Abstract:
A built-in device for masking in particular an electrical connection ( 18 ) in a wall ( 2 ), in particular a building floor. The device includes a plate ( 3 ) wherein is formed a housing ( 11 ) and a valve sealing ( 4 ) the housing. The sealing valve bears on its outer surface a retractable pivoting shackle ( 6 ) in a recess ( 10 ) formed along the valve edge.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a flush-mounting covering device for concealing an accessory, especially an electrical accessory, in a surface, in particular a floor of a building. It also relates to a system employing a set of flush-mounting covering devices as above. It further relates to electrical equipment comprising an electrical accessory equipped with the said covering device or system. 
   The electrical accessory can be an electrical connector such as a power socket, a telephone socket, a switch or a push-button. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A covering device is known for telephone sockets, consisting essentially of a plate with a housing at its centre that can be closed by a thin pivoting flap, generally in the form of a disk. A female telephone socket fitted in the housing can receive an external male telephone plug when the flap is in the open position. 
   Even though an indentation is provided in one part of the edge of the housing, it is still difficult to grip the flap. This indentation permits penetration and/or accumulation of dirt. 
   One aim of the present invention is to remedy this drawback, by proposing a covering device that is provided with a flap that is reliable and is easy to manipulate. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aforesaid objective is achieved with a flush-mounting covering device for concealing an accessory, especially an electrical accessory, in a surface, in particular a floor of a building. The device can comprise a plate in which a housing is formed, and a flap for closing the housing. According to the invention, the closing flap has, on its external surface, a handle that is connected to the flap by pivoting means and is retractable in a recess formed along the edge of the flap. 
   With a handle of this kind, the flap can easily be lifted by pulling on the said pivoting handle. Furthermore, the safety and appearance of the device are optimized on account of the recess provided for receiving the handle. 
   The external surface of the flap can generally be of circular shape with a lateral projection formed by a lug, by which the flap is hinged to the plate, the lug fitting in an indentation formed in the plate. 
   Preferably, pivoting means are arranged at both ends of the handle and at the two corresponding ends of the recess formed along the edge of the flap, the two axes of the pivoting means being parallel to the pivoting axis of the flap, the pivoting axis of the flap and a line that is common to the two axes of the pivoting means being arranged on either side of the centre of the flap. 
   According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the pivoting means of the handle are such that in a position of maximum extension, the handle is roughly perpendicular to the flap. 
   Advantageously, the handle can include a manipulating recess at the junction between its base and its radially external periphery. 
   According to a preferred embodiment, the plate has, in one edge of the housing surrounding the flap in the closed position, a recess that is intended to make it easier to grasp the handle. The said recess is preferably located opposite a manipulating recess provided on the handle and in particular at the junction between the base of the handle and its external periphery. 
   According to the invention, to facilitate closing of the flap, the said flap can include a counterweight on its inside. 
   According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the counterweight is configured so as to fit snugly in the housing. 
   Advantageously, the counterweight includes a hollow for receiving a projecting electrical component, such as an earth connector, when the flap is in the closing position. 
   The invention also relates to a flush-mounting covering system for concealing a number of accessories, especially electrical accessories, in a surface, especially a floor of a building, comprising a plate in which several pairs are formed, each comprising a housing and a flap for closing the housing. 
   The invention further relates to flush-mounting electrical equipment comprising an electrical accessory mounted in the housing of a covering device or system as described above. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become clear on examining the detailed description of an example of application, which is not in any way limiting, and the appended drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of the exterior of the device according to the invention incorporated in a floor shown in cutaway, the flap being in the closed position with the handle retracted; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but with the flap partially opened and the handle extended so that it can be pulled manually to lift the flap; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view following a median line perpendicular to the pivoting axis of the flap; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlargement of a part of  FIG. 3  showing initial gripping of the handle with a finger; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a plate incorporating a number of housing-flap pairs to form a system according to the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view identical to that in  FIG. 3  but according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the device without the flap according to the embodiment shown in FIG.  6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   We shall now describe a flush-mounting covering device for concealing an electrical connection, although the invention is not limited to this. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , this shows a covering device  1  that is flush-mounted such that its external surface is flush with a floor  2  which can be a floor of a residential building or of business premises such as an office or an assembly room. The covering device comprises a plate  3 , for example of stainless steel, of parallelepiped shape with two square bases. The external face of the plate has at its centre a housing  11  of circular general shape in which a flap  4  is engaged. The external face of the flap has a generally circular contour with a rectangular projection  5  forming a hinging lug, for hinge with the plate about a hinging axis  19  which is parallel to the front and rear sides of the plate. Housing  11  has an indentation  8  that receives lug  5 . The flap is movable about axis  19  between the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , in which it fits into housing  11  with its external surface in the plane of the external face of plate  3 , and an open position shown in  FIG. 2  in which it provides access to housing  11 . Flap  4  has, along its edge, opposite lug  5 , a handle in the shape of a circular arc. The external contour  6   a  of the external surface of the handle is an arc of the circular contour of the external face of the flap. The handle has a manipulating recess  7  which straddles a junction edge between the base of handle  6  and its radially external surface. The ends  6   c  and  6   d  of the handle are configured as hinging lugs, for hinge with flap  4  about a hinging axis  20  which is parallel to the hinging axis  19  between flap  4  and plate  3 . Axes  19  and  20  are located on either side of the centre of flap  4 . The handle is movable relative to flap  4  about axis  20  between a retracted position shown in FIG.  1  and an extended position shown in FIG.  2 . Flap  4 , in the form of a flattened cylinder, has along its front edge a recess  10  for receiving handle  6  in its retracted position. Housing  11  (more clearly shown in  FIG. 2 ) of plate  3  has in addition a recess  9  which is located opposite indentation  8 , and which faces the manipulating recess  7  when the handle is in the retracted position. In the closed position, the external face of plate  3 , the external face of handle  6  and the external face of flap  4  are all in the same plane corresponding to the plane of the floor  2 . A small cavity is then formed between recesses  9  and  7  and the external contour  6   a  to make it easier to grasp handle  6  in order to lift handle  6  and then, together therewith, flap  4 , as shown in FIG.  2 . Apart from this small cavity, the surface of the device is substantially smooth when the flap is closed and the handle is retracted. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the covering device  1  during an opening operation—the hand pulling handle  6  upwards is not shown. Handle  6  is dislodged from recess  10  and is held in an oblique plane relative to the flap. Preferably stopping means are provided for limiting the pivoting of the handle to about 90°. In this way, the handle itself falls back to the retracted position when the flap is in the closed position. The said means can consist of a suitable configuration of lugs  6   c ,  6   d  and of the ends of recess  10 . Handle  6  is C-shaped with a rectangular cross-section and a depth that is greater than half the thickness of flap  4 . Recess  10  has a corresponding rectangular cross-section. 
   Raising of flap  4 , from the closed position to the open position, is effected in two movements. First, the tip of a finger is inserted into the cavity formed by recesses  7  and  9  (FIG.  4 ). Handle  6  is raised as shown by the dot-and-dash line in FIG.  3 . The second movement consists in pulling on handle  6  to cause flap  4  to pivot about the hinging axis  19 . Axes  19  and  20  can be in the form of threaded rods ( FIG. 2 ) screwed in plate  3  (axis  19 ) and in flap  4  (axis  20 ) and whose slotted ends are flush as shown. These screws pass through suitable holes in lug  5  (axis  19 ) and in lugs  6   c  and  6   d  (axis  20 ). 
   Return of flap  4  to its closed position is facilitated by a counterweight  22  located on the inner surface of flap  4 . 
   Housing  11  has a cylindrical general shape with a circular hole  12  passing through the bottom of housing  11  at its centre. Hole  12  opens out through the internal face of plate  3 , on which is fixed, by means of bolt and nut assemblies  25 ,  26  (FIG.  3 ), an electric socket  18  comprising two holes  15 ,  16  and a projecting earth connection  17  that are accessible in housing  11  via hole  12 . 
   When the flap is closed, the cylindrical counterweight  22  sealingly fits within hole  12 , which is provided with a peripheral seal  24  for this purpose. A recess (shown in  FIG. 3 ) is provided on the front of counterweight  22  for receiving the earth connection when the flap is in the closed position. The dimensions of housing  11  and of hole  12  are such that the handle, the flap and the counterweight fit in them when the flap device is in the closed position. 
   According to another embodiment of the invention, counterweight  22  can be arranged on the entire internal surface of flap  4 , as shown in FIG.  6 . When the flap is closed, the cylindrical counterweight  22  sealingly fits within housing  11  that is provided with a peripheral seal  24  for this purpose. In this embodiment, also shown in  FIG. 7  without the flap  4 , hole  12 —viewed from above—can have a shape that is approximately square, able to receive a correspondingly shaped plug  37 , especially of the type that is commonly used in Germany with two lateral earth connections  38  and  39 . 
   Various forms of the essential elements of the device are clearly shown in FIG.  7 . This shows the housing  11 , of circular shape, provided with the recess  9  and the indentation  8  diametrically opposite, made in plate  3 . Plug  37  is positioned so that its top is flush with the base of housing  11 . The bottom  41  of plug  37  has two holes  42  and  43  for receiving connectors. 
   To make it easier for counterweight  22  to be inserted in housing  11  and for the said counterweight to come in contact with seal  24 , a chamfer  40  is made on the lower periphery of the counterweight. 
   Plate  3  is fixed to the floor  2  by means of screws  13  and  14  that pass through the bottom of housing  11 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a covering system comprising a plate  28  on which several flaps  29 ,  31 ,  33  and  35  are arranged, each having its respective handle  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 . The flaps are housed in respective housings containing for example a power socket, a telephone socket and two switches. Plate  28  forms, with each flap and the associated handle, a device identical to that described referring to  FIGS. 1  to  4 , except for the shape of the external contour of the plate and the fact that the plate also forms part of three other covering devices. 
   The present invention thus provides a device in which transition from a sealed closed position to an open position is effected simply, by means of a retractable pivoting handle. 
   Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described, and numerous developments can be made to these examples while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, the connecting plug  18  can be replaced with a switch, a push-button or a telephone socket. Moreover, other means of fixing can of course be used.