# US 5,707,028 A · Cover plate with length compensation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,028 A - Document ID: US5707028A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/566,785 - Filed: 1995-12-04 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-06 - Assignees: Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Dieter Roeper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707028A ## CPC - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - B64D 11/00: Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT ## Abstract A cover plates device for closing installation ducts in the interior fitting of spaces, including cover plates located one behind the other and are provided with ventilation and electrical components. An axial length compensation between two adjacent cover plates is provided in a simple manner. A first front side of a first cover plate has--in the area of a surface facing the installation duct--a shoulder-like recess of the height H, which extends approximately rectangularly into the first cover plate 1. A second front side of a second cover plate, which is directed toward the first front side of the first cover plate, is designed corresponding to the height H of the recess such that it can be introduced into the recess in such a manner that length tolerances between the cover plates 1, 2, 3 are compensated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Cover plate device for closing an installation duct carrying a supply line, comprising: a first cover plate with a first cover plate first front side and a first cover plate second front side and a surface facing the installation duct, said first cover plate having a shoulder-like recess with a recess height, said recess extending approximately rectangularly into said first cover plate, said first cover plate including a functional component connectable to the supply line; a second cover plate with a second cover plate first front side and a second cover plate second front side, said second cover plate including a functional component connectable to the supply line, said second cover plate second front side being directed toward said first cover plate first front side, said second cover plate second front side having a portion with a height substantially corresponding to said height of said recess of said first cover plate, said second cover plate second front side extending into said recess such that said first cover plate and said second cover plate together extend a length, said length being varied by changing the extent to which said second cover plate second side extends into said recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cover plate device according to claim 1, wherein said second cover plate is identical to said first cover plate including a second cover plate shoulder-like recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A cover plate device according to claim 2, wherein a spacer is provided in at least one of said first cover plate recess and said second cover plate recess, said spacer limiting an extent of overlap between said first cover plate first front side and said second cover plate second front side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A device according to claim 3, wherein said spacer is fastened to the installation duct. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein: said functional component of each of said cover plates includes a triangular attachment in an area of said first front side including two visible surfaces forming an angle with each other and a loud speaker fastened behind one of said two visible surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5, further comprising a display unit arranged behind another of said two visible surfaces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, further comprising an emergency oxygen supply unit as said functional components, openable toward said space, and arranged on each of said cover plates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, further comprising reading lamps as said functional components and arranged on said cover plates. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A device according to claim 8, further comprising switches, for switching said reading lamps on and off, connected to said cover plates. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, further comprising pivotable fresh air nozzles as said functional components and connected to said cover plates. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, further comprising a paging button as said functional components and arranged on said cover plates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4, wherein: said functional components include a display unit, reading lamps, switches and fresh air nozzles arranged on said cover plates, said functional components being provided in the order following said loud speaker of display unit, reading lamps, switches and fresh air nozzles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein said cover plates include means for defining an interior surface of one of an airplane, streetcar, train and levitation vehicle. ### Claim 14 A method of dosing an installation duct carrying a supply line, comprising: providing a first cover plate with a first cover plate first front side and a first cover plate second front side and a surface facing the installation duct, said first cover plate having a shoulder-like recess with a recess height, said recess extending approximately rectangularly into said first cover plate, said first cover plate including a functional component connectable to the supply line; providing a second cover plate with a second cover plate first front side and a second cover plate second front side, said second cover plate including a functional component connectable to the supply line, said second cover plate second front side being directed toward said first cover plate first front side, said second cover plate second front side having a portion with a height substantially corresponding to said height of said recess of said first cover plate, said second cover plate second front side extending into said recess such that said first cover plate and said second cover plate together extend a length; and adjusting a degree of overlap between said first front side of said first cover plate and said second front side of said second cover plate to change said length of said combined cover plates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, further comprising: providing a seating spacing defined as a space between a back of a first seat and a back of a second seat; and changing said length of said combined cover plates to correspond to a change in said seating spacing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, further comprising forming said first cover plate and said second cover plate out of substantially identical molds to form a first cover plate substantially identical to said second cover plate. ### Claim 17 A supply unit comprising: an installation duct for carrying a supply line; a plurality of cover plates slidably mounted on said installation duct, each of said plurality of cover plates including a functional component connectable to the supply line, said each of said plurality of cover plates having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends defining a recess, each of said second ends having a tongue portion complementary to said recess, said plurality of cover plates being arranged on said installation duct with said tongue portion of one cover plate variably insertable into said recess of an adjacent cover plate to vary a distance between said function components. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A unit in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: an attachment extending from said each cover plate from a side opposite said installation duct at said first end, said attachment also defining a portion of said recess and covering a part of said tongue portion of said adjacent cover plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A unit in accordance with claim 18, wherein: said attachment is also said functional component of said each cover plate.