EP1209422A2

EP1209422A2 - Wall anchoring device for radiators

Info

Publication number: EP1209422A2
Application number: EP01127423A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pietro Luigi Bordignon
Original assignee: MB Srl
Current assignee: MB Srl
Priority date: 2000-11-27
Filing date: 2001-11-26
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-26
Also published as: ITPD20000267A1; DE60116946D1; ATE317096T1; DE60116946T2; IT1315759B1; EP1209422A3; EP1209422B1

Abstract

A wall anchoring device for radiators, comprising a semitubular supporting bracket (13), which can be anchored to the wall, is substantially as long as the radiator (12) is high, is provided with a lower end (14) that is contoured so as to form a fixed hook (15), and is associated with a movable hook (18) at its upper end (16), the movable hook (18) being supported by a contoured support (17) which has a C-shaped cross-section and is retained so as to slide in the bracket (13) between predefined positions and cooperates with means for locking and releasing the sliding (19). The device is characterized in that the locking and release means (19) are constituted by a contoured body (20), which is retained in the support (17) so that it oscillates between its wings and is provided with an elastic means (21), which acts on a corresponding first wing (22) so as to push the contoured body (20) toward an opening (23a) of the second wing (23), at which it has a locking element (24) that acts by contact against the corresponding wing (13a) of the bracket (13), a release actuation lever (25) protruding from the body (20), being available to the action of the user and acting in contrast with the elastic means (21) so as to separate the locking element (24) from the wing (13a) of the bracket (13).

Description

The present invention relates to a wall anchoring device for radiators.
It is known that the application of radiators to walls is particularly troublesome.
This application must in fact be quick and fast and must at the same time ensure that the radiator is positioned correctly and so that it is possible to provide without problems the connections to the circuit for distributing the heating water.
In particular, it is desirable that wall anchoring devices for radiators be able to perform their function in the presence of radiators of different types and sizes and to be concealed from sight almost completely.
Known devices comprise a semitubular supporting bracket, which can be anchored to the wall, is substantially as long as the radiator is high, and is provided with a lower end contoured so as to form a fixed hook.
A supporting element for an upper movable hook that can slide vertically is inserted inside the bracket, at its upper end.
In a first constructive configuration there is a simple hook with a traction spring that ensures its locking position.
However, this first type, while being easy to apply, is inadequate as regards the safety aspect.
The action of the spring alone in fact does not ensure safe locking of the radiating element, especially if it can be subject to impacts.
In a second type, a locking screw is associated with the hook, which is provided with a traction spring or is able to slide freely with respect to the bracket.
Although this second type is highly safe in terms of assured locking of the radiator to the wall, it is troublesome to apply.
In a third type, the hook is provided on a support that can be arranged slidingly with respect to the bracket and can expand in cooperation with a screw, like an expansion bolt, so as to lock against the walls of the bracket.
Although this third type provides an improvement with respect to the described preceding ones, it does not have automation characteristics, and therefore the positioning and fixing of the radiator are rather troublesome.
In a fourth type, the hook is provided on a support that can be positioned slidingly with respect to the bracket but in fixed positions, i.e., with fixed spacings defined by teeth.
A frequent consequence of this is that the radiator is fixed loosely and in the wrong position.
In a fifth more recent type, the hook is provided on a contoured support that can slide in the bracket, cooperating with a locking element, which is kept pushed upward by a helical spring whose base is fixed within the bracket.
The locking element has an edge portion that is inclined with respect to the axis of the bracket and interacts with a stud that protrudes from the inner surface of said bracket.
The inclined edge portion, the stud and the spring, in association, are suitable to push a portion of the support against the inner surface of the bracket so as to lock by friction.
Release actuation means are provided which are available to the action of the user by translational motion in contrast with the spring.
Although having unquestionable advantages with respect to the preceding devices, this last device in practice has not proved itself free from drawbacks, including a certain constructive complexity, which increases manufacturing times and entails corresponding assembly problems and a still considerable number of parts or elements involved in operation.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a wall anchoring device for radiators that is constructively simpler than current ones and allows automatic anchoring of the radiator to a wall, combining therewith great safety and stability of said locking action.
Within this aim, an important object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device whose structure is highly adaptable to the various types and sizes of radiator.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device that is substantially concealed from sight from the front of the radiator.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device whose costs are competitive with respect to known commercially available devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device that can be manufactured with conventional equipment and systems.
This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a wall anchoring device for radiators, of the type that comprises a semitubular supporting bracket, which can be anchored to the wall, is substantially as long as the radiator is high, is provided with a lower end that is contoured so as to form a fixed hook, and is associated with a movable hook at its upper end, said movable hook being supported by a contoured support which has a C-shaped cross-section and is retained so as to slide in said bracket between predefined positions and cooperates with means for locking and releasing the sliding, said device being characterized in that said locking and release means are constituted by a contoured body which is retained in said support so that it oscillates between its wings with at least one portion and is provided with elastic means which act on a corresponding wing so as to push said at least one portion of said contoured body toward an opening of one of the wings, at which it has a locking element that acts by contact against the corresponding wing of said bracket, a corresponding element protruding from said at least one portion of said body and forming a release actuation lever that is available to the action of the user and acts in contrast with said elastic means so as to separate said locking element from the corresponding wing of said bracket.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of some embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an axonometric view of an anchoring device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view of the upper part of the device of Figure 1 during application;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the device of Figure 1;
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views, taken along mutually perpendicular planes, which illustrate the operation of the device of Figure 1;
Figures 6 and 7 are views of a further embodiment of the device;
Figures 8 and 9 are schematic views of respective further embodiments.
With particular reference to Figures 1 to 5, a wall anchoring device for radiators, according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
The device 10, in this case, is associated, in order to anchor it to a wall, not shown, with a radiator, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 12.
In particular, two or more devices 10 can be applied to the radiator 12, but the figures illustrate only one of them, since the others are substantially similar to the one described.
The device 10 comprises a C-shaped semitubular metallic supporting bracket 13, which can be anchored to the wall 11 (for example by means of an expansion bolt) and is substantially as long as the radiator 12 is high.
The bracket 13 has a lower end 14, which is contoured so as to form, by means of a plastic element 15 fixed thereto, a fixed hook.
A contoured support 17 having a C-shaped cross-section, for a movable hook 18, is inserted in the bracket 13, at its upper end designated by the reference numeral 16, and is able to slide between the wings 13a, which also have containment edges 13b.
The contoured support 17 is retained to as to slide in the bracket 13 between preset positions, as will become better apparent hereinafter, and cooperates with means 19 for sliding locking and release, which are constituted by a contoured body 20, which is retained so as to oscillate therein between its wings and is provided with an elastic means 21, which acts on a corresponding first wing 22 so as push said body 20 toward an opening 23a of a second wing 23 at which it has a locking element 24, which acts by contact against a corresponding wing 13a of the bracket 13.
A release actuation lever 25 protrudes axially from said body 20, is available to the action of the user, and acts in contrast with the elastic means 21 so as to separate said locking element 24 from the wing 13a.
More particularly, the contoured body 20, which conveniently in this case is flat and made of plastics (but can also be metallic), has an edge portion from which a tab 26 protrudes; said tab constitutes said elastic means 21, is inclined with respect to the axis of the support 17 and interacts with said first wing 22, against which it rests at its free end.
The locking element 24 in this case is constituted by a tab 27, which protrudes at right angles, at a corresponding flat edge portion 28 of said body 20, from a metallic plate 29, which is rigidly coupled to said body 20 owing to the fact that it is interposed between said body and the plate-like part of the support 17 and to the fact that it has other tabs 30 and 31 that are arranged opposite said tab 27.
A sharp edge 32 of the tab 27, due to the oscillation of the body 20, is placed in contact with the wing 13a and, by abutting against it in case of upward movements, achieves the locking effect.
The sliding release lever 25 in this case is constituted by a tab 33, which protrudes monolithically from the body 20 on the side of the tab 27 and protrudes from the support 17 with an end 34, which can be pushed in order to make the body 20 oscillate in contrast with the elastic means 21 in order to separate the tab 27 from the wing 13a and release the sliding.
It is possible to provide a preweakening (not shown in the figures) for the end 34 of the lever 25, in order to remove it after final adjustment and avoid tampering.
The body 20 and the support 17 are mutually coupled so as to allow the oscillation of the former with respect to the latter by way of the presence of a cylindrical pivot 35, which protrudes from the former and enters a hole 36 of the latter, passing through a through hole 29a of the plate 29.
The sliding retention of the support 17 in the bracket 13 is achieved by means of a pivot 37 of the body 20, which can slide in a slotted hole 38 of the bracket 13.
The pivot 37 protrudes (beyond the thickness of the body 20) from an elastic tab 39, which is formed in the body 20 parallel to its plane of arrangement on the side of said bracket 13.
By pushing the pivot 37 by elastic flexural deformation of the tab 39, it can be made to retract into the thickness of the body 20 in order to allow it to enter the hole 38 when the support 17, together with said body 20, is mounted in the bracket 13 and to be extracted in case of any disassembly (by releasing it from the retention element constituted by the edges of the hole 38).
The movable upper hook 18, in this case, is formed by shaping a metal plate.
It is furthermore reversibly associated with a bracket-shaped end 40 in the support 17.
In particular, the reversible association between the hook 18 and the end 40 occurs by means of a threaded element 41, which in this case is provided with a nut 42.
In practice, operation is as follows: the elastic means 21 pushes the tab 27 against the wing 13a and blocks the upward movements of the support 17 with respect to the bracket 13.
By pushing the lever 25 in contrast with the elastic means 21, the tab 27 is separated from the wing 13a and sliding of the support 17 is allowed in both directions.
For mounting, it is simply necessary to arrange the body 20 in the support 17 and then produce the elastic deformation of the tab 39, which retracts the pivot 37 into the thickness of the body 20.
In this manner, the support 17 and the body 20 can be inserted in the bracket 13 until the pivot 37 enters the slotted hole 38.
In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved its intended aim and objects.
The device according to the invention, provided with a reduced number of parts, in fact ensures simple and rapid application of the radiator to the wall.
It should also be noted that the device according to the invention also allows an equally simple and rapid disengagement.
Attention is also drawn to the flexibility of the device according to the invention, which can adapt easily to various kinds and sizes of radiator.
It should also be noted that the device according to the invention, by way of its structure, is particularly simple and cheap to manufacture, its cost being competitive with respect to the cost of known devices.
The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
The details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
For example, with particular reference to Figures 6 and 7, the tab 27 can be replaced with a portion 127 of the body, now designated by the reference numeral 120, which is cam-shaped and again acts by contact against the wing, now designated by the reference numeral 113a, of the bracket, now designated by the reference numeral 113.
In other cases, the elastic means 21 can be constituted by a helical spring, which acts between the edge of the body 20 and the corresponding wing of the support 17.
With reference to Figure 8, in this case the contoured body 220 is retained in said support 217 so as to oscillate with two mutually opposite portions 220a and 220b between the wings 223 thereof provided with elastic means 321 with a metallic lamina 226 acting as a leaf spring, which act between said portions 220a and 220b so as to push them toward corresponding openings of the wings 223, at which it has locking elements which act by contact against the corresponding wings 213a of said bracket 213.
Said locking elements are constituted by the ends of the metallic lamina 226.
Corresponding tabs 225a and 225b protrude from said portions 220a and 220b of said body 220 and form release actuation levers, which are available to the action of the user and act in contrast with said lamina 226, so as to separate said locking elements from the corresponding wings 213 of said bracket.
An element 240 that locks the lever movements after the final adjustment can be interposed between the tabs 225a and 225b.
With reference to Figure 9, a traction element 325 (made of semirigid plastics) protrudes from said body 320 and forms a release actuation lever, which is available to the action of the user and acts in contrast with said elastic means 321 so as to separate said locking element from the wing of said bracket.
The materials and the dimensions may be any according to requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2000A000267, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A wall anchoring device for radiators, of the type comprising a semitubular supporting bracket, which can be anchored to the wall, is substantially as long as the radiator is high, is provided with a lower end that is contoured so as to form a fixed hook, and is associated with a movable hook at its upper end, said movable hook being supported by a contoured support which has a C-shaped cross-section and is retained so as to slide in said bracket between predefined positions and cooperates with means for locking and releasing the sliding, said device being characterized in that said locking and release means are constituted by a contoured body which is retained in said support so that it oscillates between its wings with at least one portion and is provided with elastic means which act on a corresponding wing so as to push said at least one portion of said contoured body toward a corresponding opening of one of the wings, at which it has a locking element that acts by contact against the corresponding wing of said bracket, a corresponding element protruding from said at least one portion of said body and forming a release actuation lever that is available to the action of the user and acts in contrast with said elastic means so as to separate said locking element from the corresponding wing of said bracket.
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking and release means are constituted by a contoured body which is retained by means of a portion so as to oscillate in said support between its wings and is provided with an elastic means that acts on a corresponding first wing so as to push said contoured body toward an opening of the second wing, at which it has a locking element that acts by contact against the corresponding wing of said bracket, a release actuation lever protruding from said body, being available to the action of the user, and acting in contrast with said elastic means so as to separate said locking element from the wing of said bracket.
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking and release means are constituted by a contoured body, which is retained in said support so as to oscillate with two mutually opposite portions between its wings and is provided with elastic means that act between said portions so as to push them toward corresponding openings of the wings, at which it has locking elements that act by contact against the corresponding wings of said bracket, corresponding elements protruding from said portions of said body and forming release actuation levers, which are available to the action of the user, act in contrast with said elastic means, and separate said locking elements from the corresponding wings of said bracket.
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking and release means are constituted by a contoured body, which is retained with a portion so as to oscillate in said support between the wings thereof and is provided with an elastic means that acts on a corresponding first wing so as to push said contoured body toward an opening of the second wing, at which it has a locking element that acts by contact against the corresponding wing of said bracket, a traction element protruding from said body and forming a release actuation lever which is available to the action of the user and acts in contrast with said elastic means, so as to separate said locking element from the wing of said bracket.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support is retained so as to slide in said bracket, which is shaped in cross-section so as to form a containment seat for it.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said contoured body is plate-like and has an edge portion from which a tab protrudes, said tab constituting said elastic means and being inclined with respect to the axis of said support, which interacts with said first wing, against which it rests at its free end.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said contoured body is plate-like and said elastic means is constituted by a helical spring, which acts between the edge of said body and the corresponding wing of said support.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking element is constituted by a tab that protrudes at right angles at a corresponding flat edge portion of said body, is metallic and has a sharp edge placed in contact against said wing of said bracket.
The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said metallic tab protrudes from a metallic plate that is rigidly coupled to said body owing to the fact that it is interposed between said body and the plate-like part of the support and has other tabs arranged opposite thereto.
The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said locking element is constituted by a portion of said body that is cam-shaped and acts by contact against said wing of said bracket.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sliding release lever is constituted by a tab that protrudes monolithically from said body on the side of the locking element and protrudes from said support with an end that can be pushed so as to make said body oscillate in contrast with the elastic means so as to separate said locking element from said wing of the bracket and allow free sliding.
The device according to claim 11, characterized in that said end of said lever has a preweakening in order to remove it after final adjustment and avoid tampering.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oscillating retention of said body with respect to said support is provided by the presence of a cylindrical pivot that protrudes from the former and enters a hole of the latter.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding retention between predefined positions of said support in said bracket is obtained by means of a pivot of said body that can slide in a slotted hole of said bracket.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pivot protrudes, beyond the thickness of said body, from an elastic tab formed therein parallel to its plane of arrangement on the side of said bracket.
The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said elastic means are constituted by a metallic lamina acting like a leaf spring, which is arranged between said two portions of said body, and said locking and release means are constituted by the mutually opposite ends of said lamina.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an element for locking the movements of each actuation lever by being interposed between said lever and a contrast element.