GB2323156A

GB2323156A - Radiator cover

Info

Publication number: GB2323156A
Application number: GB9805368A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-14
Filing date: 1998-03-14
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-14
Also published as: GB9705366D0; GB2323156B; GB9805368D0

Abstract

A safety cover for a heated panel such as a central heating radiator (20) and comprises a fabric sleeve (10) adapted to be passed over the radiator to cover its front and/or rear faces. Drawstrings (14, 15) or other attachment means attach the cover to the radiator or to an adjacent fixed member. Preferably the cover has adjustment means (19, figure 1) to fit different sized radiators and may carry a self-coloured or patterned surface for aesthetic purposes.

Description

A SAFETY COVER FOR A HEATED PANEL THIS INVENTION concerns a cover to be fitted to a heated panel such as a central heating or free standing radiator to prevent direct skin contact. The invention has particular application where children or the elderly or infirm are present and where skin contact with a hot radiator would cause extreme discomfort if not burn injury.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety cover for a heated panel, comprising a sleeve configured to overlie at least a part of a panel and having means for removably attaching the cover to the panel.

Preferably, the cover is adjustable in size thus closely to fit different sized panels, and the attachment means includes at least one draw string adapted to draw the cover closely over the panel surface and to be tied to a fixed -member on or adjacent the panel.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a safety cover made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is an end view showing the cover attached to a wall mounted radiator; and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the cover mounted on the radiator.

Referring now to the drawings, the safety cover comprises a fabric sleeve 10 of cotton or like material defining a front face 11 of such shape and dimensions as to cover the entire front face of a central heating radiator. The sleeve is formed as an envelope having a top A, two opposed ends B, and a bottom C.

A draw string 14 enters a stitched hem 9 close to the bottom of one end B and passes upwardly through the hem and along the extent of the top A of the sleeve, passing downwardly through the hem at the opposite end B and emerging once again as can be seen at 14a. A similar draw string 15 enters the sleeve close to the string 14 but passes through a stitched hem 8 extending directly along the bottom C of the sleeve emerging at the opposite end as shown at 15a. One or more tie strings 16 extend downwardly from a fixed position centrally at the top of the sleeve and, emerge through an aperture 17 at the bottom to be tied to the bottom draw string 15 part way along its length.

Towards one end of the front face 11 of the sleeve there are provided several columns of button hole sized eyelets or apertures 19 for a purpose to be described.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that when the sleeve is placed over the radiator illustrated at 20 mounted on a wall 21 the drawstrings 14 and 15 at each end of the cover may be drawn up and tied to the adjacent radiator valve connection 23. Thus as can be seen from Fig. 4 at the rear the sleeve is pulled tightly around the periphery of the radiator whereby the front face, top and two ends of the radiator are entirely covered.

The tie string 16 is used to prevent the central region of the cover from sagging, also serving as a safety device to prevent the cover from being removed.

The thin fabric protects against burning in the event of skin contact with the radiator without interfering with the output of heat energy therefrom.

The cover may be easily removed from the radiator when required by untying the drawstrings 14 and 15.

While the cover may be made to fit particular sizes of radiator exactly, nevertheless, for convenience, the cover shall be capable of being fitted to a range of lengths of radiator between say 600mm and 2 metres. Adjustment for size may be achieved by passing the drawstrings 14 and 15 out of the cover at one of the positions defined by the columns of eyelets. For example, for the shortest radiator the drawstring 14 may emerge from the uppermost eyelet at the column nearest to the vertical centre line of the cover and then be threaded alternately through the eyelets of that column emerging at the bottom together with the drawstring 15. The remaining loose part of the cover is then tucked behind the radiator to be concealed and is held there by a drawstring or by other devices such as press studs or touch and close fastener.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example. If required the cover may be adapted to overlie a greater extent of the rear face of the radiator, provided that it shall not interfere with the brackets connecting the radiator to the wall.

However, on a free standing heater such as an electrically powered radiator it would be advantageous for the entire front and rear faces of the radiator to be covered particularly where such a radiator is to be located centrally within a room.

The fabric of the cover may be of natural or synthetic fibres or of a non-textile nature and may be of any thickness as desired and may be padded or quilted if required. Additionally, or alternatively, separate cushioning pads may be provided and fixed or removably associated with the cover or the radiator, to protect against impact injury.

The drawstrings 14 and 15 and the tie string 16 may be in the form of tapes, such as curtain heading tape. Similar tapes or other means may replace the columns of eyelets 19, enabling the cover to be adjusted to fit any size of radiator.

The cover may be self-coloured or patterned for aesthetic purposes, and when used, for example, in a child's room, may include a pictorial representation such as cartoon, sporting or drama characters, or educational printed matter.

Attachment of the cover to the radiator may be other than as described including, for example, elasticated fastenings, or the fabric may be made from an elasticated yarn thus to be selfsupporting when stretched over the radiator.

Claims

1. A safety cover for a heated panel comprising a sleeve configured to overlie at least a part of a panel and having means for removably attaching the cover to the panel.

2. A safety cover according to Claim 1, being adjustable in size thus closely to fit different sized panels.

3. A safety cover according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the attachment means includes at least one drawstring adapted to draw the cover closely over the panel surface and to be tied to a fixed member on or adjacent the panel.

4. A safety cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means includes a plurality of drawstrings located within stitched hems extending around the top, side and bottom edges of the cover and at least one tie string extending between the top and bottom edges.

5. A safety cover according to Claim 2, wherein adjustment is provided by at least one column of spaced apertures through which may pass a drawstring of said attachment means.

6. A safety cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve comprises a front face of such shape and dimensions as to cover the entire front face of a heated panel.

7. A safety cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the sleeve comprises front and rear faces of such shape and dimensions as to cover the entire front and rear faces of a heated panel.

8. A safety cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve carries a surface pattern for aesthetic purposes.

9. A safety cover according to any one of Claims 1, 2 and 5, wherein the attachment means comprises elasticated fastenings.

10. A safety cover according to any one of Claims 1, 2 and 5, wherein the attachment means comprises an elasticated yarn from which the sleeve is formed thus to be self-supporting when stretched over a heated panel.