GB2313609A

GB2313609A - A device for covering an aperture

Info

Publication number: GB2313609A
Application number: GB9611374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jerzy Warecki
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-31
Filing date: 1996-05-31
Publication date: 1997-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-31
Also published as: GB9611374D0; GB2313609B

Abstract

A device for covering an aperture, such as an aperture in a wall or floor. The device comprises a frame element (1), a cover element (11) and means comprising recesses (10) adapted to receive resiliently deformable tongues (16) to releasably secure the two elements. The frame element (1) comprises a front face (12) having peripheral forwardly extending flange portions (13) to accommodate one or more tiles, a section of plasterboard or plaster.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A DEVICE FOR COVERING AN APERTURE THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a device for covering an aperture, and more particularly, though not exclusively, for covering an aperture leading to a cavity which may contain electrical wiring or water and gas piping, for instance in a wall or floor of a kitchen or bathroom.

Most houses are provided with electrical wiring, gas and water pipes. These items may pass through boxed-in cavities, formed, for example, of plasterboard. It is sometimes necessary for the items to be accessed, for example to turn a stop cock. If plasterboard is removed, any decorations may be damaged. This is disadvantageous, since the simple need to turn a stop cock may necessitate the redecoration of a room.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for covering an aperture in a wall or floor which can be removed without damaging decorations.

According to the invention there is provided a device for covering an aperture, comprising a frame element, a cover element and means to releasably secure said elements together, said frame elements comprising a collar adapted to be received within the aperture, having an outwardly extending flange portion substantially perpendicular to the axis of the collar, and a portion extending rearwardly from the flange portion substantially parallel with the axis of the collar, the cover element defining a front face and a rearwardly extending portion dimensioned to be received within the collar, the securing means comprising one or more deformable tongues carried by one of said elements and engageable with the other of said elements.

Preferably the or each said deformable tongue is carried by the cover element and is adapted to be engaged within a corresponding recess formed on the frame element.

Conveniently the or each said deformable tongue is carried by the frame element and is adapted to be engaged within a corresponding recess formed on the cover element.

Advantageously the front face of said cover element is adapted to receive one or more tiles, or plasterboard, or plaster.

Preferably the cover element has a portion defining the front face which has a substantially planar surface and a peripheral forwardly extending flange.

Conveniently the planar surface is substantially square or rectangular and the flange comprises flange portions which extend along each edge of the planar surface, the flanges not extending to the corners of the planar surface.

Advantageously said cover element is provided with means to provide a mechanical bond between the cover element and cement to hold tiles or plasterboard or to provide a mechanical bond between the cover element and plaster.

Conveniently said means to provide a mechanical bond comprise one or more apertures formed in the front face of the cover element.

Advantageously said frame element is provided with one or more deformable fingers adapted to releasably secure said frame element to an aperture.

Preferably said deformable fingers are adapted to be manually deformed from an initial position in which each finger is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the aperture, to a second position in which each finger lies in substantially the same plane as the aperture and extends outwardly from the frame element.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one element of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a further side elevation corresponding to Figure 1, viewed from another angle; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of another element of the present invention; and FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the element illustrated in Figure 4.

An aperture cover is provided comprising two principal elements, those being a frame element 1 and a cover element 11.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the frame element 1 is of substantially rectangular form and comprises a collar 2 of substantially rectangular section. The collar 2 has an axially extending portion comprising four substantially flat metal sheets which surround and define a square-sectioned passage, and is dimensioned to be received within an aperture in, for example, a wall.

A flange 3 is provided extending outwardly from the front end of the axially extending portion, the flange being perpendicular to the axis of the collar 2. Upon insertion of the frame element 1 within a wall aperture, the flange 3 is designed to cover the edge of the wall aperture, thus hiding any unsightly joins or jagged edges.

As previously described, the collar 2 is provided with four substantially flat metal sheets, two opposing sheets of which 4,5 have a cut-out region 6 defining two fingers 7. Each finger 7 is deformable from an initial position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wall (illustrated in Figure 1 by dotted lines) to a second position in which it lies in substantially the same plane as the wall and in contact with the back surface of the wall (illustrated in Figure 1 by continuous lines).

In this manner, when the frame element 1 has been inserted within the wall aperture, each deformable tongue 7 may be manually bent over from its initial position to its second position, thus securing the frame element 1 within the wall aperture.

The other two opposing sheets 8,9 of the collar 2 are each of substantially rectangular form carrying a centrally positioned outwardly protruding recess formed in the inwardly directed face of the sheet. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, each of said recesses is substantially concave in form.

Turning now to Figures 4 and 5, the cover element 11 is substantially rectangular in form with substantially the same overall dimensions as the flange 3 carried by the cover element 1.

The cover element 11 comprises a substantially flat square face 12 with an outwardly protruding flange portion 13 carried by each edge of the face. The flange portions 13 do not extend to the corners of the square face 12. The flange portions 13 may be used to locate and receive one or more tiles 19 which are bonded to the flat face 12 using a suitable cement 20.

The central region of the flat face 12 is provided with a plurality of apertures 14 which serve to provide an improved mechanical bond between the flat face 12 and the cement 20. The apertures may also function to form a mechanical bond with cement used to secure plasterboard to the cover element, or even to provide a mechanical bond between the cover element and plaster.

The cover element 11 is further provided with four rearwardly protruding elements 15 arranged in a substantially rectangular form and dimensioned to be received within the collar 2 of the frame element 1.

Each rearwardly protruding element 15 is provided with a resiliently deformable tongue 16. Each tongue 16 is of square form joined by an edge 17 to the respective element 15.

Each tongue 16 protrudes outwardly from the element 15 and carries a terminal cam portion 18 at the edge opposed to the edge 17. As the cover element 11 is located within the frame element 1, and inserted therein, the cam portions 18 make contact with the inside surfaces of the collar 2, thus pressing the tongues 16 inwardly as shown by the arrows in Figure 5. At a certain point, the cam portions 18 pass into the recesses 10 at which point each deformable tongue 16 returns to its outwardly protruding position with relation to element 15. The cover element 11 thus snaps firmly into position with the tongues 16 engaged within the recesses 10.

The cover element 11 may be easily withdrawn from the frame element 1 by applying a sufficient pulling force to overcome the resilience of the tongues 16. The tongues 16 are thus depressed inwardly as they are removed from the recesses 10, enabling the cover element 11 to be freely removed.

The cover element may thus be removed from the collar without damaging any decorations and may easily be subsequently replaced.

It is to be appreciated that whilst a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described, alternatives are also envisaged. For example, the invention may be adapted to cover an aperture in a tiled floor. For such an application, the flange portion 13, carried by each edge of the face 12 of the cover element 11, are typically increased in depth to accommodate the substantially greater depth of floor tiles.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for covering an aperture, comprising a frame element, a cover element and means to releasably secure said elements together; said frame element comprising a collar adapted to be received within the aperture, having an outwardly extending flange portion substantially perpendicular to the axis of the collar, and a portion extending rearwardly from the flange portion substantially parallel with the axis of the collar, the cover element defining a front face and a rearwardly extending portion dimensioned to be received within the collar, the securing means comprising one or more deformable tongues carried by one of said elements, and engageable with the other of said elements.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the or each said deformable tongue is carried by the cover element and is adapted to be engaged within a corresponding recess formed on the frame element.

3. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the or each said deformable tongue is carried by the frame element and is adapted to be engaged within a corresponding recess formed on the cover element.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front face of said cover element is adapted to receive one or more tiles, or plasterboard, or plaster.

5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the cover element has a portion defining the front face which has a substantially planar surface and a peripheral forwardly extending flange.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the planar surface is substantially square or rectangular and the flange comprises flange portions which extend along each edge of the planar surface, the flanges not extending to the corners of the planar surface.

7. A device according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein said cover element is provided with means to provide a mechanical bond between the cover element and cement to hold tiles or plasterboard or to provide a mechanical bond between the cover element and plaster.

8. A device according to Claim 7, wherein said means to provide a mechanical bond comprise one or more apertures formed in the front face of the cover element.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said frame element is provided with one or more deformable fingers adapted to releasably secure said frame element to an aperture.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein said deformable fingers are adapted to be manually deformed from an initial position in which each finger is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the aperture, to a second position in which each finger lies in substantially the same plane as the aperture and extends outwardly from the frame element.

11. A device for covering an aperture, substantially described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.