A prior art hinge is known from US-A-5 722 121. This hinge comprises a pin. The pin is insertable into a fixed hinge body and a movable hinge body. The pin is provided with two recesses which are spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction. The recesses taper outwardly in opposite directions and define a shaft portion between them. One of the recesses terminates in a step. An elastic pin retaining member cooperates with the two recesses. The step is provided to prevent that the pin can be completely pulled out. When the pin is completely inserted, an handling portion of the pin engages with the hinge body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge which allows a precise hinging and unhinging irrespective of dimensional tolerances.

This object is achieved by a hinge having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous further developments are set out in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, both outwardly tapered recesses of the pin terminate in a step. By an abutment of the elastic pin retaining member with each of the steps, end positions of a longitudinal displacement for pulling the pin out and pushing the pin into the hinge are defined so that a well defined opened and a well defined closed condition of the hinge are guaranteed. Since the pin is provided with a step establishing the technical function of a stop for the closed condition of

the hinge, the hinge can comply with high dimensional tolerances of the pin.

Preferably, the elastic pin retaining member is formed as a slotted or C-shaped ring.

Preferably, the movable hinge body comprises a slot in which the pin retaining member is received so as to prevent a longitudinal displacement thereof.

According to an advantageous further development, two separate movable hinge bodies abut on opposite ends of the fixed hinge body. Each movable hinge body is provided with a separate pin.

The separate pins are introduced into the hinge from opposite ends.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a side panel and a bottom panel in an assembled condition.

Fig. 2 shows the side panel and the bottom panel of Fig. 1 before assembly.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of main parts of an enclosure comprising the side panel and bottom panel of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the assembled enclosure of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a sealing to be mounted between the side panel and the bottom panel.

Figs. 6 to 8 show details of the sealing of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 shows a rear view of a front door panel.

Fig. 10 shows a rear view of a mounting bracket.

Fig. 11 shows a side view of the mounting bracket of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows a front view of the mounting bracket of Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the mounting bracket of Figs. 10 to 12.

Fig. 14 shows a bottom view of a lock clip.

Fig. 15 shows a rear view of the lock clip of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 shows a side view of the lock clip of Figs. 14 and 15.

Fig. 17 shows a front view of the lock clip of Figs. 14 to 16.

Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of the lock clip of Figs. 14 to 17.

Fig. 19 is a sectional side view showing the mounting bracket placed on a surface and carrying the enclosure before the lock clip is mounted.

Fig. 20 shows a partial top view of the bottom panel of Fig. 1.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing how the mounting bracket is placed with respect to the enclosure before the lock clip is mounted.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the mounting bracket after the lock clip has been mounted.

Fig. 23 shows various mounting position of the mounting bracket.

Fig. 24 shows a perspective view of a pin of a hinge.

Fig. 25 shows an exploded view of the hinge.

Fig. 26 shows an exploded view of the hinge partly mounted.

Fig. 27 shows an exploded view of the hinge in its mounted position.

As can best be seen from Figs. 3 and 4 an enclosure for electrical components, such as an enclosure for electric load centers or switches, consists basically of a bottom panel 1, a right side panel 7, a left side panel 7', a top panel 1', a rear panel 34, a front door 35 hinged to one of the side panels

7,7'and sealings 14 placed between the side and bottom or top panels 1,1', 7,7', respectively.

Preferably, the left and right side panels 7,7'are identical.

However, it is also possible that they are only mirrorsymmetrical with respect to a plane extending through the middle of the enclosure. The bottom and top panels 1,1'are preferably also formed in an identical manner. They can, however, be formed mirrorsymmetrically. Furthermore, each of the panels comprises a symmetrical structure with respect to a plane extending through the middle of the enclosure.

Preferably, each panel is symmetrical to two perpendicular planes both extending through the middle of the enclosure.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, each of the panels 1,1', 7,7'and 34 comprises a flat outer surface.

Fig. 2 shows the side panel 7 and the bottom panel 1 before they are assembled.

The bottom panel 1 comprises, at its inner surface, a cross wall 3 which is parallel to an outer terminating wall 4 being curved from the inner surface upwardly so as to extend perpendicular to the outer surface of the bottom panel 1.

The cross wall 3 and the outer terminating wall 4 limit between them a recess 2 which extends in parallel to the lateral edge of the bottom panel 1. Both, the cross wall 3 and the outer terminating wall 4 have a limited predetermined height.

Within the recess 2, two bosses 5 and 6 project from the inner surface of the recess 2. Preferably, the inner surface of the bottom panel 1 and the inner surface of the recess 2 lie on one common plane. The bosses 5 and 6 have a round shape.

Reinforcement ribs extend from the bosses 5 and 6 towards the cross wall 3 and the outer terminating wall 4.

At longitudinal edges of the bottom panel 1, lip edges 16,17 are provided which form the outer longitudinal edges of the bottom panel 1. The lip edges 16,17 extend from the inner surface of the bottom panel 1 substantially perpendicular to the outer surface thereof. At the corner of the bottom panel 1 each lip edge 16,17 gradually increases its height with a round transition up to a height which is substantially equal to the height of the cross wall 3 and that of the outer terminating wall 4.

Parallel to and longitudinally spaced apart from the lip edges 16,17, there are provided two parallel inner walls 18,19, which have a limited predetermined height substantially equal to the height of the cross wall 3 and of the outer terminating wall 4 and greater than the height of the lip edges 16,17.

The front surface of the front inner wall 18 and the rear surface of the rear inner wall 19 are provided in their upper thirds with a plurality of raised flat portions 36 alternating with a plurality of recessed flat portions 37. The thickness of the inner wall in the area of the raised flat portions 37 is substantially equal to the thickness of the root of the inner wall, whereas at the recessed portions 36 the wall thickness is reduced.

While the recess 2 is limited in a lateral direction by the cross wall 3 and the outer terminating wall 4, the recess 2 is limited in a longitudinal direction by the inner walls 16,17.

An upper free end of the outer terminating wall 4 is provided with a groove 15 which continuously extends at a substantially perpendicular angle into a groove 20,21 provided at an edge face of the inner walls 18,19. The continuous grooves 15,20, 21 serve to receive a sealing 14 including its angled legs 22, 23 provided at a lateral free end of the sealing 14.

As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 20, a plurality of lugs 66 for mounting a hinge-which will be described later-are arranged in pairs in the recesses between the lip edges 16,17 and the inner walls 18,19. A rib 65 is provided in parallel to the lip edges 16,17 and the inner walls 18,19, that is, between that pair of lugs 66 which is closest to the corner of the bottom panel 1. Furthermore, the rib 65 has a prolongation on that side of the outermost pair of lugs 66 which is directed to the corner of the bottom panel 1. The section of the rib 65 can be seen in Fig. 19. The height of the rib 65 is smaller than the height of the lip edge 16,17. The inner side of the rib 65 is curved.

Returning to Fig. 2 the side panel 7 comprises, at an edge to be connected to the bottom or top panel 1,1', an end wall 8 which extends at a substantial perpendicular angle to the outer surface of the side panel 7 from the inner surface thereof. The length of the end wall 8 substantially corresponds to the lateral width of the recess 2 of the bottom panel 1. In the present embodiment, the end wall 8 is provided with two indented portions 9,10 which are indented in height direction by an amount which is substantially equal to the height of the bosses 5,6 of the bottom panel 1. In the present embodiment the indented portions 9,10 are limited by three walls surrounding it in a cuboid shape. Thus, each indented portion 9,10 is open in both lateral directions. The indented wall of the indented portions 5,6, which is parallel to the end wall 8, comprises a slot 11,12 which is open in one lateral direction of the enclosure, i. e. towards the inner side of the enclosure.

The outer surface of the side panel 7 comprises, at the transition to the portion to be inserted into the recess 2 of the bottom panel 1, a step 13 which is recessed toward the inner side of the enclosure. Since the thickness of the wall of the side panel 7 is substantially constant, the inner surface of the side panel 7 comprises a corresponding step.

The longitudinal edges of the side panel 7 are provided with lip edges 30,31 similar to the lip edges 16,17 of the bottom panel 1. The height of the lip edges 30,31 of the side panel 7 corresponds to the height of the lip edges 16,17 of the bottom panel 1. The lip edges 30,31 of the side panel 7 terminate in height direction of the enclosure at a position corresponding to the step 13.

Furthermore, the side panel 7 comprises inner walls 32,33 having a height which is substantially equal to the height of the inner walls 18,19 of the bottom panel 1. The inner walls 32,33 of the side panel 7 are parallel to and spaced apart from the lip edges 30,31 in substantially the same manner as the inner walls 18,19 and the lip edges 16,17 of the bottom panel 1. Furthermore, a rib 65 and mounting lugs 66 for hinges are provided between the inner walls 32,33 and the lip edges 30,31 of the side panel 7 in the same manner as those of the bottom panel 1. Moreover, the outer surface of the inner walls 32,33 of the side panel 7 is provided with alternating recessed and raised flat portions in a similar manner as the inner walls 18,19 of the bottom panel 1.

The inner walls 32,33 of the side panel 7 comprise a step 25, 26 at a position corresponding to the position of the step 13.

The steps 13,25,26 continuously adjoin each other. The portion of the inner walls 32,33 below the steps 25,26 is adapted to be inserted into the recess 2 between the inner walls 18,19 of the bottom panel 1. Thus, the distance between the outer surfaces of the inner walls 32,33 below the steps 25,26 substantially corresponds to the distance between the inner surfaces of the inner walls 18,19 of the bottom panel 1 in the area of the recess 2.

For assembling the enclosure, the sealing 14 with its angled legs 22,23 is placed into the grooves 15,20,21 of the outer terminating wall 4 and the inner walls 17,19. Thereafter the

end wall 8 of the side panel 7 is inserted into the recess 2 of the bottom panel 1 until the steps 13,25,26 abut to the sealing 14 and its angled legs 22,23. The outer surfaces of the inner walls 32,33 below the steps 25,26 fit closely with the inner surfaces of the inner walls 18,19 of the bottom panel 1. The outer surface of the side panel 7 below the step 13 fits closely with the inner surface of the outer terminating wall 4 of the bottom panel 1. The free ends of the inner walls 32,33 and the free end of the end wall 8 closely fit with the lateral outer surface of the cross wall 3 of the bottom panel 1.

The bosses 5,6 are received within the indented portions 9,10 until the upper ends of the bosses 5,6 abut to the lower surface of the indented portions 9,10. A fastener, preferably a self-tapping screw (not shown), is inserted through each slot 11,12 and screwed into holes provided in the bosses 5,6 for fixing the bottom panel 1 and the side panel 7 to each other.

In the assembled condition as shown in Fig. 1, the lip edges 16,17 of the bottom panel 1 and the lip edges 30,31 of the side panel 7 form a continuous lip edge of the enclosure. The front or rear surfaces of the inner walls 18,19 of the bottom panel 1 and the front or rear surfaces of the inner walls 32, 33 are aligned with each other to form a continuous sealing surface to be described later.

As can be seen in Figs. 5 to 8 at a free end of sealing legs 22,23 of the sealing 14 the profile of the sealing 14 is curved outwardly where it ends. A flat border element 28 is integrally formed on top of the the outwardly curved portion.

The flat boarder element 28 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the top with a relief 27 at the side to which the profile is curved. The middle axis of the flat border element 28 is displaced from an axis of the profile of the legs. At the lower side of the sealing 14 a plurality of downwardly extending

projections 29 are provided, wherein one of the projections 29 is provided below the flat border element 28.

The projections 29 are inserted into corresponding blind holes inside the grooves 15,20,21. The flat border elements 28 prevent the sealing 14 from being compressed and displaced when joining together the bottom panel 1 and the side panel 7.

Fig. 9 shows a rear view of the front door 35. As can be seen from this Fig., the rear surface of the front door 35 is provided with a surrounding sealing which is installed in a serpentine-like manner. The serpentines of the sealing correspond to the form of the raised portions 36,38 of the inner walls 18,19,32,33 of the bottom panel 1 and the top panel 7. The serpentine-like sealing of the front door 35 comes into abutment with only the raised portions 36 38 of the inner walls 18,19,32,33, thus forming a continuous sealing plane.

In the serpentines of the sealing of the front door 35, lugs for mounting the hinges are provided. The lugs for the hinges are provided along every edge of the front door 35 thus guaranteeing a high degree of freedom in selecting the position of the hinges. Furthermore, a well known closing mechanism is attached to the front door 35.

Now turning to Figs. 10 to 22, a mounting system for fixedly mounting the enclosure to a surface such as a wall will be described in detail.

The mounting system comprises a mounting bracket 40 which is shown in Figs. 10 to 13 as well as a lock clip which is shown in Figs. 14 to 18.

The mounting bracket 40 has a flat plate-like mounting portion 41 which is provided with two oval through holes 51,52 and one circular through hole 53 interposed therebetween. The oval through holes 51,52 are laterally open at two opposite edges

of the mounting bracket 40. Any of the through holes 51,52,53 serves to receive a conventional fixing means mounted to a wall for fixing the mounting bracket 40 to the wall.

The mounting bracket 40 further has a hook-like projection portion 42 projecting from the mounting portion 41 in forward direction. The projection portion 42 curves upwardly from an end of the mounting portion 41, preferably by bending the end up. The projection portion 42 extends substantially perpendicular to the non-curved, flat mounting portion 41. A free end of the projection portion 42 is curved or bent further upwards. The tip of the projection portion 42 forms an acute angle with respect to the mounting portion 41.

The curved transition between the mounting portion 41 and the projection portion 42 is provided with two reinforcement bulges 44 spaced apart in a width direction of the mounting bracket 40. In the present embodiment the reinforcement bulges 44 are formed by incurvating the bent transition between the mounting portion 41 and the projection portion 42.

The upwardly bent tip of the projection portion 42 is divided into two tongues 49,50 spaced apart from each other in the width direction.

With reference to Figs. 14 to 18, the lock clip 42 has an L- shaped configuration as viewed in Fig. 16. One of the legs 45, 46 of the L-shape has a U-shaped configuration as viewed in Fig. 17.

The inner side of the leg 46 of the L-shape which is free from the U-shape is provided with a reinforcement rib 48.

The legs of the U-shape are provided with circumferential reinforcement ribs. The length of the legs of the U-shape is slightly larger than the width of the mounting bracket 40. One of the legs of the U-shape is provided with a catch 47. The

catch 47 projects slightly inwardly and allows the lock clip 43 to be laterally snapped onto the mounting bracket 40.

As can be seen from Fig. 19, the inner surface of the rib 65 is curved with the same curvature as the curved tip of the projection portion 42 of the mounting bracket 40, so that the tongues 49,50 fit closely to the rib 65.

After the mounting bracket 40 is fixed to a surface such as a wall or the like by the conventional fixing means, the assembled enclosure is hung onto the mounting brackets 40 with the tongues 49,50 of the mounting brackets 40 embracing the ribs 65 from behind as shown in Fig. 19. The lug 66 which is nearer to the corner of the panel comes in position between the tongues 49,50. Thereafter, as is shown in Fig. 21, the lock clip 43 is placed on the enclosure with its leg 46 of the L- shape which is free from the U-shape being abutted on the bottom, top or side panel 1,1', 7,7'and the other leg 45 of the L-shape being abutted on lip edges 16,17,30,31 thereof as well as to the rear panel 34 of the enclosure.

The lock clip 43 is placed such that the U-shape is open toward the mounting bracket 40. Then the lock clip 43 is moved between the mounting portion 41 of the mounting bracket 40 and the enclosure. Thereby the tongues 49,50 of the mounting bracket 40 embracing the rib 65 from behind firmly engage with the rib 65 so that a displacement of the mounting bracket 40 with respect to the enclosure is prohibited.

As can be seen from Fig. 22, the lock clip 43 is moved to such an extent that the catch 47 engages with the mounting bracket 40, thus preventing an inadvertent releasing of the lock clip 43. The mounting system does not require any specific tool and is quickly engageable and releasable.

As has been mentioned above, the rib 65 is only provided in the area of the pair of lugs 66 for mounting the hinge near to the

corner of the respective panel. The resulting mounting positions for the mounting brackets 40 and lock clips 43 near the corners of the enclosure are shown in Fig. 23.

Now turning to Figs. 24 to 27, a hinge for pivoting the front door 35 to the enclosure will be described in detail.

The hinge comprises an enlongated pin 54 shown in Fig. 24 which is provided with two recesses 57,58 spaced apart from each other along the pin axis. The recesses 57,58 define a shaft portion 61 between them. The recesses 57,58 taper outwardly in opposite directions such that each recess 57,58 becomes the deeper the closer it is to the pin end. Preferably, the tapered form of the recesses 57,58 is conical. Each recess 57,58 terminates in a step 59,60 which is substantially perpendicular to the pin axis.

Furthermore, the pin 54 comprises at its outer free end a handling portion 64. The handling portion 64 is bent approximately by 80 to 90 degrees with respect to the pin axis.

The pin end opposite to the handling portion 64 is chamfered.

As is shown in Fig. 25, the hinge further comprises an elastic pin retaining member 62,62', preferably a slotted or C-shaped ring.

Moreover, the hinge has a fixed hinge body 55 formed by bending a stamped part. In the present embodiment each fixed hinge body 55 is assigned to two movable hinge bodies 56,56'. These two hinge bodies 56,56'abut on opposite ends of the fixed hinge body 55.

The fixed hinge body 55 forms two through holes spaced apart from each other in a hinge axis direction. Each of the through holes receives a separate pin 54,54'assigned to the movable hinge bodies 56,56', respectively. Also the movable hinge

bodies 56,56'are formed by bending a stamped part. Each movable hinge body 56,56'comprises a through hole receiving the assigned pin 54,54', respectively.

Furthermore, each movable hinge body 56,56'comprises a slot 63. The dimension of the slot 63 is such that the C-shaped ring 62 can be introduced to fit into the slot 63. Thus, a longitudinal displacement of the C-shaped ring 62 with respect to the hinge is prevented.

Each of the hinge bodies 55,56,56'is provided with suitable means for mounting them to the front door 35 and any of the panels. The fixed hinge body 55 comprises a pair of holes through which a pair of screws are inserted to be screwed to a pair of lugs 66 provided at the panels. The movable hinge body 56 comprises only one hole receiving a screw to be screwed into the lugs provided between the serpentines of the sealing of the front door 35. Furthermore, the movable hinge body 56 comprises two notches on opposite sides cooperating with corresponding projections of the front door 35 thus preventing a twist of the movable hinge body 56 with respect to the front door 35.

The distance between the side of the movable hinge body 56,56' abutting on the fixed hinge body 55 and the slot 63,63'is slightly larger than the length of the pin 54,54'between the chamfered pin end and the step 60 of the recess 58 which is closer to the chamfered pin end.

For mounting the hinge, each hinge body 55,56,56'is mounted to the respective component, i. e. the front door 35 or one of the panels. The pins 54,54'are introduced into the through holes of the movable hinge bodies 56,56'from outside of the hinge to such an extent that the shaft portion 61 of the pin lies under the slot 63,63'but that the chamfered pin end does not project from the movable hinge body 56. Each C-shaped ring 62,62'is pushed into the slot 63,63'thereby fitting it onto

the shaft portion 61 of the pin 54,54'. This condition is shown in Fig. 26.

Thereafter, the through holes of the hinge bodies 55,56,56' are brought into alignment with each other. Then the pin 54 is pushed in further until the step 59 which is closer to the handling portion 64 comes into abutment with the C-shaped ring 62.

Thus, for hinging the front door 35, the pin 54 is pushed from its pulled-out position until the step 59 which is closer to the handling portion 64 comes into abutment with the C-shaped ring 62. During the push action the expanded C-shaped ring 62 slides over the shaft portion 61 and contracts when the upper recess 57 is reached. The mounted position of the hinge is shown in Fig. 27.

The steps 59,60 of two recesses 57,58 define end positions of a longitudinal displacement of each pin 54,54'with respect to the hinge for an opened and closed condition thereof by abutment with the C-shaped ring 62,62'.

For unhinging the front door 35, the pin 54 is pulled out of the pushed-in position until the step 60 which is closer to the chamfered pin end comes into abutment with the C-shaped ring 62. During the pull action the expanded C-shaped ring 62 slides over the shaft portion 61 and contracts when the lower recess 58 is reached.

An inadvertent losing of the pin 54,54'is effectively prevented because it is always in contact with the movable hinge body 56,56'via the C-shaped ring 62,62'.

Although in the present embodiment the front door 35 is hinged to the right side panel 7, it can be hinged to any of the panels 1,1', 7,7'either at the front side or at the rear side.