GB2284661A

GB2284661A - Heat emitter safety cover.

Info

Publication number: GB2284661A
Application number: GB9422340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Douglas Keymer
Original assignee: WICKINGS GRAHAME J
Current assignee: WICKINGS GRAHAME J
Priority date: 1993-11-04
Filing date: 1994-11-04
Publication date: 1995-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-04
Also published as: GB2284661A8; GB2284661B; GB9422340D0; GB9322739D0

Abstract

A heat emitter safety cover comprises at least two elongate members 4 having opposed edges and opposite ends, which edges are tongued and grooved respectively to interengage one with the other. The tongues and grooves (8, 9, figures 5 and 6) may be tapered. The grooves may be shaped to receive the edges or the tongues of the members. The safety cover may comprise a frame member 3 having slots to receive the ends or the tongued or grooved edges of the panel members. The frame or the elongate members may be metal extrusions. Corner cleats (12, figure 2) may be used to unite the frame members into a frame. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: SAFETY COVER DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a cover for a heat emitter, e.g. a radiator or pipe, to prevent personal injury.

It is known to provide such safety covers for radiators in the form of a fabricated metal box-like structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved safety cover which is modular and thus readily adaptable to fit different sizes of heat emitter.

According to the invention a heat emitter safety cover comprises at least two elongate members having opposed edges and opposed ends, which edges are tongued and grooved respectively to interengage one with the other.

Preferably the tongues on the members taper in thickness towards their extremities. Preferably the grooves on the members taper in width towards their bottoms.

Desirably, the grooves in the members are shaped both to receive the ends of the members and the tongued edges of the members.

Preferably the safety cover comprises a frame having opposed frame members which define means for interengaging with and supporting panel members which co-operate with the frame to form an enclosure. Preferably the elongate members are panel members.

Preferably, the frame members are formed with slots which receive opposite ends of the panel members. The slots in the frame members are preferably shaped both to receive the ends of the panel members and the tongued and grooved edges of the panel members. Preferably the slots in the frame members comprise a portion corresponding in shape to that of a groove in a panel member and a portion shaped to receive an end of a panel.

Preferably the frame members and/or the elongate members are made as extrusions of a metal such as aluminium or aluminium alloy.

The frame members are preferably united to form the frame with the aid of corner cleats which are crimped to the respective ends of the frame members. This constructional method is known per se in the field of aluminium double-glazed windows.

The heat emitter cover may be used, for example, to cover a radiator or pipe work.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety cover for a radiator made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded front elevation of a safety cover made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded cross-sectional side elevation of a safety cover in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-section through an extrusion intended for use as a frame member; Figure 5 is a cross-section through an extrusion intended as a tongue and grooved panel member; Figure 6 is a cross-section through an extrusion generally similar in shape to that of Figure 6 and intended as a slotted grille panel; Figure 7A is a cross-section through a double slot in a frame member with the tongue of a panel member fitted in the slot;; Figure 7B is a cross-section through a double slot in a frame member with the end of panel member fitted in the slot; Figure 8 is a cross-section through an extrusion forming the cleats for use in holding the frame members together; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a safety cover for a radiator and a safety cover for pipe work made in accordance with the present invention, and Figures 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views of extrusions intended respectively as a pipe cover and a bottom support for a pipe cover.

In the drawings there is shown a safety cover (1) for a wall-mounted radiator which is modular in construction.

The cover, which is mounted on the wall (20) above the floor (30), comprises a frame (2) which is generally rectangular in shape and is made up of frame members (3) which are adapted to support panel members (4) to enclose the frame to form a box-like structure. Both the frame and panel members are made as extrusions of an aluminium alloy, although it will be appreciated that other metals, alloys or plastics may be used.

The panel members are in the form of planks having ends (6) and edges (7) and the frame members are also plank-like and are slotted (5) to receive the ends and edges of the panel members (see Figure 2).

The panel members are tongued (8) and grooved (9) along their respective opposite edges (7) so that they interengage with one another (Figure 5). The frame members (3) are formed with slots (5) having a portion (5b) which accommodates the tongue (8) of a panel member and a portion (5a) which accommodates the grooved edge (9) or end (6) of a panel member (see Figures 4, 7A and 7B).

The panel member shown in Figure 6 is also formed with upstanding ribs (10) so that the material between the ribs may be removed, e.g. by punching, to pierce the panel and form it into a grille (11) (see Figure 1).

The frame members are held together by corner cleats (11) (see Figure 8) which are crimped to the respective ends of the frame members (3) with the aid of the T-slot (13) shown in Figure 4. This arrangement avoids the need for welding or other fabricating processes and facilitates the tailoring of the safety covers to suit any particular size of radiator to be accommodated.

Figure 9 shows a floor-mounted radiator cover (1) in conjunction with pipe work covers (20). The pipe covers (20) are modular in construction and comprise tongued and grooved panel members (4) (see Figures 10 and 11) which have been pierced to form grilles (11).

The specific embodiment thus provides an improved safety cover for a heat emitter, such as a radiator.

Claims

1. A heat emitter safety cover comprising at least two elongate members having opposed edges and opposite ends, which edges are tongued and grooved respectively to interengage one with the other.

2. A safety cover according to claim 1, wherein the tongues on the members taper in thickness towards their extremities.

3. A safety cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the grooves on the members taper in width towards their bottoms.

4. A safety cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grooves in the members are shaped both to receive the ends of the members and the tongued edges of the members.

5. A safety cover according to any preceding claim, comprising a frame having opposed frame members which define means for interengaging with and supporting panel members which co-operate with the frame to form an enclosure.

6. A safety cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate members are panel members.

7. A safety cover according to claims 5 or 6, wherein the frame members are formed with slots which receive opposite ends of the panel members.

8. A safety cover according to claim 7, wherein the slots in the frame members are shaped both to receive the ends of the panel members and the tongued and grooved edges of the panel members.

9. A safety cover according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the slots in the frame members comprise a portion corresponding in shape to that of a groove in a panel member and a portion shaped to receive an end of a panel.

10. A safety cover according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the frame members are metal extrusions.

11. A safety cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate members are metal extrusions.

12. A safety cover according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the frame members are united to form the frame by corner cleats which are crimped to the respective ends of the frame members.

13. A safety cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.