Patent Application
20160109136
This invention relates to the area of home heating.
More particularly, this invention relates to a heating apparatus comprising a radiating element made out of a fragile material.
Conventionally, a heating apparatus comprises a frame including a rear face secured to a vertical wall; a radiating element made in fragile material such as glass, forming the front of the apparatus, one rear face of which is joined to the frame by means of one or more securing means; and a support with a means to heat the radiating element placed against the rear face of the radiating element.
However, because of the fragility of the material making up the radiating element of such an apparatus, the element is liable to break if subjected to an impact and shatter into a number of small pieces. The broken pieces of the radiating element thus spread over the floor and lead to a risk of injury to the user.
This invention is aimed at remedying the drawbacks of the prior art.
More precisely, this invention relates to a heating apparatus comprising a frame, one rear face of which is suitable for being secured to a vertical wall; a radiating element made out of a fragile material forming the front of the apparatus, wherein the frame comprises at least one securing means that is used to join a rear face of the radiating element to said frame; a support integral with the frame, equipped on a first face with means for heating the radiating element, the second face of which is glued against the rear face of the radiating element.
Such an apparatus offers the benefit, if the radiating element breaks, of holding the broken pieces of the radiating element in place on the support that is joined to it by gluing, and of holding the support, with the broken pieces of the radiating element glued to it, on the heating apparatus. The risks for the user are reduced and the faulty apparatus can be removed more easily, and above all more safely.
In one embodiment of the invention, the frame is integral with the second face of the support.
In that embodiment, the support comprises a first zone that receives the heating means and a second zone covering the frame.
Such a support offers the benefit of only heating the radiating element and not the frame, thus preventing the frame from overheating. Such a support also offers the benefit of preventing possible electrical insulation problems.
In this embodiment, the support comprises a first element suitable for forming the first zone, integral with a second element suitable for forming the second zone, wherein the first and second elements are distinct.
In another embodiment of the invention, the frame is integral with the first face of the support.
In that embodiment, the support comprises a first zone that receives the heating means and a second zone covered by the frame and integral with the rear face of the radiating element.
In that embodiment, the frame preferably forms a bridge, below which the first zone of the support extends.
In one embodiment of the invention, the securing means comprises a first branch integral with the support and a second branch integral with the frame.
In one embodiment of the invention, the radiating element is made in glass.
In one embodiment of the invention, the support is a plastic film and the heating means is an aluminum track.
The invention will be better understood by reading the description below and examining the accompanying figures. The latter are provided for guidance and do not in any way limit the invention. The figures show:
The heating apparatus (100) according to the invention comprises a radiating element (105) forming a front (106) of said apparatus (100). In that embodiment, the radiating element (105) has the shape of a plate covering the frame (101). The radiating element (105) is made of fragile material that is liable to break into pieces, such as glass for example.
The frame (101) comprises a securing means (107, 108) using which a rear face (109) of the radiating element (105) is joined to said frame (101). In that example, the frame (101) comprises two securing means (107, 108), each placed close to a lateral edge (116, 117) of the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105).
In one embodiment of the invention, the frame (101) is directly glued to the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105). In another embodiment, the frame (101) is secured to the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105) by elastic fitting means.
In an alternative embodiment, the frame (101) is secured to the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105) by screws or by means of a bolted assembly. In another alternative embodiment, the frame (101) is secured to the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105) by welds.
In this exemplary embodiment, the securing means (107, 108) each comprise a first branch (110, 111) and a second branch (112, 113), placed squarely one in relation to the other. The first branch (110, 111) of each of the securing means (107, 108) is integral with the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105), and the second branch (112, 113) is integral with an internal face (114, 115) of the frame (101). In this example, the second branch (112, 113) of each of the securing means (107, 108) is integral with the internal face (114, 115) of the lateral walls (103, 104). The first branch (110, 111) of the securing means (107, 108) is directed in a direction opposite the lateral edge (116, 117) that is closest to the radiating element (105).
The first branch (110, 111) of the securing means (107, 108) is glued to the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105), and the second branch (112, 113) is joined to the frame (101) by means of bolting. In another exemplary embodiment, the first branch (110, 111) is also made integral with the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105) by means of elastic fitting means, welds or screws, and the second branch (112, 113) is made integral with the frame (101) by elastic fitting means, welds or glue.
The heating apparatus (100) comprises a support (118) with a first face (119) bearing a heating means (120) of the radiating element (105). Preferably, the support (118) occupies a surface that is slightly smaller than the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105). In the example, the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105) and the support (118) have substantially complementary shapes. The heating means (120) is placed on the support (118) so as to heat the radiating element (105) substantially evenly. The support (118) is for example a plastic film, and the heating means (120) is for example an aluminum track. Advantageously, the heating means (120) is covered by a second plastic film.
A second face (121) of the support (118), opposite the first side (119), is glued to the rear face (109) of the radiating element (105). Thus, when the radiating element (105) breaks, the gluing of the second face (121) of the support (118) against the radiating element (105) holds the pieces of the radiating element (105) together in place on the support (118).
The support (118) is integral with the frame (101). In that way, when the radiating element (105) breaks, the support (118) and thus the pieces of the radiating element (105) glued to the second face (121) of said support are held on the heating apparatus (100). The support (118) is made integral with the frame (101) by gluing.
In the example presented in
In the example shown in
In an alternative illustrated in
In that way, the first element (124) of the support 118 is glued to the rear of the radiating element (105) during one step, and the second element (125) is glued to the frame (101) and the first element (124) in another step, thus simplifying the making of the apparatus (100).
In another embodiment of the invention shown in
In the example shown in
In the example illustrated in
The heating apparatus (100) is particularly advantageous when the radiating element (105) breaks under an impact. The gluing of the support (118) against the radiating element (105) makes it possible to keep the broken parts of the heating element (105) in place on the support (118), and the gluing of the support (118) to the first branch (110, 111) of the securing means (107, 108) or the first branch (110, 111) to the support (118) helps hold the support (118) and thus the broken parts of the radiating element (105) on the apparatus (100). Thus, the broken parts of the radiating element (105) do not spread over the floor and the risk of injury to the user is reduced.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 53007 | Apr 2013 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2014/056756 | 4/3/2014 | WO | 00 |
