Spy Hole Cover

The present invention relates to a spy hole cover and particularly to a spy hole cover for a fire door.

Backgound to the Invention

It is known to provide a spy hole in a door to allow a person on one side of a door to view through the door before opening the door. It is also known to provide a cover for a spy hole to prevent undesired viewing through the spy hole from the other side of the door.

In the case of fire doors, spy holes are desirable to be able to see if there is a fire in a room before entering the room. However, if the room is private, then it may not be possible to fit a spy hole, which may breach the privacy requirement.

It is an object of the invention to reduce or substantially obviate the aforementioned problem.

Statement of Invention

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a spy hole cover comprising a combustible cover member and a spacer member bonded to a rear side of the cover member, the spacer member being fastenable to a door adjacent a spy hole provided through the door with the cover member covering the spy hole.

It is an advantage of the invention that the spacer provides for an air gap between the cover member and door, facilitating combustion of the cover member.

Preferably the spacer member extends substantially only around the periphery of the planar member.

Preferably the spacer member is provided with self adhesive backing for attachment to the door.

Preferably the spacer is 4mm thick. However the spacer may be between 2mm and 5mm inclusive.

Preferably the combustible cover member is made from plastics foil. The cover member is also preferably planar.

Preferably the combustible planar cover member has indication means to indicate that it is combustible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a spy hole arrangement comprising a spy hole cover in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, a door and a spy hole provided through the door, the spy hole cover being bonded to the door to cover the spy hole and thereby preventing viewing through the spy hole, and an air gap being provided in a space between the cover member, the spacer member and the door.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fire door arrangement comprising a fire door, a spy hole provided through the door and a spy hole cover in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the spy hole cover being bonded to the door to cover the spy hole and thereby preventing viewing through the spy hole, and an air gap being provided in a space between the cover member, the spacer member and the door.

Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a spy hole cover;

Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view from above of the spy hole cover of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a schematic rear view of the spy hole cover of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through a door, spy-hole and spy hole cover of Figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring firstly to Figure 1 a spy hole cover is indicated generally at 10. The spy hole cover comprises a label or cover member made from a piece of combustible foil 12, preferably plastics and is substantially rectangular. The foil is combustible at a relatively low temperature, and is visibly marked to indicate that it is combustible.

Referring also to Figures 2 and 3, a peripheral spacer member 14 is bonded to the back of the cover member 12. The spacer member is optimally 4mm thick, but may be provided in other thicknesses, as desired. The spacer member 14 does not extend across a central region 16 of the cover member, for reasons explained below. The rear surface of the spacer member 14 is provided with self adhesive, which may be revealed by peeling off a backing in conventional manner. This allows attachment of the spy hole cover 10 to a door.

Referring now to Figure 4, the spy hole cover 10 is shown in use bonded to a door 18. A conventional spy hole 20 is provided through the door 18 and the cover 10 is attached to the door 18, with the central region 16 positioned over the end of the spy hole 20. This ensures that an air gap is provided between the rear surface of the cover member 12 and the door and spy hole. The cover member 12 is not transparent, and hence the spy hole 20 is effectively disabled.

In the event of a fire in the room on the side of the cover member 12, the cover member 12 readily combusts or degenerate at a low temperature due to the air pocket trapped between the door and cover member, and the view through the spy hole 20 becomes unobstructed. This enables a person approaching the other side of the door to be able to see the fire on the other side of the door. It has been found in tests that if, for example an adhesive label is affixed directly to the door and spy hole without the spacer, then it does not tend to combust until the fire has developed to a much greater

extent. The invention is intended particularly for fire doors, which are located in public buildings where privacy is of importance, for example in offices and hospitals.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.