Wall mounted cover

Abstract

A cover for a a wall mounted control device that is both functional and decorative. A hollow is formed by this invention that is orientated over the device that is desired to be ornamented. It is attached to the wall surrounding the device and allowed to rest over the device. It may be made from ferrous, nonferrous, polymeric, or lignin reinforced celluose materials to create a three dimensional Euclidean-space environment that has an enhancing effect wherever placed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to wall mounted coverings and, more particularly, to decorative covers for control devices and other items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People have for many years been building new houses, remodeling existing ones and in general, living. As people have developed new ways and items to use during building or remodeling, there has always been one area that has been overlooked. It is the common eyesore of wall mounted control devices that stick out in the most inopportune places that have defied or flabbergasted previous exploits to design around or design in. Most wall mounted control devices (such as thermostats, burglar alarm keypads, humidistats, alarms, and any such apparatus) are generally placed where it is most convenient for the builder, not necessarily where the occupier of the space would desire them. Everyone has at least one wall mounted control device in their home or business and by and large, they have a utilitarian look to them. We aim to stop this decoration intrusion with our invention. A search for a wall mounted control device cover that is decorative as well as functional has been frustrating.

There exists in prior art some patents issued that use the name thermostat cover, but offer nothing more than a hard plastic shell that locks to keep interlopers out, or something that is screwed to the wall around the thermostat that is permanently mounted to the wall and more utility than decoration.

Some of the shortcomings are the fact that the prior art references are in themselves utilitarian, whereas our idea is novel and serves a utilitarian function while doing it with style.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,899, issued Mar. 27, 2001, for THERMOSTAT COVER, by Laymon Gillespie, discloses a thermostat cover assembly comprising a housing having a number of flanges for screwing the housing to a wall over an existing thermostat. A hinged door is provided and is constructed of a transparent plastic material and includes a digital clock mechanism that provides a time function in one mode of operation and an elapsed time function wherein the time since the last time the door was in the open position is displayed. This mode prevents needless tampering with the thermostat if the thermostat setting has been set within the last hour or so. In addition, the cover is connected to a switch that operates a light. When the door is opened, the light illuminates the thermostat allowing for adjustment at night.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,744, issued Sep. 28, 1993, for CONCEALED COMPARTMENT IN A PICTURE FRAME, by Michael L Ferris and Lynne Ferris, discloses a picture frame that includes a concealed compartment includes three frame members connected at their ends to form a U-shaped structure and a fourth frame member that is unconnected to the three frame members and to which a picture-bearing panel is affixed, so that when the fourth frame member is removed, it carries with it the picture-bearing panel to reveal the compartment which previously had been concealed behind the picture-bearing panel. Inwardly facing grooves on opposite sides of the picture frame serve as guides for the edges of the picture-bearing panel as it is drawn away from the remainder of the picture frame.

U.S. Pat. No. D181678, issued Dec. 10, 1957, for THERMOSTAT, by Frank Roth, disclosed is characterized by the control member on the bottom having the configuration as shown and claims the ornamental design for a thermostat, substantially as shown and described.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a decorative cover for wall mounted devices.

It is another object of the invention to provide a nominal thermal radiation shield should the user place this invention over a thermostat in a room that contains a radiant heat source such as a fireplace or sunlight streaming through a window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cover for a wall mounted control device that is both functional and decorative. A hollow is formed in a housing that is orientated over the device that is desired to be hidden. It is attached to the wall surrounding the device and allowed to rest over the device using common hardware. It may be made from a ferrous, nonferrous, polymeric, or lignin reinforced cellulose material and placed in a three dimensional Euclidean-space environment that has an enhancing, aesthetic effect wherever placed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an our invention, showing the substantially planar top and at least three sides of the shape of the cover with the decorative style;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a the housing of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an along line A-A of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an along line B-B of FIG. 1.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the FIGURES.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Generally speaking, the invention pertains to a cover, which may be constructed from a ferrous, nonferrous, polymeric, or lignin-reinforced cellulose material. The cover features a design that has various allowances for air movement and mixing. The cover hides functional, but unattractive devices or items often found one or more walls of a home.

FIG. 1 is a front view of our invention. It shows a substantially planar top and at least three sides of the shape of the wall mounted cover 5 with the decorative style that sets this apart from other utilitarian references. In one embodiment having four sides, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the top member 10 is attached to a first side member 15 and a second side member 25, which in turn are attached to the bottom member 20. The top member 10, the bottom member 20, the first side member 15 and the second side member 25 support the face 30, the combination of which forms a three dimensional Euclidean-space environment that has been tested empirically and theoretically to not affect the function of a wall mounted control device 35 that is used to control the temperature of a room.

The major plane of each top member 10, bottom member 20, first side member 15, and second side member 25 is orientated at an angle relative to the plane of the surface on which the wall mounted control device 35 is mounted. The result is a cavity or hollow formed by bottom, top and side members 10, 30, 20, and 25 and face 30 to surround, envelope, or veil and protect device.

For purposes of this description, a three-sided cover is assumed to have a horizontal top member 10. However, it should be recognized that a three-sided cover may have a horizontal bottom member 20. For purposes of brevity, the term “top member 10” is defined as either/or any elongated structural frame member. Moreover, any number of frame elements may be used to construct cover. Also, the dimensions of each frame element need not be identical to one another, and may actually be circular or elliptical in shape.

The front decoration 50, not shown, on face 30 could consist of a myriad of materials and objects that add decorative function to the design. For example, lignin-reinforced cellulose, polymeric, or terracotta may be used.

FIG. 2 is a side view of cover. A wall retention device 40 is affixed to the recessed portion of top member 10. Wall retention device 40 may be picture hanging hardware, or wire, or Velcro, or any other fastening mechanism known in the art to display invention on a vertical plane 45.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view that show some of the detail that goes into our invention. It is different from FIG. 3 in that there is an air gap between the top member 10 and face 30, and bottom member cross section 80 and face 30 creating special placement of face 30 that allows air movement.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing some of the detail that goes into our invention. It may also include such things as stand-offs, cutouts, to create an air gap, or other millworking items known in the arts.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

Claims

1. A wall mounted cover for decoratively covering a wall mounted control device or a wall item with something pleasing to the eye comprising:

means for providing structure to the frame of the cover;

means for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof, connected to said means for providing structure to the frame of the cover;

means for displaying an aesthetically pleasing graphic image or shape, connected to said means for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof;

means for mounting the cover to a surface, rigidly constructed to said means for providing structure to the frame of the cover; and

means for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof, connected to said means for displaying an aesthetically pleasing graphic image or shape, and connected to said means for providing structure to the frame of the cover.

2. The wall mounted cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing structure to the frame of the cover comprises a top member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement.

3. The wall mounted cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof comprises a first side member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement.

4. The wall mounted cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for displaying an aesthetically pleasing graphic image or shape comprises a face, being dimensioned to substantially cover the opening bordered by the top and side members.

5. The wall mounted cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the cover to a surface comprises a wall retention device.

6. The wall mounted cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof comprises a second side member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement.

7. A wall mounted cover for decoratively covering a wall mounted control device or a wall item with something pleasing to the eye comprising:

a top member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for providing structure to the frame of the cover;

a first side member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof, connected to said top member;

a face, being dimensioned to substantially cover the opening bordered by the top and side members, for displaying an aesthetically pleasing graphic image or shape, connected to said first side member;

a wall retention device, for mounting the cover to a surface, rigidly constructed to said top member; and

a second side member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof, connected to said face, and connected to said top member.

8. The wall mounted cover as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a bottom member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for provide stability to the frame of the cover, connected to said first side member, and connected to said second side member.

9. The wall mounted cover as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a front decoration, for providing a decoration to the face of the cover, disposed to said face.

10. The wall mounted cover as recited in claim 7, wherein said top member has characteristics selected from the following group: ferrous, non-ferrous, lignin-reinforced cellulose, and polymeric.

11. The wall mounted cover as recited in claim 7, wherein said first side member has characteristics selected from the following group: ferrous, non-ferrous, polymeric, and lignin-reinforced cellulose.

12. The wall mounted cover as recited in claim 7, wherein said face is substantially planar.

13. The wall mounted cover as recited in claim 7, wherein said second side member has characteristics selected from the following group: ferrous, non-ferrous, polymeric, and lignin reinforced cellulose.

14. A wall mounted cover for decoratively covering a wall mounted control device or a wall item with something pleasing to the eye comprising:

a ferrous, non-ferrous, lignin-reinforced cellulose, polymeric top member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for providing structure to the frame of the cover;

a ferrous, non-ferrous, polymeric, lignin-reinforced cellulose first side member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof, connected to said top member;

a ferrous, non-ferrous, polymeric, lignin-reinforced cellulose bottom member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for provide stability to the frame of the cover, connected to said first side member;

a substantially planar face, being dimensioned to substantially cover the opening bordered by the top and side members, for displaying an aesthetically pleasing graphic image or shape, connected to said first side member;

a wall retention device, for mounting the cover to a surface, rigidly constructed to said top member;

a graphic, alphanumeric, colored front decoration, for providing a decoration to the face of the cover, disposed to said face; and

a ferrous, non-ferrous, polymeric, lignin reinforced cellulose second side member, having a cut-out for allowing air movement, for providing structure to the frame of the cover and for elevating the face thereof, connected to said face, connected to said bottom member, and connected to said top member.