Multi-Fit Cover Plate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cover plate with an inner component of resilient material allowing use with multiple diameters of conduit. It has particular reference to the plumbing industry.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for covering breaches in surfaces, such as walls or cupboard recesses, where pipes or similar conduits penetrate.

A cover plate, also known as a cupboard plate or escutcheon, is a component used in the construction and maintenance industries, and more specifically the plumbing industry, to create a neater and more aesthetically pleasing finish when a conduit, such as a pipe or pipe socket, travels through a wall or similar solid surface. The breach/aperture created to allow the passage of the conduit is usually of larger diameter than the conduit and has an exposed/raw/untidy edge, meaning there is a resultant space adjacent to the outer circumference of the conduit. The use of a cover plate of correct size enables a neater finish by covering the space in the wall through which the conduit projects and edge created. The cover plate is usually threaded over the conduit and then fixed to the solid surface or wall to create a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

Tradespeople are confronted by the situation whereby they must fit a cover plate of the correct size in order that any gap between the cover plate aperture and conduit is minimised/eliminated. This creates difficulty for the tradesperson who must be equipped with the correct size of cover plate for each particular job. A cover plate not fitting flush to the conduit may allow the passage of, for example, drafts, pests and liquids.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least alleviate, one or more problems associated with the prior art.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cover plate for creating a neat finish when applied to a surface through which a conduit penetrates, said cover plate including an aperture shaped to fit around said conduit, said aperture including around its periphery a sleeve of a resilient or flexible material that, in use, enables a snug insertion of the conduit through the aperture of the cover plate.

Preferably, said cover plate is composed of rigid and resilient components, said rigid component making up the outer part of the cover plate, and said resilient component being in the same plane as said rigid component and extending inwards from the rigid component to make up the inner part of the cover plate adjacent to the aperture, thus creating the aperture including around its periphery a sleeve of resilient material.

Preferably, said aperture including around its periphery a sleeve of resilient material is able, in use, to accommodate conduits of a plurality of diameters, said resilient material stretching to accommodate a conduit of wider diameter than the aperture.

Preferably, in use, the resilient material tightly apposes the outer circumference of the conduit, or more specifically pipe or pipe socket, to eliminate the gap/make the gap negligible between the conduit and the sleeve.

In use, the device reduces the likelihood of pests, draughts and liquids traversing the breach in the surface. It creates a superior seal and a more aesthetically appealing appearance. It also enables a tradesperson to use the same cover plate for a variety of diameter conduits, rather than the tradesperson needing to have available a range of cover plates with different diameter apertures.

In a preferred embodiment the external diameter of the cover plate is between 3 cm and 20 cm, more preferably between approximately 10 and 15 cm and more preferably approximately 10.5 cm.

In a preferred embodiment the external solid component of the cover plate is circular with an approximately central aperture, with the width of this component being from approximately 5 mm to 100 mm, more preferably approximately 7 mm to 70 mm and more preferably approximately 15 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the internal resilient component, or sleeve, is also circular with an approximately central aperture, said resilient component having an external diameter of approximately 3 cm to 16 cm, more preferably approximately 4 cm to 12 cm and more preferably approximately 7.6 cm. Preferably, the width of the resilient component is from approximately 6 mm to 17 cm, more preferably 7 mm to 8 cm and more preferably approximately 16 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the approximately central aperture may have a diameter of approximately 5 mm to 14 cm, more preferably 2 cm to 10 cm, more preferably 3 cm to 6 cm.

In another preferred embodiment the external solid component may be of an oval shape or in another preferred embodiment a polygonal shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the aperture may be approximately centrally located in the cover plate. In an alternative embodiment, the aperture may be placed asymmetrically, particularly when the cover plate is an elongated shape such as an oval or polygonal shape.

In one preferred embodiment the cover plate may include a plurality of apertures or a single aperture designed to accommodate a plurality of conduits or the like. For example, the aperture may be the shape of a FIG. 8.

In another preferred embodiment the resilient component may accommodate a conduit of a noncircular cross section, such as a square or rectangle.

In a preferred embodiment the solid and resilient components of the device may be white or a similar colour, but in other embodiments the cover plate may be produced in various colours, for example to match the colouring of the conduit or the solid surface being penetrated. In another preferred embodiment the colour of the resilient component may differ from, and even be in a contrasting colour to, the solid component.

In a preferred embodiment, the solid outer component may be composed of a rigid plastic, such as unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) and the resilient inner component may be composed of a flexible plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

PVC may be made softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticizers, the most widely used being phthalates.

The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of its preferred embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the following description is illustrative only and should not be taken in any way as a restriction on the generality of the invention described above.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the device, demonstrating the solid outer component (comprising UPVC in this example) and the inner, resilient component (PVC in this example). It is approximately 10.5 cm in diameter with the central aperture being approximately 4.5 cm diameter. A—solid outer component; B—width of external solid component; C—internal resilient component; D—width of internal resilient component; E—external diameter of inner resilient component; F—external diameter of outer solid component.

FIG. 2 illustrates the posterior view of the device, showing the resilient plasticized PVC attached (in the example, moulded) to the solid PVC component. The arrow shows where the resilient component is moulded to the solid component.

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of a wall with a pipe penetrating it and the device threaded over the pipe. The device has been attached (in this case by gluing) to the wall.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the configuration.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 demonstrate other possible configurations of the device.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show variations of the resilient component, with allowance for apposing conduits to pass through.

FIG. 9 shows a plurality of separated conduits being accommodated by the resilient material.

FIG. 10 demonstrates that the conduit need not be circular in cross section.

FIG. 11 demonstrates how a number of different diameter conduits can thread through a device of one size.

Claims

1. A cover plate for creating a neat finish when applied to a surface through which a conduit penetrates, said cover plate including an aperture shaped to fit around said conduit, said aperture including around its periphery a sleeve of a resilient or flexible material that, in use, enables a snug insertion of the conduit through the aperture of the cover plate.

2. The cover plate according to claim 1, said cover plate being composed of rigid and resilient components, said rigid component making up the outer part of the cover plate, and said resilient component being in the same plane as said rigid component and extending inwards from the rigid component to make up the inner part of the cover plate adjacent to the aperture, thus creating the aperture including around its periphery a sleeve of resilient material.

3. The cover plate according to claim 1, wherein said aperture including around its periphery a sleeve of resilient material, is able, in use, to accommodate conduits of a plurality of diameters, said resilient material stretching to accommodate a conduit of wider diameter than the aperture.

4. The cover plate according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the resilient material tightly apposes the outer circumference of the conduit, to eliminate the gap or make the gap negligible between the conduit and the sleeve.

5. The cover plate according to claim 1, wherein the solid outer component is composed of a rigid plastic, such as unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), and the resilient inner component is composed of a flexible plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to which plasticiser has been added.