GB2460263A

GB2460263A - A concealed mounting device for an illuminated fixture

Info

Publication number: GB2460263A
Application number: GB0809350A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugo Gwynne Frazer
Original assignee: BUILT CONCEPTS Ltd
Current assignee: BUILT CONCEPTS Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-22
Filing date: 2008-05-22
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Also published as: GB0809350D0

Abstract

A mounting device (10) for mounting a fixture (12), especially an illuminated fixture (12), such as a display panel of a signage system on a wall wherein the mounting device (10) is arranged to be embedded in the wall such that anchor points (2) are accessible from the surface of the wall and the remainder of the mounting device (10) is overlaid with a wall coating or is otherwise concealed behind the surface of the wall.

Description

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A Concealed Mounting Device The present invention relates to a mounting device for mounting a fixture, especially an illuminated fixture, on a wall in which the mounting device is concealed behind the surface of the wall. The invention also relates to a means of removing the mounting device from the wall. In particular, the invention relates to a mounting device for mounting one or more display panels, especially illuminated display panels and a signage system including a mounting device and at least one display panel.

It is known to mount on walls fixtures that have an internal light source. FR 2871918 discloses a modular system in which two mounting sections for supporting transparent display panels therebetween are attached to a wall. A light source within the mounting section illuminates the transparent display panels. The mounting sections include slots into which a part of the transparent display panels are inserted, the display panels being interchangeable. A light source within a mounting section illuminates the transparent display panels. A problem with existing display systems, as exemplified by the system of FR 2871918, is that the mounting sections are mounted on the exterior of the wall and are therefore visible. An aim of the present invention is to provide a means for mounting fixtures on walls in which the fixings for display panels are hidden in use.

In one aspect, the invention provides a mounting device for mounting an illuminated fixture on a wall comprising: at least one mounting member including at least one anchor point for attaching the fixture to the at least one mounting member, and a light source, wherein the mounting device is so arranged that light from the light source is emitted from at least one of said at least one anchor points; and wherein the mounting device is arranged to be embedded in a wall such that the at least one anchor point is accessible from the surface of the wall and the remainder of the mounting device is concealed behind the surface of the wall. Accordingly, when fixtures are attached to the at least one anchor point of the at least one mounting member of the system, virtually the entire mounting device is concealed and the fixtures appear to be mounted on the wall with no visible fixings.

In one embodiment, the mounting device is arranged to be embedded in a wall which is then coated to conceal parts of the mounting device other than the anchor points. Advantageously, the mounting device is arranged to be overlaid with a wall coating. Advantageously, the mounting device includes a separating device for separating the coating that overlies the mounting device from the coating on the wall. Advantageously, the separating device is arranged to sever coating, for example, by cutting or breaking the coating, around the periphery of the mounting device. Thus, the mounting device may be removed from a coated wall, for example, to allow maintenance operations to be performed, with minimal disturbance to the coating surrounding the mounting device. The separating device advantageously separates the coating overlying the mounting device from the coating on the wall in a relatively clean manner, compared, for example, to chipping out the coating that surrounds the mounting device. In one embodiment, the device for separating the coating includes an elongate strip arranged to sever coating around the periphery of the mounting device.

In another aspect, the invention provides a mounting device for mounting a fixture on a wall, the mounting device being arranged to be embedded in a wall at least partially beneath a wall coating, the mounting device comprising at least one anchor point arranged to be accessible when the mounting device is embedded in the wall for attaching the fixture to the mounting device; and a separating device for separating the coating that overlies the mounting device from the coating on the wall, said separating device including a elongate strip that extends around the periphery of the mounting device.

Optionally, the mounting device of the second aspect further comprises an apparatus that requires maintenance.

The inclusion of the separating device facilitates the removal of the mounting device from the wall in which it is embedded for maintenance of the apparatus. In one embodiment the apparatus is a light source and the mounting device is arranged such that light is transmitted from at least one of said at least one anchor points to the fixture. In alternative embodiments, the apparatus is an electrical apparatus, an apparatus including a water, gas or compressed air supply or other apparatus that may require maintenance. For example, the fixture may be a water feature and the mounting device may supply water to the fixture, the mounting device including, for example, a pump that circulates water through the fixture.

Advantageously, the elongate strip is arranged to sever, for example break or cut, through the surface of the coating when pulled, and in particular when pulled from the direction of the surface of the wall. In one embodiment, the elongate strip is a flexible member. For example the elongate strip member may be a deformable, preferably resiliently deformable, strip of material such

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as extruded rubber or silicone. The flexible elongate strip member may, for example, be located by pressing on the coating around the mounting device until the flexible member is felt through the coating. The flexible elongate strip member may then be revealed by breaking though the coating that overlies the flexible elongate strip member and the coating that overlies the mounting device may be separated from the coating on the wall by pulling the flexible elongate strip member out of the wall breaking the coating from around the periphery of the mounting device. In another embodiment, the elongate strip member cuts the coating. For example, the elongate strip member may be a wire or ribbon arranged to cut through the coating. Advantageously, the elongate strip extends around the periphery of the mounting device.

Advantageously, the elongate strip member is arranged to sever the coating from around substantially the entire perimeter of the mounting device, for example, from around at least 70% and especially at least 90% of the periphery. Preferably, the separating device includes an activation device for activating the device for operating the coating. For example, in an embodiment in which the device for separating the coating is a elongate strip, the activation device may be attached to the end of the elongate strip member so that, when the activation device is pulled by a user, the elongate strip member is caused to sever the coating that overlies the mounting device from the coating on the wall. The activation device may, for example, be a tag or button attached to the elongate strip member. Advantageously, the activation device is concealed within the surface of the wall and thus is not visible. Advantageously, the activation device is in a known location with respect to the embedded mounting

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device, for example, with respect to anchor points of the mounting device and thus can be located when required.

The term "coating" used herein refers to wall covering applied to the surface of a wall to provide a desired finish, such as a smooth appearance. The coating may, for example, be a plaster, such as gypsum or lime-based plaster, a render or the like. Preferably, the coating is a substance that is skimmed in a thin layer over the wall to provide an even finish such as a plaster or render and, in particular, a plaster.

The fixture is advantageously a wall mounted item that is illuminated by an internal light source, that is light transmitted within the fixture. The fixture is arranged to be attached to be attached to an anchor point of the mounting device. Embodiments of illuminated fixtures for mounting on the mounting device of the invention include display panels, light fittings, architectural mouldings, shelves and art installations.

The invention provides a means of mounting on a wall and providing light to an illuminated fixture whereby the mounting device is concealed and the fixture is supported without highly visible fixings. Thus, the illusion may be created that the fixture is suspended on the wall without support, a so-called "floating" fixture. In one embodiment, the illuminated fixture is or includes a transparent or translucent member. Thus, light emitted through the anchor points is transmitted through the transparent or translucent member. The transparent member may, for example, be of a clear acrylic material. The transparent or translucent member may be coloured or colourless. In another embodiment, the illuminated fixture includes a light transmitting member such as a fibre optic cable or fibre. The mounting device of the second aspect of the invention may be used to mount fixtures other than illuminated fixtures on the wall. In one embodiment, the fixture may be attached to a first anchor point on a first mounting device and a second anchor point on a second mounting device.

In one embodiment, the fixture is a display panel.

Advantageously, the display panel is an illuminated display panel, for example, a transparent or translucent member. In one embodiment, information is provided on the display panels. For example, text or meaningful symbols such as arrows may be provided on the display panels. In another embodiment, the display panels are decorative and do not convey information. In one embodiment, the display panel is a strip member, for example an elongate, ribbon-like member. Preferably the display panels are of a rigid material. Advantageously, at least one end of the strip member may be arranged to be attached to an anchor point of the mounting device. The strip member may, for example, be arranged so that it can be attached to anchor points on the mounting members at both ends. The invention further provides a signage system comprising at least one display panel; and a mounting device. In one embodiment, the signage system comprises at least two mounting devices, wherein a display panel is attached to a first anchor point on a first mounting device and a second anchor point on a second mounting device.

In one embodiment the fixture is a shelf. Thus, the invention provides a means mounting illuminated shelves on a wall with no visible fixings, so called floating shelves' . Advantageously, the shelf is an illuminated shelf, for example, a transparent or translucent shelf.

The invention further provides a shelving system comprising at least one shelf and a mounting device. The shelves are arranged to be attached to anchor points on the mounting system. In one embodiment, the shelving

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system comprises at least two mounting devices, wherein a shelf is attached to a first anchor point on a first mounting device and a second anchor point on a second mounting device.

With appropriate anchor points, a variety of different types of objects may be mounted on a wall using the mounting device of the invention in a manner which reduces the visibility of fixings. For example architectural mouldings such as cornicing, picture rails and the like may be attached to the mounting devices.

Advantageously, the architectural moulding is illuminated from within by means of light emitted through the anchor points. For example, the architectural moulding may be arranged to glow due to the light transmitted through the interior of the moulding. Wall-mounted art installations may be mounted on the mounting devices and illuminated from within. In one embodiment, the fixture is a water feature and water is supplied to the water feature from the mounting device. In another embodiment, gas or compressed air is supplied to the fixture from within the mounting device.

Advantageously, the mounting device includes a mounting panel to which one or more mounting members are attached. Advantageously, two or more mounting members are attached to the mounting panel. Advantageously, the separating device is for separating the wall coating that overlies the mounting device separates the coating from around the periphery of the mounting panel from that on the remainder of the wall. Advantageously, the separating device is attached to the mounting panel. In one embodiment, the mounting device includes a recessed portion around the periphery of the device in which an elongate strip of the separating device is located. For example, the mounting panel may include a channel extending around the periphery of the mounting panel.

Thus, when a wall coating is applied over the mounting device the elongate strip that is within the recessed portion is overlaid with the coating material.

Advantageously, the mounting device includes fixing points, for example fixing openings, for receiving fixing members, such as screws, nails, rivets and the like, for fixing the mounting device to the wall. Advantageously, the fixing points are provided within a recessed portion of the mounting device such that the fixing members can be recessed flush with or below the surface of the mounting device. Advantageously, the fixing points are provided in a recessed portion of the mounting panel.

Thus, screws, bolts and the like are countersunk into the panel and the provision of a smooth finish is facilitated when the panel is overlaid with the coating.

Advantageously, the fixing points are provided within the recessed portion that extends around the periphery of the mounting panel. Advantageously, the elongate strip of the separating device is arranged to overlie the fixings in the recessed portion.

The at least one mounting member is advantageously a box construction. Advantageously, the at least one mounting member comprises fixing points, for example fixing openings for receiving fixing members for fixing the mounting member to the mounting panel.

Advantageously, the at least one mounting member includes a channel within which a light source is provided.

Advantageously, the light source is an LED (light emitting diode) Advantageously, each mounting member includes a plurality of anchor points. For example, the mounting members may include two, three, four, five or six anchor points. Accordingly, a plurality of fixtures may be attached to each mounting member. Advantageously, the mounting device includes a plurality of mounting members each including a plurality of anchor points. Thus, an array of anchor points is provided for attaching a plurality of fixtures.

Advantageously the anchor points include an opening to receive a portion of the fixtures, for example an attachment portion shaped to fit into the opening or an end of a display panel. In one embodiment, the opening is an elongate slot. In an embodiment of a signage system in which ribbon-like display panels are attached to the mounting device, an end of the display panels is received into the elongate slot. In other embodiments the opening may, for example, be circular or another profile shape. For example, the opening may be a complex shape arranged to receive a complementary-shaped attachment on the fixture. Advantageously, the fixtures are held in the opening of the anchor points by an interference fit. The interference fit may be supplemented by a snap fit mechanism. Advantageously, the at least one anchor point projects from the body of the mounting member. In embodiment in which the mounting device comprises a mounting panel, the mounting panel may include a front face that, in use, faces outwards and a rear face that, in use, face the wall. In an embodiment in which the mounting members are attached to the rear face of the mounting panel, the mounting device is arranged so that the anchor points are accessible from the front face of the mounting panel. For example, the mounting panel may include openings through which the anchor points are accessible. At least one of said at least one anchor points may, in some embodiments, at least partially protrude through openings in the mounting panel. Advantageously, the at least on anchor point of the at least one mounting member is arranged so that it receives a portion of the fixture from a direction perpendicular to the surface of a wall in which the mounting device embedded in use. For example, in an embodiment in which the anchor points include an opening, such as an elongate slot, the mounting member is so arranged that the portion of the fixture that is received into the opening is received from a direction perpendicular to the surface. Thus, the fixture may be removed from the front face of the mounting device for example, by pulling the display panels out of the anchor points.

Light from the light source of the mounting member is advantageously transmitted from the anchor points to the illuminated fixture. Advantageously, light is emitted through an anchor point opening. In one embodiment, unused anchor points are capped in use. In one embodiment, the caps are opaque, thus, preventing light from being emitted from the unused anchor points.

For example, blanking plates may be provided which can be used to fill the openings in unused anchor points. In an alternative embodiment, the caps are or include transparent, translucent or opalescent members, thus transmitting light emitted from the unused anchor points.

For example, the caps may be arranged to glow in use. In one embodiment the caps are a part of the mounting members and may, for example, be slid, rotated or otherwise moved into a position where they cap unused openings as required. In another embodiment, separate caps are provided which can, for example, be inserted into the used anchor point openings to cap them off as required. In some embodiments, the wall coating may be applied over unused anchor points to conceal them within the wall.

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Certain embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting member; Fig. 2 is an end on view of the mounting member of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a illuminated signage system; Fig. 4 is a side view of the illuminated signage system of Fig.3; Fig. 5 is a front view of an illuminated signage system mounted on a stud partition wall; Fig. 6 is a cut away side view of the illuminated signage system of Fig. 5 when a plaster coating has been applied over the wall and over the mounting device of the signage system; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an illuminated signage system when embedded in a wall.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment shown of a mounting member 1 that is constructed of a series of stainless steel profiles that fit together to form a box construction. The mounting member 1 includes a front plate member 6 to which five anchor points 2 including elongate slot openings are attached and an opposing rear -11 -

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plate member 7 to which a channel 3 in which an LED lighting device 20 is mounted is attached. The front plate member 6 includes five pairs of fixings 4 and the rear plate member 7 includes five fixings 5 for receiving bolts 21 (shown in Fig. 4) for fixing the mounting member 1 to a mounting panel such as the panel 11 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Figs. 3 and Fig. 4 show an embodiment of an illuminated signage system 10 including four mounting members 1 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 and further comprising a mounting panel 11 that includes countersunk fixing points 13. A bolt 21 passes through the countersunk fixing points 13 in the mounting panel 11 and through the complementary fixings 4 in the mounting member 1 for securing the mounting panel 11 to the mounting members 1. The anchor points 2 of the mounting members 1 are visible and partly protrude through openings 14 in the front face 15 of the mounting panel 11. Translucent display panels 12 are attached to the mounting device by inserting ends of the display panels 12 into the elongate slot openings of the anchor points 2. The four mounting members 1 each have five anchor points 2 providing an array of twenty anchor points 2 on the mounting panel 11. The display panels 12 are of lengths such that they can be mounted between two of the anchor points 2. Variations in the lengths of display panels 12 allows different lengthened display panels 12 to be mounted between anchor points 2 of different separations. Light from the LED 20 mounted in the channel 3 in the mounting members 1 is transmitted through the anchor point openings 2 and illuminates the display panels 12. If required, caps (not shown) can be moved into a position in which they blank off the unused anchor point openings 2 to prevent light being visible -12 -

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through the unused anchor point openings 2. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the mounting panel 11 is fixed on to the wall using fixing screws (not shown) that pass through countersunk fixing holes 16 in each of the four corners of the mounting panel 11. One of the countersunk fixing holes 16 is provided with a button 17 attached to a wire 18 for cutting plaster from around the periphery of the mounting panel 11 facilitating removal of the signage system 10 from a wall.

In order to remove the signage system 10 to perform maintenance operations such as changing bulbs in the light source 20, the button 17 is located. This is achieved as the location of the button 17 with respect to the anchor points 2 is known and is illustrated in a maintenance guide on a template. The plaster coating from around the position of the button 17 is dug out, for example, with a knife or screw driver and the button 17 is revealed. The button 17 is then pulled by a user which pulls the wire 18 which cuts through the plaster coating around the periphery of the mounting panel 11, thus separating the plaster coating 19 on the remainder of the wall. On removal of the fixing screws (not shown) that pass through fixing holes 16, the entire signage system 10 can be removed from the wall. As the plaster around the periphery of the mounting panel 11 was cut by the wire 10, the disturbance to the plaster on the rest of the wall is minimised. Thus, making good the plaster coating on the wall following replacement of the signage system 10 following completion of the maintenance operation is relatively straightforward.

Figs. S and Fig. 6 show an alternative embodiment of an illuminated signage system 10 for embedding in a wall 22. The wall is constructed of plasterboard panels 23 attached to wooden battens 24. An opening 25 is cut in a -13 -plasterboard panel 23 to receive the mounting panel 11 such that the surface 15 of the mounting panel 11 is flush with the plasterboard 23. The mounting panel 11 includes a recessed channel 26 that runs around the periphery. Screws 27 are inserted into the wooden battens 24 at fixing points (not shown) within the channel 26 to fix the mounting device 10 to the wall 22.

A U'-shaped silicone extrusion 28 is positioned in the channel over the heads of the screws 27. The silicone extrusion 28 is a unitary member that runs around the entire channel 26. In use a layer of plaster 29 is applied to the wall such that the plasterboard panels 23 and the mounting device are overlaid.

In the event that it is necessary to remove the signage system 10 from the wall 22, the silicone extrusion 28 is located by pressing on the plaster 29. As the silicone extrusion 28 is deformable, the plaster 29 moves in the places where it overlies the silicone extrusion 28. Once the silicone extrusion 28 is located, the plaster 29 is dug away to reveal the silicone extrusion 28. The revealed silicone extrusion 28 is pulled, breaking through the plaster 29 that overlies the channel 26 thus separating plaster 29 that overlies the moi.inting panel 11 from that on the wall 22.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment in which an illuminated signage system including a mounting device comprising mounting members 1 and a mounting panel 11 is embedded in a wall. The mounting device is inserted into a opening (not shown) cut into a plasterboard wall (not shown) 30 The top coating of plaster 29 has been applied over plasterboard and over the mounting panel 11 so that all parts of the mounting device expect anchor point openings *..: 2 are concealed embedded in the wall. Display panels 12 -14 -are inserted into the anchor points 2 and are illuminated by the light source provided in the mounting members 1.

It will be appreciated that the mounting device illustrated that comprises a mounting panel 11 and mounting member 1 can be used to mount other objects on a wall in addition to the display panels 12 of the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 7. For example, protrusions on specially adapted shelves could be inserted into the anchor points thus providing a floating shelving system where shelves are supported on a wall with virtually no visible fixings.

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Claims

Claims: 1. A mounting device for mounting an illuminated fixture on a wall comprising: at least one mounting member including at least one anchor point for attaching the fixture to the at least one mounting member, and a light source, wherein the mounting device is so arranged that light from the light source is emitted from at least one of said at least one anchor points; and wherein the mounting device is arranged to be embedded in a wall such that the at least one anchor point is accessible from the surface of the wall and the remainder of the mounting device is concealed behind the surface of the wall.
2. A mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor point includes an opening arranged to receive a portion of the fixture.
3. A mounting device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one mounting member is arranged so that the opening of the at least one anchor point is arranged to receive the portion of the fixture from a direction perpendicular to the surface of a wall in which the mounting device is embedded.
4. A mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one anchor point projects from the body of the mounting member.
5. A mounting device according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the at least one mounting members includes two or more anchor points for attaching fixtures.
6. A mounting device according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting device further comprises a mounting panel to which the at least one mounting member is attached.
7. A mounting device according to claim 6, wherein at least one mounting member is attached to a rear face of the mounting panel, the mounting device being arranged so that the at least one anchor point is accessible from face of the mounting panel.
8. A mounting device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein two or more mounting members are attached to the mounting panel.
9. A mounting device according to any preceding claim wherein at least part of the mounting device is arranged to be overlaid with a wall coating.
10. A mounting device according to claim 9, further comprising a separating device for separating the wall coating that overlies the mounting device from the coating on the wall.
11. A mounting device according to claim 10, wherein the separating device is arranged to sever the coating around the periphery of the mounting device.
12. A mounting device according to claim 11 wherein the separating device includes an elongate strip to sever coating around the periphery of the mounting device.
13. A mounting device for mounting a fixture on a wall, the mounting device being arranged to be embedded in a wall at least partially beneath a wall coating, the mounting device comprising: at least one anchor point arranged to be accessible when the mounting device is embedded in the wall for attaching the fixture to mounting device; and a separating device for separating the coating that overlies the mounting device from the coating on the wall, wherein said separating device includes a elongate strip that extends around the periphery of the mounting device.
14. A mounting device according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the elongate strip extends around substantially the entire perimeter of the mounting device.
15. A mounting device according to claim 14 wherein the separating device includes an activation device attached to an end of the elongate strip that, when pulled, causes the elongate strip to separate the coating that overlies the mounting device.
16. A mounting device according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the mounting device includes a recessed portion in which the elongate strip is positioned.
17. A mounting device according to claim 16 wherein the recessed portion is a channel that extends around the periphery of the mounting device.
18. A mounting device according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein fixing points are provided in the recess portion for receiving fixings for fixing the mounting device to the wall.
19. A signage system including a mounting device as described in any of the preceding claims and at least one display panel arranged to be attached to the at least one anchor points of the mounting device.