U.S. patent application number 09/793715 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-04 for dual source heater with radiant and convection heaters.
Invention is credited to Bucher, Charles E., Bucher, John C..
Application Number | 20030164367 09/793715 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27805593 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030164367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bucher, Charles E. ; et
al. |
September 4, 2003 |
DUAL SOURCE HEATER WITH RADIANT AND CONVECTION HEATERS
Abstract
A dual source heater with radiant and convection heaters
operates to provide radiant and convective heat for heating a
surrounding space. A quartz heating element provides radiant heat,
and a resistive heating element provides convective heat, through
openings in the heater housing. A reflector is positioned so that
an airflow updraft is created within the housing and airflow is
concentrated through the resistive heating element.
Inventors: |
Bucher, Charles E.;
(Valrico, FL) ; Bucher, John C.; (Ft. Lauderdale,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stefan V. Stein
Holland & Knight LLP
400 North Ashley Drive, Suite 2300
P.O. Box 1288
Tampa
FL
33602
US
|
Family ID: |
27805593 |
Appl. No.: |
09/793715 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/479 ;
392/365; 392/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24H 3/002 20130101;
F24C 1/14 20130101; F24C 7/043 20130101; F24C 7/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/479 ;
392/375; 392/365 |
International
Class: |
F24H 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heater, comprising in combination: a housing; a quartz heating
element positioned within said housing for radiating heat through
an opening in said housing; and a resistive heating element
positioned within said housing for convecting heat through said
housing.
2. The heater as set forth in claim 1, further including a fan
assembly for creating an airflow across said resistive heating
element.
3. The heater as set forth in claim 2, wherein said airflow flows
into said housing by means of vents positioned in a bottom portion
of said housing and out of said housing by means of vents
positioned in an upper portion of said housing.
4. The heater as set forth in claim 2, wherein said airflow flows
into said housing by means of vents positioned in a bottom portion
of said housing and out of said housing through said opening in
said housing.
5. The heater as set forth in claim 1, wherein said quartz heating
element is horizontally positioned within said housing.
6. The heater as set forth in claim 1, wherein said quartz heating
element is vertically positioned within said housing.
7. The heater as set forth in claim 6, further including a fan
assembly positioned below said quartz heating element for creating
an airflow across said resistive heating element and wherein said
airflow flows into said housing by means of vents positioned in a
bottom portion of said housing and out of said housing through said
opening in said housing.
8. The heater assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
housing includes a handle and a stand for functioning as a portable
space heater.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to space heaters. More particularly,
this invention relates to space heaters producing radiant heat and
convective heat for heating the surrounding space.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0004] Presently, there exists many types of space heaters that
employ various heat sources. One of the oldest types of space
heaters consists of a propane or natural gas space heater that
operates by producing a flame proximate to a ceramic heating
element to radiate heat therefrom. Another popular type of space
heater includes a fan blower that blows air across an electric
resistive heating element to the space to be warmed. Still another
type of space heater employs a quartz heating element surrounded on
one side by a reflector for radiating heat outwardly from the
heater. Finally, still other types of heaters consist of a
baseboard configuration wherein the heating element is heated by
means of steam or hot water or by an electric resistive element
whereupon air flow from the bottom of the base board heater
convectively flows upwardly there through to be warmed by the
heating element and to then flow into the surrounding space.
[0005] The aforementioned space heaters have enjoyed widespread use
throughout the world in various climates. For example, baseboard
heaters are more commonly utilized in colder climates, whereas
resistive space heaters, being more portable in nature, are more
commonly used in the warmer climates. Unfortunately, each type of
space heater has certain disadvantages that reduces their
versatility. For example, gas space heaters require a permanent
connection to a gas line and therefore they are not portable.
Baseboard heaters supplied by steam or heated water are likewise
non-portable. However, baseboard heaters do not present the safety
concerns associated with gas heaters. Similarly, quartz heaters are
commonly portable and efficient, yet, the wattages employed are
typically reduced to minimize excessive heating of the grillwork
across the face of the space heater. Space heaters employing fans
and resistive elements, are inherently safer than quartz space
heaters that are not as efficient.
[0006] Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an
improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the
prior art devices and provides an improvement which is a
significant contribution to the advancement of the space heater
art.
[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a space
heater that employs a quartz element for producing radiated heat at
a sufficiently low wattage to minimize fire hazards that is
integrated with a resistive heating element to thereby provide a
dual source heater.
[0008] Another object of this invention is to provide a dual source
heater that employs a quartz heating element for producing radiated
heat and a resistive heating element that produces heat
convectively.
[0009] Another object of this invention is to provide a dual source
space heater that includes a quartz heating element for producing
radiated heat and a resistive heating element and fan for producing
heated air flow.
[0010] The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of
the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely
illustrative of some of the more prominent features and
applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial
results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a
different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the
disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding
of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the
invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment
in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this
invention comprises a dual source space heater for producing heat
to heat the surrounding space around the space heater.
[0012] In its preferred embodiment, the dual source space heater of
the invention is fully electrically operated and configured with an
appropriate handle and housing stand so as to be portable in
nature. In the preferred embodiment, a quartz heating element is
employed along with a reflector for reflecting the radiant heat
outwardly from the face of the space heater. In one of the
preferred embodiments, the heat produced by the quartz heater
heating element is supplemented by means of a resistive element and
blower fan that produces a heated air stream outwardly from the
face of the space heater.
[0013] In another preferred embodiment, the quartz heating element
is supplemented with a resistive element that is positioned above
vent holes in the bottom of the space heater so as to produce heat
convectively.
[0014] It should be appreciated that in both of the preferred
embodiments, one source of heat comprises the quartz element and
another source of heat comprises the resistive element. This
dual-source functionality allows the space heater to operate
efficiently. Specifically, the quartz element may be powered to
produce low and medium heating levels. Whenever higher levels of
heating are required, the resistive heating element is employed. In
this manner, the efficiencies of employing a quartz heater are
achieved while minimizing the possibility of the grill of the space
heater becoming too hot as could occur in the prior art quartz
heaters of a higher wattage.
[0015] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent
and important features of the present invention in order that the
detailed description of the invention that follows may be better
understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more
fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be
described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the
invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be
readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other
structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art
that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the first preferred
embodiment of the dual source heater of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a right end view of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 showing the relative
positioning of the resistive heating element above the vent holes
in the bottom of the housing that allows convective flow from such
vent holes upwardly through the vent holes along the upper front of
the space heater;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of another preferred
embodiment of the dual source heater of the invention that employs
a blower fan for circulating air flow through the bottom vents,
across the resistive heating element and then through the front
vents of the space heater;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view, partially cut away, of
another preferred embodiment of the dual source space heater of the
invention wherein the quartz heating element is positioned
vertically and wherein the resistive heating element and blower fan
are positioned below the quartz heating element to circulate air
from the lower vents, across the resistive heating element and then
through upper vents to then flow outwardly from the grillwork of
the space heater; and
[0023] FIG. 7 is a right side view, partially cut away, of FIG.
6.
[0024] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the first preferred embodiment of the
dual source space heater 10 of the invention. Specifically, the
space heater 10 comprises a generally rectangular-shaped housing 12
having a floor stand 14 and carrying handle 16. A quartz heating
element 18 is positioned horizontally within the longitudinal
length of the housing 12 and is encompassed by an arcuate reflector
20. The opened end 22 of the reflector is connected to the front
wall 24 of the housing 12. A grillwork 26 is positioned across the
opened end 22 of the reflector 20. Electrical power from a
conventional power cord flows to a switch 30 and then to the quartz
heating element 18 for supplying electrical energy thereto causing
the quartz heating element to produce heat which is then radiated
off the reflector 20 to exit the housing 12 via the opened end
22.
[0026] As also shown in FIGS. 1-4, this preferred embodiment of the
space heater 10 includes another source of heat; namely, a
resistive heating element 32 that is similarly positioned
horizontally within the longitudinal length of the housing 12.
Preferably, the resistive heating element 32 includes a plurality
of heat-dissipating fins 34 along its longitudinal length to
enhance its convectivity. Electrical power to the resistive heating
element 32 is supplied via cord 28 and switch 31.
[0027] As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the convective heat flow
through the fins 34 of the resistive heating element 32 flows
upwardly through vents 36 positioned across the longitudinal bottom
of the housing 12, upwardly through the fins 34 of the resistive
heating element 32 and around the reflector 20 to then exit the
housing 12 via a plurality of upper vents 38 positioned across the
upper face 40 of the housing 12.
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the dual
source space heater 10 of the invention that is similar to the
first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 but additionally
includes a fan assembly 50, powered via switch 31 and positioned
within the housing 12 in alignment with the front vents 38. The
addition of the fan assembly 20 creates an air flow from the bottom
vents 36, across the fins and resistive heating element 34 and 32,
and out the front vents 38. Thus, in this embodiment it should be
appreciated that while some convective heat flow occurs, increased
flow can be achieved by means of the fan assembly 50.
[0029] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate still another preferred embodiment
of the dual source space heater 10 of the invention that includes a
generally vertical configuration as opposed to the horizontal
configurations shown in FIGS. 1-5. More particularly, as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7, this vertical embodiment includes a vertically
disposed housing 12 in which is vertically positioned in the quartz
heating element 18 and reflector 20. The resistive heating element
32 comprises a generally cylindrical configuration that is
positioned in the bottommost portion of the housing 12. The bottom
vents 36 are positioned across the bottommost face 24 of the
housing 12 and the upper vents 38 are positioned proximate to the
lower end of the space encompassed by the reflector 20. Finally,
the fan assembly 50 is positioned proximate to the resistive
heating element 32.
[0030] Upon operation of the quartz heating element 18, the heat
produced thereby is radiated off the reflector 20 outwardly from
the opened end 22 thereof to heat the surrounding space. Additional
heat can be obtained by turning on the resistive heating element 32
and the fan assembly 50 whereupon air is drawn through the bottom
vents 36, across the resistive heating element 32 and then through
the upper vents 38 into the space defined by the reflector 20 to
then exit the space heater 10.
[0031] The present disclosure includes that contained in the
appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.
Although this invention has been described in its preferred form
with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the
present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way
of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction
and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0032] Now that the invention has been described,
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