Door with frame, made of plastic, for closing inspectable wall recesses

Abstract

 The frame (T) and door (S) are made by plastic injection moulding. The door carries integrally on one side male projections (5) in the shape of a T and joined at right angles to the door by the central leg, said projections can be hinged quickly and removably to corresponding slots (2) provided in the sides of the frame. The slots (2) are in the shape of a T and they are located transversely on the sides of the frame and are oriented so that the narrow part points away from the said frame. To hinge the door to the frame, all that is required is to insert the head of each hinge projection (5) of the door into the head of each slot (2) in the frame and then move the door translationally outwards so that the heads of the projections position themselves under the central legs of the slots.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a door and frame, made by plastic injection moulding, that are particularly suitable for closing inspectable wall recesses containing the branch points of electrical, telephone, water or gas supplies to buildings. At present, these doors and frames are mostly made from sheet metal and have to be galvanised and/or painted, so they present the problem of a relatively high initial cost and are the source of maintenance problems. The doors and frames of the known type must be chosen at the outset with the door opening either to the right or to the left, which makes it impossible to install them if it is found on site that, owing to unconsidered or unexpected obstacles, the chosen direction of opening for the doors is inappropriate. The doors are hinged to their frames on cylindrical, usually visible hinges, which rust prematurely and stick if not periodically lubricated. For these reasons it is difficult to remove and then refit the door if work is required on the branch points located in the masonry recess enclosed by the assembly in question.

[0002] It is an object of the present invention to overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior art with a frame and door made by plastic injection moulding, already coloured in the desired colour, usually grey or brown or having embossed surfaces that are easily paintable, in which the said door is provided on one side with male projections in the shape of for example a T and joined at right angles to the door by the central leg, which projections can be hinged quickly and removably to corresponding slots in the two long sides of the frame if rectangular or in all four sides of the said frame if square. The said slots may for example be in the shape of a T, are located transversely on the sides of the frame and are oriented so that the narrow part points away from the said frame. To hinge the door to the frame, all that is required is to insert the head of each hinge projection of the door into the head of each slot in the frame and then move the door translationally outwards so that the heads of the projections position themselves under the central legs of the slots. The hinge projections will thus be held securely and yet be able to pivot like strap hinges in the slots, with no danger of accidentally coming out because in order for the door to be removed the heads of the said projections have first to be lined up with the wide inner part of the slots and the door itself must be slightly open, because, owing partly to careful dimensioning of the hinge parts, only under these conditions can these hinge parts be disconnected or connected. With this solution the operator can fix the frame to the wall in any orientation and decide later, without any constraints, whether the door should open to the right or to the left. If the frame and door assembly is square, the door can also be set so as to open about a horizontal axis, pivoting downwards or upwards. The door can be quickly and easily removed at any time from its frame, to facilitate the installation of the frame or the unhindered execution of work in the masonry recess to which this assembly is fitted. These and other features of the present invention, and the advantages which it procures, will become clearer in the course of the following description, which refers to the figures of the four attached plates of drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are views of the frame in front elevation and rear elevation, respectively;

Fig. 1a is an enlargement of the detail of one of the frame hinge slots;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the door in front elevation and rear elevation, respectively;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the frame and the door in section on V-V as marked in Figures 1 and 3, with the door in the assembled position and with door in the open position, respectively;

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the frame and door during assembly as shown in Figures 5 and 6, seen from the rear, as indicated by arrow K in Figure 5;

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate other details of the frame and door in section on X-X as marked in Figure 5 and again the position of mutual assembly;

Fig. 12 illustrates the frame in section on XII-XII as marked in Figure 2 and with one of the fixing arms being fitted to it; and

Fig. 13 illustrates a possible lock for the door, in section on XIII-XIII as marked in Figures 1 to 4.

[0003] As anticipated in the introduction to this description, all the parts of the frame and door in question are made by injection moulding a suitable plastic which is usually of a grey colour, but which if necessary can be coloured with suitable pigments, or the same parts may be prepared with embossed outer surfaces to give a good key for subsequent painting.

[0004] As can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the frame T comprises a flat surround 1 which is rectangular or square in plan view, with rounded corners 101 and with an outer peripheral edge 201 curved in relief towards the rear of the frame. On the inner periphery the surround 1 has a perpendicular edge 301 which extends for a short distance towards the rear of the frame and which is integral with another flat surround 401 parallel to the surround 1 and of approximately the same width. The internal corners of the surround 401 have sharp edges but could alternatively be rounded.

[0005] On the rear of the surround 1, and parallel to the edge 301, is an integral edge 501 in relief which forms a continuous annular skirt that fits into the masonry recess that is to be closed and which is given means, described later, to enable the frame T to be fixed to the inside walls of the said recess, while the edge 201 of the said surround 1 fits against the outer face of the said recess. The walls of the surrounds and the abovementioned edges that go to make up a frame T of e.g. approximately 40 x 30 centimetres may have a thickness A (Fig. 5) of between 2 and 3 millimetres, e.g. approximately 2.5 millimetres.

[0006] In at least two opposing sides of the surround 401, usually on the long sides of this surround if rectangular, or in all sides of the surround if square, there are in a symmetrical arrangement two or more slots 2 perpendicular to these sides; they are basically T-shaped and their central leg is towards the edge 301 which joins the surround 401 to the surround 1. Purely as a non-limiting example (Fig. 1a), the slots 2 have a height H at the head of approximately 3-3.5 millimetres, their leg extends longitudinally over the full thickness of the edge 301 (Figs. 2 and 5), the width B of their head is approximately sixteen millimetres, and the width C of the leg is approximately 11 mm. It will be understood that the dimensions indicated are purely non-limiting examples and may therefore be modified. Lastly, Figure 5 shows that the part of the leg of the slot 2 that occupies the edge 301 has at its base an inclined surface 3 that opens towards the outside of the frame T, its purpose being indicated later. Other aspects of the frame T serving both for its fixing in place and for the detachable hinging to it of the door will be returned to later in the description.

[0007] Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, it can be seen that the door S comprises a closing panel 4 of rectangular or square shape and with complementary dimensions to those of the secondary surround 401 of the frame T. When closed, the door S sits against the inner surround 401 and is circumscribed by the outer surround 1 and its outer face is substantially coplanar with that of the said surround 1. The outer face of the panel 4 of the door S has a small peripheral edge 104 with a width of for example approximately five millimetres which extends a few tenths of a millimetre in relief and is smooth, while the rest of this outer surface of the panel 4 is suitably embossed (Fig. 3). On the inner face the panel 4 has a peripheral edge 204 extending for example approximately 2.5 millimetres in relief and of approximately equal thickness, into which run longitudinal and transverse ribs 304, coplanar with the said peripheral edge, which form a network of for example rectangular or square meshes to improve the mechanical strength of the door S. Figures 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 show that the door S includes laterally and at right angles to one of its long sides (if the door is rectangular), corresponding in distribution to the slots 2 of the frame T, a number of L-shaped projections 5 (Fig. 5): of the part 105 of these, the length of its free section is slightly greater than the thickness of the edge 301 of the frame T, the width is slightly less than the leg portion of the slot 2, and its location is such as to engage with that part of the slot 2 which occupies the said edge 301 when the door is in contact with the inner surround 401 with the side having the said projections 5 and is moved translationally towards the surround 1 as in the sequence of Figures 5 and 6. The inclined edges 3 facilitate the insertion of the part 105 of the projections 5 underneath the surround 1 in order to fix the door to the frame T. The part 205 of the projections 5, which is at right angles to the abovementioned initial part 105 have, when viewed in elevation as in Figure 10, the form of a T with the following characteristics. The thickness and width of the part 205 are such that this part can pass through the head of the slot 2, as illustrated in Figures 5, 8-11. The leg of the part 205 is the same width as the part 105 and its height is slightly greater than the thickness of the surround 401 (Fig. 5), so that the head of this part 205 projects freely beyond this surround when the side of the door with the projections 5 is placed against the outer face of this surround. The height of the head of the part 205 of the projections 5 is a suitable amount greater than the width of the head of the slots 2, the purpose of this being to ensure that as soon as the door is opened by rotating it about the parts 105 of its lateral projections, the heads of these projections present a protrusion against the surround 401 with dimensions such that it cannot be withdrawn through the heads of the slots 2, thus ensuring that the door S remains hinged to the frame. In order to be able to remove the door S from the frame T, the parts must be returned to the same conditions as required for their connection, shown in Figure 5. It is clear in Figure 7 that the inclined edges 3 are also useful in facilitating the outward rotation of the door S.

[0008] If the door is intended for the inspectable closing of recesses that must be ventilated and/or whose contents must be visible from the outside without opening the door - such as recesses for the branch points of combustible household gas - the door S will be provided in any one or more suitable central positions or symmetrically in the top and bottom, as illustrated in dashes in Figure 3, with areas G and G' designed to contain grilles or panels of transparent material or panels with legends and/or drawings visible from the exterior. The said areas G and G' may contain integral ventilation grilles with the flaps turned in opposite directions diverging from each other towards the inside of the door and such as to prevent the passage of rainwater regardless of which of the two short sides of the door is uppermost. In a different embodiment, the said areas G and G' may be fitted with windows designed for example on the inner face to be suitable in any way to support, for example removably from the inside only, transparent panels, customizable panels or ventilation grilles, in such a way as to make it possible to install these components in the desired quantity and in the desired orientation and desired position, according to need.

[0009] As can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 13, the door S can be locked in the closed position by means of a rotating-barrel lock, of any suitable type, housed in a cylindrical seat 6 formed in the centre line of the opposite side from that having the hinge projections 5 and fitted with a flange 106 projecting from the inside face of the cover and projecting further than the reinforcing grid 304. The seat 6 is characterized by an internal width that decreases towards the edge 106 to enable it to take a rotating barrel 7 containing a prism-section axial seat 107 open to the outside into which the matching blade 108 of a turning key 8 can engage. On the inward end of this barrel are opposing hooked studs 207 for the snap-fastening and securing, via a hole 109 of prismatic plan view, of a bush 9 which fits rotatably on the neck 106 to keep the barrel 7 in position and which supports a radially projecting bolt 209, of which the face nearest the outer face of the cover includes a stud 309 in the form of a spherical cap. In Figures 1 and 2 it can be seen that the surround 401 of the frame T carries on the sides where the abovementioned lock can be positioned, a concavity 10 of rounded profile, to prevent interference with the abovementioned assembly 9, 106. At and concentrically with these concavities, on the inside face of the surround 104, are tracks 11, 11' in the form of arcs of a circle and characterized by a thickness which increases towards the area where they come together, where there is a concavity 12. The dimensions of these parts are such that when the bolt 209 is rotated to the closed position, its spherical stud 309 is raised progressively along the tracks 11, 11' and then springs back when it reaches the concave part 12, giving the user a tactile and audible sensation indicating that the lock has reached the closed position. It will be understood that the lock illustrated may be replaced with a standardized type lock with a numbered key such as may easily be found commercially, which may be taken into account in designing the seat 6.

[0010] To mount the frame 1 in the recess, the inward skirt 501 may be provided integrally with appropriately distributed small projections (not shown) which are or may be given a hole for fixing to the wall with screws and wall plugs, which is quick and easy. As an alternative to or in combination with these means, the said skirt 501 may be provided on the inner face with parallel pairs of ribs 601 perpendicular to it, joined to the adjacent edge 301, distributed symmetrically and in an appropriate number around the perimeter of the frame T (Fig. 2), their free edge being rounded and their inside flanks having opposing recessed indentations 14. As illustrated in Figure 12, the assembly is supplied with a suitable number of arms 15, also made of a suitable plastic, the shank of which has a width such that it is able to pass between the abovementioned pairs of ribs 601, terminates at one end with rounded edges, and is provided on its flanks with projecting imprints 16 which fit the recessed indentations 14 mentioned above, which they may outnumber. To install the arms 15, the end of the shank of each arm is pushed into the base of the seat formed by two ribs 601, at an angle to the ribs, as illustrated in Figure 12 in solid lines. The arm is then pivoted outwards and at the same time pushed against the frame T all the way down to the bottom of the seat formed by the ribs 601, where it remains trapped partly by the containment action of these ribs 601, partly by its insertion into the channel formed by the skirt 501 and the edge 301, and partly also by the studs 16 fitting into the concavities 14, as illustrated in dashes in Figure 12 an in solid lines in Figures 8 and 9. It will be understood that a small projecting tooth may be provided transversely on the shank of the arm and that this tooth may be designed to engage with a snap action in a corresponding recessed indentation on the inner face of the skirt 501 or on that of the edge 301; all of this being within the reach of and easily carried out by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Door with frame, particularly for closing inspectable wall recesses containing the branch points of electrical, telephone, water or gas supplies to buildings, characterized in that the door (S) carries integrally on the opposite side from that having the closure means (6-9) a suitable number of symmetrically arranged perpendicular projections (5), basically in the shape of an inverted T of which the wide part can be inserted into the wide part of slots (2) that are also in the shape of a T and are formed on at least one side of the surround of the frame (T) over which the door is placed when closed, their central leg being oriented at right angles to and outwards from the said frame in such a way that when the door is placed in the closure of the frame, the wide part of each projection of the door fits underneath the central leg of each of the said slots, thereby securing the door to the frame while allowing it to pivot relative to the frame and allowing it to be easily removed in an intentional operation in which the wide part of each of the said projections is lined up with the wide part of each of the said slots and in which the door is withdrawn in a more or less parallel movement away from the frame.

2. Door with frame according to Claim 1, in which the frame (T) is provided on at least two opposite sides with the said slots (2) for articulation with the projections (5) of the door (S).

3. Door with frame according to Claim 1, in which the frame (T) is provided on all four sides with the slots (2) for articulation with the projections (5) of the door (S) especially when the assembly in question forms a square in plan view, so that the parts can be secured together at any time with a strap hinge with right-hand or left-hand opening or with horizontal hinging, with the door opening downwards or upwards.

4. Door with frame according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the frame (T) comprises an outer main surround (1) having on its outer perimeter a flange (201) that is curved and in relief on the rear of this surround which has at the rear and at right angles a relief edge (501) that forms a continuous skirt for insertion into the recess to be closed and that is provided with means of attachment to this recess, the inside perimeter of the said main surround having, at right angles, an integral edge (301) in relief on the inner face of the said surround and integral with a secondary or inner surround (401) parallel with the main outer surround and against which the door (S) sits when closed.

5. Door with frame according to Claim 4, in which the slots (2) for articulation to the projections (5) of the door (S) are formed on the secondary surround (401) of the said frame (T) and the central leg of each extends so as to occupy the entire height of the edge (301) connecting this surround to the primary and outer surround (1).

6. Door with frame according to Claim 5, in which that portion of each slot (2) which occupies the edge (301) connecting the secondary surround (401) to the primary surround (1) ends on the said primary surround with a base (3) that is inclined towards the outer face of the said frame (T).

7. Door with frame according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the hinge projections (5) of the said door present from above an L profile and the first part (105) thereof which extends perpendicularly from the side of the door is the same width as the central leg of the more projecting T-shaped section (205) of the said projections (5) and its location and dimensions are such that when the door is fully against the secondary surround (104), the said first part (105) of each projection rests against the rear face of the main surround (1) of the frame (T) and keeps the said door correctly secured to the frame, while the central leg of the said more projecting part (205) of each projection (5) sits with sufficient play over the channel formed by the said edge (301) and inward skirt (501) of the frame (T).

8. Door with frame according to Claim 7, in which the head of the more projecting T-shaped part (205) of each hinge projection (5) of the said door has a height greater than the width of the head of each slot (2) of the frame in which the said projections engage.

9. Door with frame according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that it is produced by injection-moulding a suitable plastic.

10. Door with frame according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the said door (S) has stiffening ribs (204, 304) on the inner face of its panel (4) and the outer face of this panel is completely or partially embossed.

11. Door with frame according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the door (S) may be provided centrally or symmetrically, for example at the top and bottom, with areas (G, G') provided with or available with ventilation grilles or with customizable panels carrying legends or drawings visible from the exterior or with panels of transparent material to allow external viewing of parts inside the recess closed by the door, without having to open the said door.

12. Door with frame according to Claim 12, in which the ventilation grilles may be formed in one piece in the said areas (G, G') of the said door and their flaps may be inclined in contrary directions that diverge from each other towards the inside of the said door.

13. Door with frame according to Claim 12, in which the said door may be provided with windows in the said areas (G, G') so arranged that it is possible to fit, optionally removably from the inside only, any component selected from a ventilation grille, a transparent panel or a customizable panel.

14. Door with frame according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the said door (S) is provided in the centre line of the side furthest from that having the hinge projections (5) with a round seat (6) in which there may be mounted any suitable rotating-barrel lock having a bolt which when closed is positioned beneath the secondary surround (401) of the frame (T).

15. Door with frame according to Claim 12, in which the lock comprises a barrel (7) with an external keyway (107) to be turned by a dedicated key (8), the barrel being mounted rotatably in the seat (6), the width of which the decreases towards the interior, the barrel being provided on the inner face with two hooked teeth (207) that can be snap-fastened and secured in a prismatic hole (109) in a bush (9) which bears on the inner edge (106) of the said seat and which carries integrally the radial bolt (209) which has on its more projecting end a rounded relief (309) that slides on curved tracks (11, 11') formed on the inner face of the sides of the secondary surround (401) that contain the hinge slots (2), these tracks being characterized by a height that increases progressively towards the subsequent area which contains a concavity (12) into which the said stud on the bolt snaps when the bolt arrives in the closed position.

16. Door with frame according to Claim 1, in which the inward annular skirt (501) of the said frame (T) may be provided integrally with projections extending inwards which can be drilled or provided with holes to allow it to be fixed with screws and wall plugs to the walls of the recess which is closed by the present assembly.

17. Door with frame according to Claim 1, in which the inward annular skirt (501) of the said frame (T) is provided with seats to which it is possible to fix arms (15), the said arms also being made of a suitable plastic and being supplied together with the present assembly.

18. Door with frame according to Claim 15, in which a suitable number of pairs of parallel ribs (601) in a suitable transverse distribution are provided integrally with the inner face of the inward annular skirt (501) of the said frame, these ribs (601) extending as far as the secondary surround (401) and having rounded edges and, on the inner wall, opposing recessed indentations (14) into which corresponding opposing reliefs (16) on the sides of the shanks of the arms (15) snap when these shanks are inserted into the seats formed by the said pairs of ribs, in a combined operation of pivoting and pushing, so that these shanks are inserted into the channel between the said skirt (501) and the edge (301) that connects the primary surround (1) to the secondary surround (401) of the frame (T) .

19. Door with frame according to Claim 16, in which the foot of each arm (15) may be shaped into a hook and may be provided with projecting parts which anchor into corresponding recessed parts in the walls of the channel formed by the said skirt (501) and edge (301) into which the said shank is inserted.

Drawing