GB2357139A - Collapsible flue terminal guard - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible terminal flue guard is provided and comprises a front panel 2 connected to a plurality of side panels 3 by hinges 7 and which cooperate to form a box (Fig 4). When not in use the guard may be folded flat for easy storage (Fig 3). The panels 2 and 3 are planar and may be rectangular. The front panel 2 may also be polygonal having at least 2P sides, where P is an integer greater than or equal to 2, each side 21 being associated with a respective side panel 3. Each side panel 3 comprises two lugs 4 which are arranged to cooperate with lugs on an adjacent panel to form an aperture through which a screw can be inserted to secure the guard to a wall. Preferably the lug 4 is formed from a rigid loop of wire and is perpendicular to the general plane of the side panel 3 . Each panel 2 and 3 may take the form of a grille. When the front panel 2 is a grille the hinge 7 maybe formed of two wire hooks (Fig 6) on the side panel 3 engaging a wire 21 on the front panel 3.

Description

2357139 A TERMINAL GUARD The present invention relates to terminal guards.

In the field of flue engineering and installation, and especially the field of balanced flues for venting combustion products from boilers to atmosphere, "terminal" is the commonly used expression to denote an end of the flue which, typically, protrudes from a side wall of the building in which the boiler is installed. When the boiler is in use, the terminal may become hot.

Terminal guards are guards designed to protect flue terminals from damage, for example when the balanced flues are installed at low level, and to prevent any possible contact with the terminal.

For example, Building Regulations state that terminal guards must be used where a balanced flue has a terminal (i.e. an outlet) less than 2 metres from ground height. In the U.K., terminal guards for gas boiler flue terminals must confirm to recommended British Gas requirements, which specify that the minimum clearance between the terminal and guard should be 50 mm.

Figs. 1 and 2 show terminal guards in accordance with the prior art.

Fig. 1 shows a so called rectangular terminal guard 1. The guard has a rectangular front or top panel 2, which may be square, and four trapezoidal side panels 3. The terminal guard is fabricated from a plurality of wires 5, by bending and soldering or braising or welding. For ease of representation, the figure shows a smaller number of wires than are typically employed in a conventional terminal guard.

The array of wires forms a rigid box structure, in effect a wire basket, which can be attached to a wall to enclose and protect a flue terminal. Some of the wires 5 from which the box is formed are common to 2 two or more panels, for example wire 52 is common to two side panels and the top panel.

A single heavy gauge wire 51, bent to form a generally rectangular frame, forms the bottom edge of each side panel, and includes lugs 4 in the guise of loops through which fixing screws or bolts can pass to secure the terminal guard 1 to the wall.

The wires from which the guard is formed are typically mild steel or stainless steel (preferable for use with condensing boilers) and may be zinc plated for added protection.

Although the front panel 2 and frame 51 are generally rectangular, the side panels 3 are trapezoidal so that the box is tapered, and terminal is guards having the same size can be stacked for storage and/or transportation.

Fig. 2 shows a so called "round" terminal guard in accordance with the prior art. The terminal guard

1 is shown attached to a wall W by means of screws S passing through its lugs 4. Again, the terminal guard 1 is fabricated from a plurality of wires 5 to form a rigid structure with a front grille panel 2. The size of the f ront panel 2 is chosen to give adequate clearance around the flue terminal F protruding from wall W, and the terminal guard is tapered (i.e. the circumference of the wire ring R in contact with the wall is greater than the circumference of circular front panel 2) to enable stacking when not in use.

There are a number of problems associated with known terminal guards. These problems include the following.

Firstly, although tapered for stacking, a large number of stacked guards still occupies considerable volume, which poses problems for transportation and/or storage.

Secondly, stacking of the terminal guards to reduce volume results in guards lower in the stack 3 especially becoming wedged tightly together.

Separation is often troublesome and can damage the guards.

Thirdly, it may not be possible to stack certain different sized guards, again increasing the total volume occupied during storage.

Fourthly, clearance around the terminal dictates the size of the front panel and depth of the guard.

The tapered form, however, means that a suitable guard occupies a larger area (i.e. has a larger "footprint") on the wall or surface through which the flue protrudes, than is necessary to provide adequate clearance.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to address problems associated with known terminal guards.

According to the present invention there is provided a terminal guard comprising a front panel and a plurality of side panels, each side panel being hingedly coupled to the front panel and being movable with respect to the front panel between a respective first position and a respective second position, such that when all side panels are in their respective first positions the side panels and front panel co-operate to form a box for enclosing a terminal, and when all side panels are in their respective second positions the box is collapsed for storage and/or transportation.

Thus the present invention provides a folding (collapsable) terminal guard.

This hinged configuration enables a large number of guards to be stacked when not in use (i.e. with the side panels in their second positions) in reduced volume, and reduces the problem of stacked guards becoming wedged together. Furthermore, different combinations of front and side panels (having different shapes and sizes) can be chosen and hingedly 4 coupled together to produce a range of shapes and sizes of terminal guards. By forming the terminal guard from a number of separate panels and attaching them together by means of hinge joints, a wide range of different geometry terminal guards can be produced from a stock of component panels.

In the past, if a user required a terminal guard with the same size front panel as a stock item, but with increased or reduced depth, this necessitated fabrication of a completely new guard. According to the present invention, such a requirement can be met more easily by simple replacement of the side panels.

Suppliers of terminal guards in accordance with the present invention need to keep only a stock of the is different component panels, rather than a stock of every shape and size of assembled guard.

Preferably, the front panel and each side panel is generally planar (i.e. flat). The terminal guard may thus be folded completely flat when not in use.

Large number of guards may be stacked in minimum volume, and the possibility of the stacked guards wedging together is avoided. Furthermore, it is possible to stack collapsed guards of different shapes and sizes in minimum volume. Storage and transportation is thus greatly facilitated.

The front panel may be circular, or polygonal having n+2 sides, where n is an integer, and the terminal guard comprises n+2 side panels, each side panel being associated with a respective one of the n+2 sides.

Advantageously, the side panels may be rectangular, rather than trapezoidal. The guard may thus fold flat for easy storage without the inconvenience of wedging together, and may be formed as a box with parallel opposing sides, rather than a tapered box. Thus, the footprint of the formed guard on the wall/surface through which the flue terminal protrudes may be the same as the area of the front panel, i.e. the footprint on the wall may be reduced compared with terminal guards known in the prior art.

Preferably, each side panel comprises two respective lugs, each lug being arranged to align with a corresponding lug on a respect adjacent side panel when the terminal guard is formed as the box, whereby the box form may be maintained by coupling (i.e.

fixing together) the aligned lugs.

Preferably, the lugs are arranged at respective corners of the side panels, whereby the box form may be maintained, and the terminal guard attached to a surface through which the terminal protrudes by fixing each pair of aligned lugs to the surface.

Thus, the means by which the box is fixed to the wall may have dual function, in that it also holds the box in shape.

Preferably, each lug comprises a respective aperture, the apertures of corresponding lugs aligning when the terminal guard is formed as the box, whereby the terminal guard may be attached to the surface by fixing means passing through the aligned apertures and into the surface.

Thus, when the guard is formed as a box (i.e.

with each side panel in its nominal first position), screws or bolts may be passed through the aligned lug to hold the box rigid and fasten it to a wall to enclose the terminal.

Preferably, each side panel is generally planar and each lug comprises a rigid loop of wire formed in a plane generally perpendicular to the general plane of the respective side panel. Thus, if the box is formed with the side panels perpendicular to the front panel and perpendicular to the wall, the wire loops are in a plane parallel to the wall for ease of attachment.

Preferably, each side panel comprises a 6 respective wire grille, the two lugs of each side panel being loops formed at opposite ends of a wire extending along an edge of the respective wire grille.

Thus, the loops may be formed at ends of a wire which, in use, lies adjacent to the wall.

Preferably, at least one side panel and/or the front panel comprises a grille (e.g. a wire grille) Advantageously, the front panel is polygonal having 2p sides, where p is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the terminal guard having 2p side panels, each side panel being generally planar and associated with a respective one of the 2p sides, and wherein in use the terminal guard is folded such that opposing side panels are parallel. Again, the footprint of the terminal guard on the wall/surface is no larger than the area of the f ront panel.

Preferably, the front panel comprises a wire grille and each side panel comprises at least two respective wire hooks extending beyond a respective common edge of the side panel, the at least two respective wire hooks engaging a respective wire of the front panel wire grille to provide the hinged coupling between the side and front panels.

The hooks may be attached to the side panels, or may be hooks formed in the protruding ends of wires which themselves form part of the wire grilles of the side panels.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a terminal guard in accordance with the prior art;

Fig. 2 shows another terminal guard in accordance with the prior art;

Fig. 3 is a photograph of a terminal guard embodying the present invention and collapsed for storage; 7 Fig. 4 is a photograph of the terminal guard of Fig. 3 formed as a box for use; Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the hinged coupling between side and front panels in the embodiment of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-section of the hinged coupling shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of the ends of the side panels of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 when the guard is formed as a box; Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment, collapsed for storage; Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of Fig. 8 formed into a box shape for use; Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of a third embodiment, collapsed for storage; Fig. 11 is a schematic side view of the third embodiment formed as a box for use; Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the hinged coupling (folding joint) between the front and side panels of the third embodiment; Fig. 13 is a schematic plan view of a fourth embodiment, collapsed for storage; Fig. 14 is a schematic side view of the fourth embodiment formed as a box for use; Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view of the ends of the side panels of the fourth embodiment when formed as a box for use; and Fig. 16 is a schematic plan view of the ends of two of the side panels of the fourth embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a square front panel 2 and four rectangular side panels 3. All panels are grilles formed from steel wires. These wires include lighter gauge cross wires 32 and heavier gauge support bars 35. The wires 31 at the outer edges of the side panels 3 are also heavy gauge, as is the wire 21 forming the frame around the front panel 2.

The wires 31 running along the outer edges of the side panels 3 are longer than the component cross wires 32 and so protrude past opposing sides of each side panel 3. The protruding portions of the wires 31 are formed into loops which provide fixing lugs 4 at the corners of each side panel 3. Each loop 4 is formed in a plane generally perpendicular to the general plane of each side panel 3. The lugs 4 are arranged such that when the terminal guard is folded up to form a box structure in use, the loops align and screws through the aligned loops may both hold the box rigid and attach it to a wall.

Each side panel 3 is hingedly attached to a respective side of the front panel 2 by means of wire hooks 7. These hooks are fixed to the cross wires 32 of each side panel and pass around and enclose the wire 21 forming the frame of the front panel 2.

In Fig. 3 all of the side panels are in their nominal second positions.

Fig. 4 shows the terminal guard of Fig. 3 folded for use (i.e. formed as a box/wire basket with the side panels in their nominal first positions). The lugs 4 of adjacent side panels 3 are aligned and opposing side panels are parallel. In this embodiment, in use the side panels are folded at right-angles to the front panel 2 and the resultant box is not tapered.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of one of the hinged couplings between a side panel and the front panel of the first embodiment. A rigid wire hook member 7 is attached to three of the cross wires 32 at the edge of the side panel adjacent the front panel. The hook member 7 protrudes from the edge of the side panel and bends back on itself, almost meeting the edge cross wire 321, forming a loop around the heavy gauge wire 21 which forms the outer frame of 9 the front panel 2.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-section of the hinged coupling of Fig. S. The hook 7 is bent sufficiently that it encloses the edge wire 21 of the front panel 2 and prevents separation of the front and side panels whilst allowing hinged relative movement.

In this example the cross wires 32 are brazed 323 to the hook 7, but in other embodiments alternative attachment means may be employed.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic plan view of the wires 31 which form the nominal back edges of the side panels when the terminal guard of Figs. 3-6 is folded up to form a box. The respective lugs 4 at the end of each wire 31 are loops defining apertures A. The loops 4 are arranged so that when corresponding apertures A are aligned as shown in the figure, opposing sides of the box are parallel and adjacent sides are perpendicular. For each corner of the box structure, the lugs 4 are arranged so that when aligned they occupy a quadrant Ql which is diagonally opposite the quadrant Q2 which corresponds to the internal angle of the corner. Thus, when the terminal guard is formed as the box, access to fixing screws inserted through the pairs of aligned loops is facilitated.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the invention. The terminal guard 1 is shown flattened (i.e. collapsed or folded out) for ease of storage and transportation. Lugs 4 in the form of eyes are attached to each end of each wire 31 forming the bottom edge of each side panel 3. When the guard is formed as a box for use the eyes align (cross each other) and a single screw may be inserted through each pair of aligned eyes to fix the box shape and attach it to a surface. Hinged coupling between the side panels and top panel 2 is provided by wire rings 71 enclosing the frame wire 21 of the top panel - 2 and the front edge wire 321 of each side panel grille. In addition, support bars 35 which form part of each side panel grille extend beyond the front edge of each side panel and hook around the top panel frame wire 21.

Fig. 9 shows a side view of the terminal guard of Fig. 8 folded for use. The three protruding support bars 35 of each side panel are equally spaced and in use the fixing eyes 4 are perpendicular to the plane of each side panel 3.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment, collapsed for storage. Each side panel 3 is a trapezoidal wire grille and is hinged to a respective side of the top panel 2 by means of hooks 7 is at the ends of support bars 35.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic side view of the third embodiment folded for use. In this example, the front edge wire 321, back edge wire 31 and side edge wires of the grille are portions of a suitably bent single wire which forms an outer frame 300 of the grille.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the hinged coupling between the side and top panels of the third embodiment. The cross wires 32 are shown welded to the main frame 300. The support bars 35 are welded to the front and back edge portions of the main frame 300 and extend passed the front edge wire 321 to form a loop or hook 7 around the edge frame wire 21 of the top panel 2.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic plan view of a fourth embodiment, flattened for transportation. Rectangular side panels 3 are attached to the top square top panel 2 by means of hooks 7 at the ends of wire support bars 35. Each side panel 3 is provided with two lugs 4 in the form of wire loops formed in planes perpendicular to the general plane of the respective side panel. In Fig. 13 the planes of the loops 4 are perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

Fig. 14 shows a schematic side view of the guard of Fig. 13 formed as a box. The side panel comprises an outer wire frame 300, which includes the back and front edge wires 31, 321, which is fabricated from heavier gauge wire than that used for the cross wires 32.

Fig. 15 shows a schematic plan view of the back edges of the side panels of the fourth embodiment when it is folded as a wire basket for use. The loops 4 at both ends of each back edge wire 31 are angled out so that when the sides are folded to form the box shape, each pair of corresponding loops creates a single fixing hole on the respective corner of the box.

Fig. 16 shows in greater detail the back edge wires 31 of two of the side panels of the fourth embodiment. The loops 4 at the ends of the edge wires 31 are angled out (at an angle 0) with respect to the straight portion of the edge wire 31 and when the apertures A are brought into line by moving one of the sides in the direction shown by arrow B in the figure the aligned lugs occupy a quadrant opposite the internal angle of the corner.

It will be apparent that each feature of the present invention disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) may be incorporated in embodiments of the present invention in combination with, or independently of, any other disclosed feature.

Claims (15)

1. A terminal guard comprising a front panel and a plurality of side panels, each side panel being hingedly coupled to the front panel and being movable with respect to the front panel between a respective first position and a respective second position, such that when all side panels are in their respective first positions the side panels and front panel co-operate to form a box, and when all side panels are in their respective second positions the box is collapsed.

2. A terminal guard in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the front panel and each side panel is generally planar.

3. A terminal guard in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the front panel is polygonal having n+2 said side panels, each side panel being associated with a respective one of the n+2 sides.

4. A terminal guard in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the front panel is rectangular.

5. A terminal guard in accordance with any preceding claim wherein each side panel is rectangular.

6. A terminal guard in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein each side panel comprises two respective lugs, each lug being arranged to align with a corresponding lug on a respective adjacent side panel when the terminal guard is formed as the box, whereby the box form may be maintained by coupling the aligned lugs.

7. A terminal guard in accordance with Claim 6, 13 - wherein the lugs are arranged at respective corners of the side panels, whereby the box form may be maintained, and the terminal guard attached to a surface through which the terminal protrudes, by fixing each pair of aligned lugs to the surface.

8. A terminal guard in accordance with Claim 7, wherein each lug comprises a respective aperture, the apertures of corresponding lugs aligning when the terminal guard is formed on the box, whereby the terminal guard may be attached to the surface by fixing means passing through the aligned apertures and into the surface.

9. A terminal guard in accordance with Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein each side panel is generally planar and each lug comprises a rigid loop of wire formed in a plane generally perpendicular to the general plane of the respective side panel.

10. A terminal guard in accordance with Claim 9, wherein each side panel comprises a respective wire grille, the two lugs of each side panel being loops formed at opposite ends of a wire extending along an edge of the respective wire grille.

11. A terminal guard in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein at least one side panel comprises a grille.

12. A terminal guard in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the front panel comprises a grille.

13. A terminal guard in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the front panel is polygonal having 2p sides, where p is an integer 2, the terminal guard having 2p side panels, each side panel being generally 14 planar and associated with a respective one of the 2p sides, and wherein opposing side panels are parallel when in their respective first positions.

14. A terminal guard in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the front panel comprises a wire grille and each side panel comprises at least two respective wire hooks extending beyond a respective common edge of the side panel, the at least two respective wire hooks engaging a respective wire of the front panel wire grille to provide the hinged coupling.

15. A terminal guard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.