GB2487189A

GB2487189A - Spacer for use in decorating

Info

Publication number: GB2487189A
Application number: GB201100268A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dominic Hamilton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-08
Filing date: 2011-01-08
Publication date: 2012-07-18
Also published as: GB201100268D0

Abstract

A spacer 1 is arranged for spacing a recessed fitting 2 from a mounting surface, the recessed fitting having at least a rearward facing surface 4 resiliently urged to abut the mounting surface. The spacer has a spacing portion 6 arranged to be removably located between the rearwardly facing surface and the mounting surface. The spacer is provided with a handle portion 7, the handle portion arranged to extend beyond the fitting and in a direction away from the surface, when the spacer is located. A benefit of the invention is that the recessed fitting may be conveniently spaced away from the mounting surface so as to permit the mounting surface to be redecorated so as to ensure none of the original finish or colour will be visible adjacent to or around a periphery of the fitting while minimising a risk of accidentally applying the new paint or covering material to the fitting itself. The fitting may be a light fitting or electrical fitting, for example.

Description

jjpprovements in an4!atiqgioipparatus forslecorating The present invention relates to apparatus for decorating surfaces, and in particular to apparatus for painting surfaces, such as ceilings, to which are mounted recessed fittings.

Fittings arranged for recessed mounting in surfaces, such as ceilings or walls give rise to a significant problem when the surface is to be redecorated. At the time of installation, of for example, electrical fittings, and more particularly recessed luminaires, it is frequently the case, that an initial installation of the wiring and preparation of recesses to accept the electrical fittings will be completed prior to the decoration of the mounting surface. The surface will then be decorated, and only when the decoration is complete, will the electrical installation be completed by the installation of the electrical fittings.

Hence, there is no risk of accidentally coating the electrical fittings with the paint for the surface, which could be detrimental to the performance of the electrical fining, for example if made of a plastics material which is affected by solvents used in paints. A further benefit, for example, is that the ceiling surface is fully coated, and there is no unsightly unpainted area, or build-up of paint around the light fitting. When redecorating or repainting a surface such as a wall or ceiling surface having such recessed electrical fittings, a decorator must either take extreme care to paint around each fitting, which takes an excessive amount of time, and frequently leaves an unsightly finish. An alternative, a known method of masking the electrical fining either risks leaving a portion of the fitting exposed, such as an edge, with the resultant risk that paint will wick between the mask and the front surface damaging the appearance of the fitting, or the mask will extend around the fitting masking a portion of the surface, leaving an unpainted halo around the fining, which is particularly undesirable when for example the repainting is to effect a colour change on the surface. Hence to obtain the best result a decorator must arrange for an electrician to disconnect and remove the recessed electrical fittings prior to painting and then re-instate them after painting. Such a process is time consuming and expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and or method for painting a surface. This object can be achieved by the features as defined by the independent claim. Further enhancements are characterized by the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a spacer is arranged for spacing a recessed fitting from a mounting surface, the recessed filling having at least a rearward facing surface resiliently urged to abut the mounting surface, the spacer comprising a spacing portion arranged to be removably located between the rearwardly facing surface and the mounting surface, the spacer further comprising a handle portion, the handle portion arranged to extend beyond the fitting and in a direction away from the surface, when the spacer is located.

A benefit of the invention is that the recessed filling may be conveniently spaced away from the mounting surface so as to permit the mounting surface to be redecorated so as to ensure none of the original finish or colour will be visible adjacent to or around a periphery of the filling while minimising a risk of accidentally applying the new paint or covering material to the filling itself.

Preferably the rearwardly facing surface comprises a flange extending laterally at least partly around the fitting, the spacing portion being arranged to fit within a lateral dimension of the flange.

A benefit of the spacing portion filling within a lateral dimension of the flange is that application of the new decoration to the area of the ceiling adjacent to the filling and to at least a part of the surface that is normally hidden by the flange when the rearwardly facing surface is abutting the mounting surface is facilitated.

Preferably the spacing portion has a distal side portion, the distal portion comprising at least a protrusion extending in the distal direction arranged to abut the mounting surface.

A benefit of the distal portion having a protrusion is that should paint be applied to the surface and extend to the distal portion, it will be easier to remove the spacer by breaking the paint film at the protrusion than a continuous distal surface.

Preferably the spacing portion further comprises at least a protrusion arranged to abut the fitting and arranged to distance the spacing portion away from the fitting in a or the lateral direction.

A benefit of the protrusion distancing the spacing portion from the fitting is that where the fitting has been mounted in an oversize hole, the spacer is enabled to engage the mounting surface so as to space the fitting from the surface Preferably the spacer further comprises a lateral portion, the lateral portion spacing the handle portion away from the spacing portion; preferably the lateral portion comprises an abutting surface arranged to abut the rearwardly facing surface.

A benefit of the lateral portion is that it is easier for a user to position the spacer, as a lateral surface abutting the rearwardly facing surface assists in maintaining a desired substantially perpendicular orientation of the spacing portion to the mounting surface.

A further benefit is that the handle portion may be easily positioned so as to extend beyond a periphery of the fitting flange.

Preferably the spacing portion further comprises a triangular cross section, one side of which is formed by the lateral portion are shaped with a triangular cross section.

A benefit of a triangular cross section is that the fitting can still be spaced away from the mounting surface, even where the fitting has been mounted to a grossly oversize hole, such that an internal dimension across the hole is approaching an external dimension across the flange.

A further benefit of the triangular cross section is that where a paint brush is used to apply a new finish to the surface, an external sloping face of the triangular section will assist in directing bristles of the brush towards the mounting surface, and away from the fitting flange.

Preferably the spacer is arranged for spacing a fitting mounted in a circular hole in the surface, the spacer further comprises an arcuate shape, the ends of the arcuate shape being resiliently urged towards each other.

A benefit of the ends of the arcuate shape being resiliently urged towards each other is that the spacer may be used for a range of fittings having flanges of different diameters, and for each the resilient ends will abut the fitting. Hence the spacer may be positioned within the diameter of the flange of each fitting.

Preferably at least one of the said ends comprises an at least partly angled face, the angled face being at an acute angle to the distal side.

A benefit of the ends having angled faces is that the ends may be more easily inserted under the flange. In a particular embodiment the angled faces may substantially comprise a radiused portion to achieve the same benefit.

Preferably the spacing portion further comprises corner portion.

A benefit of the corner portion is that a location of the spacer on a square or rectangular fining may be at a corner of the fitting.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows a scrap perspective view of a first embodiment of a spacer according to the invention, shown located so as to space a fining from a mounting surface; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the spacer shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a scrap perspective view of a second embodiment of a spacer according to the invention, shown located so as to space a fining from a mounting surface; Figure 4 shows a scrap perspective view of a third embodiment of a spacer according to the invention, shown located so as to space a fitting from a mounting surface; Figure 5 shows a plan view from behind a mounting surface of the filling shown in Figure 1, prior to the insertion of the spacer; Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic side view of the filling as shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic plan view from behind a mounting surface of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, after insertion of a pair of spacers into the locations so as to space the fining from the mounting surface; Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic side view of the fining and spacer as shown in Figure 7; Figure SA shows a scrap diagrammatic side view from another side of the fitting and spacer as shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a partly sectioned side view of the third embodiment shown in Figure 4, mounted to a mounting surface prior to the insertion of a spacer; Figure 10 shows a scrap diagrammatic plan view from behind a mounting surface of the third embodiment shown in Figure 4, after insertion of a spacer into the location so as to space the fining from the mounting surface; Figure 11 shows a diagrammatic side view of the fining and spacer as shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 shows a diagrammatic side view from another side of the fining and spacer as shown in Figure 10; Figure 13 shows a perspective view from above and one side of a spacer according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 14 shows a perspective view from above and another side of the spacer shown in Figure 13; Figure 15 shows a scrap side view of the spacer shown in Figure 13 spacing a fitting from a mounting surface; and Figure 16 shows a scrap side view of the spacer shown in Figure 13 spacing a fitting from a mounting surface having an oversize mounting hole.

From Figure 1 a spacer 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown from a viewpoint from behind a mounting 10 that extends around a recessed fitting 2.

From Figure 2 a perspective view of the spacer I is shown prior to being located.

The spacer 1 is shown in Figure 1 located so as to space the recessed filling 2 in a direction ID away from a mounting surface 3 of the mounting 10. The recessed fitting 2 has a rearward facing surface 4 which is resiliently urged in a direction 1U to abut the mounting surface 3 by a plurality sprung arms 5 (only one shown in Figure 1). The sprung arms 5 are each resiliently urged in a direction 1R by springs 9 to abut a rear surface 11 of the mounting 10. The spacer I has a spacing portion 6 arranged to be removably located between the rearwardly facing surface 4 and the mounting surface 3.

The spacer 1 also has a handle portion 7 that extends in a lateral direction 1L beyond a periphery 8 the fitting 2 and in a direction 1 D away from the surface 3, when the spacer is located in the spacing position shown in Figure 1.

The rearwardly facing surface 4 comprises a flange 14 extending laterally at least partly around the fitting, the spacing portion being arranged to fit within a lateral dimension I F of the flange.

The spacing portion 6 has a distal side portion 20, the distal portion having a protrusion or protrusions 26 and 27 extending in the distal direction arranged to abut the mounting surface. A thickness IT of the distal portion is less than the lateral dimension iF of the flange.

tO The spacing portion 6 further has protrusions 21 and 22 arranged to abut an external face 24 of side wall 25 of the fitting 2. The protrusions are arranged to distance the spacing portion away from the fitting in the lateral direction IL. A benefit of the protrusions is that where an installer had made an oversize hole 13 for the fining, at least a part 29 of the distal portion will contact the edge of the surface, and the spacer can not be positioned so close to the fitting wall 25 so as to enter the oversize hole.

In the embodiments shown, the distal portion has stand-offs 26 and 27 so as to space a spacing side 28 of the distal portion of the spacer away from the surface 3 in an axial direction ID. The axial directions ID and IU and a centre axis 4C (Fig. 4) are substantially perpendicular to the surface 3. A benefit of the stand-offs 26 and 27 is that there is less of the spacer to contact the surface 3, and hence should paint be applied so that it bridges the join between the spacer and the surface, removal of the spacer will be easier and less likely to damage the paint surface by tearing the paint film away from the surface.

In an embodiment, the spacer 1 is made of a plastics material. The material is preferably chosen so as to provide poor adhesion to the types of paints likely to be used for re-coating the surface 3. An example of such a suitable material is a hydrophobic material, for example such as a plastics material with a naturally waxy surface finish.

Another example of such a suitable material is a non-stick material such as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).

In a particular application, where the fittings are light fittings or PIR controllers or air ducts or other apparatus mounted to a ceiling surface, direction 1 U is in an upwards direction, and direction 1 D is in a downwards direction. The lateral direction 1 L is substantially perpendicular to the directions 1U and lD. The lateral direction IL is in a direction away from a centre IC' of the fining and is parallel to a plane of the surface 3.

Figure 5 shows a plan view from behind a mounting 10 the fining I located within the substantially square hole 12' in an un-spaced condition. t0

From Figure 6 the fining 2 can be seen in the unspaced condition with rearward facing surface 4 resiliently urged by springs 5 in the upward direction 1U so as to abut the mounting surface 5. In normal usage, the fitting 2 would be mounted as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and would be arranged so that the fitting protrudes at least partly through the mounting surface 10, so that springs 5 may abut rear face 11. The flange 14 is arranged to cover the hole 12'.

Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic plan view from behind a mounting surface of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, after insertion of a pair of spacers into the locations so as to space the fitting from the mounting surface; The fitting 2 is shown spaced away from the mounting 10 by a pair of spacers 1 in Figure 8 and Figure 8A. Preferably a spaced distance 8S is such that at least a rear portion 15 of the fining 2 remains within the hole 12' when the fining is spaced away from the surface 3. Hence the fitting is located within the hole Figure 3 shows a spacer 30 according to a second embodiment of the invention and Figure 4 shows a spacer 40 according to a third embodiment of the invention and Figures 13 to 16 show a fourth embodiment of the invention. Similar or corresponding features of these embodiments are numbered correspondingly and may only be described herein with reference to the one of these embodiments.

Spacer 30 is arranged to locate between a flange rearward facing surface 4' and surface 3' and abut sidewall 24' at a corner 31 of a square or rectangular fitting 2'. The fitting 2' is mounted in a corresponding square or rectangular hole 12'. Spacer 30 is arranged as a corner portion so as to conform to the corner 31 of the fining. Hence protrusions 21' and 22' are arranged on perpendicular sides to each other, facing inwards towards the fining, so as to abut the sidewall 24' each side of the corner 31.

Spacer 40 shown in Figure 4 is arranged to locate between a flange rearward facing surface 4" and surface 3" and abut curved sidewall 24" of a circular fining 2". Curved sidewall 24" is of a substantially tubular shape. The fining 2" is arranged to be mounted within a round hole 45. Spacing portion 6" is shaped as a substantially arcuate section 41 and is provided with three protrusions 21", 22" and 23' on the distal portion 20". Preferably, the projections are arranged with one at or near each end 42, 43 iS of the arcuate shape 41. Preferably the arcuate section 41 extends 180 degrees or more around the curved sidewall 24". More preferably, the stand-offs 26" and 27" are position on the arcuate section such that they are spaced at least 90 degrees and preferably more about a centre axis 4C of the fining 2" from the third projecting stand-off 44 when the spacer 40 is located about the fining. Hence the three stand-offs 26", 27" and 44 provide a stable "three legged stool" to support the fitting away from the surface 3". The ends 42, 43 are resiliently urged towards each other so that the protrusions 21" and 22" are urged to abut the sidewall 24", and in doing so, the protrusion 23" also tends to be urged to abut the sidewall. Hence, the portion 6" is within the lateral dimension 40F of the flange 46 along the whole extent of the portion 6.

From Figure 9 a round fitting 2" is shown in a partly sectioned side view mounted to a mounting surface 3" prior to the insertion of a spacer.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the fining 2" with a spacer 40 spacing the fining from the mounting surface 3. In Figure 10, only one spring 5" is shown to enable end 42 and adjacent stand-off 26" to be clearly seen. Each of the ends 42 and 43 comprises an angled face 48 and 49 respectively, the angled faces being at an acute angle 4A to the distal side 20". The angled end faces are arranged assist a user to insert spacer 40 between a fitting flange 46 and the mounting surface 3". A further benefit is that a user may use them to assist in prising the flange away from the mounting surface. A yet further benefit is that they may assist the user to pass the spacer over any re-inforcing ribs or ejection tooling marks on the rear face of the flange 46.

From Figure 12 it can be seen that a diameter 4D of the hole 45 is less than a dimension 4S across the stand-offs 26" and 27". Hence the spacer may abut the mounting face 3" so as to space the fitting distance I S" away from the surface 3" when the spacer is inserted.

From Figure 13 a spacer 60 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention can be seen to be similar to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, and closely similar or identical features have been labelled with the same item numbers and are not described separately with respect to this embodiment.

From Figure 14 which is a perspective view from above and another side of the spacer shown in Figure 13, it can be seen that the spacer 60 preferably has raised protrusions 61 and 62 on a side 63. From Figure 15 which shows a scrap side view of the spacer 60 spacing a fitting 2 from a mounting surface 73, side 63 is shown arranged to face the fitting 2 when the spacer 60 is used as shown in Figures 15 and 16 to space the fitting distance l6S from the mounting surface 73. Hence protrusions 61 and 62 abut the external face 24 of the fitting 2.

Comparing Figure 15 which shows the spacer inserted so as to space fitting 2 from a correctly sized hole 81 and Figure 16 which shows the spacer 60 spacing a fitting 2 from a mounting surface 73 having an oversize mounting hole 83, it can be seen that the spacing distance 16S may differ according to the size of the hole 81 or 83. A maximum dimension 1 6D of the hole 83 must be no greater than an outside dimension I 6F of the flange 14 otherwise the fitting could not abut the face 73 would be resiliently urged in the upward direction I U through the hole 83. A minimum dimension 1 5D of the hole 81 must be at least the outside dimension 15L of the fitting to enable the fining to be inserted in the hole Si.

Spacer 60 has side 63 that is substantially perpendicular to a base 64 so that when side 63 abuts the external face 24 of the fining, base 64 may abut the rearward facing surface 4 of the flange 14. A lateral dimension l5B of the base is greater than the lateral dimension I F of the flange so that the spacer 60 is not prevented from abutting the face 24 when fully inserted in the direction iN. When fully inserted, handle portion 67 extends beyond the fining 2, and in Figures 15 and 16 can be seen to extend both laterally in the direction I 6H and axially in the direction I 6J.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, not shown herein the handle extends in only one of the directions 1611 or i6J.

The spacer 60 has a distal side portion 65 opposite base 64. The distal side portion having a width or thickness 14T less than a width l4B of the base side 64, and less than the lateral dimension IF of the flange. The spacer 60 also has a sloping face 66 substantially opposite to face 63. Hence a cross-sectional profile 68 of spacing portion of the spacer 60 is substantially that of a right-angle triangle, with one apex forming side 65. Hence the spacing portion has a triangular cross-section, so that the width of the portion abutting the flange is larger than the width iT of the distal edge.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, closely similar to spacer 60, the distal side portion has a minimum thickness, and hence the distal side comprises an edge having a small radius rather than a flat side such as side portion 65.

Base 16 and the base 64 are lateral portions spacing the handle portion 7 and 67 respectively away from the spacing portion 6 and 80 respectively. The base 6 or 64 is a lateral portion with an abutting surface arranged to abut the rearwardly facing surface 4.

The spacing portion 80 is a triangular cross section 68, bounded by the lateral portion 64, by face 63 and by sloping face 66.

When used with oversize holes, such as hole 83, the spacer 60 is inserted between the rearward facing surface 4 and the mounting surface 73 so that at least a portion of the spacer will engage an edge 85 of the hole 83 and space the fining 2 from the surface 73 adequately so that at least a minimum spacing distance 1 6S is obtained.

In a particular embodiment of such a spacer as spacer 60, a suitable minimum dimension for spacing distance 16 has been found to be 5mm. However, it is preferable for the spacing distance to be greater than this to enable easier redecoration of the surface 73, such a preferable distance being at least 10mm.

Although the spacer 1 is shown in the Figures as having the spacing portion 6 longer than the handle portion 7, in another embodiment the spacer portion is the same length as the handle portion.

Although the spacer 1 is shown in the Figures as having the spacing portion 6 longer than the handle portion 7, in yet further embodiment the spacer portion is shorter than the length of the handle portion. An advantage of such an embodiment is that a spacer with a short straight spacing portion may be used equally for spacing fittings with square or rectangular profiles as it may be used with fittings with a circular profile. In each case the distal portion of the spacing portion may be arranged to be within the periphery of the flange. In each case a pair of spacers would be used opposite each other to space the fitting from the mounting surface.

Mounting 10 would typically be a ceiling, but could equally well be a wall or other surface in which a recessed fining is mounted.

While the fittings described herein are shown with springs 9 and sprung arms 5, fittings may be resiliently retained to the ceiling by any suitable means.

Recessed fitting 2 would typically be a recessed light fitting such as for a recessed downlight, but alternatively could be a recessed electrical device such as a ceiling mounted passive infra-red detector (PER). Typical light fittings would be arranged to receive reflector lamps such as a mains voltage GUI 0 lamp, or a low voltage halogen lamp. Hence such fittings typically require a hole to be cut in the mounting of between 50mm to 80mm. However the invention is equally well applicable to larger fittings, such as recessed luminaires arranged to receive low wattage compact fluorescent lamps, or ventilation grills, and such fittings typically require a larger hole in the mounting, of say from 125mm to 250mm.

When a spacer is used for spacing a light fitting to enable decoration, there will be occasions when a user wishes to operate the light fitting while it is spaced from its mounting surface. Hence, particularly in the case where the fitting contains a halogen bulb, significant heat is generated, and such fittings tend to operate at a relatively high temperature. It is advantageous if the spacer is arranged so that it does not deform or melt. Hence, in an embodiment of the spacer, the material used is capable of withstanding such high temperature without deformation. Typically such a high temperature could be in excess of 60 degrees Celsius up to a maximum of 80 degrees Celsius. Hence an embodiment of a spacer for use with such a fitting should be able to withstand a temperature of 80 degrees without softening such that significant deformation or fire hazard occurs. Such a suitable material for such a spacer would be a resilient plastics material that does not soften such that deformation occurs in use at a temperature less than 80 degrees Celsius.

In particular fittings, temperatures approaching a 100 degrees Celsius may be encountered. Hence, such a suitable material for such a spacer would be a resilient plastics material that does not soften such that deformation occurs in use at a temperature less than 100 degrees Celsius.

An example of a suitable material would be a high temperature polyamide plastics material. A glass fibre reinforced nylon plastics material would be an example of a high temperature plastics material suitable for use at temperatures up to 100 degrees Celsius.

Preferably the material is suitably fire resistant, so that should a portion of the spacer accidentally be in contact with a halogen lamp when the lamp is lit, the material will not ignite. More preferably, the material does not release a smell or fumes on heating at such high temperatures as are encountered in light fittings or on external surfaces of lamps. Such a suitable material for such a spacer would be a resilient plastics material of a class of plastics known as "low smoke and fume" plastics.

The embodiments of the invention discussed above are arranged so that a fitting may be spaced when required from a mounting surface to which it is mounted. The invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While the invention has been described and is defined by reference to particular preferred embodiments of the invention, such references do not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled in the pertinent arts. The described preferred embodiments of the invention are exemplary only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects. Various embodiments of the present application obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed embodiment may be technically combined with any other claimed embodiment(s).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A spacer arranged for spacing a recessed fitting from a mounting surface, the recessed fitting having at least a rearward facing surface resiliently urged to abut the mounting surface, the spacer comprising a spacing portion arranged to be removably located between the rearwardly facing surface and the mounting surface, the spacer further comprising a handle portion, the handle portion arranged to extend beyond the fitting and in a direction away from the surface, when the spacer is located.
2. A spacer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rearwardly facing surface comprises a flange extending laterally at least partly around the fitting, the spacing portion being arranged to fit within a lateral dimension of the flange.
3. A spacer as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the spacing portion has a distal side portion, the distal portion comprising at least a protrusion extending in the distal direction arranged to abut the mounting surface.
4. A spacer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the spacing portion further comprises at least a protrusion arranged to abut the fitting and arranged to distance the spacing portion away from the fitting in a or the lateral direction.
5. A spacer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the spacer further comprises a lateral portion, the lateral portion spacing the handle portion away from the spacing portion; preferably the lateral portion comprises an abutting surface arranged to abut the rearwardly facing surface.
6. A spacer as claimed in claim 5 wherein the spacing portion further comprises a triangular cross section, one side of which is formed by the lateral portion are shaped with a triangular cross section.
7. A spacer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the spacer is arranged for spacing a fitting mounted in a circular hole in the surface, the spacer further comprises an arcuate shape, the ends of the arcuate shape being resiliently urged towards each other.
8. A spacer as claimed in claim 7 when dependent on claim 3, wherein at least one of the said ends comprises an angled face, the angled face being at an acute angle to the distal side.
9. A spacer as claimed in any of the claims Ito 6 wherein the spacing portion further comprises corner portion.
10. A spacer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a pair of spacers are arranged to be located on substantially opposite sides or diagonally opposite corners of a square or rectangular fitting, or diametrically opposite on a circular fitting.
ii. A spacer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the spacer is made from a resilient plastics material that does not deform in use when subjected to a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius.
12. A spacer as described herein with reference to the Figures.