GB2307544A - Radiator cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A radiator cover (1) comprises upper and lower fixing extrusions (2,3) mounted to the top and bottom of the radiator by clips (4). Front panels (5) are located between the fixing extrusions (2,3). A top cover extrusion (9) with end caps (10) and decorative inserts (14), and side extrusions (8) with decorative inserts (12) are also included. The cover allows the same constructional elements to be used to produce a wide variety of different radiator cover designs. The extrusions are made from aluminium spacer elements (7) may be provided to fill any gaps left by the front panels.

Description

Radiator Cover The present invention relates to radiator covers.

Wooden radiator covers are known in the art which are purpose built to surround a particular radiator.

They comprise front and side elements mounted to the floor and to the wall against which the radiator is positioned, and a shelf mounted on top of the front and side elements and to the wall.

The present invention aims to provide an easily constructed radiator cover of flexible design, and viewed from a first aspect provides a radiator cover comprising an upper fixing extrusion mounted in use adjacent the top of the radiator, one or more front panels which in use depend from the fixing extrusion in front of the radiator, and top and side cover extrusions.

The invention provides a cover which depends from the radiator itself, and need not be mounted to the wall or floor of the room (although this would be possible for added security).

It provides an arrangement which is very flexible in design, and allows the same standard constructional procedure and elements to be used to make covers of various designs to fit a variety of radiator sizes.

Thus, the extrusions, which are preferably aluminium, may be made to a number of standard lengths to fit for example the most popular radiators, and/or may be cut to length as required, and suitable combinations and numbers of standard sizes of front panels, which may also be aluminium, may be used as required for the particular radiator length to cover the radiator front. Thin spacer elements may also be used with the front panels to compensate for radiator sizes which do not exactly match a combination of standard front panels.

The top and side extrusions may be shaped according to a variety of standard or commissioned designs to give the customer a first basic design choice as to the radiator cover's general shape.

To provide further variety and customer choice, and to complement the various shapes of cover extrusion, the front panels (although they could be plain and flat) may also be made to a variety of standard or commissioned designs. This may be achieved in any suitable manner.

For example, the panels may have designs applied directly to them or they may be adapted to receive a separate decorative element thereon. They could also have grilles or other openings therein. A backing element, e.g. a backing cloth, may be provided behind openings of the front panels. For example, a black backing cloth may be used. It may be mounted to the back of the front panels by e.g. sprung wire cord, such as are used for net curtains.

Further, the cover extrusions are preferably adapted to receive decorative inserts to give the customer still greater flexibility in design choice.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper fixing extrusion runs along the top of the radiator between the side extrusions, the side extrusions being mounted directly to the upper fixing extrusion. Such an arrangement is able to provide good stability, with the fixing extrusion running the length of the radiator.

In order to provide further stability, the cover may include means towards the bottom of the radiator for spacing the front panels from the radiator. These means may be a part of or mounted to the front panels, but preferably are mounted to the radiator. Preferably, a lower fixing extrusion similar to the upper fixing extrusion mentioned above is used. The front panels, and spacer elements, may then extend between the two fixing extrusions.

The upper and/or lower fixing extrusions may engage with the radiator top and bottom through any suitable means, e.g. bracket elements, which may be hooked elements. They may comprise clips, which may slide, or be otherwise positionable, along the extrusions, so that they may take up desired spacings for the particular extrusion lengths.

It is preferred for the upper and lower fixing extrusions to be identical, as this then allows a single extrusion to be used, and so reduces manufacturing costs.

The upper and lower fixing extrusions may comprise a slot, slots, or a channel along which the bracket elements, e.g. clips, may run, and may also comprise a ledge for receiving the top and bottom edges of the front panels. The front panels may be fixed to the fixing extrusions by any suitable means, such as screws.

In one preferred form, the front panels and spacer elements have slots/channels in the rear, which engage with projections, such as screws, from the upper and lower fixing extrusions.

The bracket elements, e.g. clips, may take any suitable form. Preferably they comprise a vertical first arm which in use extends upwards or downwards in front of or behind the radiator, and a second arm angled with respect to the first for engaging the top or bottom of the radiator.

The two arms may be two separate parts, but, in one preferred form, the bracket elements comprise a U-shaped element, one arm of which extends straight to provide the first arm, and the other arm of which is angled outwardly from the first to produce the second arm.

The bracket elements may also comprise for example a hooked element having a hooked portion for engaging the top and/or bottom of the radiator, and may preferably have a portion which in use extends down or up in front of the radiator.

Preferably, the spacing between the clips or other means for mounting the fixing extrusions to the radiator may be adjustable to vary the distance between the radiator and the front panels. For example, the bolts may pass through slots in the clips, which may have adjusting screws thereon.

Preferably, also, the fixing extrusions and bracket elements may be adjusted vertically to adjust the distance between the fixing extrusions to for example compensate for minor variations in radiator heights.

For example, the e.g. clips may include vertical elongate slots, so that the bolts or other means for mounting them to the fixing extrusions may be moved along the slot's length.

The upper and lower fixing extrusions and bracket elements may also include tensioning, e.g. spring means, therebetween to urge the upper and lower fixing extrusions and/or the upper and lower bracket elements towards one another, so that the radiator is positively gripped. In one preferred embodiment, corresponding upper and lower bracket elements, e.g. clips, are connected to one another by spring means. In this case, the bracket elements may comprise a substantially vertical portion connected to the upper or lower fixing extrusion, and a hooked portion which slides up and down the vertical portion and is connected to the spring means. The positive gripping of the radiator is a useful feature, and in a preferred embodiment, bracket elements of upper and lower fixing extrusions are movable with respect to the fixing extrusions so as to grip the radiator.

In one embodiment, the bracket element, e.g. clip, may include an angle bracket, one arm of which being substantially vertical in use and mounted to the fixing extrusion, and the other arm of which being substantially horizontal and mounting the vertical clip arm and the angled clip arm. Each arm of the bracket may have an elongate fixing slot therein for allowing horizontal and vertical adjustment of the clip.

The top cover extrusion may include end caps (which may receive decorative inserts therein), and the side extrusions may engage with the ends of the top cover extrusion or the end caps. In one preferred form, the end caps are configured so that both the top extrusion and a side extrusion may engage with them. For example, the end caps may define slots into which the ends of the top and/or side extrusions may fit. In one preferred form, the fixing of the end caps to the side extrusions clamps the top cover extrusion in position.

The top cover extrusion is preferably of such a width that it extends in use forwardly of the cover front panels to provide a gap for the circulation of air through the cover. Its mounting to the side extrusions via for example the end caps may be adjustable for example by a sliding mount or by having a number of optional fixing points, so that it may accommodate a number of different distances of a radiator from the wall. Thus, it may extend flush against the wall on which the radiator is mounted over a range of distances, with it extending forwardly of the radiator more (and providing a bigger air gap), the closer the radiator is to the wall.

The cover elements may be made from any suitable materials. The extrusions and panels are preferably made from aluminium.

The cover could include portions which extend down as legs to hide the radiator pipes, and a heat deflector may be provided, e.g. on the upper fixing extrusion, below the top cover extrusion.

Viewed from a further aspect, the invention provides a method of providing a cover for a radiator, comprising the steps of mounting a fixing extrusion to the top of the radiator, mounting cover extrusions from the fixing extrusion, and depending one or more front panels from the fixing extrusion in front of the radiator.

The invention also extends to a method of providing a cover for a radiator comprising the steps of mounting a pair of side cover extrusions between a pair of bars extending therebetween, mounting a plurality of front panels on the bars, mounting a top cover extrusion between the side cover extrusions, and hanging the cover from the top of the radiator.

The invention further extends to a kit of parts for constructing a radiator cover comprising the various elements discussed above.

In a general form, the invention comprises a radiator cover which is adapted to be hung from the top of the radiator in use, preferably including spacer means, such as the above-mentioned lower fixing extrusion, for holding the front of the cover away from the front of the radiator.

Viewed from a still further aspect, the invention comprises a radiator cover comprising upper and lower fixing extrusions mounted to the top and bottom of the radiator respectively, with one or more front panels mounted therebetween, and top and side cover extrusions.

The invention may also be viewed as providing a radiator cover comprising standard size extrusions hung in use from the top of the radiator, and one or more standard size front panels which depend in use in front of the radiator and are chosen in number and size to substantially cover the front of the radiator, the cover preferably comprises decorative extrusions mountable in use on one or more hidden fixing extrusions.

Although the cover is preferably made from extrusions, the invention also encompasses the use of elements other than extrusions, and, for example, extends to a radiator cover comprising a plurality of cover elements which depend from the top of the radiator, preferably including a top fixing element and front panels extending down therefrom in front of the radiator.

The invention may provide in one form a radiator cover comprising a pair of side cover extrusions, which hang from the top of the radiator in use, a top cover extrusion extending between the side extrusions, and a plurality of front panels mounted in use in front of the radiator, between the side extrusions.

The front panels may be mounted on one or more bars extending between the side cover extrusions.

The side cover extrusions may hang from the radiator in any suitable manner. In one possible embodiment, each side extrusion is mounted to the top of the radiator by an angle bracket, one arm of which is attached to a side extrusion by for example screws, and a second arm of which is hooked onto the top of the radiator. This second arm may be of inverted V-shaped cross-section to facilitate its mounting.

Alternatively, an upper fixing extrusion adjacent the top of the radiator may run along the length of the radiator between the side extrusions.

The front panels could be spaced from the radiator towards their lower ends by any suitable means, e.g. by a lower fixing extrusion similar to the upper fixing extrusion. The lower ends of the side covers could alternatively or also engage the bottom of the radiator by angle brackets at their lower ends similar to those mentioned above in relation to the hanging of the side extrusions.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a radiator cover made in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of Fig. 1 showing the various elements of the cover; Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the top fixing extrusion and a clip thereof, mounted to the radiator; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the body portion of the clip of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the top or bottom fixing extrusion of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the top cover extrusion of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the outer side of the end cap of Fig. 2 without a decorative panel therein; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the inner side of the end cap of Fig. 7;; Fig. 9 is an underneath plan view of the end cap of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a side cover extrusion of Fig. 2; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the spacer element of Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is a cutaway perspective view from behind of a portion of a radiator cover according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 13 is a schematic cross-section through a top corner of the radiator cover of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a cross-section through a bottom fixing extrusion and a clip thereof, mounted to a radiator, according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15 is a cross-section through a bottom fixing extrusion and a clip thereof, mounted to a radiator, according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative top cover extrusion to that shown in Figs. 2 and 6; ; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the outer side of an end cap for use with the top cover extrusion of Fig.

16, without a decorative panel therein; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the inner side of the end cap of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is an underneath plan view of the end cap of Fig. 17; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a radiator cover according to a further embodiment, made using differently shaped extrusions and differently patterned front panels and decorative inserts; Figs. 21 and 22 are perspective views of the top ends of further embodiments of the radiator cover, made using further different extrusions and panels.

Figure 1 shows an aluminium radiator cover 1 according to one embodiment of the invention, which may be simply constructed from a number of standard extruded and cast elements. The cover 1 guards the radiator, improves air convection, reduces radiant heating and is decorative.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the cover 1 comprises a pair of upper and lower fixing extrusions 2,3 which are hidden when the cover 1 is complete. Each fixing extrusion 2,3 has a number of clips 4 slidably mounted thereon, which engage the top and bottom edges of the radiator.

Front panels 5 extend between the upper and lower fixing extrusions 2,3, and are mounted to them by screws extending through screw holes 6. Spacer elements 7 may also extend between the upper and lower fixing extrusions 2,3 to fill any gaps left by the front panels 5.

A pair of opposed side extrusions 8 are fixed to the upper and lower fixing extrusions 2,3 by for example screw mounting, and a top cover extrusion 9 is mounted between the side extrusions 8 via end caps 10.

The side extrusions 8 have recesses 11 therein to receive decorative inserts 12, which are held in place by bottom stops 13. The end caps 10 also have decorative inserts 14 therein.

Once constructed, the whole arrangement hangs from the top of the radiator, and fully surrounds it, as shown in Fig. 1. All of the elements are made from aluminium, either extruded or cast.

The arrangement as described in more detail below provides a method of making a wide variety of different radiator covers of various styles and sizes using the same standard method and standard constructional elements. The extrusions may be made in standard lengths and/or cut to length, so that they fit any desired radiator size. The front panels may also be of various widths, so that one or more of the same or differing sizes may be mounted together on the fixing extrusions to cover the front of the radiator, with any small gaps being filled by one or more spacer elements.

The extrusions may also be formed in a number of different shapes, and the front panels and decorative inserts may be produced in different designs to provide a wide variety of overall designs. The panels and inserts may have patterns cast or printed thereon, and the front panels may be grilled.

Referring to Figs. 3-5, the mounting of the upper fixing extrusion 2 and clips 4 is shown in more detail.

As can be seen, each clip 4 comprises a U-shaped clip body 15, one arm 16 of which extends straight down to contact the front of the radiator R, and the other arm 17 of which is angled outwardly from the first arm 16 to rest on the upper edge of the radiator so as to provide a support on which to hang the whole cover 1. Each arm 16, 17 has a heatproof plastics cover portion 16a, 17a to absorb expansion and prevent metal on metal contact.

The clip body 15 includes an elongate slot 18 therein through which a bolt 19 extends. The head 20 of bolt 19 runs along a T-shaped channel 21 in the upper fixing extrusion 2, and includes adjusting nuts 22 thereon either side of the clip.

The lower fixing extrusion 3 and clips 4 are mounted similarly, except that they do not provide a hanging support. Rather, they are used to stabilize the cover 1 and prevent it from swinging.

The elongate slot 18 in the clips 4 in the upper and lower fixing extrusions 2,3, allow the distance between the two fixing extrusions to be finely adjusted vertically to suit a range of radiator heights, and allow the fixing extrusions to be loosely mounted on the radiator, and then adjusted to a tight fit. The adjusting nuts 22 allow the gap between the cover front panels 5 and the radiator front to be varied.

As can be seen, the front panels 5 are mounted in a ledge portion 23 of the upper fixing extrusion 2 by screws 24. The front panels 5 are mounted on the lower fixing extrusion 3 in an identical fashion.

Fig. 6 shows the top cover extrusion 9. This extends between the end caps 10 above the upper fixing extrusion 2, and is of a suitable width that it may be flush with the wall adjacent which the radiator is mounted, whilst also extending forward of the front panels 5 to leave a gap for air flow. Its width will determine the maximum distance of the radiator with which it may be used from the wall. It may also be used with radiators which are less than this maximum distance from the wall, and, in these cases, will extend forward to a correspondingly greater extent, and provide a greater air gap. To allow for the different radiator gaps from the wall, the end caps 10 carrying the top extrusion 9 may slide forward or back along the top edges of the side cover extrusions 8, and/or the top extrusion 9 will slide within the end caps 10.

Air flows up between the room wall and the radiator back and between the radiator front and the front panels 5 of the cover, and then passes across the inside of the top cover extrusion 9 and out of the gap between the top cover extrusion 9 and the front panels 5.

Figs. 7-9 show an end cap 10 which is provided at each end of the top extrusion cover 9. The end cap 10 has a recess 25 therein to receive a decorative insert 14 as shown in Fig. 2. The insert 14 is held in place by a screw extending through screw hole 26.

The end cap 10 also has a slot 27 therein for engagement with the edge of the top cover extrusion 9, as well as a slot 28 for receiving the top edge of a side cover extrusion 10.

A side cover extrusion 8 is shown in Fig. 10, and includes the recess 11 for receiving a decorative insert 12 therein as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 shows the spacer element 7 of Fig. 2. It includes a slot 29 for engaging a screw on the upper and lower fixing extrusions 2,3.

To construct the radiator cover 1, one first obtains extrusions and end caps of the desired shape and the correct size for the particular radiator, as well as the required number and sizes of front panels, spacer elements, and decorative inserts. The upper and lower extrusions are then cut to the desired length, their ends are trimmed, and the bolts 19 of clips 14 slid into the slots 21. The side extrusions 8 are then cut to length and trimmed, and the upper and lower extrusions 2,3 are screwed to the side extrusions 8. The required number and sizes of decorative panels 15 and spacer elements 7 are then screwed in place between the upper and lower extrusions 2, 3. Next, the top extrusion 10 is cut to length and trimmed, and mounted on the side extrusions 8 via the end caps 10. Further decorative inserts 12, 14 are then mounted on the side extrusions 8 and end caps 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 shows a similar embodiment to that of Fig. 2, except that the end caps 10 are mounted to the side extrusions 8 merely by screws 30, rather than by using a slotted fixing, with the top extrusion 9 being clamped in place between the end caps 10 and side extrusions 8. Fig. 12 shows one way of mounting the upper and lower fixing elements 2, 3 to the side extrusions 8, i.e. in this case by a screw fixing through a flange portion 31.

Figs. 14 and 15 show two variations on the clips 4.

In Fig. 14, the clip 4 is similar to that shown in Fig.

3, except that the arms 16 and 17 are formed from two separate elements, rather than as a single body 15. The bottom extrusion 3 is also of different shape, and comprises an elongate right angled bracket having holes therein for the bolts 19. It is not therefore as flexible as the extrusion of Fig. 2, in that the clip positions are fixed at specific points along it, although any problems this might cause with regard to the clip spacings may be minimised by making the holes elongate. A single elongate slot along the bracket's length could also be used.

Fig. 15 uses a similar lower extrusion 3 to that of Fig. 14, and the clip 4 again comprises separate arms 16, 17. In this embodiment, however, the clip 4 includes a right angled bracket 32 having slots 33 and 34 therein to provide positional adjustments in use in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Many other radiator cover designs are also possible, besides those shown above. Figs. 16-19 show an alternative top cover extrusion 9 and end cap 10, from that shown in Fig. 2. The end cap 10, as in Fig.

2, slots over the end of the top cover extrusion 9, and includes a recess 14 for a decorative insert, as well as a slotted block for engaging a side extrusion 8.

Fig. 20 shows a radiator cover using another alternative design of top cover extrusion, as well as decorative inserts and front panels also of different design. The side extrusions are narrower in this case than in the first embodiment.

Figs. 21 and 22 show further alternative embodiments. In both cases, the inserts on the end caps have three dimensional patterns rather than two dimensional ones.

The above are embodiments of the invention, and various modifications are possible. For example, the side cover extrusions could each be mounted directly on the radiator by an angle bracket, the bracket having a straight arm attached to the side extrusions by screws, and a second arm of inverted V-shape cross-section which rests on the top of the radiator in use.

Claims (30)

Claims

1. A radiator cover comprising an upper fixing extrusion mounted in use adjacent the top of a radiator, one or more front panels which in use depend from the fixing extrusion in front of the radiator, and top and side cover extrusions.

2. The cover of claim 1, including spacer means for spacing the front panels from the front of the radiator.

3. The cover of claim 1 or 2, comprising a lower fixing extrusion which engages the bottom of the radiator in use, the front panels being mounted between the two fixing extrusions.

4. The cover of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the top and/or bottom fixing extrusion is/are mounted to the radiator by a plurality of radiator engaging bracket elements.

5. The cover of claim 4, wherein the bracket elements are slidable along the length of the fixing extrusion.

6. The cover of claim 4 or 5, wherein the bracket elements have a hooked portion for engaging the radiator.

7. The cover of claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the bracket element comprises a vertical arm which in use extends in front of the radiator, and an arm angled with respect to the first arm for engaging the top or bottom of the radiator in use.

8. The cover of claim 7, wherein the bracket element comprises a U-shaped element, one arm of which extends straight to provide the first arm and the other arm of which is angled outwardly to produce the second arm, the two arms towards the bridge of the U-shaped element having opposing openings therein for the reception of means for fixing the bracket element to a fixing extrusion.

9. The cover of any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the top and/or bottom fixing extrusion includes a channel therein along which the bracket elements run.

10. The cover of any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the upper and lower bracket elements are biased towards one another so that they grip the radiator in use.

11. The cover of any preceding claim, wherein the fixing extrusion or extrusions have a stepped portion therein for receiving the top or bottom edge of the front panels.

12. The cover of any preceding claim wherein the top cover extrusion is configured to provide an air gap at the top front of the cover.

13. The cover of any preceding claim, wherein the side extrusions are mounted on the upper fixing extrusion.

14. The cover of any preceding claim, wherein the top extrusion is mounted on the side extrusions.

15. The cover of claim 14, wherein the top extrusion includes end caps.

16. The cover of any preceding claim, wherein the cover extrusions are adapted to receive decorative panels.

17. The cover of any preceding claim, wherein the front panels include spacer elements.

18. A radiator cover comprising a top extrusion adapted to be mounted to the top of a radiator in use, a pair of opposed side extrusions depending from the sides of the radiator, and one or more front panels depending from the front of the radiator.

19. A radiator cover comprising a plurality of aluminium extrusions adapted to hang from the top of the radiator in use.

20. The radiator cover of claim 19, including spacer means for holding the front of the cover away from the front of the radiator.

21. A radiator cover comprising upper and lower fixing extrusions mounted adjacent the top and bottom of the radiator respectively, with one or more front panels mounted therebetween, and top and side cover extrusions.

22. A radiator cover comprising standard sized extrusions hung in use from the top of the radiator, and one or more standard sized front panels which depend in use in front of the radiator and are chosen in number and size to substantially cover the front of the radiator.

23. A radiator cover comprising a pair of side cover extrusions, which hang from the top of the radiator in use, a top cover extrusion extending between the side extrusions, and a plurality of front panels mounted in use in front of the radiator, between the side extrusions.

24. The cover of claim 23, wherein angle brackets are provided for hanging the side extrusions to the top of the radiator.

25. The cover of claim 24, wherein an arm of the angle brackets which is mounted on the top of the radiator is of inverted V-shaped cross-section.

26. A kit of parts for providing a radiator cover as claimed in any preceding claim.

27. A method of providing a cover for a radiator, comprising the steps of mounting a fixing extrusion to the top of the radiator, mounting cover extrusions from the fixing extrusion, and depending one or more front panels from the fixing extrusion in front of the radiator.

28. A method of providing a cover for a radiator comprising the steps of mounting a pair of side cover extrusions between a pair of bars extending therebetween, mounting a plurality of front panels on the bars, mounting a top cover extrusion between the side cover extrusions, and hanging the cover from the top of the radiator.

29. Radiator covers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30. Methods of constructing a radiator cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.