GB2558184A

GB2558184A - Letter plate

Info

Publication number: GB2558184A
Application number: GB1613788.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Pearson Paul
Original assignee: Heywood Williams Components Ltd
Current assignee: Heywood Williams Components Ltd
Priority date: 2016-08-11
Filing date: 2016-08-11
Publication date: 2018-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-11
Also published as: GB2558184B; GB201613788D0

Abstract

A letter plate comprises front 10 and back 12 portions with which sleeve 14 is engageable. When the sleeve is engaged with the front and back portions a cavity extends between the front and back portions through the sleeve. The sleeve may be releasably engageable with the front portion and the back portion. First 24 and second 26 projection portions may extend from first and second surfaces of the front and back portions respectively. The sleeve may be engageable with the first projection portion by means of a snap fit connection and with the second projection portion by means of a friction fit. At least part of the first projection portion may be received within the sleeve, when the sleeve is engaged with the front portion. At least part of the sleeve is received within the second projection portion when the sleeve is engaged with the back portion. A further aspect comprises a letter plate assembly kit including a front portion, a back portion and two or more sleeves. The two or more sleeves having different depths and being engageable with the front or back portion.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Heywood Williams Components Limited (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

Premier Way, Lowfields Business Park, Eiland, HALIFAX, ΗΧ5 9HT, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Paul Robert Pearson (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Appleyard Lees IP LLP

Clare Road, HALIFAX, West Yorkshire, ΗΧ1 2HY, United Kingdom (51) INT CL:

A47G 29/126 (2006.01) A47G 29/12 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2516449 A GB 2502809 A

GB 2491882 A GB 2324119 A

GB 2291680 A (58) Field of Search:

INTCLA47G

Other: EPO INTERNAL (WPIAP, EPODOC) (54) Title of the Invention: Letter plate Abstract Title: Telescopic letter plate (57) A letter plate comprises front 10 and back 12 portions with which sleeve 14 is engageable. When the sleeve is engaged with the front and back portions a cavity extends between the front and back portions through the sleeve. The sleeve may be releasably engageable with the front portion and the back portion. First 24 and second 26 projection portions may extend from first and second surfaces of the front and back portions respectively. The sleeve may be engageable with the first projection portion by means of a snap fit connection and with the second projection portion by means of a friction fit. At least part of the first projection portion may be received within the sleeve, when the sleeve is engaged with the front portion. At least part of the sleeve is received within the second projection portion when the sleeve is engaged with the back portion. A further aspect comprises a letter plate assembly kit including a front portion, a back portion and two or more sleeves. The two or more sleeves having different depths and being engageable with the front or back portion.

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Figure 1

This print incorporates corrections made under Section 117(1) of the Patents Act 1977.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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Letter plate [001] This invention relates to letter plates for doors, and in particular telescopic letter plates.

[002] Composite doors conventionally comprise an inside panel and an outside panel with a space provided between the inside and outside panels. It is necessary to use a telescopic letter plate for these types of doors, which may prevent mail from falling down into the space between the panels.

[003] Telescopic letter plates conventionally comprise a front plate and a back plate for affixing to the outside panel and the inside panel of a door respectively. An interior structure is provided between the front plate and back plate.

[004] Telescopic letter plates are typically manufactured so that the interior structure is of a standard depth, in order that it may extend through the cavity of a door with a conventional thickness, with the front and back plates lying flush with the outside and inside surfaces of the door respectively. Typically, two different sizes of telescopic letter plates are manufactured, the first having an interior structure to fit doors with a thickness of 20-40 mm and the second having an interior structure to fit a door with a thickness of 40-80 mm. A problem arises in that often a user will purchase the incorrectly sized depth of letter plate, and will need to exchange the purchased letter plate with a correctly sized depth of letter plate. A further problem arises with conventional telescopic letter plates in that they do not accommodate for a range of door thicknesses. If a door is too thick compared to the depth of the interior structure, the interior structure may not extend fully across the gap between the inside and outside panels of the door, and so mail may fall through that gap. If a door is too thin in relation to the depth of the interior structure, the front and back plates will not lie flush with the panels of the door.

[005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a letter plate which overcomes or substantially mitigates the disadvantages associated with conventional letter plates.

[006] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a letter plate comprising a front portion, a back portion, and a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is engageable with the front portion and the back portion, and wherein, when the sleeve is engaged with the front portion and the back portion, a cavity extends through the sleeve between the front portion and the back portion.

[007] The sleeve is preferably engageable between the front portion and the back portion.

[008] The front portion may comprise a front plate. The front plate may comprise a first opening extending between a first major surface and a second, opposing major surface of the front plate. The front portion may comprise a first projection portion. The first projection portion may extend away from the second major surface of the front plate, preferably substantially perpendicular to the major surface. The first projection portion may be generally tubular in shape and may be provided such that an opening of the first projection portion is aligned with the first opening.

[009] The back portion may comprise a back plate. The back plate may comprise a second opening extending between a first major surface and a second, opposing major surface of the back plate. The back portion may comprise a second projection portion. The second projection portion may extend away from the second major surface of the back plate, preferably substantially perpendicular to the major surface. The second projection portion may be generally tubular in shape and may be provided such that an opening of the second projection portion is aligned with the second opening.

[0010] The areas of the first and second openings may be the same or similar to the areas of the openings of the first and second projection portions respectively.

[0011] The sleeve may act as a barrier to prevent mail from falling through a gap between the front plate and back plate when the front plate and back plate are attached to a door.

[0012] The sleeve may be an open-ended tubular sleeve. Alternatively, the sleeve may be generally U-shaped, such that a bottom surface of the sleeve may serve to prevent mail from falling through a gap between the front plate and back plate in use, and side surfaces of the sleeve may serve to engage the front and back portions.

[0013] The sleeve may be provided between the front portion and the back portion, such that the cavity extends from the first opening, through the first projection portion, the sleeve, and the second projection, to the second opening.

[0014] The sleeve may be attached and/or attachable to the front portion and/or the back portion.

[0015] The sleeve may be releasably engageable with the front portion and/or the back portion. The sleeve may be releasably engageable with the first projection portion and/or the second projection portion.

[0016] The interior length and width of the inner cavity of the sleeve may be larger than the exterior length and width of the first projection portion, such that the first projection portion may be received within the sleeve, preferably in a concentric arrangement.

[0017] Alternatively, the exterior length and width of the sleeve may be smaller than the interior length and width of the opening of the first projection portion, such that the sleeve may be received within the first projection portion, preferably in a concentric arrangement.

[0018] Similarly, the interior length and width of the cavity of the sleeve may be larger than the exterior length and width of the second projection portion, such that the second projection portion may be received within the sleeve. Alternatively, the exterior length and width of the sleeve may be smaller than the length and width of the opening of the second projection portion, such that at least part of the sleeve may be received within the second projection portion.

[0019] The sleeve may engage with the first projection portion and/or the second projection portion through a friction fit.

[0020] One or more ridges may be provided on an external surface of the sleeve member, in order to improve the friction fit when at least part of the sleeve is received within the first or second projection portion.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively, one or more ridges may be provided on an internal surface of the sleeve member. One or more ridges may be provided on an internal and/or external surface of the first projection portion and/or the second projection portion.

[0022] The sleeve may engage with the first projection portion and/or the second projection portion through a snap-fit connection.

[0023] The first projection portion and/or the second projection portion may comprise one or more engagement members, which may be detent tabs, and the sleeve may comprise one or more corresponding recesses for engaging with the one or more engagement members in a snap-fit connection.

[0024] Alternatively, the sleeve may comprise one or more engagement members, which may be detent tabs, and the first projection portion and/or second projection portion may comprise one or more corresponding recesses for engaging with the one or more engagement members in a snap-fit connection.

[0025] The depth of the sleeve may be 30mm to 100mm. Preferably, the depth of the sleeve may be 50mm to 80mm.

[0026] In use, the sleeve may be provided in a gap in a door, between a front panel of the door and a back panel of the door.

[0027] In use, the front portion may be attached to the front panel of the door, the second major surface of the front plate lying adjacent, in which may be a face-to-face relationship with, the front panel of the door with the first major surface of the front plate being exposed. The back portion may be attached to the back panel of the door, the second major surface of the back plate lying adjacent, in which may be a face-to-face relationship with, the back panel of the door and the first major surface of the back plate being exposed. The first projection portion may extend through an opening, for example a letter box opening, in the front panel of the door and the second projection portion may extend through an opening in the back panel of the door.

[0028] In use, the sleeve may be attached to the front or back portion prior to said front or back portion being attached to the door.

[0029] The sleeve may be made of a plastics material. The sleeve may be made of a molded plastics material. The sleeve may be a unitary sleeve of plastics material.

[0030] The front portion may comprise a covering member. The covering member may substantially cover the opening of the front plate. The covering member may be retractable to expose the opening of the front plate. The covering member may be hingedly connected to the first major surface of the front plate.

[0031] The back portion may also comprise a covering member which may substantially cover the opening of the back plate. The covering member may be hingedly connected to the first major surface of the back plate and may be retractable to expose the opening of the back plate.

[0032] The front portion and/or the back portion may comprise sealing members provided on inner surfaces of the front and back plates. The sealing members may extend around the first and second projection portions. The sealing members may provide a seal between the each of the front and back plates and panels of a door, when the front and back plates are attached to the door.

[0033] There may be provided a range of sleeves, having a range of depths, for use with different doors having different thicknesses. In use, a user may select an appropriate sized sleeve from the range of sleeves, depending on the thickness of the door to which the letter plate is to be attached, and may engage the selected sleeve with the front or back portion before fixing the front and back portions to a door.

[0034] Therefore, according to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a letter plate assembly kit comprising a front portion, a back portion and two or more sleeves as described above, the two or more sleeves having different depths and the two or more sleeves being engageable with the front or back portion.

[0035] The front portion, back portion and the two or more sleeves may comprise any of the features hereinbefore described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

[0036] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a sleeve adapted for engagement with a door letter plate, wherein the sleeve is engageable between front and back portions of the door letter plate, and wherein, when the sleeve is engaged with the front and back portions, a cavity extends through the sleeve between the front and back portions.

[0037] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is partially exploded view of a letter plate according to an example of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the letter plate shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the letter plate shown in figure 1;

Figure 4 is an isolated view of the sleeve of the letter plate shown in figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an isolated view of a front portion of a letter plate according to an example of the invention.

[0038] As shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, an example of a letter plate according to the present invention comprises a front portion 10, a back portion 12 and a sleeve 14. Both the front portion 10 and the back portion 12 comprise cover members 16,18 that are attached to a front plate 20 of the front portion 10 and a back plate 22 of the back portion 12 respectively.

[0039] The front portion 10 comprises a tubular first projection portion 24 and the back portion 12 comprises a tubular second projection portion 26. The first projection portion 24 extends substantially perpendicularly from an inner side 28 of the front plate 20 and comprises a rectangular opening 30 running through the first projection portion 24, shown in Figure 5. The front plate 20 comprises an opening, and a first end 32 of the first projection portion 24 extends from the perimeter of the opening of the front plate 20, such that the opening 30 of the first projection portion 24 and the opening of the front plate 20 are in alignment and are generally of the same area. The first projection portion 24 is generally rectangular in cross section, having two major sides and two minor sides. Towards a second end 34 of the first projection portion 24, on both minor sides 36 of the projection portion, recesses 38 are provided, which form part of a snap fit engagement with the sleeve 14. Two recesses 38 are provided on each of the two minor sides 36 of the first projection portion 24.

[0040] The second projection portion 26 extends substantially perpendicularly from an inner side 40 of the back plate 22, and comprises a rectangular opening running therethrough which is aligned with an opening in the back plate. The generally rectangular cross section of the second projection portion 26 is similar in area to the cross sectional area of the first projection portion 24.

[0041] The sleeve 14, shown in isolation in figure 4, comprises a first portion 42 and a second portion 44, the first portion 42 being engageable with the front portion 10 and the second portion 44 being engageable with the back portion 22. The sleeve 14 is tubular, and both the first portion 42 and the second portion 44 have a rectangular section, when viewed through the cavity running through the sleeve. The rectangular cross-sectional area of the cavity of the sleeve 14 in the first portion 42 is larger than the area of the cavity in the second portion 44.

[0042] The sleeve 14 is shaped such that the length and width of the cavity of the first portion 42 is slightly larger than the length and width of the first projection portion 24. The second end 34 of the first projection portion 24 may therefore be received within the first portion 42 of the sleeve 14. The first portion 42 of the sleeve 14 comprises two engagement members 46 provided on each minor end 48 of the first portion 42 of the sleeve 14. The engagement members 46 comprise rectangular members, or detent tabs, which protrude from the minor ends 48 of the first portion 42 of the sleeve 14 into the cavity of the first portion 42. As shown in figure 2, when part of the first projection portion 24 is received within the first portion 42 of the sleeve 14, the engagement members 46 form a snap fit engagement with the recesses 38 in the first projection portion 24, each engagement member 46 extending through a corresponding recess 38.

[0043] The length and width of the second portion 44 of the sleeve 14 is slightly smaller than the length and width of the opening of the second projection portion 26, such that at least part of the second portion 44 of the sleeve 14 may be received within the opening of the second projection portion 26. The second portion 44 of the sleeve 14 may engage with the second projection portion 26 by means of a friction fit. According to some examples of a letter plate, ridges may be provided on the exterior of the second portion of the sleeve, in order to enhance the friction fit between the second portion of the sleeve and the second projection portion.

[0044] The depth of the sleeve 14 is between 55 mm and 80 mm, however in other examples of the invention the sleeves may have different depths, including depths of less than 55 mm and depths of greater than 80 mm. The width major surfaces of the sleeve 14 is slightly larger than the width of a standard item of mail, whilst the length of the minor surfaces 48 of the sleeve 14 is sufficient to allow thick items of mail to pass through the cavity running through the sleeve 14, for example between 30 mm and 60 mm.

[0045] The cover members 16,18 are hingedly attached to the outer sides of the front plate 20 and back plate 22 along an upper end of each of the cover members 16,18. The cover members 16,18 are substantially planar and rectangular in shape and are approximately the same size of the front plate 20 and back plate 22. The cover members 16,18 serve to cover the openings in the front and back plates; a user may manually retract a cover member in order to insert mail through the opening in the letter plate.

[0046] As shown in figure 5, the front plate 20 comprises fittings 50 for attachment of the letter plate to a door. The back plate 22 may also comprise similar fittings. The front plate 20 also comprises a foam sealing member 52 provided on the inner side 28 of the front plate 20, extending around the projection portion 24. The sealing member 52 may provide a seal when the front plate 20 is attached to a door. Although not shown, the back plate 22 may also comprise a foam sealing member provided on an inner surface of the back plate 22.

[0047] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0048] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0049] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0050] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A letter plate comprising a front portion, a back portion, and a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is engageable with the front portion and the back portion, and wherein, when the sleeve is engaged with the front portion and the back portion, a cavity extends through the sleeve between the front portion and the back portion.

2. The letter plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is releasably engageable with the front portion and the back portion.

3. The letter plate as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the front portion comprises a first projection portion extending from a first surface of the front portion, and the back portion comprises a second projection portion extending from a second surface of the back portion.

4. The letter plate as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sleeve is engageable with the first projection portion by means of a snap fit connection.

5. The letter plate as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the sleeve is engageable with the second projection portion by means of a friction fit.

6. The letter plate as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein at least part of the first projection portion is received within the sleeve, when the sleeve is engaged with the front portion.

7. The letter plate as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6, wherein at least part of the sleeve is received within the second projection portion, when the sleeve is engaged with the back portion.

8. A letter plate assembly kit comprising a front portion, a back portion and two or more sleeves, the two or more sleeves having different depths and the two or more sleeves being engageable with the front or back portion.

Intellectual

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