WALL-MOUNTED BOX FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND INSTALLATION METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

In general, the application of the present invention regards the electrical wiring of buildings. In particular, the solution identified concerns the positioning and installation of boxes suitable for housing electrical sockets, or control systems, or various sensors on the walls of the rooms, when these internal walls are made, or covered, with panels made of plasterboard or, alternatively, with other similar materials.

The present invention indicates a box for extracting electrical contacts from an electric line made by means of a “ribbon cable” laid under a surface finishing panel of a wall or ceiling. This box is easy to install, and makes an electrical power interface available on this wall, so that said power interface is accessible to a load.

Claims

1. A system comprising a box (100) for extracting electrical contacts, a “ribbon cable” (200) and a finishing panel (300), suited to cover an underlying wall (310); and wherein: said box (100) for extracting electrical contacts is configured to operate with a live electric line made with said “ribbon cable” (200), and said “ribbon cable” (200) is laid on said underlying wall (310) which is covered with said surface finishing panel (300) of a wall or ceiling or floor; and said “ribbon cable” (200) comprises at least one conductive strip (210), made of a flat, wide and thin conductor, and one of its faces is adhering to said underlying wall (310), and when installed, it is partially inserted in the wall, above the trait of said electric line where it is intended to extract the contacts to be made available outside, and it is inserted only for a first thickness (101) corresponding to the thickness (301) of said surface finishing panel in such a way that said underlying wall (310) remains intact even when said box (100) for extracting electrical contact is installed; and it comprises at least one contact electrode (120), having a face designed to be pressed onto the “ribbon cable” of said electric line, and said face has a substantially flat shape, and it is adapted to realize electric contact with the face of said at least one conductive strip (210) opposite the face adhering to the underlying wall (310).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one contact electrode (120) comprised in said box (100) has, on the face having a substantially flat shape, designed to be pressed onto the “ribbon cable” of said electric line, a plurality of protruding micro-tips (127) of conductive material, the length of which is sufficient to pierce the thickness of the insulating sheath (220) of said “ribbon cable” (200), so that when said at least one contact electrode (120) is pressed on said “ribbon cable” (200), said micro-tips (127) pierce said insulating sheath (127) and come into electric contact with the conductive strips (210) that are inside said “ribbon cable” (200).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one contact electrode (120) comprised in said box (100) is substantially made with a piece of conductive metal, and said one piece of conductive metal is shaped so that, when said box (100) for extracting electric contacts is installed, on the side facing the environment, a clip suitable to tighten an electrode of an electric plug is obtained.

4. A method for installation of an electrical contacts extracting system, using the system according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises at least the following operations: a. identifying the position of the wall in which to install the box (100) for extracting electrical contacts, and said position corresponds to an area of the wall below which passes an electric line made with a “ribbon cable” (200); executing two cuts parallel to the direction of said electric line made with a “ribbon cable” (200), deep enough to completely cross said surface finishing panel (300), without significantly affecting the underlaying wall (310), and said two cuts parallel to the direction of the electric line, are positioned on the two sides of said electric line; executing two cuts transversal to the direction of said electric line made with a “ribbon cable” (200), deep enough to cross almost completely, but not completely, said surface finishing panel (300), and said two cuts transverse to the direction of the electric line, are positioned so as to form, together with the previous two cuts, executed in the previous step “b”, a rectangle; d. making an opening on the finishing panel (300), by removing the rectangle of the surface finishing panel (300) determined by the cuts made in the previous steps “b” and “c”; g. inserting said box (100) for extracting electric contacts according to that indicated in any of the claims from 1 to 3, in the opening left free by the removal of the rectangle of the surface finishing panel (300); h. attaching said box (100) for extracting electric contacts to the surface finishing panel (300).

5. The method for installation of an electrical contacts extracting system according to claim 4, wherein a further intermediate operation of uncovering the conductive strips (210) contained in said “ribbon cable” (200), is included between the operation “d” and the operation “g”, and said further intermediate operation, in turn includes at least the following steps: e. positioning a template (130) on the underlying wall (310), and the dimension of said template (130) are the same of those of said removed rectangle of surface finishing panel, and said template (130) has a number of holes (230) equal to the number of conductive strips (210) contained in the trait of “ribbon cable” (200) brought to light due to the removal of said surface finish panel rectangle, and said template (130) is positioned so as to cover the “ribbon cable” (200), leaving however uncovered only the areas of said “ribbon cable” (200) in correspondence with said holes (230); f. scraping and removing of the protective sheath (220) of the said “ribbon cable” (200), in the areas corresponding to the said holes (230) of the said template (130), positioned as stated in the previous point “e”.

6. The method for installation of an electrical contacts extracting system according to claim 4, wherein the operation performed at point “a” is performed using a metal detector device.

7. A method for the removal of an electrical contacts extracting system installed according to the method claim 4, in wherein said method for the removal of an electrical contacts extracting system comprises at least the following operations: a. removing the box (100) for extracting electrical contacts, detaching it from the surface finishing panel (300) to which it had previously been fixed; b. restoring the insulation of the “ribbon cable” (200), by applying an insulating film, at least over the areas where the electric contacts with the contact electrodes (120) of the box (100) for extracting electrical contacts had been implemented; c. closing the opening in which said box (100) for extracting electrical contacts was inserted, by inserting a piece of surface finishing panel (300), like the one used in the rest of the wall, and of the same shape and size of said opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] This invention also has further advantages, which will become more evident from the following description, from some examples of practical embodiments, which illustrate further details, from the attached claims which form an integral part of the present description, and from the attached figures in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows, schematically, two orthogonal views of a “ribbon cable” according to the known technique, and of the type suitable for the application of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic and simplified way, the essential principles of the electrical coupling between the box for extracting electrical contacts according to the invention and an electrical line made with a “ribbon cable” according to the prior art, and of the suitable type to be employed in the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 3a shows the section taken from a real implementation project of a box for extracting electrical contacts according to the invention, in which the contacts are made available through a low-thickness socket/plug coupling.

[0052] FIG. 3b shows, in detail, the contact electrodes of the box for extracting electrical contacts according to the embodiment represented in FIG. 3a.

[0053] FIG. 3c shows two axonometric views of the box for extracting electrical contacts according to the embodiment represented in FIG. 3a.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows the template used in the installation process of a box for extracting electrical contacts according to the invention in the form of implementation represented in FIG. 3a.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows another form of implementation of a box for extracting electrical contacts according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] FIG. 1 shows two orthogonal views of a piece of “ribbon cable” suitable for the application of the present invention.

[0057] The number 200 indicates the “ribbon cable” as a whole. In the top view (left view) the presence of two conductive strips, indicated with the number 210, can be appreciated. The “ribbon cable” 200 shown in FIG. 1 is extremely simple as it contains only two conductive strips 210, which are sufficient for a first description of this type of cables. A “ribbon cable” 200, like the one in the figure, with two conductors is suitable for carrying a voltage in both the alternating and direct regime; ribbon cables with three conductors allow to carry also the neutral; it is then possible to make “ribbon cables” with four conductors to carry three-phase power supplies; and in general it is possible to propose “ribbon cables” with a further greater number of conductors, in order to accommodate any power supply architecture envisaged in the project (e.g. by distributing both alternating and direct power supplies, perhaps to different tensions).

[0058] The conductive strips 210 are kept parallel, spaced and insulated by a protective sheath, indicated with the number 220.

[0059] In the sectional view (on the right side of FIG. 1) it can be appreciated how the two conductive strips 210 are flat and thin, and how they are contained inside the protective sheath 220. The number 201 indicates the thickness of the “ribbon cable” 200. Said thickness 201 represents the most interesting dimensional data of these types of cables. In fact, it is possible to make “ribbon cables” 200 with excellent conductive properties, and excellent insulation, while maintaining thicknesses of the order of one millimeter, and even lower. It is precisely this dimension, so subtle, that allows the creation of non-invasive electrical systems that are very suitable for supporting future scenarios characterized by the need to provide power to a very large number of points inside buildings.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows the essential principles of the electrical coupling between the box for extracting electrical contacts according to the invention, indicated as a whole with the number 100, and an electrical line made with a “ribbon cable” 200, like the one shown in FIG. 1.

[0061] The view proposed in FIG. 2 shows a section orthogonal to the plane of a wall and perpendicular to the direction of the “ribbon cable” 200; the section plane crosses the wall precisely in correspondence with a zone in which said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 according to the invention must be installed.

[0062] Said “ribbon cable” 200 is laid on an “underlying wall” indicated with the number 310. The surface of said “underlying wall” 310 can be made of plasterboard or any other material; the “underlying wall” 310 does not need to have particular aesthetic value, as it is then covered with an additional finishing panel. Said further finishing panel is indicated with the number 300, and, in the section of FIG. 2, it appears interrupted in two parts, since said finishing panel 300 is perforated in order to let the “ribbon cable” 200 accessible. Said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 is shown in FIG. 2 detached from the wall, and to be installed it must be inserted in the opening obtained in the finishing panel 300, moving it as indicated by the arrow 400.

[0063] Some essential dimensional characteristics of said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 concern the part of the latter which, after installation, is recessed in the opening obtained in the finishing panel 300. The measurement of the depth of the recessed part is indicated with the number 101, and must substantially correspond to the thickness of the finishing panel 300, indicated with the number 301, while the height of the recessed part must correspond to the height of the opening obtained in the finishing panel 300, and indicated in FIG. 2 with the number 302. Obviously, also the measurement of the width of this recessed part (not appreciable in the proposed section, as it develops in the direction orthogonal to the sheet) must, similarly, correspond to the width of the opening obtained in the finishing panel 300.

[0064] By correspondence of measurements, it is intended that these must be substantially the same, with the foresight that the measurements referring to the box for extracting electrical contacts 100 must, eventually, be slightly smaller than those referring to the finishing panel 300, in order to provide a tolerance that facilitates the insertion of said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 in the opening obtained in the finishing panel 300. The purpose of this dimensioning, in particular that relating to the depth 101, is to ensure an installation that does not engrave into the “underlying wall” 310 and, at the same time, allows the necessary electrical contacts to be made with the electrical line constituted by the “ribbon cable” 200.

[0065] In fact, another essential feature of said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 relates to the presence of at least one contact electrode, designed to implement an electrical contact with the electrical line constituted by the “ribbon cable” 200. Normally, the boxes for extracting electrical contacts 100 that are installed have a number of contact electrodes equal to the number of conductive strips 210 that are present in the “ribbon cable” 200 above which they are installed: therefore in FIG. 2, a case is shown in which said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 comprises two electrodes, indicated with the number 120.

[0066] Said contact electrodes 120 are represented in FIG. 2 in an absolutely schematic and unrealistic way. The only essential characteristic that must be appreciated in the figure concerns their positioning: such that, when said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 according to the invention is installed, said contact electrodes 120 are pressed, each on top of a conductive straps 210, so as to ensure adequate electrical contact with the power line.

[0067] It is observed that the “ribbon cable” 200 also includes an insulating protective sheath 220, and therefore it is necessary to take this into account to ensure effective electrical contact between a contact electrode 120 and the corresponding conductive tape 210: this means that it is not enough that the contact electrodes 120 are pressed over the “ribbon cable” 200.

[0068] As will be resumed also in the following of the present description, in which some examples of prototype embodiments will be shown, this contact can be easily guaranteed in different ways, which give rise to different variants of the same invention. In summary, two ways can be followed to obtain such a contact: either the protective sheath 220 is removed in the area where the contact must take place, or the sheath is pierced (therefore crossed) by the electrode when this is pressed on the “ribbon cable” 200.

[0069] Following the first approach, for example, an operation can be envisaged to be performed simultaneously with the creation of the opening on the finishing panel 300 (or at a later time), and this operation consists in using a template and a suitable tool to scrape away the protective sheath, and quickly discover the conductive tape 210 exactly in the required areas, where the contact electrodes 120 will then be positioned. It is observed that the reverse operation of removing the box, and restoring the wall, will require the precaution (of simple execution too) to restore also a protective film over the “ribbon cable” 200, where the conductive strips 210 were uncovered.

[0070] Following the second approach, which provides for the perforation of the sheath, particular contact electrodes 120 can be conceived, for example, made by arranging one or more tips, of suitable length, on their contact face; an effective solution provides for arranging a plurality of tips well distributed over the entire contact face. These tips need only have a length of a few tenths of a millimeter, sufficient to pierce the protective sheath 220 and to touch the conductive tape 210.

[0071] A further essential feature of said box for extracting electrical contacts 100 according to the invention consists of the presence of an electrical power supply interface, indicated in FIG. 2 with the number 110, offered externally, so that it is available for the connection of an external electrical load. In fact, said electrical interface 110 available for connecting an electrical load, extracts the voltage present on the power line implemented by means of the “ribbon cable” 200. In this way, it is possible to prepare and design at different times:

[0072] a) the electrical distribution within a building, and

[0073] b) the subsequent distribution, within the same building, of the points of access to the electricity grid.

[0074] Once outlined the essential characteristics that are required for a box 100, made according to the teachings of the present invention, suitable for extracting a power supply interface from a live line of an electrical system, wired with a “bus” architecture and made with “ribbon cables”, in order to be able to feed a load, some essential operations can now be identified for the definition of an installation method.

[0075] It is noted that having an efficient, reliable and fast installation method is perfectly consistent with the application scenarios of the invention. In fact, all the proposed teachings find their maximum usefulness in contexts where the extraction of electrical power from the walls is required in a very widespread way (therefore many power points are needed) and in circumstances that cannot be completely planned at the time of construction of the building (therefore it is necessary to be able to extract electrical power access points with operational flexibility).

[0076] The first necessary operation consists in identifying the point in which to install the box for extracting electrical contacts 100 which, obviously, must be a point on the wall under which an electrical line made with a “ribbon cable” 200 passes.

[0077] Just from this first operation, it is evident that the distribution of the power supply must pre-exist, before the decision on the positioning of the access points to this electrical plant: this aspect substantially differentiates the methodology presented in the context of the present invention with respect to the known methodologies for the construction of electrical systems. In fact, the known art for the construction of electrical systems provides that the power supply is distributed (and carried) in predetermined points, which therefore must be decided before laying the cables; i.e., the power cables must be brought to the known predetermined points where the power supply must be available for connecting a load.

[0078] It is observed that the exact positioning of the installation point of the box for extracting electrical contacts 100 is considerably free, if the power supply lines have been widely distributed in all environments, but must be precisely identified, so that the subsequent positioning maneuver of the box for extracting electrical contacts 100, may happen exactly over the conductive strips. The required accuracy must be of the order of a small fraction of the width of the conductive tapes contained in the “ribbon cable”, typically of the order of the millimeter.

[0079] In fact, it is observed that, if the position of the “ribbon cable” 200 (which is hidden under the surface finish panel 300) is not known with sufficient precision from the project data, this identification, which must be carried out with the necessary precision, can also be easily performed using a metal detector device. In other words, it may be a suitable instrumentation, based on known technology, eventually designed ad-hoc, using known technologies for detecting the presence of metal, and optimized specifically for this application. Moreover, this is a very specific application, in which many parameters are known, such as the electromagnetic properties of the metal sought (in fact, a specific known metal is sought, whose dimensions are also known), as well as the distance to which is to be found, below the finish panel 300.

[0080] The next operation, after identifying the point in which to install the box for extracting electrical contacts 100, consists in creating the opening on the finishing panel 300.

[0081] In order to perform this operation quickly and with the necessary precision, it is possible to use a special tool equipped with a blade suitable for cutting the material of which said finishing panel 300 is made: in the typical case, a plasterboard blade. The opening to be made consists in the removal of a rectangle of the finishing panel, without damaging either the “underlying wall” 310 and the “ribbon cable” 200; therefore, two couples of parallel cuts are required, characterized by good precision, especially regarding the depth of the cut.

[0082] The tool for removing this rectangle from the finishing panel 300 must therefore have an adjustable blade to make cuts at two depths. Two cuts are parallel to the direction of the “ribbon cable” 200: one on one side of said “ribbon cable” 200, and the other on the opposite side, so that said ribbon cable is between said two cuts. Furthermore, said two cuts parallel to the direction of the “ribbon cable” 200 must be deep enough to completely cut, in all its thickness, the finishing panel 300, without significantly affecting the “underlying wall” 310, even if they can eventually touch it. The other two cuts, together with the previous two, complete the rectangle, and are transversal with respect to the “ribbon cable” 200: These last two transversal cuts, unlike the first two, must have a depth slightly less than the thickness of the finishing panel 300, in order not to run the risk of damaging the “ribbon cable” 200.

[0083] The rectangle thus cut, therefore, remains attached to the finishing panel 300 only along the two transverse sides with respect to the “ribbon cable” 200, in which the two cuts does not completely pass through the finishing panel 300. Therefore, the rectangle to be removed is maintained attached to the rest of the finishing panel 300 only by the effect of a pair of very thin connections (the precision of the cut serves precisely to ensure that these two connections are very thin and slender). At this point, however, it is easy to tear off the rectangular piece of the finishing panel 300, since it will easily detach due to the thin connection highlighted above.

[0084] Once the “ribbon cable” 200, which adheres to the “underlying wall” 310, is visible, if the contact technique provides that the conductive strips 210 must be uncovered, also the execution this operation have to be done. Also in this case, in order to execute the operation of uncovering the conductive tapes 210 in the correct position, quickly and with the necessary precision, it is possible to use specially designed instruments. A template of the size of the opening can be placed over the “ribbon cable” 200, and this template, being associated with the specific electrical contact extraction box 100, will have holes exactly in the areas where the conductive strips 210 must be uncovered. For this operation of uncovering the conductors it is possible to use a special scraper, suitable for removing the layer of sheath left free from the holes of the template used.

[0085] At this point, the box for extracting electrical contacts 100 is inserted into the opening made in the finishing panel 300, and fixed to it, for example with screws. The dimensions of said box, and the positioning of the contact electrodes 120, will ensure electrical contact with the conductive strips 210, and the interface for the power supply will be ready to provide power to a generic load.

[0086] If the contact electrodes 120, on their contact surfaces, were equipped with micro-tips suitable for piercing the protective sheath 220, the operation of uncovering the conductive strips 210 of the “ribbon cable” 200 would not be necessary. Therefore, once the rectangle of the finishing panel 300 has been removed, and the opening to make the “ribbon cable” 200 accessible is made, you can directly proceed with the insertion of the box for extracting electrical contacts 100.

[0087] Note how this process of installing a box for extracting electrical contacts 100 according to the invention is an easily reversible process. In fact, each box can be simply removed, the “ribbon cable” 200 can be easily covered by applying an insulating protective film over it, and the opening on the finishing panel 300 can be closed by inserting a rectangle of the same material and of the appropriate size. The operation is then concluded with a simple final grouting.

[0088] Having clarified the general principles of the invention, both from the point of view of the system and from the methodological point of view, by means of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 some characteristics referring to prototype implementations, effectively applicable in the field, are presented, which help to describe further the invention highlighting further details of its embodiments, and making more appreciable its effectiveness and usefulness.

[0089] FIG. 3a shows (being the drawing of a working prototype, it respects realistic proportions), in section, a box for extracting electrical contacts 100 according to the invention, in a form of implementation in which the contacts are made available by means of a low thickness socket. As in FIG. 2, the surface of the “underlying wall” is indicated with the number 310 and the finishing panel with the number 300. The finishing panel 300 is interrupted to accommodate the box 100. A contact electrode, intersected by the section plane is indicated with the number 120, and protrudes until it touches the underlying wall, where the “ribbon cable” (not visible as it is very thin, in the dimensions shown in the figure) which constitutes the powered electric line adheres.

[0090] In FIG. 3a you can see how the contact electrode 120 is in electrical continuity with a conducting element, shown better in FIG. 3b, and designed to house the contacts of a plug indicated with the number 510.

[0091] It should be noted that the thickness of the finishing panel 300, typically 1.25 cm, plus the protrusion of the box for extracting electrical contacts 100, allow the housing of plugs according to the most common standards. So that, low thickness box, which does not require to penetrate deep into the wall where it is installed, may be realized.

[0092] The element containing the contact electrode 120, in the form of implementation of FIG. 3a, is shown with greater clarity in the two axonometric views of FIG. 3b. This element is made with a single piece of metal and includes a protrusion, indicated by the number 120, characterized by a certain elastic flexibility, and shaped to be pressed on the conductive line: this protrusion implements the contact electrode 120. On the opposite side, with respect to the contact electrode 120, two clips are formed which are suitable for tightening the electrodes of an electric plug. These clips are indicated with the number 110, as they implement the power supply interface offered to the outside by the box for extracting electrical contacts 100.

[0093] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each element containing a contact electrode 120 comprises two clips 110, since an electrical contact extraction box 100 is shown, designed to offer two electrical sockets. Each box for extracting electrical contacts 100 will therefore contain a number of elements containing a contact electrode 120, equal to the number of conductors present in the line from which the electrical interface is to be extracted.

[0094] In FIG. 3c, two axonometric views offer an overall view of the considered form of implementation. Therefore, it is shown a box for extracting electrical contacts 100, containing three elements having a contact electrode 120, each with two clips 110; and said elements are arranged so as to: [0095] present the three contact electrodes 120 in correspondence with three different conductive strips of a “ribbon cable” suitable for carrying a voltage plus the neutral reference (therefore a three-conductor cable), as seen from the right view showing the side of the box 100 facing the “underlying wall”; and [0096] realize two sockets with three holes, suitable for coupling to plugs that take the voltage and neutral from the network, as seen from the left view showing the side of the box 100 facing the outside of the wall.

[0097] FIG. 4 shows a template that can be associated with the box for extracting electrical contacts 100 according to the form of implementation proposed in FIG. 3. The template as a whole is indicated with the number 130, characterized by having dimensions corresponding to the opening that is made on the finishing panel 300, to insert the box for extracting electrical contacts 100 to be installed. Thanks to the correspondence of the dimensions, it is easy to place the template 130 above the conductive strips 210 of the “ribbon cable” 200, so that the holes on the template, indicated in FIG. 4 with the number 230, leave uncovered the areas in which contacts must be made, and from which, therefore, the insulating protection sheath 220 must be removed.

[0098] However, this removal operation of the protective sheath 220 is not always necessary. In fact, contact electrodes 120 can be conceived capable of making an electrical contact with a conductive strip 210 even if this is covered by a thin protective insulating sheath.

[0099] FIG. 5 schematically represents another embodiment of a box for extracting electrical contacts according to the invention, in which the contact electrodes, as usual indicated with the number 120, have a particular face designed to be pressed on a “ribbon cable” of said power line. The detail that makes them special is also clearly visible in the enlargement proposed in FIG. 5, where it is noted that said face has a substantially flat shape from which protrude a plurality of micro-tips made, obviously, with a conductive material. These micro-tips indicated in FIG. 5 with the number 127, and their length is sufficient to pierce the insulating sheath of said “ribbon cable”; so that when said electrodes are pressed onto the “ribbon cable”, said micro-tips 127 pierce the insulating sheath and come into electrical contact with the conductive strips 210, which are located inside said “ribbon cable”.

[0100] The type of contact presented in FIG. 5, at the expense of a smaller contact surface, which introduces a greater impedance compared to contacts on uncovered strip, greatly simplifies the installation process as it eliminates the phase of uncovering the conductive strips 210 (which is particularly laborious).

[0101] The form of implementation proposed in FIG. 5, on the other hand, does not cause significant changes in the process of removing the box and restoring the wall; in fact it is always advisable to cover the areas of the “ribbon cable” where the contact was made with a protective film, since in this area the protective sheath is damaged due to the drilling made with the micro-tips 127.

[0102] Ultimately, the box for extracting electrical contacts from an electric line made by means of a “ribbon cable”, laid under a surface finishing panel of a wall or a ceiling, made and installed according to the teachings of the present invention, with respect to the traditional solutions proposed by the known art, appears much more suitable to support the wiring needs according to the requirements that arise in the context of the most plausible evolutionary scenarios.

[0103] In general, then, the present invention lends itself to numerous variants while maintaining the claimed prerogatives. In fact, it can be developed in different dimensions, and include different quantities of conductors to carry electrical power, with various powers and regimes. Furthermore, the invention itself can be partially realized as some described details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0104] In particular, the use of specific technologies and materials does not constitute an essential part of the present invention. Therefore, if in the future the materials sector were to make available new technologies, more advantageous than those mentioned in the preferred implementations, in order to implement the present invention more efficiently, further improvements could be made without changing the inventive nature and the principles that inspired the invention itself.

[0105] Other possible variants for the present invention may be linked, not just to the evolution of the technologies that constitute it, but also to how the sector of components associated with “smart objects” will evolve, so that the boxes indicated in the invention could, for example, integrate components of varying complexity and also perform other functions, additional to the sole function of extracting an electrical power supply interface.

[0106] Therefore, especially in the context of such evolutionary scenarios, the invention lends itself to incorporating and supporting further development and improvement efforts, capable of improving the performance of the system described. Therefore, many further developments can be made by the person skilled in the art without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as it results from this description and the attached claims which form an integral part of this description; or, if said developments are not included in the present description, they may be the subject of further patent applications associated with the present invention, or dependent on it.