Patent Description:
It is known to use an electrical apparatus that have a plurality of conductor terminals. Such an electrical apparatus can be for example a terminal block dedicated to test an electrical installation.

This kind of electrical apparatus generally has a front face presenting testing terminals that are accessible to an operator for various controls as calibration, value measuring, etc..

The plurality of conductor terminals are generally located on a rear face opposed to the front face. The conductor terminals are linked to the electrical installation with several conductors.

Thus, only a part of the plurality of conductor terminals are plugged and another part remains disconnected. Depending on the installation, the conductors can have different diameters, which implies that the terminals are designed to receive the biggest admissible diameter.

In this context, there is a risk that a user can touch a conductive part on the rear face. It can be the extremity of a conductor or a conductor terminal. There is therefore a need to protect the rear face of the electrical apparatus.

However, as different spatial configurations related to the size or diameter of the conductors and the place of the conductors are possible, it become difficult to conceive a protection device for the rear side that prevent touching the conductive parts. <CIT> discloses a terminal protection device for low voltage apparatus, comprising a plate having number of openings for defining removable portions. <CIT> is the closest prior art to the subject matter of the independent claim and discloses a cover assembly with a removable shutter portion.

The present invention aims to solve all or some of the disadvantages mentioned above.

The present invention relates to a cover assembly for an electrical apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

The cover assembly has a plurality of first separable parts and a plurality of second separable parts. Each first separable part is arranged to be removed from the cover assembly to create a first sized terminal opening for the insertion of a correspondingly sized conductor. When the first separable part and the associated second separable part are removed, a bigger sized conductor can be inserted.

The cover assembly enables to protect the plurality of conductor terminals of the electrical apparatus. When only some of the conductor terminals are used, the cover assembly enables to create different sized terminal openings where necessary and sized according to the plugged conductors.

The cover assembly has then a safety purpose as it protects each terminal of the electrical apparatus that are plugged or unplugged. In particular, it prevents a used to touch a conductive part.

According to an aspect of the invention, for each conductor terminal, the first separable part and the second separable part are configured to prevent access to the corresponding terminal conductor from the exterior at least according to an IP20 index.

This defines how each first separable part and second separable part are covering the corresponding conductor terminal. The cover assembly then enables to prevent a user to touch a conductive part of the electrical apparatus.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first sized terminal opening and the second sized terminal opening respect at least an IP20 index.

Then even when the separable parts are removed, the corresponding conductor terminal is protected.

The presence of a removable shutter enables to easily remove the necessary first separable parts and second separable parts from the cover assembly as the removable shutter can be removed from the cover assembly and thus from the electrical apparatus.

The presence of the grip facilitates the removal by hand or with the help of a tool.

The body remains on the electrical apparatus while removing a separable part. According to an aspect of the invention, the body is provided with at least one snap-in element to cooperate with a complementary snap-in element of the at least one removable shutter. Preferably, the snap-in element corresponds to at least one hole and the complementary snap-in element corresponds to an at least one hook or vice versa.

According to an aspect of the invention, the cover assembly comprises two removable shutters located on opposed faces the cover assembly.

The cover assembly is adapted to cooperate with a rear face of the electrical apparatus, the electrical apparatus being provided with two parallel rows of conductor terminals configured for plugging conductors according to two opposed directions transversally to the rows.

According to an aspect of the invention, the or each removable shutter comprises a plurality of strips, each strip comprising a corresponding first separable part and second separable part.

This facilitates the removal of each separable part, as each strip is manageable independently.

According to an aspect of the invention, for each strip, the first separable part and the second separable part are adjacent fractions of the strip, the first separable part constituting an extremity of the strip.

In other words, the removal of the first separable part reduces the length of the strip to engender a first sized terminal opening in the cover assembly. The length of the strip can be further reduced by removing the second separable part.

It appears that the removal of the first separable part and the second separable part is easy as it consists in the removal of the extremity of the strip.

According to an aspect of the invention, for each strip, the first separable part and the second separable part are pre-cut.

This provision enables a manual removal of the first separable part and/or the second separable part. Preferably, a first groove is located on the strip between the first separable part and the second separable part. A second groove is located on the strip to separate the second separable part or both separable parts from the strip.

According to an aspect of the invention, the cover assembly further has at least one reference orifice configured to be facing a corresponding marking of the electrical apparatus.

This provision prevents to hide the markings that are already present on the electrical apparatus. According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one reference orifice is included in the body. Preferably, the cover assembly has a plurality of reference orifices, each reference orifice corresponding to conductor terminal.

According to an aspect of the invention, the plurality of reference orifices are aligned according two lines, each line being parallel and located next to a corresponding row of conductor terminal.

According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one reference orifice and/or the at least one insertion slot are located on a rear part of the cover assembly extending transversally to the at least one removable shutter.

The eyelet is configured to enable an insertion of a cable of a seal transversally to the extension direction of the rear part of cover assembly.

The present invention also concerns an electrical testing assembly comprising the electrical apparatus and a cover assembly as detailed above, wherein the electrical apparatus has a front face presenting testing terminals and a rear face opposed to the front face and configured to receive the cover assembly.

According to an aspect of the invention, the plurality of conductor terminals are located on the rear face. Preferably, the markings are located on the rear face.

According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one removable shutter are extending transversally to the front face and the rear face.

According to an aspect of the invention, the electrical testing assembly further comprises a first sized electrical conductor plugged in a conductor terminal of the electrical apparatus, wherein the corresponding first separable part is removed and the second separable part is present, the space engendered between the first sized terminal opening and the first sized electrical conductor being defined with respect to at least an IP20 index.

According to an aspect of the invention, the electrical testing assembly further comprises a second sized electrical conductor plugged in a conductor terminal or alternatively two first sized electrical conductors plugged in said conductor terminal, wherein the corresponding first separable part and the second separable part are removed, the space engendered between the second sized terminal opening and the second sized electrical conductor or alternatively two the first sized electrical conductors being defined with respect to at least an IP20 index.

Thus, the removal the first separable part and the second separable part enable to maintain a protection for the user.

According to an aspect of the invention, the electrical apparatus is a terminal block dedicated for testing an electrical installation.

According to an aspect of the invention, the terminal block is dedicated for calibration, value measuring as current or voltage or other electrical values.

The different aspects defined above that are not incompatible can be combined.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description that is set out below with reference to the appended drawing in which:.

In the following detailed description of the figures defined above, the same elements or the elements that are fulfilling identical functions may retain the same references so as to simplify the understanding of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a cover assembly <NUM> for an electrical apparatus <NUM> is configured for covering a plurality of conductor terminals <NUM> of the electrical apparatus <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cover assembly <NUM> has, for each conductor terminal <NUM>, a first separable part <NUM> and a second separable part <NUM> configured to be engender a first sized terminal opening <NUM> when the first separable part <NUM> is removed and to engender a second sized terminal opening <NUM> when the first separable part <NUM> and the second separable part <NUM> are removed.

In other words, the cover assembly <NUM> has a plurality of first separable parts <NUM> and a plurality of second separable parts <NUM>. Each first separable part <NUM> is arranged to be removed from the cover assembly <NUM> to create a first sized terminal opening <NUM> for the insertion of a correspondingly sized conductor. When the first separable part <NUM> and the associated second separable part <NUM> are removed, a bigger sized conductor can be inserted.

For each conductor terminal <NUM>, the first separable part <NUM> and the second separable part <NUM> are configured to prevent access to the corresponding terminal conductor <NUM> from the exterior at least according to an IP20 index.

The first sized terminal opening <NUM> and the second sized terminal opening <NUM> respect at least an IP20 index.

The cover assembly <NUM> comprises at least one removable shutter <NUM> on which are located the first separable parts <NUM> and the second separable parts <NUM>.

The removable shutter <NUM> comprises a grip <NUM>. Said grip <NUM> corresponds to a protrusion designed to be seized by hand. The grip <NUM> presents a through hole <NUM>.

The cover assembly <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> configured to be clipped on the electrical apparatus <NUM>, the body <NUM> comprising at least one insertion slot <NUM> for receiving the at least one removable shutter <NUM>.

The body <NUM> remains on the electrical apparatus <NUM> while removing a separable part. The body <NUM> is provided with at least one snap-in element <NUM> to cooperate with a complementary snap-in element <NUM> of the at least one removable shutter <NUM>. The snap-in element <NUM> corresponds to at least one hole and the complementary snap-in element <NUM> corresponds to an at least one hook.

Here, the cover assembly <NUM> comprises two removable shutters <NUM> located on opposed faces the cover assembly <NUM>.

The cover assembly <NUM> is adapted to cooperate with a rear face <NUM> of the electrical apparatus <NUM>, the electrical apparatus <NUM> being provided with two parallel rows <NUM> of conductor terminals <NUM> configured for plugging conductors according to two opposed directions transversally to the rows <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each removable shutter <NUM> comprises a plurality of strips <NUM>, each strip <NUM> comprising a corresponding first separable part <NUM> and second separable part <NUM>.

For each strip <NUM>, the first separable part <NUM> and the second separable part <NUM> are adjacent fractions of the strip <NUM>, the first separable part <NUM> constituting an extremity of the strip <NUM>.

In other words, the removal of the first separable part <NUM> reduces the length of the strip <NUM> to engender the first sized terminal opening <NUM> in the cover assembly <NUM>. The length of the strip <NUM> can be further reduced by removing the second separable part <NUM>.

For each strip <NUM>, the first separable part <NUM> and the second separable part <NUM> are pre-cut. A first groove <NUM> is located on the strip <NUM> between the first separable part <NUM> and the second separable part <NUM>. A second groove <NUM> is located on the strip <NUM> to separate the second separable part <NUM> or both separable parts from the strip <NUM>.

The cover assembly <NUM> further has at least one eyelet <NUM> configured for receiving a seal.

The at least one eyelet <NUM> is included in the body <NUM>. Said eyelet <NUM> is located in proximity to a corresponding through hole <NUM> of a removable shutter <NUM> so as to enable to seal together the removable shutter <NUM> and the body <NUM>.

The cover assembly <NUM> further has at least one reference orifice <NUM> configured to be facing a corresponding marking of the electrical apparatus <NUM>.

The at least one reference orifice <NUM> is included in the body <NUM>. The cover assembly <NUM> has a plurality of reference orifices <NUM>, each reference orifice <NUM> corresponding to conductor terminal <NUM>.

The plurality of reference orifices <NUM> are aligned according two lines, each line being parallel and located next to a corresponding row <NUM> of conductor terminal <NUM>.

The at least one reference orifice <NUM> and/or the at least one insertion slot <NUM> are located on a rear part <NUM> of the cover assembly <NUM> extending transversally to the at least one removable shutter <NUM>.

The eyelet <NUM> is configured to enable an insertion of a cable of a seal transversally to the extension direction of the rear part <NUM> of cover assembly <NUM>.

An electrical testing assembly <NUM> comprising the electrical apparatus <NUM> and a cover assembly <NUM>, wherein the electrical apparatus <NUM> has a front face <NUM> presenting testing terminals and said rear face <NUM> opposed to the front face <NUM> and configured to receive the cover assembly <NUM>.

The plurality of conductor terminals <NUM> are located on the rear face <NUM>. The markings are located on the rear face <NUM>. The at least one removable shutter <NUM> are extending transversally to the front face <NUM> and the rear face <NUM>.

The electrical testing assembly <NUM> further comprises a first sized electrical conductor <NUM> plugged in a conductor terminal <NUM> of the electrical apparatus <NUM> wherein the corresponding first separable part <NUM> is removed and the second separable part <NUM> is present, the space engendered between the first sized terminal opening <NUM> and the first sized electrical conductor <NUM> being defined with respect to at least an IP20 index.

The electrical testing assembly further comprising a second sized electrical conductor <NUM> plugged in a conductor terminal <NUM> or alternatively two first sized electrical conductors plugged in said conductor terminal <NUM>, wherein the corresponding first separable part <NUM> and the second separable part <NUM> are removed, the space engendered between the second sized terminal opening <NUM> and the second sized electrical conductor <NUM> or alternatively two the first sized electrical conductors <NUM> being defined with respect to at least an IP20 index.

The electrical apparatus <NUM> is here a terminal block dedicated for testing an electrical installation. The terminal block is for example dedicated for calibration, value measuring as current or voltage or other electrical values.

The cover assembly <NUM> as described above enables to protect the plurality of conductor terminals <NUM> of the electrical apparatus <NUM>. When only some of the conductor terminals <NUM> are used, the cover assembly <NUM> enables to create different sized terminal openings where necessary and sized according to the plugged conductors.

The cover assembly <NUM> has then a safety purpose as it protects each conductor terminal <NUM> of the electrical apparatus <NUM> that are plugged or unplugged. In particular, it prevents a used to touch a conductive part.

The removable shutters <NUM> enable to easily remove the necessary first separable parts <NUM> and second separable parts <NUM> from the cover assembly <NUM> as the removable shutters <NUM> can be removed from the cover assembly <NUM> and thus from the electrical apparatus <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Cover assembly (<NUM>) for an electrical apparatus (<NUM>) configured for covering a plurality of conductor terminals (<NUM>) of the electrical apparatus (<NUM>), the cover assembly (<NUM>) having for each conductor terminal (<NUM>) a first separable part (<NUM>) and a second separable part (<NUM>) configured to create a first sized terminal opening (<NUM>) when the first separable part (<NUM>) is removed and to create a second sized terminal opening (<NUM>) when the first separable part (<NUM>) and the second separable part (<NUM>) are removed, wherein the cover assembly (<NUM>) comprising at least one removable shutter (<NUM>) on which are located the first separable parts (<NUM>) and the second separable parts (<NUM>), and wherein the cover assembly (<NUM>)comprising a body (<NUM>) configured to be clipped on the electrical apparatus (<NUM>), the body (<NUM>) comprising at least one insertion slot (<NUM>) for receiving the at least one removable shutter (<NUM>), wherein the or each removable shutter (<NUM>) comprises a grip (<NUM>), said grip (<NUM>) corresponding to a protrusion designed to be seized by hand, the grip (<NUM>) also presenting a through hole (<NUM>), wherein the cover assembly (<NUM>) further has at least one eyelet (<NUM>) that is included in the body (<NUM>), the or each eyelet (<NUM>) is located in proximity to the corresponding through hole (<NUM>) so as to enable to seal together the removable shutter (<NUM>) and the body (<NUM>).