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DE-102025123594-B3 - COVER PLATE WITH REMOVABLE COVER AND USES OF THE SAME

DE102025123594B3DE 102025123594 B3DE102025123594 B3DE 102025123594B3DE-102025123594-B3

Abstract

A cover plate 1 for closing an opening comprises a frame 5 that defines the opening 6, and a cover 3 that closes the opening in a closed position. In a closed position, the frame 5 holds the cover 3, and an actuating element 25 is used to move the cover 3 to an open position in which it can be removed from the frame 5 to allow access to a rear side BS via the opening 6. The actuating element 25 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 31, which runs parallel to a plane of the cover plate. The pivoting movement of the actuating element 25 about its pivot axis 31 causes the cover 3 to be adjusted perpendicular to the frame 5 into the open position, in order to remove the cover 3 from the frame 5.

Inventors

  • Rishad Kairus Dadachanji
  • Monik Vinodbhai Tandel

Assignees

  • KAIRISH INNOTECH Private Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250617
Priority Date
20250502

Claims (19)

  1. A cover plate (1) for closing an opening (6) which is designed to be opened from its front (FS) for removal in order to access its rear (BS) via the opening (6), comprising a frame (5) defining the opening (6) and a cover (3) which closes the opening in a closed state, wherein the frame (5) is designed to hold the cover (3) in the closed state within the frame (5), the cover (3) is designed to be opened to assume an open state and to be removed from the frame (5) in this open state, and an actuating element (25) is provided which is designed to move the cover (3) from the closed state to the open state in order to remove the cover (3); characterized in that the actuating element (25) is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (31) which extends parallel to a plane of the cover plate (1), wherein a pivoting movement of the actuating element (25) about the pivot axis (31) drives an adjustment of the cover (3) in a direction perpendicular to the frame (5) into the open state in order to remove the cover (3) from the frame (5).
  2. Cover plate after Claim 1 , wherein the actuating element (25) has an actuating section (27) on a first side of the pivot axis (31) and an opening section (28) on a second side of the pivot axis (31) opposite the first side, and the pivoting movement of the actuating element (25) about the pivot axis (31) causes the opening section (28) to abut a rear side of the cover (3) to drive the adjustment of the cover (3) in a direction perpendicular to the frame (5) into the open position in order to remove the cover (3) from the frame (5).
  3. Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (5) is rectangular and two actuating elements (25) are provided on two opposite sides of the frame (5), wherein the pivot axes (31) of the actuating elements (25) are aligned with each other.
  4. Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each actuating element (25) is pivotably mounted on a pivot bracket (26), wherein the pivot axis (31) is spaced apart from a side wall of the cover (3) or the frame (5) is provided, wherein free front ends of the actuating section (27) and the opening section (28) extend beyond the pivot bracket (26).
  5. Cover plate after Claim 4 , wherein the cover (3) is held on the frame (5) by at least one fixed retaining element (10) which is attached to the frame (5) or to the cover (3) and which is designed to hold the cover (3) in the closed position in the frame (5) with a holding force acting perpendicular to the bottom (50) of the frame (5).
  6. Cover plate after Claim 4 or 5 , wherein the at least one fixed retaining element (10) is designed to hold the cover (3) by means of a positive locking with an associated counter element (14) which is attached to a rear side of the cover (3) or to an underside of the frame (5), wherein the pivoting movement of the actuating element (25) about the pivot axis (31) releases the positive locking between the at least one fixed retaining element (10) and the associated counter element (14).
  7. Cover plate after Claim 6 , wherein the at least one fixed retaining element (10) is designed to release the positive locking between the at least one fixed retaining element (10) and the associated counter element (14) when the actuating element (25) is pivoted about the pivot axis (31) and a rear side of the opening section (28) comes into contact with the bottom (50) of the frame (5).
  8. Cover plate after Claim 7 , wherein the at least one fixed retaining element (10) is designed as a ball retaining element and a free front end of the associated counter element (14) is spherical.
  9. Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (3) has a push-in element (35) on an edge of the cover (3) at a position corresponding to a position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25), wherein the push-in element (35) is designed to be elastically pressed downwards in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the cover (3) in order to drive a pivoting movement of the actuating section (27) towards a base (50) of the frame (5).
  10. Cover plate after Claim 9 , wherein the pusher element (35) is formed integrally with the cover (3) at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25).
  11. Cover plate after Claim 9 , wherein the pusher element (35) is attached to a rear side of the cover (3) at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25).
  12. Cover plate after Claim 10 , wherein the pre-pressure element (35) is designed as an elastic tongue (36) which is formed by a U-shaped recess (37) in the cover (3) at a position corresponding to the position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25).
  13. Cover plate according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , wherein a surface of the cover (3) is formed as closed at least along a circumference of the cover (3) and an opening (30) is provided at an edge of the cover (3) at a position corresponding to a position of the actuating section (27) of the respective associated actuating element (25), such that the actuating section (27) can be actuated by a pin (71) of a hand tool (7) which extends through the opening (30) and drives a pivoting movement of the actuating section (27) towards a base (50) of the frame (5).
  14. Cover plate after Claim 13 , wherein a sleeve (33) surrounding the opening (30) is provided on a rear side of the cover (3) to guide a movement of the pin (71) of the hand tool (7) to drive the pivoting movement of the actuating section (27) towards a bottom (50) of the frame (5).
  15. Cover plate after Claim 13 or 14 , wherein the frame (5) and the cover (3) are rectangular in shape and two openings (30) are formed on two opposite sides of the cover (3), the two openings (30) being aligned along a common side (51, 53) of the frame (5) or the cover (3) and parallel to it.
  16. Cover plate after Claim 15 , wherein the frame (5) has a vertical side wall (54) extending perpendicular to a surface of the cover (3), and the opening (6) of the frame is defined by four retaining strips (50-53) forming a base of the frame (5) and extending parallel to the surface of the cover (3).
  17. Cover plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating element (25) is pivotably mounted on a pivot bracket (26) which is fixedly attached to the frame (5).
  18. Machine or housing, in particular for use in a cleanroom, characterized by at least one cover plate (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which closes an opening (6) in the machine or in the housing.
  19. Cleanroom, in particular for processing pharmaceutical packaging, with side walls that seal off a working area of the cleanroom from an environment, characterized in that the side walls have at least one cover plate (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 17 include, which closes off a space (55) located behind it.

Description

AREA OF INVENTION The present invention relates generally to cover plates that can be opened to provide access to a rear side, and in particular to cover plates comprising a frame defining an opening and a cover held in the frame, wherein the cover can be opened and removed from its front side to provide access to a rear side via the opening, for example for repair or maintenance purposes. Further aspects of the present invention relate to specific uses of such a cover plate. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such cover plates can be used, for example, in the side walls of classified areas, such as cleanrooms, or as components of housings, such as machine enclosures, to ensure safe and hygienic working conditions when the cover or panel is closed, while still allowing access to the rear via an opening when necessary. Often, it is necessary to restrict access to the cover or panel to authorized personnel only. Such restrictions may be particularly important for applications involving very expensive machinery or classified areas, such as cleanrooms, for example, for removing filter covers to replace air filters located on the rear. In such applications, completely closed surfaces without openings may be preferable to ensure hygienic working conditions. EP 0 291 783 B1 Disclosing a filter module for cleanroom ceilings and walls, or the like, which includes a highly efficient particle filter that can be interchangeably attached to the pressure chamber or pressure box by means of clamping and sealing elements. Sealing areas are provided between the particle filter frame and the pressure chamber or pressure box, with a gap between them that opens only to a cavity in the ceiling or side wall. The sealing areas comprise a horizontal flange and a cover or baffle held in a mounting frame and penetrated from top to bottom by threaded bolts that also extend through corresponding holes in the flanges of the mounting frame. Other flanges of the mounting frame are clamped against a seal by means of wing nuts that interact with the threaded bolts. Opening the filter module can be a time-consuming process requiring the loosening of several wing nuts. US 5 993 311 A Disclosing a ceiling structure for cleanrooms, comprising a supporting structure and filter units, which include a filter frame and a filter attached to that filter frame, the filter frames being connected to the supporting structure. The supporting structure has at least one sealing strut extending into at least one groove for liquids and includes brackets and rails. The configuration of the ceiling structure is relatively complex and comprises many different components. Many different opening mechanisms are known from the prior art, including mechanisms that involve a pivoting action of a cover or panel, or a combination of linear adjustment and a pivoting action, to allow access to a space located behind it. Such mechanisms include mechanisms for a vehicle sunroof with a cover designed to close an opening in the vehicle roof in the closed position and which can be pressed upwards at its trailing edge so that, in an open position, it is raised at least relative to its closed position, as, for example, in US 6 158 803 A or US 2004 / 0 232 737 A1 revealed. A similar opening mechanism is found in DE 10 2023 116 334 A1 disclosed, for use in a loading flap unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a displacement mechanism designed to move the vehicle flap unit between a closed position in which an opening in a vehicle body is closed and a release position in which the opening within the vehicle body is released. There is a continuing need for cover plates or panels with an opening mechanism that can be operated intuitively and with minimal effort, and is particularly suitable for use in environments that require hygienic but safe working conditions, for example in expensive machinery or in classified work areas, such as cleanrooms. US 4 970 836 A It reveals a cover plate that covers an opening. Screw elements extend through the cover plate, and the insertion and Unscrewing the screw elements activates a spring plate, which is pivotally connected to the back of the cover plate and is configured to release the cover plate. EP 1 961 891 B1 reveals a cover plate comprising two pivoting locking elements accessible from the front, which engage behind a mounting frame in the locked position. US 2014 / 0 109 484 A1 Disclosing an installation involves moving a cover plate from right to left. First, one end of the spring-loaded plate is moved to the right to engage behind the element on the right side, and then the cover plate is moved to the left until the spring-loaded plate engages behind the element on the left side. To remove the cover plate, this process is performed in reverse order. This principle also differs significantly from our invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a cover plate with an opening mechanism that can be operated in