The invention relates to a radiator bracket comprising upper and lower support members for engagement with a radiator or a retainer thereon, and fixing holes for fixing the bracket to a substrate wherein the bracket has a transport state and a mounted state, and the bracket is deformable for transfer from the transport state to the mounted state, and wherein the fixing holes are arranged on at least one movable wall section of the bracket, said wall section being positioned closer to the substrate in the mounted state than in the transport state.

The invention also concerns the use of such a radiator bracket with a radiator.

For many radiators, it is desirable to deliver radiator brackets together with the radiator to the building site, e. g. a house, where the radiator is to be mounted. Preferably a joint delivery takes place in a single package. In this way the provision of the appropriate brackets for the radiator is ensured, and the risk of brackets getting lost during transport or being delivered to the wrong location is eliminated. At the same time, the outer dimensions of the package with a radiator and its mounting brackets should be kept at a minimum, as the cost of transportation should also be kept as low as possible.

These requirements pose limitations on the mounting brackets, as they will need to fit inside of the outer dimensions of the radiator, and no particular consideration for the transport of the mounting brackets has been made during the design of the radiator.

One example of mounting brackets which are possible to transport within the outer dimensions of the radiator are angled brackets, such as disclosed in e. g. EP2498011A2. A bracket of this type, with two flat sections at a right angle, is fairly easily inserted in a narrow, longitudinally extending space, such as the spaces formed by a convection plate between two radiator panels or at the back of a single radiator panel.

Angled brackets of this type work well in principle, but their use is limited, due to their limited strength since only a single sheet of metal contacts the radiator or its retainers. For heavy radiators or for radiators placed in an environment, where the demands are high for protection against accidental or intentional lifting of the radiator, or where external forces, e. g. from climbing or sitting on the radiator, may be expected. There are standards for testing radiators and their brackets for various environments, with different requirements with regard to applied forces, both vertically and laterally, etc.

In order to meet some of the higher demands, an angled bracket may be insufficient, unless it is manufactured from a sheet metal with very high thickness, which in its turn may make the bracket unreasonably expensive due to increased material and manufacturing costs. A particular difficulty with the conventional angled brackets is that their ability to withstand lateral forces is relatively low, and may be insufficient for certain applications and requirements.

In order to produce a sufficiently strong radiator bracket from a thinner metal sheet, the sheet material may be bent into a shape where the radiator or its retainers contacts the brackets in two or more points at each level, such as a bracket with a general U-shape. In this way, the weight of the radiator, as well as a possible additional force thereon, is distributed over more contact points on the bracket, and the force in each point is reduced.

However, the fixing elements, such as screws, fixing the bracket to the wall, need to be attached in a proper way, in order to be able to contribute to the overall strength of the unity comprising the radiator, the bracket, and the fixing elements. This means in practice that the screw needs to extend through such a part of the bracket as is fairly close to the wall, so that the force from the bracket on the screw does not result in excessive bending or breakage of the screw.

DE3607754A1 discloses a radiator bracket according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising upper and lower support members for engagement with a radiator or a retainer thereon. There are fixing holes for fixing the bracket to a substrate. The bracket comprises several separately manufactured parts, which may be assembled in different ways. A slide in the bracket may be given varying angles and positions in relation to a rail. By assembly of the different parts, the bracket may assume an outer shape which is suitable for transportation.

There is thus a need for a bracket which fulfills the requirements for strength, imposed by relevant standards, while it is still possible to stow for transportation within the outer dimensions of a corresponding radiator.

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the bracket intimated by way of introduction is characterized in that the movable wall section has a connecting plate for connection with a body of the bracket, and that notches are provided for enabling a deformation of the bracket to its mounted state.

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 perspective view of a bracket according to the invention;

Fig 2a-2c

are side views of three different stages during the mounting of the bracket; and

Fig 3a-3b

are side views of two different brackets for mounting of a radiator at two different distances from the wall.

The present invention will now be described in an embodiment where a bracket 1 is provided with one particular type of locking device 2. It will be apparent from the following description that the invention is applicable on brackets 1 with many other types of locking devices 2.

In fig 1 the bracket 1 is shown in its mounted state, where it is ready for supporting a radiator either directly or by contact with retainers mounted thereon. The radiator is supported by first and second engagement means 5a, 5b, respectively. The fixing means, typically screws, are not shown in fig 1, but the skilled person would easily realize how they are to be arranged in the holes 3a, 3b for the fixing means.

The bracket 1 has a cross-section, which is generally U-shaped, as seen from the upper or lower ends of the bracket 1. However, there are recessed portions, or wall sections 4a, 4b, wherein the holes 3a, 3b are provided, respectively. The recessed portions 4a, 4b are arranged at a distance considerably closer to the wall, whereon the bracket 1 is arranged, than the total width of the bracket 1, which defines the distance between the wall and the first and second engagement means 5a, 5b.

At one end, typically the upper end, of the bracket 1, the locking device 2 is arranged, for securing the radiator on the bracket 1 and for preventing unintentional lifting of the radiator from the bracket 1.

Along the longitudinal side walls 7a, 7b of the bracket 1, there are flanges 6a, 6b extending at approximately right angles from the sides of the bracket 1. The flanges 6a, 6b are preferably formed in one piece with the side walls 7a, 7b of the bracket 1 by bending, although other manufacturing methods may be envisaged by the skilled person.

The flanges 6a, 6b will extend along the substrate whereon the bracket 1 is mounted, typically stabilizing its position thereon and assisting in the uptake of forces transferred from the radiator to the bracket 1. In order to reduce costs for the material, the width of the flanges 6a, 6b is limited. Also, the desire to store the bracket 1 for transportation within the outer dimensions of a corresponding radiator calls for limited dimensions of the flange. The width of the flanges 6a, 6b does not allow for the arrangement of fixing elements there through.

The fixing means need to be arranged with a limited extension from the substrate in their fixed state, in order to avoid such bending or breakage of the fixing means as may occur if the distance between the substrate and the outer end of the fixing means is too long, and the force applied thereon is large. Typically such a screw is chosen that may be inserted to a predetermined extent in a substrate, while a part of the inserted screw extends outwardly from the substrate, and the extending part is designed to withstand a predetermined force according to the prevailing standards. The length of the extending part corresponds to the distance from the recessed portions 4a, 4b to the substrate, when the bracket 1 is mounted thereon.

The recessed portions 4a, 4b are manufactured in one piece with the body of the bracket 1. They are connected with the main body of the bracket 1 by way of connecting plates 8a, 8b, which extend obliquely from front wall 9 of the bracket 1 to the recessed portions or wall sections 4a, 4b.

At the transitions from the front wall 9 of the bracket 1 to the connecting plates 8a, 8b and from the connecting plates 8a, 8b to the recessed wall sections 4a, 4b, respectively, there are notches 12 for facilitating the bending of the sheet metal, into the position shown in figure 1.

The notches are placed on opposite sides of the material, in order to facilitate bending of the material in opposite directions. Removal of a part of the material in a notch 12 especially facilitates bending into an angle that is less than 180° as seen from the side where notch is made.

The recessed wall sections 4a, 4b are provided with bent side edges 10a, 10b, which partly overlap the side walls 7a, 7b. The recessed wall sections 4a, 4b thereby have respective, well defined recessed positions. It is not possible to push the recessed wall sections 4a, 4b past the upper edges of the side walls 7a, 7b, after the inside portions of the bent side edges 10a, 10b have come into contact with these upper edges.

The bracket 1 according to figure 1, is in most embodiments too wide to be inserted between two adjacent folds of a convection plate in a radiator. The recessed wall sections 4a, 4b, needed to allow the fixing means to be inserted the correct distance into the substrate, makes the bracket 1 difficult, or impossible to arrange around the folds of the convection plate in a nested position, as the cross section of the bracket is not completely open, but interrupted by the recessed wall sections 4a, 4b.

During manufacture the sheet metal parts of the bracket 1 are cut in a single piece from a metal sheet, thus forming a blank. The blank is then bent into the shape shown in fig 2a, i. e. the transport state. In this state the bracket 1 has an open cross section, and it is possible to place the bracket 1 in a nested position around a fold of the convection plate in a radiator.

In the schematic figures 2a-2c, the locking device 2 is not shown, but it follows from the purpose of the invention, that it is not so large that it would hinder the nesting of the bracket with the convection plate. The locking device 2, shown in figure 1, is arranged at the end of the bracket 1, and has a limited extent in the longitudinal direction. Hence the bracket 1 may be placed in such a position that the major part of it is nested with the convection plate, while the end with the locking device 2 extends beyond the convection plate, while still within the outer dimensions of the radiator.

Depending on the available space around the convection plate and the dimensions of the locking device 2, it may in some embodiments be possible to insert the bracket 1 fully, i. e. the back of the locking device 2 may be placed in contact with the convection plate. Another option is that the locking device 2 is delivered separate from the bracket 1, and the two parts are not assembled until the bracket 1 is about to be mounted on the building site.

Figures 2a-2c discloses the transfer of the bracket 1 from the transport state shown in figure 2a to the mounted state shown in figure 2c.

In figure 2a, the bracket 1 in its transport state is placed with its flanges 6a, 6b against the substrate, typically a wall, whereon it is to be mounted. A fixing element 11, typically a screw, is inserted into the hole 3a in the wall section 4a. As the screw 11 is screwed into the wall, its head will push the wall section 4a towards the substrate. The wall section 4a is still connected with the main body of the bracket 1 by the connecting plate 8a.

The notches 12 at the transitions at the respective ends of the connecting plate 8a ensure that the bending of these parts of the bracket 1 takes place at the intended locations. Hence the person mounting the bracket does not have to concern themselves with forming the bracket 1 into its mounted state; the forming takes place automatically when the bracket is mounted on the wall. The force applied by the screw 11 while it is screwed into the substrate is sufficient to effect the transfer into the mounted state.

When the screw 11 has been screwed into the substrate as required, the wall section 4a has reached its mounted position, as shown in figure 2b. The screw 11 is not fully screwed into the substrate. The length of that part of the screw 11, which extends from the wall, corresponds to the distance from the recessed wall portion 4a to the substrate, whereon the bracket 1 is mounted. Since the side edges 10a overlap the longitudinal side walls 7a, 7b, there is no risk that the recessed wall portion 4a would be pushed too far towards the substrate, when the screw is fixed in the substrate. Instead the recessed portion 4a has a well defined and stable position, which ensures that the fixing of the bracket on the substrate is stable and secure.

The process is thereafter repeated with a second screw 11, which is inserted into the hole 3b in the other wall section 4b, as shown in figure 2b. The resulting bracket 1, which has been transformed into its mounted state, during the mounting thereof, is shown in figure 2c. Both wall sections 4a, 4b, are now in their recessed position.

The connecting plates 8a, 8b have a fixed length, and for geometric reasons, the wall sections 4a, 4b will also perform a longitudinal movement in relation to the bracket 1, when the screws 11 are screwed into the substrate and the wall sections 4a, 4b are pushed into their mounted state. In order to compensate for the longitudinal movement, at least one of the holes 3a, 3b needs to be oval in shape. If one of the holes 3a is round, a screw 11 has to be fixed in this hole 3a first, as the bracket 1 is not yet fixed to the substrate, and the longitudinal movement may be performed by the bracket 1 while the wall section 4a is fixed. When the second screw 11 is fixed, the oval shape of the second hole 3b will allow for the movement of the second wall section 4b, while the rest of the bracket 1 is fixed in its position.

Figures 3a and 3b show two different embodiments of brackets 1 including the locking device 2. The locking device 2 is pivotable around an axis 13. Guide means 14 is arranged in a slit 15 in order to provide the locking means 2 with two distinct positions, locked and unlocked, respectively.

The dimensions of the two embodiments shown in figures 3a and 3b are adapted to different types of radiators, which have different requirements for the distance between the radiator and the substrate. The longitudinal side walls 7a, 7b, have different widths in the two embodiments. However, the distances between the substrate and the recessed wall portions 4a, 4b are the same for both embodiments, and the same type of fixing elements may be used in both cases, thus reducing the need for keeping different fixing elements in stock.

Although not shown in figures 3a and 3b, the width of the front wall 9 may be varied, to accommodate different radiators with different requirements for their respective brackets 1.

The invention may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.