# Patent

## Title
Distribution device

## Abstract

A distribution device which has a cover-like housing upper part and a housing lower part is disclosed. The housing lower part has a holding means for the cover-like housing upper part, with the result that the housing upper part can be held by the holding means of the housing lower part as the housing upper part is removed from the housing lower part. The housing upper part does not fall and be subject to damage when the housing upper part is removed or released from the housing lower part.

## Background
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/407,686 filed on Oct. 28, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/325,082 filed on Apr. 16, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.


BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to a distribution device, in particular a wall-mounted distribution board, for handling data conductors or junctions between data conductors in accordance with the precharacterizing clause of claim 1.
When constructing optical waveguide cable networks, for example, optical waveguide distribution devices are required in order to ensure structured wiring. One demand placed on such optical waveguide distribution devices is a maximum possible number of optical waveguide distribution devices fitted with a high packing density and, at the same time, a low level of mechanical stress on the optical waveguides. Similar demands are placed on distribution devices for handling other data conductors.
DE 20 2010 009 385 has disclosed a distribution device in the form of an optical waveguide distribution device having the features of the precharacterizing clause of claim 1. For example, this prior art discloses an optical waveguide distribution device with a housing an with assemblies accommodated in the housing for connecting and/or storing optical waveguides. The housing of the optical waveguide distribution device known from this prior art comprises a housing lower part and a cover-like housing upper part, it being possible for the optical waveguide distribution device to be fixed on a bearing structure, for example on a housing wall, via the housing lower part.
In order to enable access to the data conductors handled in the distribution device, the cover-like housing upper part needs to be capable of being removed from the housing lower part, which is preferably fixed on a housing wall, wherein there is the risk during removal of the housing upper part from the housing lower part of the housing upper part falling and being damaged as it is removed from the housing lower part. This is a disadvantage.
SUMMARY
Against this background, the present invention is based on the problem of providing a novel distribution device. This problem is solved by a distribution device having the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the housing lower part has a holding means for the cover-like housing upper part, with the holding means protruding with respect to an upper side wall of the housing lower part.
The present invention proposes for the first time a distribution device which has a housing lower part having a holding means for the cover-like housing upper part, with the result that the housing upper part can be held by the holding means of the housing lower part as the housing upper part is removed from the housing lower part. This means that there is no longer the risk of the housing upper part falling and being damaged when the housing upper part is removed or released from the housing lower part.
In a closed state of the housing, the holding means of the housing lower part, which protrudes with respect to the upper side wall of the housing lower part, engages in a cutout in an upper side wall of the housing upper part. In a partially open state of the housing, the holding means of the housing lower part likewise engages in the cutout in the upper side wall of the housing upper part, it being possible for the housing upper part to be pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part about a pivot axis defined by the holding means of the housing lower part so as to move the housing from the closed state into the partially open state, in the process the housing upper part being held on the housing lower part by means of the holding means.
In a completely open state of the housing, the housing upper part is pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part about the pivot access defined by the holding means of the housing lower part and is removed from the holding means of the housing upper part.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims and the description below. Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a distribution device according to the invention in the closed state;
FIG. 2 shows the distribution device shown in FIG. 1 in the partially open state with a cover-like housing upper part held on a housing lower part;
FIG. 3 shows the distribution device shown in FIG. 1 in the completely open state with the housing upper part removed from the housing lower part;
FIG. 4 shows a detail of the distribution device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the detail shown in FIG. 1 in the closed state of the distribution device; and
FIG. 6 shows a cross section through the detail shown in FIG. 1 in the partially open state of the distribution device.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a distribution device, in particular to a wall-mounted distribution board. In the text which follows, the invention will be described for the preferred application of optical waveguide distribution devices.
FIGS. 1 to 3 show a preferred exemplary embodiment of an optical waveguide distribution device 10 according to the invention in three different states, namely in a closed state in FIG. 1, in a partially open state in FIG. 2 and in a completely open state in FIG. 3.
The optical waveguide distribution device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a housing 11 comprising a housing lower part 12 and a cover-like housing upper part 13. The optical waveguide distribution device according to the invention can be fixed on a bearing structure, for example on a housing wall, via the housing lower part 12. The cover-like housing upper part 13 serves the purpose of closing or releasing an interior of the optical waveguide distribution device 11, in which assemblies 14 for connecting and/or storing optical waveguides are positioned.
The housing lower part 12 of the housing 11 of the optical waveguide distribution device 10 has a rear wall 15 and side walls 16, 17, 18 and 19. The housing lower part 12 of the housing 11 of the optical waveguide distribution device 10 can be screwed to a bearing structure, in particular a housing wall, via the rear wall 15. The housing upper part 13 of the housing 11 of the optical waveguide distribution device 10 comprises a front wall 20 and side walls 21, 22, 23 and 24.
When the optical waveguide distribution device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is closed, the housing upper part 13 is positioned on the housing lower part 12, in which case the side walls 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the housing upper part 13 at least partially cover the side walls 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the housing lower part 12 on the outside. The rear wall 15 of the housing lower part 12 and the front wall 20 of the housing upper part 13 preferably run approximately parallel to one another in this closed state of the optical waveguide distribution device 10.
In the closed state of the housing 11 of the optical waveguide distribution device 10, the housing lower part 12 and the housing upper part 13 can be screwed to one another or locked to one another, in which case a locking element (not shown) extends both through a cutout 25 in the housing lower part 11 and through a cutout 26 in the housing upper part 13.
FIG. 1 shows a replaceable lock 29 as the locking element.
According to the invention, the housing lower part 12 of the housing 11 of the optical waveguide distribution device 10 according to the invention comprises a holding means 27 for the cover-like housing upper part 13, the holding means protruding with respect to the upper side wall 16 of the housing lower part 12.
In the closed state of the housing 11, the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 12 engages in a cutout 28 in the upper side wall 21 of the housing upper part 13.
In a partially open state of the housing 11, the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 12 likewise engages in the cutout 28 in the housing upper part 13, wherein the housing upper part 13 is pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part 12 about a pivot axis defined by the holding means 27 so as to move the housing 11 from the closed state into the partially open state, in which case the holding means 27 holds the housing upper part 13 on the housing lower part 12.
When, in the closed state, the housing lower part 12 and the housing upper part 13 are locked with one another, this locking between said housing lower part and said housing upper part of course needs to be released in order to move the housing 11 into the partially open state, i.e. in order to pivot the housing upper part 13 upwards with respect to the housing lower part 12.
The holding means 27, which engages in the cutout 28 in the housing upper part 13 in the completely closed state of the housing 12 and in the partially open state of the housing 11, holds the housing upper part 13 on the housing lower part 12 up to a defined pivoting angle α of the housing upper part 13 with respect to the housing lower part 12, with this defined pivoting angle α being approximately 30°.
If the housing upper part 13 is accordingly released from the housing lower part 12 and is lifted up partially from said housing lower part by being pivoted, the holding means 27 holds the housing upper part 13 on the housing lower part 12, with the result that there is no risk of the housing upper part 13 falling down in an uncontrolled manner and thus being damaged.
In the completely open state of the housing 11, the housing upper part 13 is pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part 12 about the pivot axis defined by the holding means 27 and is removed from the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 11, for which purpose the housing upper part 13 is pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part 12 at least about the defined pivoting angle α. If the pivoting angle α of the housing upper part 13 with respect to the housing lower part 11 exceeds the defined pivoting angle of approximately 30°, the holding means 27 automatically comes out of engagement with the cutout 28 of the housing upper part 13, with the result that they can be lifted off from one another without any problems.
In order to position the housing upper part 13 on the housing lower part 12, said housing upper part is threaded, with its cutout 28, into the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 12 at a pivoting angle α which is greater than the defined pivoting angle and then the housing 11 is closed by the housing upper part 13 being pivoted downwards relative to the housing lower part 12, wherein when the housing 11 assumes the closed state shown in FIG. 1, the housing upper part 13 and the housing lower part 12 can be screwed to one another.
Preferably, the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 12, which interacts with the cutout 28 in the housing upper part 13 in the manner described above, is formed on the rear wall 15 of the housing lower part 12 and protrudes with respect to the upper side wall 16 of the housing lower part 12 by a defined amount.
In this case, the holding means 27 has a preferably C-shaped or L-shaped contour in cross section, with the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 11 engaging in the cutout 28 in the housing upper part 13 in the closed state and in the partially open state in such a way that the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 12 engages around or behind a recess of the cutout 28 for the holding means 27. Only when the housing upper part 13 is pivoted upwards relative to the housing lower part 12 through the defined pivoting angle α can the holding means 27 of the housing lower part 12 come out of engagement with the recess of the cutout 28 of the housing upper part 13.
The invention is not restricted to the preferred application of optical waveguide distribution devices. Instead, the invention can also be used for other distribution devices for handling other data conductors than optical waveguides, for example for handling copper conductors.

## Claims

1. A distribution device for handling data conductors or junctions between data conductors, comprising:
a housing comprising a housing lower part and a removable cover-like housing upper part pivotably attached to the housing lower part;
assemblies in the housing for connecting and/or storing data conductors; and
a holder on the cover-like housing upper part, wherein the holder protrudes with respect to an upper side wall of the housing lower part, and wherein the holder allows the cover-like housing upper part to pivot upwards between a closed state and an open state of the housing;
wherein the holder allows the housing upper part to be pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part about a pivot axis defined by the holder so as to move the housing from the closed state into a partially open state having a defined pivoting angle, such that the holder maintains the housing upper part at the defined pivoting angle with respect to the housing lower part when the housing upper part is pivoted upwards and at the partially open state.

2. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein in the closed state of the housing, a first portion of the holder engages in a cutout in the upper side wall of the housing upper part to maintain the housing in the closed state.

3. The distribution device of claim 2, wherein in the partially open state of the housing, a second portion of the holder engages the cutout to maintain the housing upper part at the defined pivoting angle with respect to the housing lower part when the housing upper part is pivoted upwards and at the partially open state.

4. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the defined pivoting angle is approximately 30°.

5. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein in a completely open state the housing upper part is pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part about the pivot axis defined by the holder of the housing lower part such that the housing upper part is removable from the holder.

6. The distribution device of claim 5, wherein in the completely open state of the housing, the housing upper part is pivoted upwards with respect to the housing lower part at least about the defined pivoting angle.

7. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the holder of the housing lower part acts on a rear wall of the housing lower part when the housing is in the closed state and in the partially opened state.

8. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the holder has one of a C-shaped and L-shaped contour in cross section.

9. The distribution device of claim 8, wherein the holder engages a cutout in the upper side wall of the housing upper part, when the housing is in a closed state and a partially open state, and wherein the cutout forms a recess for the holder.