GB2201891A

GB2201891A - Cover

Info

Publication number: GB2201891A
Application number: GB08805177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stoffer Harum Boertieu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-06
Filing date: 1988-03-04
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-04
Also published as: GB8705234D0; GB8805177D0; GB2201891B

Abstract

The invention relates to a radiator cover (1) for use in screening the exposed face of a central heating radiator (7). The cover comprises a sheet of flexible fabric (2) having a length or lengths of elastic cord (3) provided on its marginal portions (4), so that in the unstretched condition of the cord (3) the marginal portions (4) are drawn inwardly to define a restricted entry (5) to the interior (6) of the cover (1). The cord (3) and the marginal portions (4) are stretched to permit the cover (1) to be placed over the radiator (7) so that the elastic cord may contract to draw the marginal portions (4) of the cover towards each other behind the radiator (7). <IMAGE>

Description

COVER The present invention relates to covers suitable for use in screening central heating radiators.

In the context of interior decoration, the central heating radiator presents a particular problem. On the one hind, painting thereof necessitates the use of special materials and involves a significant amount of time and effort whilst on the other hand the physical appearance of radiators, especially of older designs, can be rather unattractive and for practical purposes difficult to conceal or decorate effectively.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimize one or more of the above problems.

The present invention provides a radiator cover suitable for use in screening the exposed face of a central heating radiator, which cover comprises a sheet of flexible fabric having a generally peripherally extending elastic means and formed and arranged so that in a substantially un-tensioned condition of said elastic means, the periphery of said sheet is drawn substantially radially inwardly to define a restricted size entry aperture to the interior of said cover between the periphery and an opposed portion of the sheet, whereby in use of the cover the entry aperture may be enlarged by stretching of said elastic means to permit entry of the exposed radiator face into the interior of the cover, the cover being subsequently retained on said radiator by the tensioned elastic means tending to reduce the diameter of said entry aperture around or behind said radiator.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a central heating radiator provided with a radiator cover of the invention extending over the exposed face of said radiator, with said elastic means resiliently drawing the periphery of said cover around or behind the radially outer edge of said radiator.

In another aspect the present invention provides a method of screening a central heating radiator having an exposed face of a predetermined shape and size which method comprises the steps of providing a radiator cover of the invention, which cover has an overall dimension and entry aperture dimensions, in unstretched and stretched conditions of the elastic means such that the exposed face of the radiator can enter the interior of said cover and said elastic means can resiliently engage the radiator around or behind its radially outer edge; stretching said elastic means so as to increase the diameter of the entry aperture of said cover; disposing the cover over the front face of the radiator; and allowing said elastic means resiliently to draw the periphery of the cover around or behind the outer edge of the radiator.

The cover can be made of any suitable fabric which in turn may be of any desired colour or combination of colours and/or provided with any desired pattern or ornamentation.

The cover of the invention can moreover be applied to a radiator very easily and removed therefrom equally easily thereby allowing maintenance of the cover and changes in decoration by substitution of covers with different surface finishes.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of a preferred embodiment illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear elevation view of a radiator cover of the invention; and Figure 2 is a further perspective view of a central heating radiator provided with a radiator cover of the invention applied to its front face.

Fig. 1 shows the radiator cover 1 comprising a sheet of fabric 2 having a length of elastic cord 3 attached to its marginal portion 4 so that in the unstretched condition of the elastic cord 3, the marginal portion 4 is drawn radially inwardly to define a restricted size entry aperture 5 to the interior 6 of the cover 1. In the present example the cord 3 is received within an inturned hem formed by the portion 4.

Fig. 2 shows a central heating radiator 7 having a front exposed face 8 and a laterally outer edge 9. A cover 1 is disposed over the exposed face 8 with the elasticated marginal portion 4 of the cover 1 stretched behind the outer edge 9 of the radiator 7 thereby captively retaining the cover on the radiator. The cover is shaped and dimensioned relative to the shape and size of the radiator so that the fabric sheet 2 extends snugly across the front face 8 of the radiator 7 and around the outer edge 9.

The fabric sheet 2 may be of any suitable material such as for example cotton and may be provided with ornazentation such as printed pattern design 10.

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus for example the elastic cord 3 need not extend around the whole of the marginal portion 4 but could for example be provided only at corner portions of the entr aperture 5. Also if desired the marginal portion 4 could be provided with cut-outs or recesses in order more closely to accommodate irregularities in the shape of the radiator, for example to extend around a radiator supply pipe 11.

Claims

1. A radiator cover suitable for use in screening the exposed face of a central heating radiator, which cover comprises a sheet of flexible fabric having a generally peripherally extending elastic means and formed and arranged so that in a substantially un-tensioned condition of said elastic means, the periphery of said sheet is drawn substantially radially inwardly to define a restricted size entry aperture to the interior of said cover between the periphery and an opposed portion of the sheet, whereby in use of the cover the entry aperture may be enlarged by stretching of said elastic means to permit entry of the exposed radiator face into the interior of the cover, the cover being subsequently retained on said radiator by the tensioned elastic means tending to reduce the diameter of said entry aperture around or behind said radiator.

2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elastic means comprises an elastic cord.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cord is received within an inturned marginal portion of the cover.

4. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fabric is a textile material.

5. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic means extends around the entire periphery of the cover.

6. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 wherein the elastic means extends around selected portions thereof.

7. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein cut-out portions, darts or pleats are provided at selected portions of the cover to accommodate irregularities in the radiator shape.

8. A central heating radiator provided with a radiator cover as claimed in claim 1, said cover extending over the exposed face of said radiator, with said elastic means resiliently drawing the periphery of said cover around or behind the radially outer edge of said radiator.

9. A method of screening a central heating radiator having an exposed face of a predetermined shape and size which method comprises the steps of providing a radiator cover of the invention, which cover has an overall dimension and entry aperture dimensions, in unstretched and stretched conditions of the elastic means such that the exposed face of the radiator can enter the interior of said cover and said elastic means can resiliently engage the radiator around or behind its radially outer edge; stretching said elastic means so as to increase the diameter of the entry aperture of said cover; disposing the cover over the front face of the radiator; and allowing said elastic means resiliently to draw the periphery of the cover around or behind the outer edge of the radiator.

10. A radiator cover suitable for use in screening the exposed face of a central heating radiator, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

11. A central heating radiator provided with a cover as claimed in claim 10, arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.

12. A method of screening a central heating radiator, substantially as hereinbefore described.