US6726115B1 — Radiant heating system for subfloor installation

Claim 1

Independent Claim 78 words

A heated floor construction, comprising: a substantially horizontal support surface; a plurality of sleeper elements on said surface presenting a plurality of channels spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another; radiant heating tubing extending in said channels and receiving a thermal fluid for generating heat; and a header on said surface providing a curved path extending between adjacent channels and receiving a curved bend of said tubing to allow the tubing to extend between said adjacent channels.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 78 words

A heated floor construction, comprising: a substantially horizontal support surface; a plurality of sleeper elements on said surface presenting a plurality of channels spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another; radiant heating tubing extending in said channels and receiving a thermal fluid for generating heat; and a header on said surface providing a curved path extending between adjacent channels and receiving a curved bend of said tubing to allow the tubing to extend between said adjacent channels.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A heated floor construction as set forth in claim 1 , including a header plate secured to said support surface to hold said tubing on said curved path.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

A heated floor construction as set forth in claim 1 , wherein: said header has an arcuate cutout; and said cutout presents a curved surface on said header that provides said curved path.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

A heated floor construction as set forth in claim 3 , including an arcuate header plate secured in said cutout in a manner to hold said tubing against said curved surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

A heated floor construction as set forth in claim 1 , including heat conductive sheeting covering said sleepers and channels.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

A heated floor construction as set forth in claim 5 , including a heat absorbing coating on said sheeting.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

A heated floor construction as set forth in claim 5 , wherein: said channels have widths greater than a diameter of the tubing; and said sheeting is spaced above said tubing to allow the tubing to expand and contract in said channels without rubbing on said sheeting.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

A heated floor construction as set forth in claim 1 , including reflective tape in each channel on a bottom surface thereof.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 104 words

A radiant heating system for installation on a floor, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart sleeper elements for application to the floor to present a plurality of substantially parallel channels; radiant heating tubing extending in said channels and receiving a heated fluid to apply heat; a header for application to the floor, said header having an arcuate cutout presenting a curved path for the tubing between adjacent channels to allow the tubing to extend along said curved path between the adjacent channels; and a header plate for insertion into said cutout to substantially fill the cutout and hold the tubing on said curved path.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 104 words

A radiant heating system for installation on a floor, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart sleeper elements for application to the floor to present a plurality of substantially parallel channels; radiant heating tubing extending in said channels and receiving a heated fluid to apply heat; a header for application to the floor, said header having an arcuate cutout presenting a curved path for the tubing between adjacent channels to allow the tubing to extend along said curved path between the adjacent channels; and a header plate for insertion into said cutout to substantially fill the cutout and hold the tubing on said curved path.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as set forth in claim 9 , including heat conductive sheeting covering said sleepers and channels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as set forth in claim 10 , including a heat absorbing coating on said sheeting.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

A system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein: said channels have widths greater than a diameter of the tubing; and said sheeting is spaced above said tubing to allow the tubing to expand and contract in said channels without rubbing on said sheeting.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said cutout presents a curved surface which provides said curved path, said header plate holding the tubing against said curved surface when inserted into said cutout.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system as set forth in claim 13 , including a ledge overlying said curved surface to hold the tubing under the ledge and against said curved surface before said header plate is inserted into said cutout.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

A system as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said header plate is initially connected with said header by a detachable connection which can be detached to allow the tubing to be applied against said curved surface before the header plate is inserted into said cutout.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said header plate substantially fills said cutout when detachably connected with said header.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system as set forth in claim 16 , including predrilled holes in said header and header plate for receiving fasteners securing the header and header plate to the floor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

A system as set forth in claim 15 , including a prying surface on said header plate against which a tool can be applied to detach said detachable connection by prying action.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

A system as set forth in claim 9 , including reflective tape on a base of each channel reflective to infrared radiation.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 38 words

A system as set forth in claim 9 , including a generally C-shaped cover for each channel applicable therein and having legs in the channel and a top surface substantially flush with a top surface of each sleeper.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system as set forth in claim 9 , including at least one holding block for securing the tubing in a channel, said block having a size to fit closely in a channel and presenting a passage for receiving the tubing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system as set forth in claim 21 , wherein said block has sections connected to pivot relative to one another to open and close said passage on the tubing.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 50 words

A system as set forth in claim 21 , including a beveled surface on said block and a predrilled hole extending into said beveled surface for receiving a fastener used to secure the block to the floor with the beveled surface receiving the fastener below top surfaces of said sleepers.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 83 words

A method of installing a radiant heating system on a floor, comprising the steps of: installing on said floor a plurality of sleepers which provide generally parallel channels therebetween and a header having an arcuate cutout providing a curved path between ends of adjacent channels; extending a radiant heating tube through said channels and along said path; inserting a header plate into said cutout to hold said tubing in extension along said path; and covering said sleepers and channels with heat conductive sheeting.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 83 words

A method of installing a radiant heating system on a floor, comprising the steps of: installing on said floor a plurality of sleepers which provide generally parallel channels therebetween and a header having an arcuate cutout providing a curved path between ends of adjacent channels; extending a radiant heating tube through said channels and along said path; inserting a header plate into said cutout to hold said tubing in extension along said path; and covering said sleepers and channels with heat conductive sheeting.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method as set forth in claim 24 , wherein said header plate is initially in said cutout and has a detachable connection with said header, and including the step of detaching said header plate from said header prior to extending said tube along said path.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as set forth in claim 24 , including t he step of applying reflective tape in each of said channels.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as set forth in claim 24 , including the step of securing said tube in said channels at one or more selected locations.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 118 words

A header construction for use in a radiant floor heating system having spaced apart sleepers providing channels in which radiant tubing containing heated fluid extends, comprising: a header body having an arcuate cutout presenting a curved surface located to extend between ends of adjacent channels to allow the tubing to extend along said curved surface between said adjacent channels in a smoothly curved radius bend; and a detachable header plate substantially filling said cutout and having a detachable connection with said header body to expose said cutout for insertion of the tubing therein along said curved surface, said header plate being applicable into said cutout in a close fit therein to hold the tubing against said curved surface.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 118 words

A header construction for use in a radiant floor heating system having spaced apart sleepers providing channels in which radiant tubing containing heated fluid extends, comprising: a header body having an arcuate cutout presenting a curved surface located to extend between ends of adjacent channels to allow the tubing to extend along said curved surface between said adjacent channels in a smoothly curved radius bend; and a detachable header plate substantially filling said cutout and having a detachable connection with said header body to expose said cutout for insertion of the tubing therein along said curved surface, said header plate being applicable into said cutout in a close fit therein to hold the tubing against said curved surface.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 42 words

A header construction as set forth in claim 28 , including a ledge in each cutout projecting from said header body adjacent to said curved surface to hold the tubing against said surface before the header plate is applied into said cutout.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

A header construction as set forth in claim 28 , including a prying surface on said header plate arranged to receive a prying tool used to detach said detachable connection by prying force.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 122 words

A header construction for use in a radiant floor heating system having spaced apart sleepers providing channels which receive radiant tubing containing heated fluid, comprising: a header body having a plurality of arcuate cutouts each presenting a curved surface, said curved surfaces being located to ex tend between ends of adjacent channels to provide curved paths along which the tubing can smoothly curve between adjacent channels; and a detachable header plate in each cutout having a detachable connection with said header body to expose each cutout when the corresponding header plate is detached, each header plate being applicable into a cutout in a close fit therein to hold the tubing against the curved surf ace of the cutout receiving the header plate.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 122 words

A header construction for use in a radiant floor heating system having spaced apart sleepers providing channels which receive radiant tubing containing heated fluid, comprising: a header body having a plurality of arcuate cutouts each presenting a curved surface, said curved surfaces being located to ex tend between ends of adjacent channels to provide curved paths along which the tubing can smoothly curve between adjacent channels; and a detachable header plate in each cutout having a detachable connection with said header body to expose each cutout when the corresponding header plate is detached, each header plate being applicable into a cutout in a close fit therein to hold the tubing against the curved surf ace of the cutout receiving the header plate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-04-27	2007-10-27	2008-04-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-04-27	2011-10-27	2012-04-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-04-27	2015-10-27	2016-04-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Radiant heating system for subfloor installation

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