EP3179016A1

EP3179016A1 - Cover plate arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP3179016A1
Application number: EP16197697.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Veikko VIITANEN
Original assignee: Abloy Oy
Current assignee: Abloy Oy
Priority date: 2015-12-08
Filing date: 2016-11-08
Publication date: 2017-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-08
Also published as: FI127011B; EP3179016B1; FI20155927A; SG10201610178XA; DK3179016T3; LT3179016T

Abstract

The invention is based on the idea that an underplate (7) can be firmly installed, unsupported by a lever handle or a turn knob, and the installation is quick. The cover plate arrangement according to the invention comprises a screw-mountable underplate (7) and a cover plate (1) to be fitted thereon. The cover plate comprises a front plate (2) and a lateral portion (3). The lateral portion of the cover plate comprises an inward-projecting wing (9) at the edge (10A) of the lateral portion opposite to the edge (10B) between the front plate and the lateral portion. A lateral groove (11) is left between the inner wing and the front plate. An edge (17) of the underplate can be turned into the lateral groove (11).

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a cover plate arrangement. The cover plate arrangement refers to an arrangement intended for covering, for example, an opening in a door face, located at a lock, and, possibly, at a lever handle or a turn knob.

Prior art

A door lock is installed inside a door. If the door is a wooden door, the door is provided with a fitting cavity for the lock. Metal doors as such may have a fitting space inside of them. Besides, both faces of the door are usually provided with openings, at the position of the lock, the openings allowing a lever handle or a turn knob, or a cylinder lock, to be connected to the lock, also called a lock case, recessed inside the door.
The opening in the door face is covered by a cover plate arrangement. In a known cover plate arrangement, an underplate is used on each side of the door, tightened against the door by screws/bolts. In this text, the term "fixing screws" includes fixing bolts as well because both the designations are often used to refer to the same fixing members. The cover plate is fitted on the underplate. The cover plate may have small projections against the underplate, thus creating a so-called snap-in joint between the cover plate and the underplate. Both the cover plate and the underplate can be provided with a center opening for a spindle and a lever handle to be mounted thereon. It is also possible that the lever handles mounted on the spindle, on each side of the door, hold the cover plate against the underplate.
In another known cover plate arrangement, the cover plate is provided with through-holes or projecting screw fittings for fixing screws. The cover plates are tightened against the door face by the fixing screws interconnecting the cover plates on opposite sides of the door. This embodiment allows a lever handle to be fixed to the cover plate by using a fixing ring.
The known solutions suffer from the problem that the cover plates, and the lever handles possibly present therein, are rather difficult and time-consuming to install. If they are premounted at the door factory, the lever handles take up a considerable amount of space during the transport of the doors to the installation site. Besides, the person that has ordered the door may later want different lever handles, with the consequence that the premounted lever handles, and possibly the cover plates, must be replaced. If the lever handles and the cover plates are not premounted, they save space in transportation but it takes a relatively long time to install them at the installation site.

Brief description of the invention

The invention aims at eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art. The independent claim describes how to achieve this. The dependent claims disclose different embodiments of the invention. The invention is based on the idea of installing the underplate already at the door factory, and, of quickly installing the cover plate firmly, unsupported by a lever handle or a turn knob.
The cover plate arrangement according to the the invention comprises a screw-mounted underplate and a cover plate to be fitted thereon. The cover plate comprises a front plate and a lateral portion. The lateral portion of the cover plate comprises an inward-projecting wing at the edge of the lateral portion opposite to the edge between the front plate and the lateral portion. A lateral groove is left between the inner wing and the front plate. The underplate comprises at least one projection transverse to the diameter of the underplate, being open at one end and connected to the rest of the underplate at the other end.
The inner face of the front plate comprises a first recess, a second recess and a ridge between the first recess and the second recess. As the cover plate is fitted on the underplate, the first recess is arranged to be positioned at the first end of the transverse projection of the underplate. As the cover plate fitted on the underplate is turned in a first direction, the projection is arranged to yield elastically, with the first, that is, open end of the projection moving over the ridge, and, once the open end of the projection has moved over the ridge, the second recess is arranged to be positioned at the first end of the transverse projection of the underplate. Besides, an edge of the underplate is arranged to move, at least partly, into the lateral groove.
The edge of the underplate that has moved into the lateral groove holds the cover plate against the underplate, while the end of the projection that is received into the second recess prevents the turning of the cover plate, in a normal situation.

List of Figures

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein

Figure 1: shows an example of the cover plate of a cover plate arrangement according to the invention,
Figure 2: is a lateral view of the cover plate of Figure 1,
Figure 3: shows an example of the cover plate arrangement according to the invention,
Figure 4: is a cross-sectional view of the cover plate arrangement of Figure 3,
Figure 5: shows the cover plate arrangement of Figure 3, with the cover plate and the underplate locked to each other,
Figure 6: is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 5,
Figure 7: shows another example of the cover plate of a cover plate arrangement according to the invention,
Figure 8: shows an example of the underplate of a cover plate arrangement according to the invention,
Figure 9: shows another example of the cover plate arrangement according to the invention,
Figure 10: shows the cover plate arrangement of Figure 9, with the cover plate and the underplate locked to each other,
Figure 11: is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 9,
Figure 12: is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 10,
Figure 13: shows still another example of the cover plate arrangement according to the invention,
Figure 14: is a closer view of the cover plate and the underplate of the cover plate arrangement of Figure 13,
Figure 15: is a lateral view of the cover plate of Figure 14,
Figure 16: shows the cover plate and the underplate of Figure 14 as fitted on top of each other,
Figure 17: shows the cover plate and the underplate of Figure 16 as locked to each other,
Figure 18: is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 16, and
Figure 19: is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 17.

Description of the invention

Figure 1 shows an example of the cover plate 1 of a cover plate arrangement according to the invention. Figure 2 is a lateral view of the cover plate of Figure 1. The cover plate of this embodiment is rectangular in shape. The cover plate comprises a front plate 2 and a lateral portion 3. Depending on the embodiment, the front plate may comprise an opening 4 for a lever handle and for the spindle thereof and/or an opening 5 for a lock cylinder. The lateral portion may comprise an internally threaded hole 6 for a locking screw that may be present.
Figure 3 shows an example of the cover plate arrangement according to the invention, with the cover plate 1 and the underplate 7 fitted on top of each other. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cover plate arrangement of Figure 3. The underplate is screw-mountable to a second underplate provided on the opposite side of the door. The underplate comprises through-holes 8 for fixing screws. The underplate also comprises a central opening 4A for a lever handle spindle and a lever handle.
Thus, the cover plate arrangement according to the invention comprises a screw-mountable underplate 7 and a cover plate 1 to be fitted thereon. The cover plate comprises a front plate 2 and a lateral portion 3. As shown in Figure 4, the lateral portion 3 of the cover plate comprises an inward-projecting wing 9 at the edge 10A of lateral portion opposite to the edge 10B between the front plate 2 and the lateral portion 3. A lateral groove 11 is left between the inner wing 9 and the front plate 2. The underplate 7 comprises at least one projection 12 transverse to the diameter of the underplate, being open at one end 12A and connected to the rest of the underplate at its other end 12B. The example shown in Figure 3 includes two the transverse projections but they can also be three or more in number, for instance.
Figure 3 also shows the cover plate arrangement in a partial cross-sectional view the boundary of which is designated by a dashed line C. As appears from the cross-sectional area in Figure 3, the inner face 13 of the lateral portion 3 of the front plate 1, that is, the face directed towards the middle area of the cover plate and the opening 4 possibly provided for a spindle, comprises a first recess 14, a second recess 15 and a ridge 16 between the first recess and the second recess. The lateral groove 11, the first recess and the second recess can be of equal depth. However, it is possible that the first recess 14 and the second recess 15 are at least somewhat deeper than the lateral groove 11. With respect to the ridge 16, the first recess and the second recess are recesses on each side thereof and adjacent thereto.
As the cover plate 1 is fitted on the underplate 7, the first recess 14 is arranged to be positioned at the first end 12A of the transverse projection of the underplate, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 is a view from the rear, that is, from the door, in an installation situation, giving the impression that the underplate is on top of the cover plate. However, the underplate is installed, during installation, against the door by means of fixing screws extending to the underplate provided on the opposite side of the door. Sockets for the fixing screws are provided in connection with either of the underplates on opposite sides of door (see Figure 13). The fixing screws and the sockets are known per se. It is also possible that the fixing stubs with internally threaded holes are integrated with the underplate.
The cover plate 1 fitted on the underplate 7 can be turned. Figure 5 shows the cover plate arrangement in a situation where the cover plate is turned with respect to the underplate. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 5. As the cover plate fitted on the underplate is turned in a first direction, the transverse projection 12 is arranged to yield elastically, with the open end 12A of the projection moving over the ridge 16, and, once the open end 12A of the projection has moved over the ridge, the second recess 15 is arranged to be positioned at the first end 12A, that is, the open end of the transverse projection of the underplate. The moving of the first end 12A of the projection over the ridge 16 is due to a mutual change of position of the underplate 7 and the cover plate 1, caused by turning the cover plate in an installation situation. The same move can also be caused by turning the underplate with respect to the cover plate where the underplate is not installed on the door, for example. In other words, the moving of the first end 12A of the transverse projection is not tied to which one of the plates is turned but can be caused by turning either the underplate or the cover plate. Turning the underplate is especially relevant where it is desired to demonstrate the operation in a non-installation situation, while turning the cover plate is relevant in an installation situation. Besides, an edge 17 of the underplate is arranged to move, at least partially, into the lateral groove 11.
The edge 17 of the underplate that has moved into the lateral groove 11 holds the cover plate against the underplate. In other words, it is not possible, under normal circumstances, to pull the cover plate off the underplate. Figure 6 clarifies this situation. The end 12A of the transverse projection that is received into the second recess 15, in turn, prevents the turning of the cover plate, under normal circumstances, because it rests against the ridge 16. The cover plate is neither loose nor freely movable in the turning directions of the cover plate, that is, in the first direction and the second direction opposite thereto. The ridge 16, the second recess 15, and/or the edge 17 of the underplate resting on the bottom of the lateral groove, accomplish this. The transverse projection resting against the ridge, and the edge of the underplate that is received into the lateral groove, thus lock the cover plate against the underplate. If it is desired to prevent the turning of the cover plate 7, so as to only allow it by using a tool, it is possible to use a retaining screw 18, tightened, through the hole 6 provided in the lateral portion 3, against the edge of the cover plate. The lateral portion 3 of the cover plate can be provided with several holes 6 for retaining screws.
The lateral groove 11 and the wing 9 of the cover plate can be provided at the positions to which the edge 17 of the underplate moves as the cover plate is locked against the underplate. The lateral groove 11 can also be provided at the second recess 15, thereby also positioning the first end of the transverse projection 12 under the wing, as illustrated in the Figures. Consequently, the projection or projections 12 hold, for their part, the cover plate against the underplate, similarly to the edge of the underplate received into the lateral groove. The lateral groove can also be formed into an endless loop. However, for installation, it is convenient to have no wing 9 at the first recess 14. As appears from the Figures, the first end 12A of the transverse projection, in addition, may have an extension away from the middle area of the underplate.
The lever handle/handles and the spindle can be installed, independently of the cover plate arrangement, by using the spindle and lever handle openings 4, 4A provided in the cover plate and the underplate. If it is desired to later remove the cover plate 1 from the underplate 7, firstly, if there is a lever handle present, it is removed, and, then, the cover plate is turned in the second direction opposite to the above-mentioned first direction. Now, the transverse projection 12 yields elastically, allowing the first end 12A of the projection to move over the ridge 16, into the first recess 14. After this, the cover plate can be removed from top of the underplate.
Figure 7 and Figure 8 show another example of the cover plate, and of the underplate, of the cover plate arrangement according to the invention, respectively. Even this embodiment is substantially rectangular in shape. Figure 9 shows the cover plate arrangement of this embodiment, with the underplate and the cover plate fitted on each other. Figure 10 shows the cover plate arrangement of Figure 9, with the cover plate and the underplate locked to each other. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 9, while Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the example of Figure 10. The cover plate and the underplate shown in Figures 7 to 12 comprise the same features as the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6.
As appears from the embodiments above, there is an open space 19 between the transverse projection of the underplate and the rest of the underplate, excluding the second end 12B of the transverse projection. To allow the cover plate to be easily fitted on the underplate, the cover plate has no wing 9 at least at the first recess 14. If the embodiment includes several first wings (two in number in the embodiments described above) and a transverse projection, there may be no wing at any of the first recesses.
As appears from the Figures above, the underplate 7 comprises an elevated portion 20. The elevated portion gives the underplate 7 a depth, eliminating any clearance in the height direction H of the lateral portion of the cover plate, as shown in Figure 4. Consequently, the cover plate arrangement is more steadily fitted against the door face. The elevated portion and the rest of the underplate can also be separate components intended to be fitted on top of each other, as shown in Figure 13, for example. This is preferable in terms of manufacture. The separate components can be bound together by glue, for instance, to form an integrated component.
The cover plate arrangement can be made any appropriate material, such as metal. The cover plate is usually made of metal. The underplate can be made of metal, or, of any appropriate plastic or composite material. If the underplate consists of two separate plates, or, of a combination of two plates, one plate can be made of metal, for example, while the other plate is made of a plastic or composite material.
As already mentioned, the underplate comprises through-holes for fixing screws. The underplate may also comprise a center opening 4A for a lever handle and a spindle. Further, the underplate may comprise at least one alignment opening 21, as shown in Figures 8 to 10. The alignment openings are intended for alignment pins 22, provided, for example, on the rear face of the front plate 1 of the cover plate, that is, on the face that is intended to rest against the underplate. As already noted, the cover plate and the underplate can be rectangular or circular in basic shape.
Figure 13 is a view of still another example of the cover plate arrangement according to the invention, also showing the lever handles 23 to be installed on each side of the door. Of course, the above-described rectangular embodiments also allow a similar arrangement to be provided on each side of the door. The Figure also shows the fixing screws 24 and the sockets 25 for tightening the underplates 26, intended for each side of the door, against the door. The lock case, not shown in the Figures, is positioned between the plates, inside the door. In this embodiment, the underplate consists of two plates 26A, 26B, of which one 26B forms the above-mentioned elevated portion while the other 26B comprises the transverse projections 12. The plates can also be bound together in order to create an integrated underplate.
This underplate, similarly to the underplates of the previous examples, can be formed, right at the beginning, as an integrated component. Because this embodiment comprises the same features as the embodiments above, this embodiment mostly uses the same reference numerals as the preceding embodiments. Likewise, in this embodiment, the cover plate is fitted on the underplate 26 and turned in order to lock it to the underplate.
Figure 14 is a closer view of the cover plate 1 and the underplate 26 of the cover plate arrangement shown in Figure 13. Figure 15 is a lateral view of the cover plate 1 shown in Figure 14. Even this embodiment may comprise at least one lateral threaded fixing-screw hole 6 in the cover plate. (See Figure 18.) The circular underplate 26 of Figures 13 to 14 comprises at least one engaging tab 27 at its edge 17 and the cover plate has no wing at a given position or positions in order to allow the cover plate to be fitted on the underplate. The elevated portion 26B of the cover plate may have a lateral projection 26C providing an extra support surface in an installation situation, with the edge 26D of the elevated portion positioned against the wing 9. A similar lateral projection or projections 27A can be provided on the plate 26A comprising the transverse projections, in order to give additional support when installed.
The operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 13 to 14 corresponds to the operation described above. Figure 16 shows the cover plate and the underplate of Figure 14 as fitted on each other, with the cover plate not turned to a locking position. Figure 17 shows the cover plate and the underplate of Figure 16 as locked to each other. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the example shown in Figure 16 while Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the example shown in Figure 17. As shown in Figure 16, the first end 12A of the transverse projection is received into the first recess 14 as the cover plate is fitted on the underplate. An engaging tab, or tabs, 27 are received into a tab receiving cavity 28 provided at the edge of the cover plate. There is no wing 9 at these positions in order to allow the cover plate be fitted on the underplate. As the cover plate 1 is turned in the first direction, the first end 12A of the projection is moved over the ridge 16, into the second recess 15. The second recess is formed to hold the cover plate in this position, preventing the cover plate from freely turning with respect to the underplate. This can be additionally ensured by a fixing screw making it impossible to turn the cover plate without untightening the screw by means of an appropriate tool. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the situation shown in Figure 16. Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the situation shown in Figure 17, with the engaging tab 27 received into the lateral groove 11 between the wing 9 and the front portion 2. The Figures also show that a collar member 100 can be provided on the periphery of the center opening 4 of the cover plate.
The invention allows for fast installation. Retrofitting is quick as well. It is possible that no tool is needed. The lever handle is now less tied to the cover plate arrangement and can be chosen more freely than before. The edge of the cover plate secured into the lateral groove results in a firm fitting which can be improved if the first end 12A of the transverse projection 12 also is positioned under the wing covering the lateral groove. The resulting interlocking of the cover plate and the underplate prevents the pulling of the cover plate, in a direction transverse to the lateral face 2 of the cover plate (such as in the direction of the spindle of the lever handle), away from top of the underplate, and, in addition, prevents the free turning of the cover plate in order to prevent the cover plate from turning freely in a normal situation. Herein, "a normal situation" refers to an installation situation not subjecting the cover plate to any major forces tending to turn the cover plate.
Quick retrofitting is possible, by turning the cover plate, with a sufficient force, in the second direction, in order to turn the cover plate to a position allowing it to be pulled away from top of the underplate. This allows an already complete installation to be disassembled. The elevated portion 20 of the underplate is arranged not to prevent the turning of the cover plate.
In the light of the above examples, it is obvious that embodiments according to the invention can be achieved by many different solutions. The plates may vary in shape, and in size as well. Hence, the invention may have a number of different implementations within the scope of the independent claim.

Claims

A cover plate arrangement comprising a screw-mountable underplate (7) and a cover plate (1) to be fitted thereon, the cover plate comprising a front plate (2) and a lateral portion (3), characterized in that the lateral portion (3) of the cover plate comprises at least one inward-projecting wing (9) at the edge (10A) of the lateral portion opposite to the edge (10B) between the front plate and the lateral portion, wherein a lateral groove (11) is left between the wing (9) and the front plate (2), and the underplate (1) comprises at least one projection (12) transverse to the diameter of the underplate, being open at one end (12A) and connected to the rest of the underplate at the other end (12B),
and the inner face (13) of the lateral portion (3) of the cover plate comprises at least one first recess (14), at least one second recess (15) and at least one ridge (16) between the first recess and the second recess, the first recess (14) being arranged to be positioned at the first end (12A) of the transverse projection (12) of the underplate as the cover plate is fitted on the underplate, and, as the cover plate fitted on the underplate (7) is turned in a first direction, the projection (12) is arranged to yield elastically, with the open end (12A) of the projection moving over the ridge (16), and once the open end (12A) of the projection has moved over the ridge, the second recess (15) is arranged to be positioned at the first end (12A) of the transverse projection of the underplate, and an edge (17) of the underplate is arranged to be moved, at least partly, into the lateral groove (11).
A cover plate arrangement as defined in Claim 1, characterized in that there is an open space (19) between the transverse projection (12) of the underplate (7) and the rest of the underplate, excluding the other end (12B) of the transverse projection.
A cover plate arrangement as defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the cover plate (1) comprises no wing (9) at least at the first recess (14).
A cover plate arrangement as defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the underplate (7) comprises an elevated portion (20).
A cover plate arrangement as defined in Claim 4, characterized in that the elevated portion (20) and the rest of the underplate are separate components intended to be fitted on each other.
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the underplate (7) comprises through-holes (8) for fixing screws.
A cover plate arrangement as defined in Claim 6, characterized in that the underplate (1) comprises a center opening (4A).
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the underplate (1) comprises an alignment opening (21).
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cover plate (1) and the underplate (7) are rectangular or circular in shape.
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the circular underplate (26) comprises at least one engaging tab (27) at its edge and the cover plate has no wing (9) at a given position or positions in order to allow the cover plate (1) to be fitted on the underplate.
A cover plate arrangement as defined in Claim 10, characterized in that the circular cover plate (1) comprises a center opening (4) and a collar member (100) on the periphery thereof.
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises at least one internally threaded hole (6) in the lateral portion (3) of the cover plate and a retaining screw (18) to be inserted into the internally threaded hole (6).
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first end (12A) of the transverse projection comprises an extension away from the middle area of the underplate (7).
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, the cover plate (1) is turnable in a direction opposite to the first direction in order to uninstall
A cover plate arrangement as defined in any of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a second cover plate (1) and underplate (2).