Supports – Suspended supports – Fittings
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-08-14
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Suspended supports
Fittings
C174S0450TD, C248S551000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273388
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a mounting base for a removable head. The mounting base may be in the form of, for example, a bezel assembly which can be fixed, by means of screws, directly to a structure, such as a wall or ceiling, or to a conduit box which is attached to such a structure. The invention may be used in the field of fire detection where, for example, the mounting base is attached to a conduit box on the ceiling of a room (whereby a conduit carrying cables can be connected to the conduit box), and a fire detecting head can then be fitted to the mounting base. Such an assembly is used for detecting a fire in the room in which it is installed.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Many conventional fire detectors are of a kind where a detecting head is removably secured to a base on the ceiling of a room. However, where the base is attached either directly to the ceiling, or to a conduit box by screws, the screws are visible and can be removed either to tamper with, or steal the fire detector.
OBJECT OF INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problem of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a mounting base of a kind which is intended to be secured to a structure, or to a conduit box by means of screws. The mounting base is adapted for receiving a removable head, and it has at least one cover member which is movable between an open position and a closed position, the open position providing access to the respective screw so that the mounting base can be fitted or removed. The cover member is also retained by the mounting base, so that it can be moved between said open and closed positions without becoming detached from the mounting base.
Preferably, a plurality of cover members are provided and these may be equidistantly (e.g. circumferentially) spaced around the mounting base (which can be circular).
Reference to a cover member therefore includes a reference to a number of cover members (as may be required).
The cover member may partially conceal the head of the screw in its closed position, the remainder of the screw head being concealed by a part of the removable head when fitted to the base. Alternatively, the screw head may be totally concealed by the cover member in its closed position.
Preferably, the cover member has a resilient member, such as a tab which engages with an abutment on the mounting base, so as to secure, or to assist in securing, the cover member in its closed position. This ensures that the cover member(s) remains in its closed position when the head is fitted to the base. The tab is resilient enough to disengage from the abutment when the cover member is pulled away from the screw to move it into its open position.
Preferably, the cover member is hinged to the mounting base so that it can be pivoted away from the screw, into the open position, without becoming detached from the mounting base. This may be achieved, for example, by a hinge construction which comprises a shell and a pin, the shell being open to enable it to be fitted to the pin. Where the shell is cylindrical, it has an open slot running along its length which is preferably not as wide as the diameter of the pin so that the shell can be snap-fitted on to the pin. This enables the cover member to be quickly attached to the mounting base either during manufacture, or maintenance. Alternatively, the cover member is slidably mounted in the base so that it can be moved between the open and closed positions without falling out.
Preferably, the cover member is a strip which is hinged adjacent one end to the mounting base, the other end of the strip at least partially concealing the screw when the cover member is in its closed position. In one arrangement, the head traps the cover member when fitted to the mounting base, so that the cover member is further secured against removal when the head is fitted to the base. The head can be secured to the mounting base by a locking member which is preferably concealed.
Preferably, the cover member is flush with an external surface of the mounting base, e.g. a bezel assembly, when the cover member is in its closed position. This provides a neat unobtrusive finish, whereby the cover member will not be easily seen by a vandal or thief.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3676570 (1972-07-01), Gabb
patent: 4783577 (1988-11-01), Mohr
patent: 4883924 (1989-11-01), Hadfield
patent: 4887073 (1989-12-01), Nakao et al.
patent: 5612678 (1997-03-01), Shibata
Apollo Fire Detectors Limited
Cowan Liebowitz & Latman PC
Gable R. Lewis
Ramirez Ramon O.
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