PATCH

Abstract

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a patch for covering an opening in a surface comprises, a unitary body having an inner face configured to abut the surface over the opening in the surface and an outer face opposite the inner face. The outer face can include an aesthetic portion to provide an aesthetic visual to cover the opening in the surface. The patch also comprises a channel defined in the inner face configured to hold one or more fasteners for mounting the unitary body to the surface such that the inner face sits flush on the surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to patches and access panels.

BACKGROUND

Currently available wall patches and/or access panels require intrusive attachment means, and often require a damaged portion of a wall or ceiling to be cut larger than the damage to accommodate the patch. Further, when patching damage in a wall, or when installing an access panel, a user may be required to place new material, compound, spackle, or the like, and repaint portions of the wall. This can be unsightly if the user is not careful in matching colors or is not particularly skilled in such repairs or installs. Additionally, certain access panels require a user to cut out large portions of the wall or ceiling to install the access panel, creating a larger hole than the initial damage.

The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever-present need for improved systems and methods for more universal wall patches/access panels that are easy to install and more aesthetic than conventional solutions. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a patch for covering an opening in a surface comprises, a unitary body having an inner face configured to abut the surface over the opening in the surface and an outer face opposite the inner face. The outer face can include an aesthetic portion to provide an aesthetic visual to cover the opening in the surface. The patch also comprises a channel defined in the inner face configured to hold one or more fasteners for mounting the unitary body to the surface such that the inner face sits flush on the surface.

In certain embodiments, the outer face can include a contoured outer perimeter portion and the aesthetic portion can be defined within the contoured outer perimeter portion. In certain embodiments, the aesthetic portion can include a solid, untextured face.

In certain embodiments, the aesthetic portion can include a plurality of troughs defined partially therein, configured to resemble an air vent. In certain embodiments, the plurality of troughs can be partially recessed into the outer face but do not extend through the unitary body to the inner face. In certain such embodiments, no airflow is able to pass through the plurality of troughs from the inner face to the outer face or from the outer face to the inner face.

In certain embodiments, the aesthetic portion can include a plurality of circular features defined partially therein, configured to resemble a speaker mesh. In certain embodiments, the plurality of circular features can be partially recessed into the outer face but do not extend through the unitary body to the inner face. In certain such embodiments, no airflow is able to pass through the plurality of circular features from the inner face to the outer face or from the outer face to the inner face.

In certain embodiments, the one or more fasteners can include one or more of: hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, dual lock fasteners, latches, and/or screws, or the like. In certain embodiments, the unitary body can include punch outs defined in the channel and through the outer perimeter portion configured to allow a fastener to pass through the outer perimeter portion to mount the unitary body to the surface. In certain such embodiments, the fastener can be a screw.

In certain embodiments, the unitary body can be configured to cover an irregular shaped opening in the surface without cutting the opening in the surface to be a regular shape.

In certain embodiments, the unitary body can be configured to cover the opening in the surface without cutting the opening in the surface to match a shape or size of the unitary body.

In certain embodiments, the unitary body can be about at least about 10 inches wide by at least about 10 inches tall. In certain embodiments, the unitary body can be about 15 inches wide by about 15 inches tall.

In certain embodiments, the one or more fasteners can be configured to allow the unitary body to be placed on the surface and removed from the surface to allow access to equipment behind the surfaced accessible through the opening. In certain embodiments, the surface can be a wall or ceiling, and the opening in the surface can be an access opening configured for allowing access to mechanical or electrical equipment installed behind the wall or ceiling. In certain such embodiments, the unitary body can be configured to cover the access opening when the access opening is not in use.

In certain embodiments, the surface can be a wall or ceiling, and the opening in the surface can be damage to the wall or ceiling. In certain such embodiments, the unitary body can be configured to provide an aesthetic cover for the damage to the wall or ceiling.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, other embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a patch, the patch shown in a front perspective, wherein the patch is shown installed on a surface;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the patch, the patch shown in a front perspective wherein the patch is shown exploded from the surface;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the patch, the patch shown in a rear perspective, wherein the patch is shown exploded from the surface;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the patch shown in Fig;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the patch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the patch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a right-side elevational view of the patch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top-down view of the patch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a bottom-up view of the patch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a patch, showing an embodiment of outer face of the patch;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the patch of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial left side perspective view of the patch shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the patch shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged partial right side perspective view of the patch shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a patch, showing an embodiment of an outer face of the patch;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the patch of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial left side perspective view of the patch shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the patch shown in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 19 is an enlarged partial right side perspective view of the patch shown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of a patch in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments and/or aspects of this disclosure are shown in FIGS. 2-19.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a patch 100 for covering an opening 102 in a surface 104 comprises a unitary body 106 having an inner face 108 configured to abut the surface 104 over the opening 102 in the surface 104 and an outer face 110 opposite the inner face 108. The outer face 110 can include an aesthetic portion (e.g., denoted by the dot-dot-dash line) to provide an aesthetic visual to cover the opening 102 in the surface 104. The patch 100 also comprises a channel 112 defined in the inner face 108 configured to hold one or more fasteners 114 for mounting the unitary body 106 to the surface 104 such that the inner face 108 sits flush on the surface 104 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1). FIGS. 1-3 show: a perspective environmental view of the patch 100, where the patch is shown in a front perspective and is shown installed on a surface 104 (FIG. 1); where the patch 100 is shown exploded from the surface 104 (FIG. 2); and where the patch 100 is shown in a rear perspective exploded from the surface 104 so that a depth of the channel 112 is appreciated (FIG. 3).

In certain embodiments, the one or more fasteners 114 can include one or more of: hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, dual lock fasteners, latches, and/or screws, or the like. In FIG. 3, for example, hook and loop fasteners are shown installed on the surface and in the channel of the patch. In this example, one half of the fastener 114a (e.g., a female portion) can be installed on the surface 104 while the other half of the fastener 114b (e.g., a male portion) can be installed on the patch 110 in channel 112, so that the patch 100 is mounted to the surface 104 by mating the two fastener portions. The arrangement of the fasteners 114 within the channel 112 and on the surface 104 can be adjusted as needed based on the desired fastener. For example, certain embodiments may not require any fastener to be first installed on the surface 104. In certain embodiments, the channel 112 allows the fasteners 114 to be hidden from view when the patch 100 is installed on the surface 104.

Also shown in FIG. 3, in certain embodiments, the unitary body 106 can include punchouts 116 defined in the channel 112 configured to allow a fastener to pass through the outer perimeter portion to mount the unitary body to the surface. In certain such embodiments, when a user is ready to install or mount the patch 100, the user can remove the punchouts to reveal a bore for accepting the fastener. Here, the fastener can be a screw and the screw can be inserted from the outer face 110, through the bore, and into the surface 104 to mount the patch 100 to the surface 104. In this embodiment, it may not be needed to use other or additional fastener means along with the screws.

While the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 show a rectangular opening, in certain embodiments, the unitary body 106 can be configured to cover an irregularly shaped opening 102 in the surface 104 without requiring cutting the opening 102 to be a regular shape. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the unitary body 106 can be configured to cover the opening 102 in the surface 104 without requiring cutting the opening 102 to match a shape or size of the unitary body 106. For example, in certain instances, where damage is caused to the surface 104, the damage may not leave a rectangular opening. Conventional patches require a user to cut the opening 102 to a regular shape (e.g., rectangular) that matches the size of the patch so the patch can be inserted into the opening in order to cover the damage. However, embodiments of the patch 100 disclosed herein differ from conventional patches because the patch 100 is configured to cover the opening without requiring the user to cut a larger opening to accept the patch. Instead, patch 100 is placed directly over the opening 102 in the surface 104 to cover it completely and in an aesthetic manner. This saves the user time and trouble if the damage caused to the surface 104 is not a regular shape, or if the damage can easily be covered by the size of the patch.

In certain embodiments, the patch 100 can be configured to be used as an aesthetic cover to cover an access hole in the surface 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in certain embodiments, the surface 104 can be a wall or ceiling, and the opening 102 in the surface 104 can be an access opening configured for allowing access to mechanical or electrical equipment 118 installed behind the wall or ceiling. In certain such embodiments, the unitary body 106 of the patch can be configured to cover the access opening when the access opening is not in use. In such embodiments, the one or more fasteners 114 can be configured to allow the unitary body to be placed on the surface 104 and removed from the surface 104 as needed to allow access to equipment 118 behind the surfaced accessible through the opening. Examples of equipment that may require semi-regular access can include cables, wires, computer lines, telephone lines, plumbing, electrical lines, shut off valves, venting, heat/ac ducts, hidden safes, or the like. FIG. 3 shows, electrical wires or piping, for example. In such environments, the patch/access panel 100 may need to be removed semi-regularly for maintenance, for example, thus the patch/access panel 100 provides easy access to the equipment 118 since the patch 100 is not permanently mounted to the wall 104.

In certain embodiments, the unitary body 106 can be about at least about 10 inches wide by at least about 10 inches tall. In certain embodiments, the unitary body 106 can be about 15 inches wide by about 15 inches tall. In certain embodiments, a kit can include a plurality of patches 100, where a number of different size patches 100 are included in the kit.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-9, in certain embodiments, the outer face 110 can include a contoured outer perimeter portion and the aesthetic portion 122 can be defined within the contoured outer perimeter portion 120 (e.g., as shown with the dot-dot-dash lines). The contour of the contoured outer perimeter 120 can be best appreciated in FIGS. 6-9, for example. In certain embodiments, the aesthetic portion can include a solid, untextured face such as shown in FIG. 4. In such embodiments, the material of the patch 100 can be configured to hold paint so that a user can color-match or finish-match the patch 100 to the surface 104 on which the patch 100 is installed. In certain embodiments, the patch 100 can include a finish that matches the surrounding surface. In certain embodiments, the patch 100 and fasteners 114 can be configured to be installed on any surface regardless of thickness or materials, such as wood, sheetrock, tile, masonry, or the like, since embodiments of the patch 100 do not require any cutting of the surface beneath the patch 100 in order to install the patch 100.

With reference now to FIGS. 10-14, another embodiment of a patch 200 is shown, where the aesthetic portion 222 can include a plurality of troughs 224 defined partially therein, configured to resemble an air vent or a vent register. In certain embodiments, the plurality of troughs 224 can be partially recessed into the outer face 210 but do not extend through the unitary body 206 to the inner face 208. In certain such embodiments, no airflow is able to pass through the plurality of troughs 224 from the inner face 208 to the outer face 210 or from the outer face 210 to the inner face 208. Here, the troughs 224 can be deep enough so that from a distance they appear to be channels formed through the unitary body, as in a conventional vent register. However, in certain embodiments, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 10-14, the patch 200 is a faux vent register, which can help the patch 200 better blend into the surface 104, for example if the surface 104 is a ceiling, or a wall in a room, and the opening 102 in the surface is in a location likely to have a vent. Because the patch 200 is a faux vent register, it does not allow airflow, or any item (e.g., fluid, dust, particles, insects) from behind the surface to pass through the unitary body 106 or allow any item to pass through the unitary body 106 to the space behind the surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 15-19, another embodiment of a patch 300 is show. As shown, the aesthetic portion 322 can include a plurality of circular features 326 defined partially therein, configured to resemble a speaker mesh. This is most clearly seen in FIGS. 17-19. In certain embodiments, the plurality of circular features 326 can be partially recessed into the outer face 310 but do not extend through the unitary body 306 to the inner face 308, similar to that explained above for the troughs 224. Accordingly, no airflow is able to pass through the plurality of circular features 326 from the inner face 308 to the outer face 310 or from the outer face 310 to the inner face 308. The aesthetic portion 322 can be configured to can help the patch better blend into the surface, for example if the surface 104 is a ceiling, or a wall in a room, and the opening 102 in the surface 104 is in a location likely to have a built-in speaker.

Embodiments of the patch 100, 200, 300 can include a wall patch, or “hidden” access panel. In certain embodiments, the patch/access panel can be a faux vent 200 or faux speaker 300 that allows hidden and easy access to equipment stored behind the wall and/or offers an aesthetic covering for damage to the wall. Embodiments of the patch 100, 200, 300 can also be used to cover holes and or wall or ceiling damage and without cutting the hole to any particular size or shape. Embodiments of the patch 100, 200, 300 can be of a material suitable for painting to match surrounding wall color or finish. In certain embodiments the patch 100, 200, 300 can be installed on the surface without requiring clips, nails, screws, springs, hinges, framing, trim, or molding for installation.

Embodiments of the patch 100, 200, 300 can include a channel 112 formed in a rear (wall side) of the access panel for including of one or more fasteners 114 (e.g., hook and loop strips, magnets, dual lock strips) for flush mounting the patch 100, 200, 300 on any surface. Embodiments of the patch 100, 200, 300 allow for easy removal of the patch 100, 200, 300 for access to items in the wall behind the patch, such as electrical or plumbing. Embodiments can be used to cover any size or shape hole in the wall cause by damage. Existing damage in the wall does not need to be cut to any particular size or shape before covering with an embodiment of the patch/access panel 100, 200, 300.

Those having ordinary skill in the art understand that any numerical values disclosed herein can be exact values or can be values within a range. Further, any terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “approximately”, “around”) used in this disclosure can mean the stated value within a range. For example, in certain embodiments, the range can be within (plus or minus) 20%, or within 10%, or within 5%, or within 2%, or within any other suitable percentage or number as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art (e.g., for known tolerance limits or error ranges).

The articles “a”, “an”, and “the” as used herein and in the appended claims are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e., “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”

Any suitable combination(s) of any disclosed embodiments and/or any suitable portion(s) thereof are contemplated herein as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

The embodiments of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for improvement in the art to which they pertain. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.

Claims

1. A patch for covering an opening in a surface, comprising: a unitary body having an inner face configured to abut the surface over the opening in the surface and an outer face opposite the inner face, wherein the outer face includes an aesthetic portion to provide an aesthetic visual to cover the opening in the surface; anda channel defined in the inner face configured to hold one or more fasteners for mounting the unitary body to the surface such that the inner face sits flush on the surface.

2. The patch of claim 1, wherein the outer face includes a contoured outer perimeter portion and wherein the aesthetic portion of the outer face is defined within the contoured outer perimeter portion.

3. The patch of claim 2, wherein the aesthetic portion includes a solid, untextured face.

4. The patch of claim 2, wherein the aesthetic portion includes a plurality of troughs defined partially therein, configured to resemble an air vent.

5. The patch of claim 4, wherein the plurality of troughs are partially recessed into the outer face but do not extend through the unitary body to the inner face.

6. The patch of claim 5, wherein no airflow is able to pass through the plurality of troughs from the inner face to the outer face or from the outer face to the inner face.

7. The patch of claim 2, wherein the aesthetic portion includes a plurality of circular features defined partially therein, configured to resemble a speaker mesh.

8. The patch of claim 7, wherein the plurality of circular features are partially recessed into the outer face but do not extend through the unitary body to the inner face.

9. The patch of claim 8, wherein no airflow is able to pass through the plurality of circular features from the inner face to the outer face or from the outer face to the inner face.

10. The patch of claim 1, wherein the one or more fasteners include one or more of: hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, dual lock fasteners, latches, and/or screws.

11. The patch of claim 1, wherein the unitary body is configured to cover an irregular shaped opening in the surface without requiring cutting the opening in the surface to be a regular shape.

12. The patch of claim 1, wherein the unitary body is configured to cover the opening in the surface without requiring cutting the opening in the surface to match a shape or size of the unitary body.

13. The patch of claim 1, wherein the unitary body is at least about 10 inches wide by at least about 10 inches tall.

14. The patch of claim 13, wherein the unitary body is about 15 inches wide by about 15 inches tall.

15. The patch of claim 1, wherein the one or more fasteners are configured to allow the unitary body to be placed on the surface and removed from the surface to allow access to equipment behind the surface accessible through the opening.

16. The patch of claim 15, wherein the surface is a wall or ceiling, and wherein the opening is an access opening configured for allowing access to mechanical or electrical equipment installed behind the wall or ceiling, wherein the unitary body is configured to cover the access opening when the access opening is not in use.

17. The patch of claim 1, wherein the surface is a wall or ceiling, and wherein the opening is damage to the wall or ceiling, wherein the unitary body is configured to provide an aesthetic cover for the damage to the wall or ceiling.