GB2121675A - Improvements in or relating to vertical panel support brackets - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel like article (e.g. a radiator) is mounted to a wall by first mounting elements 9 (on which the article rests) and a lock-and-stay arrangement 1-8. When bolt 8 is removed, the article rotates clockwise about mounting elements 9 until restrained by the unfolded stay members 2, 3. (Fig. 2, not shown). Access to the wall (e.g. for decorating) can thereby be achieved without the need to demount the article. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to vertical panel support brackets I, David Ronald Broadhurst, of 38 Pinkwell Avenue, Hayes Middlesex, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted, and describe this in the following statement:- This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to support brackets for the fixing of vertically mounted panels to walls. Examples of such vertically mounted panels are radiators and display panels, but these are by no means exhaustive of the invention's potential usages.

Support brackets previously and currently used for the fixing of radiators to walls rely on location of a welded plate fixed to the rear face of the radiator into a notched L-shaped bracket mounted on the wall of the appropriate siting. Such brackets provide adequate support but suffer from one principal drawback in that to decorate the wall surface behind the radiator it is necessary to completely remove the radiator from the wall and from the flow and return pipework. This is a difficult, lengthy and inconvenient process, and in certain building contract situations, an expensive operation. After decoration of the concealed wall space, re-connection of radiator pipework is necessary followed by bleeding entrained air from the heating system to achieve optimum efficiency once again.

In new buildings, this is both time consuming and expensive. At present a normal work schedule would consist of (insofar as the installation of heating services and decoration are concerned) the following: i) Positioning and temporary fixing radiator to wall.

ii) Laying of flow and return pipework and connecting to radiator.

iii) Filling system completely with water, venting to expel air and checking for leaks.

iv) Shutting down radiator isolating valves to both flow and return pipework.

v) Disconnecting union nuts from isolating valves, draining down water from within radiator and removing radiator from support brackets to set aside.

vi) Decorating the wall area, including the area to be concealed behind the radia tor.

vii) Refixing previously set aside radiator, connecting to flow and return pipework, opening valves to fill with water, venting to expel air and testing.

viii) Final painting of the radiator.

Thus, several visits are required of different tradesmen to complete the final system installation.

The invention relates to a means of obviating the need for such a time consuming process. It is principally concerned with an alternative means of 'hanging' radiators, but may equally well find similar use when applied to any vertically mounted panel where easy access to the supporting wall and/or to the reverse face of the vertical panel is required. The invention is that of a hinged top bracket which will allow the vertical panel or radiator to pivot on a base support bracket, thereby providing easy access for decoration, etc. to take place. This may be inexpensively produced and is designed for professional installation or by a competent D.l.Y. installer, either as a replacement to the original fitting or as the means of fixing the panel from the original date of installation.The design of the bracket is such that it will fit existing back support plates welded to standard panel radiators, and is adjustable to compensate for minor variations in the exact location of these.

The hinged top bracket may be constructed of any metal or metal alloy such as mild steel, aluminium, brass, galvanised steel, copper, etc., and may be surfaced finished by conventional methods such as painting, anodising, electroplating, etc. Fig. 1, shows one design of the top bracket, whereas Fig. 2, shows an alternative design.

In Fig. 1, part 'A' is the hinged bracket which is screw-fixed through the slotted aperture 11 in plate 1, to the vertical surface or wall. Parts 2 and 3 are connected to plate 1, via a conventional hinge pin at points 4 and 5. The plate 'B' is connected via a similar hinge pin to part 'A' at point 6. Plate 'B' has a slotted aperture 10 to provide adjustment for exact fixing to the vertical panel or radiator. At point 7, the plate 'B' is folded to grip to the underside of the welded back plate of the radiator.

Thus, by joining parts 'B' and 'C' via the screw fixing provided, a similar secure fixing to the topside of the uppermost fixed back plate on the radiator may be provided. Part 'C' is further detailed in Fig. 6. Plate 'C' is shaped in cranked position. Face number 12 may be grooved or scored to act as non-slip surface but this is not essential. A similar surface may be provided on mating plate 'B' although this again is not essential to the proper function of the invention.

Fig. 2, varies from Fig. 1 in the length of the part 'B' only. This is designed to be a simpler fixing wherein only the top welded back plate on the rear face of the radiator is employed for linking the wall plate 'A' to the rear of the radiator.

Fig. 3, details the bottom support bracket and this is constructed of similar material to the hingeing bracket. This may have two flanges or only one flange for fixing to the wall. The slot 9 is intended to provide a support for the weight of the radiator and to provide a pivot point.

Figs. 4 and 5, show the invention diagrammatically in position in both the ciosed and open positions. In the closed position, Fig. 4, the wall plate 'A' is shown screw-fixed to the wall, with connecting hinged plates 2 and 3 linking the plate 'B'. 2 and 3 may be of any length desired to facillitate easy access to the supporting wall behind the radiator, the ultimate length allowing support of the vertical panel when this has been allowed to rotate through 90 . The weight of the radiator or vertical panel is taken by the bottom support bracket which in the case of a radiator supports the rib of the radiator in the notch 9.

The bolt, 8, couples plates 'A' and 'B' together when the panel is vertical. Plate 'A' has a threaded hole to receive bolt 8, and provide secure fixing.

Fig. 5, shows the vertical panel in the hinged, tilted position. This is simply performed in the case of a radiator by slackening the flow and return couplings, disconnecting the bolt 8 and allowing the hinged plates 2 and 3 to extend to their full combined length.

The flow and return couplings are of course once again secured when the radiator is in the inclined plane to prevent water seepage whilst decorating is being undertaken.

Fig. 7, shows the open and closed positions of the invention when affixed to the back of a radiator and is a different manner of depicting that already described in Figs. 4 and 5.

Claims (7)

1. A means of providing a secure fixing of a radiator or other vertical panel to a wall or similar solid vertical plane.

2. A bracket system which utilises existing bracket fittings provided on conventional panel central heating radiators.

3. A means of hinging the vertical panel or radiator without removal of any other component parts of the radiator or vertical panel.

4. A hinging bracket system which fits all existing panel radiator fittings and is unobtrusive when in position.

5. A hinging bracket system which provides the rapid pivotting about a bottom support bracket of a vertically mounted panel or radiator such that the panel or radiator may be moved through up to and including 904, thereby providing access to the wall or vertical surface behind the panel.

6. An inexpensive substitute bracket system for existing radiator or vertical panel installations.

7. An inexpensive means of reducing installation costs of central heating and decoration costs in new buildings.