GB2521449A - Improvements in or relating to letter plate arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

A letter plate arrangement 10 comprises a first part 12 with a letter plate 14 for the outside of a door 18. The first part 12 includes a first lining portion 20 which is located, in use, in an aperture 16 in the door 18. A second part 22 has a second lining portion 24 which is also located, in use, within the aperture 16. The lining portions 20, 24 meet, in use, to define an oblique channel through the door 18. The lining portions 20, 24 meet at a horizontal plane 28 when the door 18 is vertical. In one example, the edges of the lining portions 20, 24 interfit at the horizontal plane 28 and allow the lining portions 20, 24 to be brought together by horizontal movement, one from either face of the door 18. The example described can be installed by simple horizontal motion of the parts 12, 22, and using horizontal fixing screws 44 while resulting in a lined channel which is oblique through the door, providing improved security without compromising proper delivery of postal items.

Description

Improvements in or relating to letter plate arrangements The present invention relates to letter plate arrangements and to improvements in or relating to letter plate arrangements.

The external door of a building is conventionally provided with a slot for delivery of postal items etc. It is common to provide a letter plate to cover the slot for aesthetic reasons, for draught exclusion etc. However, it has been found that the provision of the slot can create a security risk. For example, it may be possible to use a tool to reach through the slot to retrieve items of value, such as door keys or keys to a vehicle. Some arrangements which are intended to address the security risks are found not to be aesthetic. Other arrangements may be difficult or expensive to manufacture or install. Accordingly, the designer of a letter plate arrangement is faced with a conflicting set of requirements for aesthetics, cost, simplicity and security, noting that postal items which cannot be properly delivered through the door can themselves create security issues.

Examples of the present invention provide a letter plate arrangement comprising: a first part which includes a letter plate to close, in use, an aperture through a vertical door to which the arrangement is fitted, and a first lining portion which, in use, is located within the aperture; a second part which comprises a second lining portion located, in use, within the aperture; wherein the lining portions meet, in use, to define an oblique channel through the aperture, the lining portions meeting at a plane which is horizontal when the door is installed in a vertical position.

The lining portions may have cooperating edges which interfit at the horizontal plane.

The interfitting features of the cooperating edges may be horizontal to allow the lining portions to be brought together by horizontal movement. The cooperating edges may define a lip and a channel, the lip being received, in use, in the channel, and the lip and channel being horizontal.

The arrangement may further comprise first fixing means operable to extend through the door from the second face to engage the first part and fix the first letter plate in position against the first face of the door. The first fixing means may comprise a first socket integral with the first part, and extending into the door to receive a fixing introduced from the second face of the door, the socket being secured to, or integral with the first lining portion along at least part of the length of the socket.

The arrangement may further comprise a third part having a second socket which, in use, extends into the door from the second face and receives the first socket, the fixing extending, in use, through the second socket and into the first socket to clamp the door between the first and third parts. The first fixing means and/or the first and second sockets may be horizontal, in use.

The second part may further comprise a second letter plate, the letter plates being positioned, in use, respectively at first and second faces of the door. The third part may include a restrictor portion which is positioned alongside the second letter plate when the first part is secured by means of the third part and the fixing, and wherein the maximum opening angle of the second letter plate is restricted by abutment of the second letter plate and the restrictor portion.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a letter plate arrangement in accordance with the present invention and in assembled condition; Figs 2 and 2a are end elevations of the arrangement of Fig 1 indicating an installation condition in a door, and respectively showing the letter plates closed and open; Fig 3 and Fig 4 correspond with Fig 1 and Fig 2, respectively, showing the arrangement in a disassembled condition; Fig 5 and Fig 6 are sections of the arrangement when installed in a door, at section lines 5-5 and 6-6 in Fig 1, respectively; Fig 6a corresponds with Fig 6, showing the letter plates open; and Fig 7 is a simple diagram of interfitting features at the edges of the first and second parts.

Opening remarks The following description makes use of terms which have specific meanings relating to the position and orientation of the various components, such as inner, outer, horizontal, vertical etc. These terms are used with reference to the final orientation after installation. Conventionally, the outer door of the building will be planar and hung in a vertical plane, with one face of the door exposed externally of the building (the exterior face) and the other face of the door being inside the building (the inner face). It is to be understood that prior to installation, components may have other orientations.

Overview The drawings illustrate a letter plate arrangement 10. The arrangement 10 comprises a first part 12 which includes a letter plate 14 to close, in use, an aperture 16 (Fig 4).

The aperture 16 extends through a vertical door 18 to which the arrangement 10 is fitted. The first part 12 also includes a first lining portion 20 which, in use, is located within the aperture 16.

A second part 22 comprises a second lining portion 24 located, in use, within the aperture 16.

The lining portions 20, 24 meet, in use, to define an oblique channel indicated generally at 26 in Figs 6 and 6a. The oblique channel 26 extends through the aperture 16. The lining portions 20, 24 meet at a plane 28 which is horizontal when the door 18 is installed in a vertical position.

The aperture 16 is also cut obliquely in the door 18, as can be seen from Fig 4.

The arrangement of the lining portions 20 meeting at a horizontal plane 28 allows the oblique channel 26 to be formed by bringing together the two parts 12, 22 in a horizontal direction (as can be understood from Fig 3 and Fig 4), rather than bringing the parts 12, 22 together along an oblique direction parallel with the channel 26. This is expected to provide a range of advantages discussed more fully below.

First part In more detail, the first part 12 has a frame 30 which sits against the exterior face 32 of the door 18 when the arrangement 10 is installed. The frame 30 provides a mount on which the outer letter plate 14 is hingedly mounted, allowing the plate 14 to swing up through around 180° to an open position in which the outer mouth of the channel 26 is unobstructed. Spring arrangements (not shown) of generally conventional form can be incorporated in the hinge mountings of the plate 14, to hold the plate 14 in the closed position except when manually opened. This provides a first barrier against draughts passing through the door 18.

The first lining portion 20 extends from the frame 30 on the opposite side of the frame 30 to the plate 14. The top face 34 of the portion 20 extends down at an oblique angle relative to the frame 30 and is bounded by triangular end walls 36. The end walls 36 have lower edges 38 which are perpendicular to the plane of the frame 30 and will therefore extend horizontally back from the frame 30, when the frame 30 is installed against the outer, vertical face 32 of a door 18.

Fixing arrangements for the first part 12 are provided. In this example, a first socket is provided at each end of the frame 30 extending perpendicular (horizontally) back from the frame 30 and providing a socket to receive a fixing introduced from the inner face 42 of the door 18. In this example, the fixing is a screw 44 (Figs 3, 4, 6).

Each socket 40 is secured to, or integral with the frame 30 and extends back from the frame 30, alongside the corresponding end wall 36, to which the socket 40 is also attached, or with which the socket 40 is also integral. Accordingly, each socket is supported by the adjacent end wall 36 along at least pad of its length, as can be seen from Fig 3.

The frame 30 and the lining portion 20 may be formed as a single moulding, e.g. of plastics material.

Second part The second part 22 has a frame 46 which sits against the inner face 42 of the door 18 when the arrangement 10 is installed. The frame 46 provides a mount on which an inner letter plate 48 is hingedly mounted, allowing the plate 48 to swing up. Unlike the outer letter plate 14, the inner plate is not free to swing through such a large angle, for reasons to be described, so that in the open position of the inner plate 48, the inner mouth of the channel 26 remains obstructed to some degree. Spring arrangements (not shown) of generally conventional form can be incorporated in the hinge mountings of the plate 48, to hold the plate 48 in the closed position except when manually opened. This provides a further barrier against draughts passing through the door 18.

The second lining portion 24 extends from the frame 46 on the opposite side of the frame to the plate 48. The bottom face 50 of the portion 24 extends up at an oblique angle relative to the frame 46 and is bounded by triangular end walls 52. The oblique angle of the bottom face 50 matches the oblique angle of the top face 34. The end walls 52 have upper edges 54 which are perpendicular to the plane of the frame 46 and will therefore extend horizontally back from the frame 46, when the frame 46 is installed against the inner, vertical face 42 of a door 18.

Fixing arrangements for the second part 22 are provided. In this example, holes 56 are provided at each end of the frame 46 to receive fixing screws (not shown) allowing the second frame 46, and thus the whole of the second part 22 to be secured to the inner, vertical face of the door 18 in a face fix manner. Draught excluding brushes 57 may be installed by trapping them between the second frame 46 and the door 18.

The frame 46 and the lining portion 24 may be formed as a single moulding, e.g. of plastics material.

Interfitting The first and second parts 12, 22 interfit in a simple manner, as can now be described with particular reference to Fig 7. This shows that the lower edges 38 of the end walls 36 are generally planar and vertical to form a lip, whereas the upper edges 54 of the end walls 52 each provide a single sided channel by virtue of a step at 58. The lower edges 38 and the upper edges 54 are horizontal, as has been noted, so that the edges 38, 54 can cooperate to interfit at the horizontal plane 28.

Indeed, the interfitting features 38, 54 allow the lining portions 12, 22 to be brought together by a horizontal movement, by virtue of the horizontal orientation of the edges 38, 54. This introduces the lips of the edges 38 into one end of the channels of the edges 54. Further horizontal movement slides the lips along the length of the channels.

Third part The arrangement 10 also comprises a third part 60 at each end of the inner letter plate 48. The third parts 60 have features which provide several different functions, and may each be a single moulding or casting.

Each third pad 60 includes a second socket 62 which can be installed to extend into the door 18 from the inner face 42. The socket 62 is sufficiently large to receive the first socket 40, with a close fit (Fig 5). The socket 62 is also open at the inner end (above the inner plate 48), allowing the screw 44 to be introduced through the socket 62 to engage in the first socket 40. This allows the head of the screw 44 to bear on the third part 60 around the second socket 62, and the thread of the screw 44 to engage the first socket 40. Tightening the screw 44 therefore causes the first part 12 and the third part 60 to be pulled together, thus clamping the door 18 between the first and third parts 12, 60. As has been noted, the screw 44 is horizontal.

The third part 60 also extends around the rear face of the inner plate 48, near the top and end of the plate 48. Each third part 60 has a restrictor face 64 (Figs 5 and 6) which is positioned alongside the plate 48. This causes the maximum opening angle of the inner letter plate 48 to be restricted by abutment of the inner letter plate 48 and the restrictor face 64. The restrictor face 64 is approximately parallel with the faces 34, 50 of the lining portions 20, 24, so that the maximum opening angle of the plate 48 places the plate 48 approximately parallel with the oblique, main axis of the channel 26.

Installation The method of installation of the arrangements which have been described above can best be understood by first considering Fig 3 and Fig 4. Broken lines 66 indicate the centre axis of the screw 44; broken lines 28 indicate the lines of the edges 38, 54 meeting in the plane 28. The two parts 12, 22 can be brought together by horizontal relative motion from the condition of Fig 3 and Fig 4 to the assembled condition of Fig 1 and Fig 2. The first step is to introduce the second pad 22 into the aperture 16 in the door 18. While this is done, the inner plate 48 is unobstructed (because the third part 60 is not present) and can therefore be opened widely to allow the second part 22 to be fixed in position by face-fixing the frame 46 to the inner face 42 of the door 18, by means of fixing screws through the holes 56.

The first part 12 is then introduced into the aperture 16, from the outer face 32 of the door 18. As the two parts 12, 22 approach each other, the ends of the lower edges 38 enter the ends of the channels on the upper edges 54 and begin to slide along the channels. As the first and third parts 12, 60 approach each other, the first socket enters the end of the second socket 62. These motions are horizontal and perpendicular to the plane of the door 18. The edges 38, 54 and the sockets 40, 62 remain in linear alignment at all times. However, the result of this linear movement perpendicular to the plane of the door 18 is to create the channel 26 which is at an oblique angle through the door 18.

The third parts 60 are then placed in position with each second socket 62 positioned around the corresponding first socket 40, and with the restrictor faces 64 adjacent the plate 48. Finally, the screws 44 are introduced through the third parts 60 to engage the first sockets 40 and then tightened to secure the first part 12 and the third part 60 in position.

Thus, the second part 22 is primarily secured to the door 18, while the first and third parts 12, 60 are secured together to clamp the door 18 from the outer and inner faces.

Concluding comments We expect that the arrangement described above will provide advantages of ease of manufacture and ease of use, for various reasons. The simple horizontal motion required to assemble all of the components minimises the risk of misalignment of features, because the features relevant to securing the arrangement in position are brought together along straight, parallel, horizontal lines, as noted above. They remain in their final alignment at all times. Tolerances which might arise, e.g. in the thickness of doors, will not affect this alignment, even if the final separation of the various parts must be slightly different. This horizontal form of installation closely resembles the horizontal manner in which conventional letter plate arrangements are installed, including the use of fixing screws which are installed horizontally, but results in the advantage of an oblique channel through the door, and a restricted inner plate, so that security risks associated with a tool reaching through the channel are expected to be significantly reduced.

Forming the lining portion 24 as a single moulding with the frame 46 allows the design to have no joints or edges against which an item of post could become stuck, such as might occur if the lining portion 24 was formed separately from the frame 46.

The item of post can move smoothly down the bottom face 50 and out through the frame 46. This is further encouraged by providing draught excluding brushes in the form of bristles supported only at their top end, with their lower, free ends resting against the bottom face 50 or the bottom side of the frame 46.

The integral moulding of the frames and lining portions is also expected to reinforce the frames against bowing away from the door when installed.

The horizontal orientation of many key features, such as the sockets 40, 62, is expected to result in simple manufacture by moulding techniques, without needing complex tooling capable of opening in a variety of different directions. For example, the frames 30, 46 can be moulded with the respective lining portions 20, 24 by means of simple "open and shut" mould tools. Complex tools with cores moving at an angle to each other are not required, even though the result is an oblique channel 26.

The first socket 40 is supported along most of its length, as has been described, either by the first lining portion 20, or within the second socket 62, and the engagement of the screw 44 with the first socket 40 takes place within the second socket 62, resulting in the first socket 40 being held tightly between the screw 44 and the second socket 62. These features are expected to provide secure mounting of the first part 12 at the outer face of the door 18, and mutual reinforcement of the screw 44, the first socket 40, the second socket 62 and associated features. This is expected to provide a high resistance against attempts to breach the security of the door 18 by prising the first part 12 away from the front face 32. These aspects of mutual reinforcement are expected to be particularly beneficial when one or more of the components is a plastic moulding. If the socket 40 is metal or other robust material, it may be unnecessary to provide additional support by providing the socket 62.

Many different materials and combinations of materials can be used in the formation of the arrangement described above. We envisage manufacturing the frames 30, 46, together with their respective lining portions 20, 24, as plastics mouldings to which metal or metallised plates 14, 48 are mounted in generally conventional manner.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, many different dimensions, relative dimensions, shapes and sizes and relative sizes can be chosen for the various components described and shown.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS1. A letter plate arrangement comprising: a first part which includes a letter plate to close, in use, an aperture through a vertical door to which the arrangement is fitted, and a first lining portion which, in use, is located within the aperture; a second part which comprises a second lining portion located, in use, within the aperture; wherein the lining portions meet, in use, to define an oblique channel through the aperture, the lining portions meeting at a plane which is horizontal when the door is installed in a vertical position.
2. 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lining portions have cooperating edges which interfit at the horizontal plane.
3. 3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the interfitting features of the cooperating edges are horizontal to allow the lining portions to be brought together by horizontal movement. (0r-20
4. 4. An arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cooperating edges define a lip and a channel, the lip being received, in use, in the channel, and the lip and channel being horizontal.
5. 5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, further comprising first fixing means operable to extend through the door from the second face to engage the first part and fix the first letter plate in position against the first face of the door.
6. 6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the first fixing means comprise a first socket integral with the first part, and extending into the door to receive a fixing introduced from the second face of the door, the socket being secured to, or integral with the first lining portion along at least part of the length of the socket.
7. 7. An arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising a third part having a second socket which, in use, extends into the door from the second face and receives the first socket, the fixing extending, in use, through the second socket and into the first socket to clamp the door between the first and third parts.
8. 8. An arrangement according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the first fixing means and/or the first and second sockets are horizontal, in use.
9. 9. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the second part further comprises a second letter plate, the letter plates being positioned, in use, respectively at first and second faces of the door.
10. 10. An arrangement according to claim 7 or any claim dependent on claim 7, wherein the third part includes a restrictor portion which is positioned alongside the second letter plate when the first part is secured by means of the third part and the fixing, and wherein the maximum opening angle of the second letter plate is restricted by abutment of the second letter plate and the restrictor portion.
11. 11. A letter plate arrangement substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings. (0-20
12. 12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.