GB2116121A

GB2116121A - Cover for wall-mounted electrical switches

Info

Publication number: GB2116121A
Application number: GB08205835A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Joseph Dent
Original assignee: MANGER AND SON Ltd J
Current assignee: MANGER AND SON Ltd J
Priority date: 1982-02-27
Filing date: 1982-02-27
Publication date: 1983-09-21
Also published as: GB2116121B

Abstract

A decorative cover (5) for a wall-mounted electrical switch (1) comprises a faceplate (8) with a peripheral skirt (9) and an aperture (6) for giving access to the operating member (3) of the switch. The edge of the skirt and/or the back of the faceplate are provided with strips of contact adhesive so that the cover can be stuck to the switch and/or the wall (4) on which it is mounted to enclose the switch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cover for wall-mounted electrical switches This invention relates to a cover for a wall mounted electrical switch.

On object of the invention is provide a decorative and protective cover for wall-mounted electrical switches. Modern electrical switches have covers, generally of plastics material, which are secured to a wall or to a switch baseplate by screws. These covers tend to become discoloured or worn in use, and moreover they do not necessarily match the interior decoration of a room in which they are mounted.

The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a cover for a wall-mounted electrical switch, comprising a faceplate having an aperture affording access to the operating member of the switch, a skirt our flange extending around the outer perimeter of the faceplace to enclose the switch, and means for attachment of the cover to the enclosed switch or the wall surrounding the switch.

The cover according to the invention fits over the existing cover of an electrical wall-mounted switch, the aperture in the cover accommodating the operating member of the switch, so that the latter can still be operated in the normal way. Since the cover according to the invention fits directly onto the surrounding wall or onto the switch itself, no special adaptation of the switch to be covered is necessary.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the attachment means include adhesive surfaces on at least part of the edge of the peripheral skirt, for bonding to the wall surrounding the switch. Alternatively, or in addition, adhesive surfaces may be provided on the inside of the faceplate for bonding to a surface of the switch, usually the outer surface of the existing switch cover. The adhesive surfaces may conveniently be in the form of strips coated with contact adhesive and affixed to the cover.

The cover may conveniently be moulded in one piece of plastics material. Since the cover can be made quite cheaply in relation to the cost of a new switch it is possible to interchange covers of different decorative designs when, for example, changing the decorative theme of a room in which a switch is located.

A switch cover according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the switch cover and an electrical switch to be covered thereby, and Figure 2 is a rear plan view, not to scale, of the switch cover shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an electrical switch 1 having a permanent plastics moulded cover 2 and a manually operating member 3. The switch 1 is of conventional design and is mounted on a wall 4 with the permanent cover 2 standing proud of the wall 4.

A moulded plastics cover 5 is provided in accordance with this invention, the cover 5 being intended to fit over the permanent switch cover 2 to provide both protection and an improved decorative appearance. The cover 5, which may be moulded and finished with any desired decorative shape or pattern, has a central aperture 6 which, when the cover is fitted over the switch 1 affords access to the switch operating member 3. The aperture 6, in the illustrated embodiment, is surrounded by a moulded raised bead 7.

The moulded switch cover comprises a faceplate 8, which in this example is flat, surrounded by a peripheral skirt 9 which extends around the entire perimeter of the faceplate and which, when the cover 5 is fitted, encloses the permanent cover 2 of the switch 1.

The switch cover 5 is provided with means for the attachment of the cover 5 either directly to the wall 4 surrounding the switch 1, or to the permanent cover 2 of the switch itself. Thus in the illustrated example the rear of the switch cover 5 (Figure 2) is provided with self-adhesive strips 10 extending along the rear edges of the peripheral skirt 9, each self-adhesive strip 10 having a surface coating of contact adhesive which is protected, in the usuai way, by a removable protective film. Before fitting the cover 5 over the permanent cover 2 of the switch 1 the protective films are removed from the adhesive strips 10 and the cover 5 is then pressed against the surrounding wall 4, bringing the adhesive strips 10 into contact with the wall 4 and fixing the cover 5 into position.

In some cases the depth of the permanent switch cover 2 may exceed the depth of the moulded skirt 9 of the cover 5. In this case the cover 5 may be attached directly to the face of the permanent switch cover 2. For this purpose additional contact adhesive strips 11 are provided on the inside, that is, the rearwardly facing surface, pf the cover 5, inwardly of the skirt 9, as shown in Figure 2.

The decorative cover 5 may be removed as required, for example when decorating the wall 4.

Moreover, the cover 5 may be replaced by a cover having a different faceplate design when the decorative theme of a room is changed, without having to change the switch 1 itself. The self-adhesive contact strips 10, 11 may be renewed as necessary when removing and refitting the cover 5.

The central aperture 6 in the cover 5 may in some embodiments be elongated to accommodate the operating members of of a multi-way switch.

CLAIMS (filed 15 February 83) 1. A cover for a wall-mounted electrical switch, comprising a faceplate having an aperture affording access to the operating member of the switch, a skirt or flange extending around the outer perimeter of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cover for wall-mounted electrical switches This invention relates to a cover for a wall mounted electrical switch. On object of the invention is provide a decorative and protective cover for wall-mounted electrical switches. Modern electrical switches have covers, generally of plastics material, which are secured to a wall or to a switch baseplate by screws. These covers tend to become discoloured or worn in use, and moreover they do not necessarily match the interior decoration of a room in which they are mounted. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a cover for a wall-mounted electrical switch, comprising a faceplate having an aperture affording access to the operating member of the switch, a skirt our flange extending around the outer perimeter of the faceplace to enclose the switch, and means for attachment of the cover to the enclosed switch or the wall surrounding the switch. The cover according to the invention fits over the existing cover of an electrical wall-mounted switch, the aperture in the cover accommodating the operating member of the switch, so that the latter can still be operated in the normal way. Since the cover according to the invention fits directly onto the surrounding wall or onto the switch itself, no special adaptation of the switch to be covered is necessary. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the attachment means include adhesive surfaces on at least part of the edge of the peripheral skirt, for bonding to the wall surrounding the switch. Alternatively, or in addition, adhesive surfaces may be provided on the inside of the faceplate for bonding to a surface of the switch, usually the outer surface of the existing switch cover. The adhesive surfaces may conveniently be in the form of strips coated with contact adhesive and affixed to the cover. The cover may conveniently be moulded in one piece of plastics material. Since the cover can be made quite cheaply in relation to the cost of a new switch it is possible to interchange covers of different decorative designs when, for example, changing the decorative theme of a room in which a switch is located. A switch cover according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the switch cover and an electrical switch to be covered thereby, and Figure 2 is a rear plan view, not to scale, of the switch cover shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an electrical switch 1 having a permanent plastics moulded cover 2 and a manually operating member 3. The switch 1 is of conventional design and is mounted on a wall 4 with the permanent cover 2 standing proud of the wall 4. A moulded plastics cover 5 is provided in accordance with this invention, the cover 5 being intended to fit over the permanent switch cover 2 to provide both protection and an improved decorative appearance. The cover 5, which may be moulded and finished with any desired decorative shape or pattern, has a central aperture 6 which, when the cover is fitted over the switch 1 affords access to the switch operating member 3. The aperture 6, in the illustrated embodiment, is surrounded by a moulded raised bead 7. The moulded switch cover comprises a faceplate 8, which in this example is flat, surrounded by a peripheral skirt 9 which extends around the entire perimeter of the faceplate and which, when the cover 5 is fitted, encloses the permanent cover 2 of the switch 1. The switch cover 5 is provided with means for the attachment of the cover 5 either directly to the wall 4 surrounding the switch 1, or to the permanent cover 2 of the switch itself. Thus in the illustrated example the rear of the switch cover 5 (Figure 2) is provided with self-adhesive strips 10 extending along the rear edges of the peripheral skirt 9, each self-adhesive strip 10 having a surface coating of contact adhesive which is protected, in the usuai way, by a removable protective film. Before fitting the cover 5 over the permanent cover 2 of the switch 1 the protective films are removed from the adhesive strips 10 and the cover 5 is then pressed against the surrounding wall 4, bringing the adhesive strips 10 into contact with the wall 4 and fixing the cover 5 into position. In some cases the depth of the permanent switch cover 2 may exceed the depth of the moulded skirt 9 of the cover 5. In this case the cover 5 may be attached directly to the face of the permanent switch cover 2. For this purpose additional contact adhesive strips 11 are provided on the inside, that is, the rearwardly facing surface, pf the cover 5, inwardly of the skirt 9, as shown in Figure 2. The decorative cover 5 may be removed as required, for example when decorating the wall 4. Moreover, the cover 5 may be replaced by a cover having a different faceplate design when the decorative theme of a room is changed, without having to change the switch 1 itself. The self-adhesive contact strips 10, 11 may be renewed as necessary when removing and refitting the cover 5. The central aperture 6 in the cover 5 may in some embodiments be elongated to accommodate the operating members of of a multi-way switch. CLAIMS (filed 15 February 83)

1. A cover for a wall-mounted electrical switch, comprising a faceplate having an aperture affording access to the operating member of the switch, a skirt or flange extending around the outer perimeter of the faceplate to enclose the switch, and means for attachment of the cover to the enclosed switch or the wall surrounding the switch.

2. A cover according to Claim 1, in which the attachment means include adhesive surfaces on at least part of the edge of the peripheral skirt, for bonding to the wall surrounding the switch.

3. A cover according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the attachment means includes adhesive surfaces on the inside of the faceplate for bonding to a surface of the switch.

4. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, in which it is moulded in one piece from plastics material.

5. A cover according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the adhesive surfaces are afforded by strips coated with contact adhesive and affixed to the cover.

6. Acoverfora wall-mounted electrical switch, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.