IES20010976A2

IES20010976A2 - A Device for Fitting to a Panel

Info

Publication number: IES20010976A2
Application number: IE20010976A
Authority: IE
Inventors: John Mchugh
Original assignee: John Mchugh
Priority date: 2001-11-09
Filing date: 2001-11-09
Publication date: 2003-06-11
Also published as: GB0225969D0; IE20020859A1; GB2382376A

Abstract

A device for fitting to a panel having at least one aperture comprises a body (12) having a base (16) for placing against one surface of the panel adjacent to the aperture and at least two dependent retaining members (18) for extending downwardly and outwardly through the aperture to bear against the panel. The body comprises two parts, a first body part (12a) carrying the retaining members (18) and being deformable so that the retaining members can be squeezed towards one another for insertion in an otherwise too-small aperture. The second body part (12b) is a locking member for engagement with the first body part after the retaining members have been inserted in the aperture to resist subsequent deformation of the first body part and consequent withdrawal of the retaining members. <Figure 2>

Description

This invention relates to a device for fitting to a panel having at least one aperture, e.g., to cover a drainage slot in a hollow metal window frame.

A device of the above type is described in Patent Application No. S990991. The device there described has a body for placing against the surface of the panel over the aperture and two dependent retaining members which extend down through the aperture and laterally under its edge to bear against the panel. One of the retaining members is hinged to the body for rotation from an inoperative position to an operative position.

A surface on the hinged member engages the edge of the aperture as the body is brought towards the surface of the panel such that the hinged member is automatically rotated from the inoperative to the operative position.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a device which avoids the use of a hinged retaining member.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for fitting to a panel having at least one aperture, the device comprising a body having a base for placing against one surface of the panel adjacent to the aperture and at least two dependent retaining members for extending downwardly and outwardly through the aperture to bear under the edge of the panel, wherein the body comprises two parts, a first body part carrying the retaining members and being deformable so that the retaining members can be squeezed- towards one OPEN TO PU8UC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 j another for insertion in an otherwise too-small aperture, and a second body part being a locking member for engagement with the first body part after the retaining members have been inserted in the aperture to resist subsequent deformation of the first body part and consequent withdrawal of the retaining members.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of a device according to the invention in its closed configuration; .

Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 in its closed configuration; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device in its closed configuration; Fig. 4 is a side view of the device in its closed configuration; Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the device in its open configuration; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the device in its open configuration; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the device in its open configuration; ΙΕΟ 1 09 7 8 Figs. 8(a) to 8(e) are side views of the device showing successive steps in fitting it to a slot in a panel; Figs. 9(a) and 9(b) show the slot before and after the 5 device has been fitted; Fig. 10 shows an alternative method of fitting the device to an aperture in a panel; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of part of the hollow metal window frame with drainage holes fitted with devices according to the embodiment; and Figs. 12(a) and 12(b) show a further method of fitting the device to a panel.

In the present specification expressions of orientation such as top, bottom, base, downwardly, etc., are used for convenience of description and do not limit the orientation of the device in use.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7, the device 10 is formed as a one-piece plastics moulding and, in a closed configuration (Figs. 1 to 4), comprises an elongate, generally oval body 12 having a rounded top surface 14 and a substantially flat base 16. Two retaining members (legs) 18 depend from the base 16 at opposite ends of the body 12 and extend mutually away from one another. Each leg 18 has an. outer surface 18a (Fig. 4) which is downwardly and outwardly inclined from the base 16, and terminates in an out-turned lower end or foot 18b whose upper surface 18c is substantially parallel to the base. ΙΕΟ 1 09 7 fi The body 12 comprises two parts 12a and 12b which are hinged together by a narrow piece 20 of the plastics moulding. Starting from an open configuration shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the device can be closed (Figs. 1 to 4) by rotating the body part 12b about the hinge 20 in a plane substantially parallel to the base 16 to engage the body part 12a. The two body parts 12a and 12b meet along flat edges 24a and 24b respectively which are normal to the plane of the base 16 and lie along the centre axis of the body 12 when the device is closed.

The body part 12a has a cavity 22 set into the base 16, the cavity extending between and beyond the legs 18 from the edge 24a, and the body part 12b has a complementary hump 26 projecting from the edge 24b. During closure of the device as aforesaid the hump 26 is inserted into the cavity 22 from the edge 24a and the body part 12b pushed home so that the edge 24b 0 meets the edge 24a. As seen, the body part 12a carries the legs 18, and these overhang the edge 24a at their root so that the· device presents a substantially symmetrical appearance when closed. The body part 12b also has a cavity 28 set into the base 16 which extends to the exposed edge 3 6 of the body part 12b. The purpose of this will be explained later.

In order to resist removal of the body part 12b from the body part 12a after the device is closed, the recess 22 has a pair of hook-like projections 30 (Figs. 3 and. 6) on opposite sides which snap-engage corresponding recesses 32 on opposite sides of the hump ΙΕΟ 1 09 7 6 when the body part 12b is fully engaged with the body part 12a.

In the open configuration of the device the reduced 5 thickness of the body part 12a in the region of the cavity 22, and especially between the legs 18, allows the legs 18 to be squeezed towards one another by resilient deformation of the body part 12a, thereby permitting the legs to be inserted in an otherwise too10 small aperture. However, when the device is closed, i.e. when the body part 12b is pushed fully home into the body part 12a so that the edges 24a, 24b meet, the hump 26, which is a snug fit at least across the width of the cavity 22 between the legs 18, substantially prevents such deformation and thereby locks the device against withdrawal of the legs 18 from the aperture (for this reason the body part 12b is also referred to herein as a locking member).

Figs. 8 and 9 which show the device being fitted to a slot 40 in a panel 42, Fig. 9(a). With the device open, the body part 12a is held between the thumb and finger and positioned over the slot 40, Fig. 8(a). It is seen that the slot 40 is too short to allow the legs 18 to be inserted without deformation of the body part 12a. Thus, Fig. 8(b), finger-and-thumb pressure is applied to the body part 12a at the points indicated by arrows so that the body part 12a bows to squeeze the legs towards one another sufficiently to allow them to enter the slot 40, Fig. 8(c). Upon release of the squeezing pressure, Fig. 8(d), the body part 12a resumes its original shape so that the feet 18b engage under the edge of the slot 40. Finally the locking member 12b is rotated into the body part 12a in the manner described above to close and lock the device.

The fitted device is shown in Figs. 8(e), wherein it 5 will be seen that the upper surface 18c of each foot 18 bears under the edge of the panel 42. In this application the depth of the legs 18 is so chosen in relation to the thickness of the panel 42 that in the final position of the device 10 the upper surfaces 18c of the feet 18 come to bear against the lower surface of the panel 42, so holding the device firmly in place on the panel.

However, in an alternative application, Fig. 12, the panel 42' is not as thick as the panel 42, and therefore the feet 18 cannot bear on the lower surface of the panel. In this case, therefore, the length of the slot 40 is so chosen in relation to the thickness of the panel 42' that the edge of the slot bears against the inclined outer surfaces 18a of the legs.

A typical application for the device 10 is to cover a drainage slot in a hollow metal window frame 50, Fig. 11. In this case, to continue to allow drainage through the slot, the locking member 12b has the aforementioned cavity 28 which is open both at the base 16 and the exposed edge 36 of the locking member. The device 10 is fitted to the window frame with the exposed edge 36 facing down. Thus the cavity 28 provides a passage for water from the drainage slot to the exterior. ΙΕΟ 1 09 7 1 Although the above device has been described for use with a single aperture or slot 40, it is evident that the device could be fitted to a panel having two apertures 40', Figs. 12(a) and 12(b), one leg 18 being inserted in one of the apertures 40' and the other leg 18 in the other. Again, a drainage slot 40 is shown, but this is not engaged by the legs 18.

In other applications it is possible to fit a hook to 10 the body 12, or to provide the body 12 with a threaded bore to receive some other fitting. Such devices could be used, for example, to fit a hook to a hollow metal door or to fit a curtain rail. It is also possible for the device to have more than two legs 18; for example, three or more legs may be disposed around a circular body, the body being deformable sufficiently to allow the legs to be squeezed together for insertion into an otherwise too-small aperture. In other embodiments the cavity 22, and correspondingly the locking member 12b, could pass fully through the body part 12a from one edge to the other. Also, the cavity 28 in the locking part 12b could be omitted where a drainage function is not required.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

IE Ο 1 Ο 9 7 β

Claims

1. A device for fitting to a panel having at least one aperture, the device comprising a body having a 5 base for placing against one surface of the panel adjacent to the aperture and at least two dependent retaining members for extending downwardly and outwardly through the aperture to bear under the edge of the panel, wherein the body comprises two parts, a 10 first body part carrying the retaining members and being deformable so that the retaining members can be squeezed towards one another for insertion in an otherwise too-small aperture, and a second body part being a locking member for engagement with the first 15 body part after the retaining members have been inserted in the aperture to resist subsequent deformation of the first body part and consequent withdrawal of the retaining members. 20

2. a device as claimed in claim 1, further including means for latching the locking member to the first body part in the operative position of the locking member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the 25 latching means comprises at least projection on one of the first and second body parts which engages a corresponding recess in the other of the first and second body parts. 30

4. a device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the locking member is hinged to the first body part. ΙΕΟ 1 09 7 6

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer surface of each retaining member is downwardly and outwardly inclined from the base. 5

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each retaining member has an out-turned lower end whose upper surface is substantially parallel to the base.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, 10 wherein the first body part has a cavity in the base which extends between the retaining members from at least one edge of the first body part, and wherein the locking member is inserted into the cavity from the said one edge of the first body part.

8. A device as claimed in claim Ί, wherein the locking member also has a cavity in the base which extends to an exposed edge of the locking member. 20

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is elongate and has a respective retaining member at each end, the retaining members extending mutually away from each other. 25

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is made as a one-piece plastics mounding.