WO2016141401A1

WO2016141401A1 - Heated electric towel rail

Info

Publication number: WO2016141401A1
Application number: PCT/AU2015/050807
Authority: WO
Inventors: Filipe Neto LIM
Original assignee: Arlec Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-11
Filing date: 2015-12-18
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Also published as: NZ732672A; NZ771324A; AU2021245227A1; AU2023285989A1; AU2015385746A1; AU2015385746B2

Abstract

A heated electric towel rail including a body length, a heating element mounted to heat a portion of the towel rail, and a power cord connected to the heating element to supply power to the heating element, wherein the body length has a first aperture at a first 5 location and a second aperture at a second location spaced from the first location, wherein an end of the power cord exits the body length through the first aperture, and wherein an intermediate portion of the power cord between said cord end and the heating element extends past the second aperture and is arranged to permit the intermediate portion to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture.

Description

HEATED ELECTRIC TOWEL RAIL

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a heated electric towel rail and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a heated electric towel rail which is configured to be mounted either to the left of an electric power socket or to the right of an electric power socket. Background of the Invention

It is known to provide an electric heated towel rail for hanging towels in a bathroom. It is common for electric heated towel rails to be manufactured as a left-hand model or a right-hand model depending on whether a power source in the form of an electric power socket is to be situated to the left or right of the towel rail when installed.

It has been previously proposed to provide a universal electric heated towel rail which is able to be mounted in either a left-hand mounting or a right-hand mounting, however the applicant has identified that existing towel rails of that type either use two heating elements inside the product or have other systems that limit the heater style type. In particular, existing universal designs may be restricted to round or square forms, excluding curved towel rails or more exotic designs. The applicant has identified that it would be advantageous to provide an electric heated towel rail which is able to be configured with a wide range of shapes/styles and which is less expensive to manufacture than existing electric heated towel rails.

Examples of the invention seek to provide an improved electric heated towel rail which overcomes or at least alleviates disadvantages associated with existing electric heated towel rails. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heated electric towel rail including a body length, a heating element mounted to heat a portion of the towel rail, and a power cord connected to the heating element to supply power to the heating element, wherein the body length has a first aperture at a first location and a second aperture at a second location spaced from the first location, wherein an end of the power cord exits the body length through the first aperture, and wherein an intermediate portion of the power cord between said cord end and the heating element extends past the second aperture and is arranged to permit the intermediate portion to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture.

Preferably, the intermediate portion includes a loop of the power cord which protrudes through the second aperture. More preferably, the power cord exits the second aperture and re-enters the second aperture.

Preferably, the end of the power cord exits the body length through the first aperture for connection to a power source in a first configuration and the power cord is able to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture such that the power cord exits the body length through the second aperture for connection to the power source in a second configuration. More preferably, the first configuration is for when the heated electric towel rail is mounted to a wall with the power source to one side of the heated electric towel rail and the second configuration is for when the heated electric towel rail is mounted to a wall with the power source to an opposite side of the heated electric towel rail.

Preferably, the body length extends substantially vertically such that the first aperture and the second aperture and mounted in a mutually vertically spaced arrangement. More preferably, the heated electric towel rail is rotated 180 degrees between the first configuration and the second configuration such that in the first configuration one of the apertures is mounted above the other aperture and, in the second configuration, the other of the apertures is mounted at a higher location. Preferably, the heated electric towel rail includes a plurality of horizontal rails, mutually spaced vertically, and the heating element extends through each of the horizontal rails. More preferably, each of the plurality of horizontal rails is connected to said body length. Even more preferably, each of the plurality of horizontal rails is connected to said body length at one end of the respective horizontal rail. In one form, each of the plurality of horizontal rails is connected to a second body length at an opposite end of the respective rail. In a preferred form, each of the opposed body lengths accommodates one or more sections of the heating element to enable the heating element to snake continuously through the horizontal rails.

Preferably, the heated electric towel rail includes only a single heating element.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a heated electric towel rail as described above, including the step of choosing to mount the heated electric towel rail in one of two configurations, including a first configuration wherein the power cord exits the body length through the first aperture for connection to the power source and a second configuration in which the heated electric towel rail is rotated 180 degrees relative to the first configuration and in which the power cord is drawn through the second aperture such that the power cord exits the body length through the second aperture for connection to the power source.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a heated electric towel rail in accordance with an example of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the heated electric towel rail of Figure 1 shown in a rotated configuration; Figure 3 shows the heated electric towel rail of Figures 1 and 2 with outline depicting the configuration of a power cord and a heating element inside the towel rail; Figure 4 shows a heated electric towel rail in accordance with another example of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a heated electric towel rail similar to the one shown in Figures 1 and 2 only with rounded, rather than square, tubes; and

Figure 6 shows the heated electric towel rail of Figure 5 shown in a rotated configuration.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a heated electric towel rail which is able to be mounted with an electric power source (socket) to either the left or right, without an inconveniently long extent of power cord being exposed. Advantageously, the heated electric towel rail is configured with a first aperture having an end of a power cord passed through it and a second aperture with an intermediate portion of the power cord extending past it so that the power cord can be arranged to exit the body of the heated electric towel rail through either the first aperture or the second aperture depending on which side of the towel rail is closest to the electric power point.

More specifically, with reference to Figure 1, there is provided a heated electric towel rail 10 including a body length 12, a heating element 14 (see Figure 3) mounted to heat a portion of the towel rail 10, and a power cord 16 connected to the heating element 14 to supply power to the heating element 14. The body length 12 has a first aperture 18 at a first location and a second aperture 20 at a second location spaced from the first location. An end 22 of the power cord 16 exits the body length 12 through the first aperture 18. An intermediate portion 24 of the power cord 16 between said cord end 22 and the heating element 14 extends past the second aperture 20 and is arranged to permit the intermediate portion 24 to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture 20. Advantageously, by virtue of the features described above, the heated electric towel rail 10 is able to be mounted as shown in Figure 1 where a power source is to be mounted to a left hand side and, alternatively, is able to be mounted as shown in Figure 2 for when a power source is located to a right hand side. As shown in Figure 1, the intermediate portion 24 is pulled outwardly through the second aperture 20 for connection to a power source in the arrangement shown in Figure 1, whereas, in the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the end 22 of the power cord 16 is pulled through the first aperture 18 for connection to a power source located to a right hand side of the heated electric towel rail 10. Accordingly, the heated electric towel rail 10 is able to be adapted readily for mounting in either configuration, with the power cord 16 extending from a lower end of the heated electric towel rail in either configuration. It is to be noted that the heated electric towel rail 10 has been rotated 180 degrees in Figure 2 when compared with the configuration shown in Figure 1.

Returning to the detail of the example of the invention shown in the drawings, the intermediate portion 24 includes a loop 26 of the power cord 16 which protrudes through the second aperture 20. The power cord 16 exits the second aperture 20 and re-enters the second aperture 20 so as to form this loop 26. The loop 26 enables the power cord 16 to be readily pulled from the second aperture 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a connector in the form of a power plug is connected to the power cord 16 once the installation type has been settled and the power cord 16 has been pulled to exit whichever of the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 20 is most appropriate for the particular installation.

The installation type depicted in Figure 2 is, for present purposes, to be deemed a "first configuration" installation and the arrangement shown in Figure 1 is to be deemed a "second configuration" installation. With reference to Figure 2, the end 22 of the power cord 16 exits the body length 12 through the first aperture 18 for connection to a first power source in a first configuration and the power cord 16 is able to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture 20 such that the power cord 16 exits the body length 12 through the second aperture 20 for connection to the power source in the second configuration. The first configuration (see Figure 2) is for when the heated electric towel rail 10 is mounted to a wall with the power source to one side (the right hand side) of the heated electric towel rail 10 and the second configuration (see Figure 1) is for when the heated electric towel rail 10 is mounted to a wall with the power source to an opposite side (left hand side) of the heated electric towel rail 10.

The body length 12 extends substantially vertically such that the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 20 are mounted in a mutually vertically spaced arrangement. The heated electric towel rail 10 is rotated 180 degrees between the first configuration and the second configuration such that in the first configuration one of the apertures (the second aperture 20) is mounted above the other aperture and, in the second configuration, the other (the first aperture 18) is mounted at a location higher than the second aperture 20).

In the example shown, the heated electric towel rail 10 includes a plurality of horizontal rails 28 mutually spaced vertically, and the heating element 14 extends through each of the horizontal rails 28, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each of the plurality of horizontal rails 28 is connected to the body length 12 at one end of each respective horizontal rail 28. More specifically, each of the plurality of horizontal rails 28 is also connected to a second body length 30 at an opposite end of each respective horizontal rail 28 such that the heated electric towel rail 10 generally resembles a ladder. Each of the opposed body lengths 12, 30 accommodates one or more sections of the heating element 14 (see Figure 3) to enable the heating element 14 to snake continuously through the horizontal rails 28.

In the example shown, the heated electric towel rail 10 includes only a single heating element 14. Although the example shown in Figures 1 to 3 shows the heated electric towel rail 10 having a square tube design, it will be appreciated that in alternative examples the heated electric towel rail 10 may have a round tube design, as shown in Figure 4. In Figure 3, the solid black line shows the power cord 16 (the mains wire) and the dashed line depicts the heating element 14 wire. Each of the body lengths 12, 30 have short legs/pillars 32 which can either be attached to the main frame during installation or may be fixed to the main body, depending on the design of the towel rail. In the example shown in the drawings, the first aperture 18 and the second aperture 20 extend through the short legs 32 which form part of the body length 12.

In accordance with examples of the invention, advantageously there is provided a straight-forward principle whereby the power cord is able to be extracted via either end of one side of the towel rail 10. Accordingly, a single mains cord 16 is electrically connected via the active and neutral wires to an insulated heater element wire inside the metal towel rail. The heater element wire is connected to the active wire and neutral wire to close the circuit, and the earth wire is connected to the metal towel rail body. Advantageously, the present invention does not require multiple heater elements or two separate connection points to achieve left hand and right hand installation options for a single model of towel rail. Examples of the present invention allow a single mains cord attached to a single heater element to be used as either a left hand installation or a right hand installation for a single heated towel rail model. Accordingly, the consumer does not need to know which type of installation will be required at the time of purchase of the heated electric towel rail by virtue of the present invention which is able to be installed either way. The present concept is simple and cost effective and can be used for any shape/style of heated towel rail.

Figures 1 to 3 show the mains cord looping out of the second aperture and also protruding out at the first aperture, while Figure 4 shows the cord inside the towel rail body. It is possible, but not necessarily preferred, that if the cord is left inside the towel rail body like that shown in Figure 4 the cord could then be extracted using a suitable tool or possibly by hand at the desired aperture point. Although the drawings show the power cord inside the larger vertical post of the towel rail it will be appreciated that in alternative examples the power cord may extend along a horizontal rail (or other rail) of the heater depending on its shape and design.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a heated electric towel rail similar to the one shown in Figures 1 and 2 only with rounded tubes rather than square tubes. The heated electric towel rail of Figures 5 and 6 is otherwise similar to the heated electric towel rail shown in Figures 1 and 2 and like features are indicated with like reference numerals. Although both round tubing and square tubing versions are shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other forms of the invention may have tubing with other cross-sectional shapes. Although the above discussion of the examples of the invention mention left-hand side or right-hand side installation in reference to an electrical socket or power source, it can also be the case that the mains wire of the towel rail can be connected behind the wall by some electrical means rather than to an obvious electrical socket/point on the wall surface, typically, in new bathroom installations, for example. In some jurisdictions like New Zealand this type of product must be hardwired into a special wall socket, usually with switch, or optionally behind the wall. In other jurisdictions a plug on the towel rail mains cord and GPO socket (power point) on the wall may be sufficient.

Towel rail heaters are typically made from some sort of metal housing which obviously ensures good heat transfer, however it is also possible that non- metallic/composite materials could potentially be used.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A heated electric towel rail including a body length, a heating element mounted to heat a portion of the towel rail, and a power cord connected to the heating element to supply power to the heating element, wherein the body length has a first aperture at a first location and a second aperture at a second location spaced from the first location, wherein an end of the power cord exits the body length through the first aperture, and wherein an intermediate portion of the power cord between said cord end and the heating element is arranged to permit the intermediate portion to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture,

2. A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion includes a loop of the power cord which protrudes through the second aperture.

3. A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 2, wherein the power cord exits the second aperture and re-enters the second aperture.

4. A heated electric towel rail as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end of the power cord exits the body length through the first aperture for connection to a power source in a first configuration and wherein the power cord is able to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture such that the power cord exits the body length through the second aperture for connection to the power source in a second configuration.

5. A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first configuration is for when the heated electric towel rail is mounted to a wall with the power source to one side of the heated electric towel rail and the second configuration is for when the heated electric towel rail is mounted to a wall with the power source to an opposite side of the heated electric towel rail. A heated electric towel rail as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the body length extends vertically such that the first aperture and the second aperture and mounted in a mutually vertically spaced arrangement,

A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 6, wherein the heated electric towel rail is rotated 180 degrees between the first configuration and the second configuration such that in the first configuration one of the apertures is mounted above the other aperture and, in the second configuration, the other of the apertures is mounted at a higher location.

A heated electric towel rail as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heated electric towel rail includes a plurality of horizontal rails and the heating element extends through each of the horizontal rails.

A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of horizontal rails is connected to said body length.

A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of horizontal rails is connected to said body length at one end of the respective horizontal rail.

A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of horizontal rails is connected to a second body length at an opposite end of the respective rai l .

A heated electric towel rail as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein each of the opposed body lengths accommodates one or more sections of the heating element to enable the heating element to snake continuously through the horizontal rails.

13, A heated electric towel rail as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the heated electric towel rail includes only a single heating element. i Z

A heated electric towel rail as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heating element extends past the second aperture so as to be arranged to permit the intermediate portion to be drawn outwardly through the second aperture.

A heated electric towel rail substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A method of using a heated electric towel rail as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, including the step of choosing to mount the heated electric towel rail in one of two configurations, including a first configuration wherein the power cord exits the body length through the first aperture for connection to the power source and a second configuration in which the heated electric towel rail is rotated 180 degrees relative to the first configuration and in which the power cord is drawn through the second aperture such that the power cord exits the body length through the second aperture for connection to the power source.

A method of using a heated electric towel rail substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.