Abstract
A kit includes an electric appliance, which for example may be an electrical control appliance of the type to be installed on a wall, and a coupling element to be inserted at the rear in a unique way to couple the electric appliance to another electric appliance, wherein the coupling element has a rigid body defining protrusions or grooves that can engage respective grooves or protrusions of the external casing of the appliance and also has a bus of electrical lines that terminate at their ends with exposed electrical connectors, in such a way as to be able to come into contact with exposed electrical pads of the electric appliance or electric appliances to be contacted to form a single body that can be understood as a single appliance.
Claims
1. A kit including: at least one first appliance, which includes: a support on which first electrical lines and first electrical pads are defined, each electrical line of said first electrical lines being connected to a respective electrical pad of said first electrical pads, wherein said first electrical lines include data lines intended to convey signals of digital data, a microcontroller installed on said support and having connectors connected to said data lines, an external casing which encloses said support leaving said first electrical pads exposed, said external casing defining first grooves or protrusions; at least one coupling element of said first appliance to a second appliance, wherein said coupling element; has a rigid body defining, on a first side, second protrusions or grooves complementary to said first grooves or protrusions, and has a bus of electrical lines terminating, at a first end, with first electrical connectors exposed from the first side and, at a second end opposite to said first end, second electrical connectors exposed from a second side opposite to said first side such that, when the coupling element is mounted with the second protrusions or grooves that engage the first grooves or protrusions of the first appliance, the first exposed electrical connectors of the electrical line bus come into contact with said first electrical pads establishing an electrical continuity between the electrical lines of the bus and said first electrical lines of the first appliance.
2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said rigid body is shaped so as to have a centerline plane, wherein said first side and said second side are opposite with respect to said centerline plane, wherein said electrical line bus is anchored to said rigid body with said first exposed electrical connectors facing from said first side and with said second exposed electrical connectors facing from said second side.
3. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said electrical line bus is embedded in said rigid body.
4. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said electrical line bus is anchored to said rigid body in a removable manner.
5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said first electrical lines comprise supply lines of said first appliance connected to connectors of an electrical plug.
6. The kit according to claim 1, in which the external casing of said first appliance defines a first flat resting surface for resting against a wall or DIN guide that leaves said first electrical pads exposed and defines said first grooves or protrusions developed on a first side surface of the first appliance, in which the rigid body defines a flat bottom surface such that, when the rigid body of the coupling element engages said first grooves or protrusions and said first exposed electrical connectors come into contact with said first electrical pads, said flat bottom surface of the rigid body is coplanar with said first flat resting surface of said first appliance.
7. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said first appliance comprises: at least one switch installed on said support and connected to said microcontroller so as to be driven by the microcontroller, at least one sensor installed on said support and connected to said microcontroller so as to provide the microcontroller with signals relating to measured quantities.
8. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said rigid body, on said second side, has third protrusions or grooves, arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to said second protrusions or grooves.
9. The kit according to claim 8, comprising a second appliance which includes: a second support on which second electrical lines and second electrical pads are defined, each electrical line of said second electrical lines being connected to a respective electrical pad of said second electrical pads, wherein said second electrical lines include second data lines intended for conveying digital data signals, a second microcontroller installed on said second support and having second connectors connected to said second data lines, at least a second switch installed on said second support and connected to said second microcontroller so as to be driven by the second microcontroller, at least a second sensor installed on said second support and connected to said second microcontroller so as to provide the second microcontroller with signals relating to measured quantities, a second external casing which encloses said second support leaving said second electrical pads exposed, said second external casing defining fourth grooves or protrusions complementary to said third protrusions or grooves.
10. The kit according to claim 8, wherein the external casing of said second appliance defines a second flat resting surface for resting against the wall or DIN guide that leaves said second electrical pads exposed and defines said fourth grooves or protrusions formed on a second side surface of the second appliance so that when the rigid body of the coupling element engages said first grooves or protrusions and said fourth grooves or protrusions, and when said first and second exposed electrical connectors come into contact respectively with said first and second electrical pads, said flat bottom surface of the rigid body is coplanar with said first flat resting surface and said second flat resting surface.
11. The kit according to claim 9, wherein said second electrical lines comprise supply lines of said second appliance connected to supply pads of said second electrical pads.
12. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the external casing of said first appliance defines a first flat surface for resting against a wall or DIN guide, wherein, in use, the first flat resting surface faces a rear side of the first appliance opposite to a use side of the first appliance, and wherein the first grooves or protrusions and the second protrusions or grooves are configured to be inserted into each other in an insertion direction, wherein said insertion direction goes from said rear side to said side of use.
13. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said second protrusions or grooves and said first grooves or protrusions are configured to slide reversibly inside each other so that said first appliance and said coupling element are configured to be mutually coupled/uncoupled in a reversible manner.
14. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said second protrusions or grooves and said first grooves or protrusions are configured to snap into each other in an irreversible manner so that said first appliance and said coupling element are configured to be coupled to each other in an irreversible manner.
15. The kit according to claim 9, wherein said rigid body is provided with irreversible coupling means at the second side and the external casing of the second appliance is provided with an irreversible coupling seat and wherein the irreversible coupling means are configured to achieve a reciprocal coupling in an irreversible manner.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0060] FIG. 1 shows an electrical control appliance of the type which can be installed on a wall.
[0061] FIG. 2 shows an electric appliance and a rigid body of a coupling or connecting element of a kit according to this invention.
[0062] FIG. 3 shows: A) a perspective view of a coupling or connecting element according to this invention; B) a top view of the coupling or connecting element; C) a sectional view along the plane C-C of the coupling or connecting element; D) an exploded view of the coupling or connecting element according to this invention, showing the rigid body and the bus of lines anchored to the rigid body in a removable fashion.
[0063] FIG. 4 shows kits according to the present invention for connecting several electric appliances mechanically and electrically to each other by means of several coupling or connecting elements.
[0064] FIG. 5 illustrates how the appliances of FIG. 4 appear when mounted side by side with the coupling or connecting elements.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the appliances of FIG. 4, which make up an apparently monolithic electrical panel.
[0066] FIG. 7 illustrates a coupling or connecting element with a bus of lines embedded in the rigid body, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0067] FIG. 8 is a basic diagram of how two appliances can be connected side by side by a single coupling or connecting element according to this invention so that each appliance is supplied autonomously from the mains and the two appliances can exchange information through the bus of lines of the coupling or connecting element.
[0068] FIG. 9 is a basic diagram of how two appliances can be connected side by side by a single coupling or connecting element according to this invention so that only one appliance is autonomously supplied by the mains and the other appliance can be supplied and exchange information through the bus of lines of the coupling or connecting element.
[0069] FIG. 10 is a basic diagram of how three appliances can be connected side by side by two coupling or connecting elements according to this invention so that only one appliance is autonomously supplied by the mains and the other appliances can be supplied and exchange information through the bus of lines of the two coupling or connecting elements.
[0070] FIG. 11 is a basic diagram of how two appliances can be remotely connected by two coupling or connecting elements according to this invention so that each appliance is autonomously supplied by the mains and the two appliances can exchange information through the bus of lines of the coupling or connecting element.
[0071] FIG. 12 is a basic diagram of how two appliances can be remotely connected by a coupling or connecting element according to this invention so that each appliance is autonomously supplied by the mains and the two appliances can exchange information through the bus of lines of the coupling or connecting element connected to a connector of one of the two appliances.
[0072] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a coupling or connecting element coupled to a first appliance in an irreversible manner.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0073] A kit according to the present invention is illustrated as an example in FIG. 2, which shows an electrical control appliance 1 of the type which can be installed on a wall and a coupling or connecting element 2 from the rear side with respect to the side of use of the control appliance. The kit according to the present invention also comprises an electrical control appliance 1 which can be installed on a DIN guide. FIG. 2 shows the electrical control appliance 1 from the side of the flat resting surface 3 for resting against a wall, that is, from a rear side of the electric appliance 1. It may be noted that the external casing 12 of the electric appliance 1 defines a flat support surface 3 that leaves the electrical pads 4 exposed and defines grooves and/or protrusions 5, or, rather, first grooves and/or protrusions, that extend on a side surface 13. In other words, the external casing 12 comprises a flat support surface 3 and a first side surface 13. Preferably, the flat support surface 3 and the first side surface 13 are arranged transversely to each other. The first side surface 13 is provided with first grooves and/or protrusions 5. In turn, the coupling or connecting element 2 has a rigid body 14 defining a flat bottom surface 6 such that, when the rigid body 14 of the coupling or connecting element 2 engages the first grooves and/or protrusions 5 of the electric appliance 1 with its protrusions and/or grooves 7, that is, with second protrusions and/or grooves 7, the flat bottom surface 6 of the rigid body 14 is coplanar with the flat support surface 3 of the appliance 1.
[0074] As illustrated in the various views of FIG. 3, the coupling or connecting element 2 of the kit is designed to mechanically and electrically connect a first electric appliance 1 to a second appliance, because it has a rigid body 14 defining on a first side second protrusions and/or grooves 7 complementary to the first grooves and/or protrusions 5 of the appliance to be connected, that is, of the first appliance 1, and has a bus 8 of terminating electrical lines, at a first end, with first electrical connectors 9 and, at a second end opposite the first end, with second electrical connectors 10 exposed on a second side opposite the first side. When the coupling or connecting element 2 is mounted with second protrusions and/or grooves 7 engaging the first complementary grooves and/or protrusions 5 of the appliance 1, the first exposed electrical connectors 9 of the bus 8 of electrical lines come into contact with the electrical pads 4 of the appliance 1, that is, of the first appliance 1, establishing an electrical continuity between the electrical lines of the bus 8 and the internal electrical lines of the appliance 1. In doing so, the coupling or connecting element 2 is connected both electrically and mechanically to the electric appliance 1. By connecting another electric appliance, that is, a second electric appliance 1a, on the other side of the coupling or connecting element 2, an electrical panel composed of two electric appliances electrically and mechanically connected to each other will be obtained. The coupling or connecting element 2 is configured to mechanically and electrically connect two electric appliances. In other words, the coupling or connecting element 2 is an electromechanical connector.
[0075] According to a preferred aspect shown in FIG. 3, the bus 8 of electrical lines is anchored to the rigid body 14 in a removable manner, for example by interlocking. Further, the rigid body has a centerline plane so that the first 9 and second 10 electrical connectors protrude from opposite sides with respect to the centerline plane.
[0076] According to a preferred aspect illustrated in FIG. 3, the protrusions and/or grooves 7, 11, of the rigid body 14 are not arranged symmetrically with respect to the centerline plane, so as to uniquely define a direction in which to connect two electric appliances side by side. According to this preferred aspect, the rigid body 14 is provided with second protrusions and/or grooves 7 and with third protrusions and/or grooves 11. The third protrusions and/or grooves 11 are preferably configured to be associated with corresponding fourth grooves and/or protrusions 16 of a second appliance 1a.
[0077] According to a preferred aspect alternative to the above-mentioned preferred aspect and illustrated in FIG. 7, the protrusions and/or grooves 7, 11, that is, the second protrusions and/or grooves 7 and the third protrusions and/or grooves 11, are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the centerline plane of the rigid body 14.
[0078] According to an aspect illustrated in FIG. 7, the bus 8 of electrical lines is embedded in the rigid body 14 so that only the first 9 and second 10 electrical connectors protrude therefrom, while the bus of electrical lines, that is, the bus 8 of electrical lines, travel, that is, are contained or housed, within the rigid body 14.
[0079] Thanks to the kit according to the present invention, it is possible to create electrical panels composed of several electric appliances, such as control appliances, mounted next to each other, that is, side by side, and mutually connected both mechanically and electrically, allowing the appliances to exchange information with each other and possibly also share the supply, giving the electrical panel a monolithic appearance, as if it were a single specially designed appliance. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a composite electrical panel may be made with a kit according to the present invention comprising four electric appliances and three coupling or connecting elements. FIG. 5 shows a transparent detailed view illustrating how the asymmetrical protrusions and/or grooves of the rigid body 14 engage on both sides respective complementary grooves and/or protrusions of two electrical control appliances to be electrically and mechanically connected side by side. In other words, FIG. 5 shows a transparent detailed view illustrating how the second protrusions and/or grooves 7 and the third protrusions and/or grooves 11, asymmetrical, of the rigid body 14 engage respectively the first grooves and/or protrusions of the first electric appliance 1 and the fourth grooves and/or protrusions 16 of the second electric appliance 1a. In this way, the two electric appliances 1, 1a are mechanically connected to each other. Furthermore, in the electrical panel as illustrated in FIG. 5, the first electrical connectors 9 and the second electrical connectors 10 are connected respectively to the first electrical pads 4 of the first appliance 1 and to the second electrical pads of the second appliance 1a. In this way, the two electric appliances are also electrically connected to each other.
[0080] In particular, FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a kit comprising four electric appliances, that is, the first electric appliance 1, a second electric appliance 1a, a third electric appliance 1b and a fourth electric appliance 1c which can be mechanically and electrically coupled by means of three coupling or connecting elements as described above.
[0081] FIG. 6 shows the resulting electrical panel, which appears to be made in a single block and is composed of the four appliances of FIG. 4 connected so as to be able to exchange information with each other.
[0082] The fact that the coupling or connecting elements 2 are inserted from the part of the flat resting surfaces 3 for resting on the wall of the appliances, that is, from the rear side of the electric appliances, means that they are hidden from view when the electric appliances are installed on a wall (or on a DIN guide) and that the coupling or connecting elements 2 can no longer be accidentally removed, since their flat bottom surface 6 is abutted against the wall (or the DIN guide).
[0083] Thanks to the kit according to the present invention, it is possible to connect two or more electric appliances to each other in various ways, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 8 to 12. For example (FIG. 8), two appliances can be connected side by side by a single coupling or connecting element 2 according to this invention so that each appliance is supplied autonomously by the mains and the two appliances can exchange information through the bus of lines of the coupling or connecting element. FIG. 8 shows schematically the circuitry inside the casing of the electric appliances CONTROLLER1, CONTROLLER2. In FIG. 8, CONTROLLER1 corresponds to the first appliance as described above and CONTROLLER2 corresponds to the second appliance as described above. In FIG. 8 the coupling or connecting element 2 is called KEY. In the non-limiting example illustrated in FIG. 8, the electric appliances, that is, the first and second appliances, comprise: [0084] a support, which for example can also be a printed board (PCB), on which electrical lines and electrical pads are defined, in which each electrical line is connected to a respective electrical pad and in which the internal electrical lines comprise data lines intended to convey digital data signals, and optionally also electricity supply lines; [0085] a microcontroller installed on the support and having connectors connected to the data lines.
[0086] The appliances may optionally comprise: [0087] one or more RELAY switches installed on the support and connected to the microcontroller so as to be controlled by the microcontroller, [0088] one or more PROBE sensors installed on the support and connected to the microcontroller so as to provide the microcontroller with signals relating to measured quantities.
[0089] Thanks to the coupling or connecting element 2, the two appliances schematically shown in FIG. 8 are mechanically and electrically connected to each other in order to allow the two microcontrollers to exchange information. As a result, it becomes possible to form an electrical panel composed of appliances that measure different quantities in which each electric appliance CONTROLLER can take advantage of the measurements made by another appliance of the electrical panel in order to more effectively control its own switches. In addition, the microcontrollers may be programmed so that one of them performs a primary function MICROCONTROLLER (MAIN) and the other(s) are subordinate to the first MICROCONTROLLER (SECONDARY). In other words, preferably, the microcontroller of the first appliance 1 may be configured to control the microcontroller of the second appliance 1a. In other words, preferably, the operation of the microcontroller of the second appliance 1a may be subordinate to the operation of the microcontroller of the first appliance 1.
[0090] As illustrated in FIG. 9, according to a preferred embodiment of the kit according to the present invention, with the kit according to the present invention it is also possible to connect side by side two appliances by means of a single coupling or connecting element KEY so that only a first appliance CONTROLLER1 is autonomously supplied by the mains POWER SUPPLY and the other appliance CONTROLLER2 can be supplied and exchange information through the bus of lines of the coupling or connecting element KEY. In this case, conveniently the appliance CONTROLLER2 will contain a supply management block LOGIC POWER SUPPLY STAGE that will receive a supply voltage through the coupling or connection element KEY and will have to manage the supply of the internal circuits of the appliance CONTROLLER2. Optionally, the microcontroller MICROCONTROLLER 1 of the first appliance CONTROLLER1 will perform primary functions (MAIN) as it is supplied directly by the mains POWER SUPPLY, while the other microcontroller MICROCONTROLLER2 will perform support functions (SECONDARY) to the first microcontroller MICROCONTROLLER1.
[0091] In FIG. 9, CONTROLLER1 corresponds to the first appliance 1 as described above and CONTROLLER2 corresponds to the second appliance 1a as described above. In FIG. 9 the coupling or connecting element 2 is identified as KEY.
[0092] Thanks to the kit according to the present invention, it is possible to connect three (or more) appliances side by side, as illustrated in FIG. 10, by means of two (or more) coupling or connection elements, so as to compose an electrical panel in which a first appliance CONTROLLER1 is autonomously supplied by the mains POWER GRID, while the other appliances CONTROLLER2, CONTROLLER3 are supplied by the first appliance CONTROLLER 1 and can exchange information through the bus of lines of the two coupling or connection elements KEY. Also in this case, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 9, conveniently the appliance CONTROLLER1 will perform primary functions (MAIN) as it is supplied directly by the mains POWER SUPPLY, while the other microcontrollers MICROCONTROLLER2 and MICROCONTROLLER3 will perform support functions (SECONDARY) to the first microcontroller MICROCONTROLLER1. Also in this case, conveniently the appliances CONTROLLER2 and CONTROLLER3 that perform support functions (SECONDARY) will contain a supply management block LOGIC POWER SUPPLY STAGE that will receive a supply voltage through the coupling or connecting element KEY and will have to manage the electricity supply of the internal circuits of the respective electric appliance. Thanks to the coupling or connecting element KEY, the three appliances CONTROLLER1, CONTROLLER2 and CONTROLLER3 will together form an electrical panel that will have the appearance of a single block, because the coupling or connecting elements KEY will mechanically (as well as electrically) constrain the three devices side by side.
[0093] In FIG. 10, CONTROLLER1 corresponds to the first appliance 1 as described above and CONTROLLER2 corresponds to the second appliance 1a as described above. The controller 3 corresponds to a third electric appliance 1b. In FIG. 10 the coupling or connecting element 2 is identified as KEY.
[0094] Other connection configurations between electric appliances are also possible with the kit according to the present invention. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, if it is not possible to install two appliances CONTROLLER1 and CONTROLLER2 side by side, connecting them through a single coupling or connecting element, two coupling or connecting elements KEY of the kit according to the present invention can still be used and an electrical CABLE can be connected between the free connectors of the two coupling or connecting elements KEY. In FIG. 11, CONTROLLER1 corresponds to the first appliance 1 as described above and CONTROLLER2 corresponds to the second appliance 1a as described above. In FIG. 11 each coupling or connecting element 2 is identified as KEY.
[0095] As illustrated in FIG. 12, two appliances CONTROLLER1 and CONTROLLER2 can also be connected remotely with a kit comprising a single coupling or connecting element KEY. In FIG. 12, CONTROLLER1 corresponds to the first appliance 1 as described above. In FIG. 12 the coupling or connecting element 2 is identified as KEY. In this case, the free connectors of the coupling or connecting element KEY must be connected by means of an electrical CABLE to the connectors of the remote appliance CONTROLLER2. Preferably, therefore, the kit can then be provided with an electrical cable configured to be connected to the second electrical connectors 10 of the coupling or connecting element 2. Such a solution can be adopted for example when the remote control appliance 2 is of known type, so it does not have the electrical connection pads that characterise the appliances of the kit according to the present invention. In other words, in FIG. 12, CONTROLLER2 identifies an electric appliance of known type that differs from the second appliance 1a as described above as it does not comprise second electrical pads. It is therefore understood that the kit according to the present invention is fully compatible with the known electric appliances, even if the latter do not have the electrical connection pads left uncovered by the external casing of the appliance, so as to be able to come into contact with the exposed connectors of a coupling or connecting element.
[0096] With reference to FIG. 13, according to an embodiment of the kit, the rigid body 14 is provided with irreversible coupling means 17 and the external casing 12 of the first appliance 1 is provided with an irreversible coupling seat 18. Preferably, the irreversible coupling means 17 are made at the first side of the rigid body 14. The rigid body 14 defines, that is to say, on the first side also the irreversible coupling means 17. Preferably, the irreversible coupling seat 18 is made at the first side surface 13 of the external casing 12 of the first appliance 1. The irreversible coupling means 17 and the irreversible coupling seat 18 are configured to achieve a reciprocal irreversible coupling. Preferably, the irreversible coupling means 17 are configured to snap-engage in the irreversible coupling seat 18 so as to achieve a reciprocal irreversible coupling. Basically, the second protrusions and/or grooves 7 and the first grooves and/or protrusions 5 are configured, thanks to the irreversible coupling means 17, to snap into each other in an irreversible manner, so that the first appliance 1 and the coupling or connecting element 2 are configured to be coupled to each other in an irreversible manner.
[0097] Alternatively to the embodiment just described, the rigid body 14 is provided with irreversible coupling means 17 at the second side and the external casing of the second appliance 1a is provided with an irreversible coupling seat 18. In other words, the irreversible coupling means 17 arealternativelymade at the second side of the rigid body 14. The rigid body defines, that is, on the second side on the second side the irreversible coupling means 17. In this case, therefore, the irreversible coupling seat 18 is made at the second side surface of the external casing of the second appliance 1a. The irreversible coupling means 17 and the irreversible coupling seat 18 are configured to achieve a reciprocal irreversible coupling. Preferably, the irreversible coupling means 17 are configured to snap-engage in the irreversible coupling seat 18 so as to achieve a reciprocal irreversible coupling. Basically, the fourth grooves and/or protrusions 16 and the third protrusions and/or grooves 11 are configured to snap-connect, through the irreversible coupling means 17 and the irreversible coupling seat 18, irreversibly into each other, so that the coupling or connecting element 2 can be engaged in the second appliance 1b in an irreversible manner.
[0098] Alternatively, the rigid body 14 is provided with irreversible coupling means 17 at the first side and the second side and the external casing of the first appliance 1 is provided with a first irreversible coupling seat 18 and the external casing of the second appliance 1a is provided with a second irreversible coupling seat. In other words, the irreversible coupling means 17 are made at the first side and the second side of the rigid body 14.
[0099] According to this alternative embodiment, the irreversible coupling means 17 provided on the first side of the rigid body 14 are configured to snap-engage in the first irreversible coupling seat 18 and the irreversible coupling means 17 provided on the second side of the rigid body 14 are configured to snap-engage in the second irreversible coupling seat so as to achieve an irreversible coupling between them.
[0100] If the rigid body 12 is provided with irreversible coupling means 17 and the first appliance 1 and/or the second appliance 1b is provided with a respective irreversible coupling seat, the irreversible coupling means 17 more preferably comprise at least one protruding element, such as a tooth. Even more preferably, the at least one protruding element is configured to adopt a deformed or retracted configuration, during insertion of the coupling or connecting element 2 in the insertion direction, and to adopt a non-deformed or extracted configuration. In the non-deformed or extracted configuration, the protruding element engages the respective irreversible coupling seat 18 opposing its extraction or removal with respect to the irreversible coupling seat 18, particularly in a direction of dis-insertion opposite to the direction of insertion of the rigid body 14.
