RADIATOR BRACKET AND SYSTEM FOR FIXING A RADIATOR ON A SUBSTRATE

Abstract

 A radiator bracket (1) comprises upper and lower support members for engagement with a radiator or a retainer (11) thereon. A locking device (2) is provided for preventing accidental lifting of the radiator. The locking device (2) is engageable with the retainer (11), or the radiator, thereby fixing the lateral position of the locking device (2) on the retainer (11), or radiator. Hereby lateral shift of the radiator on the bracket (1) is prevented.
A system for fixing a radiator on a substrate, includes a radiator bracket (1) and a radiator or a retainer (11) mounted on a radiator. The retainer (11), or radiator is provided with means for engagement (12) with the locking device (2), for preventing lateral shift of the radiator on the bracket (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention concerns a radiator bracket comprising upper and lower support members for engagement with a radiator or a retainer thereon and a locking device for preventing accidental lifting of the radiator.

[0002] The invention also concerns a system for fixing a radiator on a substrate, including the abovementioned radiator bracket and a radiator or a retainer mounted on a radiator.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] There are numerous brackets for suspending radiators on a substrate, such as a wall. The brackets are adapted to accommodate different types of radiators, and they may interact with different parts of the radiator or with retainers thereon. However, there are requirements that are mandatory for all radiators and their brackets, when it comes to holding the radiator in its place safely and reliably, even when the radiator is subjected to external forces applied thereon. The requirements result in a number of safety features that are needed and used on a large number of different radiators and brackets.

[0004] One such safety feature is means for prevention of accidental lifting of the radiator from the brackets, should the radiator be subjected to an external force with an upwardly directed component. One example of a radiator bracket with a locking device that prevents accidental lifting of the radiator is disclosed in EP2498011.

[0005] Another safety feature is means for preventing lateral shift of the radiator, in case of external lateral forces on the radiator. Due to the relatively high gripping force from the locking device of EP2498011, it will prevent a lateral movement of the radiator to some extent. However, both the locking device and the radiator are typically made of metal, and the friction is often low where the locking device engages with the radiator. Thus the protection against lateral shift is limited.

[0006] There are also other devices, known in the art, arranged especially for carrying lateral forces and preventing lateral movements of a radiator, such as laterally extending bracket, cables or rods that are anchored separately in the substrate and the radiator respectively.

[0007] One disadvantage is that these devices have to be mounted as separate parts, which is cumbersome and time-consuming. Also, a larger number of loose parts have to be assembled on the building site, which is a disadvantage, as they may get lost before the mounting or risk being assembled improperly. An esthetic disadvantage is that the separate safety devices may be visible after the mounting.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

[0008] There is thus a need for a bracket which realizes a bracket which comprises means for preventing lateral shift as well as means for preventing accidental lifting of the radiator. It is desirable that the number of parts that have to be assembled at the building site is as low as possible.

SOLUTION

[0009] 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 locking device is engageable with the retainer, or radiator, thereby fixing the lateral position of the locking device on the retainer, or radiator, for preventing lateral shift of the radiator on the bracket.

[0010] Regarding the system the objects will be attained if the retainer, or radiator, is provided with means for engagement with the locking device, for preventing lateral shift of the radiator on the bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0011] 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 2

is a perspective view of a part of a radiator with a retainer to be held by the bracket;

Fig 3

is a perspective view of a locking means comprised in the bracket; and

Fig 4

is a perspective view of the retainer and the bracket with the locking means.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] In figure 1 a bracket 1 according to the invention is shown. The bracket 1 is manufactured from sheet metal in the preferred embodiment. Holes 3a, 3b are provided for fixing the bracket to a substrate, typically a wall.

[0013] The bracket 1 has two engagement means 5a, 5b, for engaging and supporting parts of the radiator or retainers arranged thereon.

[0014] At one end, typically the upper end, of the bracket 1, a locking device 2 is provided for ensuring that the radiator is not accidentally lifted from the engagement means 5a, 5b.

[0015] The locking device 2 is pivotable around a transversal axis, which extends through a pair of protrusions 14 arranged on the respective sides of the locking device 2. The protrusions 14 are pivotably arranged in corresponding holes 16 in the side plates 17 of the bracket 1.

[0016] The locking device 2 has two distinctive positions; one open position and one locked position. In figure 1 the locking device 2 is shown in its locked position, barring the unintentional lifting of a retainer arranged in the engagement means 5a.

[0017] In order to obtain the distinctive positions of the locking device 2, a guide means 4 is provided on one side of the locking device 2. The guide means 4 extends into a curved slit 8. The curvature of the slit 8 will ensure that the guide means 4, and hence the locking means 2, remains in its current position until the locking means 2 is intentionally actuated into moving into its other position.

[0018] At the upper end of the locking means 2, there is an actuator 9, which may be manipulated by hand, when a user reaches behind the radiator which has been mounted on the bracket 1. Manipulation of the actuator 9 will transfer it from its open position to its locked position and vice versa.

[0019] A shoulder 6 extends forward, as seen in the direction of movement when the locking device 2 moves into its locked position, hence blocking all upward movements of a retainer in the engagement means 5a.

[0020] A number of projections 7 extend forward, in the same direction as the shoulder 6. The purpose of the projections 7 is to prevent lateral movement of the retainer and the radiator in relation to the bracket 1. The projections 7 interact with the retainer in a way that is described in detail below.

[0021] Figure 2 shows a part of a radiator 10 with which the invention is used. The radiator 10 is seen from the back, i. e. the side that will face the wall in a mounted position. Upper and lower retainers 11 are arranged, typically welded, on the radiator 10, for engagement with the engagement means 5a, 5b on the bracket 1. Depending on the width and the total weight of the radiator, the retainers 11 are arranged in at least two different lateral positions, with each of the upper retainers 11 arranged directly above one the lower retainers 11.

[0022] The retainer 11 is provided with a number of through-going holes 12. The shape and size of the holes 12 match the shape and size of the projections 7 on the locking device 2. Also, since there are more than one projection 7 on the locking device 2 in the shown embodiment, the distances between the holes 12 match the distances between the projections 7 on the locking device 2.

[0023] Thus, when the locking device 2 has been manipulated into its locked position by means of the actuator 9, the locking device will not only extend with its shoulder over the retainer 11, preventing movements upwards thereof. It will also extend into and through the material of the retainer 11, thereby blocking any movement laterally of the retainer 11 in relation to the bracket 1.

[0024] Even when the projections 7 have a limited extent, their strength will be sufficient with an appropriate choice of material for the locking means, in order to fulfil the requirements for strength posed by different standards for protection against unintentional lateral shift.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment the holes 12 are arranged on a line with equal distances between them, so that the projections 7 on the locking device 2 may be inserted in any of them. Hence the retainer 11 and the radiator 10 is shiftable a limited distance laterally before the locking device 2 is placed in its locked position. The possibility to shift the radiator 10 slightly before it is locked in its position is useful, since an exact positioning of the brackets 1 on the substrate cannot be guaranteed.

[0026] The retainer 11 is dimensioned and tested for a sufficient strength, although the provision of holes 12 therein may weaken it slightly. The holes 12 extend only over a limited area, and there is also an embossed area 15 provided in the shown embodiment. The embossing 15 is optional, depending whether it is needed to obtain the required strength for a particular use.

[0027] The locking device 2 is shown in an exposed view in figure 3. The shape of the shoulder 6, which is used for blocking a vertical movement of the radiator 10 and its retainer 11, is shown more clearly in this figure. The actuator 9 and the projections 7 and their use has been described above, but are visible in a larger scale.

[0028] At the end opposite to the actuator 9, the locking device 2 is split into two shanks 13a, 13b. The provision of shanks 13a, 13b makes this end of the locking device 2 slightly elastic, which will enable the protrusions 14 to snap into the holes 16 in the side plates 17 of the bracket 1 during the assembly thereof.

[0029] Figure 4 shows an exposed view of the bracket 1 with the locking device 2 and the retainer 11, as seen in a direction from the radiator 10. The locking device 2 is shown in its locked position. The lower part of the bracket 1 has been omitted from the drawing. The shoulder 6 extends over the retainer 11, thereby blocking the retainer 11 from moving past the locking device 2.

[0030] The projections 7 extend into the openings 12 in the retainer 11. The openings 12 and the projections 7 are designed for a close fit, and the possibility for a lateral movement of the retainer 11 in relation to the bracket 2 is eliminated. The projections 7 are unable to move past the lateral edges of the holes 12 if the retainer 11 and the locking device 2 were subject to lateral forces in opposite directions. As a matter of fact, the engagement between the holes 12 and the projections 7 also contribute to blocking a vertical movement, as the upper and lower edges of the holes 12 restrict movement in that direction.

[0031] Figure 4 also shows that the embossing 15 serves the further purpose of bringing that part of the retainer 11, where the holes 12 are provided, closer to the locking device 2 in its locked position, thus eliminating the need for an excessive length of the projections 7. Short projections 7 are less vulnerable to breaking during manufacture, transport and assembly of the bracket 1.

[0032] As discussed previously, it should be clear that the locking device 2 could be placed with the projections 7 extending through any set of mutually adjacent holes 12. Hence lateral compensation for slight inaccuracies in the mounting of the brackets 1 on the substrate is possible.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In the preferred embodiment, the projections 7 engage with holes 12 in the retainer 11. Another possibility is that the holes are replaced with notches in the upper or lower edges of the retainers 11. Notches engaging with projections 7 of a corresponding shape on the locking device 2 would result in the same type of blocking of lateral movements. However blocking of vertical movements will be less effective, as the notches are open either upwards or downwards.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment the invention has been described with the use of upper and lower retainers 11 on the back side of the radiator 10. It is known in the art to construct brackets 1 in such a way that either or both of the engagement means 5a, 5b engage a part of the radiator 10 instead of a retainer 11. The present invention may be adapted for a similar use, e. g. the lower engagement means 5b are arranged to receive a lower edge of the radiator 10.

[0035] In a further embodiment, the upper engagement means 5a is adapted to engage a part of the radiator 10, such as an upper edge thereof. The relevant part of the radiator 10 would have to be adapted for the engagement of the locking device 2 in a similar way as the retainer 11 described in the preferred embodiment, i. e. provided with holes 12 or notches.

[0036] The invention may be varied further within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Radiator bracket (1) comprising upper and lower support members (5a, 5b) for engagement with a radiator (10) or a retainer (11) thereon and a locking device (2) for preventing accidental lifting of the radiator (10), characterized in that the locking device (2) is engageable with the retainer (11), or the radiator (10), thereby fixing the lateral position of the locking device (2) on the retainer (11), or radiator (10), for preventing lateral shift of the radiator (10) on the bracket (1).

2. Radiator bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (2) is provided with at least one projection (7), for extending through an opening (12) in the retainer (11) or radiator (10).

3. Radiator bracket according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking device (2) has a series of projections (7), for extending through corresponding openings (12) in the retainer (11) or radiator (10).

4. Radiator bracket according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking device (2) is pivotable around an axis (14) with an open and a locked position respectively.

5. Radiator bracket according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking device (2), in its locked position, is pivoted to extend over the retainer (11) or a part of the radiator (10), to prevent lifting of the radiator (10).

6. Radiator bracket according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the locking device (2), in its locked position, is pivoted to a position where the projection (7) extends in a direction for inserting the projection (7) into the opening (12) in the retainer (11) or radiator (10).

7. System for fixing a radiator (10) on a substrate, including a radiator bracket (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6 and a radiator (10) or a retainer (11) mounted on a radiator (10), characterized in that the retainer (11), or radiator (10), is provided with means for engagement (12) with the locking device (2), for preventing lateral shift of the radiator (10) on the bracket (1).

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for engagement is at least one opening (12) in the retainer (11) or the radiator (10).

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the retainer or radiator has a series of openings (12), for receiving corresponding projections (7) on the locking device (2).

Drawing