An angle bracket

Abstract

 A radiator bracket includes an elongate rail which has first and second support means which support the radiator or its stirrups from beneath. A locking device protects against unintentional dismounting of the radiator at at least the first support means. The locking device is pivotally disposed in the rail about a pivot point and is movable between a locking position and a dismounting position. The pivot point is disposed below the adjacent support means.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a bracket for a radiator or the like, comprising an elongate rail which includes first and second support means for supporting from beneath the radiator or stirrup members disposed thereon, and a locking device for preventing against unintentional dismounting of the radiator at at least the first support means, the locking device being pivotally disposed in the rail about a pivot point and being movable between a locking position and a dismounting position.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] For mounting radiators and similar apparatuses on walls, it is previously known in the art to employ different types of brackets which engage with parts of the radiator, for example its upper and lower edges or devices mounted thereon such as sheet metal stirrups, on their side facing towards the wall.

[0003] One type of bracket which is particularly popular on the continent of Europe is the so-called angle bracket which is substantially constructed from an elongate metal sheet which has been bent in its longitudinal direction. As a result of this bending, the angle bracket displays two shanks. The one shank is disposed to lie substantially flush against the wall, while the other shank is transversely directed in relation to the wall and extends outwards from it. The outwardly angled shank creates a space between the radiator and the wall. In many cases, it is an advantage that there is a space between the wall and the radiator and on many markets it is even a mandatory requirement that the bracket, at least in certain areas, must make room for piping which extends on that side of the radiator which is turned to face towards the wall.

[0004] There are numerous advantages inherent in angle brackets, which has led to their great popularity on some markets. Angle brackets are generally simple and uncomplicated and consist of few parts. As a result, they can be manufactured in a cost effective way, which also has a favourable effect on their price.

[0005] In order to prevent the radiator from being unintentionally lifted off or jolted off the bracket, it is desirable to provide some form of safeguard against dismounting. On most markets, such safeguards are even a mandatory requirement.

[0006] One example of an angle bracket with antidismounting protection is disclosed in EP 0 786 631. This patent specification discloses a design and construction with an antidismounting protection which functions for different heights of the stirrup of the radiator. Per se, this construction works well for its purpose, but it also suffers from a number of drawbacks. One drawback is that the bracket is quite long, not least the distance from the upper anchorage for the stirrup and upwards. This entails that the bracket will readily be visible to an observer, in particular if the radiator is mounted low down on the wall. The length of the bracket also entails a relatively high material consumption.

[0007] Further, the spring means in the antidismounting protection is biased to a greater or lesser extent depending on the height of the retained stirrup. This spring bias entails a risk of plastic deformation of the spring means and as a result that the antidismounting protection ceases to function unless plastic of extremely high quality is used, which entails an increase in the production cost of the bracket.

[0008] Since the angle bracket in EP 0 786 631 extends a god distance out from the wall, and since the operating device of the antidismounting protection is disposed readily accessible, approximately between the wall and the supported radiator, at the same time as the operating device and the bracket project up a considerable distance above the upper stirrup of the radiator, the operating device of the antidismounting protection will be clearly visible. On the one hand, this represents an aesthetic problem, but its visibility may also result in the disengagement of the antidismounting protection, either as the result of a mischievous prank or because of lack of knowledge of the function and purpose of the antidismounting protection.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

[0009] One object of the present invention is thus to realise a bracket which is less visible than prior art angle brackets when the radiator is mounted in place. At the same time, the costs of the bracket should be reduced to a minimum.

SOLUTION

[0010] The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the bracket intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that the pivot point is disposed below the adjacent support means.

[0011] Further advantages will be attained if the bracket according to the present invention is moreover given one or more of the characterising features as set forth in appended subclaims 2 to 8.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:

Fig. 1

is a straight side elevation of a bracket according to the present invention;

Fig. 2

is a detailed view of the retainer device which is provided with the locking device;

Figs. 3a-c

show three different positions of the retainer device according to Fig. 2, when this is mounted on the rail included in the bracket; and

Fig. 4

shows a blank for the rail included in the bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Fig. 1 shows a bracket 1 which is constructed from a rail 2 and a retainer device 3 which realises the antidismounting protection.

[0014] The rail 2 which, in the preferred embodiment, is manufactured from metal, preferably a sheet material, has a longitudinal bend 4 so that the rail 2 may be divided into two substantially right-angled shanks 5, 6 where the one shank 5 is disposed transversely in relation to the plane of the wall, while the other shank is disposed substantially in the plane of the wall, when the bracket 1 is mounted in place.

[0015] At the upper and lower ends of the rail 2, there are disposed first and second, i.e. upper and lower support means 7 and 8. The lower edge of the upper and lower stirrup 22, respectively, on the radiator are intended to rest in these support means 7, 8. In order to reduce the risk of noise because of movement on heating and cooling of the radiator, plastic linings (not shown) are preferably provided in the recesses 7 and 8.

Fig. 1 shows the retainer device 3 in that position where it realises an antidismounting protection for the radiator, i.e. the upper stirrup 22 of the radiator cannot be lifted out of the upper support means 7 since the locking device 9 of the retainer device 3 fixedly locks the stirrup 22 and prevents upward movement. This position is also designated the locking position of the retainer device 3.

Fig. 2 shows the retainer device 3 with the locking device 9 in detail. In order to obtain as clear a view as possible, the retainer device 3 is illustrated as released from the upper portion of the rail 2.

[0016] As was mentioned earlier, the retainer device 3 has a locking device 9 in the form of a locking heel at the upper portion of the retainer device 3. The locking device 9 is, in the preferred embodiment, disposed so as to extend a distance forwards and downwards when the retainer device 3 is located in the upright position which is illustrated in Fig. 2, approximately corresponding to the position which the retainer device 3 assumes in the bracket 1 in the locking position.

[0017] The retainer deice 3 is pivotally disposed at the upper end of the rail 2. To this end, there is provided a pin 10 which constitutes the one part of the pivot centre of the retainer device 3. The pin 10 is, as is apparent from both Fig. 1 and Figs. 3a-c, disposed in a corresponding hole 15 in the upper portion of the rail 2, straight beneath the upper support means 7. Thus, the retainer device 3 and its components are pivotal about the pin 10 when this is disposed in the hole 15 and, in the absence of other action, these components would move along a substantially arcuate path. The positioning of the pivot centre 10, 15 below the support means 7 makes for shortening of the bracket.

[0018] The retainer device 3 further displays a spring means 11 which extends in a direction away from the locking device 9, and its distal end terminates by a transversely directed spring projection 12. The spring projection 12 is, as is apparent from Figs. 1 and 3a-c, intended to run in the recess 16 which is provided with two blocking members 17, 18. When the spring projection 12 is guided in the recess 16, it will be forced out from the otherwise arcuate path of the blocking members 17 and 18. This entails an outwardly flexing force on the spring 11 which, once each respective blocking member 17, 18 has been passed, will return to its unbiased state. In order for the passage past the blocking members 17, 18 to be possible, some active force on the retainer member 3 is required, either clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0019] For holding the retainer device 3 at the upper end of the rail, there is provided an undercut guide pin 13 which, after mounting of the retainer device 3 on the rail 2, extends through a guiding recess 19 which is substantially of arcuate configuration. The upper portion 20 of the guiding recess 19 is flared so that the guide pin 13 may be passed into the guiding recess 19. Even though the width of the lower, narrower portion of the guiding recess 19 is less than the diameter of the guide pin 13, the pin is movable therein, since the pin 13 is provided with an undercut.

[0020] Uppermost on the retainer device 3, there is an activating device 14 which, in the preferred embodiment, is in the form of a recess or a groove. The edges of the groove 14 afford the possibility for frictional engagement with the fingers of the user. Moreover, it is possible to act on the recess 14 with the aid of some form of tool, for example a screwdriver or the like. As a result, the retainer device 3 may be moved to different positions, which will be described in greater detail immediately below.

[0021] Figs. 3a, b and c show different positions of the retainer device 3. Fig. 3a shows a position where the retainer device 3 is mounted on the upper portion of the tail 2 on manufacture. In most cases, this position need only be assumed a single time, i.e. on manufacture at the factory, but naturally it is possible to move an already mounted retainer device 3 to this position for dismounting and possible replacement thereof, for example if the retainer device 3 has been damaged or in some similar circumstance. The pin 10 is moved into the corresponding hole 15, so that a pivot centre for the retainer device 3 is created. The retainer device 3 is pivoted to such a position, on the one hand that the spring projection 12 is insertable in the recess 16 provided with blocking member and, on the other hand, the undercut guide pin 13 is insertable in the upper portion 20 of the guiding recess 19. This position is shown in Fig. 3a. This position is not stable, but the retainer device 3 may readily come loose from the rail, since both the central pin 10 and the spring projection 12, as well as the guide pin 13 readily fall out of their respective recesses 15, 16 and 19.

[0022] In order to realise a position where the retainer device 3 remains in position at the rail 2, the retainer device 3 is rotated, for example, by the action of the activating device 14, clockwise in the Figure so that the guide pin 13 is moved downwards in the guiding recess 19. The guide pin 13 is thereby moved into the narrower portion of this recess 19 and its undercut entails that it can no longer fall out of the recess 19. At the same time, the spring projection 12 is also pivoted clockwise in the recess 16 provided with the blocking member and, gradually as it is pressed against the side of the blocking member 17, the spring 11 will be pressed outwards a short distance and away from the retainer device 3. When the activating device 14 has been moved further clockwise, the blocking member 17 will be passed and because of the spring action in the spring 11, the spring projection 12 will snap back to a position where the spring 13 is once again unbiased. This position is shown in Fig. 3b.

[0023] Fig. 3b shows a locking position where insertion and fixing of a radiator stirrup 22 is possible. On insertion of a stirrup 22 between the support means 7 and the locking device 9, the latter will be moved a short distance to the right, i.e. corresponding to a clockwise turn in Fig. 3b. At the same time, the spring 11 will spring out from the retainer device 3, since the spring projection 12 is now pressed against the side of the blocking member 18 in the recess 16. Because of the rail edge 21, the stirrup 22 will not be able to move the retainer device 3 clockwise more than a short distance, since the radiator stirrup 22 cannot move beyond the rail edge 21. However, in this position, it is possible to move down the radiator stirrup 22 wholly into the upper support means 7. Because of the force from the spring 11, the retainer device 3 will spring back to approximately the position which is shown in Fig. 3b, where the spring 11 is unbiased. The locking device 9 now extends over the upper edge of the radiator stirrup 22.

[0024] Since the stirrup in this position, in the manner which has been described above, cannot move the retainer device 3 beyond the rail edge 21, the retainer device 3 remains in the locking position, unless the activating device 14 is actuated manually. In this position, the spring 11 is unbiased and it is in actual fact only at that moment when the stirrup 22 is moved in place that an outward flexing of the spring 11 takes place.

[0025] If the activating device 14 is actuated, as was mentioned above, for example by a tool, the retainer device 3 may be moved to the position which is shown in Fig. 3c. In this position, the spring projection 12 is located in its distal and lower position in the recess 16; it has thus been moved past the blocking member 18 as well. In order to move the retainer device 3 to this position, the spring 11 must be flexed out to a greater extent than takes place on mounting of the radiator stirrup in the upper support means 7. However, in the position shown in Fig. 3c, the spring means 11 has returned to its unbiased position. The position which is shown in Fig. 3 is a so-called dismounting position where a planned and controlled lifting-off of the radiator can take place. The retainer device 3 may thereafter be returned to its locking position, as shown in Fig. 3b, in that the activating device 14 is actuated manually.

[0026] On assumption of the different positions which are shown in Figs. 3a-c, there thus takes place a pivoting about a pivot centre which consists of a substantially circular pin 10 in the hole 15, which implies that all unbiased parts of the retainer device 3 describe a circular-arcuate path about the pivot centre 10, 15, Parts which are subjected to a force, such as the counter force from the blocking members 17, 18 will however be forced to follow a slightly different path. Since the spring projection 12 is disposed at the end of the spring 11, the spring 11 will thus be temporarily deformed when the blocking members 17, 18 are to be passed.

[0027] Fig. 4 shows a blank for the rail 2 in its unbent state. The planned bending 4 is marked by a broken line. In Fig. 4, it is clearly seen how the space below the upper support means 7 and above the lower support means 8 is substantially free, which provides the previously mentioned, requisite room between the radiator and the bracket. The outer contour 23 on the left-hand side of the blank illustrated in Fig. 4 has an inward curving between the support means 7 and 8. This curved contour 23 substantially has its counterpart in the contour 24 which is displayed by the right-hand outer edge of the blank. This implies that the blanks may be placed closely adjacent one another on sheet metal material and be cut or punched out of this material with a minimum of waste material. Only small portions at the recesses in the blank as well as the support means 7, 8 must be scrapped.

[0028] To sum up, the present invention thus realises a radiator bracket 1 with a considerably lower height for a constant distance between the radiator stirrups 22. The bracket 1 is only a very short distance longer than this distance, largely because of the fact that the retainer device 3 is pivoted about a pivot centre which is in a low position. The retainer device 3 projects out only insignificantly outside the rail 2 included in the bracket 1. This implies that both the bracket 1 and the activating device 14 on the retainer device 3 are barely visible. At the same time as the requirement on distance from the wall and the needs for space between the bracket 1 and the radiator have been satisfied, a minimum amount of material is consumed. As a result, the costs of the sheet metal material included in the rail 2 can be reduced to a minimum.

[0029] Since the spring means 11 in the retainer device 3 is only biased at that moment when mounting takes place or when the retainer device 3 is moved to the dismounting or lift-off position, the risk of plastic deformation of the retainer device 3 or the spring 11 is in principle non-existent. Consequently, other plastic qualities can be employed than those more expensive qualities which have hitherto been employed. Thus, the cost for the bracket 1 can be reduced in this respect as well.

[0030] The present invention may be modified further without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

1. A bracket for a radiator or the like, comprising an elongate rail (2) which includes first (7) and second (8) support means for supporting from beneath the radiator or stirrup members (22) disposed thereon, and a locking device (9) for preventing against unintentional dismounting of the radiator at at least the first support means (7), the locking device (9) being pivotally disposed in the rail (2) about a pivot point (10, 15) and being movable between a locking position and a dismounting position, characterised in that the pivot point (10, 15) is disposed below the adj acent support means (7).

2. The bracket as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a spring means (11) is disposed for counteracting the movement of the locking device (9) between the locking position and the dismounting position in both directions.

3. The bracket as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the spring means (11) is disposed on the locking device (9) and is pivotal together therewith about the pivot point (10, 15), a spring projection (12) being movable in a recess (16) in the rail (2).

4. The bracket as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the recess (16) has a side edge with a first blocking member (18) which forces the spring projection (12), on passage, to move against the spring force of the spring means (11) during the movement of the locking device (9) between the locking position and the dismounting position in both directions.

5. The bracket as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the pivot point (10, 15), the support means (7) and the locking device (9) lie on a substantially straight line.

6. The bracket as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the spring means (11) is unbiased in both the locking position and the dismounting position.

7. The bracket as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the recess (16) has a second blocking member (17) which forces the spring projection (12), on passage, to move against the spring force of the spring means (11) during the movement of the locking device (9) to and from a mounting position which the locking device (9) assumes on its mounting on the rail (2).

8. The bracket as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the side edges of the rail (2) each have an outer contour (23, 24) which is complementary to the outer contour (23, 24) of the other side edge.

Drawing