NEW ZEALAND
PATENTS ACT, 1953
Provisional No: 598551
Date: 2 March 2012
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
AN ESCUTCHEON
We, LAKE PRODUCTS LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New
Zealand of 9C Beatrice Tinsley Crescent, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand, do
hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and
the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the
following statement:
- 1a -
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to escutcheons or flanges of a kind to
receive a pipe, conduit, cable or the like member, related assemblies, procedures,
methods and outcomes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such flanges or escutcheons will now be described with reference to
plumbing needs as an example.
Pipes used in plumbing applications come in a variety of types and
have different wall thicknesses depending on the manufacturer, the requirements of the
particular application and/or the industry involved.
Common types of pipes used are copper, polybutylene or polymers of
butylene, PEX pipe (white) such as cross-linked polyethylene, PVC (poly vinyl chloride),
multi-layer composite aluminium, galvanised metals, stainless steels.
The purpose of a wall flange or escutcheon is to provide an aesthetic
cover for the area where a pipe protrudes through a wall.
Wall flanges or escutcheons are produced in a number of standard
sizes to cater for the current range of standard pipe types and diameters. Typically, wall
flanges or escutcheons are manufactured for use on common sizes normally referred to
by their approximate inside diameter.
[0007] Because of the different materials used, wall thicknesses and different
pressure ratings, the outside diameter of the pipes will vary depending on the product.
For example ½ inch pipes may have an outside diameter of anywhere between 0.57
inches (1.45cm) and 0.85 inches (2.16cm), while ¾ inch pipes will typically have a
diameter of between 0.83inches (2.11cm) and 1.06 inches (2.69cm).
[0008] Existing wall flanges or escutcheons are usually made from a plastic
which has very little flexibility and cannot be stretched to fit a larger pipe. If the flange is
stretched over a pipe it will tend to warp and buckle and will not sit flat against the wall.
A split flange product as shown in Figure 1 can flex to accommodate a
very small increase in outside diameter. However, if the increase in outside diameter is
more than this, it will cause the flange to buckle and/or split open. The join created
where the ends of the flange meet also leaves a line which is not aesthetically pleasing to
the eye.
Because current wall flanges in the market are not made of material
that is particularly flexible, and are instead manufactured to fit particular pipe sizes, it
means that installers are forced to stock a number of flanges of differing sizes to ensure
that when they are called to a job they can use the flange that is the correct size.
[0011] Pipes used for soil, waste, ducting, electrical and other similar
applications often require pipes with larger diameters than other more general
applications. Common sizes for such pipes are 1 inch, 1 1/4 inch, 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 2
1/2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch and 6 inch. All of these sizes must be stocked too.
The thickness and outside diameter of some pipes can still vary, which
means that even if the installer has a flange for the right generic pipe size, it may not fit
properly. It can also be difficult to tell the difference between the different sized flanges
by a quick visual inspection which can cause confusion during installation.
Because the fit of the prior art escutcheons cannot be guaranteed it is
common practice to secure them by applying adhesive to the wall around the outer
diameter of the pipe prior as an additional step in installation.
It is therefore an object or aspect of the present invention to provide
an escutcheon or flange which will go at least some way towards offering an alternative
answer to that currently offered or which will at least provide the public with a useful
choice.
[0015] In this specification where reference has been made to patent
specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is
generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the
invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is
not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of
information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general
knowledge in the art.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In one aspect there is provided a moulded escutcheon or flange with
options on the girth upon which its inner periphery or inner peripheries can adequately
bear.
In another aspect there is provided a moulded escutcheon or flange
which contacts the pipe, the wall, or both in a manner that negates the need to apply
adhesive to secure it in place.
It yet a further aspect there is provided a moulded escutcheon or
flange with at least one tear away or sacrificial zone whereby its inner periphery is
adjusted.
In another aspect the invention is a moulded escutcheon or flange of a
flexible material rendered less flexible by thickness and/or profile away from the zone of
its inner periphery or an inner periphery formed by a tear away or a sacrificed moulded
zone.
In another aspect the present invention consists in an escutcheon or
wall flange (“escutcheon”) to receive a pipe, conduit, cable or like member, the
escutcheon or flange defining two faces, that to be concealed in use and that to be
revealed in use, each bounded by an outer periphery, and an inner periphery or a
definable inner periphery to bear on an intended pipe, conduit cable or the like member,
wherein the escutcheon is of a flexible material limited as to its flex outwardly in
the radial direction of the inner periphery or definite inner periphery by a profile feature
of said face to be concealed in use or profile features of said face to be concealed in use.
Preferably said inner periphery is circular when viewed in plan from the
surface to be concealed in use.
Preferably said escutcheon is circular or ring shaped when viewed in
plan from the surface to be concealed in use.
Preferably said escutcheon is disc or plate like.
Preferably said profile feature is a step or graduation at a particular
radial distance, or particular radial distances, whereby the thickness of the material
between the face to be revealed in use and the face to be concealed is increased.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery has a
greater ability to flex when compared to at least one or more outward zone(s) of greater
thickness.
[0027] Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery has an
ability to deflect in the axial direction.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery is
substantially conical or frustoconical in shape.
Preferably said profile feature(s) is/are, or further incorporates, a
raised rib or band of material to provide reinforcing at a said particular radial distance(s).
[0030] Preferably said profile feature also limits deflection of the inner
periphery in the axial direction.
Preferably the escutcheon is at its outer periphery or outer peripheral
zone, supported by an additional profile feature or profile features.
Preferably the escutcheon has at its outer periphery a region of
tapering thickness.
Preferably said escutcheon is moulded as a single component.
Preferably said escutcheon is manufactured from a polymer.
Preferably said polymer is polyethylene, flexible PVC, flexibly modified
polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane or another type of polymer capable of being
flexible in a thin wall section.
Preferably said escutcheon is able to accommodate one, or two or more
consecutive standard pipe sizes.
Preferably said standard pipes sizes able to be fitted are from the
following range of sizes: 1/8 inch, ¼ inch, 3/8 inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch, 1¼ inch, 1 ½
inch, 2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch, 5 inch and 6 inch, and their metric equivalents.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in an escutcheon or
wall flange comprising a flexible inner ring-shaped region concentric to a rigid outer ring
shaped region,
said inner ring-shaped region having an inner periphery able to contract and
expand in the radial direction, and wherein both regions having been formed as a
singular moulding.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery has a
greater ability to flex when compared to at least one or more outward zone(s) of greater
thickness.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery has an
ability to deflect in the axial direction.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery is moulded
so as to be substantially conical or frustoconical in shape.
[0042] Preferably said inner ring-shaped region and said outer ring shaped
region are formed from the same material, wherein the thickness of the material of the
inner ring-shaped region is substantially less than that of the thickness of the material of
the outer ring-shaped region.
Preferably there is also, as part of the moulding, a raised rib or band of
reinforcing material around or within the zone of the inner periphery of the outer ring-
shaped region, or around or within the zone of the outer periphery of the inner ring-
shaped region.
Preferably said profile feature also limits deflection of the flexible inner
ring-shaped region in the axial direction
[0045] Preferably the escutcheon is at its outer periphery or outer peripheral
zone, supported by an additional profile feature or profile features.
Preferably the escutcheon has at its outer periphery a region of
tapering thickness.
Preferably said escutcheon is moulded as a single component.
[0048] Preferably said escutcheon is manufactured from a polymer.
Preferably said polymer is polyethylene, flexible PVC, flexibly modified
polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane or another type of polymer capable of being
flexible in a thin wall section.
Preferably said escutcheon is able to accommodate one, or two or more
consecutive standard pipe sizes.
Preferably said standard pipes sizes able to be fitted are from the
following range of sizes: 1/8 inch, ¼ inch, 3/8 inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch, 1¼ inch, 1
½ inch, 2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch, 5 inch and 6 inch, and their metric equivalents.
In yet another aspect the present invention consists in an escutcheon
or wall flange to receive a pipe, conduit, cable or like member, the escutcheon or flange
having:
(i) an outer periphery, and
(ii) an inner periphery or a definable inner periphery to bear on an intended
pipe, conduit cable or the like member,
wherein the escutcheon or flange is of a flexible material limited as to its flex outwardly
of the inner periphery, or definable inner periphery, by a profile feature and/or a
thickness increase.
[0053] Preferably the escutcheon is moulded.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery is
substantially conical or frustoconical in shape.
Preferably the escutcheon has its outer periphery or outer peripheral
zone supported by a profile feature or profile features.
[0056] In a further aspect the present invention consists in an escutcheoned
pipe, conduit, cable or the like where a flexible inner periphery of an escutcheon bears on
the pipe, conduit, cable or the like, such inner periphery having been defined by a first
moulding and then a tearing away of a sacrificial zone of the moulding.
Preferably the zone at or to the inner periphery has a greater ability to
flex when compared to at least one or more outward zone(s) of greater thickness.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery has an
ability to deflect in the axial direction.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery is moulded
to be substantially conical or frustoconical in shape.
[0060] Preferably said sacrificial zone is circular or ring-shaped.
Preferably said moulding comprises two or more concentric sacrificial
zones, each of which is able to be torn away independently of the other more outward
sacrificial zones of the moulding.
Preferably the or each sacrificial zone is reinforced by a rib or profile
feature.
Preferably the escutcheon has at its outer periphery a region of
tapering thickness.
Preferably said sacrificial zone(s) is/are demarcated from one another
and/or from the remaining portion of the moulding by a groove or channel.
[0065] Preferably said ring-shaped inner region (s) is/are demarcated from
one another and/or from the remaining portion of the moulding by a perforated, thinner,
or otherwise weakened zone of material.
Preferably said groove(s) or channel(s) are on the surface of the
escutcheon which will be concealed in use.
[0067] Preferably said groove(s) or channel(s) are on the surface of the
escutcheon which will be revealed in use.
Preferably at the base of said groove(s) or channel(s) there is a region
of comparatively thinner material.
Preferably said region of comparatively thinner material is created by
the intersection of a pair of angled side walls.
Preferably said region of comparatively thinner material is thicker in an
outer sacrificial zone when compared to the thickness of the region of comparatively
thinner material in a more inward sacrificial zone.
Preferably it is more difficult to tear away an outer sacrificial zone when
compared to a more inward sacrificial zone.
Preferably said escutcheon is manufactured from a polymer.
Preferably said polymer is polyethylene, flexible PVC, flexibly modified
polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane or another type of polymer capable of being
flexible in a thin wall section.
[0074] Preferably said escutcheon is able to accommodate two or more
consecutive standard pipe sizes.
Preferably said standard pipes sizes able to be fitted are from the
following range of sizes: 32 millimetre, 40 millimetre, 50 millimetre, 65 millimetre, 80
millimetre, 100 millimetre and 200 millimetre, and their imperial equivalents.
In a further aspect the invention consists in an escutcheon or wall
flange having, as a single moulding, an outer region with a circular inner periphery and
one or more concentric ring-shaped inner regions within said circular inner periphery,
wherein said ring-shaped inner region(s) can be detached from the outer region of
the moulding and/or detached independently of more outward ring-shaped inner regions.
In yet another aspect the invention consists in an escutcheon or wall
flange comprising, as a single moulding, an outer region with a circular inner periphery
and one or more concentric ring-shaped inner regions within said circular inner
periphery,
[0078] wherein said ring-shaped inner region(s) are detachable from the outer
region of the moulding and/or are detached independently of more outward ring-shaped
inner regions.
With respect to the above aspects, the following preferred features are
considered.
[0080] Preferably said detachment occurs by tearing of one portion of the
moulding away from the other.
Preferably said moulding also includes a circular sacrificial zone within
the inner periphery of the innermost ring-shaped inner region.
Preferably the zone at or to the inner periphery of the innermost ring-
shaped inner region has a greater ability to flex when compared to at least one or more
outward zone(s) of greater thickness.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery of the
innermost ring-shaped inner region has an ability to deflect in the axial direction.
Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery of the
innermost ring-shaped inner region is substantially conical or frustoconical in shape.
Preferably the or each ring-shaped inner region is reinforced by a rib or
profile feature.
Preferably the outer region is reinforced by one or more rib or profile
features.
Preferably said ring-shaped inner region (s) is/are demarcated from
one another and/or from the remaining portion of the moulding by a groove or channel.
Preferably said ring-shaped inner region (s) is/are demarcated from
one another and/or from the remaining portion of the moulding by a perforated or
otherwise weakened zone of material.
Preferably said groove(s) or channel(s) are on the surface of the
escutcheon which will be concealed in use.
Preferably said groove(s) or channel(s) are on the surface of the
escutcheon which will be revealed in use.
[0091] Preferably at the base of said groove(s) or channel(s) there is a region
of comparatively thinner material.
Preferably said region of comparatively thinner material is created by
the intersection of a pair of angled side walls.
Preferably said region of comparatively thinner material is thicker in an
outer ring-shaped inner region when compared to the thickness of the region of
comparatively thinner material in a more inward ring-shaped inner region.
Preferably it is more difficult to tear away an outer ring-shaped inner
region when compared to a more inward ring-shaped inner region.
Preferably said escutcheon is manufactured from a polymer.
[0096] Preferably said polymer is polyethylene, flexible PVC, flexibly modified
polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane or another type of polymer capable of being
flexible in a thin wall section.
Preferably said escutcheon is able to accommodate two or more
consecutive standard pipe sizes.
[0098] Preferably said standard pipes sizes able to be fitted are from the
following range of sizes: 32 millimetre, 40 millimetre, 50 millimetre, 65 millimetre, 80
millimetre, 100 millimetre and 200 millimetre, and their imperial equivalents.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in an escutcheon or
wall flange (“escutcheon”) having a flexible inner periphery capable of deformation in the
radial and axial directions and a flexible outer periphery, said inner and outer peripheries
separated by a body region;
wherein said flexible inner periphery of can, in use, bear on a pipe, conduit, cable
or the like (“pipe”), such that an airtight seal around the outer diameter of said pipe is
formed by said inner periphery;
and wherein, in use, under the application of pressure to the body region in a
direction toward the wall on which said pipe is to be mounted, said flexible outer
periphery is able to deform so as to maintain a suction mount connection between said
escutcheon and said wall.
[00100] Preferably the zone at or proximate to the inner periphery is
substantially conical or frustoconical in shape.
In a further aspect the invention consists in a method of fitting an
escutcheon or wall flange to a pipe, comprising the steps of:
1. tearing away one or more concentric ring shaped inner-regions of the
escutcheon so that the diameter of the inner periphery of the escutcheon is slightly less
than the outer diameter of the pipe; and
2. stretching the escutcheon over the end of the pipe; and
3. allowing the inner periphery of the escutcheon to contract around the outer
surface of the pipe to obtain a pressure or slide fit.
[00102] In a further aspect the invention consists in the use of an escutcheon
or wall flange as described herein in any of its aspects in the installation of a pipe,
conduit, cable or like member.
In a further aspect the invention consists in an escutcheon or wall
flange substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[00104] In a further aspect the present invention consists in an escutcheoned
pipe, conduit, cable or the like where a flexible inner periphery of an escutcheon bears on
the pipe, conduit, cable or the like, such flexible inner periphery being of a flexible zone
surrounded by a profile and/or thickness of the same escutcheon material that restricts
its flexibility.
[00105] As described above, various aspects have been described. It will be
appreciated such aspects can be provided in combination with each other, in particular
details of sacrificial zones or tear-away portions can be combined with portions or regions
which are flexible or have flexibility determined either by material characteristics or
structural elements of the wall flange or escutcheon (for example thickness of wall
sections or of tapering thickness lips).
[00106] As used herein the term “escutcheon” means an ornamental or
protective plate, disc or component able to be fitted around the outer surface of a pipe,
conduit, cable, rod or other cylindrical member so as to make contact around
substantially its entire circumference.
As used herein the term “(s)” following a noun includes, as might be
appropriate, the singular or plural forms of that noun.
As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”. In some
circumstances it can mean both.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting
at least in part of”. When interpreting each statement in this specification that includes
the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also
be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in
the same manner.
The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages
constructions of which the following gives examples only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a prior art split flange or split escutcheon type product.
Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a wall mounted pipe surrounded by
a preferred embodiment of a flange or escutcheon of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a
flange or escutcheon of the present invention, slightly different from that shown in Figure
2, as viewed from the face to be concealed in use.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional side view of the flange or escutcheon of
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional side view of the wall mounted pipe and
flange or escutcheon of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment of a
flange or escutcheon of the present invention having one outer ring shaped region and
two concentric inner ring shaped regions, the inner regions being able to be torn off from
each other as needed, viewed from the face to be concealed in use.
Figure 7 is a plan view, from the face to be concealed in use, of a the
flange or escutcheon of Figure 6, showing the grooved joining zones between the inner
ring shaped regions.
[00119] Figure 8 is a cross sectional side view of the flange or escutcheon of
Figures 6 and 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention consists in a wall flange or escutcheon to be fitted over
the edge of a pipe protruding through a wall, thus creating a tidy and visually appealing
finish, wherein a single such component can accommodate a variety of outer diameter
pipe sizes. Generally it is desirable that the edges of the escutcheon make even contact
with the wall all the way around the pipe, i.e. that the flange does not buckle or bend
once fitted to the pipe regardless of variations in the size of the pipe. An example of a
correctly fitting flange of the present invention is shown in Figure 2.
[00121] The invention in its aspects preferably is an article moulded of a flexible
material with a reveal face and a conceal face, the reveal face preferably (but not
necessarily) being that with profile features or steps or ramping in thickness to provide
the variation in flex and/or rigidity desired. The article as an escutcheon may require
some post mould modification or not depending on its form and/or the size to be
received.
In a preferred embodiment, the flange or escutcheon is a disc or plate
like component having a rigid outer ring shaped region 1, but also having a flexible inner
ring shaped region 2. This allows the installer to stretch the inner ring of the flange over
the end of the pipe without causing the rest of the body of the component to buckle.
Other embodiments of the invention might assume alternative shapes, for example
hemispherical or square shaped escutcheons, that would nonetheless be fitted in the
same manner.
The inner lip 3 of the inner ring shaped region 2 contracts to the
outside diameter of the pipe producing a pressure/slide fit. There is preferably an
underside reinforcing ring or rib 4 which provides rigidity and torsional strength to
prevent the flange from twisting and to also limit the degree of upward (or optionally
downward) deflection of the inner lip 3 when fitted on the pipe.
The more rigid and more flexible areas are created by producing a part
with, respectively, thicker or thinner wall sections (for example region 2 as shown in
Figure 4) in the regions where flexibility is needed than in the remaining regions. In this
way the part can be made in a single moulding, most preferably from a polymer such as
polyethylene, flexible PVC, flexibly modified polypropylene or any other polymer capable
of being flexible in the thin wall section, yet more rigid in thicker wall section.
Preferably the flange or escutcheon is manufactured to fit standard
pipe sizes, for example 1/8 inch, ¼ inch, 3/8 inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch, 1 ¼ inch, 1 ½
inch, 2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch etc and their metric equivalents, or to fit any other sized
pipes. The inner region 2 provides enough flexibility to accommodate variations in the
outer dimension of pipes where the same nominally sized pipe has been manufactured to
different tolerances, and also to accommodate for the different wall thicknesses that may
be manufactured depending on the material of the pipe. In some embodiments a single
flange may be manufactured to be able to be used upon two or more of the standard
pipe sizes listed above.
Figure 5 shows cross section of a wall mounted pipe with a surrounding
escutcheon or wall flange of one embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment the escutcheon behaves like a suction cup.
It can be seen that the inner lip 3 of the inner ring shaped region 2 can
be subject to substantial deflection in the direction away from the wall 7 when installed.
Alternatively the flange might by moulded so that the inner lip 3 is sloped in this
direction. Because of the elasticity of the inner ring shaped region the sloped or deflected
inner lip serves as a bias to hold the flange in position against the wall.
Similarly there may be a lip of tapering thickness 8 around the outer
periphery of the flange. This lip is also flexible. Applying pressure to the surface 9 of the
flange will deform the lip to enable the creation of a seal around the perimeter of the
flange and consequently some degree of suction to hold the flange to wall. This prevents
the flange from moving away from the wall or spinning about the pipe, and also avoids
the need to apply an additional adhesive to prevent this.
In an alternative embodiment, the present invention envisages also a
moulded, or moulded and post mould modified, member having one (or more) locus (or
loci) of weakening (e.g. frangible, scored, or otherwise) to allow end user choice of inner
peripheral size of a selected flexible zone.
[00130] In such an embodiment the flange or escutcheon comprises a series of
concentric inner ring shaped regions 10 within an outer ring shaped region11. These may
optionally each be supported by a circular rib feature as shown. The flange may have two
inner ring regions 10 as shown in Figure 6, but in other embodiments there may be more
or less ring regions.
[00131] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the flange having two inner ring
regions 10. Between each of the inner ring regions 10 there is a joining zone 12 which
enables one ring shaped region to be torn off from the next.
Depending on the outer diameter of the pipe to which the flange is to
be fitted, an installer can either fit the flange as it is originally supplied, or can choose to
tear off as many of the concentric inner ring shaped regions 10 as needed to obtain a
correct fit. This means that the installer will not have to stock numerous flanges to
account for the range in pipe sizes and their differing outside diameters.
Preferably the flange or escutcheon is made from a semi-flexible or
flexible material that, once stretched over the pipe, will contract to the outside diameter
of the pipe producing a pressure/slide fit. The flexibility also ensures that small variations
in outer diameter due to manufacturing tolerances and different materials can be
accommodated. Suitable materials could be polyethylene, flexible PVC, flexibly modified
polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane or any other polymer capable of being flexible
in the thin wall section.
[00134] In a preferred embodiment (shown in cross section in Figure 8) there
are continuous circular grooves 13 and 14 which run around each joining zone 12,
creating a region of thinner material to permit the inner rings 10 to be torn off from one
another. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that perforations or other variations at
the joining zones 12 could be used to achieve the same result. The grooves 13 and 14
are preferably on the underside 15 of the body of the flange so that they cannot be seen
when the flange is fitted against the wall, but could optionally be on the top or visible
side 16 or on both sides.
At its thinnest point, the thickness of the material of the inner groove
13 is thinner than the thickness of the material of the groove 14 at its thinnest point.
This is to ensure that a greater force is required to tear off the outer ring than the inner
ring. Because the inner ring is the easiest to tear-off the installer is unlikely to
accidentally tear-off both rings if the intention was only to remove the inner one.
As shown in Figure 8, the cross section of each grooved join 13 or 14
may be angled to ensure a clean tear off. The thinner material in the angled region
provides added flexibility to allow the flange to be stretched over the pipe.
Preferably the flange is moulded as a single part. The dies used for
moulding can be concentric circles, which means that it is easy to adjust the number of
inner ring shaped regions 5 produced during manufacture by adding or taking away dies
as needed.
In another embodiment the flange could be supplied for use with a
circular sacrificial material region 12 inside the innermost inner ring shaped region 5. The
central sacrificial piece 12 could then be torn out and discarded by the installer.
There are advantages to production efficiency in manufacturing the
part in this manner. One of these is that during the moulding of the flange, material can
be injected into the die in the centre of the sacrificial zone and will then spread outward
to the edges of the part. This is as opposed to having to inject the material so that it
forms around the hole in the innermost inner ring shaped region.
It will be appreciated that the aforementioned wall flange or
escutcheon provides for particular advantages when used in a wall flanging or wall
escutcheon type arrangement.
The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms
thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the
invention.
WHAT WE/I