GB2261062A

GB2261062A - Perimeter heating system or skirting board

Info

Publication number: GB2261062A
Application number: GB9121594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Gaskin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-10-11
Filing date: 1991-10-11
Publication date: 1993-05-05
Also published as: GB9121594D0

Abstract

A perimeter heating system comprises a backing plate 4 secured to a wall to carry heating pipes 1 and 2, a heat exchanger 21 mounted on the flow pipe 1, a decorative timber section 5 having a recess 6 to receive the top edge of the backing plate 4, the pipes 1, 2 and heat exchanger 21 being enclosed by a removable timber or timber-based cover 7 which snap engages with the pipe 2 and has air inlet and outlet slots 12 and 14. A skirting may comprise a timber-based plate 4 and section 5. <IMAGE>

Description

PERIMETER HEATING SYSTEM AND SKIRTING BOARD ARRANGEMENT TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a perimeter heating system in which a heat-carrying medium is circulated through a pipe running just above floor level around at least part of the perimeter of a room. A heat exchanger is secured about sections of the pipe, and the pipe and heat exchanger are enclosed within a cover which has outlet openings for air which has been heated by the heat exchanger.

Such a heating system will be referred to below as a "perimeter heating system of the kind set forth".

The invention also relates to skirting boards.

BACKGROUND In a perimeter heating system of the kind set forth which is currently on the market, the cover is formed of metal. Air enters the cover via a gap between the lower edge of the cover and the floor of the room. As a result, the system tends to be visually prominent and even when painted, the cover is not visually sympathetic with other room decor, particularly in older houses.

One aim of the present invention may be viewed as being to provide a perimeter heating system of the kind set forth which is less visually intrusive.

The invention is also concerned with the problem of fitting skirting boards to walls where the adjacent floors are not completely level. In such cases considerable time and expense may be incurred in cutting and trimming the bottom edge of the board in order to level the top edge of the board to provide an aesthetically acceptable finish.

Another object of the invention may be viewed as being to provide a form of skirting board arrangement in which a level top edge may be achieved without any need for cutting or trimming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a perimeter heating system of the kind set forth in which the cover is formed predominantly of timber and/or timber-based products.

An example of a particularly suitable timber-based product is medium density fibreboard (MDF), although other reconstituted timber products such as plywood, hardboard or chipboard could also be used.

In a preferred form of the invention a decorative timber section extends along the top of the cover adjacent to the wall. The section is preferably secured to the wall rather than the cover. In a preferred arrangement the lower edge of the section is recessed to receive the top edge of a backing plate which is secured to the wall and to which the pipe or pipes are secured. This arrangement allows the backing plate to extend down to the floor. Since most floors are not completely flat the upper edge of the backing plate will rarely be absolutely level, assuming that the backing plate is of uniform depth. However, with the arrangement described the recess takes up any irregularities in level of the backing plate so that the section can be secured to the wall completely level, thus providing a visually pleasing finish.

The cover preferably includes a removable portion comprising a top wall provided with a series of air outlet openings, and a front wall which extends down to the floor and which has a series of air inlet openings disposed along its lower portion.

Although the cover may be secured by various means, in a preferred arrangement the cover is secured by a friction or snap engagement, preferably to the pipe or pipes. The rear edge of the top wall of the cover preferably locates beneath a portion of the decorative section.

The invention also provides, in combination, a decorative timber section and a plate for attachment to a wall, the lower edge of the section being recessed to receive the top edge of the plate. Again, the recess takes up any irregularities in level of the plate so that the section can be secured to the wall completely level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which is an end view of a perimeter heating system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The heating system includes an upper flow pipe 1 and a lower return pipe 2 which extend around the perimeter of a room just above the floor F and adjacent to a wall W. The pipes are secured by spacer clips 3 to a MDF backing plate 4 which extends down to meet the floor F and is secured to the wall in known manner in place of the usual skirting board.

The flow pipe 1 carries a heat exchanger 21 which is of known form and which includes a series of aluminium heat-radiating fins in close heat-conducting relationship with the pipe 1.

Immediately above the backing plate 4 a decorative timber section 5 is screwed or otherwise secured to the wall W. The junction between the bottom and rear faces of the section 5 is recessed at 6 to receive the upper edge of the backing plate 4. Thus, although the top edge of the backing plate may not be level due to irregularities in the floor, the section 5 can be mounted perfectly horizontal with any discrepancies being taken up by variation in the amount by which the backing plate 4 projects into the recess 6.

A cover 7 is formed of MDF and includes a front wall 8 and a top wall 9 which is inclined away from the front wall 8 in a rearward direction. The rear edge 10 of the top wall 9 locates beneath the decorative timber section 5 and abuts the backing plate 4 whereas the lower edge of the front wall 8 meets the floor F. The front wall 8 is secured to the return pipe 2 by snapfit plastics clips 11. The cover 7 is thus securely held in place but is easily removed by disengaging the clips 11 from the pipe 2 and disengaging the cover from beneath the section 5. An air flow A through the cover 7 is provided via a series of slot-shaped inlet openings 12 in the lower region of the front wall 8, the heated air leaving via a series of slot-shaped outlet openings 14 in the top wall 9.

The arrangement described is highly unobtrusive. Being timber-based, the cover 7 and section 5 can be painted with conventional timber paints to match doors and windows within the room. In carpeted rooms the gripper bars can be affixed to the floor outside the cover 7, or the carpet can extend beneath the bottom edge of the cover.

The backing plate 4 and section 5 could be used on their own as a replacement for conventional one-piece skirting boards. In cases where there are irregularities in the level of the floor the arrangement is considerably easier to fit than conventional skirting board, for the reasons explained above.

Claims

1. A perimeter heating system of the kind set forth in which the cover is formed predominantly of timber and/or timber-based products.

2. A perimeter heating system according to Claim 1, in which a decorative timber section extends along the top of the cover adjacent to the wall.

3. A perimeter heating system according to Claim 2, in which the decorative section is secured to the wall.

4. A perimeter heating system according to Claim 3, in which the lower edge of the section is recessed to receive the top edge of a backing plate which is secured to the wall and to which the pipe/s is/are secured.

5. A perimeter heating system according to any preceding claim, in which the cover includes a removable portion comprising a top wall and a front wall which extends down to the floor.

6. A perimeter heating system according to Claim 5, in which the top wall is provided with a series of air outlet openings.

7. A perimeter heating system according to Claim 5 or 6, in which the front wall has a series of air inlet openings disposed along its lower portion.

8. A perimeter heating system according to Claim 5, 6 or 7, in which the removable portion of the cover is secured by a friction or snap engagement.

9. A perimeter heating system according to Claim 8, in which the removable portion is secured to the pipe/s.

10. A perimeter heating system according to any of Claims 5 to 10 as appended to Claim 2, in which the rear edge of the top wall of the removabvle portion locates beneath a portion of the decorative section.

11. A skirting board comprising a decorative timber section and a plate for attachment to a wall, the lower edge of the section being recessed to receive the top edge of the plate.

12. A perimeter heating system substantially as described with reference to the drawings.