GB2523745A

GB2523745A - A heating device

Info

Publication number: GB2523745A
Application number: GB1403661.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nazbin Khan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-03
Filing date: 2014-03-03
Publication date: 2015-09-09
Also published as: GB201403661D0; GB201616750D0; GB2538919A; WO2015132723A1

Abstract

The heating device has a planar body with a wall mounting and an extendable hanger. Most preferably the heating device comprises a central heating radiator having first and second planar radiator panels (1,11, figure 1a), the first panel having indentations 5 housing the extendable hanger 2 when in a retracted position (i.e. when not in use). The extendable hanger is fluidly linked with the first panel so that hot water flowing through the panel also flows through the hanger. Ideally, the hanger includes a plurality of arms 8 supporting respective sections 6, each section including a heat-resistant hand grip 13. The arms are preferably attached to the first panel by hinges 7 and are lockable in either an extended or retracted position by movement of a ball-bearing (71, figure 6) into apertures/lacunae (73,74, figure 6) under the action of a spring (72, figure 6). Service points (14, figure 5b) on a rear face of the first panel permit access to the hinges for maintenance. Hot water flowing through the hanger facilitates fast drying of garments hung on the hanger.

Description

A HEATING DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heating device, in particular to a device for space heating. More particularly the present invention relates to but not exclusively a device for combining space heating with air drying of garments or the like.

Background

Increasing burden is placed on environmental concerns in many societies, and efficient use of space heating facilities is important for many.

At the same time, modern societies are increasingly fragmented and dispersed, with increasing numbers of persons living individually. This combines with increasing populations to create a need for effective use of heat resources; and effective use of floorspace.

Frequent clothes washing in many households of whatever size leads to problems with drying the clothes, when traditional forced air drying machines become inappropriate or undesirable, through cost, or environmental concerns.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: European patent application EP 2 599 419 (GLYNN et al) discloses an airing device comprising: an airing rack arranged to extend from a relatively flat storage state to a deployed state in which the rack is extended to provide a surface from which clothes may be hung; and a radiator arranged to move from a storage state in which the radiator is disposed substantially vertically to a deployed state in which the radiator extends away from a wall on which it is mounted, the airing rack in its deployed state being arranged to locate over the radiator when in its deployed state.

Chinese utility model CN 202 546 934 (BIN) relates to a heating installation, in particular to a heating radiator with clothes hangers. The heating radiator with the clothes hangers comprises heating radiator plates, wherein a rotating shaft is arranged on each of two sides of the heating radiator plates; an end of each rotating shaft is connected with a telescopic rod; a clothes drying rod is arranged between the two telescopic rods; and locking devices are arranged on contact parts of the rotating shafts and the heating radiator plates. The heating radiator with the clothes hangers is simple in structure and convenient to use, and the telescopic clothes hangers are rotatablely arranged on two sides of the heating radiator plates, so that clothes can be prevented from directly contacting the heating radiator, and the heating radiator is clean, healthy and highly safe.

Chinese patent application CN 202 350 183 (JUNKAI) discloses a radiator convenient to dry clothes comprises a radiator body. Symmetrical telescopic rods are fixedly connected at the position close to the top of the radiator body on the two sides, a transverse rod is fixedly connected at the other end of the telescopic rods, and a plurality of through holes are arranged on the surface of the transverse rod.

Users can directly place articles on the surface of the transverse rod while using the radiator to dry articles with a large area such as bed sheets, bed covers and the like; users can hang the clothes on hangers firstly, and then hang the hangers on the through holes on the surface of the transverse rod while drying the clothes. The radiator has the advantages of being simple in structure, convenient to use, and convenient for people to use radiator for drying clothes, and brings greater convenience for users.

In contrast the present invention provides a convenient and flexible means of airing and drying clothes in limited space.

Sum mary of the Invention According a first aspect, the present invention provides a heating device comprising a substantially planar body with a wall-mounting mechanism, and a displaceable hanger; wherein the body and hanger comprise a heat pathway, and said pathway has at least one open end.

Preferably the pathway comprises a fluidic pathway. The device may be arranged in use to be operable in a closed water or oil heating system. In some further embodiments the heat pathway may comprise electric heating elements or other heat transference medium. In yet further embodiments the hanger may comprise both electric element and fluidic pathway, or the hanger may comprise an electric heating element and the body a fluidic pathway.

Preferably the pathway passes through the body and hanger continuously.

Preferably the pathway has two open ends, arranged to allow fluid to path through the body and hanger.

Preferably the device may be mounted on a wall or vertical structure in use. The wall mounting mechanism may comprise a means to resist vertical force generated from the device in use.

Advantageously the device may be arranged in use to be connected into or onto a water heating system, such as a domestic central heating system, in older that the pathway allows passage of heated water; and consequently generates space heating potential, through convection and radiation.

Preferably the fluidic pathway is continuous and unrestricted through the device at all times. Advantageously therefore the pathway may pass through the body and hanger during no, partial or whole displacement of the hanger from the body.

Preferably the hanger is extendable from the body. For example, the hanger may be extendable from the body substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body. The hanger may be extendable from the body substantially horizontally when fully displaced or extended, at least in part.

Preferably the hanger is hinged to the body at least two points, said points forming hinges. In some embodiments the hanger or parts of the hanger may be formed of three or more points of contact, wherein equal numbers of points comprise sections of the pathway and other points comprise braces, supports or displaceable subordinate bracing.

Preferably the fluidic pathway passes through the hinges.

Preferably the hanger, for example the hinges, include locking means such as for example bias, and/or resiliently deforrnable catches, or any combination thereof. The locking means are arranged in use to prevent or minimise unauthorised return displacement or replacement of the hanger and/or hinge.

Advantageously it may be envisaged that such locking means is sufficient to prevent movement of the hinge even when the hanger is loaded for example with wet garments for drying purposes.

For example the hinges preferably comprise a displaceable locking means which is displaced from locking for movement by exertion of the user and lever mechanism.

The hinges may for example lock at full extension and retraction of the hanger, advantageously ensuring correct placement in use.

In other embodiments the hanger may be fixed or secured at full displacement, for example by an independent part such as a brace, which brace may be displaced in order to support the hanger when extended.

For example the brace may be envisaged to be placed below the hanger or at least part of the hanger, or arranged to grip the hanger from above.

Other embodiments of bracing members may comprise displaceable catch members, for example slidable lock fingers, slidable below the extended hanger or hanger parts.

Preferably the hanger has an elongate distal section that is arranged in use to be spaced apart from the body when the hanger is extended, advantageously so as to provide maximal area for hanging, commensurate to the body width.

Said elongate distal section may typically run parallel to the body and subordinate wall in use. The elongate distal section preferably runs substantially orthogonally to at least two arms extending from the hinges, and is a continuation of such arms.

Preferably some embodiments of the hanger have a plurality of said sections. For example wherein the arms have plural sections extending therefrom. Such intermediate sections may not contain or comprise pathways, so as to create different drying areas. In some embodiments such intermediate sections may be moveable or adjustably situated on the arms.

Preferably in some embodiments the hanger has a plurality of arms, and a plurality of hinges.

Advantageously therefore the hanger is arranged in use to be extendable, for example hinged out, in order to provide at least one cantilevered or projecting member, over which clothes may be hung in use, wherein the hanger and body combine to provide local radiation and convection heating and drying conditions. For example the body may be shaped to convect heated air towards the hanger.

Advantageously the hinges may comprise the pathway, wherein the hinge may comprise an unbroken pathway at all times.

Preferably therefore the hinge is arranged to move on an axis that differs to that of the pathway, so the pathway is continuous or uninterrupted at all times in order that opening and closing of the hinge does not alter through-flow in any way.

Preferably the hanger comprises a plurality of individually extendable hanger parts, each hinged independently.

Brief Description of Figures

Figures 1 show isometric views of an embodiment of the device with hanger retracted and extended respectively; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the device as shown in Figures 1; Figures 3 show side views of the device as shown in Figures 1; Figures 4 show rear and front views respectively of the embodiment as shown in Figures 1; Figures 5a and 5b show sketch views of details of the embodiment shown in Figures 1; Figure Sc shows an internal diagrammatic view of the device, as shown in Figures 1. And

Figures 6 show detail views of a hinge for an embodiment as shown in Figures 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device having two body elements 1,11 with a first body element 1 having an extendable hanger 2.

The hanger is composed of a plurality of arms 8, leading past rounded corners 9 to a plurality of sections 6 running parallel to the body. The arms extend orthogonally to the body at hinges 7.

Said hinges comprise internal fluidic pathways that pass through a 90 degree turn from an axis defined by the arm, whichever stage of displacement the hanger is at.

The body allows insertion of fingers below the hanger when the hanger is retracted, insertion being facilitated by indentations 5 in the body. Heat resistant handgrips 13 allow the fingers to avoid discomfort.

The body and hanger are formed from corrosion and heat resistant material such as, without limitation, aluminium, stainless steel or cast iron.

The hinges include resiliently deformable seals, or 0 rings, so as to prevent egress of moisture before, during and after any movement.

The hinges further include a locking mechanism, comprising sprung parts that are biased to lock the hinge at particular positions. More particularly said parts are arranged to spring into place when certain rotational positions of the hanger are accomplished, namely full extension, for bracing a loaded hanger, and full retraction, for neatness.

In the pictured embodiment of the hinge the part is a ballbearing 71 on a compression spring 72, which springs into lacunae 73 and 74 when full extension and retraction is achieved of the hanger from the body.

The device can be fully serviced as the hanger parts are accessible from the back of of the body at service points 14.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A heating device comprising a substantially planar body with a wall-mounting mechanism; and a displaceable hanger, wherein the body and hanger comprise a heat pathway, and said pathway has at least one open end.
2. A heating device according to claim 1 wherein the pathway comprises a fluidic pathway.
3. A heating device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the pathway passes through the body and at least part of the hanger continuously.
4. A heating device according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the pathway has two open ends arranged in use to allow fluid to path through the body and hanger.
5. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the device is arranged in use to be mounted on a wall or vertical structure in use, wherein the mechanism is arranged in use to resist vertical force generated from weight of the device in use.
6. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims in which said device is arranged in use to be connected into or onto a water heating system.
7. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hanger is extendable from the body substantially horizontally when fully displaced or extended, at least in part.
8. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims with a hanger including displaceable subordinate bracing.
9. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pathway is substantially uninterrupted and unrestricted through the device at all times.
10. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hanger is hinged to the body at least two points, said points forming hinges.
11. A heating device according to claim 10 wherein the fluidic pathway passes through the hinges.
12. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims 10 0111 wherein the hinges includes locking means.
13. A heating device according to claim 12 wherein the hinges lock at full extension and retraction of the hanger.
14. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hanger has an elongate distal section that is spaced apart from the body when the hanger is extended.
15. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the section runs substantially orthogonally to at least two arms extending from the hinges.
16. A heating device according to claim 15 with a plurality of sections.
17. A heating device according to either of preceding claims 15 or 16 with a plurality of arms.
18. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims 16 to 17 wherein sections are displaceable relative to the body.
19. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims 16 to 19 wherein intermediate sections do not comprise pathways.
20. A heating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the heat pathway comprises electric heating elements.
21. A heating device substantially as described herein with reference to the figures.