the open position corresponds to a rotation of the electrical outlet 2. Suitably the rotation of the electrical outlet 3 occurs around a rotation axis, preferably defined by a rotation shaft 31 (see for example Figure 9).

[0034] The device 1 comprises locking means 61 for locking the electrical outlet 2 in the configuration assumed in the open position of the cover 4. Suitably,the locking means 6 comprises elastically deformable means (for example, a lever or a deformable wall). The locking means 6 (or in any case the elastically deformable means) defines a stop abutment 610 for the support 30 opposing a thrust stress towards the inside of the housing 20. The locking means 6 retains the outlet 3 in the second position. This allows the user to engage the plug in the outlet 3 without the outlet 3 being pushed inside the housing 20.

[0035] The device 1 also comprises unlocking means 62 of said locking means 61 operable by a user to allow the displacement of the electrical outlet 3. For example, the unlocking means 62 comprises a lever operable by a user who moves the abutment 610. Suitably the means 61 and 62 are part of the same component made in a single body.

[0036] Advantageously the device 1 comprises an elastic means 7 which exerts a stress which pushes the electrical outlet 3 from the second to the first position. Advantageously, the elastic means 7 comprises a torsion spring which preferably wraps around a pin around which the outlet 3 rotates (and / or the support 30 of the outlet 3). A first end of the torsion spring is constrained to the cover 4 and a second end is constrained to the frame 2. During a stroke of the cover 4 from the closed position to the open position the elastic means 7 presses the protrusion 521 against the first element 51. During (in particular at the end of) a stroke of the cover 4 from the closed position to the open position when the protrusion 521 is at the concavity 510, the elastic means 7 pushes it therein. The configuration of Figure 7 is then reached.

[0037] An object of the present invention is also a kit comprising:

[0038] - an electric device 1 having one or more of the features described above; - an electrical user comprising an electrical plug 9 intended to connect with the outlet 3 of the device 1 and an electrical wire 90 extending from the plug 9.Suitably the plug 9 remains inside the housing 20 with the cover 4 in the closed position. In the closed position of the cover 4, the wire 90 exits the housing 20 through the slot 41.

[0039] The present invention achieves important advantages.

[0040] Firstly, it allows use in small spaces. In fact, the cover is slidable and therefore translatable parallel to the wall, therefore minimising the demand for space. This is compatible with the displacement of the outlet associated with the displacement of the cover 4. Therefore, the user, with the cover 4 open, can easily reach the outlet 3, but at the same time can position the plug in the housing 20 with the cover 4 closed.

[0041] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterises it. Moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. All the materials used, as well the dimensions, may in practice be any whatsoever according to needs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electric device comprising:- a frame (2) defining a housing (20);- a concealed electrical outlet (3) placed in said housing (20);- a cover (4) slidable between an open position in which it makes said outlet (3) accessible to a user and a closed position in which it hides the underlying outlet (3);characterised in that:- the closed position of the cover (4) corresponds to a first position of the outlet (3), an open position of the cover (4) corresponds to a second position of the outlet (3);- it comprises a kinematic mechanism (5) for moving the outlet (3) as a function of a movement of the cover (4); at least one section of the displacement of the cover (4) between the open position and the closed position corresponding to a displacement of the electrical outlet (3).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that said kinematic mechanism (5) is a cam kinematic mechanism (50).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that said cam kinematic mechanism (50) comprises at least a first and a second element (51, 52) which mutually engage; the first element (51) being obtained on the cover (4) and the second element (52) being integral with the electrical outlet (3).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the slidable cover (4) can translate along a predetermined direction between the open position and the closed position.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical outlet (3) is more recessed inside the housing (20) in the closed position than in the open position.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that, in the closed position, the cover (4) defines between the frame (2) and the cover (4) a slot (41) of at least 25mm2to allow the transit of an electrical wire betweeninside and outside said housing (20) even with the cover (4) closed.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that a sliding of the cover (4) from the closed to the open position corresponds to a rotation of the electrical outlet (2).

8. The device according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises: - locking means (61) for locking the electrical outlet (2) in the configuration assumed in the open position of the cover (4);- unlocking means (62) for unlocking said locking means (61) operable by a user to allow the displacement of the electrical outlet (2).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that the locking means (61) and the unlocking means (62) are integrated in the same component made in a single body.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an elastic means (7) which exerts a stress which pushes the electrical outlet (3) from the second to the first position.

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