Baseboard radiator

Abstract

An improved baseboard radiator comprising a substantially tubular conduit formed of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing for containing and conveying hot water; a plurality of fins disposed onto and along the conduit for radiating heat energy transferred from hot water contained within the conduit; and a housing to contain the conduit/fin assembly. Alternate embodiments include the use of an integrated return water line formed of PEX tubing.

1 . An improved baseboard radiator comprising:
 a primary conduit, said primary conduit being substantially tubular and having a length, an outer surface, and a substantially uniform outside diameter, said primary conduit being suitably adapted to contain and convey hot water;   a plurality of fins, each said fin having a central aperture substantially circular in shape and having an inside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the primary conduit, with the primary conduit inserted into and through the central apertures of said fins such that said fins are snugly disposed upon and along at least a portion of the length of the primary conduit on the outer surface of the primary conduit, said plurality of fins together with the primary conduit forming a conduit/fin assembly, said fins suitably adapted to radiate heat energy transferred from hot water contained within the primary conduit to the ambient environment; and   a housing, said housing suitably adapted to contain the conduit/fin assembly;   wherein the primary conduit is formed of cross-linked polyethylene tubing.   
   
   
       2 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fins are disposed along substantially the entire length of the primary conduit. 
   
   
       3 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 1  further comprising
 a first coupling and a second coupling;   wherein the first coupling is suitably adapted to connect an end of the primary conduit to a heating system and the second coupling is suitably adapted to connect another end of the primary conduit to the heating system.   
   
   
       4 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 1  further comprising
 a support bracket, said support bracket suitably adapted to support the conduit/fin assembly, whereby the conduit/fin assembly is placed onto a top surface of the support bracket and the support bracket is fixedly attached to an inside portion of the housing.   
   
   
       5 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 4  further comprising
 a top bracket having a bottom surface, said top bracket suitably adapted to be placed upon the conduit/fin assembly whereby the bottom surface of said top bracket is placed against the conduit/fin assembly.   
   
   
       6 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of brace members, wherein each of the plurality of brace members is fixedly attached to both the top bracket and the support bracket. 
   
   
       7 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 4  wherein the support bracket comprises a pair of edge flanges, each of the edge flanges depending upward from sides of the support bracket in a substantially vertical orientation, with the distance between the edge flanges being substantially identical to the width of the conduit/fin assembly, such that the conduit/fin assembly is held snugly between the pair of edge flanges when the conduit/fin assembly is placed onto the top surface of the support bracket. 
   
   
       8 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 5  wherein the top bracket comprises a pair of edge flanges, each of the edge flanges depending downward from sides of the top bracket in a substantially vertical orientation, with the distance between the edge flanges being substantially identical to the width of the conduit/fin assembly, such that the conduit/fin assembly is held snugly between the pair of edge flanges when the top bracket is placed onto the conduit/fin assembly. 
   
   
       9 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 4  wherein
 each of the plurality of fins comprises one or more bottom flanges, each said bottom flange depending downward from a bottom edge of the respective fin; and   the support bracket comprises one or more slots formed into its top surface, each said slot running along a length of the support bracket and, where more than one slot is formed into the top surface of the support bracket, each said slot is oriented substantially parallel to each other slot;   whereby the bottom flanges depending from the plurality of fins are suitably adapted to be inserted into the one or more slots of the support bracket and the one or more slots of the support bracket are suitably adapted to accommodate the bottom flanges depending from the plurality of fins.   
   
   
       10 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 9  further comprising
 a top bracket having a bottom surface, said top bracket suitably adapted to be placed upon the conduit/fin assembly whereby the bottom surface of said top bracket is placed against the conduit/fin assembly.   
   
   
       11 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 10  wherein
 each of the plurality of fins comprises one or more top flanges, each said top flange depending upward from a top edge of the respective fin; and   the top bracket comprises one or more slots formed into its bottom surface, each said slot running along a length of the top bracket and, where more than one slot is formed into the bottom surface of the top bracket, each said slot is oriented substantially parallel to each other slot;   whereby the top flanges depending from the plurality of fins are suitably adapted to be inserted into the one or more slots of the top bracket and the one or more slots of the top bracket are suitably adapted to accommodate the top flanges depending from the plurality of fins.   
   
   
       12 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 5  wherein
 each of the plurality of fins comprises one or more top flanges, each said top flange depending upward from a top edge of the respective fin; and   the top bracket comprises one or more slots formed into its bottom surface, each said slot running along a length of the top bracket and, where more than one slot is formed into the bottom surface of the top bracket, each said slot is oriented substantially parallel to each other slot;   whereby the top flanges depending from the plurality of fins are suitably adapted to be inserted into the one or more slots of the top bracket and the one or more slots of the top bracket are suitably adapted to accommodate the top flanges depending from the plurality of fins.   
   
   
       13 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 4  further comprising
 a return conduit, said return conduit being substantially tubular and having a length, said return conduit being suitably adapted to contain and convey water; and   one or more hangers, each said hanger attached to the support bracket and suitably adapted to support the return conduit below the support bracket;   wherein the return conduit is formed of cross-linked polyethylene, the return conduit is supported by the one or more hangers, and the return conduit and the one or more hangers are contained within the housing.   
   
   
       14 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 13  wherein each of the one or more hangers is formed of a substantially rigid material into a substantially u-shape, such that each hanger has a first end and a second end, with the first and second ends of each hanger suitably adapted to attach to a bottom surface of the support bracket. 
   
   
       15 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 13  further comprising
 a carrier frame, said carrier frame being substantially rigid and having a length, said carrier frame being suitably adapted to support the return conduit;   wherein the return conduit is placed upon the carrier frame and the return conduit and the carrier frame are supported below the support bracket by the one or more hangers.   
   
   
       16 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 15  further comprising
 a second carrier frame, said second carrier frame being substantially rigid and having a length, said second carrier frame being suitably adapted to be placed upon the return conduit; and   one or more carrier frame clips, each said frame carrier clip suitably adapted to be placed onto the return conduit and over the carrier frame and the second carrier frame, thereby holding the carrier frame and second carrier frame firmly against the return conduit.   
   
   
       17 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 13  wherein
 the primary conduit has an open end and a linked end; and   the return conduit has an open end and a linked end;   whereby the linked end of the primary conduit is substantially aligned with and in fluid connection with the linked end of the return conduit, such that hot water enters the baseboard radiator through the open end of the primary conduit and flows through the primary conduit, exits the primary conduit through the linked end of the primary conduit and enters the return conduit through the linked end of the return conduit, and flows through the return conduit and exits the baseboard radiator through the open end of the return conduit.   
   
   
       18 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 17  further comprising
 a first coupling and a second coupling;   wherein the first coupling is suitably adapted to connect the open end of the primary conduit to a heating system and the second coupling is suitably adapted to connect the open end of the return conduit to the heating system.   
   
   
       19 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of fins is fixedly attached to an adjacent fin, forming a substantially rigid fin unit, wherein the central apertures of the plurality of fins of the fin unit are oriented in substantial alignment with each other to accommodate the primary conduit. 
   
   
       20 . The improved baseboard radiator of  claim 19  further comprising
 a return conduit, said return conduit being substantially tubular and having a length, said return conduit being suitably adapted to contain and convey water; and   one or more hangers, each said hanger attached to the fin unit and suitably adapted to support the return conduit below the fin unit;   wherein the return conduit is formed of cross-linked polyethylene, the return conduit is supported by the one or more hangers, and the return conduit and the one or more hangers are contained within the housing.