Decorative covers and protective duct devices

Abstract

To provide a decorative cover that can be installed to more reliably cover and conceal the area around a protective duct without exposing the wall opening to the surface of the wall. [Solution] The decorative cover 100 is laid toward a wall hole H through which wiring and piping materials P are inserted, and is configured to cover at least a portion of the outer circumference of a long protective duct 11 that covers the wiring and piping materials P, without exposing the wall hole H to the wall surface. The decorative cover 100 comprises a main body portion 101 that extends in an extending direction from the base end to the tip along the longitudinal direction of the protective duct 11 and is configured to cover at least a portion of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11, and a flange portion 102 that extends outward from the base end side of the main body portion 101 and is configured to abut against the wall surface W1. A cutout forming guide portion 105 is provided for forming a cutout portion 109 by cutting off a portion of the main body portion 101 in at least one direction and a portion of the flange portion 102 in at least one direction, so that the side portion 12 of the protective duct 11 is exposed in at least one direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a decorative cover for covering and decorating the periphery of a protective duct installed to protect wiring and piping materials laid through a wall hole formed in a wall without exposing the wall hole to the wall surface side, and a protective duct device including the decorative cover.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when laying wiring and piping materials such as refrigerant pipes for air conditioners through a wall hole drilled in a building wall, they are protected by a protective duct so that the wiring and piping materials are not exposed. Then, in order not to damage the aesthetics of the interior, a decorative cover is installed to cover the gap formed between the protective duct and the wall hole from the wall surface side and decorate the periphery of the protective duct. By the way, the protective duct is laid at various positions in the room, such as when the wiring and piping materials are installed in the air in the room or laid along the wall, depending on the laying position of the wiring and piping materials and the drilling position of the wall hole, for example, in the corner of an adjacent wall surface. Various decorative covers have been proposed to correspond to such laying positions of the protective duct.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a protective cover for a wall penetration portion of a refrigerant pipe for an air conditioner. In the following paragraph, reference numerals for Patent Document 1 are shown in parentheses. The protective cover (C) is constructed by assembling two divided parts, an upper cover (C1) and a lower cover (C2). When the upper cover (C1) and the lower cover (C2) are assembled together, a connection port (3) is formed in the center of each flange portion (1,2) into which a straight duct (D) is fitted. On the periphery of the connection port (3), a substantially U-shaped duct division fitting portion (4) formed on the upper cover (C1) and a flat plate-shaped duct division fitting portion (5) formed on the lower cover (C2) are formed perpendicular to each flange portion (1,2). Each duct division fitting section (4, 5) is assembled to form a closed shape corresponding to the outer shape of the straight duct (D) when the upper cover (C1) and lower cover (C2) are assembled together, and the straight duct (D) is fitted inside the duct fitting section (6) formed by each duct division fitting section (4, 5). The upper cover (C1) and lower cover (C2) are assembled together via a pair of engaging claws (12, 13) which are integrally provided on their respective back sides. When refrigerant pipes (P) are routed along a wall, only the upper cover (C1) which constitutes the protective cover (C) is used. When the opening side of the upper cover (C1) is turned towards the interior wall (W1) and fitted onto the outside of the straight duct (D), the end of the straight duct (D) is fitted inside the duct division fitting section (4), and the end face of the upper cover (C1) abuts against the interior wall (W1). In this state, screws (24) are screwed into the multiple screw pilot holes (16) provided in the flange portion (1) of the top cover (C1), and the top cover (C1) is fixed to the interior wall (W1) via the multiple screws (24), so that the periphery of the through hole (H) is covered by the top cover (C1).

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a decorative plate that can cover the peripheral edge of a wall penetration hole and protect the end of a protective duct. In this paragraph, the reference numerals of Patent Document 2 are shown in parentheses. The decorative plate (P) consists of a cylindrical plate body (B) into which the end of a protective duct (D) is inserted and held, and an annular decorative flange (F) integrally formed radially outward at one end of the plate body (B) in the direction of its axis (C). The decorative plate (P) is divided into two by two radial dividing surfaces (S1, S2) that are not located on the diameter of the plate body (B), and the central angle (θ) of each dividing surface (S1, S2) exceeds 180°, and is divided into a first divided body (P1) and a second divided body (P2) that can be joined together, with the width (E0) of the dividing opening (1) being smaller than the inner diameter of the plate body (B). On the back surface of the first divided decorative flange portion (F1), there are two straight cutting grooves (16) facing the divided opening (1) at an angle to facilitate cutting or breaking off a portion of the outer circumference of the first divided decorative flange portion (F1). This facilitates the removal of both the first divided decorative flange portion (F1) and the first divided gap-forming flange portion (K1). By cutting and removing the first divided decorative flange portion (F1) and the first divided gap-forming flange portion (K1) in a crescent shape using each cutting groove (16), interference with the wall surfaces (W2, W3) that constitute the inner corner portion (N) adjacent to the wall penetration hole (H1) is avoided, and the wall surface (W 22 This allows for the attachment of a decorative plate (P) to the periphery of the wall penetration hole (H1) in the wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-22866 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-250368 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The protective cover of Patent Document 1 is an annular shape that can be divided into two parts, and when the protective duct is installed near a wall, the protective cover can be divided so as not to interfere with the wall surface adjacent to the wall surface in which the wall hole is formed, thereby allowing it to be installed to cover the wall hole. This protective cover can accommodate installation environments in which the protective duct is installed on the wall surface adjacent to the wall surface in which the wall hole is formed (or near the wall at an inside corner), but for example, in an inside corner consisting of three adjacent wall surfaces, if the protective duct is installed near or at the edge of two of the wall surfaces, a part of the protective cover will interfere with the wall surface, making it impossible to install it to cover the wall hole. On the other hand, the decorative plate of Patent Document 2 can be installed without interfering with one of the wall surfaces at the inside corner when a wall hole is provided at the inside corner of three adjacent wall surfaces and the wall hole and one of the wall surfaces are separated by a predetermined distance, by cutting off a part of the flange portion. However, in corners where the protective duct is installed on a wall surface, even if the flange portion is removed, the cylindrical plate body interferes with the wall surface, making it impossible to install the decorative plate to cover the outer circumference of the exposed protective duct. In other words, depending on the installation environment in the corner, workers may not be able to reliably install the protective cover or decorative plate, and it becomes necessary to prepare a decorative plate or protective cover of a shape appropriate to the installation environment each time, which is a problem in terms of work efficiency.

[0007] The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a decorative cover and a protective duct device that can be installed to cover and decorate the area around a protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the surface of the wall. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (Composition 1) One embodiment of the present invention is a decorative cover that is laid toward a wall opening through which wiring and piping materials are inserted, and covers at least a portion of the outer circumference of a long protective duct that covers the wiring and piping materials without exposing the wall opening to the surface of the wall, The main body portion extends in an extending direction from the base end to the tip along the longitudinal direction of the protective duct and is configured to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct, The main body comprises a flange portion that extends outward from the base end and is configured to abut against a wall surface, The protective duct is characterized by having a cutout formation guide portion for forming a cutout by cutting off a portion of the main body in at least one direction and a portion of the flange in at least one direction, so as to expose the side of the protective duct in at least one direction.

[0009] (Configuration 2) In one embodiment of the present invention, in the decorative cover of configuration 1, a first direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the main body and a second direction along the first direction are defined in a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the main body. The main body and the flange are provided with an opening that is open in one of the first directions, exposing one of a pair of first sides of the protective duct facing the first direction.

[0010] (Composition 3) A further embodiment of the present invention is a decorative cover of configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that the flange portion is further provided with a shortening guide portion for shortening the extension length of the flange portion in a second direction along the one direction.

[0011] (Composition 4) One embodiment of the present invention is a protective duct device installed in an inner corner where a first wall surface, a second wall surface, and a third wall surface intersect orthogonally, and which protects wiring and piping materials inserted through a wall hole drilled in the first wall surface. A protective duct is laid in an extending direction toward the wall hole so as to cover at least a portion of the wiring and piping material, The system includes a decorative cover that covers at least a portion of the outer circumference of the protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the surface of the wall, On the first wall surface, a first direction perpendicular to the second wall surface and a second direction perpendicular to the third wall surface are defined. The protective duct comprises a pair of first sides facing a first direction and a pair of second sides facing a second direction, and can be installed with one of the pair of first sides in contact with the second wall surface and one of the pair of second sides in contact with the third wall surface. The aforementioned decorative cover is A main body portion is configured to extend in an extending direction from the base end to the tip along the longitudinal direction of the protective duct and to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct, The main body comprises a flange portion that extends outward from the base end and is configured to abut against the first wall surface, The main body and the flange are provided with openings that are open to one of the first directions, exposing one of the pair of first sides of the protective duct facing the first direction, in order to avoid interference with the second wall surface. The main body and the flange are provided with a cutout forming guide portion for cutting off a portion of the main body and a portion of the flange to form a cutout, so as to avoid interference with the third wall surface, and to expose one of the pair of second sides of the protective duct facing the second direction. The flange portion is provided with a shortening guide portion for cutting the flange portion in order to shorten the extension length of the flange portion in the second direction, in order to avoid interference with the third wall surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one embodiment (configuration 1) of the present invention, the decorative cover, in its initial form, can be installed to decorate the area around a protective duct in one installation environment. The main body and flange portion of the decorative cover are provided with a cutout formation guide portion for cutting off a portion of the main body in at least one direction and a portion of the flange portion in at least one direction to form a cutout. With this configuration, in a different installation environment from one, where a wall hole is formed in one wall of an inside corner where at least two wall surfaces are adjacent, and the protective duct is installed on or near a wall perpendicular to that wall, when installing the decorative cover to decorate the area around the protective duct, the decorative cover can be installed while avoiding the wall perpendicular to the first wall by cutting off a portion of the main body in at least one direction and a portion of the flange portion in at least one direction according to the cutout formation guide portion (instead of the shortening formation guide portion), via the cutout. Therefore, the decorative cover of the present invention can be installed to decorate the area around the protective duct more reliably without exposing the wall hole to the wall surface, even in different inside corner installation environments.

[0013] According to one embodiment (configuration 2) of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the decorative cover of configuration 1, the main body and flange portions are provided with openings that open to one of the first directions (perpendicular to one direction), exposing the first side of the protective duct located inside the main body. As a result, the decorative cover can be installed to cover and decorate the area around the protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the wall surface, by avoiding the wall surface through the opening that opens to one of the first directions, in an installation environment where the protective duct is installed on or near a wall adjacent to the wall surface in which the wall hole is formed. Furthermore, in a second installation environment where a wall hole is formed in one wall surface at an inside corner where three wall surfaces are adjacent, and protective ducts are installed near the walls of two wall surfaces perpendicular to that wall surface, when installing a decorative cover to decorate the area around the protective duct, the decorative cover can be installed by cutting off a portion of the main body and a portion of the flange portion according to the cutout formation guide, thereby avoiding the two wall surfaces perpendicular to that wall surface through the opening formed in one of the first directions and the cutout formed in one of the second directions. Therefore, the decorative cover of the present invention can be installed to cover and decorate the area around the protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the surface of the wall, even in different corner installation environments.

[0014] According to a further embodiment (configuration 3) of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the decorative cover of configuration 1 or 2, the flange portion is provided with a shortening guide portion for shortening the extension length of the flange portion in the second direction. With this configuration, in a further installation environment where a wall hole is formed in one wall of an adjacent inner corner, and a protective duct is installed on or near the other wall, at a predetermined distance (a distance at which the outer edge of the flange portion can interfere with the wall) from one of two wall surfaces perpendicular to the first wall, when installing a decorative cover to decorate the area around the protective duct, it is possible to install the decorative cover by cutting off only a portion of the flange portion according to the shortening guide portion (instead of the cutting guide portion), thereby avoiding the two wall surfaces perpendicular to the first wall through the opening formed in one of the first directions and the shortened portion formed in one of the second directions. Therefore, the decorative cover of the present invention can be installed to decorate the area around the protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the wall surface, even more reliably, in further different inner corner installation environments.

[0015] According to one embodiment (configuration 4) of the present invention, the main body and flange portion are provided with an opening that is open in one of the first directions, exposing the first side of the protective duct located inside the main body. As a result, the decorative cover can be installed to cover and decorate the area around the protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the wall surface, by avoiding the second wall surface through the opening that is open in one of the first directions, in a first installation environment where the protective duct is installed on or near a second wall surface adjacent to a first wall surface where a wall hole is formed, and the protective duct is installed at a first distance from the third wall surface (a distance at which the outer edge of the flange portion does not interfere with the third wall surface). Furthermore, the main body and flange portion of the decorative cover are provided with a cutout formation guide portion for forming a cutout by cutting off a part of the main body portion and a part of the flange portion. With this configuration, in a second installation environment where a protective duct is installed on or near a second wall adjacent to a first wall where a wall hole is formed, and a protective duct is installed near a third wall, when installing a decorative cover to decorate the area around the protective duct, the decorative cover can be installed while avoiding the second and third walls, respectively, by cutting off a portion of the main body and a portion of the flange portion according to the cutout formation guide portion, through an open portion formed in one of the first directions and a cutout portion formed in one of the second directions. Furthermore, the flange portion is provided with a shortening formation guide portion for shortening the extension length of the flange portion in the second direction. With this configuration, in a third installation environment in which a protective duct is installed on or near a second wall adjacent to a first wall where a wall hole is formed, and the protective duct is installed at a second distance from the third wall (a distance at which the outer edge of the flange portion can interfere with the third wall), when installing a decorative cover to decorate the area around the protective duct, the decorative cover can be installed while avoiding the second and third walls, respectively, by cutting off only a portion of the flange portion according to the shortening guide portion (instead of the missing portion), through an open portion formed in one of the first directions and a shortened portion formed in one of the second directions.Therefore, the protective duct device of the present invention can more reliably install a decorative cover to cover and decorate the periphery of the protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the wall surface side even in different installation environments at the entrance corners, so as to protect the wiring and piping materials without impairing the aesthetics.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] Exploded perspective view of the protective duct device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic perspective views of the decorative cover according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from (a) the front and (b) the rear. [Figure 3] (a) Front view and (b) rear view of the decorative cover in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] (a) Plan view and (b) side view of the decorative cover in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] (a) Cross-sectional view taken along line A-A and (b) cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the decorative cover in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] (a) Cross-sectional view taken along line C-C, (b) cross-sectional view taken along line D-D, and (c) cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of the decorative cover in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] Partial enlarged perspective view showing the missing formation guide part and the shortened formation guide part of the decorative cover in FIG. 2. [Figure 8] Schematic perspective view showing a missing form in which a part of the main body part and a part of the flange part of the decorative cover in FIG. 2 are missing. [Figure 9] Schematic perspective view showing a shortened form in which the extension length of the flange part of the decorative cover in FIG. 2 is shortened. [Figure 10] Schematic perspective views of the closed form in which a closing member is attached to the decorative cover in FIG. 2 as seen from (a) the front and (b) the rear. [Figure 11] Exploded view of the decorative cover in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] Schematic exploded perspective view showing the first installation structure by the protective duct device of the present invention. <l [Figure 13] Front view of the first installation structure in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] Schematic exploded perspective view showing the second installation structure by the protective duct device of the present invention. [Figure 15] Figure 14 shows a front view of the second installation structure. [Figure 16] A schematic exploded perspective view showing a third installation structure using the protective duct device of the present invention. [Figure 17] Figure 16 shows a front view of the third installation structure. [Figure 18] A schematic exploded perspective view showing a fourth installation structure using the protective duct device of the present invention. [Figure 19] Front view of the fourth installation structure in Figure 18. [Figure 20] A schematic perspective view showing an installation structure and protective duct device of another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] A schematic perspective view showing the terminal structure of the protective duct of the installation structure in Figure 20. [Figure 22] Figure 21 shows an exploded perspective view of the terminal structure. [Figure 23] (a) schematic perspective view and (b) partial enlargement view of the terminal member in Figure 22. [Figure 24] (a) front view, (b) top view, (c) side view, (d) bottom view, and (e) rear view of the terminal member in Figure 22. [Figure 25] Figure 24 shows a cross-sectional view of the terminal member. [Figure 26] Cross-sectional view of the terminal structure in Figure 21. [Figure 27] (a) Front view and (b) Enlarged view of a portion thereof, showing the terminal member of Figure 22 with the closing plate portion removed. [Figure 28] A schematic perspective view showing a modified example of the decorative cover of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the shapes in the drawings referenced in the following description are conceptual or schematic diagrams for illustrating preferred shapes and dimensions, and the dimensional ratios, etc., do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensional ratios. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the dimensional ratios shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the up, down, left, and right directions in the present invention are merely concepts indicating relative positions, and it goes without saying that they can be interchanged and applied accordingly.

[0018] A protective duct device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is used to protect wiring and piping materials laid through a hole drilled in the wall of a building. For example, the wiring and piping materials are refrigerant pipes for air conditioners and electrical cables. Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of the protective duct device 10. This protective duct device 10 is composed of a long protective duct 11 laid toward the hole in the wall to cover and protect the wiring and piping materials, and a decorative cover 100 that covers at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 to decorate it without exposing the hole to the surface of the wall. In this embodiment, the protective duct 11 and the decorative cover 100 are molded from a synthetic resin material, but are not limited to this and may be formed from various materials.

[0019] In this embodiment, the protective duct 11 is a smooth duct having a rectangular cross-sectional shape that is continuous in the longitudinal direction, and is intended to house and protect wiring and piping materials inside. The protective duct 11 comprises a base 11a having a U-shaped cross-section and a bottom wall 11a1 and a pair of side walls 11a2, and a cover 11b that covers the opening of the base 11a. The base 11a and the cover 11b can be assembled via a connecting portion 11c. The protective duct 11 is also configured to be fixed to a wall surface with screws via the bottom wall 11a1 (fixing portion) of the base 11a. Here, in a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the protective duct 11, mutually orthogonal directions are defined as the first direction and the second direction. As shown in Figure 1, a pair of sides of the protective duct 11 facing a first direction (both side walls of the base 11a) are defined as the first side 12, and a pair of sides facing a second direction perpendicular to the first direction (the top surface of the cover 11b and the bottom wall 11a1) are defined as the second side 13. It goes without saying that the protective duct of the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and may take various forms.

[0020] The decorative cover 100 of one embodiment of the present invention is configured to cover the gap between the wall hole through which wiring and piping materials are inserted and the long protective duct laid toward the wall hole and covering the wiring and piping materials, from the wall surface side, by decorating the periphery of the protective duct 11. The decorative cover 100 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 7. Figures 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic exploded views of the decorative cover 100 as seen from the front (wall surface side) and rear. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are the front and rear views of the decorative cover 100. Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are the plan and side views of the decorative cover 100. Figures 5(a) and 5(b) are cross-sectional views AA and BB of the decorative cover 100. Figures 6(a) to 6(c) are cross-sectional views CC, DD and EE of the decorative cover 100. Figure 7 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the decorative cover 100.

[0021] The decorative cover 100 of one embodiment of the present invention has a substantially U-shape that is open in one direction when viewed from the front (or rear). In other words, the decorative cover 100 consists of a pair of first frame portions 100a extending in one direction and a second frame portion 100b connecting the ends of the pair of first frame portions at a substantially right angle. The decorative cover 100 has a housing portion 103 capable of housing the protective duct 11 inside its U-shape and an opening portion 104 that opens on the side facing the second frame portion 100b. The decorative cover 100 includes a main body portion 101 that extends in an extending direction from the base end to the tip along the longitudinal direction of the protective duct 11 and is configured to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11, and a flange portion 102 that extends outward from the base end side of the main body portion 101 and is configured to abut against a wall surface. The decorative cover 100 is used such that the base end (back side) of the main body 101 is positioned on the wall side, and its tip (front side) protrudes outwards from the wall. The decorative cover 100 is provided with a missing section guide 105 and a shortening section guide 106. For aesthetic reasons, the missing section guide 105 and the shortening section guide 106 are preferably provided so as to be visible on the back side of the decorative cover 100, but they may also be provided so as to be visible on the front side of the decorative cover 100. In the front view of the decorative cover 100 in Figure 3, the direction in which the opening 104 faces (the vertical axis direction passing through the center of the opening 104 and the center of the housing 103) is defined as the first direction, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction (the horizontal axis direction) is defined as the second direction.

[0022] The main body portion 101 has a shape in which one side of a rectangular cylindrical body extending from the base to the tip has been cut off. The main body portion 101 also defines a housing portion 103 inside which a protective duct 11 (having a rectangular cross-section) is housed. In other words, the main body portion 101 is sized to accommodate the protective duct 11. An opening portion 104 is formed on one side of the main body portion 101, which is open in one direction and exposes the housing portion 103 to the outside. That is, when the protective duct 11 is housed in the housing portion 103, the main body portion 101 is configured to cover three sides of the protective duct 11, while the remaining one side is exposed through the opening portion 104. At the base end of the main body portion 101, a flange portion 102 protrudes outward from the outer surface of the main body portion 101, while at the tip of the main body portion 101, a protrusion 107 protrudes inward from the inner surface of the main body portion 101. The protrusion 107 comes into contact with the inner surface of the main body 101 when the protective duct 11 is inserted into the main body 101, preventing a gap from forming between the decorative cover 100 and the protective duct 11. Alternatively, if the protective duct is a corrugated duct with continuous irregularities in the longitudinal direction, the protrusion 107 can fit into the recesses of the protective duct and function as a retainer. Furthermore, the inner surface of the main body 101 is provided with a recessed mounting portion 108 for assembling the auxiliary member 110, which will be described later.

[0023] The flange portion 102 consists of plate-like bodies that protrude outward from each U-shaped side of the main body portion 101. Like the main body portion 101, the flange portion 102 also has a U-shape when viewed from the front. The flange portion 102 is configured so that its front surface faces the wall surface and its rear surface abuts against the wall surface (the periphery of the wall hole). In other words, the flange portion 102 is large enough to cover the wall hole in which the decorative cover 100 is installed. Also, like the main body portion 101, the flange portion 102 is open in one direction and, in cooperation with the main body portion 101, forms an opening 104 that exposes the housing portion 103 to the outside. The end faces of the main body portion 101 and the flange portion 102 on the opening 104 side extend on the same plane. As will be described later, the end face of the decorative cover 100 on the opening 104 side can abut against the wall surface adjacent to the wall hole. Furthermore, the flange portion 102 has multiple screw holes 102a that penetrate through to the front and back, allowing screws to be driven into the wall surface.

[0024] Furthermore, the decorative cover 100 is provided with a cutout formation guide portion 105, as shown in Figures 2(b), 3(b), and 7. The cutout formation guide portion 105 indicates the cutting position for forming a cutout portion 109 (see Figure 8) by cutting off a portion of the main body portion 101 and a portion of the flange portion 102. Specifically, the cutout formation guide portion 105 is formed to extend across both the main body portion 101 and the flange portion 102 and extends linearly along the first direction. In this embodiment, a pair of cutout formation guide portions 105 are formed at both ends of the second frame portion 100b and extend perpendicularly to the second frame portion 100b. Also, as shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(b), each cutout formation guide portion 105 is formed as a relatively thin groove on the back surface of the main body portion 101 and the flange portion 102. This groove is a relatively wide groove that is easy to see, and it is possible to clearly indicate the cutting position by the tool to the user. Furthermore, because this groove is relatively weaker than other parts, it can be used to assist in cutting with tools such as nippers or by bending.

[0025] Figure 8 shows the form in which a portion of the decorative cover 100 has been cut off along one of the cutout formation guide portions 105. As shown in Figure 8, by cutting the end of the second frame portion 100b along the first direction according to one of the cutout formation guide portions 105, one of the pair of first frame portions 100a of the decorative cover 100 is separated from the second frame portion 100b. As a result, the decorative cover 100 in the cutout form has a roughly L shape when viewed from the front. In this way, by cutting off a portion of the main body portion 101 and a portion of the flange portion 102, a cutout portion 109 is formed on one side of the decorative cover 100 in the second direction, and the housing portion 103 is opened in the second direction as well as the first direction. In other words, when the protective duct 11 is housed in the housing section 103, one of the pair of first side portions 12 facing the first direction of the protective duct 11 is exposed through the opening 104, and one of the pair of second side portions 13 facing the second direction is exposed through the missing portion 109 (see Figure 15).

[0026] Furthermore, the decorative cover 100 is provided with shortening guide portions 106, as shown in Figures 2(b), 3(b), and 7. The shortening guide portions 106 indicate the cutting position for forming a shortened portion 109' (see Figure 9) by cutting off only a portion of the flange portion 102. Specifically, the shortening guide portions 106 are formed only on the flange portion 102 (so as not to cut the main body portion 101) and extend linearly along a first direction on the outer surface of the main body portion 101. In this embodiment, a pair of shortening guide portions 106 are formed near the inner edge of the first frame portion 100a and extend over substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the first frame portion 100a. Also, as shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(c), each shortening guide portion 106 is formed as a recessed groove forming a relatively thin portion on the back surface of the main body portion 101 and the flange portion 102. Each shortened forming guide section 106 consists of a display section 106a that indicates the cutting position with a tool such as nippers, and a thin-walled section 106b that assists in breaking by bending after cutting with a tool. The display section 106a is located adjacent to the second frame section 100b and has a wider width than the thin-walled section 106b, making it easily visible to the user.

[0027] Figure 9 shows a configuration in which a portion of the decorative cover 100 has been cut along one of the shortening guide portions 106. As shown in Figure 9, by cutting only the flange portion 102 of the first frame portion 100a along the first direction according to one of the shortening guide portions 106, a portion of the flange portion 102 of the decorative cover 100 is separated from the rest. As a result, in the shortened form of the decorative cover 100, the main body portion 101 maintains its U-shape when viewed from the front, while the extension length of the flange portion in at least one of the second directions is shortened. In this way, by cutting off only a portion of the flange portion 102, a shortened portion 109' is formed on one side of the decorative cover 100 in the second direction. That is, when the protective duct 11 is housed in the housing portion 103, one of the pair of first side portions 12 of the protective duct 11 facing the first direction is exposed through the opening portion 104, and the pair of second side portions 13 facing the second direction can be covered by the side surface of the main body portion 101 (see Figure 17).

[0028] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the decorative cover 100 of one embodiment of the present invention may optionally include an auxiliary member 110 that closes the opening 104 and, together with the main body 101 and the flange portion 102, continuously surrounds the entire outer circumference of the protective duct 11. In other words, the decorative cover 100 can further take a closed form in which the opening 104 is closed. The auxiliary member 110 includes an auxiliary main body portion 111 that extends from the base end to the tip, similar to the main body portion 101, and an auxiliary flange portion 112 that protrudes from the base end side of the auxiliary main body portion 111, similar to the flange portion 102. The auxiliary member 110 includes a claw-shaped assembly portion 118 for engaging with the concave assembly portion 108 of the main body portion 101 for assembly. When the auxiliary member 110 is assembled to this decorative cover 100 (main body portion 101 and flange portion 102), the auxiliary main body portion 111 complements a part of the main body portion 101 to form a rectangular cylindrical body, and the auxiliary flange portion 112 complements a part of the flange portion 102 to form a rectangular annular frame.

[0029] The auxiliary member 110 is provided with a second cutout formation guide portion 115. The second cutout formation guide portion 115 indicates the cutting position for removing a portion of the auxiliary main body portion 111 and a portion of the auxiliary flange portion 112. The second cutout formation guide portion 115 consists of a groove similar to that of the cutout formation guide portion 105. In the closed configuration in which the auxiliary member 110 is assembled as part of the decorative cover 100, the second cutout formation guide portion 115 extends along the extension of the cutout formation guide portion 105, which extends linearly in the first direction. As a result, even in the closed configuration, it is possible to remove a portion of the decorative cover 100 so as to form a cutout portion 109 that opens in one of the second directions, along the cutout formation guide portion 105 and the second cutout formation guide portion 115.

[0030] Furthermore, the auxiliary member 110 is provided with a second shortening guide portion 116, as shown in Figures 2(b), 3(b), and 7. The second shortening guide portion 116 indicates the cutting position for removing only a portion of the auxiliary flange portion 112. The second shortening guide portion 116 consists of a groove similar to the indicator portion 106a of the shortening guide portion 106. In the closed configuration, where the auxiliary member 110 is assembled as part of the decorative cover 100, the second shortening guide portion 116 extends along the extension line of the shortening guide portion 106, which extends linearly in the first direction. This makes it possible to remove a portion of the decorative cover 100 in the closed configuration as well, so as to form a shortened portion 109' along the shortening guide portion 106 and the second shortening guide portion 116, where the extension length of the flange portion 102 and the auxiliary flange portion 112 in the second direction is shortened.

[0031] In other words, the decorative cover 100 and protective duct device 10 of this embodiment can change their shape or form by cutting off a portion of them according to the missing-formation guide portion 105 and the shortening-formation guide portion 106, and by combining them with auxiliary members 110, making it possible to adapt to various installation environments. Below, examples of installation structures constructed with the decorative cover 100 and protective duct device 10 of this embodiment in several different installation environments will be given.

[0032] Figures 12 and 13 are schematic exploded perspective view and schematic front view, respectively, showing a first installation structure using the protective duct device 10 of this embodiment. This first installation structure is a structure in which a decorative cover 100 is installed in a first installation environment in which a long protective duct 11 is installed in an inside corner.

[0033] In the first installation environment, at the inner corner where the first wall surface W1, the second wall surface W2, and the third wall surface W3 intersect orthogonally, wiring and piping material P is inserted through a wall hole H drilled in the first wall surface W1. The protective duct 11 is laid in the direction of extension (of the wiring and piping material P) along the second wall surface W2 toward the wall hole H so as to cover at least a portion of the wiring and piping material P. In this embodiment, the wall hole H is formed at the edge of the second wall surface W2 and protrudes to the outside of the protective duct 11. However, the wall hole H may be formed to a size that fits inside the protective duct 11. One of the first side portions 12 of the protective duct 11 (bottom wall 11a1) is fixed to the second wall surface W2 by screws. In other words, the protective duct 11 is installed on or at the edge of the second wall surface W2. On the other hand, the third wall surface W3 faces one of the second side portion 13 (side wall 11a2) of the protective duct 11 and is spaced at a first distance d1 from the second side portion 13 of the protective duct 11. This first distance d1 is the distance at which the outer edge of the (uncut) flange portion 102 does not interfere with the third wall surface W3, or in other words, it is greater than the extension length of the flange portion 102. Here, the X-axis direction in the figure corresponds to the first direction, and the Y-axis direction corresponds to the second direction.

[0034] For this first installation environment, a U-shaped (without cutouts) decorative cover 100 is used. As shown in Figure 13, the initial form of the decorative cover 100 is installed over a long protective duct 11 that covers wiring and piping material P, so as to cover at least a portion of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 without exposing the wall hole H to the wall surface. The decorative cover 100 is fixed with screws to the peripheral portion of the wall hole H in the first wall surface W1, and covers the gap between the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H from the wall surface. Specifically, in the XY plane, the protective duct 11 is housed in the housing portion 103 (inside the U-shape) of the main body portion 101 of the decorative cover 100, and the outer surface of the protective duct 11 and the inner surface (protrusion 107) of the main body portion 101 are in contact without any gaps. Then, with the housing section 103 open in one direction (X-axis direction), one side of the first side portion 12 of the protective duct 11 is exposed to the second wall surface W2 side through the opening portion 104. At this time, the end face of the decorative cover 100 on the side of the opening portion 104 abuts against the second wall surface W2. In other words, the decorative cover 100 can be installed while avoiding interference with the second wall surface W2 by the opening portion 104. Furthermore, the decorative cover 100 surrounds the three sides of the protective duct 11 (exposed away from the wall), and the flange portion 102 covers the wall hole H, thereby decorating the area around the wall hole H on the first wall surface W1 and maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the first installation structure.

[0035] Figures 14 and 15 are schematic exploded perspective view and schematic front view, respectively, showing a second installation structure using the protective duct device 10 of this embodiment. This second installation structure is a structure in which a decorative cover 100 is installed in a second installation environment in which a long protective duct 11 is installed in an inside corner.

[0036] In the second installation environment, at the inner corner where the first wall surface W1, the second wall surface W2, and the third wall surface W3 intersect orthogonally, wiring and piping material P is inserted through a wall hole H drilled in the first wall surface W1. The protective duct 11 is laid in the direction of extension (of the wiring and piping material P) along the second wall surface W2 toward the wall hole H so as to cover at least a portion of the wiring and piping material P. In this embodiment, the wall hole H is formed at the edges of the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3 and protrudes to the outside of the protective duct 11. However, the wall hole H may be formed to a size that fits inside the protective duct 11. One of the first side portions 12 of the protective duct 11 (bottom wall 11a1) is fixed to the second wall surface W2 by screws, and one of the second side portions 13 (side wall 11a2) is positioned to abut against the third wall surface W3. In other words, the protective duct 11 is installed on the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3, or along those walls. In this second installation environment, the U-shaped (without cutouts) decorative cover 100 shown in Figure 12 cannot be installed because it interferes with the third wall surface W3.

[0037] For this second installation environment, an L-shaped decorative cover 100 (see Figure 8) is used, in which a missing portion 109 is formed according to a missing portion formation guide portion 105. As shown in Figure 15, the decorative cover 100 with a missing portion is installed over a long protective duct 11 that covers wiring and piping material P, so as to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 without exposing the wall hole H to the wall surface. The decorative cover 100 is fixed with screws to the peripheral portion of the wall hole H in the first wall surface W1, and covers the gap between the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H from the wall surface. Specifically, in the XY plane, the protective duct 11 is housed in the housing portion 103 (inside the L shape) of the main body portion 101 of the decorative cover 100, and the outer surface of the protective duct 11 and the inner surface (protrusion 107) of the main body portion 101 are in contact without any gaps. Then, with the housing section 103 open in one direction in the first direction (X-axis direction) and one direction in the second direction (Y-axis direction), one of the first side portion 12 (bottom wall 11a1) and one of the second side portion 13 (side wall 11a2) of the protective duct 11 are exposed to the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3 via the opening 104. At this time, the end face of the decorative cover 100 on the opening 104 side and the end face on the cut-out portion 109 side are in contact with the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3, respectively. In other words, the decorative cover 100 can be installed in a state that avoids interference with the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3 by the opening 104 and the cut-out portion 109 by cutting out a part of it according to the cut-out forming guide portion 105. Furthermore, the decorative cover 100 surrounds two surfaces of the protective duct 11 (that are exposed away from the wall), and the flange portion 102 covers the wall hole H, thereby decorating the area around the wall hole H on the first wall surface W1 and maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the second installation structure.

[0038] Figures 16 and 17 are schematic exploded perspective view and schematic front view, respectively, showing a third installation structure using the protective duct device 10 of this embodiment. This third installation structure is a structure in which a decorative cover 100 is installed in a third installation environment in which a long protective duct 11 is installed in an inside corner.

[0039] In the third installation environment, at the inner corner where the first wall surface W1, the second wall surface W2, and the third wall surface W3 intersect orthogonally, wiring and piping material P is inserted through a wall hole H drilled in the first wall surface W1. The protective duct 11 is laid in the direction of extension (of the wiring and piping material P) along the second wall surface W2 toward the wall hole H so as to cover at least a portion of the wiring and piping material P. In this embodiment, the wall hole H is formed at the edge of the second wall surface W2 and protrudes to the outside of the protective duct 11. However, the wall hole H may be formed to a size that fits inside the protective duct 11. One of the first side portions 12 of the protective duct 11 (bottom wall 11a1) is fixed to the second wall surface W2 by screws. In other words, the protective duct 11 is installed on or at the edge of the second wall surface W2. On the other hand, the third wall surface W3 faces one of the second side portion 13 (side wall 11a2) of the protective duct 11 and is spaced at a second distance d2 from the second side portion 13 of the protective duct 11. This second distance d2 is the distance at which the outer edge of the (uncut) flange portion 102 can interfere with the third wall surface W3, in other words, it is smaller than the extension length of the flange portion 102. For this third installation environment, the U-shaped (uncut) decorative cover 100 shown in Figure 12 cannot be installed because it interferes with the third wall surface W3. Alternatively, if the L-shaped decorative cover 100 shown in Figure 14 is used for this third installation environment, the decorative cover 100 can be installed, but it cannot cover the wall hole H in the gap between the protective duct 11 and the third wall surface W3, and it is unavoidable that the aesthetics will be impaired.

[0040] For this third installation environment, a decorative cover 100 (see Figure 9) is used, which has a U-shape in which the unidirectional extension length of the flange portion 102 is shortened according to the shortening guide portion 106. As shown in Figure 17, the shortened decorative cover 100 is installed over a long protective duct 11 that covers wiring and piping material P, so as to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 without exposing the wall hole H to the wall surface. The decorative cover 100 is fixed with screws to the peripheral portion of the wall hole H in the first wall surface W1, and covers the gap between the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H from the wall surface. Specifically, in the XY plane, the protective duct 11 is housed in the housing portion 103 (inside the U-shape) of the main body portion 101 of the decorative cover 100, and the outer surface of the protective duct 11 and the inner surface (protrusion 107) of the main body portion 101 are in contact without any gaps. Then, with the housing portion 103 open in one direction (X-axis direction), one side of the first side portion 12 of the protective duct 11 is exposed to the second wall surface W2 side through the opening portion 104. On the other hand, with the flange portion 102 shortened in one direction (Y-axis direction), the main body portion 101 (which may include a part of the flange portion 102) fits into the narrow gap between the second side portion 13 of the protective duct 11 and the third wall surface W3, and together with the outer surface of the protective duct 11, covers the wall hole H at the edge of the third wall surface W3. At this time, the end face of the decorative cover 100 on the side of the opening portion 104 and the end face on the shortened portion 109' side are in contact with the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3, respectively. In other words, the decorative cover 100 can be installed while avoiding interference with the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3 by the opening portion 104 and the shortened portion 109'. Furthermore, the decorative cover 100 surrounds three sides of the protective duct 11 (which are exposed and spaced apart from the wall), and the flange portion 102 (which is shortened in one direction) covers the wall hole H, thereby decorating the area around the wall hole H on the first wall surface W1 and maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the third installation structure.

[0041] Figures 18 and 19 are schematic exploded perspective view and schematic front view, respectively, showing a fourth installation structure using the protective duct device 10 of this embodiment. This fourth installation structure is a structure in which a decorative cover 100 with an auxiliary member 110 attached is installed in a fourth installation environment in which a long protective duct 11 is installed in an inside corner.

[0042] In the fourth installation environment, at the inner corner where the first wall surface W1, the second wall surface W2, and the third wall surface W3 intersect orthogonally, wiring and piping material P is inserted through a hole H drilled in the first wall surface W1. The protective duct 11 is laid in the direction of extension (of the wiring and piping material P) along the second wall surface W2 toward the hole H so as to cover at least a portion of the wiring and piping material P. In this embodiment, the protective duct 11 is laid so as to be inserted through the hole H. The protective duct 11 is spaced apart from the second wall surface W2 by a first distance d1 (greater than the extension length of the flange portion 102) in the first direction (X-axis direction), and spaced apart from the third wall surface W3 by a second distance d2 (smaller than the extension length of the flange portion 102) in the second direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, the protective duct 11 is installed in mid-air. The hole H protrudes to the outside of the protective duct 11. For this fourth installation environment, the decorative cover 100 in the form shown in Figure 12 and the decorative cover 100 in the form shown in Figure 10 (with the auxiliary member 110 attached) cannot be installed because they interfere with the third wall surface W3. Alternatively, the decorative covers 100 in the forms shown in Figures 14 and 16 can be installed, but they cannot completely cover the wall hole H, and it is unavoidable that the aesthetic appearance will be compromised.

[0043] For this fourth installation environment, a decorative cover 100 is used in which an auxiliary member 110 is attached and the flange portion 102 and auxiliary flange portion 112 are shortened in the second direction (Y-axis direction) according to the shortening forming guide portion 106 and the second shortening forming guide portion 116. As shown in Figure 19, the closed and shortened decorative cover 100 is installed over a long protective duct 11 that covers wiring and piping material P, so as to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 without exposing the wall hole H to the wall surface. The decorative cover 100 is fixed with screws to the peripheral portion of the wall hole H in the first wall surface W1, and covers the gap between the outer circumference of the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H from the wall surface. Specifically, in the XY plane, the protective duct 11 is housed in the housing portion 103 (inside the rectangular ring) of the main body portion 101 of the decorative cover 100, and the outer surface of the protective duct 11 is in contact with the inner surface (protrusions 107) of the main body portion 101 and the inner surface of the auxiliary main body portion 111 without any gaps. The auxiliary member 110 covers the wall hole H between the second wall surface W2 and the first side portion 12 of the protective duct 11 from the wall surface side, while closing one of the first directions (X axis direction) of the housing portion 103. On the other hand, because the flange portion 102 and the auxiliary flange portion 112 are shortened in one of the second directions (Y axis direction), the main body portion 101 and the auxiliary main body portion 111 (which may include parts of the flange portion 102 and the auxiliary flange portion 112) fit into the narrow gap between the second side portion 13 of the protective duct 11 and the third wall surface W3, and together with the outer surface of the protective duct 11, cover the wall hole H at the edge of the third wall surface W3. At this time, the end face of the shortened portion 109' of the decorative cover 100 is in contact with the third wall surface W3. In other words, the decorative cover 100 can be installed while avoiding interference with the third wall surface W3 by the shortened portion 109'. Furthermore, the decorative cover 100 surrounds the four surfaces of the protective duct 11 (which are exposed and spaced apart from each wall), and the flange portion 102 and the auxiliary flange portion 112 work together to cover the wall hole H, thereby decorating the area around the wall hole H on the first wall surface W1 and maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the fourth installation structure.

[0044] As described above, the first to fourth installation structures of the protective duct device 10 of this embodiment have been explained exemplarily, but it goes without saying that the protective duct device 10 can also be adapted to other installation environments. For example, in an installation environment where the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3 and the protective duct 11 are separated by a first distance d1, the decorative cover 100 with the auxiliary member 110 assembled may be used in its original form. In other installation environments, the decorative cover 100 with the auxiliary member 110 assembled can be installed by using it in a closed and missing form, with a portion of it missing so that it opens in a second direction according to the missing formation guide portion 105 and the second missing formation guide portion 115.

[0045] Figure 20 shows another embodiment of the installation structure using the protective duct device 10'. As shown in Figure 20, the protective duct device 10' may further include a joint 15 for connecting three protective ducts 11, and a terminal member 17 for closing the end of one protective duct 11 connected to the joint 15. Figures 21 and 22 are schematic perspective views (with the cover 11b omitted) and schematic exploded perspective views of the terminal structure using the protective duct 11 and the terminal member 17. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the terminal member 17 is attached to the end of the protective duct 11 and used as a closing plate for closing that end.

[0046] The configuration of the terminal member 17 will be described with reference to Figures 23 to 25. Figures 23(a) and (b) are schematic perspective views and partially enlarged views of the terminal member 17. Figures 24(a) to (e) are front, top, side, bottom, and rear views of the terminal member 17. Here, the side of the terminal member 17 facing the end of the protective duct 11 is defined as the front or front. Figure 25 is an FF cross-sectional view of the terminal member 17.

[0047] The terminal member 17 comprises a rectangular flat closing plate portion 17a that closes the end of the protective duct 11, a pair of press-fit pieces 17b that protrude from both sides in the width direction at the lower end (bottom wall 11a1 side) of the closing plate portion 17a, and an insertion piece 17c that protrudes near the upper edge of the closing plate portion 17a and is inserted into the lid 11b side inside the protective duct 11.

[0048] A pair of press-fit pieces 17b protrude toward the interior of the protective duct 11 and are formed to be press-fitted against the inner surface of the side wall 11a2 of the protective duct 11. Each press-fit piece 17b is approximately L-shaped in a front view and has a screw fixing groove 17d on its lower wall for driving fixing screws into the wall surface. As shown in Figure 25, the lower surface of the lower wall of the press-fit piece 17b is slightly inclined forward and becomes thinner towards the tip. As shown in Figure 26, because the lower surface of the press-fit piece 17b is inclined, when fixing screws are driven into the screw fixing groove 17d and penetrate the bottom wall 11a1 of the protective duct 11 to fix it to the wall surface, the upper part of the closing plate portion 17a tilts forward and is pressed against the end face of the protective duct 11. This prevents the terminal member 17 from separating from the end of the protective duct 11 and prevents gaps from forming and making it look unsightly.

[0049] In other words, in conventional terminal members, a pair of press-fit pieces were press-fitted into the inner surface of the protective duct and attached to the end of the protective duct. However, this had the problem that the closing plate portion of the terminal member could separate from the end face of the protective duct, creating a gap between the terminal member and the end of the protective duct, which looked unsightly. In contrast, according to the terminal member 17 of this embodiment, the press-fit piece 17b is provided with a screw fixing groove 17d (fixing portion) for driving fixing screws into the wall surface via the bottom wall 11a1. The press-fit piece 17b is inclined so that its tip side moves away from the wall surface relative to the closing plate portion 17a. When the fixing screws are driven in, the press-fit piece 17b is pressed and biased in the tilting direction so that the side of the closing plate portion 17a that is away from the wall surface presses against the end face of the protective duct 11. This prevents a gap from forming between the end face of the protective duct 11 and the closing plate portion 17a.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 23(a) and (b), the closing plate portion 17a of the terminal member 17 is provided with a cutting assist portion 17e that assists in forming a pipe connection portion for connecting pipes P' of multiple diameters. The cutting assist portion 17e consists of a plurality (four in this embodiment) of semicircular cut grooves, and as shown in Figure 27(a), by cutting along a selected cut groove, a semicircular open pipe connection portion to which pipes can be connected can be formed. In other words, the closing plate portion 17a is provided with a pipe connection portion that is closed with a removable lid portion, and the lid portion is connected to the closing plate portion 17a via a thin-walled cutting assist portion 17e. The pipe connection portions formed along each cutting assist portion 17e can be used for different types of pipes P' of each size.

[0051] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 23(b), a cutting guide recess 17f is provided at the lower end of the outer cutting aid portion 17e. This cutting guide recess 17f is a triangular thin-walled portion that is removed as needed. In other words, a cutting guide recess 17f is formed at the pipe insertion opening of the pipe connection portion to create an expansion space that widens the pipe insertion opening. Figures 27(a) and (b) show the form after the cutting guide recess 17f and the lid portion have been removed from the closing plate portion 17a. As shown in Figure 27(b), a guide portion 17g that inclins to expand the pipe connection portion outward is provided where the cutting guide recess 17f was removed. This outwardly inclined guide portion 17g functions to act as a trigger when introducing a relatively large diameter pipe P' into the open space. That is, after the pipe P' passes through the guide portion 17g, the user can forcibly push the pipe P' in, deforming the pipe P' in the diameter reduction direction and forcibly connecting it to the pipe connection portion.

[0052] The following describes the effects and advantages of a protective duct device 10 and decorative cover 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] According to the protective duct device 10 and decorative cover 100 of one embodiment of the present invention, the main body portion 101 and flange portion 102 of the decorative cover 100 are provided with an opening 104 that is open in one of the first directions and exposes the first side portion 12 of the protective duct 11 which is located inside the main body portion 101. As a result, in a first installation environment in which the protective duct 11 is installed on or near the second wall surface W2 adjacent to the first wall surface W1 in which the wall hole H is formed, and the protective duct 11 is installed at a first distance d1 from the third wall surface W3 (a distance at which the outer edge of the flange portion does not interfere with the third wall surface), the decorative cover 100 can be installed to cover the gap between the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H by avoiding the second wall surface W2 through the opening 104 that is open in one of the first directions. Furthermore, the main body portion 101 and flange portion 102 of the decorative cover 100 are provided with a cutout formation guide portion 105 for forming a cutout portion 109 by cutting off a part of the main body portion 101 and a part of the flange portion 102. With this configuration, when installing the decorative cover 100 in a second installation environment where the protective duct 11 is installed on or near the second wall surface W2 adjacent to the first wall surface W1 in which the wall hole H is formed, and the protective duct 11 is also installed near the third wall surface W3, it is possible to install the decorative cover 100 while avoiding the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3, respectively, by cutting off a part of the main body portion 101 and a part of the flange portion 102 according to the cutout formation guide portion 105, thereby covering the gap between the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H. Furthermore, the flange portion 102 is provided with a shortening guide portion 106 for shortening the extension length of the flange portion 102 in the second direction.With this configuration, when installing the decorative cover 100 in a third installation environment where the protective duct 11 is installed on or near the second wall surface W2 adjacent to the first wall surface W1 where the wall hole H is formed, and the protective duct 11 is installed at a second distance d2 from the third wall surface W3 (the distance at which the outer edge of the flange portion can interfere with the third wall surface), it is possible to install the decorative cover 100 while avoiding the second wall surface W2 and the third wall surface W3, respectively, by cutting off only a portion of the flange portion 102 according to the shortening guide portion 106 (instead of the missing formation guide portion 105), through the opening portion 104 formed in one of the first directions and the shortening portion 109' formed in one of the second directions, thereby covering the gap between the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H. Therefore, the protective duct device 10 and decorative cover 100 of this embodiment can more reliably cover the gap between the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H and install the decorative cover 100 to decorate the area around the protective duct 11, even in different corner installation environments, thereby protecting the wiring and piping materials P without compromising aesthetics.

[0054] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. Modifications of the present invention are described below. In each modification, components represented by three or two digits have the same or similar characteristics unless otherwise specified, and their descriptions are partially omitted.

[0055] (1) The decorative cover and protective duct device of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the decorative cover was configured as a U-shaped frame, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Figure 28(a) is a schematic perspective view of a decorative cover 200 of another embodiment, seen from the rear. In this decorative cover 200, the main body portion 201 and the flange portion 202 integrally form a rectangular annular shape. That is, the decorative cover 200 comprises a main body portion 201 configured to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct 11, and a flange portion 202 that extends outward from the base end side of the main body portion 201 and is configured to abut against a wall surface. As shown in Figure 28(a), the main body portion 201 and the flange portion 202 are provided with a cutout forming guide portion 205 for cutting off a part of the main body portion 201 and a part of the flange portion 202 to form a cutout portion 209, so as to expose the sides 12 and 13 of the protective duct 11 in at least one direction. Furthermore, the flange portion 202 is provided with a shortening guide portion 206 for cutting the flange portion 202 so as to shorten the extension length of the flange portion 202 in at least one direction. In this invention, the shortening guide portion 206 may be omitted. The decorative cover 200 can take three forms: initial form, shortened form, and missing form, and can accommodate three installation options. That is, similar to the above embodiment, the decorative cover 200 can be installed to more reliably cover the gap between the protective duct 11 and the wall hole H and decorate the area around the protective duct 11, even in different corner installation environments, thereby protecting the wiring and piping materials P without compromising aesthetics. Also, as shown in Figure 28(a), multiple shortening guide portions 206 may be provided, allowing the extension length of the flange portion 202 to be changed according to the installation environment.

[0056] (2) The decorative cover and protective duct device of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, a cut guide portion is provided to guide cutting along the first direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Figure 28(b) is a schematic perspective view of a decorative cover 300 of another embodiment, viewed from the rear. The decorative cover 300 shown in Figure 28(b) is an integral rectangular annular shape, and a cut forming guide portion 306 is formed along both the first direction and the second direction, respectively. The cut forming guide portion 305 includes a first cut forming guide portion 305A extending along the first direction and a second cut forming guide portion 305B extending along the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In this case, the decorative cover 300 can be transformed from a rectangular ring shape to a U-shape by cutting off a portion of it according to either the first cut-out guide portion 305A or the second cut-out guide portion 305B to suit one installation environment, and can be transformed from a U-shape to an L-shape by further cutting off a portion of it according to the remaining first cut-out guide portion 305A or the second cut-out guide portion 305B to suit another installation environment. Compared to the first embodiment (combination of decorative cover 100 and auxiliary member 110), the auxiliary member does not fall off in this decorative cover 300, which can improve usability depending on the usage situation. It goes without saying that one or more shortening guide portions may be added to the shape of the decorative cover 300.

[0057] (3) The decorative cover and protective duct device of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments. In the above embodiments, the missing portion and shortening portion were formed as grooves to assist in cutting, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the missing portion and shortening portion may be markings such as lines or symbols. Also, the missing portion may be an inner corner formed by the shape of the main body, and a missing portion may be formed by cutting along the corner.

[0058] (4) The decorative cover and protective duct device of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the U-shaped decorative cover is provided with both a cutout formation guide portion and a shortening formation guide portion, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and only a cutout formation guide portion may be provided.

[0059] (5) The decorative cover and protective duct device of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments. In the above embodiments, the protective duct was formed in a substantially rectangular cross-section, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the protective duct can take various forms such as semicircles or other polygonal shapes. More specifically, the protective duct may have a continuous U-shaped cross-section that is open in one direction and fixed to the wall surface with a saddle. Similarly, it goes without saying that the decorative cover can also take various forms to match the shape of the protective duct.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments or modifications described above, and can be implemented in various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present invention. That is, within the technical scope of the present invention, some configurations of this embodiment may be omitted or modified, or other configurations may be added. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 10 Protective duct device 11 Protective duct 11a Base 11a1 Bottom wall 11a2 side wall 11b Lid body 11c Connecting part 12 First side 13. Second side 15 Fittings 17 Terminal components 17a Closure plate part 17b Press-fit piece 17c Insertion piece 17d Screw fixing groove 17e Cutting aid part 17f Cutting guide recess 17g Information section 100 cosmetic covers 100a First Frame Section 100b 2nd frame part 101 Main body 102 Flange section 102a Screw pilot hole 103 Storage Unit 104 Open part (exposed part) 105 Missing Formation Guide Section 106 Shortened Forming Guide Section 107 Convex Strip 108 Assembled part 109 Missing parts 109' Shortened section 110 Auxiliary member 111 Auxiliary main unit 112 Auxiliary flange section 115 Second defect formation guide section 116 Second shortened forming guide section 118 Assembly section H wall hole W1 First Wall W2 Second Wall W3 Third Wall P Wiring and Piping Materials P' tube

Claims

1. A decorative cover is laid toward a wall opening through which wiring and piping materials are inserted, and covers at least a portion of the outer circumference of a long protective duct that covers the wiring and piping materials, without exposing the wall opening to the surface of the wall. The main body portion extends in an extending direction from the base end to the tip along the longitudinal direction of the protective duct and is configured to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct, The main body comprises a flange portion that extends outward from the base end and is configured to abut against a wall surface, A decorative cover characterized by having a cutout formation guide portion for forming a cutout by cutting off a portion of the main body in at least one direction and a portion of the flange in at least one direction, so as to expose the side of the protective duct in at least one direction.

2. In a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the main body, a first direction perpendicular to the one direction and a second direction along the one direction are defined. The decorative cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body and the flange are provided with an opening that is open to one of the first directions, exposing one of a pair of first sides facing the first direction of the protective duct.

3. The decorative cover according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the flange portion is provided with a shortening guide portion for shortening the extension length of the flange portion in a second direction along the one direction.

4. A protective duct device installed at an inner corner where the first, second, and third walls intersect perpendicularly, protecting wiring and piping materials inserted through a hole drilled in the first wall, A protective duct is laid in an extending direction toward the wall hole so as to cover at least a portion of the aforementioned wiring and piping material, The system includes a decorative cover that covers at least a portion of the outer circumference of the protective duct without exposing the wall hole to the surface of the wall, On the first wall surface, a first direction perpendicular to the second wall surface and a second direction perpendicular to the third wall surface are defined. The protective duct comprises a pair of first sides facing a first direction and a pair of second sides facing a second direction, and can be installed with one of the pair of first sides in contact with the second wall surface and one of the pair of second sides in contact with the third wall surface. The aforementioned decorative cover is A main body portion is configured to extend in an extending direction from the base end to the tip along the longitudinal direction of the protective duct and to cover at least a part of the outer circumference of the protective duct, The main body comprises a flange portion that extends outward from the base end and is configured to abut against the first wall surface, The main body and the flange are provided with openings that are open to one of the first directions, exposing one of the pair of first sides of the protective duct facing the first direction, in order to avoid interference with the second wall surface. The main body and the flange are provided with a cutout forming guide portion for cutting off a portion of the main body and a portion of the flange to form a cutout, so as to avoid interference with the third wall surface, and to expose one of the pair of second sides of the protective duct facing the second direction. A protective duct device characterized in that the flange portion is provided with a shortening guide portion for cutting the flange portion so as to shorten the extension length of the flange portion in the second direction, in order to avoid interference with the third wall surface.

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