EP2273052A1

EP2273052A1 - Masking device for wall-embedded equipment

Info

Publication number: EP2273052A1
Application number: EP20100164551
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianfranco Riva
Original assignee: Riva Emanuele
Current assignee: Riva Emanuele
Priority date: 2009-06-03
Filing date: 2010-06-01
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Also published as: ITMI20090971A1

Abstract

A masking device for wall-embedded equipment is described, comprising a planar frame (1) to be fastened to the wall, provided with a central opening (1b), wherein said equipment can be housed, and at least two opposite sides (1a) whereon parallel sliding rails are mounted (2, 3), said rails comprising a fixed component (2a, 3a) and a moving component (2b, 3b) cantilever sliding on said fixed component, the two homologous fixed components being integral with respective sides of said opposite sides (1a) of the frame (1) and the two homologous moving components being joined to a fastening plate (4) sliding between a folded-up and a pulled-out condition and whereon a decorative element apt to conceal said equipment (1) is applicable, said fixed components (2a, 3a) of the sliding rails being substantially contained in the perimeter of said planar frame (1).

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a masking device, in particular a masking frame to hide wall-embedded equipment, such as a safe.

Background Art

As known, especially in domestic environments, but also in other areas of public access, the need exists to conceal equipment built-in or embedded in walls, such as safes, electric panels, apertures and other.
A typical way of concealing such equipment is to apply on them furnishing items with a planar rear surface. It is known, for example, to hang paintings, mirrors or prints so as to cover domestic safes.
However, this approach is not easy if there is a need for frequent access to the concealed equipment, because it requires to detach the furnishing item, put it on the floor in a precarious balance and then hang it back up, risking to cause damage to the object which is being handled with no support.
In order to partly solve the drawbacks connected with this traditional solution, sometimes the masking object is directly connected to an access door of the same equipment to be concealed in the wall. However, this solution is not devoid of drawbacks either. As a matter of fact, unless the planar object is extremely thin and is applied precisely with its rectilinear perimeter along the hinge axis, it will always tend to impact against the wall during the rotation of the access door which is typically mounted flush with the wall (when closed). Therefore also this remedy is used in very few cases.

Summary of the Invention

The Applicants have hence set themselves the goal of addressing the problems cited above to provide a simple and inexpensive frame structure to be applied to a planar wall, which may include a furnishing element (painting, print, mirror, and so on) for masking equipment (such as a safe) embedded in a wall, and which is adequately supported both in the masking phase, and in a removal phase to gain access to the underlying equipment.
Such result has been effectively achieved through the original masking device described, in its essential elements, in the attached claims.
In particular, according to a first aspect of the invention, a masking device is provided for wall-embedded equipment, comprising a planar frame to be fastened to the wall, provided with a central aperture, wherein said equipment can be housed, and at least two opposite sides whereon parallel sliding rails are mounted, said rails comprising a fixed component and a moving component cantilever sliding on said fixed component, the two homologous fixed components being integral with respective sides of said opposite sides of the frame and the two homologous moving components being joined to a fastening plate sliding between a closed position and a pulled-out condition and whereon a decorative element suitable to conceal said equipment is applicable, said fixed components of the sliding rails being substantially contained within the perimeter of said planar frame.
The sliding rails preferably have at least two travel-end means which determine said closed and pulled-out conditions, respectively.
According to another aspect of the invention, the sliding rails are mounted so as to define a vertical sliding direction and excludable retaining means are provided, integral with the frame, apt to support the fastening plate and to avoid the sliding thereof due to gravity.
According to a further aspect of the invention, perimetrally to the frame there is provided a finishing bead rim of a thickness equivalent to the distance existing between the plate and the frame determined by the sliding rails. The finishing bead rim preferably consists of two parts, a fixed one with respect to the frame, along a side orthogonal to the sliding direction of the rails, and a moving one integral with said fastening plate along three remaining sides.
According to another aspect of the invention, a safe arrangement to be embedded in a wall is provided, of the type comprising a case to be embedded in a planar wall provided with a security door, and wherein a peripheral frame is provided, apt to be fastened to the planar surface of the wall, equipped with a device as detailed above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and advantages of the masking device according to the invention will in any case be more evident from the following detailed description, of preferred embodiments of the same, given by way of example and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention in masking position;
fig. 2 is a view similar to fig. 1 with the device in access position; and
figs. 3 and 4 are similar views to figs. 1 and 2, respectively, of an alternative embodiment.

The device according to the invention consists of few simple elements which, assembled in an original way, determine an effective operation for reaching the desired result.

Detailed Description of Some Exemplifying Embodiments

A frame 1 comprises a planar contour band 1a, of a minimal thickness but of adequate width (for example 3-5 cm), which defines a central aperture or window 1b. Frame 1, which defines a sort of basic frame, is intended to be fastened to a planar wall so as to circumscribe the wall-embedded equipment which one needs access to from time to time. For example, as shown in the drawings, a wall-embedded safe is housed within aperture 1b, while perimetral band 1a is fastened to the planar wall by wall plugs and screws. Band 1a has at least two parallel sides, mutually opposite with respect to window 1b, intended to be mounted typically horizontally or vertically on the wall. Preferably, perimetral band 1a is rectangular.
On two opposite, parallel sides of frame 1 there are mounted two parallel sliding rails 2 and 3. In particular, these rails 2 and 3 are built so as to have two components 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b mutually sliding in a longitudinal direction, but engaged in a crosswise direction, so as not to disengage under the application of forces crosswise to the main longitudinal axis of each rail. According to the invention, the two mutually sliding components of the rails are arranged one on top of the other, the lower fixed component 2a or 3a being mounted integrally with the band 1a of frame 1, and the upper moving component 2b or 3b being able to slide with respect to the lower one and hence with respect to frame 1.
It is essential, for the purposes of the invention, that the rails - or at least the fixed component of the rail - remain substantially recomprised and housed within the outer perimeter of frame 1, in a closed-up or folded-up condition, i.e. when moving component 2b, 3b of the rails is above fixed component 2a, 3a. The two moving components 2b and 3b of the rails therefore, sliding on the respective fixed components - in the way better described in the following - are apt to move into a cantilevered pulled-out or deployed position with respect to the two fixed components.
Typically, possible sliding rails to be used are the ball-recirculation rails for drawers, i.e. the guiding rails arranged between the flanks of a drawer and the respective shoulders of a cabinet. A basic component, the above-said fixed lower component, defines a sort of rail wherein the above-said moving component may slide, arranging bolts in between, said moving component consisting of a first sliding element wherein a second sliding element can possibly slide. The various components have a small thickness and hence define a sliding plane whereon the sliding bolts lie.
In a traditional use in wardrobe drawers, the sliding planes of the two parallel rails would be arranged vertically, parallel but distinct, because the respective components are located between the flanks of the drawer and the two shoulders of the cabinet. In their application to the present invention, instead, such sliding rails are mounted so that the two sliding planes of the two rails lie on the same plane, because the two rails are mounted lying on the same planar frame 1.
It is possible to use also other types of sliding rails. In any case, whatever the type of rail used, the first two homologous fixed components (i.e. equivalent components 2a and 3a on the two rails) of the rails are fastened on the same frame 1, while the other two homologous moving components (2b and 3b) are mounted on a same planar fastening plate 4, hence intended to slide parallel to frame 1.
Fastening plate 4 may consist of a solid rectangular plate, having a perimeter equal to or smaller (as shown) than the one of frame 1, or it may consist of a planar frame, possibly having a different profile than band 1a, provided it comprises two portions being fixed to each other and which may be fastened to the homologous moving components of the two rails 2 and 3.
Fastening plate 4 is furthermore equipped with hanging means (not shown), also shaped as simple holes, to fasten thereabove a painting or other decorative element suited to conceal to the sight underlying frame 1 and what it encloses.
Both plate 4 and frame 1 are preferably extremely thin: for example, they are shaped as light metal sheets of 0.5-1.5 millimetres thickness.
In the drawings, for the sake of illustration clarity, a smaller plate 4 is shown: it is understood that the decoration element applied thereon is intended to cover entirely - in the folded-up condition - rails 2, 3 and frame 1. Alternatively, it is provided for the same plate 4 - possibly finished in an aesthetically pleasing fashion - to serve as decorative covering element and hence to extend across an area at least such as to cover sliding rails 2 and 3 and frame 1.
Since rails 2 and 3 have their own thickness, fastening plate 4 remains at a certain distance from wall-mounted planar frame 1. This distance, for example of 1-1.5 cm, defines a gap between the decorative element applied to plate 4 and the wall, which may be visible with an unpleasant aesthetic effect. Such gap may also be intentionally larger, arranging in between spacers between the wall and frame 1, in case the wall-embedded object has protruding elements with which plate 4 risks interfering.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, perimetrally to basic frame 1 a bead rim (not shown) having a thickness at least equivalent to that of rails 2 and 3 is hence provided, which fills and closes the gap between planar frame 1 and plate 4.
In order to allow nevertheless the sliding between plate 4 and frame 1, the bead rim is preferably disassembled into two parts: a first part fixed with respect to frame 1, which represents a terminal edge on a single side perpendicular to the two rails 2 and 3, and a second moving one, integral with sliding plate 4 and which represents a terminal edge on the three remaining sides.
This bead rim may also be bevelled and hence joined to the wall, like the typical finishing frames of paintings, obtaining a pleasant effect especially if the decorative element applied to plate 4 has the same perimeter as the plate itself. The finishing bead rim may be of any material and colour which is aesthetically pleasant as a complement to the device according to the invention, playing no structural function.
The operation of the device of the invention provides to first fasten planar frame 1 (provided with the fixed components of the rails) to the wall, for example by means of wall plugs and screws, circumscribing the equipment to be concealed. After which, if the device is not already fully assembled, it is provided to apply fastening plate 4, coupling in a way known per se, the two sliding components of rails 2 and 3 to the corresponding fixed components. Plate 4 is hence slidingly mounted on frame 1 along a plane parallel to the wall. Thereon a decorative element such as a painting is finally fastened or hung.
If the two rails 2 and 3 are arranged with the sliding axes horizontal - as shown in the embodiment of figs. 3 and 4 - the sliding of plate 4 is always stable, from right to left and vice versa. Should rails 2 and 3 be instead arranged with the respective sliding axes according to the vertical - as illustrated in the embodiment of figs. 1 and 2 - it is necessary to provide means for retaining plate 4 in the two desired travel-end positions, i.e. the folded up one, in which it covers from sight frame 1 and the enclosed wall-mounted equipment, and the extended one in which it grants access to aperture 1b and to the wall-embedded equipment.
In this last case, one of the travel ends may be determined by the same travel end of rails 2 and 3. In order not to risk sudden drops of fastening plate 4 under its own weight, it is preferable for the travel end of rails 2 and 3 to be provided with plate 4 in the equipment-concealing position (fig. 1): with this configuration, in order to be able to access the rear-lying embedded object, it is necessary to raise plate 4 upwards. In such case, in order to define the raised travel end, suspension pawls 6 and 7 are provided mounted on frame 1 and pivoting according to horizontal axes. The pawls are configured to be able to pivot between a folded-up position, in which they are embedded in a respective seat and hence do not interfere with plate 4, and a pulled-out position in which they remain protruding in the direction of plate 4: they are hence partly pulled out, after they appear to sight from the raising of plate 4. They therefore define two support points for plate 4 which may be retained by its natural descent along rails 2 and 3 under its own weight due to gravity. The user can then block plate 4 and the relative decorative element in the raised position, so as to act comfortably, with both hands free, on the rear-lying wall-embedded equipment.
As can be clearly understood, due to the simple configuration offered here, an inexpensive device for masking wall-embedded equipment is provided, which is also extremely stable, simple to install (few wall plugs are sufficient) and practical to use.
However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular configurations illustrated above, which represent only non-limiting examples of the scope of the invention, but that a number of variants are possible, all within the reach of a person skilled in the field, without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, the upper travel end stops could also be of a different shape: instead of pivoting pawls, as a matter of fact pull-out pins or magnetic couplings may for example be provided.

Claims

Masking device for wall-embedded equipment, characterised in that it comprises a planar frame (1) to be fastened to the wall, provided with a central aperture (1b), wherein said equipment can be housed, and at least two opposite sides (1a) whereon parallel sliding rails (2, 3) are mounted, said rails comprising a fixed component (2a, 3a) and a moving component (2b, 3b) cantilever sliding on said fixed component, the two homologous fixed components being fixed to respective sides of said opposite sides (1a) of the frame (1) and the two homologous moving components being joined to a fastening plate (4) sliding between a folded-up condition and a pulled-out condition and whereon a decorative element apt to conceal said equipment (1) is applicable, said fixed components (2a, 3a) of the sliding rails being substantially contained in the perimeter of said planar frame (1).
Device as claimed in claim 1), wherein said sliding rails (2, 3) have at least two travel-end means which determine said folded-up and pulled-out conditions, respectively.
Device as claimed in claim 1) or 2), wherein said sliding rails (2, 3) are mounted so as to define a horizontal sliding direction.
Device as claimed in claim 1) or 2), wherein said sliding rails (2, 3) are mounted so as to define a vertical sliding direction and there are provided excludable retaining means (6, 7), integral with said frame (1), apt to support said plate (4) and prevent the sliding thereof due to gravity.
Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein perimetrally to said frame (1) there is provided a finishing bead rim of a thickness equivalent to the distance existing between plate (4) and frame (1) determined by the sliding rails (2, 3).
Device as claimed in claim 5), wherein said finishing bead rim is in two parts, one fixed with respect to the frame, along an orthogonal side to the sliding direction of the rails, and a moving one integral with said fastening plate (4) along three remaining sides.
Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said frame (1) is in the shape of a planar annular frame.
Arrangement of a safe to be wall-embedded, of the type comprising a case to be embedded in a planar wall provided with a security door, characterised in that it comprises a peripheral frame, which is apt to be fixed to the planar surface of the wall, provided with a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.