Tamper-resistant baseboard heater cover assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a tamper-resistant heater cover assembly for baseboard heater units and components thereof. The components include tamper-resistant end caps, couplers, and corner pieces that can be used with baseboard heating units. The end cap, the coupler, and corner piece contain apertures and flanges adapted to accommodate one or more fasteners for attaching the end cap coupler, or corner piece to a wall.

1 . A coupler for a heater cover assembly, comprising:
 a top face having a front edge and a rear edge;   a front face extending downwardly from the front edge of the top face;   a bottom face extending from a bottom edge of the front face, the bottom face having a rear edge;   a rear face extending downwardly from the rear edge of the top face;   a first open side face and a second open side face, each open side face adapted to accommodate an associated heater cover panel; and   wherein either:
 (a) the at least one rear face has at least one rear face aperture along a bottom edge thereof that can accommodate an associated fastener for attachment to a wall, the bottom edge extending beyond the bottom face; or 
 (b) the bottom face has a tab extending downwardly from a rear edge thereof, the tab having at least one tab aperture that can accommodate an associated fastener for attachment to a wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the rear face comprises two vertical strips, each vertical strip terminating in a flange containing a rear face aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The coupler of  claim 2 , wherein each flange contains a plurality of the rear face apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the at least one rear face has at least one rear face aperture along the bottom edge thereof; and   (b) the bottom face has the tab extending downwardly from the rear edge thereof, the tab having at least one tab aperture.   
     
     
         5 . The coupler of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one rear face aperture and the at least one tab aperture are aligned so that one associated fastener can pass through both apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the rear face is adapted to flex to be placed around an associated baseboard heater unit. 
     
     
         7 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the tab extends beyond the first open side face and the second open side face. 
     
     
         8 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the front face includes an angled upper surface and a vertical lower surface. 
     
     
         9 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the front face includes at least one retainer for securing an associated heater cover panel. 
     
     
         10 . A heater cover assembly for covering a baseboard heater, comprising:
 (A) a coupler for a heater cover assembly that comprises:
 a top face having a front edge and a rear edge; 
 a front face extending downwardly from the front edge of the top face; 
 a bottom face extending from a bottom edge of the front face, the bottom face having a rear edge; 
 a rear face extending downwardly from the rear edge of the top face; 
 a first open side face and a second open side face, each open side face adapted to accommodate an associated heater cover panel; and 
 wherein either:
 (a) the at least one rear face has at least one rear face aperture along a bottom edge thereof that can accommodate an associated fastener for attachment to a wall, the bottom edge extending beyond the bottom face; or 
 (b) the bottom face has a tab extending downwardly from a rear edge thereof, the tab having at least one tab aperture that can accommodate an associated fastener for attachment to a wall; 
 
   (B) a first heater cover panel; and   (C) a second heater cover panel;
 wherein an end of the first panel is inserted into the first open side face of the coupler, and an end of the second panel is inserted into the second open side face of the coupler. 
   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the rear face comprises two vertical strips, each vertical strip terminating in a flange containing a rear face aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the flange extends beyond the sides of the vertical strip. 
     
     
         13 . A method for making a heater cover assembly, comprising:
 receiving a coupler for a heater cover assembly that comprises:
 a top face having a front edge and a rear edge; 
 a front face extending downwardly from the front edge of the top face; 
 a bottom face extending from a bottom edge of the front face, the bottom face having a rear edge; 
 a rear face extending downwardly from the rear edge of the top face; 
 a first open side face and a second open side face, each open side face adapted to accommodate an associated heater cover panel; and 
 wherein either:
 (a) the at least one rear face has at least one rear face aperture along a bottom edge thereof that can accommodate an associated fastener for attachment to a wall, the bottom edge extending beyond the bottom face; or 
 (b) the bottom face has a tab extending downwardly from a rear edge thereof, the tab having at least one tab aperture that can accommodate an associated fastener for attachment to a wall; 
 
   placing the coupler around a baseboard heater unit;   inserting an end of a first heater cover panel into the first open side face of the coupler;   inserting an end of a second heater cover panel into the second open side face of the coupler; and   passing a fastener through the at least one rear face aperture or the at least one tab aperture to attach the coupler to a wall.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rear face comprises two vertical strips, each vertical strip terminating in a flange containing a rear face aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each flange contains a plurality of the rear face apertures. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 (a) the at least one rear face has at least one rear face aperture along the bottom edge thereof; and   (b) the bottom face has the tab extending downwardly from the rear edge thereof, the tab having at least one tab aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one rear face aperture and the at least one tab aperture are aligned so that one associated fastener can pass through both apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tab extends beyond the first open side face and the second open side face. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the front face includes an angled upper surface and a vertical lower surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein an interior surface of the front face includes at least one retainer for securing the first or second heater cover panels.