GB2478636A

GB2478636A - Reversible access panel assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2478636A
Application number: GB1103712A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Robert Archer
Original assignee: SELECT GROUP OF Cos Ltd
Current assignee: SELECT GROUP OF Cos Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-13
Filing date: 2011-03-04
Publication date: 2011-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-04
Also published as: GB2478636B; GB201004190D0; GB201103712D0

Abstract

An access panel assembly comprises a frame for mounting in an opening in a wall or ceiling and a door for mounting in the frame. The frame is provided with a pair of mounting formations (18) and the door is provided with a pair of complementary pivot formations (26) that can be engaged with the mounting formations (18) in two different relative orientations; the panel can thus be mounted to either side of the frame. Each mounting formation may be a resilient strip having a central rebate for receiving a head formation of a pivot pin of the door. The rebate may have a groove formed across it, the groove provides a path to the rebate for the pivot pin when fitting the door. The door can be pivoted closed and open or popped into or out of the aperture. Clip formations on the door can engage with engagement formations on the frame.

Description

ACCESS PANEL ASSEMBLIES

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to access panel assemblies. Such assemblies are used for providing access to the interior of a wall or ceiling and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of access panel assembly.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an access panel assembly comprising a frame for mounting in an opening in a wall or ceiling and a door for mounting in the frame, the frame being provided with a pair of mounting formations and the door being provided with a pair of complementary pivot formations that can be engaged with the mounting formations in two different relative orientations.

The mounting formations of the frame preferably comprise two resilient strips each of which is formed, adjacent its free end, with a transverse groove. A rebate is preferably formed in the free end of each strip and intersects the associated groove at substantially its mid-point.

The complementary pivot formations of the door preferably include pins having part-spherical end formations with the arrangement such that the end formations can engage in the transverse grooves to effect resilient deflection of the strips as the end formations move along the grooves until they reach the mid-points thereof and are received in the rebates.

Pivotal mounting of the door on the frame can thus be effected such that the presented surface of the door is flush with the presented surface of the frame regardless of whether the access panel is to be used in a "flush fitting" or a "surface fitting" arrangement.

The door is preferably provided with one or more clip formations that can engage with a corresponding one or more engagement formations on the frame, with the arrangement such that the door can be held in its closed position relative to the frame regardless of whether the access panel is to be used in a "flush fitting" or a "surface fitting" arrangement.

The arrangement is preferably such that closure of the door can be effected either by pivoting the door relative to the frame or by push-fitting the door into the frame.

The arrangement is also preferably such that opening of the door can be effected either by pivoting the door relative to the frame or by "popping" it out.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the access panel assembly in its flush fitting condition and with the door closed, the frame being anchored in position, Figure Ia is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 but with the frame bonded in position, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the access panel assembly in its surface fitting condition and with the door closed, Figure 3 is an isometric rear view of the access panel assembly in its flush fitting condition and with the door open, Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, but with the door closed, Figure 5 is an enlarged view of one of the hinges by means of which the door is mounted in the frame, Figures 6 to 13 are detail views of the door, and Figures 14 to 21 are detail views of the frame.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The access panel assembly shown in the drawings comprises a frame 10 and a door 11, each formed as a plastic moulding of a resiliently deformable plastics material. The frame 10 is of rectangular configuration and has a rectangular opening into which the door 11 is fitted. The frame 10 has a peripheral flange 12 and the arrangement is such that the flange 12 can be located either on the inside of the associated wall or ceiling 13 (as shown in Figures 1 and la) or on the outside of the associated wall or ceiling 13 (as shown in Figure 2). The door 11 is fitted within the frame 10 in such manner that the presented surface of the door 11 is flush with the presented surface of the frame 10 regardless of the manner in which the frame 10 is fitted in the opening in the wall or ceiling 13. As shown in Figures 1 and Ia, the frame 10 can either be anchored to the associated wall or ceiling 13 or bonded thereto using a suitable bonding agent.

If the frame 10 is fitted in a wall, the frame 10 will have an upper wall 14, a lower wall 15, a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17. The upper and lower walls 14 and 15 are each provided with a mounting formation comprising an elongated strip 18 (Figure 5 and Figures 19 to 21) that has a central rebate 19 extending inwardly from the end of the strip 18 so that the end portion of the strip 18 is of a bifurcated configuration. The end corners of the strip 18 are cut way so that the end portion of the strip 18 is also of a tapered configuration. In addition, a groove 20 is formed in the surface of the strip 18 further from the adjacent side wall 16, 17 of the frame 10. The groove 20 extends at right angles to the direction of the strip 18.

Each of the side walls 16, 17 of the frame 10 is formed with two pairs of cut-outs 21, 22 and 23, 24 so that two spaced engagement formations 25 (Figures 1 and 21) are provided on each of the side walls 16, 17.

The door 11 is also formed as a plastic moulding of a resiliently deformable plastics material and it comprises a rectangular panel having two projecting pivot formations 26 and two projecting clip formations 27.

Each pivot formation 26 comprises, as shown in Figure 5 and Figures 8 to 10 and Figure 13, a mounting portion 28 that extends at right angles to the plane of the door, a reinforcement 29 and a pin 30 projecting from the mounting portion 28. The pin 30 has an enlarged part-spherical head formation.

As clearly shown in Figures 11 and 12, each clip formation 27 comprises a strip 31 extending at right angles to the plane of the adjacent surface of the door 11 and a head portion 32 that has a wedge-shaped configuration and is rounded at its free end.

The clip formations 27 of the door 11 are arranged to engage with the cut-outs 21, 22 and 23, 24 of the frame 10 and the pivot formations 26 are arranged to engage with the ends of the strips 18. In engaging the pivot formations 26 with the ends of the strips 18, the enlarged heads of the pins 30 are aligned with the grooves adjacent the ends of the strips 18 and, as the door 11 is moved into engagement with the frame 10, the strips 18 are deflected resiliently during movement of the head formations of the pins 30 along the grooves 20 until the head formations of the pins 30 reach the central rebates 19 at the ends of the strips 18. The head portions of the pins 30 will then enter the rebates 19 and the strips 18 will return resiliently to their original positions holding the pivot formations 26 in engagement with the frame 10 and allowing free pivotal movement of the door 11 relative to the frame 10.

It is to be noted that, as the groove 20 extends from side to side of the end portion of the strip 18, the door 11 can be engaged with the frame 10 from either face thereof, i.e. in either the "flush fitting" condition shown in Figure 1 or the surface fitting" condition shown in Figure 2.

Once the door 11 has been engaged with the frame 10, pivotal movement of the door 11 relative to the frame 10 can be effected and, as the door 11 is moved into its closed position, the free ends 32 of the clip formations 27 will engage the spaced engagement formations 25 of the frame and the strips 31 will be deflected resiliently so that the ends 32 of the clip formations 27 engage in the respective cut-outs 21, 22, 23, 24 to hold the door 11 in its closed position. It will be appreciated that such engagement will take place regardless of the direction in which the door 11 moves into its closed position relative to the frame 10, i.e. it does not matter whether the frame 10 is in its "flush fitting" orientation as shown in Figure 1 or in its "surface fitting" condition as shown in Figure 2.

The arrangement is such that closure of the door 11 can be effected either by pivoting the door 11 relative to the frame 10 (as described above) or by push-fitting the door 11 into the frame 10.

The arrangement is also such that opening of the door 11 can be effected either by pivoting the door 11 relative to the frame or by "popping" it out of the frame.

It will be appreciated that a single frame 10 and a single door 11 can be provided and can be used in either the flush fitting" or the "surface fitting" mode.

It will also be appreciated that, instead of having two engagement formations 25 and two clip formations 27, there may be a single central engagement formation 25 and a single central clip formation 27.

Claims

Claims:- 1. An access panel assembly comprising a frame for mounting in an opening in a wall or ceiling and a door for mounting in the frame, the frame being provided with a pair of mounting formations and the door being provided with a pair of complementary pivot formations that can be engaged with the mounting formations in two different relative orientations.
2. An access panel assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the mounting formations of the frame comprise two resilient strips each of which is formed, adjacent its free end, with a transverse groove.
3. An access panel assembly as claimed in Claim 2, in which a rebate is formed in the free end of each strip and intersects the associated groove at substantially its mid-point.
4. An access panel assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the complementary pivot formations of the door include pins having part-spherical end formations with the arrangement such that the end formations can engage in the transverse grooves to effect resilient deflection of the strips as the end formations move along the grooves until they reach the mid-points thereof and are received in the rebates.
5. An access panel assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the door is provided with one or more clip formations that can engage with a corresponding one or more engagement formations on the frame, with the arrangement such that the door can be held in its closed position relative to the frame regardless of whether the access panel is to be used in a "flush fitting" or a "surface fitting" arrangement.
6. An access panel assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the arrangement is such that closure of the door can be effected either by pivoting the door relative to the frame or by push-fitting the door into the frame.
7. An access panel assembly as claimed in Claim 6, in which the arrangement is also such that opening of the door can be effected either by pivoting the door relative to the frame or by "popping" it out.
8. An access panel assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.