"Contact assembly for a junction box"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a contact assembly suitable for use in a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars.

The invention also relates to a box suitable for use as a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars.

The invention further relates to a method of connecting a contact assembly to a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars and a method of disconnecting a contact assembly from a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars.

PRIOR ART

Prefabricated electric ducts, called "busbars" in the technical jargon of the sector, are modular electrical lines that develop in space following predetermined paths obtained by appropriately arranging rectilinear and curvilinear elements in succession (for example elements that allow a deviation of the right angle path). The elements, whether straight or curved, generally include: a housing provided with a compartment open to the outside, a plurality of conductive bars, including for example a phase conductor bar, a neutral conductor bar, and a protective earth bar, and a door fixed to the housing to close the compartment. The conductive bars are housed inside the compartment and are individually covered with an insulating sheath. For the connection between the various elements, spaced terminals connected to the bars and a grounding element connected to the housing protrude from the ends of the housing.

The prefabricated electric ducts are associated with accessory components, including the junction box, which is used to withdraw the electric current at a point where a utility is installed which must be supplied by such a current. The assembly of the junction box to the prefabricated electric duct allows you to withdraw current from the conductive bars placed inside the prefabricated electric duct.

The known junction boxes, once mounted to the prefabricated electric duct, instantly determine the electrical connection between the elements inside the box and the conductive bars.

In light of this, the Applicant has detected a problem related to the safety of the junction boxes and consequently to the safety of the operator in charge of carrying out installation, maintenance and/or replacement operations of the junction boxes to the prefabricated electric ducts.

Basically, when installing a junction box, the problem arises from the fact that when the operator installs the box to the prefabricated electric duct, being the electrical connection instantaneous to the installation, components inside the junction box are immediately energized and the operator runs the risk of electric shock.

Furthermore, in the maintenance or replacement operations of the junction box or some of its components, since the box itself is already electrically connected (at appropriate current withdrawing points) to the conductive bars of the prefabricated electric duct and the operator must operate on the box itself, the operator risks being electrocuted by the electrical voltage of the components arranged inside the junction box.

Safety problems affecting the installer and/or the maintenance technician may generally arise whenever he has to deal with elements of prefabricated electric ducts, in particular with windows for accessing the conductive bars.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In light of the above, the main object of the present invention is to provide a contact assembly suitable for use in a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type and a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type capable of overcoming one or more of the drawbacks previously described in relation to the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a contact assembly suitable for use in a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type and a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type which has greater safety both in the electrical connection of the junction box to the prefabricated electric ducts, and in the electrical disconnection of the junction box from the prefabricated electric ducts, and in the maintenance and/or replacement of the junction box.

A further object of the present invention is to allow the connection between the contact assembly and prefabricated electric ducts and between the junction box and prefabricated electric ducts only in a condition of safety for an operator.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a contact assembly and a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated duct type which is at the same time particularly simple to manufacture and install, and which is also particularly robust, reliable and safe once installed.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a contact assembly and a junction box which allows the operator and/or the maintenance technician to interact safely with components of the prefabricated electric ducts, in particular with the windows for accessing the conductive bars.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for connecting or disconnecting a contact assembly to or from a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars.

The above objects and others are achieved by a contact assembly, by a method of making a contact assembly, by a use of a contact assembly, by a method of connecting or disconnecting a contact assembly to or from a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars, by a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts, by a use of a junction box, by a process for making a junction box, by a method of connection or disconnection of a junction box to or from a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars and by a method for securing or installing a junction box according to the appended claims and/or to the following aspects, which may be taken independently of each other or in combination with the individual technical features described in the detailed description or in combination with any of the appended claims. SUMMARY

Aspects of the invention are described hereinafter.

In a 1st aspect, a contact assembly is provided, suitable to be used in a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars and adapted to come into contact with at least one conductive bar to withdraw electric current, comprising: a containment body having at least one through opening,

at least a functional element housed at least partially in the containment body and suitable for withdrawing electric current from one of said conductive bars, said at least one functional element being configured to operate at least between a retracted position and an advanced position, in the advanced position said at least one functional element being at least partially extracted from the containment body through said at least one through opening so as to be able to be connected to the respective conductive bar,

a control member configured to cooperate with said at least one functional element so as to guide the positioning of said at least one functional element with respect to the containment body at least between the retracted position and the advanced position and/or vice versa,

an actuation element operatively connected to the control member and configured to operate the control member at least between a rest condition, in which the control member keeps said at least one functional element in the retracted position, and an operative condition, in which the control member keeps said at least one functional element in the advanced position, the contact assembly further comprising at least one selector configured to operate selectively on the actuation element at least between the following configurations: an actuation element locking configuration, in which said at least one selector prevents the actuation element from actuating the control member,

an actuation element release configuration, in which said at least one selector allows the actuation element to actuate the control member to determine the advancement of said at least one functional element between the retracted position and the advanced position and/or to determine the retraction of said at least one functional element between the advanced position and the retracted position.

In a 2nd aspect according to the 1st aspect, said at least one selector is configured to operate, in locking and release, on the actuation element.

In a 3rd aspect according to the 1st or 2nd aspect, said at least one selector is configured to operate, in locking and release, indirectly on the actuation element, for example by means of the control member, or directly on the actuation element.

In a 4th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, in the actuation element locking configuration, said at least one selector prevents the actuation element from operating the control member by operating indirectly on the actuation element, for example by means of the control member, or by operating directly on the actuation element.

In a 5th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector comprises a constraint portion configured to allow engagement of the contact assembly to a containment housing of conductive bars of a prefabricated electric duct, said at least one selector being configured to take the actuation element release configuration simultaneously with the taking by the constraint portion of a condition of engagement with the containment housing of conductive bars.

In a 6th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector comprises a constraint portion configured to allow engagement of the contact assembly with a containment housing of conductive bars, said at least one selector being configured to assume the actuation element release configuration after the constraint portion assumes a condition of engagement with the containment housing of the conductive bars.

In a 7th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector may be moved between a locking position of the actuation element, in which said at least one selector assumes the actuation element locking configuration, and a release position of the actuation element, in which said at least one selector assumes the actuation element release configuration and/or vice versa.

In an 8th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector is rotatable with respect to the containment body between the locking position and the release position of the actuation element and/or vice versa.

In a 9th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector may be moved with respect to the containment body and one between the actuation element and the control member between the locking position of the actuation element and the release position of the actuation element and/or vice versa,

In a 10th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector may be reversibly moved between the locking position and the release position of the actuation element.

In an 1 1 th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector is rotatable with respect to the containment body and to one between the actuation element and the control member between a locking position and a release position of actuation element and/or vice versa.

In a 12th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector is reversibly rotatable between the locking position and the release position of the actuation element.

In a 13th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector comprises at least one gripping portion configured to allow the movement thereof, for example manual, between the locking position and the release position of the actuation element.

In a 14th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, in the actuation element locking configuration the constraint portion and one between the control member and the actuation element are in contact at respective contact surfaces, in the actuation element release configuration, the contact surface of the constraint portion being spaced from the contact surface of one between the control member and the actuation element. In a 15th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector operates on the control member and obstructs, in the actuation element locking configuration, a movement of the control member aimed at guiding the positioning of said at least one functional element with respect to the containment body at least between the retracted position and the advanced position and/or vice versa or in which said at least one selector operates on the actuation element and obstructs, in the actuation element locking configuration, a movement of the actuation element.

In a 16th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector comprises a locking portion of one between the actuation element and the control member configured to prevent, in the actuation element locking configuration, a movement of one between the actuation element and the control member, the locking portion being arranged, in the actuation element locking configuration, along a trajectory of movement of one between the actuation element and the control member.

In a 17th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the locking portion comprises an interference element movable between an interference position, in which it prevents by interference the movement of one between the actuation element and the control member, and a releasing position in which it allows the movement of the actuation element and the control member.

In an 18th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector has a stem extending along a prevailing development direction, the constraint portion and the locking portion developing at respective stem ends opposite with reference to the prevailing development direction, at least one between the constraint portion and the locking portion being integral with the stem.

In a 19th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, both the constraint portion and the locking portion are integral with the stem.

In a 20th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the locking portion is defined by a cap engaged at one end of the stem.

In a 21 st aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the constraint portion comprises a foot engaged at one end of the stem.

In a 22nd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the stem has a first end and a second end opposite each other with reference to the prevailing development direction, the constraint portion developing at the first end and the locking portion developing at the second end.

In a 23rd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the containment body comprises a base, said at least one through opening being defined on the base, the stem being arranged in such a way that the constraint portion and the locking portion are opposed to each other with reference to the base.

In a 24th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the stem crossing the base and a first end and a second end of the stem carrying respectively the constraint portion and the locking portion being opposed with reference to the base.

In a 25th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the base comprises a through hole, the stem crossing the base at the through hole.

In a 26th aspect according to the 25th aspect, the through hole is counter-shaped to a cross section of the stem. In a 27th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector comprises a housing shaped to house the control member at least partially in the operative condition. In a 28th aspect according to the 27th aspect, the housing has a recess defining a concavity.

In a 29th aspect according to the 27th or 28th aspect, the housing is defined at or in the proximity of the constraint portion.

In a 30th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 27th to 29th, the housing is at least partially counter shaped to a profile of the control member.

In a 31st aspect according to any one of the aspects from 28th to 30th, the concavity is sized to house the control member at least partially in the operative condition.

In a 32nd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the contact assembly comprises at least one position controller configured to check at least that said at least one selector reaches the locking position of the actuation element and/or the release position of the actuation element.

In a 33rd aspect according to the 32nd aspect, said at least one position controller comprises an abutment integral with said at least one selector and at least one end-of-travel element, said at least one selector being movable with respect to said at least one end-of-travel element between a locking position of the actuation element and a release position of the actuation element, the abutment being configured to come into contact with said at least one end-of-travel element when said at least one selector assumes the actuation element locking position and/or when said at least one selector assumes the actuation element release element.

In a 34th aspect according to the 32nd or 33rd aspect, said at least one position controller comprises a first end- of-travel element configured to limit the movement of said at least one selector at the actuation element locking position and a second end-of-travel element configured to limit the movement of said at least one selector at the actuation element release position, in the locking position the abutment contacting the fi rst end-of-travel element and in the actuation element release position the abutment contacting the second end-of-travel element.

In a 35th aspect according to any one of the aspects from the 32nd to 34th, said at least one position controller is configured to further verify at least one position of said at least one intermediate selector between the locking position and the release position of actuation element.

In a 3rd aspect according to any one of the aspects from 32nd to 35th, said at least one position controller is configured to further discretely or continuously verify positions of said at least one selector intermediate between the locking position and the release position of the actuation element.

In a 37th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 34th to 36th, the first end-of-travel element and the second end-of-travel element are angularly offset from each other with reference to a stroke of said abutment. In a 38th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element is further configured to operate the control member in a guiding condition in which it guides said at least one functional element between the retracted position and the advanced position and/or vice versa, the control member and the actuation element being configured to move of relative motion in the guiding condition of the control member.

In a 39th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, at least one of the control member and the actuation element is configured to rotate in relation to the other in the guiding condition of the control member. In a 40th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element is configured to rotate with respect to the containment body in the guiding condition of the control member, the control member being configured to rotate with respect to the containment body integral with the actuation element in the guiding condition of the control member, the control member being further configured to translate with respect to the actuation element in the guiding condition of the control member.

In a 41 st aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element comprises at least one seat configured to house the control member at least partially, a portion of the control member such as one end of the control member being housed at the seat.

In a 42nd aspect according to the 41 st aspect, said at least one seat comprising a track.

In a 43rd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element comprises at least one track, the control member being slidably engaged to the actuation element so as to be able to translate along the track during the rotation of the actuation element in order to determine the translation of said at least one functional element between the retracted position and the advanced position and/or vice versa.

In a 44th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element comprises a first track and a second track spaced apart, ends of the control member opposed with reference to a main development direction of the control member being engaged to the actuation element at the first track and the second track, respectively.

In a 45th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element comprises a handle configured to rotate at least between a first angular position, in which it keeps the control member in the rest condition and a second angular position in which it moves the control member in the guiding condition.

In a 46th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the first angular position and the second angular position of the handle are angularly offset from each other, for example by an angular interval between 0° and 90°, optionally by an angular interval between 0° and 60°.

In a 47th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the contact assembly comprises a first selector and a second selector opposite with respect to the containment body and arranged at or in the proximity of respective opposite ends of at least one between the control member and the actuation element so as to operate, in locking or in release, on or in the proximity of a respective end of one between the control member and the actuation element, the first selector and the second selector being configured to prevent, in the actuation element locking configuration, the movement of the respective end of one between the control member and the actuation element.

In a 48th aspect according to the 47th aspect, the first selector and the second selector are configured to be moved independently of each other to pass from the respective actuation element locking configuration to the respective actuation element release configuration and/or vice versa.

In a 49th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element comprises at least one lockable portion.

In a 50th aspect according to the 49th aspect, the lockable portion comprises a through hole. In a 51 st aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element comprises a first lockable portion and a second lockable portion.

In a 52nd aspect according to the 51 st aspect, each lockable portion comprising a through hole.

In a 53rd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector is an actuation element operative configuration selector.

In a 54th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, said at least one selector is configured to operate, in locking or in release, on the actuation element by acting directly on the actuation element, i.e. by blocking or releasing directly the actuation element, or by acting on the control member operatively interposed between said at least one selector and the actuation element, i.e. locking or releasing the control member.

In a 55th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, by "operative condition" of the contact assembly it is meant a condition in which the contact assembly is engaged to a containment housing of conductive bars, In a 56th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, in the operative condition of the contact assembly, the control member is in its own operative condition in which it maintains said at least one functional element in the advanced position.

In a 57th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the actuation element is configured to operate at least between a rest condition and an operative condition, optionally also between a guiding condition.

In a 58th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, in the rest condition the actuation element is spaced from a jacket of the containment body.

In a 59th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, in the rest condition the actuation element is close to a jacket of the containment body.

In a 60th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, each condition of the actuation element corresponds to a respective condition of the control member.

In a 61 st aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the rest condition of the actuation element corresponds to the rest condition of the control member.

In a 62nd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the operative condition of the actuation element corresponds to the operative condition of the control member.

In a 63rd aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the guiding condition of the actuation element corresponds to the guiding condition of the control member.

In a 64th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the retracted and advanced positions of said at least one functional element are defined with reference to said at least one through opening or to a reference surface of the containment body, for example a base reference surface.

In a 65th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the through opening comprises a through mouth sized to allow the passage, for example the extraction, of a plurality of functional elements, optionally of all the functional elements of the contact assembly.

In a 66th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the through opening comprises a single through hole delimited by a single closed profile and sized to allow the passage, for example the extraction, of all the functional elements of the contact assembly. In a 67th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the control member comprises a pin.

In a 68th aspect according to the 67th aspect, each functional element has a seat and the pin passes through the seats of the functional elements in such a way as to make each functional element integral with the pin.

In a 69th aspect, a process is provided for manufacturing a contact assembly suitable for use in a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars and suitable for contacting at least one conductive bar for withdrawing electric current, optionally the contact assembly being according to any one of the aspects from 1st to 68th and/or any of the appended claims, the process comprising the following steps: providing a containment body having at least one through opening, optionally the containment body comprising a base and the through opening being defined on the base,

providing at least one functional element suitable for withdrawing electric current from one of said conductive bars,

housing said at least one functional element at least partially in the containment body so that said at least one functional element is configured to operate at least between a retracted position and an advanced position, in the advanced position said at least one functional element being at least partially extracted from the containment body through said at least one through opening so that it may be connected to the respective conductive bar, optionally the containment body comprising a jacket and said at least one functional element being translatable with respect to the jacket between the retracted position and the advanced position and vice versa,

providing a control member adapted to operate on said at least one functional element, engaging the control member to said at least one functional element so that the control member is configured to cooperate with said at least one functional element to guide the positioning of said at least one functional element with respect to the containment body at least between the retracted position and the advanced position and/or vice versa,

providing an actuation element adapted to operate on the control member,

operatively connecting the actuation element and the control member so that the actuation element is to actuate the control member at least between a rest condition, in which the control member keeps said at least one functional element in the retracted position, and an operative condition, in which the control member keeps said at least one functional element in the advanced position,

providing at least one selector suitable for operating on the control member and/or on the actuation element,

engaging said at least one selector to the containment body so that said at least one selector is configured to operate selectively on the actuation element at least among the following configurations:

o an actuation element locking configuration, in which said at least one selector prevents the actuation element from actuating the control member, o an actuation element release configuration, in which said at least one selector allows the actuation element to actuate the control member to determine the advancement of said at least one functional element between the retracted position and the advanced position and/or to determine the retraction of said at least one functional element between the advanced position and the retracted position.

In a 70th aspect according to the 69th aspect, the method comprises a step of positioning said at least one selector along a trajectory of movement of the control member or of the actuation element.

In a 71st aspect according to the 69th or 70th aspect, arranging at least one selector comprises arranging at least one selector comprising:

a constraint portion configured to allow engagement of the contact assembly to a containment housing of conductive bars,

a locking portion of one between the actuation element and the control member configured to prevent, in the actuation element locking configuration, a movement of one between the actuation element and the control member, the locking portion being arranged, in the actuation element locking configuration, along a trajectory of movement of one between the actuation element and the control member.

In an 72nd aspect according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 71 st, arranging at least one selector comprises at least one selector further comprising a stem extending along a prevailing development direction, the constraint portion and the locking portion developing at respective stem ends opposite with reference to the prevailing development direction, at least one between the constraint portion and the locking portion being integral with the stem.

In a 73rd aspect according to the 72nd aspect, both the constraint portion and the locking portion are integral with the stem.

In a 74th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 73rd, arranging at least one selector comprises arranging a first selector and a second selector opposite with respect to the containment body and arranged at or in the proximity of respective opposite ends of at least one between the control member and the actuation element so as to operate, in at least one configuration of said at least one selector, on or in the proximity of a respective end of one between the control member and the actuation element, the first selector and the second selector being configured to prevent, in the actuation element locking configuration, the movement of the respective end of one between the control member and the actuation element.

In a 75th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 74th, engaging said at least one selector to the containment body comprises arranging the stem so that the constraint portion and the locking portion are opposite to each other with reference to a base of the containment body.

In a 76th aspect according to the 75th aspect, arranging the stem so that the constraint portion and the locking portion are opposite to each other with reference to a base of the containment body comprises engaging the stem astride the base so that the stem crosses the base and a first end and a second end of the stem carrying respectively the constraint portion and the locking portion are opposed with reference to the base. In a 77th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 76th, engaging said at least one selector to the containment body comprises rotatably engaging said at least one selector to the containment body so that said at least one selector is rotatable between an actuation element locking position, in which said at least one selector assumes the actuation element locking configuration, and an actuation element release position, in which said at least one selector assumes the actuation element release configuration.

In a 78th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 77th, the retracted and advanced positions of said at least one functional element are defined with reference to said at least one through opening or to a reference surface of the containment body, for example a base reference surface.

In a 79th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the retracted position of said at least one functional element is a retracted position of said at least one functional element.

In an 80th aspect according to any one of the preceding aspects, the advanced position of said at least one functional element is an extracted position of said at least one functional element, in which said at least one functional element is at least partially extracted from a base of the containment body.

In an 81 st aspect, use of the contact assembly is provided, according to any one of the preceding aspects and/or any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 80th, in a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars.

In an 82nd aspect, use of the contact assembly is provided, according to any one of the preceding aspects and/or any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 80th, to derive electric current withdrawn through said at least one functional element away from said contact assembly.

In an 83rd aspect, a method is provided of connecting or disconnecting a contact assembly to or from a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars comprising at least the following steps: arranging a contact assembly according to any one of the preceding aspects and/or any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the process according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 80th,

verifying the existence of one between the actuation element locking configuration and the actuation element release configuration of said at least one selector or determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa,

connecting or disconnecting the contact assembly to or from a prefabricated electric duct.

In an 84th aspect according to the 83rd aspect, the method is a method of connecting a contact assembly to a prefabricated electric duct, the method comprising a step of positioning the contact assembly with respect to the prefabricated electric duct at a junction point, said step being prior to the step of determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa and wherein: the step of determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa is a step of transitioning said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration,

the step of connecting or disconnecting the contact assembly to or from a prefabricated electric duct is a step of connecting the contact assembly to a prefabricated electric duct and comprises:

o constraining, for example by means of said at least one selector, the contact assembly to a containment housing of conductive bars, optionally by moving a constraint portion of said at least one selector,

o operatively connecting said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar. In an 85th aspect according to the 84th aspect, the step of constraining the contact assembly to a containment housing of conductive bars and the step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration are simultaneous with each other.

In an 86th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 83rd to 85th, the step of constraining the contact assembly to a containment housing of conductive bars and the step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration are carried out simultaneously by movement of said at least one selector, for example by rotation of said at least one selector. In an 87th aspect according to the 84th aspect, the step of constraining the contact assembly to a containment housing of conductive bars is prior to the step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration.

In an 88th aspect according to the 83rd aspect, the method is a method of disconnecting a contact assembly from a prefabricated electric duct, wherein:

the step of verifying the existence of one of the actuation element locking configuration and the actuation element release configuration of said at least one selector is a step of verifying the existence of the actuation element release configuration of said at least one selector,

the step of connecting or disconnecting the contact assembly to or from a prefabricated electric duct is a step of disconnecting the contact assembly from a prefabricated electric duct and comprises:

o operatively disconnecting said at least one functional element from the respective conductive bar.

o releasing, for example by means of said at least one selector, the contact assembly from a containment housing of conductive bars, optionally by moving a constraint portion of said at least one selector.

In an 89th aspect according to the 88th aspect, the step of determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa is a step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element release configuration to the actuation element locking configuration and is carried out after the disconnection of said at least one functional element from the respective conductive bar. In a 90th aspect according to the 88th or 89th aspect, arranging a contact assembly according to any one of the preceding aspects and/or any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 80th comprises arranging a contact assembly according to any one of the preceding aspects and/or to any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 80th and a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars in a condition of mutual engagement in which said at least one functional element is in contact with the respective conductive bar.

In a 91st aspect according to any one of the aspects from 88th to 90th, the step of operatively disconnecting said at least one functional element from the respective conductive bar is prior to the step of disengaging, for example by means of said at least one selector, the contact assembly from a containment housing of conductive bars.

In a 92nd aspect according to any one of the aspects from 88th to 91 st, the step of disengaging the contact assembly from a containment housing of conductive bars and the step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element release configuration to the actuation element locking configuration are simultaneous with each other.

In a 93rd aspect according to any one of the aspects from 88th to 92nd, the step of releasing the contact assembly from a containment housing of conductive bars and the step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element release configuration to the actuation element locking configuration are carried out simultaneously by movement of said at least one selector, for example by rotation of said at least one selector. In a 94th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 88th to 91 st, the step of disengaging the contact assembly from a containment housing of conductive bars is subsequent to the step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element release configuration to the actuation element locking configuration.

In a 95th aspect, a box is provided, suitable for use as a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars, comprising:

a box-like body comprising a plurality of walls assembled together so as to define a volume inside the box,

a contact assembly, optionally according to any one of the preceding aspects and/or to any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 80th, the containment body being housed in the inner volume of the box,

a first opening formed on a first wall of said walls, said first opening being facing said through opening to allow connection of said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar in the advanced position.

In a 96th aspect according to the 95th aspect, the actuation element develops at least partially outside the inner volume of the box and the control member develops mainly at the inner volume of the box.

In a 97th aspect according to the 95th or 96th aspect, the box further comprises:

a second opening opposite to the first opening and suitable for allowing access to said at least one functional element, a closing door of said second opening operable between a closed position, in which it closes the second opening and an open position, in which it allows access to said at least one functional element, wherein the actuation element is engaged to at least one wall of said walls so as to be movable with respect to said at least one wall.

In a 98th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 97th, the second opening is formed on a second wall of said walls opposite to said first wall.

In a 99th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 98th, the actuation element crosses the box like body at opposite side walls of the box-like body.

In a 100th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 99th, the actuation element develops astride opposite side walls of the box-like body.

In a 101 st aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 100th, the actuation element is movable with respect to said wall between a first position and a second position, in the first position the actuation element keeping the control member in the rest condition, in the second position the actuation element keeping the control member in the operative condition.

In a 102nd aspect according to the 101 st aspect, in the second position the actuation element faces the door, which is in the closed position.

In a 103rd aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 102nd, the actuation element has ends engaged to respective opposite walls of said walls.

In a 104th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 103rd, the box includes a safety device carried by the door and configured to prevent movement of the actuation element when the door is in the open position so as to prevent the connection of said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar with the door open.

In a 105th aspect according to the 104th aspect, the safety device is arranged outside the inner volume of the box both in the closed position and in the open position of the door.

In a 106th aspect according to the 104th or 105th aspect, the safety device is configured to be at least partially interposed, in the open position of the door, between the actuation element and the second opening along a trajectory of movement of the actuation element.

In a 107th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 104th to 106th, the safety device is configured to be arranged, in the open door position, astride the actuation element.

In a 108th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 104th to 107th, the safety device is configured to limit, in the open door position, a door opening trajectory, the door being movable from the closed position to the open position along the opening trajectory.

In a 109th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 104th to 108th, the safety device is configured to limit a door opening angular excursion in the transition of the door from the closed position to the open position. In a 1 10th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 104th to 109th, the safety device is configured to keep the door in a predetermined open position. In a 1 11 th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 104th to 1 10th, the safety device comprises an interference tab movable integrally with the door between an interference position in which it prevents by interference, in the open position of the door, the movement of the actuation element and a release position in which, in the closed position of the door, it allows the movement of the actuation element.

In a 1 12th aspect according to the 1 1 1 th aspect, the interference tab has a first section and a second section consecutive and transversal with respect to the first section, in the door opening position the first section and/or the second section being interposed between the actuation element and the second opening along a trajectory of movement of the actuation element.

In a 1 13th aspect according to the 112th aspect, the first section and/or the second section at least partially surmount the actuation element.

In a 1 14th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 13th, the door may be moved by rotation between the closed position and the open position and vice versa.

In a 115th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 14th, the box includes a lockable flange carried by the door.

In a 1 16th aspect according to the 1 15th aspect, the lockable flange and a lockable portion of the actuation element have respective through holes, in the closed position of the door said through holes of the lockable flange and of the actuation element facing each other so as to allow the door to be locked to the actuation element.

In a 1 17th aspect according to the 1 16th aspect, the through holes of the lockable flange and the lockable portion have a passage section comparable or equal or corresponding and/or have the same diameter or a comparable or equal or corresponding diameter.

In a 1 18th aspect, a process is provided for the manufacture of a box suitable for use as a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type including one or more conductive bars, optionally the box being according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 17th and/or to any one of the appended claims, the process comprising at least the following steps: arranging a contact assembly, optionally according to any one of the preceding aspects and/or any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the process according to any one of the aspects from 69th to 80th,

providing a plurality of walls assembled together so as to form a box-like body suitable for defining a volume inside the box,

engaging the containment body to the box-like body, optionally to a first wall of said walls.

In a 1 19th aspect according to the 1 18th aspect, the process comprises a step of housing the contact assembly in the box-like body, the box-like body comprising a first opening formed on a first wall of said walls, the step of housing the contact assembly in the box-like body being made in such a way that said first opening faces said through opening. In a 120th aspect according to the 1 19th aspect, the step of housing the contact assembly in the box-like body is prior to the step of engaging the containment body to the box-like body.

In a 121 st aspect according to the 1 19th or 120th aspect, the step of housing the contact assembly in the box like body comprises:

positioning the actuation element in the box-like body so that the actuation element develops at least partially outside the inner volume of the box,

positioning the control member in the box-like body so that the control member develops mainly at the inner volume of the box.

In a 122nd aspect according to the 1 19th or 121 st aspect, housing the contact assembly in the box-like body comprises housing the containment body in the box-like body.

In a 123rd aspect according to any one of the aspects from 1 19th to 122nd, the box-like body comprises a second opening formed on a second wall of said walls opposite to a first wall of said walls, said second opening being suitable to allow access to said at least one functional element, the method comprising a step of engaging the box-like body with a closing door of said second opening adapted to operate between a closed position, in which the second opening is occluded and an open position, in which it allows access to said at least one functional element.

In a 124th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 123rd, arranging a plurality of walls assembled together so as to form a box-like body suitable for defining a volume inside the box comprises: providing a plurality of profiles,

assembling the panels together so as to define a box-like body suitable for defining a volume inside the box.

In a 125th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 124th, engaging the containment body to the box-like body comprises engaging a base of the containment body to the box-like body, optionally to a first wall of said walls.

In a 126th aspect, use of the box is provided, according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 17th and/or to any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 125th, as a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars.

In a 127th aspect, use of the box is provided, according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 17th and/or any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 125th, to derive electric current withdrawn through said at least one functional element away from said inner volume.

In a 128th aspect, a method is provided of connecting or disconnecting a box to or from a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars comprising at least the following steps: arranging a box according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 17th and/or to any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 125th,

verifying the existence of one between the actuation element locking configuration and the actuation element release configuration of said at least one selector or determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa,

connecting or disconnecting the box to or from a prefabricated electric duct.

In a 129th aspect according to the 128th aspect, the method is a method of connecting a box to a prefabricated electric duct, the method comprising a step of positioning the box with respect to the prefabricated electric duct at a junction point, said step being prior to the step of determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa and wherein:

the step of determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa is a step of transitioning said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration,

the step of connecting or disconnecting the box to or from a prefabricated electric duct is a step of connecting the box to a prefabricated electric duct and comprises:

o constraining, for example by means of said at least one selector, the box to a containment housing of conductive bars, optionally by moving a constraint portion of said at least one selector,

o operatively connecting said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar. In a 130th aspect according to the 129th aspect, the method of connecting a box to a prefabricated electric duct comprises one or more steps of the method of connecting a contact assembly to a prefabricated electric duct according to any one of the aspects from 84th to 87th.

In a 131 st aspect according to the 128th aspect, the method is a method of disconnecting a box from a prefabricated electric duct, wherein:

the step of verifying the existence of one of the actuation element locking configuration and the actuation element release configuration of said at least one selector is a step of verifying the existence of the actuation element release configuration of said at least one selector,

the step of connecting or disconnecting the box to or from a prefabricated electric duct is a step of disconnecting the box from a prefabricated electric duct and comprises:

o operatively disconnecting said at least one functional element from the respective conductive bar. o releasing, for example by means of said at least one selector, the box from a containment housing of conductive bars, optionally by moving a constraint portion of said at least one selector.

In a 132nd aspect according to the 131st aspect, the step of determining the transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration or vice versa is a step of transition of said at least one selector from the actuation element release configuration to the actuation element locking configuration and is carried out after the disconnection of said at least one functional element from the respective conductive bar.

In a 133rd aspect according to the 131 st or 132nd aspect, arranging a box according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 17th and/or to any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 125th includes arranging a box according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 17th and/or to any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 125th and a prefabricated electric duct including one or more conductive bars in a condition of mutual engagement in which said at least one functional element is in contact with the respective conductive bar.

In a 134th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 131 st to 133rd, the step of operatively disconnecting said at least one functional element from the respective conductive bar is prior to the step of disengaging, for example by means of said at least one selector, the box from a containment housing of conductive bars.

In a 135th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 131 st to 134th, the method of disconnecting a box from a prefabricated electric duct comprises one or more steps of the method of disconnecting a contact assembly from a prefabricated electric duct according to any one of the aspects from 88th to 94th.

In a 136th aspect, a method is provided for securing or installing a box suitable for use as a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts including one or more conductive bars, the method comprising:

providing a box, suitable to be used as a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type including one or more conductive bars, optionally the box being according to any one of the aspects from 95th to 1 17th and/or to any one of the appended claims and/or made according to the method according to any one of the aspects from 1 18th to 125th, the box comprising:

o a second opening formed on a second wall of said walls opposite to said first wall, said second opening being suitable for allowing access to said at least one functional element, o a closing door of said second opening operable between a closed position, in which it closes the second opening and an open position, in which it allows access to said at least one functional element,

o a safety device configured to prevent, when the door is in the open position, the movement of the actuation element so as to prevent, with door open, the connection of said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar, actuating the safety device to prevent movement of the actuation element in such a way as to prevent the connection of said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar and consequently allowing securing the box or actuating the safety device to allow movement of the actuation element so as to allow the connection of said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar and consequently the installation of the box.

In a 137th aspect according to the 136th aspect, the safety device is carried by the door and actuating the safety device comprises moving the door.

In a 138th aspect according to the 136th or 137th aspect, moving the door comprises moving the safety device integrally with the door.

In a 139th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 136th to 138th, the method is a method for securing the box and comprises a step of determining, by means of the actuation element, the transition of the control member from the operative condition to the rest condition so as to interrupt a connection between said at least one functional element and the respective conductive bar, the actuation step of the safety device being subsequent to the attainment of the retracted position by said at least one functional element and providing to actuate the safety device to prevent movement of the actuation element so as to prevent the connection of said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar and consequently allow securing the box.

In a 140th aspect according to the 139th aspect, the step of determining, by means of the actuation element, the transition of the control member from the operative condition to the rest condition comprises operating the control member in the guiding condition so as to guide said at least one functional element from the advanced position to the retracted position.

In a 141 st aspect according to any one of the aspects from 137th to 140th, moving the door comprises determining the transition of the door from the closed position to the open position.

In a 142nd aspect according to the 136th aspect, the method is a method for installing the box and comprises a step of determining, by means of the actuation element, the transition of the control member from the rest condition to the operative condition up to reaching the advanced position so as to allow a connection between said at least one functional element and the respective conductive bar, the actuation step of the safety device being prior to the attainment of the advanced position by said at least one functional element and providing to actuate the safety device to allow movement of the actuation element so as to allow the connection of said at least one functional element to the respective conductive bar and consequently the installation of the box.

In a 143rd aspect according to the 142nd aspect, the step of determining, by means of the actuation element, the transition of the control member from the rest condition to the operative condition comprises operating the control member in the guiding condition so as to guide said at least one functional element from the retracted position to the advanced position.

In a 144th aspect according to the 142nd or the 143rd aspect, moving the door comprises determining the transition of the door from the open position to the closed position. In a 145th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 142nd to 144th, the method for installing the box comprises a step of locking the door in the closed position, the locking step being subsequent to the actuation step of the safety device.

In a 146th aspect according to the 145th aspect, locking the door in the closed position includes locking the door to the actuation element.

In a 147th aspect according to any one of the aspects from 142nd to 146th, the method for installing the box comprises a step of mutually positioning a lockable flange of the door and a lockable portion of the actuation element in such a way that respective through holes of the lockable flange and of the lockable portion are facing and/or aligned with each other, said positioning step being prior to the step of locking the door in the closed position.

In a 148th aspect according to the 147th aspect, locking the door to the actuation element comprises locking the lockable flange of the door to the lockable portion of the actuation element.

In a 149th aspect according to the 148th aspect, locking the lockable flange of the door to the lockable portion of the actuation element comprises:

engaging in a through manner a padlock at said through holes,

closing the padlock.

BRI EF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided only for illustrative and, therefore, non-limiting purposes, in which:

figure 1 is a top perspective view of a contact assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a selector in a locking configuration of actuation element and an actuation element in a rest condition,

figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the contact assembly of figure 1 ,

figure 3 is a top perspective view of a contact assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a selector in a release configuration of actuation element and an actuation element in a rest condition,

figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the contact assembly of figure 3,

figure 5 is a top perspective view of a contact assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a selector in a release configuration of actuation element and an actuation element in an operative condition,

figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the contact assembly of figure 5,

figure 7 is an exploded view of a junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a contact assembly is illustrated according to the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 6, figure 8 is a side perspective view of a junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention and in an assembled condition; the junction box has been sectioned at a selector of the contact assembly,

figure 9 is a front view of a junction box in a condition of engagement with a containment housing of conductive bars; the section was made in such a way as to illustrate the selectors of the contact assembly, which are in the release configuration of the actuation element, and the functional elements of the contact assembly, which are in a retracted position in which they are spaced from the respective conductive bars,

figure 10 is a front view of a junction box in operative condition; the section was made in such a way as to illustrate the functional elements of the contact assembly, which are in an advanced position in which they are connected to the respective conductive bars,

figure 11 is a detailed view of a contact assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a selector in a release configuration of actuation element and an actuation element in an operative condition.

DEFINITIONS AND CONVENTIONS

It should be noted that in the present detailed description, corresponding parts illustrated in the various figures are indicated with the same numerical references. The figures may illustrate the object of the invention by representations that are not in scale; therefore, parts and components illustrated in the figures relating to the object of the invention may relate solely to schematic representations. In the context of the present description, the use of terms such as "top", "upper", "bottom", "lower", "side", "sideways", "horizontal", "horizontally", "vertical", "vertically", "front", "frontally", "rear", "posteriorly" and the like refers, unless otherwise specifically indicated, to at least one spatial orientation that normally the object of the invention may assume in operative conditions or in use conditions. In this regard, see the accompanying figures illustrating at least one possible spatial orientation of the object of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the terms "condition" or "configuration" may be used interchangeably in the context of the present description.

Some definitions that may be used for understanding the present invention are given below:

the term "terminal" is to be understood as "electrical terminal", that is as at least partially electrically conductive element configured to withdraw and/or transmit electric current and/or to be connected to electrical conductors, such as conductive bars, configured to withdraw and/or transmit electric current, the terms "connect", "connected", "connection" refer, where applicable and unless otherwise specified, to an electrical connection between the subject components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Contact assembly The reference numeral 1 indicates a contact assembly as a whole according to the present invention. The contact assembly 1 is adapted to be used or installed in a junction box 50 for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts 100 including one or more conductive bars 101. As may be seen hereinafter, the contact assembly 1 is also adapted to come into contact with at least one conductive bar 101 to withdraw electric current.

The contact assembly 1 comprises a containment body 2, which basically constitutes a frame of the contact assembly 1. The containment body 2 comprises a base 3, a jacket 4 and a head 5.

As illustrated in the accompanying figures and with reference to the spatial orientation of the contact assembly 1 illustrated therein, the base 3 may constitute a lower portion of the containment body 2. As illustrated in figure 2, the base 3 has a through opening 6. The base 3 also has a passage 7, which may be in the form of a circular profile through hole. From a geometric point of view, the base 3 has a substantially parallelepiped shape. The accompanying figures show a base 3 substantially having a rectangular base parallelepiped shape; in possible variants, the base 3 may have a different geometry.

The base 4 is engaged with the jacket 4, which has a substantially hollow or tubular shape defining a cavity therein. The jacket 4 comprises a main development body provided with a plurality of walls 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d delimiting the cavity laterally. By way of example, a jacket having a first, a second, a third and a fourth wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d is illustrated in the accompanying figures; it is understood that, in possible variants, the number of walls of the main development body may differ from four. The first and fourth walls 8a, 8d may be opposite and parallel to each other and the second and third walls 8b, 8c may be opposite and parallel to each other and may also be transversal to the first and fourth walls 8a, 8d and interposed between of them. With reference to the orientation of the contact assembly 1 illustrated in the accompanying figures, the first wall 8a is a front wall of the main development body, the fourth wall 8d is a rear wall of the main development body and the second and fourth walls 8b, 8d are sides of the main development body interposed between the first and fourth walls 8a, 8d and orthogonal thereto. The jacket 4 has a first and a second access opening 8', 8" to the opposite cavity with reference to a development direction of the main development body. As illustrated in the accompanying figures and with reference to the spatial orientation of the contact assembly 1 illustrated therein, the first access opening 8' may constitute an upper opening of the jacket 4 (see figure 1 and figure 1 1 ), and the second access opening 8" may constitute a lower opening of the jacket 4 (see figure 9). The jacket 4 may also have a pedestal 9 transversal to the main development body. The pedestal 9 is adapted to allow engagement between jacket 4 and base 3. The pedestal 9 may be in one piece with the main development body, it may develop higher than the base 3 and it may be defined in the proximity of the second access opening 8". In a variant, the contact assembly 1 may comprise a pedestal 9 made in one piece with the base 3. The pedestal 9 develops at least partially peripherally with respect to the main development body around the second access opening 8". In the contact assembly 1 illustrated in the accompanying figures, the pedestal 9 emerges from the second, third and fourth walls 8b, 8c, 8d orthogonally with respect to them. The pedestal 9 has a passage 9a, which may for example be in the form of a circular profile through hole. In assembled conditions of the containment body 2, the passage 9a of the pedestal 9 faces the passage 7 of the base 3 and may be defined above it with respect to it (see figure 8). In the embodiment in which the pedestal 9 is in a single piece with the base 3, the base 3 may provide a single passage, which may be in the form of a circular profile through hole. The jacket 4 may also have a plurality of compartments 10 which may act as a guide. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the compartments 10 may be defined outside the volume of the jacket 4, for example on the side or frontally with respect to a wall 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d of the main development body. The accompanying figures show a contact assembly 1 whose compartments 10 are defined frontally with respect to the first wall 8a. The jacket 4 is engaged to the base 3 so that the second access opening 8" of the jacket 4 faces the through opening 6 of the base 3. With reference to the spatial orientation of the contact assembly 1 illustrated in the accompanying figures, the jacket 4 is engaged, by means of the pedestal 9, above the base 3.

The head 5 is engaged to the jacket 4. With reference to the spatial orientation of the contact assembly 1 illustrated in the accompanying figures, the head 5 is engaged above the jacket 4 in the proximity of the first access opening 8'. The head 5 is engaged to the jacket 4 so as not to occlude the first access opening 8' of the jacket 4. In a variant, the head 5 is engaged to the jacket 4 so as to partially occlude the first access opening 8' in order to leave a passage section of the first access opening 8' free. The head 5 may comprise a plurality of guides 1 1 each of which defines an end-of-travel 1 1 a. As shown in figure 2, the end-of-travels 1 1 a may be defined by an upper portion or wall of the guides 1 1.

The engagement between base 3, jacket 4 and head 5 may be made in a known way, for example by means of threaded elements 12, such as screws, nuts, bolts or the like.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the base 3, the jacket 4 and the head 5 are made up of three separate pieces; however, in alternative embodiments, at least two between the base 3, the jacket 4 and the head 5 may be in one piece and the other between the base 3, the jacket 4 and the head 5 may consist of a separate piece. For example, the jacket 4 and the base 5 may be in one piece or the jacket 4 and the head 5 may be in one piece or the base 3 and the head 5 may be in one piece. In a possible embodi ment, the entire containment body 2 may be in one piece and therefore the base 3, the jacket 4 and the head 5 may be monolithic.

The contact assembly 1 may also have at least one positioning element 13', 13". The positioning element 13', 13" is configured to suitably position the contact assembly 1 with respect to the prefabricated electric duct 100 and the conductive bars 101 contained therein. In an operative condition in which the contact assembly 1 is installed in a box 50, the positioning element 13', 13" is configured to position the box 50 with respect to the prefabricated electric duct 100 and the conductive bars 101 contained therein. Optionally, the contact assembly 1 comprises a first positioning element 13' and a second positioning element 13" configured to position the contact assembly 1 or the box 50. The first positioning element 13' and the second positioning element 13" may be arranged in the proximity of respective longitudinal ends of one side of the base 3 delimiting the through opening 6 (see figure 2). The first positioning element 13' and the second positioning element 13" may emerge from the same surface of the base 3, for example from a lower surface of the base 3, so as to be facing, when positioning the contact assembly 1 or the box 50 with respect to the prefabricated electric duct 100, a containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101. In other words, the positioning elements 13', 13" constitute protrusions projecting from the lower surface of the base 3; projecting from the lower surface of the base 3, the positioning elements 13', 13" may be inserted in suitable housings, such as windows, defined on the containment housing 102 so as to abut the lower surface of the base 3 to a surface of the containment housing 102. The insertion of the positioning elements 13', 13" in the respective housings defined on the containment housing 102 allows a stable, and optionally unique, positioning of the contact assembly 1 or of the box 50 with respect to the containment housing 102. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, each positioning element 13', 13" is in the form of a fixed arm. The fixed arms 13', 13" are configured to maintain the same position with respect to the base 3.

The contact assembly 1 further comprises a plurality of functional elements 14, each of which is suitable for withdrawing the electric current from a respective conductive bar 101 of a prefabricated electric duct 100. Each functional element 14 may be substantially in the form of, or comprise, a contact, or bulb, configured to withdraw a single electrical phase from a respective conductive bar 101.

In the rest condition, the functional elements 14 are housed at least partially inside the containment body 2. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, all the functional elements 14 share the same containment body 2 and are mainly housed in the cavity of the jacket 4 of the containment body 2; in other words, prevailing portions of the functional elements 14 are housed in the cavity of the jacket 4 of the containment body 2. Each functional element 14 is engaged in the cavity of the jacket 4 so as to partially develop inside the cavity of the jacket 4 and partially outside the cavity of the jacket 4, for example at the compartments 10 of the jacket 4. A portion of each functional element 14 may be housed at respective compartments 10 of the jacket 4, which may act as a guide for moving the functional element 14 with respect to the base 3 and to the jacket 4 itself. In the contact assembly

1 illustrated in the accompanying figures, the end-of-travels 1 1 a of the head 5 are configured to limit the movement of said portion of each functional element 14. In alternative embodiments, the end-of-travel for the functional elements 14 may be defined at the jacket 4. The movement of each functional element 14 with respect to the jacket 4 is adapted to determine the transition of the functional element 14 between an advanced position and a retracted position, which will be detailed below. The functional elements 14 are configured to translate between the advanced and retracted positions and vice versa. From an operational point of view, each functional element 14 is capable of assuming the advanced and retracted positions; these positions may be defined with reference to a portion of the containment body 2; for example, the advanced position and the retracted position may be defined with reference to the base 3. In greater detail, the advanced position and the retracted position of the functional elements 14 may be defined with reference to the through opening 6 of the base 3; even more in detail, the advanced position and the retracted position of the functional elements 14 may be defined with reference to the lower surface of the base 3, intended to face or abut on the containment housing 102, at which the through opening 6 is defined. In the advanced position, illustrated in figure 6, each functional element 14 is able to be connected to the respective conductive bar 101 , while in the retracted position, illustrated in figures

2 and 4, each functional element 14 is not able to be connected to the respective conductive bar 101. The retracted position of the functional elements 14 corresponds to a rest condition of the functional elements 14; the functional elements 14 assume, in the rest condition, the retracted position. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the retracted position may be a retracted position of the functional element 14 and the advanced position may be an extracted position of the functional element 14; the retracted position, the retraction action, the extracted position and the extraction action of the functional elements 14 may be defined with respect to the lower surface or the through opening 6 of the base 3. As shown in figure 2 and figure 4, in the retracted position, each functional element 14 does not protrude from the base 3. In the extracted position, each functional element 14 protrudes at least partially from the base 3 through the through opening 6; as shown in figure 6, in the extracted position at least a terminal portion of the functional element 14 protrudes from the base 3 through the through opening 6. The passage from the retracted position to the extracted position, and optionally vice versa, may be allowed by the sliding of a portion of each functional element 14 with respect to the respective guide 11 of the head 5 and, in addition or alternatively, with respect to the guide defined by the respective compartment 10 of the jacket 4.

Structurally, each functional element 14 comprises a first terminal 15 adapted to cooperate with a respective second terminal 16 of the contact assembly 1. The first terminal 15 is configured to spread elastically to make the connection of the functional element 14 to the respective conductive bar 101, while the second terminal 16 is adapted to house or be connected to an electrical conductor intended to carry the electrical current withdrawn through the functional element 14 away from the contact assembly 1 and, in the condition of installation of the contact assembly 1 in a box 50, outside an internal volume of the box 50. The first terminal 15 may develop along a main development direction and comprises a first end 15a and a second end 15b mutually opposite to the main development direction. The first end 15a is housed at least partially inside the jacket 4 or the head 5, while the second end 15b protrudes from the jacket 4 at the second access opening 8" of the main development body of the jacket 4. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the first end 15a is partially housed by the head 5 and the second end 15b protrudes from the lower opening 8" of the jacket 4. As shown in figure 6, in the advanced position of each functional element 14 the second end 15b passes through the through opening 6 and also protrudes from the base 3. Preferably, the first terminal 15 is configured to spread elastically at least at the second end 15b.

The first terminal 15 comprises at least one electrically conductive sheet 17', 17", optionally at least two electrically conductive sheets 17', 17", which are elastically deformable at the second end 15b of the first terminal 15. The electrically conductive sheets 17', 17" are configured to approach and move elastically away from each other. Upon connection of the contact assembly 1 to a prefabricated electric duct 100 including one or more conductive bars 101, the electrically conductive sheets 17', 17" are configured to spread apart to allow housing between the sheets themselves, a respective conductive bar 101; in this regard, see figure 9 illustrating a tight condition of the second ends 15b and figure 10 illustrating a spaced apart condition of the second ends 15b, in which the electrically conductive sheets 17', 17" are spread apart in engagement with the respective conductive bars 101. Optionally, each electrically conductive sheet 17', 17" may comprise a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet substantially having a corresponding profile.

Structurally, each functional element 14 further comprises a casing 18, housing at least the first end 15a of the first terminal 15, while the second end 15b of the first terminal 15 protrudes from the casing 18. Unlike the first terminal 15, the second terminal 16 may develop outside the casing 18. Each second terminal 16 may for example be housed at least partially by a respective compartment 10 of the containment body 2 and at least partially by the head 5. Optionally, each casing 18 comprises two half-shells 18a, 18b which may be assembled together. The accompanying figures show the two half-shells 18a, 18b of a casing 18 in an assembled condition in which they cooperate to form a compartment in which at least the second end 15b of the first terminal 15 is housed.

Each functional element 14 may comprise a portion housed in a respective guide 1 1 of the head 5. The positioning of said portion at the guide 1 1 allows directing, according to the direction of movement imposed on the functional element 14, the translator movement of the functional element 14 from the extracted position to the retracted position or vice versa.

As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the functional elements 14 comprise a seat 19, which may for example substantially consist of a through hole. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the seat 19 of each functional element 14 is defined at the casing 18. In the embodiment in which the casing 18 of each functional element 14 comprises two half-shells 18a, 18b, each half-shell 18a, 18b has a respective through hole, which may be defined at a respective end portion of the half-shells 18a, 18b; in the assembled condition of the casing 18, the through holes face each other and the seat 19 of each functional element 14 is defined by the two through holes. The seat 19 makes the functional element 14 susceptible of receiving control stresses coming from two opposite directions. The accompanying figures show five functional elements 14, each of which has a respective casing 18 provided with a respective seat 19; however, the functional elements 14 may be provided in different numbers according to the specific needs and/or intended uses of the contact assembly 1.

In a possible alternative embodiment not shown in the accompanying figures, the functional elements 14 may be substantially of two types; a first typology of functional elements 14 having the above seat 19 and a second typology of functional elements 14 having an abutment surface. The difference between the first typology and the second typology of functional elements 14 consists in the fact that the first typology, as previously said, makes the functional element 14 susceptible to receive control stresses coming from two opposite directions, while the second typology makes the functional element 14 capable of receiving control stresses coming from a single direction; the control stresses coming from the opposite direction have no effect on the functional elements 14 of the second type. For example, the contact assembly 1 may comprise a plurality of functional elements 14 belonging to the first typology, and a single functional element 14 belonging to the second typology. Optionally, the single functional element 14 belonging to the second type is intended to be connected to an earth conductive bar 101.

In order to operate on the functional elements 14 to manage the position thereof with respect to the containment body 2, the contact assembly 1 further comprises a control member 20. The control member 20 is configured to cooperate with at least one functional element 14 so as to guide the positioning thereof with respect to the containment body 2 at least between the retracted position and the advanced position or vice versa. The control member 20 may assume a rest condition and an operative condition. In the rest condition, the control member 20 maintains at least one functional element 14 in the retracted position, while in the operative condition the control member 20 maintains at least one functional element 14 in the advanced position. In order to manage the positioning of at least one functional element 14 between the rest condition and the operative condition, the control member 20 may also assume a guiding condition, in which the control member 20 guides at least one functional element 14 between the retracted position and the advanced position or vice versa. The guiding condition is a condition of the control member 20 intermediate between the rest condition and the operative condition. The control member 20 shown in the accompanying figures is configured to cooperate with all the functional elements 14 in such a way as to guide their positioning with respect to the containment body 2 by means of a single movement of the control member 20. In a variant of the contact assembly 1 which provides a plurality of functional elements 14 of the first type and a functional element 14 of the second type, the control member 20 is configured to cooperate with all the functional elements 14 to allow the transition thereof from the retracted position to the advanced position and is configured to cooperate with all the functional elements 14 except the functional element 14 of the second type in the transition from the advanced position to the retracted position; in other words, at the end of the transition from the advanced position to the retracted position guided by the control member 20, the functional element 14 of the second type remains in the advanced position. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the control member 20 is engaged at the seat 19 of each functional element 14 and is therefore configured to cooperate with all the functional elements 14 so as to simultaneously guide the positioning of all the functional elements 14 with respect to the containment body 2. As just detailed, the control member 20 is associated with the functional elements 14 and is configured to impart stresses thereon and cause the relevant effects thereof. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the control member 20 is inserted in the seat 19 of each functional element 14 so as to obtain a bilateral constraint between the control member 20 and the functional elements 14, so that a suitable movement of the control member 20 causes the movement of each functional element 14 between the retracted position and the advanced position or vice versa, according to the movement imparted to the control member 20. In alternative embodiments where at least one functional element 14 of the second type is provided, the control member 20 is shaped to cooperate with the abutment surface, or vice versa, to determine the transition of the functional element 14 between the retracted position and the advanced position. The interfacing between the control member 20 and the abutment surface is similar to a monolateral constraint and makes the movement of the control member 20 in a specific direction cause the movement of the functional element 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position and instead the movement of the control member 20 in an opposite direction does not cause effects on the functional element 14 provided with an abutment surface and the functional element 14 of the second type is consequently completely immune to receiving thrusts in conjunction with this movement of the control member 20.

The control member 20 extends along a main development direction and has opposite longitudinal ends 20a, 20b with reference to the main development direction. According to the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the control member 20 is a pin, which is engaged to the functional elements 14 at the respective seats 19. The pin 20 has a circular profile and a substantially cylindrical shape. The pin 20 may be counter-shaped to the seats 19, or vice versa, so that the pin 20 may easily cross the seats 19; the accompanying figures show a circular profile pin 20 and seats 19 also with a circular profile.

The contact assembly 1 further comprises an actuation element 21 configured to operate on the control member 20. The actuation element 21 is operatively connected to the control member 20 and is configured to actuate the control member 20 between the rest condition, the operative condition and the guiding condition. The actuation element 21 is configured to be suitably moved; the movement of the actuation element 21 allows moving the control member 20 between the rest condition and the operative condition, passing through the guiding condition, or vice versa, according to the direction of movement imparted to the actuation element 21. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the actuation element 21 is configured to be moved by rotation and is configured to in turn move the control member 20 from the rest condition to the operative condition or vice versa, depending on the direction of rotation imparted to the actuation element 21. The actuation element 21 determines the transition of the control member 20 from the rest condition to the operative condition, or vice versa, guiding it into the guiding condition.

The actuation element 21 comprises at least one seat 22, 23 configured to house the control member 20 at least partially. The seat 22, 23 is configured to house a portion of the control member 20, such as an end 20a, 20b of the control member 20. The seat 22, 23 may comprise a track 22a, 23a, at which said portion of the control member 20 is slidably housed. According to the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the control member 1 comprises a first seat 22 and a second seat 23 spaced from each other and comprising a respective track 22a, 23a. The first and second ends 20a, 20b of the control member 20 are engaged to the actuation element 21 respectively at the track 22a of the first seat 22 and at the track 23a of the second seat 23. Each end 20a, 20b of the control member 20 is slidingly engaged to the respective track 22a, 23a so as to be able to translate along the track 22a, 23a during the movement of the actuation element 21 in order to determine the translation of the functional element 14 between the retracted position and the advanced position. The actuation element 21 may comprise at least one lockable portion 24, 25. The lockable portion 24, 25 may be in the form of a through hole. Optionally, the actuation element 21 comprises a first lockable portion 24 and a second lockable portion 25 mutually spaced apart. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the first lockable portion 24 and the second lockable portion 25 may be opposed to each other.

The actuation element 21 may be moved manually and the direction of movement or the direction of rotation may be imparted manually to the actuation element 21. The direction of movement or the direction of rotation imparted by the actuation element 21 to the control member 20 may correspond substantially to the direction of movement or the direction of rotation imparted to the actuation element 21. In possible variants, the direction of movement or the direction of rotation of the control member 20 may differ from the direction of movement or from the direction of rotation imparted to the actuation element 21 ; for example, the direction of movement or the direction of rotation of the control member 20 may be transversal or substantially opposite to the direction of movement or the direction of rotation imparted to the actuation element 21. In order to manage these different movements, a suitable kinematic mechanism may be provided. In the embodiment of the accompanying figures, the actuation element 21 is in the form of a handle and, as said above, the control member 20 is in the form of a pin. The handle 21 has a first and a second opposite end 21 a, 21 b and a handle portion 21 c interposed between the ends 21 a, 21 b. The first end 21 a and the second end 21 b carry the first seat 22 and the second seat 23, respectively. At the first end 21 a, the first lockable portion

24 develops, which may be opposed to the first seat 22, and at the second end 21 b the second lockable portion

25 develops, which may be opposed to the second seat 23; the lockable portions are in the form of through holes 24, 25. The handle portion 21c is transversal to the first and second ends 21 a, 21 b and is aimed at allowing the actuation, for example of the manual type, of the handle 21. The handle 21 has a first and a second fork element 26, 27 carried respectively by the first end 21 a and the second end 21 b of the handle 21 and defining a respective seat 22, 23 for a respective end 20a, 20b of the pin 20. Each fork element 26, 27 comprises a first tooth, a second tooth and a bottom connecting the first tooth and the second tooth. Between the first and second teeth of the first fork element 26 the track 22a is defined, suitable for slidingly housing the first end 20a of the pin 20 and between the first and the second teeth of the second fork element 27 the track 23a is defined, suitable for slidingly housing the second end 20b of the pin 20. The bottom of each fork element 26, 27 acts substantially as an end-of-travel for the respective end 20a, 20b of the pin 20 slidably housed at the respective track 22a, 23a. Each fork element 26, 27 is configured to drag the respective end 20a, 20b of the pin 20 in rotation when the handle 21 is rotated. The handle 21 is configured to rotate with respect to the containment body 2 so as to determine, by means of the control member 20, the transition of the functional elements 14 between the retracted position and the advanced position or vice versa, according to the direction of rotation imparted to the handle 21 itself by the handle portion 21 c. The direction of rotation may be imparted manually, for example by an operator, by means of the handle portion 21 c.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the movement of the handle 21 aimed at determining the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position is described below. The handle 21 causes the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position by rotating in a direction of rotation tending to bring the handle portion 21 c closer to the jacket 4; in other words, in this direction of rotation, the handle portion 21 c of the handle 21 moves between an initial position spaced from the jacket 4 (see figures from 1 to 4) to a final position close to the jacket 4 (see figures 5 and 6). With reference to the orientation of the contact assembly 1 of figures 1 to 6, such a direction of rotation is a clockwise direction of rotation. By rotating in such a direction of rotation, the handle portion 21 c, and therefore the handle 21 , travel an angular excursion. The rotation of the handle portion 21 c determines the integral rotation of the first end 21 a and the second end 21 b of the handle 21 and of the fork elements 26, 27 carried by the first and second ends 21 a, 21 b, respectively. During this rotation, the pin 20 is in the guiding condition, in which the ends 20a, 20b of the pin 20 rotate synchronously with the respective fork elements 26, 27 towards the jacket 4 and, at the same time, translate along the respective tracks 22a, 23a approaching the bottom of the respective fork element 26, 27. In essence, the pin 20, being rotationally integral with the fork elements 26, 27 and being able at the same time to slide with respect to the tracks 22a, 23a, in the guiding condition makes a rotary-translatory motion. The rotary component of the rotary-translatory motion of the pin 20 is due to the rotation of the handle 21 which drags the pin 20 in rotation, and the translational component of the rotary-translatory motion of the pin 20 is due to the translation of the ends 20a, 20b of the pin 20 with respect to the respective tracks 22a, 23a. The rotary-translation of the pin 20, which takes place at the fork elements 26, 27, is aimed at transforming the rotary motion of the handle 21 into the translational motion of the functional elements 14 with respect to the jacket 4; the translation of the functional elements 14, which constitutes the only degree of freedom of the functional elements 14 with respect to the jacket 4, determines the transition of each functional element 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position. In the advanced position, the functional elements 14 may be connected, at the second end 15b of the respective first terminals 15, to the respective conductive bars 101; in this regard, see figure 10, which illustrates functional elements 14, in an advanced position, connected to respective conductive bars 101.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the movement of the handle 21 aimed at determining the transition of the functional elements 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position is described below. The handle 21 determines the transition of the functional elements 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position by rotating in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation aimed at determining the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position. With reference to the orientation of the contact assembly 1 of figures 1 to 6, such a direction of rotation is a counterclockwise direction of rotation. The direction of rotation in which the handle 21 is moved to determine the transition of the functional elements 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position tends to move the handle portion 21c away from the jacket 4; in other words, in this direction of rotation, the handle portion 21c moves between an initial position close to the jacket 4 (see figures 5 and 6) to a final position spaced from the jacket 4 (see figures from 1 to 4) . In essence, the initial position in the transition of the functional elements 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position corresponds to the final position of the handle 21 in the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position described above and the final position in the transition of the functional elements 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position corresponds to the initial position of the handle 21 in the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position described above. By rotating in the above direction of rotation, the handle portion 21c, and therefore the handle 21, travels an angular excursion; such an angular excursion may be analogous, in terms of angular width, to the angular excursion that the handle travels, in the opposite direction of rotation, to determine the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position. The rotation of the handle portion 21c determines the integral rotation of the first end 21a and the second end 21 b of the handle 21 and of the fork elements 26, 27 carried by the first and second ends 21 a, 21 b, respectively. During this rotation, the pin 20 is in the guiding condition, in which the ends 20a, 20b of the pin 20 rotate synchronously with the respective fork elements 26, 27 away from the jacket 4 and, at the same time, translate along the respective tracks 22a, 23a away from the bottom of the respective fork element 26, 27. The pin 20, being rotationally integral with the fork elements 26, 27 and being able at the same time to slide with respect to the tracks 22a, 23a, in the guiding condition makes a rotary-translatory motion. Similarly to what described above, the rotary component of the rotary-translatory motion of the pin 20 is due to the rotation of the handle 21 which drags the pin 20 in rotation, and the translational component of the rotary -translatory motion of the pin 20 is due to the translation of the ends of the pin 20 with respect to the respective tracks 22a, 23a. The rotary-translation of the pin 20, which takes place at the fork elements 26, 27, is aimed at transforming the rotary motion of the handle 21 into the translational motion of the functional elements 14 with respect to the jacket 4; the translation of the functional elements 14, which constitutes the only degree of freedom of the functional elements 14 with respect to the jacket 4, is aimed at determining the transition of each functional element 14 between the advanced position and the retracted position. In the retracted position, the functional elements 14 are disconnected from the respective conductive bars and the second ends 15b of the respective first terminals 15 are spaced apart from the respective conductive bars (see figure 9).

The contact assembly 1 further comprises at least one selector 28', 28" adapted to manage the operative configuration of the actuation element 21. By managing the operative configuration of the actuation element 21 , the selector 28', 28" is also able to manage the operative configuration of the control member 20; this is possible because the control member 20 and the actuation element 21 are operatively connected to each other. Depending on its operative configuration, the selector 28', 28" is adapted to keep the control member 20 in the rest condition or to allow the actuation of the control member 20 in the guiding condition to allow the transition of the control member 20 between the rest condition and the operative condition, or vice versa. In greater detail, the selector 28', 28" is configured to selectively operate on the actuation element 21 for example at least between an actuation element locking configuration, illustrated in figures 1 and 2, and an actuation element release configuration, illustrated for example in figures 3 to 6 and in figure 11. In the actuation element locking configuration, the selector 28', 28" prevents the actuation element 21 from actuating the control member 20, while in the actuation element release configuration the selector 28', 28' ' allows the actuation element 21 to actuate the control member 20 to determine the advancement of at least one functional element 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position or to determine the retraction of at least one functional element 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position. The selector 28', 28" may be movable, for example by rotation, between an actuation element locking position and an actuation element release position and vice versa. Preferably, the selector 28', 28" may be reversibly moved between the actuation element locking position and the actuation element release position. In the locking position of the actuation element the selector 28', 28" assumes the actuation element locking configuration, while in the release position of the actuation element the selector 28', 28" assumes the actuation element release configuration. As will be seen in greater detail below, in the release configuration of the actuation element the selector 28', 28" allows the actuator element 21 to actuate the control member 20 to determine the advancement of all the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position or to determine the retraction of all the functional elements 14, or all the functional elements except one, from the advanced position to the retracted position.

The selector 28', 28" manages the operative configuration of the actuation element 21 by acting directly on the actuation element 21 (embodiment illustrated in figure 11) or by acting on the actuation element 21 by means of the control member 20 (embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 10); in this latter embodiment, the selector 28', 28" acts directly on the control member 20 and indirectly on the actuation element 21. In essence, in the actuation element locking configuration and in the actuation element release configuration, the selector 28', 28" may operate, in order to prevent or allow the movement of the actuation element 21 , in locking or release directly on the actuation element 21 (embodiment illustrated in figure 1 1 ) or on the control member 20 (embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 10).

The embodiment of the contact assembly 1 illustrated in figures 1 to 10 and possible variants thereof is described below, in which the selector 28', 28" acts, in order to prevent or allow the movement of the actuation element 21 , on the control member 20. Consequently, in this embodiment the selector 28', 28" operates indirectly on the actuation element 21 to manage the operative or rest configuration thereof.

The selector 28', 28" is engaged to the base 3 and to the pedestal 9. In possible variants, the selector 28', 28" may be engaged only to the base 3 or only to the pedestal 9, or it may be engaged to the containment body 2 at different portions of the containment body 2, such as the head 5. The selector 28', 28" may be engaged astride the base 3 and, in addition or alternatively, astride the pedestal 9.

The selector 28', 28" is movable with respect to the containment body 2. In the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, the selector 28', 28" is rotatably engaged to the containment body 2. Upon rotation with respect to the containment body 2, the selector 28', 28" rotates with respect to the base 3, the jacket 4 and the pedestal 9. The rotation of the selector 28', 28" with respect to the containment body 2 allows the transition thereof from the actuation element release position to the actuation element locking position, and vice versa. The selector 28', 28" comprises a stem 29 which develops along a prevailing development direction between a first end 29a and a second end 29b opposite each other with reference to the main development direction. The stem 29 also has an intermediate portion 29c which extends between the first end 29a and the second end 29b. With reference to the orientation of the contact assembly 1 illustrated in the accompanying figures, the first end 29a may be a lower end of the stem 29 (see figure 8) in the proximity of which a containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101 may be engaged to the contact assembly 1 or to the box 50 in which the contact assembly 1 may be installed and the second end 29b may be an upper end of the stem 29 in the proximity of which a door of the box 50 may be located in which the contact assembly 1 may be installed. The stem 29 may have, at the first end 29a and the second end 29b, respective hollow portions. Each hollow portion may consist of a recess with a bottom and may be threaded. The stem 29 may also have a seat 29d at the intermediate portion 29c. The seat 29d may be through or may have a bottom. The stem 29 may have a substantially parallelepiped configuration with a polygonal base, for example a parallelepiped with a square or rectangular base. In a variant, the stem 29 may have a revolution solid shape, for example a substantially cylindrical shape. The stem 29 passes through the base 3 and the pedestal 9 at the respective passages 7, 9a facing each other. This arrangement of the stem 29 with respect to the pedestal 9 and to the base 3 allows the positioning of the selector 28', 28" with respect to the containment body 2.

The selector 28', 28" may optionally comprise a sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape and has a through inner seat defining a cavity of the sleeve 30, at which the stem 29 is housed in a through manner. The inner through seat of the sleeve 30 is counter-shaped to a plan section of the stem 29 and may have a polygonal profile, for example square or rectangular. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the stem 29 may have a square base parallelepiped shape and the inner through seat of the sleeve 30 may have a corresponding square profile counter-shaped to the square section of the stem 29. In possible variants, the inner through seat of the sleeve 30 may have any alternative profile suitable for making the stem 29 integral with the sleeve 30; providing such a profile of the inner through seat of the sleeve 30 allows the sleeve 30 to drag the stem 29 in rotation. Possible alternative profiles of the inner through seat of the sleeve 30 may consist, for example, of a polygonal profile or an elliptical profile or a star profile; in these variants, said alternative profiles correspond to a stem 29 having a corresponding plan section, for example polygonal or elliptical or star. The sleeve 30 may be a single piece or it may comprise two half-sleeves which may be assembled together, each of which is provided with a respective inner through seat. The inner through seats of the sleeves 30 may be dimensionally identical. In the assembled condition of the sleeve 30, the inner through seats of the half sleeves are facing and aligned with each other to define a single inner through duct, for example a single inner through duct with a square section, at which the stem 29 is housed in a through manner. The sleeve 30 is engaged to the base 3 and to the pedestal 9 at the respective passages. The sleeve 30 passes through the passages 7, 9a respectively of the base 3 and of the pedestal 9 and is engaged astride them so that ends of the sleeve 30 emerge from both sides of the base 3 and of the pedestal 9, for example above and below with respect to the base 3 and the pedestal 9. The substantially cylindrical conformation of the sleeve 30 allows rotation of the sleeve 30, and therefore of the stem 29 integral with the sleeve 30, with respect to the base 3 and the pedestal 9. The passages 7, 9a respectively of the base 3 and of the pedestal 9 are sized to allow a rotatable housing of the sleeve 30. The stem 29 is engaged to the sleeve 30 in such a way that the first end 29a and the second end 29b protrude from the sleeve 30 on opposite sides with respect to the sleeve 30, for example respectively inferiorly and superiorly with respect to the sleeve 30. In a possible variant, the selector 28', 28" may be without sleeve and the stem 29, arranged astride both the base 3 and the pedestal 9 and crossing both at the respective passages 7, 9a, may have a plan section adapted to allow the rotation of the stem 29 with respect to the passages. Such a plan section of the stem 29 may be circular. In such a variant, the stem 29 may have an at least partially cylindrical conformation, defined at least at a portion of the stem 29 arranged and engaged astride the pedestal 9 and the base 3. Providing that at least this portion of the stem 29 is cylindrical allows the stem 29 to rotate with respect to the circular profile through holes 7, 9a of the base 3 and of the pedestal 9 constituting the aforementioned passages. In the variant without sleeve, the stem 29 may have an overall cylindrical shape.

The selector 28', 28" further comprises a constraint portion 31. The constraint portion 31 is integral in rotation with the stem 29 and extends at the first end 29a of the stem 29. The constraint portion 31 may be engaged to the first end 29a of the stem 29; for example, the constraint portion 31 may be engaged to the first end 29a of the stem 29 so as to be integral in rotation with the stem 29. In this embodiment, the constraint portion 31 may be engaged to the first end 29a of the stem 29 by means of at least one threaded element 12 of a known type. The threaded element 12 may be engaged to the stem 29 at the threaded hollow portion of the first end 29a of the stem 29. Alternatively, the constraint portion 31 may be in one piece with the first end of the stem 29. The constraint portion 31 is configured to allow engagement of the contact assembly 1 with a containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101 (see figures 9 and 10). As shown in figures 9 and 10, in the actuation element locking configuration of the selector 28', 28", the constraint portion 31 constrains the containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101 to the contact assembly 1 so as to keep the contact assembly 1 in a position close to the conductive bars 101 , while in the actuation element release configuration, the constraint portion 31 does not constrain the containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101 to the contact assembly 1. For example, in the actuation element release configuration, the constraint portion 31 may allow the disengagement of the contact assembly 1 from the containment housing 102. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the constraint portion 31 may be in the form of a foot. The foot 31 may have a passage counter-shaped to a plan section of the first end 29a of the stem 29; in order to assemble the foot 31 to the stem 29, after positioning the stem 29 with respect to the containment body 2 so that the stem 29 extends astride the base 3 and the pedestal 9, the first end 29a of the stem 29 may be inserted in the passage of the foot and, subsequently, the threaded element 12 may be screwed in such a way as to fix the foot 31 to the first end 29a of the stem 29. As shown in figures 9 and 10, in the actuation element release configuration the foot 31 forms an undercut, at which a portion of the containment casing 102 is engaged. In the embodiment in which the contact assembly 1 is installed in a box 50, the undercut is defined between the foot and a surface, for example a lower surface, of a wall of the box 50, for example of a wall of the box 50 opposite to a door of the box 50.

The selector 28', 28" further comprises a locking portion 32. The locking portion 32 is integral in rotation with the stem 29 and extends at the second end 29b of the stem 29. The locking portion 32 may be engaged to the second end 29b of the stem 29. The locking portion 32 is preferably engaged to the second end 29b of the stem 29 so as to be integral in rotation with the stem 29. In this embodiment, the locking portion 32 may be engaged to the second end 29b of the stem 29 by means of at least one threaded element 12 of a known type. The threaded element 12 may be engaged to the stem 29 at the threaded hollow portion of the second end 29b of the stem 29. Alternatively, the locking portion 32 may be in one piece with the second end 29b of the stem 29. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures from 1 to 10, the locking portion 32 extends along a development direction which, with reference to the orientation of the contact assembly 1 illustrated in the aforementioned figures, is a vertical direction. As illustrated in the aforesaid figures, the locking portion 32 may have a plan section, defining a concavity, substantially "C" shaped; possible variants may consist of a plan section substantially "U" or "V" or "W" or "L". The locking portion 32 comprises an interference element 32a movable, by rotation of the selector 28', 28", between an interference position and a release position. The interference element 32a assumes the interference position in the actuation element locking configuration; in this interference position, illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the interference element 32a prevents movement of the control member 20. The interference element 32a assumes the release position in the actuation element release configuration; in this release position, illustrated in figures 3 to 6, the interference element 32a allows movement of the control member 20. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 10, the interference element 32a is in the form of an abutment surface defined at one end, for example an upper end, of the locking portion 32, on which the control member 20 abuts in the actuation element locking configuration. In this configuration, the control member 20 is in abutment against the abutment surface 32a (see figures 1 and 2), which prevents by interference the advancement of the control member 20 approaching the jacket 4 and therefore prevents the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position. By preventing the advancement of the control member 20, the interference element 32a also blocks the actuation element 21 , which therefore cannot be moved when the interference element 32a is in the interference position.

The selector 28', 28" further comprises a gripping portion 33. The gripping portion 33 is configured to allow movement of the selector 28', 28" between the actuation element locking position and release position. The gripping portion 33 may be arranged at or in the proximity of the second end 29b of the stem 29. The gripping portion 33 may be defined in the proximity of the interference element 32a. In figures 1 to 10, the gripping portion 33 is defined at the second end 29b of the stem 29, in the proximity of the interference element 32a. In a variant, the locking portion 32 may also act as a gripping portion; the concavity of the locking portion 32 may for example allow the gripping by an operator in order to move the selector 28', 28".

The selector further comprises a housing 34. The housing 34 is shaped to house the control member 20 at least partially. The housing 34 is configured to be positioned, by moving the selector 28', 28" in the actuation element release configuration, in an arrangement facing the control member 20. Starting from this configuration, by moving the actuation element 21 , the control member 20 is guided towards the housing 34 until it reaches the positioning shown in figures 5 and 6; according to this positioning, the housing 34 houses an end 20a, 20b of the control member 20 in the operative condition in which it keeps the functional elements 14 in the advanced position. The housing 34 may have a recess defining a concavity at least partially counter-shaped to the profile of the control member 20. The concavity is sized to house the control member 20 at least partially in the operative condition of the actuation element 34 in which the control member 20 keeps the functional elements 14 in the advanced position. The housing 34 may develop at or in the proximity of the second end 29b of the stem 29. The housing 34 may be defined in the proximity of the gripping portion 33 and, in addition or alternatively, of the interference element 32a. In figures 1 to 10, the housing 34 is defined at the second end 29b of the stem 29 and is interposed between the interference element 32a and the gripping portion 33.

As illustrated in figures 1 to 10, the selector 28', 28" may comprise a cap 28a defining the locking portion 32, the gripping portion 33 and the housing 34. In this embodiment, the cap 28a is a single piece and, consequently, the locking portion 32, the gripping portion 33 and the housing 34 are monolithic. The cap 28a is engageable to the second end 29b of the stem by at least one threaded element 12 of known type, which may be screwed to a bottom of the housing 34 for fixing the cap 28a to the second end 29b of the stem 29 at the threaded hollow portion defined therein.

The contact assembly 1 may comprise a first selector 28' and a second selector 28". The first selector 28' and the second selector 28" operate respectively at the first end 20a and the second end 20b of the control member 20. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the first selector 28' and the second selector 28" may be arranged in a mirror-like manner. Furthermore, the first selector 28' and the second selector 28" may be movable in a mirror-like manner. The first selector 28' and the second selector 28" may be moved by rotation independently of each other or in an interdependent manner. In both variants, the first selector 28' and the second selector 28" may be moved in a correlated manner, so that, when the first selector 28' assumes the actuation element locking configuration, the second selector 28" also assumes the actuation element locking configuration, or vice versa, and in such a way that, when the first selector 28' assumes the actuation element release configuration, the second selector 28" also assumes the actuation element release configuration, or vice versa. By "moving in a correlated manner" it is meant a simultaneous or synchronous movement of the selectors 28', 28" or a subsequent movement of one with respect to the other, for example a movement of the second selector 28" following a movement of the first selector 28', or vice versa, so that at the end of the movement of the selectors 28', 28", both selectors 28', 28" assume the same configuration. Basically, to reach each operative configuration, the first selector 28' and the second selector 28" may be moved, simultaneously or one after the other, mirror like with each other and, upon reaching each operative configuration, the first selector 28' and the second selector 28" are arranged mirror-like with respect to each other. The arrangement of both selectors 28', 28" in the same operative configuration allows the actuation element 21 to operate, as described in detail below, in release or locking on the functional elements 14. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 10, the contact assembly 1 has selectors 28', 28" independently and mirror-like movable.

Figures 1 and 2 show the first and second selector 28', 28" in the actuation element locking configuration in which they lock, by means of the respective locking portions 32, opposite portions of the pin 20. In such an actuation element locking configuration, the handle 21 cannot rotate as it is locked by the interference element 32a and the functional elements 14 are held by the pin 20 in the retracted position, in which they do not protrude from the containment body 2 and they cannot contact respective conductive bars 101. In essence, by preventing the selectors 28', 28" from advancing the functional elements 14, in the actuation element locking configuration it is not possible to electrically connect the contact assembly 1 to conductive bars 101. Furthermore, in the actuation element locking configuration the pins 31 assume a position such that it is not possible to constrain the contact assembly 1 to a containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101. As shown in figure 1, in the actuation element locking configuration, the first selector 28' and the second selector 28" are arranged mirror like with respect to each other.

Starting from the actuation element locking configuration illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the first and second selector 28', 28" may be rotated until the actuation element release configuration illustrated in figures 3 and 4 is reached, in which the pin 20 is in the rest condition. To achieve the actuation element release configuration starting from the actuation element locking configuration, the first selector 28' may be imparted a rotation in a first direction of rotation, for example in a counterclockwise direction of rotation, and the second selector 28" may be imparted a rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, for example in a clockwise direction of rotation. The rotation may be manually imparted to the selectors 28', 28" by means of the respective gripping portion 33; the rotation of the gripping portion 33 of the selectors 28', 28" causes the rotation of the respective stem 29, which drags the respective locking portion 32 and the respective foot 31 in integral rotation. As will be seen in greater detail below with reference to a method of connecting the contact assembly 1 to a prefabricated electric duct 100, the rotation of the pins 31 of the first and second selector 28', 28" allows the constraint of the contact assembly 1 , or of the box 50 in which the contact assembly 1 is installed, to the containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101. In the actuation element release configuration illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the handle 21 is free to rotate in approaching the jacket 4; the rotation of the handle 21 starting from this configuration causes the previously described rotary-translation of the ends 20a, 20b of the pin 20 at the respective fork element 26, 27, the transition of the pin 21 from the rest condition to the operative condition and the consequent translation of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position, until reaching the configuration illustrated in figures 5 and 6. If it is provided in advance to constrain the contact assembly 1, or of the box 50 in which the contact assembly 1 is installed, to the containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101, the rotation of the handle 21 towards the jacket 1 determines the connection of the first terminals 15 of the functional elements 14 to the respective conductive bars 101. By providing selectors 28', 28" whose locking portions 32 and feet 31 are integral with the stem 29 and configured to operate according to the methods described above, it is possible to allow the connection of the functional elements 14 to the respective conductive bars 101 exclusively in one condition in which the contact assembly 1 is constrained to a containment housing 102. This is possible because, in the configuration in which the pins 31 of the selectors 28', 28" do not constrain the contact assembly 1 to the containment housing 102, the locking portion 32 locks the movement of the handle 21 and therefore, in this configuration (actuation element locking configuration, see figures 1 and 2), it is not possible to connect the first terminals 15 of the functional elements 14 to the respective conductive bars 101. Starting from the operative condition of the pin 20 illustrated in figures 5 and 6 in which the functional elements 14 are in the advanced position, the handle 21 may be made to rotate reversibly away from the jacket 4 causing the rotation 20 of the ends 20a, 20b of the pin 20 at the respective fork element 26, 27 opposite to the one above, until reaching the rest condition of the pin 20 illustrated in figures 3 and 4 in which the functional elements 14 are in the retracted position. Both in the operative condition of the pin 20 of figures 5 and 6 and in the rest condition of the pin 20 of figures 3 and 4, the selectors 28', 28" are in the actuation element release configuration and therefore allow the movement of the handle 21. Starting from this configuration, the first and the second selector 28', 28" may be rotated again so as to reversibly reach the actuation element locking configuration illustrated in figures 1 and 2. To achieve the actuation element locking configuration of figures 1 and 2 starting from the actuation element release configuration of figures 3 and 4, the first selector 28' may be imparted a rotation in a first reverse direction of rotation, for example in a clockwise direction of rotation, and the second selector 28" may be imparted a rotation in a second reverse direction of rotation opposite to the first reverse direction of rotation, for example in a counter-clockwise direction of rotation.

The contact assembly 1 may further comprise at least one position controller 35', 35". The position controller 35', 35" is configured to at least verify that the selector 28', 28" reaches the actuation element locking position and the actuation element release position. The position controller 35', 35" comprises an abutment 35a carried by the selector 28', 28" and integral therewith. The abutment 35a may be engaged to the stem 29 of the selector 28', 28" at the seat 29d of the stem 29. As shown in the accompanying figures, the abutment may consist of a pin 35a with a substantially cylindrical shape. The position controller 35', 35" further comprises at least one end- of-travel element 35b, 35c configured to determine that the selector 28', 28" reaches at least one between the actuation element locking position and the actuation element release position. The end-of-travel element 53b, 35c may also be configured to limit the movement of the selector 28', 28" when the selector 28', 28" reaches at least one between the actuation element locking position and the actuation element release position. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the position controller 35', 35" may comprise a first end-of-travel element 35b and a second end-of-travel element 35c suitable for operating on the selector 28', 28". The first end-of- travel element 35b is configured to determine that the selector 28', 28" reaches the actuation element locking position and to limit the rotation of the selector 28', 28" when reaching the actuation element locking position. The first end-of-travel element 35b limits the rotation of the selector 28', 28" by providing a stop for the abutment 35a adapted to prevent further advancement of the abutment 35a beyond the actuation element locking position. The second end-of-travel element 35c is configured to determine that the selector 28', 28" reaches the actuation element release position and to limit the rotation of the selector 28', 28" when reaching the actuation element release position. The second end-of-travel element 35c limits the rotation of the selector 28', 28" by providing a stop for the abutment 35a adapted to prevent further advancement of the abutment 35a beyond the actuation element release position. The first end-of-travel element 35b and the second end-of-travel element 35c are offset from each other so as to limit an angular excursion of the selector 28', 28". For example, as shown in the accompanying figures, the first and second end-of-travel elements 35b, 35c may be offset from each other to allow a maximum angular excursion of the selector 28', 28" by 90° from the actuation element release position to the actuation element locking position, and vice versa. In possible variants, the angular excursion angle may vary. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, a first position controller 35' configured to operate on the first selector 28' and a second position controller 35" configured to operate on the second selector 28' may be provided. The first and second position controllers 35', 35" respectively comprise a first pair of end-of-travel elements 35b, 35c for the abutment 35a of the first selector 28' and a second pair of end-of-travel elements 35b, 35c for the abutment 35a of the second selector 28". Each pair of end-of-travel elements 35b, 35c comprises a first end-of-travel element 25b and a second end-of-travel element 35c of the type described above. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the first end-of-travel element 35b of the first pair may be arranged mirror-like with respect to the first end-of-travel element 35b of the second pair and, likewise, the second end- of-travel element 35c of the first pair may be arranged mirror-like with respect to the second end-of-travel element 35c of the second pair. Each end-of-travel element 35b, 35c may consist of a protrusion, such as a bracket or a rib, emerging from the pedestal 9 or from the base 3. The accompanying figures show a contact assembly 1 in which the first pair of end-of-travel elements 35b, 35c is arranged in the proximity of the second wall 8b of the main development body of the jacket 4 and the second pair of end-of-travel elements 35b, 35c is arranged in the proximity of the fourth wall 8d of the main development body of the jacket 4; each end-of-travel element 35b, 35c of the first and second pair emerges from the pedestal 9 in the proximity of the respective wall 8b, 8d. The end-of-travel elements 35b, 35c may be monolithic with the pedestal 9.

The contact assembly 1 may be according to a further embodiment, illustrated in figure 1 1. The contact assembly 1 according to said further embodiment differs from the contact assembly 1 described above and represented in figures from 1 to 10 in some features of the selector 28', 28" and in the relative operative modes, which will be described below; the technical features of the selector 28', 28" according to said further embodiment which are not discussed below may be similar to those described above. From a functional point of view, the selector 28', 28" according to such a further embodiment differs from the selector 28', 28" of the embodiment described above in that it operates directly on the actuation element 21. In essence, in the actuation element locking configuration, the locking portion 32 operates, by means of the constraint element 32a, in contact with the handle 21, preventing the movement of a respective fork element 26, 27 of the handle 21 and therefore consequently of the pin 20. From a structural point of view, this further embodiment differs from the embodiment of figures 1 to 10 as regards the locking portion 32 of the selector 28', 28". The locking portion 32 shown in figure 11 has a body comprising a first concave portion 32b and a second concave portion 23c opposite each other along a direction transverse to the development direction of the locking portion 32. The body of the locking portion 32 may also have a third concave portion 32d interposed, along the aforesaid transverse direction, to the first and second concave portions 32b, 32c. As illustrated in figure 11, the first and second concave portion 32b, 32c may have a plan section defining the respective concavity, substantially "C" and the third concave portion 32d may have a plan section defining its concavity, substantially "U" shaped; in possible variants, each concave portion 32b, 32c, 32d may have a plan section substantially "U" or "V" or "W" or "L". The first concave section 32b and, in addition or alternatively, the second concave section 32c may act as a gripping portion 33, allowing the gripping of the locking portion 32 and, therefore, the movement of the selector 28', 28". The locking portion 32 comprises a tooth emerging transversely from the body; figure 11 illustrates a tooth emerging from the body orthogonally to the transversal development direction of the locking portion 32 and orthogonally to the development direction of the locking portion 32. The tooth may emerge from the body at the first, second or third concave portion 32b, 32c, 32d, on the opposite side with respect to the respective concavities; figure 11, with reference to the spatial orientation of the selector 28' represented therein, shows a tooth emerging at the third concave portion 32d posteriorly with respect to its concavity. The tooth constitutes the constraint element 32a of the locking portion 32 and is configured to operate directly, in locking and in release according to the configuration of the selector 28', 28", on the handle 21. In this regard, figure 11 shows the first selector 28' in the actuation element release configuration, in which the housing 34 houses a portion of the pin 20, and in which the tooth 32a is spaced from the first fork element 26. In this configuration, the functional elements 14 are in the advanced position and the second ends 15b of the first terminals 15 of the functional elements 14 are extracted from the containment body 2. Starting from this configuration, by rotating the handle 21 away from the jacket 4, the first end 20a of the pin 20 rotates according to what described above at the first fork element 26 and moves towards the bottom of the fork element 26, and consequently the functional elements 14 move from the advanced position to the retracted position. In this configuration in which the selector 28' is in the actuation element release configuration and the functional elements 14 assume the retracted position, by rotating the selector 28' clockwise (with reference to the spatial orientation of the selector 28' illustrated in figure 11), the foot 31 rotates integrally with the stem 29 and the tooth 32a, also rotating integrally with the stem 29 and the foot 31 , is positioned below the first fork element 26, locking the rotation of the handle 21.

In figure 11, the gripping portion 33 may be represented by a rib of the locking portion 32 and, in addition or alternatively and as described above, by one of the first, second or third concave portion 32b, 32c, 32d. As illustrated in figure 11 , the rib may develop interiorly with respect to the body of the locking portion 32. The contact assembly 1 according to such an embodiment may further comprise a second selector 28".

Use of the contact assembly

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of the contact assembly 1 according to what described above and according to any one of the appended claims. According to the invention, use of the contact assembly 1 in a junction box 50 for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type 100 including one or more conductive bars 101 may be provided. In addition or alternatively, the use of the contact assembly 1 may be aimed at deriving electric current withdrawn through at least one functional element 14 or a plurality of functional elements 14 away from the contact assembly 1.

Method of connecting or disconnecting a contact assembly

The present invention further relates to a method of connecting a contact assembly 1 to a prefabricated electric duct 100 including one or more conductive bars 101 and a method of disconnecting a contact assembly from a prefabricated electric duct 100 including one or more conductive bars 101. The contact assembly 1 may be of the type described above.

The connection method of a contact assembly 1 is described below.

The method provides for arranging a contact assembly 1 in which at least one selector 28', 28" is in the actuation element locking configuration and therefore the actuation element 21 and the guide member 20 cannot be actuated. In the actuation element locking configuration, the interference element 32a of the locking portion 32 is in the interference position and prevents by interference the movement of one between the actuation element 21 and the control member 20, according to the embodiments described above. In a variant of the method, provision may be made for arranging the contact assembly 1 whose selector 28', 28" is in the actuation element release configuration. Hereinafter, unless otherwise indicated, reference will be made to the method in which the contact assembly is arranged with the selector 28', 28" in the actuation element locking configuration.

The method provides for positioning the contact assembly 1 with respect to the prefabricated electric duct 100, for example at a junction point.

After positioning the contact assembly 1 , the connection method provides for determining the transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration. The transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration provides for moving the selector 28', 28", by rotation, between the positioning element locking position and the actuation element release position, for example by manually operating on the selector 28', 28" at the gripping portion 33. The transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration may not be provided in the variant of the method which provides for the arrangement of the contact assembly 1 whose selector 28', 28" is in the actuation element release configuration. After positioning the contact assembly 1 and releasing the actuation element 21 , the contact assembly 1 is connected to a prefabricated electric duct 100. The connection steps provides for constraining the contact assembly 1 to a containment housing 102 of conductive bars 101. The constraint step may be carried out by moving the constraint portion 31 of the selector 28', 28" with respect to the containment housing 102. The movement of the constraint portion 31 is carried out by rotation of the selector 28', 28" and is carried out in such a way that, in a constraint configuration, the constraint portion 32a overlaps and surrounds a portion of the containment housing 102 (see figures 9 and 10). In the constraint configuration, the constrained portion of the containment housing 102 is interposed between the constraint portion 31 and the base 3 of the containment body 102. With reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, illustrating constraint portions in the form of a foot 31 , and to the orientation of the contact assembly 1 shown in figures 9 and 10, in the constraint configuration the foot 31 develops inferiorly with respect to the constrained portion of the containment housing 102, the base 3 develops superiorly with respect to the containment housing 102 and the constrained portion of the containment housing 102 is interposed between the foot 31 and the base 3. With reference to figures 9 and 10 illustrating a contact assembly 1 installed in a box 50, in the constraint configuration, the constrained portion of the containment housing 102 is interposed between the foot 31 and a bottom wall of the box 50 and is arranged in an undercut defined between the foot 31 and a lower surface of a wall of the box 50 opposite to a door of the box 50. In the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which the pin 31 and the locking portion 32 of the selector 28', 28" are integral, the step of constraining the contact assembly 1 to the containment housing 102 and the step of transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration are simultaneous with each other and are carried out by rotation of the selector 28', 28".

The step of connecting the contact assembly 1 to the prefabricated electric duct 100 provides for operatively connecting at least one functional element 14 to the respective conductive bar 101. The step of operational connection of at least one functional element 14 to the respective conductive bar 101 is subsequent to the transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration. This step may provide for the operational connection of all the functional elements 14, or all the functional elements 14 except one, to the respective conductive bars 101. The connection of each functional element 14 to the respective conductive bar 101 provides for spreading the second end 15b of the first terminal 15 of each functional element 14 which is operatively connected. The step of operational connection of functional elements 14 to the respective conductive bars 101 is triggered by maneuvering the actuation element 21 ; by operating the actuation element 21 , for example by making it rotate towards the jacket 4 according to what described above, the actuation element 21 determines the movement of the control member 20 and the consequent transition of at least one functional element 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position. In the advanced position, each functional element 14 contacts the respective conductive bar 101 by means of the second end 15b spread apart (see figure 10). In a condition in which at least one functional element 14 is in the advanced position, there is an electrical connection between the contact assembly 1 and the prefabricated electric duct 100. The description of the connection method was made with reference to a selector 28', 28"; if the contact assembly 1 includes a first selector 28' and a second selector 28", the same steps described above with reference to a selector 28', 28" may be carried out on the first and second selector 28', 28". As described above with reference to the contact assembly 1, the rotation of the first selector 28' and the rotation of the second selector 28" may be performed mirror-like and in opposite rotation directions.

The method of disconnecting a contact assembly 1 from a prefabricated electric duct 100 is described below. The method provides for arranging a contact assembly 1 and a prefabricated electric duct 100 including one or more conductive bars 101 in a condition of mutual engagement in which the contact assembly 1 is in operative condition, at least one functional element 14 is in contact with the respective conductive bar 101 and the selector 28', 28" is in the actuation element release configuration. The method may include verifying the existence of the actuation element release configuration of the selector 28', 28".

The method provides for operatively disconnecting at least one functional element 14 from the respective conductive bar 101. Such a step is triggered by maneuvering the actuation element 21; by operating the actuation element 21 , for example by making it rotate away from the jacket 4 according to what described above, the actuation element 21 determines the movement of the control member 20 and the consequent transition of at least one functional element 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position. Such a step may provide for the operational disconnection of all the functional elements 14, or all the functional elements 14 except one, from the respective conductive bars 101. The operational disconnection of each functional element 14 from the respective conductive bar 101 provides for the tightening of the second end 15b of the first terminal 15. In the retracted position, each functional element 14 is disconnected from the respective conductive bar 101 and the second end 15b is tightened. In a condition in which all the functional elements 14 are in the retracted position (see figure 9), the electrical connection between the contact assembly 1 and the prefabricated electric duct 100 is interrupted.

Optionally, the method may further provide for determining the transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element release configuration to the actuation element locking configuration so as to keep the functional elements 14 in the retracted position and consequently secure the contact assembly 1. In the actuation element release configuration, the interference element 32a of the locking portion 32 is in the release position and allows the movement of one between the actuation element 21 and the control member 20, according to the embodiments described above. The transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element release configuration to the actuation element locking configuration provides for moving the selector 28', 28", by rotation, between the positioning element release position and the actuation element locking position, for example by manually operating on the selector 28', 28" at the gripping portion 34. The rotation that the selector 28', 28" carried out to allow the disconnection of the contact assembly 1 from the prefabricated electric duct 100 is a rotation in the opposite direction with respect to the rotation that the same selector 28', 28" may carry out to allow the connection of the contact assembly 1 to the prefabricated electric duct 100 described above. With reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which the constraint portion is in the form of a foot 31, since the foot 31 and the locking portion 32 are integral with the stem 29, the rotation of the selector 28', 28" also causes the rotation of the foot 31 and therefore, in the actuation element locking position, the foot 31 does not constrain the contact assembly 1 to the containment housing 102 (see figure 8). In other words, by appropriately rotating the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element release position to the actuation element locking position, the contact assembly is released simultaneously 1 from the containing housing 102 of conductive bars.

The disconnection of the contact assembly 1 from the prefabricated electric duct 100 may then be completed by removing the contact assembly 1 from the containment housing 102.

The description of the disconnection method was made with reference to a selector 28', 28"; if the contact assembly 1 includes a first selector 28' and a second selector 28", the same steps described above with reference to a selector 28', 28" may be carried out on the first and second selector 28', 28". As described above with reference to the contact assembly 1 , the rotation of the first selector 28' and the rotation of the second selector 28" may be performed mirror-like and in opposite rotation directions. Within the disconnection method, the opposite directions of rotation of the first and second selector 28', 28" may be directions of reverse rotation with respect to the directions of rotation of the first and second selector 28', 28" referred to in the connection method described above.

Box

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of a box 50 comprising a contact assembly 1 according to what described above and according to any one of the appended claims. The box 50 may be adapted to be used as a junction box for electrical installations of the type with prefabricated electric ducts 100 including one or more conductive bars 101.

The box 50 comprises a box-like body 51 provided with a plurality of walls 51 a, 51 b, 51 c, 51 d, 51e, 51f assembled together. The box-like body 51 has an inner volume, inside which the contact assembly 1 is housed; in this regard, see figure 8. The inner volume of the box-like body 51 corresponds to the inner volume of the box 50. The contact assembly 1 is engaged to the box-like body 51 so that the actuation element 21 develops at least partially outside the inner volume of the box 50.

The walls 51 a, 51 b, 51c, 51 d, 51 e, 51f comprise side walls 51 a, 51 b, 51 c, 51 d and bottom walls 51 e, 51f. The side walls 51 a, 51 b, 51 c, 51 d comprise a first wall 51 a, a second wall 51 b, a third wall 51c and a fourth wall 51 d, which laterally delimit the inner volume of the box 50. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the first wall 51 a and the second wall 51 b are opposite and parallel to each other; in the same way, the third wall 51 c and the fourth wall 51 d are opposite and parallel to each other. In particular, the third wall 51 c is interposed and transverse to the first and second walls 51 a, 51 b, while the fourth wall 51 d is opposite to the third wall 51 c and is also interposed and transverse to the first and second walls 51 a, 51 b. The third and fourth walls 51 c, 51 d have respective through holes 51 c', 51 d' which, in the assembled condition of the contact assembly 1 to the box 50 (see figures from 8 to 10), allow the actuation element 21 to develop astride these walls 51 c, 51 d. In essence, as illustrated in particular in figures 9 and 10, the handle 21 develops partially inside the inner volume of the box 50 and partially (mainly) outside the inner volume of the box 50; the handle 21 develops astride the third and fourth walls 51c, 51 d so that the first fork element 26 develops inside the volume of the box 50 and faces the fourth wall 51 d and in such a way that the second fork element 27 develops within the volume of the box 50 and faces the third wall 51 c. The bottom walls 51 e, 51f comprise a first bottom wall 51 e and a second bottom wall 51f. As illustrated in figure 7, the first bottom wall 51e and the second bottom wall 51f are respectively opposite to each other and transversely interposed, on opposite sides of the box-like body 51 , between the third and fourth walls 51 c, 51 d.

The first wall 51 a has a first opening 52. The box-like body 51 also has a second opening 53. The second opening 53 may be defined by the second wall 51 b or in the proximity of the second wall 51 b. The contact assembly 1 and the box-like body 50 are assembled in such a way that the first opening 52 faces the through opening 6 of the base 3 to allow the connection of at least one functional element 14, in the advanced position, to the respective conductive bar 101. In essence, the first opening 52 and the through opening 6 face each other so as to allow at least partial extraction of at least one functional element 14 from the inner volume of the box 50; in the advanced position of at least one functional element 14, the first opening 52 and the through opening 6 are crossed by the functional element 14 so that the second end 15b is arranged outside the box 50 (see figure 10).

The box 50 also has a door 54 configured, according to its position, to close the second opening 53 or to make the second opening 53 accessible. The door 54 is substantially configured to operate between a closed position, in which the second opening 53 occludes and prevents accessibility thereof, and an open position in which it allows accessibility to the second opening 53 and therefore to the inner volume of the box. The closed position of the door 54 is shown for example in figure 10, while the open position of the door 54 is shown in figures 7, 8 and 9. The door 54, when arranged in the closed position, is configured to make the inner volume of the box 50 inaccessible from the outside of the box 50 itself. This inaccessibility of the inner volume of the box 50 with the door 54 closed is particularly advantageous in terms of the safety of the box 50 itself. The door 54 is also configured to operate between a plurality of intermediate positions between the open position and the closed position; the door 54 assumes these intermediate positions in the transition between the open position and the closed position, and vice versa.

In the embodiment illustrated in figures 7 to 10, the door 54 is hinged to the fourth wall 51 d and the opening and closing of the door 54 takes place by rotation of the door 54 itself. The door 54, when transitioning between the closed position and the open position, and vice versa, makes an angular excursion. In a variant, the door 54 may be configured to be moved by translation or by rotary -translation to make the second opening 53 accessible or occluded. As illustrated in figure 10, the door 54 may constitute, in the closed position, the second wall 51 b of the box-like body 51 of the box 50.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the accompanying figures, the door 54 may consist of a portion of the second wall 51 b, or of an additional wall, configured to be moved with respect to a fixed main portion of the second wall 51 b, or with respect to the second wall 51 b itself, to make the second opening 53 accessible or closed. In order to allow a stable closing of the door 54, the box 50 further comprises a lockable flange 55. The lockable flange 55 is adapted to allow the door 54 to be locked to the actuation element 21. The locking of the door 54 is possible because, both in the closed position and in the open position of the door 54, the actuation element 21 develops outside the inner volume of the box 50. The locking of the door 54 to the actuation element 21 allows the box 50 to be secured. The lockable flange 55 is carried by the door 54 and is arranged in such a way that, in the closed position of the door 54, it faces a respective lockable portion 24, 25 of the actuation element 21 ; in this regard, figure 10 shows a lockable flange 55 facing the lockable portion 25. The lockable flange 55 may have a through hole. In the embodiment in which the lockable flange 55 and the lockable portion 24, 25 have respective through holes, in the closed position of the door 54 the through holes face each other to allow the locking of the door 54 to the actuation element 21 (see figure 10). In order to facilitate locking, the through hole of the lockable flange 55 may have a passage section comparable or equal to or smaller than the passage section of the through hole of the lockable portion 24, 25.

The box 50 further comprises a safety device 56. The safety device 56 is configured to prevent movement of the actuation element 21 when the door 54 is in the open position. As shown in figure 8, in the open position of the door 54, the safety device 56 is at least partially interposed between the actuation element 21 and the second opening 53 along a trajectory of movement of the actuation element 21. In this way, it is possible to prevent, with the door 54 open, the connection of the functional elements 14 to the respective conductive bars 101. The safety device 56 is carried by the door 54. The safety device 56 is arranged outside the inner volume of the box 50 both in the closed position and in the open position of the door 54. The safety device 56 is also configured to limit the opening angular excursion of the door 54 and to keep the door 54 in a predetermined open position. As illustrated in figure 8, the safety device 56 may be in the form of an interference tab movable integrally with the door 54 between an interference position and a release position. In the interference position, the interference tab 56 prevents, by interference, in the open position of the door 54, the movement of the actuation element 21 (see figure 8), while in the release position the interference tab 56 allows, in the closed position of the door 54, the movement of the actuation element 21. The interference tab 56 then controls the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position, making it possible, by releasing the actuation element 21 , only in a desired condition, i.e. when the door 54 is in the closed position. The interference tab 56 has a first section 56a carried by the door 54 and a second section 56b consecutive and transversal with respect to the first section 56a. As shown in figure 8, in the open position of the door 54, at least the second section 56b is interposed between the actuation element 21 and the second opening 53 along the trajectory of movement of the actuation element 21.

The box 50 may further comprise a slide 57 configured to suitably position the box-like body 51 with respect to the containment housing 102 of a prefabricated electric duct 100. The slide 57 may be configured to determine a correct positioning of the box-like body 50 with respect to the containment housing 102 in a predetermined position, for example at a junction point. The slide 57 contributes with the positioning elements 13', 13" of the contact assembly 1 to position the contact assembly 1 with respect to the containment housing 102 and to the conductive bars 101 contained therein. Use of the box

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the box 50 according to what described above and according to the appended claims. According to the invention, use of the box 50 as a junction box for electrical installations of the prefabricated electric duct type 100 including one or more conductive bars 101 may be provided. In addition or alternatively, the use of the box 50 may be aimed at deriving electric current withdrawn through at least one functional element 14 or a plurality of functional elements 14 outside the inner volume of the box 50.

Method for securing or installing a box

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for securing a box 50 and a method for installing a box 50. The box 50 may be of the type described above.

The method for securing the box 50 is described below.

The method provides for arranging a box 50 in operative condition, in which it is engaged to the containment housing 102 of a prefabricated electric duct 100; at least one functional element 14 is in the advanced position, in which it is in contact with the respective conductive bar 101 , and the selector 28', 28" is in the actuation element release configuration. The operative condition of the box 50 is illustrated by way of example in figure 10.

The method provides for determining, by means of the actuation element 21 , the transition of the control member 20 from the operative condition to the rest condition so as to interrupt the connection between at least one functional element 14 and the respective conductive bar 101. During this transition, the control member 20 is in the guiding condition, in which it guides at least one functional element 14 from the advanced position to the retracted position. The method may provide for determining, by means of the actuation element 21 acting on the control member 20, the transition of all the functional elements 14, or of all the functional elements 14 except one, from the advanced position to the retracted position.

The method provides for actuating the safety device 56 to prevent movement of the actuation element 21 in such a way as to prevent the connection of at least one functional element 14 to the respective conductive bar 101 and consequently allow securing the box 50. The step of actuating the safety device 56 is carried out by moving the door 54 from the closed position to the open position so as to interpose at least the second section 56b of the interference tab 56 between the actuation element 21 and the second opening 53 along the trajectory of movement of the actuation element 21. Figure 9 illustrates the condition in which the box 50 is in safety, in which the second section 56b of the interference tab 56 is interposed between the actuation element 21 and the second opening 53 along the trajectory of movement of the actuation element 21. The actuation step of the safety device 56 may be subsequent to the attainment of the retracted position by at least one functional element 14. In the embodiment of the box 50 shown in the accompanying figures, the actuation step of the safety device 56 is subsequent to the attainment of the retracted position by the functional elements 14 since, when the handle 21 is in operative condition, the gripping portion 21c of the handle 21 is placed in front of the door 54 and, in this position, is arranged along the opening trajectory of the door 54 and consequently prevents the transition of the door 54 from the closed position to the open position; therefore, when the handle 21 is in operative condition, the door 54 cannot be opened.

The method for installing the box 50 is described below.

The method provides for arranging a box 50 and a prefabricated electric duct 100. The box 50 may be provided with the actuation element 21 of the contact assembly 1 in the rest condition (see figures 1 to 4). The box 50 may already be arranged in engagement with the containment housing 102 of the prefabricated electric duct 100 (condition shown in figure 9); in this condition of engagement of the box 50 to the containment housing 102, the selector 28', 28" is in the actuation element release configuration (see figure 9). Alternatively, the method may provide a step of engagement of the box 50 to the containment housing 102 of the prefabricated electric duct 100 by means of the constraint portion 31 of the selector 28', 28" to reach the condition illustrated in figure 9; this variant of the method provides that the selector 28', 28" is in the actuation element locking configuration and that, in order to reach the condition of engagement of the box 50 to the containment housing 102, the transition of the selector 28', 28" from the actuation element locking configuration to the actuation element release configuration takes place. At this point, at least one functional element 14 is in the retracted position where it is not in contact with the respective conductive bar 101; figure 9 illustrates the condition in which all the functional elements 14 are in the retracted position.

The method provides for actuating the safety device 56 to allow movement of the actuation element 21 in such a way as to allow the connection of at least one functional element 14 to the respective conductive bar 101 and consequently installing the box 50. The installed box 50 is shown by way of example in figure 10. The step of actuating the safety device 50 provides for moving the door 54 from the open position to the closed position so as to abut the lockable flange 55 carried by the cover to the lockable portion 24, 25 of the actuation element 21. This step provides for facing or aligning the through holes of the lockable flange 55 and of the lockable portion 24, 25 of the actuation element 21.

The method provides for determining, by means of the actuation element 21, the transition of the control member 20 from the rest condition to the operative condition so as to establish the connection between at least one functional element 14 and the respective conductive bar 101. During this transition, the control member 20 is in the guiding condition, in which it guides at least one functional element 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position. The method may provide for determining, by means of the actuation element 21 acting on the control member 20, the transition of all the functional elements 14, or of all the functional elements 14 except one, from the retracted position to the advanced position. The actuation step of the safety device 56 may be prior to the attainment of the advanced position by at least one functional element 14. Optionally, the method may provide for locking the lockable flange 55 to the lockable portion 24, 25 of the actuation element 21. The locking is carried out when the actuation element 21 is in the operative condition (see figure 10); in this condition, the through hole of the lockable flange 55 faces and is aligned with the through hole of the lockable portion 25. The locking may provide for engaging in a though manner a padlock at the through holes and closing the padlock.

ADVANTAGES OF THE I NVENTION

The present invention allows obtaining a contact assembly 1 which allows operating the actuation element 21 only in desired conditions. The desired conditions are safety conditions for an operator, which may be, for example, an installer or a maintenance technician. In fact, the actuation element 21 may be operated to determine the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position only when the contact assembly 1 is engaged to the containment housing 102 of a prefabricated electric duct 100; this is possible by means of the selector 28', 28". The contact assembly 1 according to the invention further prevents the operation of the actuation element 21 when the contact assembly 1 is not engaged to the containment housing 102 of a prefabricated electric duct 100. The contact assembly 1 also advantageously has a compact structure, in which the control of the actuation element 21 and of the control member 20 is carried out by means of the selector 28', 28".

These advantages are also applicable to the box 50 comprising the contact assembly 1 according to the invention.

Furthermore, the box 50 allows the actuation element 21 to be operated to determine the transition of the functional elements 14 from the retracted position to the advanced position only when the door 54 is in the closed position. This is particularly advantageous in that it allows the electrical connection of the box 50 to the prefabricated electric duct 100 only in a condition of safety for an operator, in which the inner volume of the box 50 is not accessible since the door 54 is closed. Having no access to live components, the operator may operate in complete safety.

The invention also provides a method for connecting the contact assembly 1 to a prefabricated electric duct 100, which is advantageous in that it makes it possible, by means of the selector 28', 28", to connect the contact assembly 1 to a prefabricated electric duct 100 only when the contact assembly 1 is engaged to the containment housing 102 of the prefabricated electric duct 100.

The method of disconnecting the contact assembly 1 from a prefabricated electric duct 100 according to the invention is advantageous in that it makes it possible, by means of the selector 28', 28", to make the contact assembly 1 safe after having disconnected the functional elements 14 from the respective conductive bars 101. The advantages of the method of connecting the contact assembly 1 to a prefabricated electric duct 100 and the method of disconnecting the contact assembly 1 from a prefabricated electric duct 100 are also applicable, mutatis mutandis, in the event that the assembly of contact 1 is installed in a box 50.

With regard to the method for securing a box 50 according to the invention, it should be noted that it is advantageous in that it allows blocking the actuation element 21 when it is desired that the functional elements 14 of the box 50 are not connected to the conductive bars 101 , for example for carrying out maintenance operations on the prefabricated electric duct 100. Finally, the method for installing a box 50 according to the invention is advantageous in that it allows the electrical connection of the box 50 to the prefabricated electric duct 100 only in a condition of safety for an operator, in which the inner volume of the box 50 is not accessible since the door 54 is closed.