GB2430873A

GB2430873A - Cover and towel support for heated towel rail

Info

Publication number: GB2430873A
Application number: GB0609239A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lazzarini Luca
Original assignee: LAZZARINI Srl
Current assignee: LAZZARINI Srl
Priority date: 2005-10-10
Filing date: 2006-05-10
Publication date: 2007-04-11
Also published as: ITTV20050049U1; ES1064780U; ES1064780Y; GB0609239D0

Abstract

A removable cover (1a) for a heated towel rail radiator (2) comprises a flat front panel (3) which is of substantially the same size as the radiator, the panel having on both vertical sides (4) an end piece of continuous rectilinear profile which turns at least partially around the collector (20). The cover is made from metal or another material. A side (40) of the cover may have a plurality of rectilinear slots (5) therein that correspond with studs (6) to allow mounting of the cover elements (1a, 1b and 1c). The cover may be provided with at least one towel rail (160) that may be spaced to provide a gap between the cover and the rail. The cover may have at least one opening, through which an element (210 Figs 11 and 14) of the towel rail may protrude to accept a towel. The side sections of the rail cover may be chamfered/angled with respect to the front panel (Fig. 7).

Description

REMOVABLE INDUCED HEATING COVER ELEMENT FOR HEATED

TOWEL RAILS IN HYDROTHERMAL INSTALLATIONS FOR

ENVIRONMENTS

This invention relates to removable induced heating covers such as coating housings for heated towel rails.

The invention finds application in the field of production of components and accessories for heated towel rails such as conventional tubular radiators for heating installations of environments.

FIELD OF THE iNVENTION

Traditional indoor radiators are usually metallic, wall mounted structures, which irradiate and diffuse heat substantially uniformly in the environment. These structures, in the past, consisted of a series of hollow, vertical cast iron elements joined near the two (upper and lower) ends. Inside the radiator, when the circuit is made active by the heating installation, the fluid, generally water, at temperature circulates so that each radiator is also provided with an inlet and an outlet of the circulating water, intercepted at the inlet by at least one flow regulation valve.

Radiator structures, in time, have undergone important changes that not only affect the material, but also the internal and, above all, external shape of the radiator, adapting to the needs of taste. In this way, the classic shape with vertical elements has evolved into a flat radiating panel, then in recent years stylistically returned to the vertical tubular elements, mostly round or also rectangular sections.

Some, like for example in CH436191 (Charton), proposed radiators consisting of horizontal tubular and flat radiating elements, essentially of rectangular sections, longitudinally approaching one another and joined at the two ends with two vertical elements, one including the inlet and one the outlet of the circulating fluid.

CH568539 (Schaich) substantially consists of slightly spacing the horizontal radiating elements, in such a way that, from one to another, equidistant, they appear to be inserted with interspaces.

It is furthermore known that the locations of these radiators in houses are diverse.

The bathroom stands out as a location in which there is a particular need to combine aesthetics with functionality.

Within functional needs, as well as the function of heating the environment, there is also the function of being able to heat towels or hand towels by direct contact, rather than indirect, in such a way as to be able to benefit from the pleasant feeling obtained from the temperature whenever the towels are picked up. Indeed in W092/03 961 (Park), a sort of towel-hanger was described, essentially consisting of two wall-mounted brackets, for the entry and exit connection to the circulating water installation of the heating installation, joined by two tubular, horizontal and parallel elements. In this hypothesis, also like that described by DE3903515 (Schlipphak), the main aim of said tubular elements, where the water at temperature circulates, overhanging with respect to the wall is substantially that of allowing the suspended support of the towel in such a way to have it constantly at temperature eliminating the humidity from it also after having used it for drying ones hands. In these examples, it is evident that the reduced number of radiating elements, and also the shape, did not allow practically supporting more towels.

At the same time these structures did not apply themselves well to increasing heating of the environment, therefore these were accessories to be added to a bathroom other than the necessary radiator.

Finally, in 1T66022 there are structures with tubular (round section) radiating elements for heating of the environment and towels. In more detail, in this proposal, structures are illustrated that are essentially composed of two vertical, rectilinear and parallel collectors, each of which, along the same external surface and in the same plane, supports corresponding ends of horizontal round section radiating elements, spaced from each other. The horizontal radiating elements are assembled, attached to the collectors, so as to be vertically distributed in groups, each consisting of a numerically variable assembly of horizontal elements. In this way radiating surfaces with different areas are locally available for each group. This aspect makes it possible to introduce a towel sheet through the radiator so that the sheet is placed with its sides straddling the assembly consisting of horizontal radiating elements.

PRIOR ART CLOSEST TO THE INVENTION

The solutions now shown, which are hybrid, therefore are limited in that they provide a non-optimal heating function of the environment and a noneffective support and heating of the towels.

In this sense, they originated from solutions, all intent on providing overhanging structures with respect to the main radiating surface in the upper part of the radiator. An analogous situation is described, for example in EPO791677 (Bordignon), in which an accessory is suggested, in practice a horizontal rod to be joined to the upper part of a radiator, by means of two end brackets that keep it distanced. The towel is therefore placed straddling said rod. Also FR2669353 (Monnaye) proposes a similar solution, where to exploit the natural convective motion, the radiator is inclined forwards, leaving the upper portion bound to the wall by means of an extensible rack. In this original way, not only towels but also common garments can be hung on the rack.

EP0475261 (Dietrich) proposes a vertical wall radiator, consisting of a perimeter frame, crossed by tubular radiating elements directed diagonally, divided by groups, and inserted with free areas. In the upper part of the radiator, two further overhanging transverse, tubular elements are provided, respectively one above the other and in which the heating fluid runs along. Said transverse elements are therefore distanced one from the other, and cross the radiator horizontally from one side to the other to be connected to the perimeter element that acts like a frame. In this way, further towels can be placed straddling each transverse radiating element and benefit from direct heating of the same through the circulation of the fluid in the single supports, like also the natural convective motion coming from the underlying and main radiating surface.

Also known are covers or functional coverings for radiators. For example, in EP0533554 (Prevot), equipment for household heating is described, consisting of a series of pipes, which cross radiating divisions that form an integral part of a coating, in practice a housing that is frontally attached and hooked at the back of the pipe complex.

US5537506 (Fennesz) describes a wall radiator with a removable radiating cover.

A flat device for temperature regulation is provided with at least one element for regulation (heating or refrigerating), at least one support device and at least one flat cover. The support device is modular and is fixed to the wall by support elements, bearing both the element for regulation (heating or refrigerating) and the cover establishing a thermic conduction between the two bodies.

EP0483990 (Howland et al.) provides a hot-water wall radiator which is provided with a cover which is sized to house said radiator. The cover is able to be moved from a closed condition that covers the front, back and upper part of the radiator, to an open position that allows access to the radiator from the upper part. A locking device is provided in the closed position.

DISADVANTAGES

The aforementioned solutions, in relation to the existing removable cover, find no use in radiators of the heated towel rail type. Moreover, in the known installations there is a reasonable heat dispersion that otherwise could be recovered and progressively released also when hot water no longer circulates in the elements of the heated towel rail.

Moreover, still in reference to existing removable covers for conventional radiators, they are complex, their realization and installation difficult and in any case, ill- suited to be used on the heated towel rail.

Therefore regarding the heated towel rail function, the traditional structures, because of the fact that the hand towels or towels are heated mainly by direct contact, do not optimally benefit from the natural convective motion that frontally skirts the radiating surface.

Hence, there is a need for companies, particularly in this field, to identif' more effective alternative solutions, with respect to the existing solutions up to now.

The aim of this invention is also to avoid the described disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This and other aims, are reached with this invention according to the characteristics of the attached claims solving the problems shown by means of a cover element, that consists of a sheet of metallic or other materials, which is at least equal in height and width to an the underlying heated towel rail radiator and wherein the cover element, like a coating housing, further comprises a panel, at least partly flat, which on both vertical sides comprises a continuous, rectilinear "C"-shaped profile which turns at least partially around a corresponding collector.

AIMS

In this way, through the considerable creative contribution the effect of which has allowed the achievement of considerable technical progress, some aims and advantages are reached.

A first aim is to obtain a cover element of the heated towel rail, which provides increased total efficiency of the same heated towel rail due to the proximity to the tubular radiating elements, also progressively releasing the accumulated heat when the fluid at temperature no longer circulates in the back tubular elements.

A second aim has been that of optimizing the heated towel rail function allowing towels to be positioned on wider heating surfaces and in such a way as to benefit from the natural convective motion that circulates ascending at the front and back part of the heated towel rail.

A third aim has consisted of making versatile covers available in their numerous arrangement possibilities, of easy realization and of easy, as well as fast, installation.

In conclusion, it has been possible to obtain a cover element for heated towel rails provided with at least greater comfort and effectiveness of use.

These and other advantages will appear from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments with the aid of the enclosed drawings, whose details are not to be considered limitative but only illustrative.

CONTENT OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1, is a front view of a first cover element according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2, is a back view of the cover element of Figure 1 combined with the relative heated towel rail; Figure 3, is a sectional view A-A of the cover element of Figure 1; Figure 4, is a sectional view B-B of the cover element of Figure 1; Figure 5, is a front view of a cover element, according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6, is a back view of the cover element of Figure 5 combined with the relative heated towel rail; Figure 7, is a sectional view A-A of the cover element of Figure 5; Figure 8, is a front view of a cover element according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 9, is a back view of the cover element of Figure 8 combined with the relative heated towel rail; Figure 10, is a sectional view A-A of the cover element of Figure 8; Figure 11, is a front view of a cover element according to a fourth embodiment invention; Figure 12, is a back view of the cover element of Figure 11 combined with the relative heated towel rail; Figure 13, is a sectional view A-A of the cover element of Figure 11; Figure 14, is a sectional view B-B of the cover element of Figure 11; and Figure 15, is a C-C sectional view of the cover element of Figure 11.

PRACTICAL REALIZATIONS OF THE INVENTION

The cover elements la, ib, ic and id illustrated respectively from Figure 1 to Figure 15, are substantially composed of a shaped metallic, or other material sheet both for functional and decorative aims, for example a varnished sheet, and provided with anchorage means to the underlying heated towel rail 2. The cover element is at least equal in height and width to that of the heated towel rail radiator 2. The cover element 1, like a coating housing, comprises a substantially flat panel 3, which on both vertical sides 4 has a profile with a continuous rectilinear "C"-like shape. Each side 4, has a "C" shape turned again at least partially around the corresponding collector 20, and remains spaced from the same. In the cover elements Ia, ib, ic and id, the panel 3 is also maintained slightly spaced from the underlying radiating surface 21 of the heated towel rail providing an airspace (s) substantially accentuated, that is interposed between the radiating surface of the heated towel rail 2 and the internal face of the panel 3.

A side 40 of cover elements la, lb and ic, of the side 4 with the "C"shaped profile is placed parallel to the front panel 3 and is provided with rectilinear slots 5 extending along the horizontal axis. In this case the slots are open at an end 50 facing towards the inside of the heated towel rail. The slots 5 coincide with studs 6 fixed to each collector 20 orthogonal with respect to the same, and allow mounting of the cover elements la, lb and ic by means of a screw or a nut.

Still in the solution of the cover element la, see Figure 1, abutting the front face of the panel 3, a plastic, in this case methacrylate, shackle 16 is placed transversely, and spaced from the surface of the panel 3 by a distance necessary to allow the introduction, by passing through, of at least one towel in a hung condition. The shackle 16 has a longitudinal profile that corresponds to the shape of the cover element la, including a part 160 projected horizontally with respect to the cover element la with two opposite "C" shaped ends 161 which are framed inside and abut the side 4 of the "C"-shaped profile of the cover element la. Also in this case the shackle 16 is provided with slots 162, through which, locally, the same studs that anchor the cover element la to the underlying heated towel rail 2 pass. Still in the solution of Figure 1, a vertically directed methacrylate band 7 is attached to the panel 3 from the front side of the cover element 1 a.

In particular, the aesthetic band 7 is securely mounted to the underlying surface, by means of screws or equivalent, and more in particular to the front panel 3 of the cover element 7, in a low area of the front face, provided with convenient mounting holes, provided vertically along the lateral end of said face of the panel 3 of the cover element 1 a.

In the solution of Figure 5, a cover element lb is represented as a variant to the previous one. In particular, unlike the solution already shown, on the front panel 3 a polygonal opening 8, in this case square, is provided centrally, passing through the panel 3. Regarding the "C"-shaped sides 4 that turn around the respective collectors 20, they have a connecting side 41 between the panel 3 and a mounting side 40 of the cover element lb, to the heated towel rail 2, directed obliquely, or off-axis with respect to the orthogonal axis of the front panel 3, by about 45 .

The cover element lc, represented in Figure 8, is also a variant. The front panel 3, in this case, has two box-like shoulders 9 vertically provided along the two ends of the same and projected longitudinally. The shoulders 9 comprise an internal side 90 orthogonal to the front panel 3 and constitute an anchorage surface of at least one shackle positioned transversely with respect to the front panel 3, and spaced from the same surface of the front panel 3. The shackle 10 has a longitudinal profile including a part 101 projected parallel with respect to the front panel 3 of the cover element Ic and with ends of each shackle 10 that abut the anchorage side 90 of each shoulder 9, and are fixed to the same by means of stay-bolts or equivalent.

The cover element id, represents another possible variant and is represented in Figure 11. In this case the cover element ld still has a panel 3, while the sides 4 are provided similarly to the solution of the cover element lb shown in Figure 5. In this case, the front face of the panel 3 is substantially flat and provides an oval-shaped opening 11, located locally in the upper part, through which at least one transversal tubular element 210 of the radiating surface 21 of the heated towel rail 2 exits. The mounting of the cover element id is effected along the top border 13, which is orthogonally folded, of the cover element id by means of slots 12 provided at the end of the brackets 120 which are turned over and abutting the cover element id. The slots 12 extend vertically downwards and parallel with respect to the same. The lower end of the cover element id provides a second border 14 orthogonally folded with respect to the panel 3 from which, on the internal side, spacers 15 originate, fixed to the sheet of the cover element id. At the lower end of the collectors 21 of the heated towel rail 2, studs 22 are provided which are attached to the spacers 15 by means of nuts.

Claims

1. Removable induced heating cover element for heated towel rails in hydrothermal installations for environments, characterised in that the cover element la, ib, ic and Id, comprises a sheet of metallic or other materials, which is at least equal in height and width to an the underlying heated towel rail radiator 2 and wherein the cover element 1 a, ib, ic and ld, like a coating housing, further comprises a panel 3, at least partly flat, which on both vertical sides 4 comprises a continuous, rectilinear "C"-shaped profile which turns at least partially around a corresponding collector 20.

2. Heating cover element according to claim 1, characterised in that a side 40 of the side 4 is arranged parallel to the panel 3 and comprises rectilinear slots 5 extending along a horizontal axis, open at an end 50 facing towards the inside of the heated towel rail, said slots 5 coinciding with studs 6 fixed to each collector 20 orthogonal with respect to the same, for mounting of the cover element la, lb and ic.

3. Heating cover element according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising at least one shackle 16, 10 placed transversely adjacent a front side of the panel 3 and spaced from the panel 3 and with a longitudinal profile including a part 160, 101 extending parallel with respect to the panel 3.

4. Heating cover element according to any preceding claims, characterised in that a shackle 16, of the cover element 1 a, provides two opposite "C" shaped ends.

5. Heating cover element according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that ends of each shackle 10 of the cover element lc abut an anchorage side 90 of each shoulder 9, and are fixed to the same.

6. Heating cover element according to claim 1, characterised in that the front panel 3 of the cover element 1 d, provides at least one opening 11 through which at least one transversal tubular element 210 of the radiating surface 21 of the heated towel rail 2 exits.

7. Heating cover element according to claim 1, 6 characterised in that the cover element id, provides a top border 13 orthogonally folded, from which brackets 120 protrude, turned over and abutting and towards the inside of the cover element id projected vertically downwards and parallel to the front panel 3, at the end of which there are slots 12.

8. Heating cover element according to claim 1, characterised in that a lower end of the cover element id provides a second border 14 orthogonally folded with respect to the surface of the front panel 3 from which on the internal side, spacers originate 15, fixed to the sheet of the cover element id, on which studs are abutted 22 and provided at the lower end of the collectors 21 of the heated towel rail 2.

9. Heating cover element according to claim 1, characterised in that the "C"-shaped sides 4 that turn again around the respective collectors 20, in the element have a side 41 directed obliquely, or off-axis with respect to the orthogonal axis of the front panel 3, by about 45 .

10. A heating cover element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. I'