Abstract:
An apparatus support used for example inside a box may have on each of its opposite sides groove elements for being mounted on the side units of a wireway base when the base has such side units. Associated with the support by way of mechanical fastening element, is a plate having at least two projecting columns, with on the top part of the columns, snap-on elements, and the support correspondingly includes snap-on elements matching the snap-on elements of the plate columns.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to device supports of the type used to fix a device of any kind or, to be more precise, to fix its mechanism. 
     It relates more particularly to the situation in which, in the case of electrical devices, fixing is effected in conjunction with the use of trunking to route electrical conductors or cables connected to the devices. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Trunking includes a base section, which has an open cross section, and a cover section, which is adapted to be attached to the base section to close the trunking. This is known in the art. 
     Several ways of fixing this kind of trunking can be envisaged. 
     First of all, the fixing can be inside the trunking itself or, to be more precise, inside its base section. 
     This is more particularly feasible when the base section, which has a generally U-shaped cross section, has a middle part and two lateral flanges with rims along the free edges of the lateral flanges which extend toward each other and to which the cover section is clipped. 
     It is then sufficient to use a dedicated device support provided with lateral groove means for engaging it over the rims of this kind of base section, between two lengths of cover section. 
     A device of this type is described in French patent 2 698 738 filed Dec. 1st, 1992 under application number 92 14441. 
     A device mechanism can instead be fixed into a box which is in turn installed on the trunking (or, to be more precise, on the base section of the trunking) between two lengths of cover section, or alongside the trunking, to which it is then joined by a canopy which caps the base section of the trunking transversely to provide a passage for the electrical conductors or cables concerned, or at a distance from the trunking, to which it is then connected by a branch trunking which routes the electrical conductors or cables. 
     The box can also be used on its own, without any trunking, for example at the end of a built-in conduit. 
     In each of the above cases specific arrangements are employed for fixing the device mechanism into the box, with or without a specific individual device support. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A general object of the present invention is an arrangement which has the advantage of using the same fixing device in all foreseeable fixing circumstances, which is beneficial from the point of view of standardizing production and therefore from the point of view of cost. 
     To be more precise, the invention firstly provides a device support, characterized in that it is associated with a fitting accessory in the form of a plate which has at least two projecting pillars and clipping means at the top of each of the pillars, and in that it further includes clipping means in corresponding relationship to and complementary to the clipping means on the pillars on the plate, by means of which it can therefore be attached thereto; it also provides a box within which the above kind of device support and the above kind of plate can be used. 
     Thanks to the plate associated with the device support according to the invention, a device mechanism can be fixed to trunking, alongside trunking or at a distance from trunking, or used without any trunking, the same device support and, in the usual way, an appropriate box being used in each case. 
     The device support according to the invention therefore has the advantage that its great flexibility means that it suits the various corresponding installation conditions. 
     However, a preferred embodiment of the device support also has lateral groove means that enable it to be fitted, if required, to the rims of the base section of trunking which includes such rims. This further extends its field of application. 
     Conversely, it is also possible to consider that it is the plate associated with the device support, in accordance with the invention, that increases the field of application of device supports including lateral groove means of the above kind, by enabling them to be fitted into a box. 
     Be this as it may, the device support according to the invention has the advantage of being quasi-universally suitable for all the usual fixing methods. 
     UK patent application 2 187 900 describes a box which is associated with a fitting accessory consisting of a plate with projecting pillars for clipping it on. 
     However, that box does not constitute a device support in the sense of the present invention. 
     In particular, it could not be used in any other box or incorporate any lateral groove means. 
     Also, the pillars of the associated plate are merely clips. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box containing a device support according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the box and the device support; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view to a larger scale of the device support shown in isolation; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the device support in cross section taken along the line IV—IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the plate associated with it, in accordance with the invention, in cross section taken along the line V—V in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a view in section of the assembly and is derived from FIGS. 4 and 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view similar to that of FIG.  2  and relating to a different box; and 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views similar to that of FIG.  2  and each relates to a respective different box, but without showing all of the component parts thereof. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 to  7  show, by way of example, the application of the invention to the situation in which the device mechanism, not shown, to be fixed must be installed so that it projects from trunking  10 . 
     Because the trunking  10  is not in itself relevant to the present invention it will not be described in complete detail here. 
     Globally, the trunking  10  includes a base section  11 , by means of which it is adapted to be attached to a wall of any kind, not shown, and which has an open cross section, and a cover section  12  which, to close the trunking, is adapted to be attached to the base section  11 , for example to be clipped to it, as shown here. 
     In the embodiment shown more particularly in FIGS. 1 and 6, and as shown in dashed outline in those figures, the base section  11  has a U-shaped profile in cross section with a middle part  13  and two lateral flanges  14 . It includes two spaced internal partitions  15  which extend longitudinally and parallel to the lateral flanges  14  over its entire length. In this embodiment, each of them is formed with a channel  16  along its free edge and each of them is more or less hollow. 
     As a corollary to this, in this embodiment, the cover section  12  itself has a U-shaped profile in cross section and caps the entire height of the base section  11 . 
     In this case, the device mechanism concerned is fixed to trunking  10  of this kind in a manner known in the art, inside a box  18  which is itself adapted to be attached to and project from the base section  11  between two lengths  12 ′ of cover section  12 . 
     Finally, in a manner that is known in the art, the box  18  has an external lid  19  in the shape of a frame with upstanding edges  20  adapted to engage over the base section  11 , capping it locally, and a front plate  21  which covers the lid  19  and which has an opening  22  in its central area through which passes the part of the device mechanism accessible to the user, the front plate thus forming an embellisher around that part of the device mechanism. 
     In accordance with the invention, a device support  24  is used inside the box  18 , as can be seen better in FIG. 2, receives the device mechanism to be fixed directly, and is associated with a fitting accessory in the form of a plate  25 . 
     In the embodiment shown the device support  24  takes the general form of a globally parallelepiped-shaped plate with an opening  26  in its central area. 
     The overall features of the device support  24  are known in the art. 
     In particular, it has on each of at least two opposite sides groove means  27  that, if the base section  11  of the trunking  12  has rims along the free edge of its lateral flanges  14 , can be engaged over those rims, as described in the published French patent 2 698 738 previously referred to. 
     The device support  24  is therefore not described in complete detail here. 
     Only its components necessary to an understanding of the invention are described. 
     In the embodiment shown, the opening  26  in the device support  24  extends in the lengthwise direction over only a fraction of the length of the device support  24 , leaving a seat  28  at each of its transverse ends. 
     As a corollary to this, in this embodiment, the groove means  27  extend along only the longitudinal sides of the device support  24 . 
     In accordance with the invention, the plate  25  associated with the device support  24  has at least two pillars  31  projecting from its top surface  30  with, as described in more detail later, clipping means  32  at the top of each pillar  31 , and the device support  24  conjointly itself includes, also as described in more detail later, clipping means  33  that are in corresponding relationship to and complementary to the clipping means  32  on the pillars  31  on the plate  25 , and by means of which it can be attached thereto. 
     In the embodiment shown, the plate  25  is thin and relatively flat and its contour is globally rectangular. 
     What is more, in this embodiment, it has along each of its transverse sides three parallel portions  35  of reduced thickness, one in each corner area and one between the latter. 
     Adapted to be cut easily, these thinner portions  35  can provide passages for electrical conductors or cables, if required. 
     In the embodiment shown, the plate  25  has four bosses  37  projecting from its bottom face  36  between the thinner portions  35  and at the corners of a rectangle, so that it can be nested over the partitions  15  of the base section  11  because of the channel  16  that they form. Each boss includes a bore  38  through which is passed a fixing member, not shown. The fixing members pass through openings in the corresponding partition  15  of the base section  11  and are then anchored into the underlying wall. 
     In the embodiment shown, the plate  25  also has two ribs  40  for locking the lid  19 . The ribs project from its top surface  30 , in the middle area of each of its longitudinal sides, along their free edge. 
     Finally, in the embodiment shown, the plate  25  has four pillars  31  projecting from its top surface  30  at the corners of a rectangle, in the vicinity of its transverse sides and between the thinner portions  35  along the latter sides. 
     In practice the pillars  31  are all identical and their clipping means  32  are all at the same level. 
     In practice, the clipping means  32  of each of the two pillars  31  in the vicinity of the same transverse side of the plate  25  are also in a face-to-face arrangement between the pillars  31 . 
     For each of the pillars  31  on the associated plate  25 , the clipping means  33  of the device support  24  simply consist of a detent  42  which, as shown in FIG. 4, is preferably preceded by a bevel  43  and in practice is parallel to the longitudinal sides of the device support  24 . 
     In the embodiment shown the detent  42  is at the end of a tongue  44 . 
     To be more precise, in this embodiment, the device support  24  has an opening  45  adapted to fit over each of the pillars  31  on the plate  25 , and the corresponding detent  42  extends along at least part of one of the sides of the opening  45 . 
     However, instead of being at the end of a tongue  44 , the detent  42  could equally well consist of the edge of the opening  45 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the opening  45  passes completely through the device support  24 . 
     To be more precise, when, as here, the device support  24  includes a seat  28 , at least locally in the area concerned, the opening  45  is in the seat  28  and passes completely through it. 
     In the embodiment shown, the device support  24  includes four openings  45 , with two in each of the two seats  28 , one for each of the pillars  31  on the plate  25 . 
     In practice, the openings  45  have a globally rectangular contour and are elongate in the direction parallel to the longitudinal sides of the device support  24 . 
     In the embodiment shown, each of the detents  42  forming the clipping means  32  of the device support  24  is level with the top surface  47  of the seat  28 , being formed directly by that top surface  47 . 
     When, as here, a front plate  21  on the opposite side of the plate  25  is associated with the device support  24 , each of the openings  45  in the device support  24  adapted to fit over a pillar  31  on the plate  25  is conjointly adapted to contribute to clipping on the front plate  21 . 
     To be more precise, for clipping on the front plate  21 , another detent  48  extends over at least a part of the side of each of the openings  45  opposite the side along which the detent  42  constituting the corresponding clipping means  33  extends. 
     Like the detent  42 , the detent  48  is preceded by a bevel  49  and is at the end of a tongue  50 . 
     However, unlike the detent  42 , the detent  48  is level with the bottom surface  52  of the corresponding seat  28 , being formed directly by that bottom surface  52 . 
     In practice, for each of the openings  45 , the tongues  44  and  50  are offset longitudinally relative to each other. 
     As a corollary to this, the front plate  21  has four clips  54  flanking its opening  22 , along transverse sides thereof and projecting from its bottom surface  53 , with one clip  54  for each of the openings  45  in the device support  24 , and the clips  54  are each adapted to cooperate with the corresponding detent  48  of the device support  24 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the clipping means  32  of each of the pillars  31  on the plate  25  also include a detent  55  preceded by a bevel  56  and the detent  55  is on the upstream side of a shoulder  57  against which the corresponding seat  28  of the device support  24  bears. 
     Let E denote the thickness of the seats  28  of the device support  24 . 
     In practice, the distance D between the detent  55  on a pillar  31  of the plate  25  and the shoulder  57  associated with that detent  55  is substantially equal to (slightly greater than) the thickness E of the seats  28  of the device support  24 . 
     Although they are relatively rigid, the pillars  31  on the plate  25  are elastically deformable to a sufficient degree to enable the device support  24  to be clipped to them effectively. 
     In the embodiment shown, the pillars  31  are isolated from each other and, when seen in elevation, have a globally trapezoidal profile parallel to the transverse sides of the plate  25 . 
     However, they are hollow, even if only for reasons connected with molding them. 
     Assembly can be carried out as follows, for example. 
     The plate  25  is first attached to the base section  11  of the trunking  10  and is then attached to the underlying wall by fixing members, as briefly described hereinabove. 
     The device support  24  is then clipped to the pillars  31  on the plate  25 , before or after it receives the device mechanism to be fixed and before or after the latter has been wired. 
     The lid  19  is then fitted by engaging it over the device support  24 , the plate  25 , and the base section  11  of the trunking  10 . Finally, the front plate  21  is clipped to the device support  24  through the lid  19 , which is sufficient to retain the lid. 
     The lid  19  has a T-shaped profile rib  39  projecting from the middle area of each of the longitudinal sides of its bottom surface, adapted to be inserted between the corresponding ribs  40  of the plate  25 . 
     If required, the lid  19  can also have clips, not shown, projecting from its bottom surface to strengthen the clipping together of the device support  24  and the plate  25 , imparting to the resulting combination good mechanical resistance to impact. 
     FIG. 7 shows application of the invention to a situation in which the base section  11  of the trunking  10  has no lateral flanges  14 , the cover section  12  of the trunking  10  covering the base section  11  directly. 
     In this case, the plate  25  associated in accordance with the invention with the device support  24  is merely shaped accordingly, like the cover section  12 , and likewise the lid  19 . 
     Also, it features only two bores  38 , rather than four, and the base section  11  of the trunking  10  itself has only one partition  15 , rather than two. 
     Otherwise, the features are of the same kind as previously described. 
     In particular, the device support  24  is advantageously unchanged. 
     Only the height of the pillars  31  on the plate  25  may be modified. 
     That height may be reduced, for example, as shown here. 
     FIG. 8 shows application of the invention to the situation in which, rather than being installed on trunking  10 , the box  18  must be installed alongside trunking  10 , not shown. 
     In this case, the lid  19  has on one of its longitudinal sides adjacent the trunking  10  an opening  58  into which is fitted a canopy  59  adapted to extend transversely over the base section  11  of the trunking  10 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the canopy  59  is separate from the cover  19  and is in two parts  59 A,  59 B. 
     Instead of this, however, and in arrangements that are well known in the art and therefore not described in detail here, it can equally well be in one piece with the cover  19  and/or be made in one piece, rather than two pieces. 
     Otherwise, the features are of the same kind as previously described. 
     However, having to be fixed directly to the underlying wall, the plate  25  is relatively thicker than previously. 
     Moreover, in the embodiment shown, the pillars  31  on the plate  25  are linked in pairs by a partition  60  over at least a portion of their height starting from the plate  25 . 
     In the embodiment shown, these partitions  60  are parallel to the transverse sides of the plate  25 . 
     They increase the relative stiffness of the pillars  31 . 
     FIG. 9 shows application of the invention to a situation in which the box  18  must be installed at a distance from associated trunking  10 , not shown. 
     In this case a blanking plate  62  is substituted for the previously described canopy  59 , to blank off the opening  58  in the cover  19 , and can be cut to enable branch trunking, not shown, to enter the cover  19 . 
     The box  18  can equally well be used without any trunking. 
     It will have been noted that, in all cases, the plate  25  associated with the device support  24  in accordance with the invention includes attachment means for fixing it to any kind of support. 
     Such means can consist of the bores  38  that it can incorporate for fixing members adapted to anchor it into the underlying wall to be passed through. 
     However, in addition to and/or instead of this, when it is installed on the base section  11  of the trunking  10 , the aforementioned means can be engagement means, for example clipping means, adapted to interengage with the base section  11 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and/or uses described and shown but encompasses any variant execution and/or combination thereof.