Abstract:
An electrical component enclosure with a hygienic hinge is disclosed. The enclosure, which is used to house electric components, includes a body for fixing to a surface and having six faces defining a volume within which the electrical components are contained. In one face has an access aperture with a flange around the aperture. A closure covers the aperture to seal the body. A hinge connects the body and closure permitting of one to the other. The hinge includes an opening contained within the body next to the access aperture and includes a rigid extension portion which extends through the opening. The extension portion is fixed to the closure at one end and has a retaining portion at the other end which prevents the rigid extension portion from exiting the opening and allows the closure to hang from an edge of the opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of GB Application No. 1521842.3, filed Dec. 11, 2015. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical component enclosure and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to enclosures used in clean production or manufacture environments. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The use of enclosures to house and protect electrical components is well known. Such enclosures are commonly used in industries where cleanliness is important, such as food and beverage production and preparation and pharmaceutical manufacture. In these environments it is important that the enclosures are easy to clean but must also be sealed to prevent water ingress. 
         [0004]    A common form of such enclosures includes a switch or other component which extends through one of the faces of the enclosure. This is typically the front plate which is removable to allow access to the enclosure and the wiring and components inside. 
         [0005]    During installation and maintenance the front or closure plate of the enclosure is removed in order to allow access to the enclosure. If a component, such as a switch, extends through the closure face the wires connected to the switch will limit the extent to which the closure face can move. It is therefore commonplace for the closure plate to be left hanging by the wires connecting to the switch which is inadvisable because the weight of the closure plate and the switch pulls on the connection between the wire and the switch. This can lead to damage to the wires and to loose or poor connections. 
         [0006]    It is known to attempt to overcome this problem by connecting the closure plate to the enclosure using a hinge. However, such hinged attachments, for example using a piano hinge, lead to an increase in the number of small spaces on the outside surface where dirt can collect, particularly around the hinge. Furthermore, these hinges cannot be used where the closure plate has flanges which extend slightly around the edge of the enclosure body. It is also the case that to add such a hinge to an enclosure requires a complete redesign of the enclosure and these hinges can interfere with the operation of the seal. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical component enclosure for containing electrical components, the enclosure comprising: a body for fixing adjacent a surface and for receiving electrical components therein, the body having faces defining a volume within which the electrical components are contained, at least one face having an access aperture formed therein and at least one flange extending at least partially around said access aperture; a closure for closing said access aperture and substantially sealing said body; and a hinge connecting said body and said closure and for permitting the movement of said closure relative to said body, the hinge including an opening contained within said body adjacent said access aperture and also including a rigid extension portion extending through said opening, the extension portion being fixed to said closure at one end and having a retaining portion at the other end for preventing the rigid extension portion exiting the opening when it is moving substantially perpendicular to the face containing the access aperture and for allowing the closure to hang from an edge of said opening. 
         [0008]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative enclosure of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a portion of the enclosure of either  FIG. 1 or 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views of different embodiments of components of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view of one of the components of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0016]    As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
         [0017]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0018]    By providing a hinge of the type described above on an enclosure the advantage is provided that the wires, and in particular the connection of the wires to a component formed in the closure, are protected from excess strain being applied to them. Furthermore, the hinge described above can be added to an existing product range by the addition of components without needing to redesign the enclosure. As a result, the same enclosure can be offered with and without the hinge. Furthermore, the hinge described above is, when the enclosure is closed, contained entirely within the enclosure and therefore does not alter the external surfaces or increase the number of locations where dirt can accumulate. The hinge is therefore offering advantages over the prior art without creating a product with disadvantages. 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment the rigid extension portion comprises a sheet material. 
         [0020]    By forming the rigid extension portion from a sheet material, and in particular a metallic sheet material, the advantage is provided that a robust component can be easily added to the enclosure to provide a hinge of the type described above. 
         [0021]    In another preferred embodiment said sheet material comprises a bent portion adjacent one end, said bent portion being attached to said closure. 
         [0022]    The retaining portion may be formed in one edge of said extension portion which is cut to form edge portions with at least one edge portion bent. 
         [0023]    By cutting an edge of the sheet material to form the retaining portions the advantage is provided that the retaining portion can be formed by simply cutting the sheet material at one edge and bending at least one of the cut portions. This is a very low cost way of producing a rigid extension portion which provides all the advantages of the present invention. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment at least one edge portion is bent to form a hook for engaging an edge of said opening. 
         [0025]    If one of the edge portions is bent to form a hook this allows the closure to be securely supported on an edge of the opening. 
         [0026]    In another preferred embodiment the opening is formed in said flange. 
         [0027]    The enclosure may further comprise a protection portion located in the bottom of the body, adjacent said flange such that an edge of the protection portion and an edge of the flange form said opening and that said rigid extension portion slides into a space between said protection portion and said bottom of said body. 
         [0028]    By providing a protection portion located in the bottom of the body the advantages provided that any cables or other components within the enclosure are protected from coming into contact with the rigid extension portion. In particular, the protection portion creates a slot which requires the rigid extension portion, and the closure plate, to move away from the enclosure in a direction that is perpendicular to the face which includes the access aperture this ensures that the rigid extension portion is kept away from the components within the enclosure. 
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment the body is substantially cuboid. 
         [0030]    In another preferred embodiment at least one face is not perpendicular to at least one side adjacent to it. 
         [0031]    In a further preferred embodiment at least one face extends beyond the edge of another face thereby forming an overhang. 
         [0032]    The flange may extend around all of said access apertures. 
         [0033]    The flange may also have retaining apertures formed therein for receiving retaining devices. 
         [0034]    Referring to the figures, and in particular  FIG. 1 , an electrical component enclosure is provided for containing electrical components. The enclosure  10  includes a body  12  for fixing adjacent a surface (not shown) such as a wall. Typically enclosures of the type described herein are attached to wall surfaces by the use of fixing screws. However, this enclosure is suitable for use in other locations. 
         [0035]    The body  12  is formed from a plurality of walls or faces including top and bottom walls  14  and  16 , sidewalls  18  and  20  and a rear wall  22 , through which the previously referred to fixing screws would typically extend. In addition to these five walls a front wall  24  is also provided in the body  12  which therefore forms a cuboid. The front wall  24  is provided with an access aperture  26  which allows access into the volume defined by the walls of the body  12 . This access aperture  26  covers the majority of the front wall  24  and this wall therefore appears in the form of four flanges  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34  extending from the top wall  14 , bottom wall  16  and sidewalls  18  and  20  respectively. Formed in the junctions of these flange is, in other words adjacent the corners of the front wall  24 , are retaining apertures in the form of threaded holes  36 . 
         [0036]    The enclosure  10  also includes a closure, in the form of closure plate  38  which is used to close the access aperture  26  and substantially seal the body  12 . This sealing is typically achieved by the inclusion of a neoprene or rubber seal which extends around the closure plate  38  adjacent its outer edge. The closure plate  38  has a substantially planar front plate  40  which is sized to cover the whole of the front face  24  of body  12  and has a lip  42  extending perpendicular to the front plate  40 . When the cover plate  38  is in place on the body  12  the lip  42  extends slightly over the top, bottom and side walls  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 . Typically, although not essentially, the cover plate  38  is provided with a component aperture  44  through which an electrical component, such as a switch, can be provided. Also extending through the front plate  40  are for fixing apertures  46  which are aligned with the threaded holes  36  and through which fixing bolts  48  can extend to fix the closure plate  38  to the body  12 . The components described so far are all known for enclosures of the prior art. 
         [0037]    Also forming part of the enclosure  10  is a hinge  50  which connects the body  12  and the closure plate  38 . The two main features of the hinge  50  are an opening  52  and a rigid extension portion  54 . The opening  52  is contained within the body  12  adjacent to the access aperture  26  and specifically close to the flange  30  extending from the bottom wall  16 . The opening  52  is formed in part by a further component, that being a protection portion, in the form of bridge  56 , which is located in and fixed to the inside of the bottom wall  16  of the body  12 . The bridge  56  is formed from a sheet of metallic material which is bent to have a top portion  58  with legs  60  and  62  extending substantially perpendicularly down from the top portion  58 . The legs  60  and  62  are fixed to the inner surface of bottom wall  16  and this is typically achieved by welding. This fixing may be assisted by the provision of feet (not shown) which extend from the legs  60  and  62  approximately parallel to the top portion  58  so as to increase the surface area of contact between the bridge  56  and the wall  16 . The front edge  64  of the bridge  56  is located very close to the flange  30  of the body  12  and the opening  52  is formed from a combination of that front edge  64  (in particular from the top portion  58  and legs  60  and  62 ) and the upper edge of flange  30 . This combination of edges forms a substantially rectangular opening through which the rigid extension portion  54  extends. 
         [0038]    The rigid extension portion itself is also formed from a sheet of metallic material which has been bent. The extension portion  54  can be divided into three parts. Firstly, at one end of the extension portion  54  a fixing portion  66  is used to fix this component to the closure plate  38 . In the example shown in  FIG. 1  threaded studs are welded to the inner surface of the front plate  40  and apertures in the fixing portion  66  allow the threaded studs  68  to extend their through and then nuts  70  to fix the extension portion  54  to the closure plate  38 . At the other end of the extension portion there is provided a retaining portion  72  which is provided to prevent the extension portion  54  from being removed from the opening  52 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the retaining portion  70  is formed by bending the sheet metal to form a U shape. The distance D 1 , across the ends of the U shape in the retaining portion, is greater than the height D 2  of the opening  52 . 
         [0039]    Operation of the enclosure  10  will now be described. The following description is provided from the point of view of the enclosure  10  being installed on a wall surface and an operator opening the enclosure, for example to undertake maintenance all complete installation of electrical components contained therein. The closure plate  38  is fixed to the body  12  by the fixing bolts  48 . To remove the closure plate  38  the fixing bolts  48  are loosened so that they are free from the threaded fixing apertures  46 . The closure plate  38  is then moved in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the front plate  40  or parallel to the top portion  58  of bridge  56  and bottom wall  16  of body  12 . The initial movement of the closure plate  38  cannot substantially deviate from this direction since the top portion  58  of bridge  56  and the bottom wall  16  of body  12  prevent the rigid extension portion  54  from pivoting around the edges of the opening  52 . As the closure plate  38  moves further away from the body  12  the retaining portion  72  eventually engages the flange  30  and prevents any further movement from continuing in the same direction. However, once the retaining portion  72  engages the flange  30  the closure plate  38  and extension portion  54  are able to pivot downwards and can hang with the retaining portion  72  hooked over the flange  30 . This therefore supports the closure plate  38  and as long as the wires to a component in component aperture  44  are long enough no weight will be born on these wires. 
         [0040]    In this embodiment if complete removal and separation of the closure plate  38  from the body  12  is required the closure plate  38  and extension portion  54  can be moved in an upwards direction which are hooks of the retaining portion  72  from the flange  30  freeing these components. 
         [0041]    An alternative version of the extension portion  54  is shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . In these examples a pair of cuts has been made in the extension portion  54  before the bend that forms the retaining portion  72  has been made. As a result, three tabs are formed and at least one tab is bent or the tabs are bent by differing amounts to form the retaining portion  72 . These differently bent tabs prevent the retaining portion  72  from being removed through the opening  52 . This is because not only is the distance D 1  greater than the distance D 2  but also the distance D 3 , this being the distance between adjacent tips  74  and  76  of adjacent tabs formed in the retaining portion  72  are also greater than the distance D 2 . As a result, the enclosure  10  must be constructed with the bridge  56  being joined to the body  12  with the extension portion  54  located between the bridge  56  and bottom wall  16 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an alternative enclosure  10  is shown in this drawing this enclosure differs from that described above only in that the top wall  14  and the sidewalls  18  and  20  extend beyond the front wall  24  to form an overhang. As a result, the closure plate  38  cannot include the lip  42  and therefore comprises the front plate  40  without the perpendicular lip extending therefrom. The hinge  50  remains the same in this embodiment as that previously described. 
         [0043]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the protection which is defined by the appended claims. For example, the opening  52  can be formed by other means. One such example is to make the bottommost portion of the flange, indicated at  30 , much larger and forming the opening as an aperture in that larger flange. Such an aperture can operate with or without the bridge  56 . The inclusion of the bridge  56  has the advantage that any cables or components within the enclosure are protected from the movement of the rigid extension portion  54  and it ensures that the front plate  40  moves horizontally outwards when initially being removed from the body  12 . 
         [0044]    A further example of a variation is that the front plate  40  can be fixed to the body  12  by any suitable fixing means. One such suitable method would be to replace the fixing bolts  48  with turnbuckles which act on the flange is  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34 . Furthermore, the component aperture may not be present, as shown in  FIG. 2 , if the enclosure is simply designed to contain components with an external switching mechanism being present. The use of the hinge described above in this situation has the advantage that the front plate  40  remains attached to the enclosure preventing it from being lost or being dropped and potentially causing injury when working at height.