WO2000053976A1

WO2000053976A1 - Template for determining installation points for a radiator

Info

Publication number: WO2000053976A1
Application number: PCT/NL2000/000144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Petrus Bernardus Jacobus Kastelijns
Original assignee: Kastelijns Petrus Bernardus Ja
Priority date: 1999-03-05
Filing date: 2000-03-06
Publication date: 2000-09-14
Also published as: AU3197500A

Abstract

The invention relates to a universally applicable template for defining installation points for a radiator, which is provided with a basic element which defines a plane and which has a number of reference points placed in different rows. The installation template can further be provided with one or more auxiliary elements which protrude out of the plane of the basic element and likewise have one or more reference points and can be connected movably, for instance foldably, to the basic element. Basic element and auxiliary element(s) can herein be formed from a blank and mutually connected by fold-lines. For double-sided use of the installation template the blank can be provided on both sides with reference points and the auxiliary element can be movable to two sides relative to the basic element.

Description

TEMPLATE FOR DETERMINING INSTALLATION POINTS FOR A RADIATOR

The invention relates to a template for defining installation points for a radiator, with which a large number of repetitive measurements necessary during the installation of a radiator can be performed in simple manner .

When a radiator is installed in a building, generally hung on a wall, the desired location of the radiator must first be chosen, whereafter, starting from this chosen location and the known shape and dimensions of the radiator, the position can be determined where the feed and return pipes for connecting to the radiator must protrude from the floor or wall . Starting from these pipes, which in practice often do not protrude from the floor or wall at precisely the desired position, the position of a first suspension bracket with the associated drilled holes is then marked off on the wall, whereafter the position of each subsequent bracket is marked off on the basis of this first bracket.

Because different radiators of varying dimensions and connecting options are often applied in a building, a fitter has to know and mark off a great many different groups of installation points and their mutual location, whereby the danger of mistakes is considerable. Measuring and marking of the points required for the installation moreover requires a relatively large amount of time.

In addition, in order to mark off the installation points the different radiators must already be available at the construction site for a long time prior to the actual moment of installation thereof. This entails the risk of these radiators being damaged or even stolen. The investment cost for long-term storage of a large number of radiators at the construction site is also relatively high.

The invention therefore has for its object to provide an installation template wherein these drawbacks do not occur. According to a first aspect of the invention this is achieved with an installation template which is provided with a basic element which defines a plane and has a number of reference points placed in different rows . In this manner a number of installation points can be marked off in one operation by placing the basic element against a wall . Because the template has different rows of reference points, it does not herein have to be displaced in the meantime and there is therefore no necessity to carry out further interim measurements, which results in considerable time-saving in the installation of a radiator.

According to a second aspect of the invention the template is provided with at least one auxiliary element protruding out of the plane of the basic element and having at least one reference point. This auxiliary element also makes it possible to mark off installation points outside the plane of the wall, and particularly on the floor.

The or each auxiliary element is preferably connected movably to the basic element, whereby it can be moved as required to its position of use and the template therefore need take up little space in the rest position. A template which is particularly simple structurally and which can be manufactured at low cost is herein obtained when the basic element and the or each auxiliary element are formed from a blank and are mutually connected by at least one fold-line. The fold-line can herein be a perforation line, whereby the auxiliary element can be torn off when it is not needed. In order to enable use of the template to install a radiator in different ways, the blank is preferably provided on both sides with reference points and the or each auxiliary element is movable to two sides relative to the basic element. Advantageously at least some of the reference points can herein then be placed differently on either side of the blank, whereby the template is suitable for use with radiators which can optionally be installed with their connections on the left or right-hand side.

According to a preferred embodiment the template is provided with a plurality of groups of associated reference points, whereby it can be used in the installation of different types or sizes of radiator and radiator brackets . In order to prevent errors as far as possible here, at least some of the groups of reference points can advantageously be made unusable. This ensures that the fitter can use only those reference points which are associated with the relevant radiator, bracket type and connecting method. The groups of reference points can for instance be arranged for this purpose on segments of the template which are releasably connected to each other, whereby the reference points not to be used can even be removed completely. A simple and inexpensive solution is obtained when the segments are mutually connected by perforation lines .

So as to increase the convenience of use of the template at least the basic element is preferably further provided on at least one side with a representation of at least a part of the radiator and/or the connection options thereof . It is thus apparent at a glance which reference points have to be used. Optionally different representations can also be arranged on either side of the template.

Although the installation template according to the invention can be marketed as an individual product, it is also readily conceivable that it form part of a packaging for the radiator. The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of two embodiments, wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing, in which: Fig. 1A and IB show respectively a perspective front and rear view of a first embodiment of the installation template according to the invention,

Fig. 2A to 2D show the different steps of marking off installation points using the template of fig. 1, and

Fig. 3A and 3B show a perspective front and rear view of a second embodiment of the installation template . A template 1 for defining the position of fixing points 2 for a radiator (not shown here) on a wall 3 comprises a flat basic element 4 with a number of reference points 5, 6, 18, 20. The reference points 5 herein take the form of small openings or drilled holes placed in a row 7, while reference point 6 is formed by an edge of a larger opening 8 in basic element 4, and reference points 18, 20 are the side edges of basic element 4.

An illustration 9 of a part of the radiator is arranged on either side of basic element 4. In the shown embodiment a marking 17 is herein also arranged which indicates the mutual distance of the combination of reference openings 5 to be used. Because illustration 9, marking 17 and reference points 5,6,18,20 can be seen on the front 10 (fig. 1A) and the rear 11 (fig. IB) of basic element 4, template 1 can be used on both sides, whereby it is suitable both for radiators with connections on the left-hand side and for radiators with connections on the right-hand side. Information 26 can further be printed on template 1, for instance a summary of instructions for use or indications of the functions of the different components .

Template 1 is further provided with an auxiliary element 12 which is movably connected to basic element 4. This auxiliary element 12 is provided with two reference points 13 in the form of openings with a diameter roughly corresponding with that of the feed and return pipes 14, 15 to which the radiator has to be connected. The distance between these reference openings 13 and basic element 4 corresponds with the desired distance between pipes 14, 15 and the wall 3. In the shown embodiment auxiliary element 12 is formed as a single blank with basic element 4. Between these two components is formed a fold-line 16 which ensures the ability of auxiliary element 12 to move to two sides. The blank can be manufactured from cardboard or other comparatively stiff but readily deformable material, such as a plastic. Openings 5,8 and 13 can be punched directly during manufacture of the blank, but can also be pressed open by the user along the tear-lines formed in the blank.

Openings 13 can further be incorporated in larger recesses 28 which can likewise be bounded by tear- lines and which can be broken away when protective caps are arranged protruding over pipes 14, 15.

Installation template 1 is now used as follows. When a radiator has to be installed, the desired location of the middle of the radiator is first determined in conventional manner and indicated on wall 3 with a marking 31. The location of the side edge of the connection side of the radiator is then determined from this marking 31 and indicated with a marking 32. Template 1 is placed with reference edge 6 along this marking, wherein auxiliary element 12 is folded inward along fold- line 16 so that it comes to lie on the floor 19, whereafter the position of pipes 14, 15 can be marked off on floor 19 through reference openings 13 (fig. 2A) . Once pipes 14, 15 have been placed and fixed, template 1 is placed with openings 13 over the end parts of pipes 14, 15 protruding from floor 19, whereafter the fixing points 2 for a first suspension bracket (not shown here) is marked off at the desired height above floor 19 through two of the reference openings 5, the mutual distance of which is determined by marking 17 (fig. 2B) . The correct position of template 1 can herein be determined using a levelling instrument. When a different heigh is desired, another pair of openings 5 can be used, just as long as the mutual distance has the value indicated by marking 17.

In order to determine the position of the following suspension -bracket , starting from marking 32 the other end edge of the radiator is measured off and indicated by a marking 33. Template 1 is then picked up again and turned over, wherein auxiliary element 12 is folded over in the other direction, whereafter reference edge 6 is placed along the already made marking 33. A subsequent pair of fixing points 2 can then be marked off once again through reference openings 5 (fig. 2C) .

If the radiator for installing is so large that it is not possible to suffice with two suspension brackets, the template 1 can be first shifted once through a determined distance after a first set of fixing points 2 has been marked off, and a subsequent set of fixing points 2 can thus be marked off (fig. 2D) before template 1 is turned over and work can continue from the other side.

For installation of a radiator with connections situated on the other side the template 1 can likewise simply be turned over, wherein auxiliary element 12 is then folded over in the other direction and the measurements can then be performed in identical manner from the other side.

The above described, relatively simply formed template 1 is suitable for installing a specific kind and type of radiator using a particular type of suspension bracket. Template 1 could therefore be supplied with this radiator and for instance form part of the packaging used herefor, or at least be co-packaged therein.

An alternative embodiment of the installation template 1, which is suitable for use with different types of radiator and in combination with diverse suspension brackets, has a plurality of groups of reference points. In the shown embodiment these groups of reference points are herein arranged on different segments 21, 22 (fig. 3A, 3B) which are releasably connected to each other. By detaching the segments from each other a template can thus finally be obtained which contains only those reference points which are of importance for the radiator for installing.

In the shown embodiment the installation template 1 is divided into two main segments 21, 22 which are intended for use with two different types of suspension bracket and are mutually connected by a perforated tear edge 23. Each main segment 21, 22 is in turn also divided into two sub-segments 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b which are connected in each case by a tear edge 24. Each sub-segment, which corresponds with a determined radiator type, i.e. a radiator with external connections (segment 21a, 22a) or one with internal connections (segment 21b, 22b) , consists once again of a basic element 4a, 4b and an auxiliary element 12a, 12b which are mutually connected by the continuous fold-line 16a, 16b. In sub-segments 21b, 22b the fold-line 16b also takes a perforated form so that it can also serve as tear line .

Reference openings 13 are again arranged in auxiliary elements 12, wherein two pairs of openings 13, 13' are present in the inner auxiliary elements, the positions of which openings again depend on the kind and type of radiator to be installed. In order to prevent incorrect openings 13 or 13' being used here, a pair of openings 13 or 13 ' can be marked as correct or incorrect on each side of the blank, for instance by means of a cross 25.

For the installation of a determined type of radiator with a determined type of suspension bracket, a template specifically suitable for this purpose is now first formed by tearing off the different segments. A determined bracket can first of all be selected by tearing the template 1 along the line 23 and choosing the correct half 21 or 22. By tearing off outer part 21a, 22a via tear-line 24 the template can then be made suitable for installing a radiator with internal connections. If on the other hand a radiator with external connections has to be installed, a template suitable therefor can also be formed by tearing off auxiliary segment 12b via lines 24 and 16b.

Using the installation template according to the invention a large number of points on a wall and floor important for the installation of a radiator can thus be marked off in simple and rapid manner, whereby comparatively expensive fitters at a construction site will lose only little time. In addition, the radiator itself does not have to be available at the construction site for this purpose, whereby the danger of theft of not yet installed radiators is reduced. The installation template according to the invention can moreover be manufactured simply and at low cost, preferably even from a blank.

Although the invention is elucidated above with reference to one embodiment, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto. Forms of the basic element and the auxiliary element other than those shown could also be chosen, while the number of basic and auxiliary elements can also be greater than shown here. These could also be manufactured as separate components and connected to each other instead of being formed integrally. Nor is it always necessary in the case of a template with multiple options that the unused reference openings be made unusable or removed, while on the other hand the manner in which these openings are made unusable can also vary .

The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the appended claims .

Claims

1. Template for defining installation points for a radiator, characterized by a basic element which defines a plane and has a number of reference points placed in different rows.

2. Installation template, particularly as claimed in claim 1, characterized by at least one auxiliary element protruding out of the plane of the basic element and likewise having at least one reference point .

3. Installation template as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the or each auxiliary element is connected movably to the basic element.

4. Installation template as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the basic element and the or each auxiliary element are formed from a blank and mutually connected by at least one fold-line.

5. Installation template as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the or each fold-line is a perforation line.

6. Installation template as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the blank is provided on both sides with reference points and the or each auxiliary element is movable to two sides relative to the basic element .

7. Installation template as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that at least some of the reference points are placed differently on either side of the blank.

8. Installation template as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized by a plurality of groups of associated reference points.

9. Installation template as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that at least some of the groups of reference points can be made unusable.

10. Installation template as claimed in claim

9, characterized in that the groups of reference points are arranged on segments of the template which are releasably connected to each other.

11. Installation template as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the segments are mutually connected by perforation lines.

12. Installation template as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least the basic element is provided with a representation of at least a part of the radiator and/or the connection options thereof.

13. Installation template as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it forms part of a packaging for the radiator.

14. Installation template as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized by information arranged on the basic element and/or the or each auxiliary element.