ASSEMBLY FOR FLUSH-MOUNTED MECHANISMS WHICH COMPRISES A FRAME AND CONNECTION BASE AND METHOD FOR COUPLING SAID ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Frame and connection base assembly for flush mounting mechanisms, and related coupling method, wherein the frame includes an opening delimited by a guiding and fitting perimeter of the connection base, which includes a connection body, which has first and second portions of different sections such that in the transition between both, bearing surfaces are defined that rest on the frame around the guide and fitting perimeter, such that the connection base can rotate with respect to the frame according to a rotation that has the direction normal to the plane of the frame.

Claims

1. A frame and connection base assembly for flush mounting mechanisms, wherein the frame comprises at least one opening for the introduction and the fitting of the connection base, the opening being delimited by a guiding and fitting perimeter of the connection base, in which the connection base comprises a connection body, a first configuration being defined in which the frame and the connection base are uncoupled and a second configuration in which the frame and the connection base are coupled, such that in the second configuration the connection body is introduced in the opening, the outline of the connection body at one of its ends being in contact with the guiding and fitting perimeter, the rest of the connection body protruding by its other end from the other side of the frame, and in which the connection body has two portions, a first portion that in the second configuration is fastened to the guiding and fitting perimeter by one of its ends and a second portion joined to the first portion, wherein both first and second portions are of different sections such that in the transition between both of them bearing surfaces are defined, such that in a third configuration these bearing surfaces rest on the edge of the frame adjacent to the guiding and fitting perimeter, the outline of the second portion in the section change between the first and second portions being inscribed in a first circle that is internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter, such that in the third configuration the connection base can rotate with respect to the frame according to a rotation that has the direction normal to the plane of the frame.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connection base comprises a support framework in the frame joined to the connection body, such that in the second configuration the framework abuts the frame on one side of it, the first portion being joined to the framework.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the connection body has an outer surfaced, this outer surface and the guiding and fitting perimeter being provided with guide means between them according to a coupling direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the frame.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the first portion of the connection body comprises ridges that have the coupling direction, the guiding and fitting perimeter being provided with notches complementary to the ridges.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the connection body is provided with connection terminals for the connection of some cables.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outline of the second portion of the connection body in the section change between the first and second portions of the connection body comprises at least two points arranged in a second circle with a radius smaller than the circle internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter, the outline of the first portion of the connection body being tangent to a third circle with a radius larger than the circle internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter, the difference between the radii of the third circle and circle internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter being larger than the difference between the radii of the second circle and the circle internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, comprising locking means of the connection base in the frame in the second configuration.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the locking means comprise elastic legs in the first portion of the connection body and notches in the guiding and fitting perimeter for the fitting of the ends of the elastic legs.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame has a housing recess of the framework of the connection base.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame is square or rectangular and the second portion is a body with an oblong cross section, its larger side being arranged obliquely with respect to the sides of the frame in the second configuration.

11. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the guide means have an angular frequency of 90, such that four angular positions are defined relative to the coupling between the frame and the connection base.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a cavity for receiving the body of a male plug.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of openings and the corresponding connection bases.

14. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of quick connection levers.

15. Assembly coupling method according to claim 3, sequentially comprising the phases of: a) introducing the second portion of the connection base in the opening which bring the assembly from the first configuration to the third configuration; b) rotating the connection base with respect to the frame to a position in which the guide means of the outer surface of the connection base and the guiding and fitting perimeter coincide; c) relative sliding between the connection base and the frame to bring the assembly to the second configuration. d) locking the assembly in the second configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] As a complement to the description, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the disclosure more readily understandable, in accordance with a practical embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of figures constituting an integral part thereof, which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the following:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a frame and plug connection base assembly in a decoupled configuration prior to coupling.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows the assembly of FIG. 1 in the third configuration, in other words that in which the connection base can move with respect to the frame according to a rotation that has the direction normal to the frame.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows the second configuration, in which the frame and the connection base are coupled.

[0035] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the frame, in which it can be seen that it is a substantially flat body.

[0036] FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the connection base.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the assembly in the third configuration.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view with the assembly inverted in the second configuration, in which only the second portion protrudes from the frame on the side corresponding to the flush mounted box.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the assembly in the third configuration, in which the connection base can be turned with respect to the frame until reaching a configuration that enables the final introduction of the connection base in the frame which leads to the second configuration.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the frame that enables seeing an embodiment of its guiding and fitting perimeter that enables the relative turning between frame and connection base, and in which the guide and locking notches of the guiding and fitting perimeter of the frame are seen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] As can be seen in the figures, the disclosure relates to a frame 1 and connection base 2 assembly for flush mounting mechanisms. In a preferred embodiment, the flush mounting mechanism is a plug. In the figures, a preferred embodiment is shown in which the flush mounting mechanism is a plug, only the components of the claimed assembly being shown, neither the flush mounted box nor the cables, the trims or the male plug being shown.

[0042] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the frame 1 comprises an opening 11 for the introduction and fitting of the connection base 2. In the illustrated embodiment only one assembly has been shown in which the frame (1) has only one opening 11, and therefore only one connection base 2 is coupled to it. Obviously, a frame 1 can be cut provided with a plurality of openings intended for the fastening of the corresponding connection bases 2.

[0043] The opening, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 9, is delimited by a guiding and fitting perimeter 12 of the connection base 2.

[0044] As seen in the elevation view of FIG. 5, the connection base 2 comprises a support framework 21 in the frame 1 and a connection body 22 joined to the framework 21.

[0045] It is notable that in the described embodiment the connection base has a stop framework 21 of fastening of the connection base 2 to the frame 1. However, this framework 21 is not always necessary, since a person skilled in the art can conceive other embodiments in which the contact stop is carried out in other ways, such as for example a projection or even by means of the locking and fastening means themselves.

[0046] Therefore, a first configuration is defined, shown in FIG. 1, in which the frame 1 and the connection base 2 are uncoupled and a second configuration, shown in FIG. 3, in which the frame 1 and the connection base 2 are coupled. In the second configuration, as seen in FIG. 3, the framework 21 abuts the frame 1 on one side of it, in other words that they are adjoining, and the connection body 22 is introduced in the opening 11 and protrudes from the other side of the frame 1.

[0047] According to the present disclosure as seen in FIG. 5, the connection body 22 is divided into two portions 23, 24.

[0048] A first portion 23 of the connection body is joined to the framework 21, and is the one that has the cavity 25 for receiving the body of a male plug (not shown) and in which the neutral fork 26 and the pin-hole protection device 27 are fastened, as indicated in FIG. 2.

[0049] The second portion 24 is joined to the first portion 23 on the side opposite to the fastening framework 21.

[0050] The first 23 and second 24 portions have different cross sections such that in the transition between both of them bearing surfaces S2 are defined.

[0051] The transition should be such that in a third configuration, shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 8, these bearing surfaces S2 rest on the edge of the frame that is adjacent to the guiding and fitting perimeter 12, on the outer surface, with the outline of the second portion 24 in the section change between the first 23 and second 24 portions inscribed in the first circle 3 that is internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter 12.

[0052] Therefore, in the third configuration the connection base 2 can rotate with respect to the frame 1 according to a rotation that has the direction normal to the plane of the frame 1.

[0053] In this text, the concepts of perimeter and edge must be distinguished. Perimeter should be understood as the surface or inner edge of the frame that is facing the outer surface of the first portion of the base. It relates to surfaces that contain the direction of introduction. In contrast, the edge is contained in a surface perpendicular to this perimeter. Therefore, the perimeter is that which makes it possible to limit the movement of the base with respect to the frame and according to movements with direction contained in the plane of the frame in the third configuration, while the edge is that which impedes the movement according to the direction normal to the frame, in other words the direction of introduction.

[0054] As it is known, the first portion 23 has an outer surface S23, this outer surface S23 and the guiding and fitting perimeter 12 being provided with guide means between them according to a coupling direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the frame 1. Moreover, according to the present disclosure, these guide means only actuate once the bearing surfaces are introduced in the opening of the frame, the frame and connection base assembly staying in the relative position suitable for their coupling, after the relative rotation between connection base 2 and frame 1, and being followed by the introduction according to the direction normal to the plane of the frame 1 which brings the assembly from the third configuration to the second configuration.

[0055] As seen in FIG. 5, these guide means comprise the outer surface S23 comprising ridges 231 that have the coupling direction, the guiding and fitting perimeter 12 being provided with notches 111 complementary to the ridges.

[0056] As seen in FIG. 5, the second portion 24 is provided with connection terminals T for connecting cables.

[0057] According to an especially preferred embodiment, and as can be seen in the cross section of FIG. 6, the outline of the second portion 24 in the section change between the first 23 and second 24 portions comprises at least two points arranged in a second circle with a radius smaller than the circle 3 internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter 12, the outline of the first portion 23 being tangent to a third circle with a radius larger than the circle 3 internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter 12, the difference X between the radii of the third circle and the circle 3 internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter 12 being larger than the difference Y between the radii of the circle 3 internally tangent to the guiding and fitting perimeter 12 and the second circle. This relationship between the radii is illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0058] It must be noted that the rotating contact of the connection base 2 in the frame at the level of the transition can be made in many ways. What is essential is achieving enough contact between the connection base 2 and the frame 1 that enables the connection base 2 to rotate with respect to the frame 1 until it reaches the position of coinciding guides. The contact can be made by means of two, three or more points or areas conveniently arranged for an effective contact.

[0059] Also, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, locking means are anticipated of the connection base 2 in the frame 1 (in the second configuration) comprising elastic legs B2 in the first portion 23 and notches B1 in the guiding and fitting perimeter 12 for the fitting of the end of the elastic legs B2.

[0060] As can be seen in FIG. 9, the frame 1 has a housing recess 13 of the framework 21 of the connection base 2. Therefore, a step 13 is defined between a more elevated surface 13 of the frame 1, and the recess 13.

[0061] As seen in FIG. 3 or in FIG. 7, the frame 1 is square or rectangular and the second portion 24 is a body with an oblong cross section, its larger side being arranged obliquely with respect to the sides of the frame 1 in the second configuration. This arrangement is already known on its own, as described for example in the aforementioned publication ES 1 133 990.

[0062] According to the present embodiment, and as seen in the plan view in FIG. 9, the guide means have an angular frequency of 90, such that four angular positions are defined relative to the coupling between the frame 1 and the connection base 2. Thus, the installer will always need to make a rotation of less than 90 in order to reach a fitting position. To do so, guide means and the fastening legs will be made to coincide in two consecutive sides of the connection base 2.

[0063] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 9, the notches B1 and 111 have the same shape. In a complementary way, the elastic legs B2 and the ridges 231 protrude from the portion 23 with the same shape complementary to the notches B1, 111, and they are arranged symmetrically, such that the elastic legs B2 as well as the ridges 231 fit in the notches B1, 111.

[0064] As seen in FIG. 7, the second portion 24 comprises a plurality of quick connection levers P.

[0065] In all of the embodiments, it is preferred that the frame 1 be made of steel and that the connection base 2 be made of polyamide.

[0066] The described assembly coupling method will be carried out by means of the phases of: [0067] a) introducing the second portion 24 in the opening 11 which brings the assembly from the first configuration to the third configuration; [0068] b) rotating the connection base 2 with respect to the frame 1 to a position in which the guide means of the outer surface S23 and the guiding and fitting perimeter 12 coincide; [0069] c) relative sliding between the connection base 2 and the frame 1 to bring the assembly to the second configuration. [0070] d) locking the assembly in the second configuration.

[0071] In this text, the word comprises and its variants such as comprising, etc. should not be understood in an exclusive sense, i.e. they do not exclude the possibility of that which is described including other elements, steps, etc.

[0072] Also, the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather encompasses the variations that one skilled in the art could make (e.g. in terms of choice of materials, dimensions, components, design, etc.), within the scope of what may be deduced from the claims.