EP1039241A2

EP1039241A2 - A device for the anchorage to a wall of radiators for ambient heating

Info

Publication number: EP1039241A2
Application number: EP99118183A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pietro Luigi Bordignon
Original assignee: MB Srl
Current assignee: MB Srl
Priority date: 1999-03-23
Filing date: 1999-09-13
Publication date: 2000-09-27
Also published as: EP1039241A3; IT247726Y1; ITPD990032U1

Abstract

A device for the anchorage to a wall (2) of radiators (3) is described which comprises a first member (4) extending substantially longitudinally, arranged to be fixed to the wall and bearing at one of its longitudinal ends a hook formation (6), a second member (8) slidably guided on the first member (4) in the longitudinal direction, bearing a second hook formation (7) and movable between a first, operative position, in which the second hook formation (7) is capable of engaging, by hooking, a portion (3b) of a radiator (3) to be anchored to the wall, and a second, inoperative position, in which the hook formation (7) is disengaged from the radiator portion (3b), as well as retaining means and complementary retaining means (18, 19) on the first and second member for detachably locking the second member (8) relative to the first member (4) in the second, inoperative position, in which respective snap locking and complementary snap locking means (20) are provided on the first and second member for detachably snap locking the second member (8) relative to the first member (4) in the first, operative position.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the anchorage to a wall of radiators for ambient heating according to the preamble of the main claim.
For the wall anchorage of radiators it is known to use anchoring brackets arranged to be fixed to a wall and which are provided with opposed hook formations capable of engaging, by hooking, corresponding portions of the radiator.
In the anchorage devices normally used, provision is made for one of the hook formations to be movable relative to the bracket, in its direction of substantially longitudinal extension, between an operative position in which it is capable of hooking onto the portion of radiator, ensuring the fixing of the latter to the bracket, and an inoperative position in which it is distanced from and disengaged from the radiator to allow the removal of the latter from the anchorage brackets. The known devices provide for the use of retaining members arranged for locking the hook formation movable relative to the bracket in the inoperative position, generally counter to the resilient action of a spring. In the operative position, the locking action of this hook formation against the radiator is due exclusively to the resilient force of the spring which, however, does not ensure effective safety locking, especially in the event of shocks.
To eliminate this drawback partially, there have been made available by the prior art, anchorage devices in which the locking of the hook formation with respect to the bracket in the operative position is obtained with screw type or friction type safety systems which, although they perform the desired locking function, prove relatively laborious and inconvenient in application. It may be considered in fact that such anchorage devices are fixed to the wall in positions which are frequently not easily accessible and consequently such as to render the operation of the aforesaid screw type safety means rather laborious and impractical.
It is an aim of the invention to provide a wall anchorage device for radiators which is structurally and functionally designed to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the aforesaid prior art. This aim is fulfilled by the invention by means of an anchorage device produced according to the appended claims. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of one of its preferred but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an anchorage device produced according to the present invention,
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a detail of the device in Figure 1,
Figures 3 and 4 are views in longitudinal section of the device in the preceding figures in two different operational positions.

With reference to the figures mentioned, 1 indicates as a whole a device for the anchorage to a wall 2 of a radiator for ambient heating, designated by the number 3 and illustrated only diagrammatically in the figures. More particularly, the radiator 3 can be anchored to the wall through a pair of substantially identical anchorage devices 1, only one of which will be described in detail hereinafter.
The anchorage device 1 comprises a first member consisting of a bracket 4 extending substantially longitudinally arranged to be fixed to the wall 2 by means of screws or similar fixing means passing through slots 5 provided in the bracket.
The bracket 4 is provided at its opposed longitudinal ends with a respective first and second hook formation 6, 7, capable of engaging, by hooking, corresponding portions 3a, 3b of the radiator 3 to anchor it to the bracket 4.
The hook formation 6 is obtained in one piece with the bracket 4 while the hook formation 7 is movable relative to the bracket in the manner described in detail hereinafter.
The device 1 further comprises a second member including a carriage 8 slidably guided on the bracket 4, at one end of which carriage the second hook formation 7 is mounted by means of a screw or similar means. The carriage 8 is slidably guided, in the direction of longitudinal extension of the bracket, inside a guide provided on the bracket itself and formed of a channel 9 having a C-shape in section with a channel base 9a and respective lateral limbs 9b, c.
The second member further comprises a leverage 10 which is firmly connected in translation with the carriage 8 and is pivotable with respect to the latter about a fulcrum 11. On the opposite part from the fulcrum point the leverage 10 is provided with an eye-shaped operating appendage 12, the function of which will become clear in the continuation of the description. A spring 13 acts between the leverage 10 and the carriage 8 to urge the leverage resiliently against the base of the channel 9. The spring 13 acts on the leverage 10 in a position comprised between the fulcrum point 11 and the operating appendage 12 and is partially housed in a seating 14 of the carriage 8.
The carriage 8 and, firmly connected with it, the hook formation 7, are movable relative to the bracket, in the direction of longitudinal extension of the latter, between a first, operative position (Figure 3) in which the hook formation 7 is capable of engaging, by hooking, the radiator portion 3b, and a second, inoperative position (Figure 4) in which the hook formation 7 is disengaged from the radiator portion 3b. A second spring means 16 acts between the carriage 8 and the bracket 4 to urge the hook formation 7 resiliently towards the operative position.
Retaining means and complementary retaining means are likewise provided on the device 1 for detachably locking the second member relative to the first member in the second, inoperative position. Said retaining means and complementary retaining means respectively comprise a first shoulder 18 defined on the bracket 4 and a protuberance 19 protruding from the leverage 10 and capable of abutting against the shoulder 18 to lock the carriage 8 and, firmly connected therewith, the hook formation 7, relative to the bracket 4, in the second, inoperative position, counter to the action of the spring 16. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shoulder 18 is defined by the surface of the free end of the bracket 4 at the level of the guide and the protuberance 19 protrudes from the leverage 10 in the direction of the base of the channel 9 so as to interfere with the shoulder 18 in the sliding of the carriage 8. The device according to the invention is further provided with snap-locking means and complementary means, indicated as a whole by 20, for detachably snap-locking the second member relative to the first member in the first, operative position. The means and complementary means 20 respectively comprise a second shoulder 21 on the bracket 4, spaced longitudinally from the first shoulder 18, and the same protuberance 19 which is capable of abutting against the shoulder 21 to lock the carriage relative to the bracket in the first, operative position. Preferably, the second shoulder 21 is defined by one end of a slot 22 passing through the base of the channel 9 and in which the protuberance 19 is received, with reduced play in the longitudinal direction.
In order to facilitate further the hooking of the radiator with the hook formation 6 fixed on the bracket 4, provision is made for said hook formation 6 to comprise a first abutment surface 23 for the arresting of the radiator portion 3a and a second surface 24, inclined and converging towards the first surface parallel to the bracket 4. The second surface 24 is defined on top of a block 25 mounted on the bracket 4 and constituting a device with inclined plane for displacing and guiding the radiator portion 3a or the lower edge thereof, stopped against the first surface. Preferably, the second surface 24 protrudes on the outside of the profile of the bracket so as to constitute a single sliding surface for the radiator and for this purpose may be produced from plastics material so as to reduce the friction between the surfaces in contact.
The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows. Starting from the inoperative position in Figure 4, in which the hook formation 7 is disengaged from the radiator 3 and is locked with respect to the bracket 4 owing to the protuberance 19 abutting against the shoulder 18, the radiator 3 is positioned on the bracket 4 in hooking engagement with the fixed hook formation 6. In order then to obtain the locking of the hook formation 7 the leverage 10 is pivoted, by means of the appendage 12, about the fulcrum 11 away from the base of the channel 9 so as to disengage the protuberance 19 from the shoulder 18. As a result of this pivoting, the carriage is displaced by the resilient action of the spring 13 into the first, operative position, in which the radiator portion 3b is hooked by the hook formation 7, ensuring the locking of the radiator on the bracket. As the carriage slides, the protuberance 19 is received, in the first, operative position, by snapping, inside the slot 22, by the effect of the resilient action of the spring 16 and, by abutting against the second shoulder 21 effects the locking of the carriage and consequently of the hook formation 7 in the operative position. It should be noted that in said position any accidental unhooking of the hook formation 7 is prevented, thus ensuring safety locking of the radiator on the bracket. Starting from the operative position in Figure 3, the unlocking of the hook formation 7 can be effected only by voluntary action on the leverage 10. To this end, the leverage 10 is first of all pivoted away from the base of the channel, counter to the spring 13, to disengage the protuberance 19 from the second shoulder 21. As a result of said pivoting, the carriage is able to slide freely with respect to the bracket and is displaced, by means of the appendage 12, in the longitudinal direction and counter to the action of the spring 16, towards the inoperative position in Figure 4, effecting the unhooking of the hook formation 7 from the corresponding portion of radiator. In the operative position, the appendage 12 is released, and consequently the leverage 10 is urged by the spring 16 against the base of the channel 9 and the protuberance 19 is again maintained in abutment against the first shoulder 18, ensuring the locking of the hook formation 7 in the inoperative position.
The invention thus fulfils the proposed aims, resulting in numerous advantages with respect to the known solutions.
A first advantage consists in that, with the device according to the invention, safety locking of the radiator on the bracket is obtained also in the operative position, such as to prevent any accidental unhooking, for example resulting from possible shocks to which the hook formations may be subjected. Moreover, the unlocking of the hook formation movable with respect to the bracket is obtained solely by voluntary action by the user, and through the displacement of the leverage counter to a resilient action.
Another advantage lies in the fact that the snap locking and unlocking of the hook formation movable with respect to the bracket permits great rapidity of actuation, which can be carried out for example with one hand by the user, and does not require the use of any tool or implement (for example screwdrivers or spanners) as provided for in the known devices provided with screw type securing systems or the like. It follows that the anchorage device of the invention is particularly convenient and practical in use, especially when there is restricted access, such as that normally found in the customary applications.
Last but not least, the advantage due to simplicity of construction and assembly of the device according to the invention with respect to the known solutions.

Claims

A device for the anchorage to a wall (2) of radiators (3) comprising

a first member (4), extending substantially longitudinally, arranged to be fixed to a wall and bearing at one of its longitudinal ends a hook formation (6),

a second member (8) slidably guided on said first member (4) in said longitudinal direction, bearing a second hook formation (7) and movable between a first, operative position, in which said second hook formation (7) is capable of engaging, by hooking, a portion (3b) of a radiator (3) to be anchored to a wall, and a second, inoperative position, in which said second hook formation (7) is disengaged from said radiator portion (3b), retaining means and complementary retaining means (18, 19) on said members for detachably locking the second member (8) relative to the first member (4) in the second, inoperative position, characterized by comprising respective snap locking means and complementary means (20) on said first and second member (8) for detachably snap locking the second member (8) relative to the first member (4) in the first, operative position.
A device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second member (4, 8) are resiliently urged towards each other to assume said first, operative position.
A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said retaining means and complementary retaining means respectively comprise a first shoulder (18) on the first member (4), and a protuberance (19) on the second member (8), the protuberance being capable of abutting against said first shoulder (18) to lock the first member (4) relative to the second member (8) in the second, inoperative position.
A device according to claim 3, wherein said snap locking means (20) comprise a second shoulder (21) on the first member (4), spaced longitudinally from the first shoulder (18) and said protuberance (19) constituting said complementary snap locking means, said protuberance (19) being capable of abutting against said second shoulder (21) to lock the first member (4) relative to the second member (8) in said first, operative position.
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said first member (4) comprises a guide with a channel (9) of C-shaped section, and said second member comprises a carriage (8) slidably guided in said guide and a leverage (10) associated with the carriage (8), said leverage being firmly connected in translation with the carriage and pivotable with respect thereto counter to sprung means (13), said protuberance (19) protruding from said leverage (10) and said first shoulder (18) being defined by one end of a slot (22) provided on the base of said channel (9).
A device according to claim 5, wherein said second shoulder (21) is defined by a surface of said guide extending at a free end thereof.
A device according to claim 5, wherein said leverage (10) has its fulcrum at one end on the carriage (8) and is provided at the opposite end with an operating appendage (12) for moving the carriage (8) into the second, inoperative position, as well as to snap lock the carriage (8) in the first, operative position.
A device according to one or more of claims 5 to 7, wherein said leverage (10) is urged by said sprung means (13) against the base of said channel (9) in the first and in the second operative position to lock the carriage (8) relative to the guide in said longitudinal direction.
A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said first hook formation (6) comprises a first abutment surface (23) for a corresponding portion of a radiator to be fixed to a wall, and a second surface (24) converging towards said first surface and constituting an inclined plane for displacing said radiator portion (3) in abutment against the first surface (23).
A device according to claim 9, wherein the second surface (24) is located on a block (25) mounted on the first member (4), the block protruding from the profile of the first member (4) such that said second surface (24) constitutes a single sliding surface for the portion of radiator stopped in abutment against the first surface (23).