Patent Abstract:
A covering rosette for a sanitary flush-mounted fitting exhibits a covering plate, which is capable of being fastened to the flush-mounted fitting. An ornamental hood is detachably fastened to the covering plate by a latching device. The cover plate and the ornamental hood exhibit coaxial passage openings for a region of the flush-mounted fitting. The latching device exhibits a spring section comprising at least one elastically yielding spring tongue. The latching device retains the ornamental hood in such a manner that the connection brought about by the latching device is capable of being released by a tensile force acting away from the covering plant.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
    
    
     STATE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a covering rosette for a sanitary flush-mounted fitting with a covering plate which is fastened to the flush-mounted fitting and with an ornamental hood which is detachably fastened to the covering plate by means of a latching device, whereby covering plate and ornamental hood exhibit coaxial passage openings for a region of the flush-mounted fitting. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Covering rosettes of this type serve for protection of the flush-mounted fitting against spray and simultaneously serve to cover, in visually appealing manner, the transition region between the region of the flush-mounted fitting protruding from the wall and the wall section adjacent to this region. 
     A covering rosette of the type mentioned in the introduction is known from EP 0 485 842 B1. The covering rosette described therein comprises a covering plate which for the purpose of fastening is screwed onto the flush-mounted fitting, as well as an ornamental hood. The ornamental hood exhibits moulded-on pushbutton-type spigots, with which it locks in position in openings in the covering plate for detachable fastening by means of the latching device which is formed by the spigots and the openings. 
     A covering rosette of this type has the disadvantage that the elastic deformation path between the ornamental hood entering into the latching connection and the covering plate is very short. This necessitates a high dimensional accuracy of these components, in particular of the position and the dimensioning of the pushbutton-type spigots, in the course of manufacture, in order that the components fit together in the course of mounting of the covering rosette. Experience has shown that the elasticity of the latching connection which is highly stressed by reason of the short elastic deformation path is exhausted in the course of time by plastic deformation, as a result of which the connection may come loose in undesirable manner. 
     In addition, dismantling of covering rosettes of this type is made difficult by virtue of the fact that after the latching of ornamental hood and covering plate the covering rosette offers no defined working surface for dismantling the connection which has been brought about by the latching device. Dismantling of such a covering rosette can therefore result in damage to the ornamental hood and/or to the latching device and therefore in the unusability of the entire covering rosette. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is therefore to configure a device of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a manner that the requirements as regards the dimensional accuracy of the constituents of the covering rosette are reduced, the elasticity of the latching device is permanently guaranteed and defined dismantling of the latching device is possible. 
     In accordance with the invention this object is achieved by the covering rosette exhibiting a spring section comprising at least one elastically yielding spring tongue, whereby said spring section retains the ornamental hood by means of the latching device which exhibits at least one latching projection in such a way that the connection brought about by the latching device is capable of being released by a tensile force acting on a constituent of the latching device away from the covering plate. 
     By virtue of the formation of the spring section with at least one elastically yielding spring tongue it is ensured that the elastic deformation path of the constituents from which the latching device is constructed, within which they guarantee a secure latching connection, is increased in comparison with known latching devices in the case of covering rosettes of the type mentioned in the introduction. 
     As regards the dimensional accuracy of the constituents of the covering rosette, less stringent demands are made overall than in the case of covering rosettes of the type mentioned in the introduction. 
     The spring section of an advantageous embodiment of the invention is formed by several elastically yielding spring tongues which are concentric with the passage openings and spaced from one another. By virtue of the plurality of spring tongues it is possible for the angular orientation of the ornamental hood in relation to the covering plate—in particular, in the normal case, the parallelism—to be adjusted well. By virtue of the fact that the spring tongues are distributed over a relatively large area, an unintentional gaping opening between ornamental hood and covering plate is avoided. 
     In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the latching device comprises two latching elements with latching faces matching one another and having several latching projections. With latching faces which are formed in this manner the latching device has several latching positions in the axial direction with respect to the passage opening. This enables the use of ornamental hoods with variable overall heights, which are all capable of being fastened securely by means of the same latching device. In addition, when one of the latching elements is connected to the flush-mounted fitting so as to be fixed with respect to the housing, by virtue of such a formation of the latching device the covering rosette can be mounted securely and in visually appealing manner, even with variable installation height of the flush-mounted fitting in a plumbing wall. The possibility of always using the same latching device results in cost savings in connection with the manufacture of the constituents of the covering plate. 
     The latching projections are preferably sawteeth. Latching projections of this type can be manufactured in straightforward manner and provide a secure support. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention the sawteeth are asymmetrical. By this means it is ensured that the expenditure of force is different when locking and releasing the latching connection of the latching device. 
     The sides of the sawteeth that are loaded in the course of attachment of the ornamental hood preferably include a smaller angle with the effective direction of the force than the sides of the sawteeth that are loaded in the course of detachment of the ornamental hood. The expenditure of force in the course of mounting is relatively slight, and the latching device is nevertheless securely connected, since the connection that is established by the latching device is released only after a limiting force has been overcome, the magnitude of which is greater than that of the mounting force. 
     This effect occurs in particularly pronounced manner if the sides of the sawteeth that are loaded in the course of detachment of the ornamental hood are perpendicular to the effective direction of the force. Such perpendicular surfaces provide a strong, safeguarding restraint in the effective direction against the force that is required for detaching the ornamental hood and are, at the same time, easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the ornamental hood is resiliently biased in the latching device. The resilient biasing further reduces the requirements as regards the dimensional accuracy of the constituents of the covering rosette and holds the various parts in non-positive abutment at all times. 
     The ornamental hood preferably exhibits an edge surrounding its passage opening which separates a radially inner section which is concave when viewed from outside from a radially outer section which is convex when viewed from outside. By virtue of such a shaping of the ornamental hood its defined deformation in the course of the resilient biasing by the latching device is guaranteed. In addition, an ornamental hood which has been shaped in such a manner creates a visually appealing effect. 
     In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the latching device comprises a ring element which is coaxial with the passage opening of the covering plate and which exhibits at least one latching projection on its outer periphery. Latching projections can be easily fitted to a ring element of this type in the course of manufacture of the constituents of the covering rosette. 
     The ring element may be a component that is separate from the ornamental hood. As a result, the manufacture of the ornamental hood may be effected separately from the manufacture of the ring element. The ornamental hood may then consist, for example, of materials that are visually appealing but not suitable for the formation of latching projections. 
     In this connection the ring element preferably exhibits a radially protruding flange, the outside diameter of which is larger than the inside diameter of the passage opening of the ornamental hood. In this configuration the ornamental hood is held down in the mounted state by means of the ring element which exhibits the latching projection. In this case the ornamental hood does not have to exhibit any special fastening means. 
     The flange of the ring element may expediently exhibit recesses for receiving a tool head corresponding with it. With the aid of such a tool which engages in the recesses, both the mounting and the dismantling of the covering rosette are simplified. 
     Alternatively, the flange may exhibit an oval outer contour. Such a shaping of the flange is particularly suitable for receiving a tool with the aid of which a force is also to be transmitted in the peripheral direction of the ring element in the course of mounting or dismantling of the covering rosette. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention the ring element is non-detachably connected to the ornamental hood. The number of loose individual parts from which the as yet unmounted covering rosette is constructed is thereby reduced. This simplifies storage. In addition, with such a configuration the ring element and the ornamental hood are always securely connected to one another. 
     The ring element may also be integrally connected to the ornamental hood. This is advantageous in those cases in which a unified manufacturing process is possible. The ring element and the ornamental hood can then be produced in one manufacturing step. 
     In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the ring element exhibits a peripheral groove for receiving a gasket in the surface region facing towards the passage opening. With the aid of the gasket which is inserted into this peripheral groove the ring element protects the flush-mounted fitting against penetrating water. 
     The latching face of the ring element of another embodiment of the invention is constructed in the form of an external thread, and the latching face of the covering plate is constructed in the form of an internal thread corresponding thereto. Mounting or dismantling of the ornamental hood in this embodiment can optionally be performed with the aid of the screwing or unscrewing of the ring element or with the aid of a corresponding compressive or tensile force in the direction towards the ring element, which is coaxial with the passage opening of the ornamental hood. In this case the latching faces may also be so constructed that dismantling of the ornamental hood is only possible by unscrewing the ring element. By this means an undesirable release of the latching connection, for example as a result of internal stresses which arise, can be avoided. 
     The invention may be so configured that the covering plate comprises the spring section. In such an embodiment the spring tongues are fixed to the covering plate. The remaining constituents of the latching device then exhibit a relatively simple geometry and may accordingly be manufactured easily. The spring section is preferably integrally moulded on the covering plate. 
     The wall thickness of the spring tongues may be smaller than the wall thickness of the remaining covering plate onto which they are moulded. This smaller wall thickness has the result that the spring tongues can be bent relatively easily compared with the deformation of the covering plate. The elastically yielding shape of the spring tongues can consequently be manufactured easily. 
     The axial cross-section of the spring tongues with respect to the axis of the passage opening of the covering plate is preferably substantially U-shaped. Such a shaping of the spring tongues assists their elastic pliability. 
     In an alternative configuration of the invention the ring element comprises the spring section. By this means a covering plate can be realised with simple geometry. The spring section is preferably integrally moulded onto the ring element. 
     The wall thickness of the spring tongues may be smaller than the wall thickness of the remaining ring element onto which they are moulded, resulting in an elastically yielding ring element which is easy to manufacture. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the latching device exhibits a plurality of latching spigots which engage in latching structures pertaining to the covering plate and which are connected to the ornamental hood. In this case no ring element is required as a constituent of the covering rosette. The latching spigots may, in addition, be manufactured easily and cost-effectively. 
     In this connection the latching spigots are advantageously non-detachably connected to the ornamental hood. The covering rosette consequently consists of relatively few individual parts. In this case it is possible to dispense with separate fastening means which connect the latching spigots to the ornamental hood. 
     The latching spigots are preferably integrally connected to the ornamental hood. Manufacture of the ornamental hood together with the latching spigots in a single manufacturing step is made possible thereby. In addition, the position of the latching spigots on the ornamental hood is easy to predetermine in the course of manufacture. 
     In an advantageous construction the latching structures pertaining to the latching spigots which correspond with the latching structures pertaining to the covering plate are constructed as threads. Such latching structures can be easily fixed to the preformed latching-spigot bodies. 
     In another embodiment the latching structures pertaining to the covering plate engage the corresponding latching structures pertaining to the latching spigots only in a surface section which is situated on the outside with respect to the passage opening. In conjunction with the elastically yielding spring tongues the simple mounting or dismantling of the ornamental hood is guaranteed by the locking of the latching spigots in position in the latching device or the release of the latching spigots from the latching device, since the latching structures pertaining to the latching spigots which are situated on the inside with respect to the axis of the passage opening of the covering plate are not active relative to the covering plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Examples of embodiments of the invention are elucidated in more detail below on the basis of the drawing; illustrated are: 
     FIG. 1 a side view of a flush-mounted sanitary fitting, partially broken-open, with a covering rosette which exhibits a flat ornamental hood; 
     FIG. 2 an enlarged detail of a latching device pertaining to the covering rosette shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 a section through FIG. 4 according to line III—III; 
     FIG. 4 a top view of a covering plate pertaining to the covering rosette shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 an enlarged detail of a spring section of the covering plate shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 a top view of an ornamental hood of the covering rosette shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 a section through FIG. 6 according to line VII—VII; 
     FIG. 8 a section through FIG. 6 according to line VIII—VIII; 
     FIG. 9 a section through FIG. 10 according to line IX—IX; 
     FIG. 10 a top view of a ring element pertaining to the covering rosette shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 11 an enlarged detail of the ring element shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 an partial section of a covering rosette similar to that shown in FIG. 1 with a high ornamental hood; 
     FIG. 13 a partial section, on an enlarged scale, of another embodiment of a covering rosette with a ring element exhibiting a spring section; 
     FIG. 14 a partial section of a covering rosette similar to that shown in FIG. 1, the ornamental hood of which is fastened via latching spigots; and 
     FIG. 15 an enlarged detail of a latching device pertaining to the covering rosette shown in FIG.  14 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a flush-mounted fitting  1 , the housing  2  of which is located substantially in a flush-mounted box  3  which in turn is arranged in an installation opening  53  in a plumbing wall  5 . A covering rosette which is designated overall by  4  covers the installation opening  53  in the upward direction. A region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1  is guided outwards through the covering rosette  4  in a manner which is yet to be described. The type and function of the flush-mounted fitting  1  are of no interest in the present context. 
     The covering rosette  4  exhibits a covering plate  7 . The latter is fastened, via screws which are not represented in the drawing and which are inserted through passage bores  8  in the covering plate  7  (cf. also FIG.  4 ), to that region of the housing  2  of the flush-mounted fitting  1  which is located within the flush-mounted box  3 . 
     As can be gathered from FIG. 4, the covering plate  7  has the form of a substantially annular plate with a passage opening  52  for passing the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1  through it. 
     The region of the covering plate  7  that faces the passage opening  52  exhibits a spring section which is designated overall by  9 . The latter consists of a total of  12  spring tongues  10  having the shape of ring segments which are each separated by interspaces (cf. FIG.  4 ). 
     The structure of a spring tongue  10  is shown by FIGS. 3 and 5. From an inner section  11  of the annular covering plate  7  radially towards the passage opening  52  the spring tongues  10  are moulded on approximately in the shape of a U in cross-section. In this connection the boundary surfaces  12  of the spring tongues  10  facing away from the plumbing wall  5  are aligned with the surface of the section  11  of the covering plate  7  which faces away from the plumbing wall  5 , so that this surface of the covering plate  7  is flat. The curved section of the U points in the direction of the plumbing wall  5  and protrudes beyond the face of the covering plate  7  facing towards the plumbing wall  5 . The representation in FIG. 5 shows that the wall thickness of the spring tongue  10  is smaller than that of the section  11  of the covering plate  7 . 
     The totality of the spring tongues  10  forms the spring section  9  which is coaxial with the passage opening. The spring tongues  10  exhibit on their radially inner front face, i.e. in the region of the passage opening  52 , a latching face taking the form of a latching structure  13  which exhibits sawteeth and takes the form of an internal thread. From FIG. 5 it can be gathered that sawtooth sides  14  that are inclined to a lesser degree in relation to the axis of the passage opening alternately follow, in each instance, sawtooth sides  15  that are inclined to a greater degree. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ornamental hood  16  pertaining to the covering rosette  4  is connected to the covering plate  7  via a latching device which is formed on the covering plate  7  and on the ring element  17 . To this end the ring element  17  exhibits an axially outward-protruding flange  18  (cf. FIG.  2 ), the outside diameter of which is larger than the inside diameter of a passage opening  51  in the ornamental hood  16  surrounding the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1 . A section  19  of the ring element  17  having the form of a hollow cylinder which is set back radially in relation to the flange  18  exhibits a sawtooth-shaped latching structure  20  taking the form of an external thread which engages the latching structure  13  pertaining to the covering plate  7  which is complementary to the latching structure  20  pertaining to the ring element (cf. FIGS.  5  and  11 ). 
     The inner circumferential surface  21  of the ring element  17  abuts a corresponding outer circumferential surface  22  of the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1 . In order to prevent penetration of water, there is provided in the circumferential surface  21  of the ring element  17  a groove  23  by which a gasket  24  is received which abuts the outer circumferential surface  22  of the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1 . 
     As FIG. 1 shows, the ornamental hood  16  exhibits a radially inner section  25  which is lowered towards the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1  in the direction of the plumbing wall  5  in concave manner when viewed from outside. In combination with a radially outer section  26 , which is convex when viewed from outside, of the ornamental hood  16  the concave section  25  acts as an elastic region which abuts the holding-down flange  18  of the ring element  17  subject to bias. 
     The radially outer edge region  27  of the ornamental hood  16  abuts the plumbing wall  5  and at the same time encompasses a gasket  28  surrounding the installation opening  53  in such a way that no water is able to penetrate from the edge region  27  beneath the covering rosette  4 . 
     FIGS. 9 to  11  show the ring element  17 . The latter exhibits on its front face which is located at the top in FIG. 9 four radially outer recesses  36  which are equally spaced from one another and which serve to receive a tool for mounting and dismantling of the ornamental hood  16 . 
     In the enlarged detail of FIG. 11 the shaping becomes clear of the sawtooth-shaped latching structure  20  which corresponds with that of the sawtooth-shaped latching structure  13  pertaining to the covering plate  7  (cf. FIG.  5 ). 
     The covering rosette  4  is mounted in the following way: 
     Firstly the covering plate  7  with the passage opening  52  is placed above the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1  and is screw-coupled to the flush-mounted fitting  1  with screws (not represented in the drawing) which are guided through the passage openings  8 . The ornamental hood  16  is placed with its passage opening  51  above the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1  until the edge region  27  of the ornamental hood  1  abuts the plumbing wall  5 . The edge region  27  of the ornamental hood  16  thereby presses a gasket  28  which is adjacent there against the plumbing wall  5 . 
     The ring element  17  is then placed above the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1 . The unequal inclination, described above, of the sides  14  and  15  of the sawtooth-shaped latching structure  13  pertaining to the covering plate  7  and the corresponding pitches of the sides of the sawtooth-shaped latching structure  20  pertaining to the ring element  17  have the result that it is possible for the ring element  17  to be introduced from outside with a relatively small compressive force between the passage opening  52  in the covering plate  7  and the circumferential surface  22  of the region  6  of the flush-mounted fitting  1 . In the course of introduction of the ring element  17  into the covering plate  7  the section  19  of said ring element slides past the spring section  9 , tooth by tooth, until a secure support of the ornamental hood  16  is guaranteed by the flange  18 , as described below. Whenever teeth pertaining to the two latching structures  13  and  20  are pressed past one another the spring section  9  which is elastic by virtue of the spring tongues  10  which are bent in a U-shape recedes radially outwards by a corresponding distance. 
     In the course of introduction of the ring element  17  the flange  18  of the ring element  17  firstly comes to abut the radially inner region of the section  25  of the ornamental hood  16 . If the ring element  17  is pushed in further, the flange  18  presses the section  25  of the ornamental hood  16 , contrary to the elastic spring force of said section, in the direction of the plumbing wall  5  and thereby tightens the ornamental hood  16  into a stable position. 
     Alternatively, instead of being pressed into the covering plate  7  the ring element  17  can also be screwed into the latter, since the latching structures  13  and  20  are threads that are complementary to one another. 
     In the course of dismantling the ornamental hood  16  a tool (not represented in the drawing) is applied to the ring element  17  in such a way that matching projections of the tool engage the recesses  36  of the ring element  17 . With the aid of the tool the ring element  17  is unscrewed from the covering plate  7 . The ring element  17 , the ornamental hood  16  and, optionally, other structural elements may then be taken off. 
     Alternatively, the ring element  17  may also be removed by a tensile force acting away from the plumbing wall  5 , which acts on the ring element  17 . In the process the spring tongues  10  of the covering plate  7  yield radially outward by reason of the tensile force until the latching structures  13  and  20  are detached from one another. 
     FIG. 12 shows another example of an embodiment of the fastening of a covering rosette  104  to a flush-mounted fitting  101 . The ornamental hood  116  shown in FIG. 12 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that it is of higher construction than the ornamental hood  16 . The ornamental hood  116  is therefore also designated in the following as a “high” ornamental hood. The increased overall height is achieved by the radially outer edge region  127  of the high ornamental hood  116  which is perpendicular with respect to the plumbing wall  105  merging with a section  126  which is curved in domed manner only at a relatively large distance from the plumbing wall  105 . Apart from this edge region  127  of higher construction, the other sections of the high ornamental hood  116 , in particular the sections  125  and  126 , are identical in shape to the sections  25  and  26  of the ornamental hood  16 . In the course of mounting the covering rosette  104  the section  119  of the ring element  117  is therefore not pressed so deeply in the direction of the plumbing wall  105  into a latching structure  113  pertaining to the covering plate  107  as was the case in the course of mounting of the covering rosette  4 . In other respects the mounting and dismantling of this embodiment are identical to the procedures described above. 
     Another embodiment of a latching device for a covering rosette  204  is shown in FIG.  13 . The ring element  217  bulges in a spring section  237  surrounding the region  206  of the flush-mounted fitting  201  away from the outer surface  222  of the region  206  in such a way that it only abuts the outer surface  222  of the region  206  with two annular bearing surfaces  238  and  239  which are axially spaced from one another. The spring section  237  is divided up, in a manner analogous to the spring sections  9  and  109  described above, into spring tongues  210  having the shape of ring segments. 
     In the bearing surface  238  there is formed, in addition, a groove  240  which receives a gasket  241 . The latter abuts the outer surface  222  of the region  206  and in this way seals the ring element  217  in relation to the region  206  of the flush-mounted fitting  201 . 
     The spring tongues  210  of the spring section  237  of the ring element  217  exhibit on their radially outer circumferential surface a sawtooth-shaped latching structure  220 . The latter engages a corresponding sawtooth-shaped latching structure  213  pertaining to a covering plate  207 . In contrast with the covering plates  7  and  107  described above, the covering plate  207  does not exhibit a spring section. The sawtooth-shaped latching structure  213  terminates on the side facing away from the plumbing wall  205  flush with the surface  242  of the covering plate  207 . Towards the plumbing wall  205  the sawtooth-shaped edge structure  213  exhibits an axial enlargement which is greater than the wall thickness of the covering plate  207 . The covering plate  207  likewise contains a passage bore  208  which serves to receive a screw, which is not represented, for fastening to the upper region of the housing  202  of the flush-mounted fitting  201 . 
     In the course of mounting of an ornamental hood  216  the ring element  217  is pressed into the covering plate  207 . In the process the spring section  237  is deformed in such a way that the outside diameter thereof is diminished in order to enable the latching structure  220  to slide past the latching structure  213 . If the bracing of the ornamental hood  216  with the ring element  217  which is brought about by the flange  218  of the ring element  217  and the section  225  of the ornamental hood  216  (analogously to the mounting of the ornamental hood  16 ) is sufficient, the latching structures  213  and  220  latch together with one another, whereby they are pressed against one another by the spring action of the spring section  237 . 
     In the course of dismantling of the ornamental hood  216  a tensile force is exerted on the ring element  217 . In the process the spring section  237  is pressed flat in the direction of the region  206  of the flush-mounted fitting  201 . By this means the outside diameter of the spring section  237  is diminished in such a way that the latching structures  213  and  220  can be detached from one another. 
     In the case of the covering rosette  304  in FIGS. 14 and 15 another embodiment example of a fastening of an ornamental hood  316  to a covering plate  307  is shown. Here latching spigots  344  are fastened to a radially inner section  325  of the ornamental hood  316 . 
     In the mounted state the longitudinal axis of the latching spigots  344  is parallel to the axis of the region  306  of the flush-mounted fitting  301 . The circumferential surfaces  346  of the latching spigots  344  exhibit annular sawteeth  354 . The latter have a contour analogous to that of the sawtooth-shaped latching structure  20  pertaining to the ring element  17  described above. A region  347  of the circumferential surface  346  pointing away from the axis of the region  306  engages a region  348  of the covering plate  307  exhibiting complementary sawteeth. A region  350  of the covering plate  307  likewise abuts a radially inner region  349  of the circumferential surface  346  of the latching spigot  344 . Said region exhibits no sawteeth, however, but is of smooth construction. 
     Radially outside the region  348  the covering plate  307  exhibits a spring section  309  analogous to the spring section  9 , with spring tongues  310 . 
     The radial inner surface  321  with which the covering plate  307  abuts a corresponding radial outer surface  322  of the region  306  of the flush-mounted fitting  301  exhibits a groove  323  as well as a gasket  324  which seals in relation to this region  306 . 
     In the course of mounting of the ornamental hood  316  the latter is pressed in the direction of the covering plate  307 , whereby the latching spigots  344  slide into the openings in the covering plate  307  which are bounded by the regions  348  and  350 . The pliability of the spring tongues  310  in the radial direction enables the latching structures pertaining to the regions  347  and  348  to slide past. 
     The ornamental hood  316  is dismantled by being removed from the covering plate  307 . In the process the spring tongues  310  yield outwards in the radial direction and the connection of the latching structures pertaining to the regions  347  and  348  is released. 
     Embodiments of the covering rosette which are not represented in the drawing comprise latching structures with sawteeth exhibiting inclinations of the sides which differ from those described above, For instance,. one of the sawtooth sides may be perpendicular on the axis defined by the passage opening of the covering plate. The inclinations of the sides may also be constructed so that the tensile force that is required for dismantling the ornamental hood is less than the compressive force that is required in the course of mounting. 
     The latching structures of all the embodiments may, as described in connection with the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1, optionally take the form of threads or of closed, parallel ring structures. 
     In the latter case the latching device can only be closed by pressure and released by traction.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4