Electric radiator

Abstract

 It is hereby described an electric radiator (1) comprising an electrically heating plate (3), characterized in that said electrically heating plate (3) has a layer of ferromagnetic material (32) on which a magnetized poster can be removably applied.

Description

[0001] There is herein disclosed an electric radiator having a layer of ferromagnetic material, for application of magnetized foils with decorative images thereon.

[0002] Patent application WO 2006/106387 discloses an electric radiator comprising a heating panel, formed of a laminate, which may be hung on a wall.

[0003] This panel has two outer layers of thermosetting resin.

[0004] At least one of the two outer layers may be screen printed; otherwise a screen printed cloth may be permanently bonded to the thermosetting resin.

[0005] US - B2 - 6,917,753 (Cooper) discloses an electric radiator having a heating panel, formed of a laminate, which may be hung on a wall.

[0006] One side of the heating panel has a decoration on it, preferably glued to the heating panel.

[0007] Thus, these devices can act both as heaters (operating by either radiation or convection) and as decorative elements for residential environments.

[0008] Prior art devices still suffer from certain drawbacks.

[0009] For example, to change the type of decoration, the user has to replace the whole apparatus.

[0010] The purpose of the present inventors is to obviate at least some of prior art drawbacks and particularly the drawback set out hereinbefore.

[0011] These purposes are achieved by an electric radiator as defined in claim 1 and by a magnetized foil as defined in claim 23.

[0012] Further advantages may be also obtained by the additional features of the dependent claims.

[0013] A possible embodiment of the electric radiator will be now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the electric radiator;
• Figure 2 is an exploded view of the radiator of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a frame assembly detail of the radiator;
• Figure 4 is a side view of the radiator;
• Figures 4a and 4b are two enlarged views of a detail of Figure 4;
• Figure 5 shows the radiator supported by its base in an oblique position;
• Figure 6 shows the application of a decorative image on the electric radiator;
• Figure 6a is an enlarged sectional view of a magnetized foil having a decorative image thereon;
• Figure 7 is a side view of the electric radiator having lighting means therein.

[0014] Referring to the annexed drawings, numeral 1 designates an electric radiator comprising a frame 2 and an electrically heating plate 3, held by the frame 2.

[0015] In a possible embodiment, the electrically heating plate 3 has two electrically insulating layers 35, 36 and one layer 34 of electrically resistive material between the two electrically insulating layers 35, 36.

[0016] The two layers 35, 36 may be made of glass reinforced plastics (a composite material composed of fiberglass and plastic resin, generally polyester, vinylester or epoxy resin).

[0017] The electrically resistive layer 34 may be based on graphite or a graphite impregnated material.

[0018] At least one pair of copper collectors, at opposite ends of the plate, allow current to pass across the electrically resistive layer 34, which is thereby heated through the Joule effect.

[0019] A product of this type is sold by Innovazioni S.r.l., based at Comignago (NO), Italy, under the trade name "Termo Slim" and is disclosed in Patent application WO 2006/106387.

[0020] The electrically heating plate 3 may be obviously also manufactured using other techniques, e.g. screen printed resistors or resistive films applied on insulating supports, like those disclosed in patent application WO2005/022954.

[0021] Another suitable technique consists in interposing a resistive circuit between the layers of dielectric insulating material, which circuit may be formed using different technologies, such as metal sheet etching, ink or paste printing, resistive wire embedding, as currently described on the website www.elmatsrl.it.

[0022] In a possible embodiment, the electrically heating plate 3 is formed in such a manner as to provide less heat along the edges, for reduced heat transmission through the frame 2.

[0023] The electrically heating plate 3 further comprises a layer of ferromagnetic material 32 which is joined to one of the two electrically insulating layers 35 or 36.

[0024] Thanks to this feature, a poster, i.e. a film, sheet, magnetized web material 33 with a decorative image thereon, such as a painting or photographic image may be removably applied to the electrically heating plate 3.

[0025] Thus, a user may buy several magnetized posters 33, with different decorative subjects and select them as desired.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the ferromagnetic layer is made of a soft iron foil 32, having a thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 mm, which is joined by adhesive to one of the electrically insulating layers 35, 36 of the electrically heating plate 3.

[0027] This soft iron foil is corrosion-protected by a coating of synthetic material 321, such as a polymer material.

[0028] This protective polymer layer 321 may be applied by powder electrostatic coating and high temperature heating (about 170 to 220°C) for powder paint polymerization.

[0029] The powder paint may be a polyester or polyurethane resin.

[0030] The protective polymer layer 321 thus obtained may have a thickness from 30 to 70 µm.

[0031] Alternatively, the iron foil may be protected by a PVC film.

[0032] Graphical elements may be present on the protective coating 321.

[0033] This, the electric radiator may be used as a decorative element even with no magnetized poster.

[0034] In another embodiment, the pigments applied to the polymer layer 321 are at least partly, heat sensitive pigments.

[0035] These pigments have the property of reversibly changing color when temperature exceeds a threshold value.

[0036] The use of these paints provides improved usefulness, as it allows the user to check the operating conditions of the electric radiator even at a distance.

[0037] The heat sensitive pigments used herein may be, for example, those sold by MATSUI under the trademark CHROMICOLOR®, and advertised on the website www.matsuicolor.com.

[0038] The magnetized foil 33 comprises a layer of magnetic rubber 331, a material that can be continuously used at temperatures to at least 80°C thanks to its high Curie temperature.

[0039] Such magnetic rubber may be formed of a combination of strontium or barium ferrite with synthetic rubber or PVC matrices and is sold by SAIMAG S.r.l., Italy, Pogliano Milanese (MI), 20010 under the tradename "Bonded ferrite".

[0040] The magnetic rubber is preferably of the anisotropic type and its thickness is less than about 1 mm.

[0041] More preferably, the thickness of the magnetic rubber 331 is about 0.5 mm.

[0042] A layer of material 332, such as polyester fabric, with a decorative image thereon, is joined to the layer of magnetic rubber 331 by adhesive means.

[0043] The decorative image on the polyester fabric may be obtained by decorative techniques using sublimable inks.

[0044] The pigments applied to the film 332 may include heat sensitive pigments.

[0045] In one embodiment, the electrically heating plate 3 can be supplied with 220 Volts and its thickness, including the ferromagnetic layer 32, may be from 1.5 to 3.5 mm, preferably from 1.9 to 3.2 mm.

[0046] Preferred sizes for the heating plate 3 are 60 x 40 cm, 60 x 80 cm and 60 x 100 cm respectively.

[0047] In the preferred embodiment, the power output of the electrically heating plate 3 is of the order of 700 to

[0048] For a better use of the radiator, means 4 are provided for adjusting the temperature of the electrically heating plate 3 (typically a thermostat in contact with the plate 3) or the surrounding environment (e.g. a thermostat with a Radio Frequency transmitter).

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, a heat insulating panel 5 is further provided, which is also held by the frame 2 and spaced from the electrically heating plate 3 to define a gap 6 therewith.

[0050] The use of the heat insulating panel 5, which is spaced from the heating plate 3 to define the gap 6, provides an improved heat radiation pattern, with ambient air being better heated than the wall on which the apparatus hangs.

[0051] The heat insulating panel 5 preferably has a thermal transmittance coefficient of less than

[0052] More preferably, the heat insulating panel 5 has a thermal transmittance coefficient of less than

[0053] The heat insulating panel 5 may be, for example, a polyethylene panel or a polyethylene and aluminum laminate - having a thickness of about 3 mm - like those sold by ALCAN under the trademarks DIBOND® and ALUCOBOND®.

[0054] Alternatively, the heat insulating panel 5 may be a PVC foam panel preferably coupled with a metal facing.

[0055] Preferably, the frame 2 has a plurality of apertures 21 arranged along at least two opposite sides of such frame 2 to allow natural air circulation through the gap 6.

[0056] Thus, the gap 6 creates a "chimney effect" which enhances air heating even when the radiator is far from the walls.

[0057] An electric fan may be optionally placed in the gap to provide forced air circulation within the gap.

[0058] If plastic and metal laminate panels are used, one metal layer preferably faces toward the gap 6, for better reflection of infrared radiation.

[0059] In a possible embodiment, the electric radiator further comprises lighting means 7 located in the gap 6.

[0060] In the preferred embodiments, both the electrically heating plate 3 and the heat insulating panel 5 are held in grooves 22, 23 formed in the frame 2.

[0061] The grooves 22, 23 may be formed in longitudinal fillets 122, 123 interconnected by plate-like transverse ribs 124.

[0062] As viewed from the front, the frame 2 may further have fillet elements 11 which are received in housings 10 formed in the transverse plate-like ribs 124 and removably held by fastener means 87, 88, 89.

[0063] The frame 2 is preferably made of polyamide or a polyamide-based material.

[0064] Preferably, the electric radiator is designed to be hung on a wall.

[0065] Nevertheless, in an alternative use, the electric radiator may be reversibly connected to a ground mounted base 40.

[0066] Such base 40 is adapted to hold the frame 2 in an inclined position with respect to the floor, at an angle of 60° to 80°.

Claims

1. An electric radiator (1) comprising:

a) an electrically heating plate (3),

characterized in that said electrically heating plate (3) has a layer of ferromagnetic material (32).

2. An electric radiator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the temperature of said electrically heating plate (3) or the environment around said electric radiator (1).

3. Electric radiator (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said electrically heating plate (3) is held by a frame (2) and wherein a heat insulating panel (5) is provided, which is also held by said frame (2), said electrically heating plate (3) and said heat insulating plane (5) defining a gap (6) therebetween.

4. An electric radiator as claimed in claim 3, further comprising lighting means (7) located in said gap (6).

5. An electric radiator (1) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said frame (2) has a plurality of apertures (21) arranged along at least two opposite sides of said frame (2) to allow natural air circulation through said gap (6).

6. An electric radiator as claimed in claim 5, further comprising at least one electric fan to provide forced air circulation within said gap (6).

7. An electric radiator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a magnetic poster (33), with a decorative image thereon, is removably applied to said electrically heating plate (3).

8. An electric radiator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said decorative image of said magnetized foil (33) contains heat sensitive pigments.

9. A magnetic pigment comprises a polyester fabric (332), with said decorative image thereon, which is glued to a layer of magnetic rubber (331), said layer of magnetic rubber having an average thickness of less than 1 mm.

10. A magnetic poster (33) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said decorative comprises heat sensitive pigments.

Drawing