WALL MOUNTING FOR CENTRAL HEATING RADIATORS
The present invention provides a system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top to facilitate cleaning and the like, the system comprising: a) an upper bracket to releasably hold an upper portion of the radiator adjacent a wall; and b) at least one adjustable lower bracket for fastening to the wall to support a lower portion of a radiator at a support location spaced away from the wall such that the radiator is able to pivot on the lower bracket and swing away from the wall at the top when released, c) wherein the lower bracket includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust the spacing between the support location and the wall, comprising a wall mounting part having pivotally mounted thereon a hook, the adjustment mechanism providing a plurality of securing points in the wall mounting or hook and having a projection which is securable at a selected one of the securing points, and d) wherein the hook or the wall mounting has a camming surface which, in use, bears against the projection when the hook is pivoted relative to the wall mounting such that angle between the hook and the wall mounting part of the lower bracket is adjustable by adjusting the location of the projection, thereby to adjust the spacing of the support location from the wall.
The present invention relates to a wall mounting for central heating radiators. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall, a bracket for supporting a water connection at the bottom of a radiator of a central heating system and an adjustable pivotal radiator system for a central heating system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWe have previously described a pivotal wall mounting for a radiator in our patent GB 2,254,412. Further background prior art can be found in: GB2256267A (Wilson et al.), GB2349685A (Hickey), and GB2096451A (Hara).
However, there exists a need for an improved pivotal wall mounting for such pivotal radiators.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top. This can facilitate cleaning and the like. The system comprises: a) an upper bracket to releasably hold an upper portion of the radiator adjacent a wall; and b) at least one adjustable lower bracket for fastening to the wall to support a lower portion of a radiator at a support location spaced away from the wall such that the radiator is able to pivot on the lower bracket and swing away from the wall at the top when released, c) wherein the lower bracket includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust the spacing between the support location and the wall, comprising a wall mounting part having pivotally mounted thereon a hook, the adjustment mechanism providing a plurality of securing points in the wall mounting or hook and having a projection which is securable at a selected one of the securing points, and d) wherein the hook or the wall mounting has a camming surface which, in use, bears against the projection when the hook is pivoted relative to the wall mounting such that angle between the hook and the wall mounting part of the lower bracket is adjustable by adjusting the location of the projection, thereby to adjust the spacing of the support location from the wall.
In use, the hook may engage with a cylindrical or effectively cylindrical surface around the inlet or outlet, for example a pipe or cylindrical (or hex) surface (into which the threaded pipe fitting is usually fitted) projecting proud of the radiator.
The invention also provides a bracket for supporting a water connection at the bottom of a radiator of a central heating system to enable the radiator to be tilted away from a wall on which the bracket is mounted, the bracket comprising: a hook to support said water connection, and a wall mounting part having a hook mounting element configured to project at right angles from a wall when the bracket is mounted, the a hook mounting element having a pivot mounting the stem of said hook to enable the hook to swing away from the wall when the bracket is mounted, the element having a slot below the pivot; and wherein said bracket further comprises an adjustment mechanism, a first part of said adjustment mechanism comprising said hook mounting element and a second part of said adjustment mechanism comprising said stem of said hook; wherein one of said first and second parts of said adjustment mechanism has a surface, preferably generally convex or arcuate in shape, to provide a camming surface, and wherein the other of said first and second parts of said adjustment mechanism provides a plurality of securing points and has an adjustable support which is securable at a selected one of the securing points, and
wherein, in use, the camming surface bears against the support such that a distance of the part of the hook for supporting said water connection from the wall is adjustable by adjusting a said securing point of the support.
The invention also provides a system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top to facilitate cleaning and the like, the system comprising: a) an upper bracket to releasably hold an upper portion of the radiator adjacent a wall; and b) at least one adjustable lower bracket for fastening to the wall to support a lower portion of a radiator at a supporting location spaced away from the wall such that the radiator can pivot on the lower bracket and swing away from the wall at the top when released; c) at least one swivel connector including a pipe-fixed element and a radiator fixed element axially rotatably fluid tight coupled to the pipe fixed element; d) the radiator fixed element having a supporting surface for engaging and pivotally supporting the radiator on a corresponding surface on the adjustable lower bracket.
The invention also provides a system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top to facilitate cleaning and the like, the system comprising: a) an upper bracket to releasably hold an upper portion of the radiator adjacent a wall; and b) at least one adjustable lower bracket for fastening to the wall to support a lower portion of a radiator at a supporting location spaced away from the wall such that the radiator can pivot on the lower bracket and swing away from the wall at the top when released; c) the upper bracket having a child proof securing means against release.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and in which:
Broadly speaking, we will describe an adjustable bracket and system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top to facilitate cleaning and the like behind the radiator, without the need to remove the radiator from the wall and/or disconnect the pipes connecting the radiator to a central heating system.
During use, the camming surface 32 bears against the adjustable support 28 by virtue of the weight of the radiator 10 in the hook 22. Since the pivot 36 is above the adjustable support 28, positioning and fixing the adjustable support 28 within the slot 26 allows the relative distance between the wall 1 and the supported radiator 10 and hook 22 to be adjusted. The camming surface 32 can be manufactured to provide different shapes that enable a greater or lesser change in distance when the position of the adjustable support is varied.
The adjustable support 28 comprises a bolt that may be loosened to permit movement within the slot 26 and then tightened to retain the new position within the slot 26. The skilled reader would of course understand that other releasing and locking mechanisms may be used in place of the bolt.
The stem 30 of the hook 22 further comprises a bulge 34 on the edge opposed to the camming surface 32. The bulge 34 helps to retain the radiator 10 in the hook 22 when the upper portion of the radiator is pivoted away from the wall.
Should the user wish to pivot the radiator 10 beyond the limited distance provided by the chain, the chain may be removed or unclipped from the radiator and the radiator lowered further. The means for the securing the chain so that it is removable or unclipped may preferably be child proof.
No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to the skilled person. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and encompasses modifications apparent to those skilled in the art lying within the scope of the claims at pended hereto.
Claims
1. A system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top to facilitate cleaning and the like, the system comprising:
- a) an upper bracket to releasably hold an upper portion of the radiator adjacent a wall; and
- b) at least one adjustable lower bracket for fastening to the wall to support a lower portion of a radiator at a support location spaced away from the wall such that the radiator is able to pivot on the lower bracket and swing away from the wall at the top when released,
- c) wherein the lower bracket includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust the spacing between the support location and the wall, comprising a wall mounting part having pivotally mounted thereon a hook, the adjustment mechanism providing a plurality of securing points in the wall mounting or hook and having a projection which is securable at a selected one of the securing points, and
- d) wherein the hook or the wall mounting has a camming surface which, in use, bears against the projection when the hook is pivoted relative to the wall mounting such that angle between the hook and the wall mounting part of the lower bracket is adjustable by adjusting the location of the projection, thereby to adjust the spacing of the support location from the wall.
2. A system according claim 1 in which at least some of the securing points comprise a slot in the wall mounting or the hook.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a head portion of a nut or bolt.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the camming surface comprises a convex portion of a stem of the hook, and wherein an end of the stem of the hook is pivotally mounted on the wall mounting part of the bracket.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the hook is freely pivotal.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the hook has a bulged portion along its edge opposing the cammed surface to inhibit the radiator from becoming detached from said lower bracket when the radiator is hinged downwards at an angle of greater than 90 degrees to the wall.
7. A system according to claim 1 wherein, in use, the hook engages with a radiator-fixed element of a swivel connector for the radiator, to support the radiator.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the hook engages with a cylindrical inlet or outlet surface of the radiator to support the radiator.
9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a removable pivot limit means to limit the pivoting movement of a radiator,
- wherein, in use, the removable pivot limiting means limits the pivoting movement of the radiator such that the distance of an upper portion of the radiator away from the wall is limited.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the removable pivot limit means comprises a chain having a first end anchored to a wall or the upper bracket and a second end removably attachable to an upper portion of the radiator.
11. A bracket for supporting a water connection at the bottom of a radiator of a central heating system to enable the radiator to be tilted away from a wall on which the bracket is mounted, the bracket comprising:
- a hook to support said water connection, and
- a wall mounting part having a hook mounting element configured to project at right angles from a wall when the bracket is mounted, the hook mounting element having a pivot mounting the stem of said hook to enable the hook to swing away from the wall when the bracket is mounted, the element having a slot below the pivot; and
- wherein said bracket further comprises an adjustment mechanism, a first part of said adjustment mechanism comprising said hook mounting element and a second part of said adjustment mechanism comprising said stem of said hook;
- wherein one of said first and second parts of said adjustment mechanism has a generally convex or arcuate shape to provide a camming surface, and wherein the other of said first and second parts of said adjustment mechanism provides a plurality of securing points and has an adjustable support which is securable at a selected one of the securing points, and
- wherein, in use, the camming surface bears against the support such that a distance of the part of the hook for supporting said connection from the wall is adjustable by adjusting a said securing point of the support.
12. A bracket as claimed in claim 11 in which at least some of the securing points comprise a slot in said adjustment mechanism.
13. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein the adjustable support comprises a head portion of a bolt.
14. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein the hook is freely pivotal.
15. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein the hook has a bulged portion along a surface opposing the cammed surface.
16. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein, in use, the hook engages with a swivel connector of a radiator to support the radiator.
17. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein, in use, the hook engages with an inlet or outlet pipe of a radiator to support the radiator.
18. An adjustable pivotal radiator system for a central heating system, the adjustable pivotal radiator system comprising:
- a pivotal radiator having a swivel connector at each of an inlet and an outlet of the radiator adjacent a bottom end of the radiator to permit pivotal rotation of the radiator relative to pipes connected to the inlet and outlet; and
- a system for pivotally mounting the radiator according to claim 1.
19. A system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top to facilitate cleaning and the like, the system comprising:
- a) an upper bracket to releasably hold an upper portion of the radiator adjacent a wall; and
- b) at least one adjustable lower bracket for fastening to the wall to support a lower portion of a radiator at a supporting location spaced away from the wall such that the radiator can pivot on the lower bracket and swing away from the wall at the top when released;
- c) at least one swivel connector including a pipe-fixed element and a radiator fixed element, axially rotatably fluid tight coupled to the pipe fixed element;
- d) the radiator fixed element having a supporting surface for engaging and pivotally supporting the radiator on a corresponding surface on the adjustable lower bracket.
20. A system for pivotally mounting a radiator on a wall such that the radiator may be swung away from the wall at the top to facilitate cleaning and the like, the system comprising:
- a) an upper bracket to releasably hold an upper portion of the radiator adjacent a wall; and
- b) at least one adjustable lower bracket for fastening to the wall to support a lower portion of a radiator at a supporting location spaced away from the wall such that the radiator can pivot on the lower bracket and swing away from the wall at the top when released;
- c) the upper bracket having a child proof securing means against release.
21. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 20, 2009
Publication Date: May 12, 2011
Applicant: EASI-RAD LIMITED (Woodbastwick, Norwich Norfolk)
Inventor: Trevor William Wilson (Norwich)
Application Number: 12/988,937
International Classification: F24D 19/02 (20060101);