SEALED ELECTRICAL APPARATUS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealed electrical apparatus.

[0002] In the field of street lighting, apparatuses are generally used which include casings constituted by a main part and by a part that can be removed or opened in order to allow wiring, installation and maintenance of the apparatus.

[0003] Considering the need to ensure adequate protection of the electrical contacts, and also the protection of the electrical components installed inside the casing against external agents, such as solid objects, dust and water, the closure system of the casing must be strong and reliable.

[0004] Conventional closure systems generally include screws or a side part that is hinged to the main part of the casing and a locking system on the opposite side.

[0005] The conventional locking systems are rather bulky and conspicuous, their shape being spoiled by the presence of members such as pivots, holes and other protrusions that are necessary in order to contain screws, springs and other mechanical members.

[0006] Also, the conventional fastening devices for closing the casings are very conspicuous and spoil the aesthetics of the product.

[0007] For example, DE3326309 discloses a closure for a moisture-proof and explosion- or firedamp-proof lighting fixture, which comprises a transparent covering bowl and a lighting fixture housing which contains the electrical installations and fluorescent tubes, incandescent lamps or the like. The covering bowl and lighting fixture housing are joined to one another on one side via hinged joints and on the other side via a closure element. The closure element is constructed as a clamped closure and consists of a foldable locking rail, which is mounted via a double-hinged joint on the lighting fixture housing, and whose free end bears, for the purpose of joining together the lighting fixture housing and covering bowl, under stress against a flanged rim of the covering bowl, which is supported on the lighting fixture housing.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a sealed electrical apparatus, particularly for street lighting, that overcomes the drawbacks of the cited prior art.

[0009] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an electrical apparatus that has a casing with a hidden or retractable closure system.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical apparatus provided with a closure system that ensures speed and ease in the opening and reclosing of the casing.

[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical apparatus, particularly for street lighting and public lighting in general, that has a better aesthetic value together with superior functionality.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which, by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

[0013] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a sealed electrical apparatus comprising a casing constituted by a first part and a second part; said first part being sealingly associable with said second part; said electrical apparatus being characterized in that it comprises a retractable locking means comprising a closure member hinged to one of said parts by virtue of an elastic means; said closure member defining at least two conditions: an open condition and a closed condition; in said closed condition said closure member engages said second part and is integrated within the contour of said casing defined by said first part joined to said second part, the apparatus being characterized in that said closure member is hinged to said first part by means of a pair of elastic members; each of said elastic members having a first end engaged in a respective hinge formed in said first part and a second end elastically engageable with an abutment portion of said closure member when said closure member is in said closed condition.

[0014] Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sealed electrical apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of the sealed electrical apparatus shown in the condition in which the handle is open;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sealed electrical apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a longitudinally sectional side view showing the handle region in the closed condition;

Figure 5 is a longitudinally sectional side view of the handle region in the open condition.

[0015] With reference to the above figures, the device according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, includes a casing having a first part 2 and a second part 3.

[0016] The electrical apparatus according to the herewith described embodiment is a streetlight, in which the first part 2 constitutes the cover of the second part 3. The second part 3 contains the lighting devices and the corresponding devices for the electric power supply thereof.

[0017] The first part 2 is associated with the second part 3 by means of a retractable locking means which includes a closure member 4 that is pivoted to one of the two parts by virtue of elastic means.

[0018] In the closed condition, which is visible in Figures 1 and 4, the closure member 4 engages the second part 3 and is integrated in the contour of the casing.

[0019] In this embodiment, the closure member 4 is pivoted to the first part 2 by means of a pair of elastic members 5.

[0020] Each elastic member 5 has a first end engaged in a respective hinge 6 formed in the first part 2 and a second end 7 elastically engaged with an abutment portion 8 of the closure member 4, when the closure member 4 is moved to the closed condition.

[0021] The closure member 4 is provided with an appendage 9 that is adapted to engage a recess 10 that is extended along the front edge of the second part 3.

[0022] When the luminaire is closed, the first part 2 is pressed onto the second part 3, in the position shown in Figure 5, and then the closure member 4 is rotated to the closure position, shown in Figure 4, in which it mutually locks the parts 2 and 3 by virtue of the action of the elastic members 5.

[0023] Once the stable position has been reached, the closure member 4 ensures the correct closure of the casing and completes the outside contour of the casing, ensuring the continuity of the shapes, as is evident in Figure 1.

[0024] In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing an electrical apparatus with a hermetic closure system that allows an improvement of the aesthetics of the product by virtue of the continuity of the shapes that is ensured by the particular closure member, which furthermore ensures perfect mechanical locking.

[0025] A further important advantage of the present invention is constituted by the speed and ease in opening and reclosing the luminaire.

[0026] The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may of course be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. A sealed electrical apparatus comprising a casing constituted by a first part (2) and a second part (3); said first part (2) being sealingly associable with said second part (3); said electrical apparatus being characterized in that it comprises a retractable locking means comprising a closure member (4);
said closure member (4) defining at least two conditions: an open condition and a closed condition; in said closed condition said closure member (4) engages said second part (3) and is integrated within the contour of said casing defined by said first part (2) joined to said second part (3);
said electrical apparatus being characterized in that said closure member (4) is hinged to said first part (2) by means of a pair of elastic members (5); each of said elastic members (5) having a first end engaged in a respective hinge (6) formed in said first part (2) and a second end (7) elastically engageable with an abutment portion (8) of said closure member (4) when said closure member (4) is in said closed condition.

2. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said closure member (4) comprises an appendage (9) adapted to engage a recess (10) extending along a front edge of said second part (3).

3. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said apparatus (1) is a streetlamp in which said first part (2) is a cover of said second part (3), said second part (3) containing lighting devices and apparatuses for powering and controlling said lighting devices.

Ansprüche

1. Eine abgedichtete elektrische Vorrichtung, die ein Gehäuse umfasst, das aus einem ersten Teil (2) und einem zweiten Teil (3) besteht, wobei der erste Teil (2) abdichtend mit dem zweiten Teil (3) verbindbar ist; wobei die elektrische Vorrichtung dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass sie ein einziehbares Verriegelungsmittel umfasst, welches ein Verschlussglied (4) umfasst; wobei das Verschlussglied (4) mindestens zwei Zustände bestimmt; einen offenen Zustand und einen geschlossenen Zustand; in dem geschlossenen Zustand greift das Verschlussglied (4) in den zweiten Teil (3) ein und ist in die Kontur des Gehäuses integriert, die von dem ersten Teil (2) bestimmt ist, welcher mit dem zweiten Teil (3) verbunden ist; wobei die elektrische Vorrichtung dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass das Verschlussglied (4) mit Hilfe eines Paars elastischer Glieder (5) gelenkig mit dem ersten Teil (2) verbunden ist; wobei jedes der elastischen Glieder (5) ein erstes Ende hat, das in ein dazugehöriges Scharnier (6) eingreift, welches in dem ersten Teil (2) geformt ist, und ein zweites Ende (7), das mit einem Widerlagerabschnitt (8) des Verschlussglieds (4) elastisch in Eingriff stehen kann, wenn das Verschlussglied (4) sich in dem geschlossenen Zustand befindet.

2. Die elektrische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verschlussglied (4) ein Anhängsel (9) umfasst, das ausgebildet ist, um in eine Öffnung (10) einzugreifen, welche sich entlang einer Vorderkante des zweiten Teils (3) erstreckt.

3. Die elektrische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung (1) eine Straßenlaterne ist, bei welcher der erste Teil (2) eine Abdeckung des zweiten Teils (3) ist, wobei der zweite Teil (3) Beleuchtungsvorrichtungen und Vorrichtungen zum Betreiben und Steuern der Beleuchtungsvorrichtungen enthält.

Revendications

1. Appareil électrique étanche comprenant un boîtier constitué par une première pièce (2) et une seconde pièce (3); ladite première pièce (2) étant associable hermétiquement à ladite seconde pièce (3), ledit appareil électrique étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un moyen de verrouillage rétractable comprenant un élément de fermeture (4); ledit élément de fermeture (4) définissant au moins deux positions: un état ouvert et un état fermé; ledit élément de fermeture (4), dans ledit état fermé, s'engageant dans ladite seconde pièce (3) et étant intégré dans le contour dudit boîtier défini par ladite première pièce (2) assemblée à ladite seconde pièce (3); ledit appareil électrique étant caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de fermeture (4) est articulé à ladite première pièce (2) au moyen d'une paire d'éléments élastiques (5); chacun desdits éléments élastiques (5) ayant une première extrémité engagée dans une charnière respective (6) formée dans ladite première pièce (2) et une seconde extrémité (7) engageable élastiquement dans une section de butée (8) dudit élément de fermeture (4) lorsque ledit élément de fermeture (4) est dans ladite position fermée.

2. Appareil électrique selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de fermeture (4) comprend un appendice (9) apte à s'engager dans un retrait (10) s'étendant le long d'un premier bord de ladite seconde pièce (3).

3. Appareil électrique selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit appareil (1) est un réverbère dans lequel ladite première pièce (2) est un couvercle de ladite seconde pièce (3), ladite seconde pièce (3) contenant les dispositifs d'éclairage et les appareils pour alimenter et commander lesdits dispositifs d'éclairage.

Drawing