EP1961891A1

EP1961891A1 - Frame and detachable cover for an opening in a wall or ceiling

Info

Publication number: EP1961891A1
Application number: EP07102884A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Havlín
Original assignee: Haco Spol S R O; Haco Spol S Ro
Current assignee: Haco Spol S R O; Haco Spol S Ro
Priority date: 2007-02-22
Filing date: 2007-02-22
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-22
Also published as: PL1961891T3; EP1961891B1; ATE528461T1

Abstract

Frame and cover for an opening in a wall or ceiling. The frame (1) comprises an outer frame (3) with a laterally situated arm part (5) oriented outwards, an inner frame (4) and a gripping part (16). The space between the inner frame and the adjacent low end of the outer frame is provided along the whole circumference by lateral stiffeners (7).
The cover (2) has two put-on grips (8), and at least one adjustable gripping element (9), with a controlling element (10) for fixing of the cover in the frame. The gripping element is pivotably mounted in a through opening (11) and is in secured position flush with the outer surface of the cover. For easy gripping of the controlling element, a flap (12) is mounted pivotably springingly in the through opening and flush with the cover.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a carrying frame and a cover for camouflaging of a technical gap, so as for example of a gap for access to an electro meter, water meters, water closures, etc., made in a wall or a ceiling of a building.

Background of the Invention

Such a carrying frame with a cover is disclosed for example in the document DE 92 10 905 U1 . In this case, the covering plate is fixed to the frame demountably by means of screws. Screwing of the covering plate to the frame during assembly or unscrewing of the screws during repairs and inspections is lengthy. The carrying frame or the covering plate can be damaged if the screws are tightened up too much and a screw can be lost.
The document EP 779 397 B1 discloses a covering arrangement for a gap, particularly for an inspection gap, which arrangement comprises a frame situated in a gap and a covering plate, which covering plate covers the frame and is joined with the frame demountably. In the face surface, the covering plate is provided with a controlling element. The covering plate is also provided with a border part, which border part protrudes from its face surface backwards, in the direction to the frame, and forms a border of the frame. In the area of one side of the covering plate, the frame comprises at least one latch, which latch is mounted flexibly by means of a spring, and which is fixed in the mounting part so that it cannot be lost. In the place where the latch is arranged on the frame, the plate is provided with a snap-in element, and in the area of the opposite side, it is provided with catching elements, to which catching elements the corresponding recesses are formed in the frame.
After a connection between the covering plate and the frame is formed, the snap-in element is engaged with the corresponding latch and the catching elements are engaged with the corresponding recesses.
A disadvantage of this embodiment is on the one hand that to remove the covering plate it is necessary to use a special tool, which tool is inserted into a tool recess of the unblocking element and by which the return spring of the latch is pushed, and on the other hand that the covering plate protrudes above the surrounding surface substantially.
Also, designs of the carrying frame are known, in which the carrying frame has the L-letter form in its cross section, as well as designs of the covering plate, in which the covering plate is placed in the opening of the carrying frame and in which in the area of one of its sides the covering plate is provided with put-on grips on its internal surface, which put-on grips can grip behind the protrusions of the carrying frame or in the corresponding openings in the carrying frame. Then, at the opposite side, the covering plate is provided with one gripping element on the inner side, which gripping element is adjustable by turning of a controlling element passing through the cover plate and is grippable behind the protrusion of the carrying frame or in an opening in the carrying frame.
An advantage of this embodiment is that it protrudes only minimally above the surrounding surface, but to remove the covering plate and to put it again to its place, it is necessary to use a tool again, in this case a screwdriver, which screwdriver is inserted into the recess in the controlling element. Another disadvantage can be seen in an uneven adhering and centring of the cover plate in the carrying frame because of the necessary production tolerances of their individual parts.

Summary of the Invention

The above mentioned disadvantages are removed by a carrying frame for fixing of a cover of a technical gap according to the present invention, which comprises in that in cross section it has the form of a combined open profile, the longer vertical part of which is on its low end provided with a laterally situated arm part oriented in the direction from the low end of its shorter vertical part, which vertical part, on its side turned away from the arm part, passes over to the longer vertical part by means of the laterally oriented gripping part, wherein both the arm parts and the longer vertical parts are in the area above the shorter vertical part of the profile of the carrying frame, at least in the specified sections, provided with assembly openings, and that the space between the shorter vertical part and the adjacent low end of the longer vertical part of the carrying frame profile, provided along the whole circumference of the carrying frame by a system of lateral stiffeners, is one part of the system for centring of the cover on the carrying frame.
The carrying frame comprises also that the assembly openings are oval and are arranged along the whole circumferential length both of the arm part and of the longer vertical part, in the area above the shorter vertical part of the carrying frame profile.
The above mentioned disadvantages are also removed by a cover in the form of a plate, which cover is provided on its inner side, at one of its outer circumferential edges, by two put-on grips, and at the opposite outer circumferential edge at least by one adjustable gripping element, with a controlling element arranged by its outer surface in the area of the cover outer surface, for fixing of the cover in the carrying frame according to the present invention, which consists in that the catching element has, together with the controlling element, in their longitudinal section, the form resembling the letter Z, and is pivotably mounted in a through opening in the cover, so that during a self-locking securing of the gripping element behind the gripping part of the carrying frame profile the outer surface of the controlling element is parallel with the outer surface of the cover, wherein to allow easy gripping of the controlling element, opposite to the pivotable mounting of the gripping element with the controlling element, a flap is mounted pivotably springingly in the through opening of the cover, so that its outer surface is parallel with the outer surface of the cover in the rest state of the flap, wherein on the inner side of the cover are arranged, as the second part of the system for centring of the cover on the carrying frame, at least two mutually perpendicular wedge-shaped protrusions entering into the space between the shorter vertical part and the low end of the longer vertical part of the carrying frame profile.
Then, in a preferable embodiment, the outer surface of the controlling element and the outer surface of the flap fit with the outer surface of the cover and the through opening in the cover has the form of an elongated rectangle.
Further, for the cover according to the present invention it is substantial that it is provided with two gripping elements, with controlling elements arranged in two through-openings, of which each is adjacent to one of the two neighbouring cover corners, wherein the through-openings are arranged either one after the other and parallelly with the axis passing through the put-on grips, or they are arranged next to each other and perpendicularly to the axis passing through the put-on grips.
Then, as a substance of the cover, it is necessary to consider also that on its outer surface the flap is provided with surface coarse making protrusions or recesses, that the gripping elements are provided with an adjustable gripping surface on the side determined for securing behind the gripping part of the carrying frame profile, and that the put-on grips are arranged adjustably perpendicularly to the adjacent outer cover border.
Last but not least, it is necessary to consider as substantial for the cover according to the present invention also that in its central part between the through-openings it is provided with a lamella lock and that the form and the size of its outer borders corresponds to the form and the size of the outer borders of the arm part of the carrying frame profile.
Then, as substantial for the cover it is necessary to consider also that the wedge-shaped protrusions are formed on the inner reinforcing ribbing of the cover and that there are six wedge-shaped protrusions and that they are arranged two next to each other on three sides of the cover.
An advantage of the carrying frame and the cover according to the present invention is particularly that it is not necessary to use any tool during putting of the cover into the carrying frame and in taking the cover from the carrying frame, regular adhering and perfect centring of the cover in the carrying frame, integrity of the outside surface of the cover and merging of the cover surface with the surface surrounding the technical gap.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An example of one possible embodiment of the carrying frame and of the cover according to the present invention will be described in the following paragraph with reference to the attached figures in which:

Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a carrying frame;
Figure 2 shows an axonometric view, as seen from the outer side, of a cover after fitting of its put-on grips behind the catching part of the carrying frame and before its final fixing to the carrying frame;
Figure 3 shows an axonometric view, as seen from the inner side, on the cover after fitting of its put-on grips behind the catching part of the carrying frame and before its final fixing to the carrying frame;
Figure 4 shows an axonometric view, as seen from the outer side, on the cover fitted in the carrying frame;
Figure 5 shows an axonometric view, as seen from the inner side, on the cover fitted in the carrying frame, and
Figure 6 shows a detailed axonometric view of one put-on grip of the cover gripped behind the gripping part of the carrying frame.

Examples of Embodiments of the Invention

As it is apparent from Fig. 1, a carrying frame 1 for fixing of a cover 2 of a technical gap, so as for example of a gap for access to an electro meter, water meters, water closures, etc., made in a wall or a ceiling of a building, according to present invention, has in its cross section the form of a combined open profile, the longer vertical part 3 of which is on its low end provided with a laterally situated arm part 5 oriented in the direction from the low end of its shorter vertical part 4, which vertical part 4, on its side turned away from the arm part 5, passes over to the longer vertical part 3 by means of the laterally oriented gripping part 16. Both the arm parts 5 and the longer vertical parts 3 are in the area above the shorter vertical part 4 of the profile of the carrying frame 1 provided with assembly openings 6, in this case with oval ones. The space between the shorter vertical part 4 and the adjacent low end of the longer vertical part 3 of the carrying frame 1 profile, provided along the whole circumference of the carrying frame 1 with a system of lateral stiffeners 7 (see Fig. 2), is in this case on the carrying frame 1 by one part of the system for centring of the cover 2.
As it is apparent from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the cover 2 has the form of a plate and on its inner side, at one of its outer circumferential edge, it is provided with two put-on grips 8 (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 6) and at the opposite outer circumferential edge, it is provided with two adjustable gripping elements 9, each of which is provided with a control element 10, for fixing of the cover 2 in the carrying frame 1.
Each catching element 9 has, together with the controlling element 10, in their longitudinal section, the form resembling the letter Z (see Fig. 2), and is pivotably mounted in the through opening 11 in the cover 2 so that in self-locking securing of the gripping element 9 behind the gripping part 16 of the carrying frame 1 profile (see Fig. 5) the outer surface of the controlling element 10 is parallel with the outer surface of the cover 2 (see Fig. 4), in a preferable embodiment so that it fits with it.
To allow easy gripping of the controlling element 10 by a finger of a hand, in each through opening 11 of the cover 2, opposite to the pivotable mounting of the gripping element 9 with the controlling element 10, a flap 12 is mounted pivotably springingly. Its mounting is carried out so that its outer surface is parallel with the outer surface of the cover 2 in the rest state of the flap 12 (see Fig. 4), in a preferable embodiment so that it fits with it.
On the inner side of the cover 2, as the second part of the system for centring of the cover 2 on the carrying frame 1, six mutually perpendicular wedge-shaped protrusions 14 are arranged (see Fig. 3), entering into the space between the shorter vertical part 4 and the low end of the longer vertical part 3 of the carrying frame 1 profile. At the same time, the wedge-shaped protrusions 14 are preferably formed on the inner reinforcing ribbing 15 of the cover 2 and they are arranged two next to each other on all sides of the cover 2 (see Fig. 3), with the exception of the side at which the put-on grips 8 are provided.
As it is apparent from Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the through openings 11 in the cover 2 have in this case the form of an elongated rectangle. However, other suitable form can also be used, for example the oval form. The through openings 11 are adjacent each to one of the two neighbouring corners of the cover 2. In this embodiment, the through-openings 11 are arranged one after the other and parallelly with the axis passing through the put-on grips 8. But also they can be arranged next to each other and perpendicularly to the axis passing through the put-on grips.
As it is further apparent from Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 it is preferable if each flap 12 is provided with coarse making protrusions or recesses on its outer surface.
It is also preferable (see Fig. 5) to provide the gripping elements 9 on the side determined for fastening behind the gripping part 16 of the carrying frame 1 profile with an adjustable gripping surface, in this particular case controlled by a screw with hollow head with hexagon socket, and to arrange the put-on grips 8 adjustably perpendicularly to the adjacent outer border of the cover 2 (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 6).
To prevent unauthorized handling with the technical means arranged in the technical gap, it is preferable if in its central part between the through openings 11 the cover 2 (see Fig. 5) is provided with a lamella lock 13, the latch of which is locked behind the gripping part 16 of the carrying frame 1 profile.
As it is further apparent from Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, it is also preferable if the form and the size of the outer borders of the cover 2 correspond to the form and size of the outer borders of the arm part 5 of the carrying frame 1 profile.
The assembly of the carrying frame 1 and of the cover 2 for the purpose of camouflaging of a technical gap in a wall or in a ceiling of a building is carried as follows:
A carrying frame 1 is inserted into a technical gap so that its arm part 5 sits down by its inner surface, adjacent to the longer vertical part 3 of the carrying frame 1 profile, to the surface of a wall or a ceiling. Thereafter, the carrying frame 1 is fixed by wood screws, passing through the assembly openings 6, in the parts 3, 5 of the carrying frame 1 profile, or by another suitable known process, to a wall or a ceiling of a building.
Then, in the cover 2 the flaps 12 are pushed at once, or one after the other, by a finger of a hand, in the direction to the inner surface of the cover 2, whereby, the force of a spring, with which each flap 12 is provided, is overwhelmed for the purpose to return it to the starting resting position. With the same or with other finger of the hand the end of the controlling element 10 is caught simultaneously, and by exerting a traction force to the end of the controlling element 10 this controlling element 10 is pivoted to the position, in which it is arranged laterally to the outer surface of the cover 2. At the moment when a finger or fingers of the hand leave the space delimited for the flap 12 in this handling with the controlling element 10, the flap 12 returns to its starting resting position by action of the spring.
If both controlling elements 10 are pivoted to a position lateral to the outer surface of the cover 2, it is possible to start assembly of the cover 2 into the carrying frame 1.
The cover 2 is now placed in front of the carrying frame 1, and this into a position, in which the plane intersecting the cover 2 makes an acute angle with the wall surface or the ceiling surface, and in which the border of the cover 2, to which the put-on grips 8 are adjacent, is parallel with one border of the carrying frame 1 and is situated next to it, in its close vicinity. At this orientation, the cover 2 is caught up by means of the put-on grips 8 behind the gripping part 16 in the adjacent border of the carrying frame 1.
Thereafter, the cover 2 is pressed to the carrying frame 1, in which action the wedge-shaped protrusions 14, arranged on the inner stiffening ribbing 15 of the cover 2, are inserted into the space between the shorter vertical part 4 and the low end of the longer vertical part 3 of the carrying frame 1 profile and the cover 2 is centred with regard to the carrying frame 1, so that the borders of the cover 2 fit with the outer borders of the arm part 5 of the carrying frame 1. In other words, the wedge-shaped protrusions 14 prevent any movement of the cover 2 along the carrying frame 1.
Subsequently, only the pivoted control elements 10 are returned to their starting positions. Because of this, their gripping elements 9 self-lockingly latch behind the gripping part 16 of the carrying frame 1. Thereby, the assembly is finished.
In case that after the cover 2 assembly into the carrying frame 1 it is found that the carrying frame 2 does not fit tightly to the carrying frame 1, i.e. that the cover 2 is easily movable in the direction from the carrying frame 1 in the areas of the put-on grips 8 and/or the gripping elements 9, the cover 2 is disassembled from the carrying frame 1 and before its new assembly into the carrying frame 1 the distance of the put-on grips 8 to the adjacent border of the cover 2 is decreased and/or their adjustable gripping surfaces are moved more out from the gripping elements 9.

Claims

A carrying frame (1) for fixing of a cover (2) of a technical gap, so as for example of a gap for access to an electro meter, water meters, water closures, etc., made in a wall or a ceiling of a building, characterised in that in cross section it has the form of a combined open profile, the longer vertical part (3) of which is on its low end provided with a laterally situated arm part (5) oriented in the direction from the low end of its shorter vertical part (4), which vertical part (4), on its side turned away from the arm part (5), passes over to the longer vertical part (3) by means of the laterally oriented gripping part (16), wherein both the arm parts (5) and the longer vertical parts (3) are in the area above the shorter vertical part (4) of the profile of the carrying frame (1), at least in the specified sections, provided with assembly openings (6), and that the space between the shorter vertical part (4) and the adjacent low end of the longer vertical part (3) of the carrying frame (1) profile, provided along the whole circumference of the carrying frame (1) by a system of lateral stiffeners (7), is one part of the system for centring of the cover (2) on the carrying frame (1).
A carrying frame of Claim 1, characterized in that the assembly openings (6) are oval.
A carrying frame of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the assembly openings (6) are arranged along the whole circumferential length both of the arm part (5) and of the longer vertical part (3), in the area above the shorter vertical part (4) of the carrying frame (1) profile.
A cover (2) in the form of a plate, which cover (2) is provided on its inner side, at one of its outer circumferential edges, by two put-on grips (8), and at the opposite outer circumferential edge at least by one adjustable gripping element (9), with a controlling element (10) arranged by its outer surface in the area of the cover (2) outer surface, for fixing of the cover (2) in the carrying frame (1) characterized in that the catching element (9) has, together with the controlling element (10), in their longitudinal section, the form resembling the letter Z, and is pivotably mounted in a through opening (11) in the cover (2) so that in self-locking securing of the gripping element (9) behind the gripping part (16) of the carrying frame (1) profile the outer surface of the controlling element (10) is parallel with the outer surface of the cover (2), wherein to allow easy gripping of the controlling element (10), opposite to the pivotable mounting of the gripping element (9) with the controlling element (10), a flap (12) is mounted pivotably springingly in the through opening (11) of the cover (2), so that its outer surface is parallel with the outer surface of the cover (2) in the rest state of the flap (12), wherein on the inner side of the cover (2) are arranged, as the second part of the system for centring of the cover (2) on the carrying frame (1), at least two mutually perpendicular wedge protrusions (14) entering into the space between the shorter vertical part (4) and the low end of the longer vertical part (3) of the carrying frame (1) profile.
A cover of Claim 4, characterized in that the outer surface of the controlling element (10) and the outer surface of the flap (12) fit with the outer surface of the cover (2).
A cover of Claim 4, characterized in that the through opening (11) in the cover (2) has the form of an elongated rectangle.
A cover of Claim 4, characterized in that it is provided with two gripping elements (9) with controlling elements (10) arranged in two through-openings (11), of which each is adjacent to one of the two neighbouring cover (2) corners.
A cover of Claim 7, characterized in that the through-openings (11) are arranged one after the other and parallelly with the axis passing through the put-on grips (8).
A cover of Claim 7, characterized in that the through-openings (11) are arranged next to each other and perpendicularly to the axis passing through the put-on grips (8).
A cover of Claims 4 to 9, characterized in that on its outer surface the flap (12) is provided with a surface coarse making protrusions or recesses.
A cover of Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the gripping elements (9) are provided with an adjustable gripping surface on the side determined for securing behind the gripping part (16) of the carrying frame (1) profile.
A cover of Claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the put-on grips (8) are arranged adjustably perpendicularly to the adjacent outer cover (2) border.
A cover of Claims 4 to 12, characterized in that in its central part between the through-openings (11) it is provided with a lamella lock (13).
A cover of Claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the form and the size of its outer borders corresponds to the form and the size of the outer borders of the arm part (5) of the carrying frame (1) profile.
A cover of Claims 4 to 14, characterized in that the wedge-shaped protrusions (14) are formed on the inner reinforcing ribbing (15) of the cover (2).
A cover of Claim 15, characterized in that there are six wedge-shaped protrusions (14) and that they are arranged two next to each other on three sides of the cover (2).