GB2148097A

GB2148097A - Radiator securing means

Info

Publication number: GB2148097A
Application number: GB8328143A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Wells
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-21
Filing date: 1983-10-21
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: GB8328143D0

Abstract

Securing means for releasably securing a radiator 1 to a wall 2, comprising a catch mechanism 3 and support member 4, the support member 4 permitting pivotal movement of the radiator 1 about the co-axis of radiator pipe bosses 5 when the catch mechanism 3 is released. In operation, securing means according to the invention can be utilised to obtain access to the wall adjacent the rear of radiator 1 when threaded pipe couplings (not shown) which connect with the pipe bosses 5 of the radiator 1 are slackened and the catch mechanism 3 is released such that the radiator 1 can then pivot outwardly upon the co-axis of the pipe bosses 5 without the need to dismantle the radiator completely from the supply pipes and drain the water remaining therein. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Radiator securing means This invention relates to means for securing a hot water radiator to a wall or other such surface and in particular to means whereby the radiator is detachable from the position in which it is usuaily fixed.

Known securing means usually comprise a number of wall brackets which are each fixed to a wall and are respectively engagable with complementary projections on the rear of the radiator such that the radiator can be lowered into engagement therewith. Hot water supply and drain pipes are then bolted to the bottom end of the radiator which is thus fixed securely to the wall and the water supply can then be turned on.

However, if the radiator has to be removed in order to allow access to the wall for, e.g., the purpose of re-decorating the wall, then it is first of all necessary to shut off the water supply and then drain the water remaining in the radiator. The supply pipes must be disconnected and the radiator lifted out of engagement with the wall brackets. It will be appreciated that such a procedure can be time consuming and inconvenient, especially to persons unfamiliar with the techniques of plumbing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for securing the radiator to a wall whereby the aforementioned disadvantages may be overcome and which readily allows access to the wall adjacent the rear of the radiator.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided securing means for securing a radiator to a wall, the radiator having co-axial pipe bosses wherein the means comprises at least one catch mechanism interposed between the radiator and the wall such that the radiator may be releasably secured thereto, and at least one support member engagable with the radiator to allow, if required, pivotal movement of the radiator about the co-axis of said pipe bosses upon release of the or each said catch mechanism.

Conveniently, each support member may comprise a bracket fixable to the wall and engagable with the lower end portion of the radiator. Each support member may have an arcuate section engagable with a correspondingly shaped portion on the radiator, which portion may comprise the pipe bosses so as to allow pivotal movement thereof about the co-axis of the pipe bosses.

The or each catch mechanism may comprise a plate fixed to the radiator and having a recess within which a corresponding part of the catch mechanism which is fixed to the wall may releasably engage.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a radiator having co-axial pipe bosses and further comprising securing means including at least one releasable catch mechanism and at least one support member, the securing means being operable to permit pivotal movement of the radiator about the co-axis of the pipe bosses from or towards a position in which the radiator is normally fixed when said the or each catch mechanism is released.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 1) Figure 1 is a side elevation of securing means according to the invention interposed between a radiator and a wall, and 2) Figure 2 is a side elevation similar to that of figure 1 but in which the radiator has been pivoted outwardly from the wali.

With reference to figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a radiator 1 fixed to a wall 2 by securing means comprising a catch meachanism 3 and a support member 4. The radiator 1 is conventional in that it is hollow and of rectilinear shape, and is provided at each end with co-axial pipe bosses 5 through which water may flow. Each boss 5 is connected to a threaded end of a pipe coupling (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The radiator 1 is supported at each respective end thereof on the wall by a steel support member 4 which is of generally "L" shape and which is fixed to the wall by screws (not shown). An arm 6 of each support member 4 projects outwardly from the wall 2 and is provided with an arcuate section 7 which is respectively engagable with a correspondingly shaped pipe boss 5. The radiator 1 is thus pivotable on each support member 4 about the co-axis of the bosses 5.

The catch mechanism 3 comprises a convolute plate 8 which is fixed to the rear face of the radiator 1. The plate 8 has a hollow section 9 within which is received a hooked end 10 of an arm 11, pivotally secured to an elongate wall plate 12 by a pin 13. The arm 11 is biased to remain in the position shown by a tensioning spring 14 connected at its respective ends to the arm 11 and wall plate 12. The wall plate 12 is secured to the wall 2 by screws (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The operation and assembly of the securing means and radiator will now be described with reference to figures 1 and 2.

On assembly the radiator 1 is placed above a pair of the support members 4 located, respectively, at the inlet and outlet pipe bosses 5 of the radiator 1 and the radiator 1 is then lowered onto each arm 6 such that respective ends of bosses 5 engage the arcuate section 7 of each support member 4. The radiator 1 is thus pivotable about the co-axis of the bosses 5, as shown in figure 2, and can be moved towards the wall 2 until the steel plate 8 engages with the hooked end 10 of the arm 11 which cams upwardly to allow engagement of the hooked end 10 into the hollow section 9 of the plate 8. The arm 11 is biased by spring 14 to return to the position shown in figure 1 and thus the radiator 1 is securely fixed to the wall 2.Water supply pipes may then be secured by the threaded pipe couplings (not shown) to the pipe bosses 5 of the radiator 1 which is then ready to receive, if required, a supply of hot water.

In order to obtain access to the wall behind the radiator 1 it is simply necessary to slacken each threaded pipe coupling by, say, half a turn, and lift arm 11 such that the hooked end 10 thereof comes out of engagement with the hollow section 9 of the plate 8 at the rear of the radiator 1. The radiator 1 is then free to pivot forwards to the position shown in figure 2 without having to be completely dismantled and disconnected from the water supply pipes.

Return of the radiator 1 to its normal position shown in figure 1 is achieved by pivoting the radiator 1 inwardly until it is re-locked by the catch mechanism 3 and thereafter tightening each threaded pipe coupling.

Because it is only necessary to slacken each pipe coupling to allow pivotal movement of the radiator 1 when the catch mechanism 3 is released it is no longer necessary to disconnect the water supply pipes and physically lift the radiator 1 away from the wall in order to gain access thereto and, additionally, it is not necessary to drain the water system since only slight leakage, if any, is likely to occur.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above could be suitably adapted for e.g., existing hot water radiators in which the conventional securing means are replaced by the securing means according to the invention. However, it will be further appreciated that the invention is not limited solely to such replacement but may conveniently be comprised within a new radiator in which at least part of the or each catch mechanism andlor support member may be integral with the radiator.

Claims

1.Securing means for securing a radiator to a wall, the radiator having co-axial pipe bosses, wherein the means comprises at least one catch mechanism interposed between the radiator and the wall such that the radiator may be releasably secured thereto, and at least one support member engagable with the radiator to allow if required, pivotal movement of the radiator about the co-axis of said pipe bosses upon release of the or each said catch mechanism.

2. Securing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each support member comprises a bracket fixable to the wall and engagable with the lower end portion of the radiator.

3. Securing means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the or each support member has an arcuate section engagable with a correspondingly shaped portion on the radiator so as to allow pivotal movement thereof about the co-axis of the pipe bosses.

4. Securing means as claimed in claim 3 wherein said arcuate section engages a correspondingly shaped portion on the radiator, which portion comprises the radiator pipe bosses.

5. Securing means according to any preceding claim wherein the or each catch meachanism comprises a plate fixed to the radiator and having a recess within which a corresponding part of the catch mechanism which is fixed to the wall may releasably engage.

6. Securing means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. A radiator having co-axial pipe bosses and further comprising securing means including at least one releasable catch mechanism and at least one support member, the securing means being operable to permit pivotal movement of the radiator about the co-axis of the pipe bosses from ortowards a position in which the radiator is normally fixed when said the or each catch mechanism is released.

8. A radiator incorporating securing means substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.