NZ534101A - Cover plate formed from two abutting halves allowing cables to pass through - Google Patents

Abstract

A cover plate 1 that is used for covering wall cavities and allows the passage of cables is disclosed. The cover plate is formed from two half plates 2, 3 that have interlocking connecting means 5, 6 along their joining edges. At least one of the half plates has a recess 4 formed in the joining edge of a size and shape selected to allow a cable or cables to be located. The plates have means 7 for mounting the joined cover plate to be fixed to a wall.

Description

Patents Form # 5 534 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL # : 534101 DATED : 14 July 2004 TITLE : Cover Plate I, Eaglen, Andrew Richard Address: 25 Mays Street, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand citizen do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 170160NZ_Cap_20050711J 322_NK.doc - 1 FEE CODE 1050 iNifcLLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 1 2 JUL 2005 Received 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cover plate devised particularly, though not necessarily solely, for use in the home and/or office to cover unsightly wall cavities that have been created 5 for electrical wires and the like to pass through in relation to the installation of appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wires passing through walls are conventionally passed through an apertured cover plate prior to their connection with the corresponding appliance or termination plug. However, with more complex electronic applications wires having large multi-pin terminal points or plugs permanently attached to the wire often are provided. Such terminal points or plugs frequently cannot easily be removed and reconnected. Replacement plugs, or cover 15 plates incorporating plug sockets to match, are expensive and are not always available for specific types of plugs. Furthermore, on site connection of multi pin plugs can be expensive and unreliable. If the terminal point or plug is retained on the wire, a large hole is required to pass the wire and terminal point or plug through the wall, and a conventional cover plate cannot be used. The hole is therefore often left uncovered, or it 20 is filled and finished which can be expensive and messy. Often the result is also unsightly. Furthermore, should the wire and plug need to be removed or replaced, the filled hole must be cut out and later refinished.

OBJECT It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cover plate which will go at least some way towards providing a neater, cheaper, and more practical solution to the foregoing difficulties in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

F:\ahopper\170l60NZ AH cs.705.doc 3 STATEMENT OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention consists in a cover plate comprising at least two 5 part plates which upon connection form the cover plate, each part plate having at least one part connection means thereon and an abutting edge, and at least one of the part plates having at least one recess, of a selected size and shape into which a wire or wires can be located, the recess being positioned on the abutting edge, and at least one of the part plates having a mounting means for mounting the cover plate to a wall or other 10 surface in use.

Preferably, said cover plate is formed of a suitably rigid material.

Preferably, said cover plate is rectangular in shape.

Preferably, said cover plate is substantially 110 mm in length, substantially 70 mm in width and substantially 10 mm in thickness.

Preferably, one part connection means comprises an elongated tongue and the other part 20 connection means comprises a corresponding groove.

Alternatively, one part connection means comprises a dovetailed edge and the other part connection means comprises a corresponding dovetailed groove.

Alternatively, one part connection means comprises a tenon and the other part connection means comprises a corresponding mortice.

Alternatively, each part connection means comprises a tongue and a tongue receiving means, spaced apart from the tongue.

F:\ahopper\170160NZ AE cs.705.doc .NTtuicTOAl. PrOFERTY I OF^ICr Or Ma. 1 1 ivsAi' 2008 | j y £ n 4 Alternatively each part connection means is a snap fit with another part connection means.

Alternatively, the part connection means consists of at least two elongated bars extending 5 from a selected position at the rear of one of the part plates of the cover plate to an equivalent position at the rear of the corresponding part plates of the cover plate.

Preferably, said elongated bars are formed of metal or some other suitably rigid material.

Preferably, the elongated bars are affixed parallel and symmetrically opposite to each other.

Preferably, the abutting edge of at least one of the part plates of the cover plate contains a single recess to accommodate a single wire.

Preferably, the abutting edge of at least one of the part plates of the cover plate contains multiple recesses to accommodate multiple wires.

Preferably, when the abutting edge of both of the part plates of the cover plate, contain an 20 recess or recesses, said recess or recesses are symmetrically aligned such that they coincide when the part plates are connected to form the cover plate.

Preferably, the or each recess is semi-circular in shape.

Preferably, a depression of a selected size is formed in the front surface of the cover plate such that the recess or recesses are located within the depression and substantially below the front surface of the cover plate.

Preferably, a mounting means is provided in each part plate and each mounting means 30 comprises at least one fastening hole to accommodate a screw or other fastening device to enable each of the part plates of the cover plate to be mounted to a wall or other surface.

F:\ahopper\170l60NZ AE cs.705.doc .'NTELLfiCTUAI. PROFFRTY I oppir? c-f- N.Z. 1 1 2008 n Preferably, said fastening holes are positioned on each part plates of the cover plate such that they are symmetrically aligned.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction 5 and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figures 1 to 5a and 6b are diagrammatic elements showing various cover plates according to some of the preferred forms of the invention, Figure 6a is a cross-sectional element through a cover plate according to one preferred form of the invention, Figures 7 and 8 are front and rear perspective views of a part plate for a cover plate alternative preferred for of the invention, Figures 9 and 10 are front and rear view of a cover plate formed from the part plates of 25 Figures 7 and 8, Figure 11 is a rear elevation of the cover plate of Figures 9 and 10, Figure 12 to 16 are cross-sections on AA, BB, CC, DD and EE in Figure 11 respectively.

F:\ahopper\170160NZ Al£ cs.705.doc 6 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, a cover plate 1 is provided which comprises at least and usually two part plates 2, 3 which when they abut form the cover plate 1. The cover plate 1 is preferably formed of a suitably rigid material such as wood, plastics material, or metal or any other suitable material, or any combination of suitable materials. For example, the cover plate 1 may comprise an insert of a selected material affixed to a frame or base plate 14 (Fig. 4) of a different type of selected material to serve as a trim according to the preferences of the user or to complement existing decor.

The cover plate 1 may be of any selected shape and/or any selected dimensions according to the specific use to which it is to be applied, or to the preferences of the user, or to match other standards.

Referring to Figs. 1 and la and the particular embodiments of the invention depicted therein, a cover plate 1 is provided which essentially comprises a substantially rectangular block which is cut substantially in half along an abutting edge 9 to form two part plates 2, 3. The cover plate 1 may be substantially 110 mm in length, substantially 70 mm in width and substantially 10 mm in thickness. However, the cover plate 1 may however be of any other size or dimensions to suit the specific application. The abutting edge 9 of each piece 2, 3 of the cover plate 1 contains a single recess 4 (Fig. la) or multiple recesses 8 (Fig. 1) through which single or multiple electrical wires are intended to pass in normal use. The recess 4 or recesses 8 are preferably, but not necessarily, positioned substantially in the centre of the abutting edge 9. The recess 4 or recesses 8 are preferably, but not necessarily, drilled or formed in a moulding operation, are semicircular in shape, and are of a selected size or radius according to the size and/or number of electrical wires to be accommodated in normal use. The recess 4 or recesses 8 of each abutting edge 9 are symmetrically aligned such that they coincide when the part plates 2, 3 come together to form the cover plate 1.

F:\ahopper\170160NZ AE cs.705.doc ■ NTt; l.SOTiMi. PT'Or rRTY /-'CP *"• • [,r 1 i i 2008 7 The abutting edges 9 of each of the two part plates 2, 3 each have a part connection means thereon, such as described hereafter.

For example, Fig. la depicts a simple tongue and groove connection means wherein one 5 of the part connection means comprises an elongated tongue 5 which is vertically centred on the abutting edge 9 and protrudes a selected distance. The tongue 5 extends substantially along the length of the abutting edge 9, but not through the recess 4 or recesses 8. The tongue 5 is preferably, but not necessarily, substantially one-third of the thickness of the cover plate 1. The corresponding part connection means 3 comprises an 10 equivalent groove 6 cut into the abutting edge 9 such that the tongue 5 fits snugly into the groove 6 when the two part plates 2, 3 are connected to produce a substantially flush surface such that the cover plate 1 resembles a single unit.

In another form of the invention as depicted in Fig. 1, the tongue 5 may comprise a 15 dovetailed edge, and the groove may comprise a corresponding dovetail shape such that the horizontal abutting edges 9 (as shown in Figure 1) of the two part plates 2, 3 are connected by a simple dovetail connection means (as shown in insert A), and the vertical abutting edge 9 (as shown in Figure 1) is connected by way of a tongue and groove connection means as described in the preceding paragraph and as shown in insert B.

In another form of the invention as depicted in Fig. 2, the two part plates 2, 3 are connected by way of a mortice and tenon connection means wherein one part connection means is a notch or tenon 10 and the other part connection means is an equivalent slot or mortice 11 such that the tenons 10 fit snugly into the mortices 11. The tenons 10 are 25 preferably, but not necessarily, substantially one-third of the thickness of the cover plate 1. The tenons 10 are held in place by means of pins, screws, clips or other fastening devices 12 extending through the rear of the cover plate 1 such that they do not penetrate the front face of the cover plate 1.

In another form of the invention as depicted in Fig. 3, the two part plates 2, 3 are connected by way of at least two elongated bars 13. The elongated bars 13 extend from a jj !/v YC;Y F:\ahopper\170160NZAEcs.70S.doc j C i 1 ; M 2006 i 8 selected position on one part plate 2 to an equivalent position on the other part plate 3, and are clipped or screwed or otherwise fastened into place through the rear of the cover plate 1 such that the fastening means do not penetrate the front face of the cover plate 1. The elongated bars 13 are positioned parallel and symmetrically opposite to each other.

The elongated bars 13 are preferably formed of metal or some other type of suitably rigid material. The elongated bars 13 are of selected dimensions smaller in proportion to the selected dimensions of the cover plate 1 such that they are concealed at the rear of the cover plate 1.

At least one and preferably each of the part plates 2, 3 has at least one mounting means which may consist of a drilled or moulded in fastening hole 7 through which a screw or other fastening device is passed in order to mount the part plates 2, 3 to a wall or other surface in normal use. The fastening holes 7 are of a selected size or diameter in order to accommodate a selected type of screw or other fastening device. The fastening holes 7 15 may be positioned in any desired location. The fastening holes 7 are preferably, but not necessarily, positioned on each part plates 2, 3 such that they are symmetrically aligned, for example in the top centre and bottom centre of each part plate 2, 3 respectively, such that there is a distance of substantially 84 mm between the mounting means on each part plate 2, 3 so as fit common flush boxes in use. Alternatively, the mounting means may 20 be positioned in each comer of each part plate 2, 3. Each part plate 2, 3 may comprise any number of mounting means to suit the specific application.

It will be apparent that each of the part plates 2, 3 may contain some other mounting means by which the cover plate 1 is mounted to a wall or other surface in normal use, for 25 example, some type of clips or 'snap in' connectors.

In a still further form of the invention, a cover plate 1 as described herein may comprise a further component such as a type of separate cover or facing 16 (Figs. 5a and 6b) which can be affixed to the top surface of the cover plate 1 so as to conceal the connecting edges 30 9 in the cover plate 1 to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. In such an aspect the facing 16 may comprise a larger aperture through which the wires and F:\ahoppeiM70I60NZ AE cs.705.doc 9 permanently attached termination points or plugs could be accommodated, and the recess 4 or recesses 8 of the cover plate 1 may comprise a raised edge 15 (Fig. 5) extending substantially around the perimeter of the recess 4 or the recesses 8 such that the facing 16, when affixed to the cover plate 1 (by means such as clips or adhesive), would create a 5 flush surface. The facing 16 may be formed of metal or some other suitable material according to the preferences of the user or to complement existing decor.

In still another form of the invention, as depicted in Fig. 6, a depression 17 of a selected size is formed in the front surface 18 of the cover plate 1 such that the recess 4 (or 10 recesses 8 as the case may be) are located within the depression 17, to accommodate the plug substantially below the front surface 18 of the cover plate 1. This allows for the use of the plug as a wall socket to attach a lead to an appliance or for the temporary storage of the plug when not in use by pushing the excess wire into the wall cavity until the plug is accommodated within the depression 17. Fig. 6a illustrates a typical cross-section 15 through the centre of the cover plate 1 as depicted in Fig. 6 from perspective A. Fig. 6b illustrates a cover plate 1 as depicted in Fig. 6 comprising a further component such as a separate cover or facing 16 as described in the preceding paragraph.

Thus in use once the wires with attached termination points or plugs have been passed 20 through the cavity in the wall or other surface, the two part plates 2, 3 of the cover plate 1 are fitted around the wires in such a manner that the wires pass through the appropriate recess 4 or recesses 8 of the abutting edges 9 of each part plates 2, 3 of the cover plate 1. The two part plates 2, 3 are then connected by whatever selected means as described herein to form the cover plate 1. Each part plate 2, 3 of the cover plate 1 is then mounted, 25 with screws or otherwise, to the wall or other surface, thereby affixing the cover plate 1 to the wall or other surface and covering the cavity. In the case of Fig. 5a, the cover plate 1 is affixed to the wall or other surface as described above primarily, after which the wires with attached termination points or plugs are passed through the aperture of the facing 16 and the facing 16 is affixed to the cover plate 1. j F:\ahopper\170l60NZ AE cs.705.doc : j(3 Referring now to Figures 7 to 16, a further embodiment is described. By reference to Figures 7 and 8, a part plate 2, or indeed 3, is provided with an abutting edge 9. Again one or more recesses such as recess 4 is provided along with further recess 7 through which a fixing device such as screw 20 may be passed. The aperture 7 may have a large 5 diameter entrance as at 21 able to receive cap 22 for example, in a manner typical of switch plates and the like.

Each part plate 2 or 3, includes part connection means. The part connection means may include a tongue 25 and a tongue receiving device 26. The tongue 25 may have an 10 outwardly extending member 27 with a bulbous end 28. The receiving device has a surface 30 against which the tongue 25 of the other part may be positioned in use with a notch or cutout 31 in to which the bulbous end 28 may "snap" or "click".

Thus the part receiving means comprise two elements which are spaced apart and as can 15 be seen from Figure 7 and 8 are preferably spaced apart by substantially all of the width of the cover plate part 2 or 3.

Provision is made to reinforce the perimeter of the recess 4 and this can be achieved by means of arcuate rib 35, one end 36 of which extends beyond the abutting edge 9 and the 20 other 37 of which is left short of the abutting edge 9. Thus when the part plates 2 and 3 are brought together the extending end 36 will extend beyond the abutting edge 9 of the other part so as to abut or nearly abut the end 37 on the other part.

Provision can be made to provide a series of recess across the cover plate 1, and this can 25 be achieved for example, by providing further arcuate ribs 40 each formed in substantially the same manner as the ribs 35 so that further apertures can be formed simply by drilling the material adjacent to the butting edge 9, of the parts 2 and 3 to form the aperture which will then be surrounded by two ribs 40 in the proper plate when formed by connecting the part plates 2 and 3 together.

The tongue 27 may have an outward extension 41 associated therewith being spaced from F:\ahopper\170160NZ AE cs.705.doc a ! i 11 the arm 27 by a gap 42. The receiving part 27 may be provided with a recess 43 in to which the arm 40 comes positioned when the parts 2 and 3 are connected one to the other.

In order to connect the parts 2 and 3 together the arm 27 of each part 2 and 3 is pushed 5 over the service 30 of the other part until the bulbous end 28 snaps in to the notch or recess 31, thus securely holding the parts one to the other. When this is done the tongue or extension 40 will become positioned in the notch 43.

Thus it can be seen that a cover plate 1 is provided which having been formed from two 10 part plates 2, 3 connected together along abutting edges 9 containing an recess 4 or recesses 8 through which wires can pass, can provide a neater and more practical solution for accommodating electrical wires with larger permanently attached termination points or plugs which cannot pass through a conventional cover plate. The invention as herein described provides a means that does not require the termination points or plugs attached 15 to the wires to be disconnected and then reconnected once the wire has passed through the cover plate to the other side. Instead, the cover plate 1 is mounted to the wall or other surface around the wires after they have already passed through the wall and the termination points or plugs and appliances have been connected on the other side. Therefore, if any of the wires need to be removed or replaced at any stage, the attached 20 termination points or plugs do not have to be disconnected in order to remove the cover plate. Instead the two part plates 2, 3 of the cover plate 1 can easily be removed from around the wires in order to access the wall cavity behind. Thus larger wall cavities no longer need to be filled and finished or left uncovered.

It is envisaged that the invention could be custom made to suit particular appliance packages such as computer equipment in the home or office, wall mounted televisions and home theatre systems. Furthermore, the invention could be included and sold with the appliance packages in materials and styles chosen to complement the new equipment.

It is envisaged that the cover plate according to the invention can be used in other applications and industries that require a more practical solution for covering cavities in 3 . .. I F:\ahopper\170160NZAEcs.705.doc jj (^ ij I i 12 walls and other surfaces in a more aesthetically pleasing and cost effective manner, for example, cover plates as described herein could be used to cover cavities created by terminated pipes and hoses passing through bulkheads and walls.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

F:\ahopper\170160NZ AE cs.705.doc

Claims (20)

13 WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A cover plate comprising at least two part plates which upon connection form the cover plate, each part plate having at least one part connection means thereon and 5 an abutting edge, and at least one of the part plates having at least one recess, of a selected size and shape into which a wire or wires can be located, the recess being positioned on the abutting edge, and at least one of the part plates having a mounting means for mounting the cover plate to a wall or other surface in use.

2. A cover plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover plate is formed of a 10 suitably rigid material.

3. A cover plate as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said cover plate is rectangular in shape.

4. A cover plate as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cover plate is substantially 110mm in length, substantially 70mm in width and substantially 10mm in 15 thickness.

5. A cover plate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one part connection means comprises an elongated tongue and the other part connection means comprises a corresponding groove.

6. A cover plate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein one part connection 20 means comprises a dovetailed edge and the other part connection means comprises a corresponding dovetailed groove.

7. A cover plate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein one part cormection means comprises a tenon and the other part connection means comprises a corresponding mortice. 25 8. A cover plate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each part connection means comprises a tongue and a tongue receiving means, spaced apart from the tongue. ; t

F:\ahopper\170160NZAEcs.705.doc j * l;r:r;J 1;3;| 1 ; 2335;i Si i;14;

9. A cover plate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each part connection means is a snap fit with another part connection means.;

10. A cover plate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the part connection means consists of at least two elongated bars extending from a selected position at;5 the rear of one of the part plates of the cover plate to an equivalent position at the rear of the corresponding part plates of the cover plate.;

11. A cover plate as claimed in claim 10 wherein said elongated bars are formed of metal or some other suitably rigid material.;

12. A cover plate as claimed in either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the elongated bars 10 are affixed parallel and symmetrically opposite to each other.;

13. A cover plate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutting edge of at least one of the part plates of the cover plate contains a single recess to accommodate a single wire.;

14. A cover plate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutting 15 edge of at least one of the part plates of the cover plate contains multiple recesses to accommodate multiple wires.;

15. A cover plate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein when the abutting edge of both of the part plates of the cover plate, contain an recess or recesses, said recess or recesses are symmetrically aligned such that they coincide;20 when the part plates are connected to form the cover plate.;

16. A cover plate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each recess is semi-circular shape.;

17. A cover plate as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a depression of a selected size is formed in the front surface of the cover plate such that the recess;25 or recesses are located within the depression and substantially below the front surface of the cover plate.;i • M'fi.. :•. rr.. P;.>-;5 CF=hV rr- "n a;F:\ahopper\170160NZAEcs.705.doc j ^ 28$);fVf* 15

18. A cover plate is claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a mounting means is provided in each part plate and each mounting means comprises at least one fastening hole to accommodate a screw or other fastening device to enable each of the part plates of the cover plate to be mounted to a wall or other surface. 5

19. A cover plate as claimed in claim 18 wherein said fastening holes are positioned on each part plates of the cover plate such that they are symmetrically aligned.

20. A cover plate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10 Attorneys for EAGLEN, Andre PIPERS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 1 2 JUL 2005 RECEIVED F:\ahopper\170160NZ AE cs.705.doc