CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is not related to any pending patent applications.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

This application is not related to any microfiche appendix.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An access panel for mounting in a wall is the subject of this disclosure. The access panel provides access to an opening in the wall and includes a frame having an integral flange. The flange is defined by planar top, bottom and opposed side flange portions each having an interior surface adapted to fit against the wall. The flange is designed to surround an opening in a wall. The frame has an inset portion integral with the flange, the inset portion having a front edge in a plane paralleled to and spaced from the plane of the flange interior surface. The insert portion has a large opening through it which defines the opening provided by the access panel.

A top slot is provided in the opening between the inset portion and the flange top portion. The top slot extends the full width of the inset portion.

The inset portion further has a bottom slot opening provided between the inset portion and the flange bottom portion. The width of the bottom slot opening is less than the spacing between the flange opposed sides.

A planer panel is removably positioned in the frame. The panel has a top, a bottom and opposed side edges. The width between the side edges is greater than the opening through the frame inset portion and slightly less than the spacing between the frame opposed side flange portions. The height of the removable panel from the top to the bottom edges is greater than the spacing between the top and bottom flange portions. The removable panel is slidably received in top slot opening.

The panel has an integral short-length planar tang portion extending from the bottom edge. The tang portion is removably received within the bottom slot. The tang portion, in cooperation with the top slot, holds the panel in a secured position within the frame inset portion when the access panel is closed. The panel is removable by upwardly displacing it through the top slot for a short distance to clear the tang portion from the bottom slot, after which the bottom of the removable panel can be extracted from within the frame inset portion and the panel completely disengaged from the frame by sliding it downwardly until it is clear of the frame top slot.

The frame and panel are preferably formed of rigid plastic, such as ABS plastic. The frame can be secured to a wall with adhesive or with fasteners, such as screws. The frame preferably has beveled edges to give it a flush appearance.

The access panel disclosed herein does not employ any clips, hinges, springs or other ancillary elements. The panel gives the appearance of being flush, although the removable planar panel portion is slightly recessed within the frame.

The access panel can be used to provide access to controls for operation of Jacuzzi's, whirlpools, spas, tubs, showers, water or gas shutoff valves, and so forth.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the access panel of this invention fully assembled as it would appear when mounted on a wall.

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view showing the panel having been removed from the frame portion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing the removable panel in position within the frame.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the frame, the removable panel portion not being shown.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 showing the top slot opening in the frame inset portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 4 showing the bottom slot in the frame inset portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the basic elements of the invention are illustrated. The access panel of this invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 and consists of two parts. The first part is a frame 12 and the second part is a removable planar panel 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, frame 12 is illustrated in detail. Frame 12 includes an integral flange having a top flange 16, an integral bottom flange 18, and integral opposed side flanges 20 and 22. The frame flanges are preferably provided with bevels 24 at their outer edges.

Integrally formed as a part of frame 12 is an inset portion 26. Inset portion 26 has an opening 28 therethrough. In the illustrated arrangement, the opening 28 is square although obviously the opening could be rectangular or circular. Opening 28, however, must be of dimensions that are less than the interior dimensions of the flange portions 16, 18, 20 and 22 so as to provide a slide surface 30 surrounding opening 28.

Inset portion 26 is in a plane that is parallel to and spaced from the plane of the frame flange portions 16, 18, 20 and 22. Specifically, the flange portions have a rearward surface 32 that is in a plane displaced from the plane of the slide surfaces 30 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of removable panel 14. The relative spacing between slide surfaces 30 and the rearward surface 32 of the flanges is best seen in FIG. 3.

Referring again to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, frame 12 is completed by a top slot 34 formed in inset portion 26. The width of top slot 34 is substantially equal to the spacing between the interior edges of the frame side flanges 20 and 22.

The inset portion is further defined by a bottom slot 36 that is adjacent the frame bottom flange 18 and is of a width less than the spacing between the frame side flanges 20 and 22. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the bottom slot 36 is of a length substantially less than that of top slot 34 and is centrally positioned between flange portions 20 and 22.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show portions of a wall 38, the wall being shown in dotted outline such as typically formed of sheet rock material. Wall 38 has an opening 40 therein. Opening 40 is preferably just slightly larger than the exterior dimensions of the frame inset portion 26. This permits the inset portion to be received within wall opening 40 So that frame flange portions 16, 18, 20 and 22 fit snugly against the exterior surface of wall 38. Wall 38 is not shown in the other figures and is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 only to show how the access panel is used to cover an opening in a wall and to provide access to such opening.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the method of operation of the invention is illustrated. FIG. 1 shows the removable panel 14 in closed position with respect to frame 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the closed access panel presents a clean and unobtrusive appearance. The frame and access panel are shown with stippled surfaces to illustrate the preferred embodiment wherein the exterior surfaces of the frame and removable panel are textured to easily accept paint. When the access panel 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is used on a wall and painted the same color as the wall, the access panel blends in and provides a pleasing way to afford an access to an opening in a wall without calling attention to the fact that such access is provided.

Removable panel 14 is installed within frame 12 by inserting the top edge 42 into top slot 34. Removable panel 14 has, as previously described, extending from the removable panel lower edge 44, an integral short-length tang portion 46 that is a width slightly less than the width of bottom slot 36. Tang portion 46 may be slightly inwardly beveled as illustrated. The beveling occurring below the removable panel lower edge 44.

After the removable panel top edge 42 is inserted into top slot 34, the removable panel is slightly upwardly slidably displaced with respect to the frame inset portion, permitting tang portion 46 to enter bottom slot 36. Thereafter, the removable panel 14 is slidably downwardly positioned until the lower edge 44 engages inset portion 26. The removable panel is thus retained within the frame inset portion with the top edge 42 extending slightly above slot 34, the top edge 42 being shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1. The tang portion 46 is indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1.

To remove the removable panel 14, it is slightly upwardly displaced to remove tang portion 46 from bottom slot 36. Afterwards, the bottom end of the removable panel 14 may be outwardly displaced with respect to the frame and the entire panel then removed by downwardly sliding the removable panel to extract the top portion from slot 34. This then fully exposes opening 40 in wall 38 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. More specifically, when the removable panel 14 is removed from the frame, the opening 40 in wall 38 is exposed through the opening 28 formed in inset portion 26.

The claims and the specification describe the invention presented and the terms that are employed in the claims draw their meaning from the use of such terms in the specification. The same terms employed in the prior art may be broader in meaning than specifically employed herein. Whenever there is a question between the broader definition of such terms used in the prior art and the more specific use of the terms herein, the more specific meaning is meant.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.