BACKGROUND Mounting plates (or cover plates as they are generally known) for light and power switches are typically constructed of a plastics material and take the form of a rectangular block approximately 110mm long by 70mm wide by 10mm deep with the light switch being mounted in the centre. Typically the plates are secured to a wall by a pair of spaced apart screws, one being adjacent each short side and centred there along. However there are other types and shapes of switches to which the invention will have application.

The present invention is aimed at providing a decorative cover for attachment to the mounting plate of light and power switches, which still allows such light and power switches to be actuated in the usual manner.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a decorative cover adapted to enhance the appearance of the mounting plate of a light or power switch, the decorative cover having a front wall with a decorative front face and a rear face, and a side wall extending from the front wall and terminating at an edge adapted to engage with a wall on which the mounting plate is intended to be mounted, the front wall and the side wall together defining a cavity adapted to receive therein the mounting plate with the front face of the mounting plate engaging with the rear face of the front wall, the side wall being adapted to engage at least in part with the side wall of the mounting plate to locate the decorative cover in a desired position relative to the mounting plate, and the front wall having therein an aperture adapted to provide access for

operation of the light or power switch.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a decorative cover adapted to enhance the appearance of a mounting plate for a light or power switch, the decorative cover having a front wall with a decorative front face and a rear face, and a side wall extending from the front wall and terminating at an edge adapted to engage with a wall on which the mounting plate is intended to be mounted, the front wall and the side wall together defining a cavity adapted to receive therein the mounting plate with the front face of the mounting plate engaging with the rear face of the front wall, the side wall being adapted to engage at least in part with the side wall of the mounting plate to locate the decorative cover in a desired position relative to the mounting plate, and the front wall having a portion therein adapted to allow operation of the light or power switch.

Preferably, the decorative cover includes lighting means for illuminating the decorative cover at least in part and adapted to be electrically connected to the light or power switch intended to be mounted in the mounting plate.

In yet another aspect the invention resides broadly in a method of enhancing the appearance of a mounting plate for a light or power switch, the mounting plate being mounted on a generally upright wall, including: providing a decorative cover having a front wall with a decorative front face and a rear face and a side wall extending from the front wall and terminating at an edge adapted to engage with a wall on which the mounting plate is intended to be mounted, the front wall and the side wall together defining a cavity adapted to receive therein the mounting plate with the front face of the mounting plate engaging with the rear face of the front wall, the side wall being adapted to engage at least in part with the side wall of the mounting plate to locate the decorative cover in a desired position relative to the mounting plate, and the front wall having therein an aperture or a portion adapted to provide access to the light or power switch for operation;

placing the decorative cover over the mounting plate so that the rear face of the front wall engages with the front face of the mounting plate with the switch being accessible for on/off operation; and securing the decorative cover to the mounting plate.

In still another aspect the invention resides broadly in the combination of a mounting plate having a light or power switch mounted therein and a decorative cover, the mounting plate having a front face, a side face and a rear face, and the decorative cover having a front wall with a decorative front face and a rear face, and a side wall extending from the front wall, the front wall and the side wall together defining a cavity and the mounting plate being mounted within the cavity with the front face of the mounting plate engaging the rear face of the front wall and the side wall engaging at least in part with the side wall of the mounting plate to locate the decorative cover in a desired position relative to the mounting plate and the side wall terminating at a rear edge lying in the same plane as the rear face of the mounting plate and being adapted to engage with a wall on which the mounting plate is intended to be mounted, and the front wall having a portion therein adapted to allow operation of the light or power switch.

Preferably, the decorative cover takes the appearance of an article associated with the room in which the light or power switch is located, or which is associated with the person or people who utilise the room. For example, in a kitchen, the decorative cover may take the form of a tea pot, a saucepan, a cannister, or the like, while in a nursery, a teddy bear, clown, or the like. Similarly, in a boys room it may take the form of a motor car, an aeroplane or the like, or a cartoon character and in a girls room a doll, a fairy, or the like, or a cartoon character.

Preferably, the combination of mounting plate and decorative cover includes lighting means which co-operates with the decorative cover to illuminate it in desired regions. The lighting means may include one or more bulbs or electronic components mounted in the decorative cover and electrically

connected to the light or power switch, for example, by a pin mounted on the decorative cover.

Preferably, the decorative cover includes securing means adapted to engage with the side walls of the mounting plate to secure the decorative cover thereto in the desired position. Such securing means may be used instead of adhesive or in addition to adhesive between the decorative cover and the mounting plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of a decorative cover in combination with a mounting plate according to the invention, with the mounting plate shown in phantom; and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the decorative cover of Fig. 1 along line 2-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The decorative cover 10 illustrated in the drawings is constructed of a lightweight plastics material and has a front wall 11 generally taking the appearance of a teapot, and a side wall 12 extending rearwardly from the front face and fully there around terminating at a rear edge 13 adapted to rest against a wall. It can be seen that the decorative cover being of a thin material forms a rearwardly open cavity defined by the front wall and the side wall.

A mounting plate 16 (shown in phantom) is mounted in the cavity and has a light switch 17 mounted centrally therein in known manner. The light switch is accessible through an aperture 18 formed in the front wall of the decorative cover. In another embodiment, instead of having the aperture 18, a portion of the decorative cover in the region of the aperture is of a flexible plastics material which allows the switch to be operated therethrough.

The side wall 13 is shaped to engage with the four corner edges 21 to 24 of the mounting plate to hold it in the desired

position in which the teapot is upright. If desired the cover may be formed with securing lugs thereabout in suitable-locations adapted to engage behind the mounting plate, that is in use, between the mounting plate and the wall to which it is mounted.

If desired, some adhesive may be applied between the rear face of the front wall and the front face of the mounting plate to secure the decorative cover to the mounting plate either instead of the aforementioned lugs or in addition to them.

While the foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, all modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.