U.S. patent application number 11/657521 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for portable heater and tool box method and apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Marley Engineered Products LLC. Invention is credited to Bob Dean, Robert F. Deaver, Jim Garrigus, Lee Joyner, Frank L. Lockhart, Dennis Neibrook, Colin O'Connell, Jeffrey A. White, Bob Windmeyer.
Application Number | 20080181589 11/657521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39642842 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080181589 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dean; Bob ; et al. |
July 31, 2008 |
Portable heater and tool box method and apparatus
Abstract
A portable heater includes a housing, a heating element incased
in the housing, and a tool box comprising part of the housing. A
method of providing heat and tool storage in a portable unit
includes providing a heating element, housing heating element, and
attaching a tool box to the housing thereby creating a unified tool
box and heater housing.
Inventors: |
Dean; Bob; (Laurinburg,
NC) ; Neibrook; Dennis; (Florence, SC) ;
Windmeyer; Bob; (Laurinburg, NC) ; Joyner; Lee;
(Florence, SC) ; White; Jeffrey A.; (Pinehurst,
NC) ; Garrigus; Jim; (Laurinburg, NC) ;
Lockhart; Frank L.; (Florence, SC) ; O'Connell;
Colin; (Pinehurst, NC) ; Deaver; Robert F.;
(Tatum, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP
WASHINGTON SQUARE, SUITE 1100, 1050 CONNECTICUT AVE. N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-5304
US
|
Assignee: |
Marley Engineered Products
LLC
|
Family ID: |
39642842 |
Appl. No.: |
11/657521 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/373 ;
206/372 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24H 3/0417 20130101;
B25H 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
392/373 ;
206/372 |
International
Class: |
F24H 3/00 20060101
F24H003/00; B65D 85/20 20060101 B65D085/20 |
Claims
1. A portable heater comprising: a housing; a heating element
encased in the housing; and a tool box mounted to the portable
heater.
2. The portable heater of claim 1, further comprising a grill
configured to let heated air heated by the heating element vent out
of the housing and protect the heating element.
3. The portable heater of claim 1, further comprising a handle
attached to the portable heater and configured to move the heater
when the handle is manipulated by a user.
4. The portable heater of claim 3, wherein the handle is
collapsible attached to the portable heater such that the handle
can achieve: an extended position where the handle is locked in
place and can move the portable heater when manipulated by a user;
and an unlocked position where the handle can collapse and be moved
to an out of the way position.
5. The portable heater of claim 3, further comprising a wheel
mounted proximate to an edge of the housing and secured to the
portable heater sufficiently to bear at least part of the weight of
the heater and roll when the handle is urged in a direction by the
user.
6. The portable heater of claim 1, further comprising a foot
mounted to the portable heater and configured to bear at least some
of the weight of the heater.
7. The portable heater of claim 1, wherein controls for the heating
element are located on the tool box.
8. The portable heater of claim 7, further comprising at least one
of either: a 240 volt connection mounted to the housing and
electrically connected to the heating element to provide a voltage
to the heating element when a 240 volt source is connected to the
volt connection, or a 120 volt outlet connected to the housing and
configured to provide about 120 volts to a conductor connected to
the outlet.
9. The portable heater of claim 8, further including attachments
configured to plug into the outlet.
10. The portable heater of claim 1, further comprising a control
connected to the housing and configured to control the heating
element.
11. The portable heater of claim 1, further comprising a lid
mounted to the tool box, the lid configured to open and expose an
interior portion of the tool box.
12. The portable heater of claim 11, further comprising a tool box
handle connected to the lid.
13. A portable heater comprising: means for housing; means for
creating heat encased in the housing means; and means for storing
tools comprising part of the housing means.
14. A method of providing heat and tool storage in a portable unit
comprising: providing a heating element; housing the heating
element; and attaching a tool box to the housing thereby creating a
unified tool box and heater housing.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: protecting the
heating element with a grill.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: moving the portable
heater on wheels fastened to the portable heater.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting the
portable heater to a voltage source.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting
conductors to electric power outlets on the portable heater.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising moving a handle
mounted to the portable heater from an extended position to a
retracted position.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling the
heating element with controls mounted on the tool box.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a portable
heater. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
portable heater with a tool box integrated with the heater.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Often workers who are working on a construction project,
such as building a new building, have to work in an environment
where the air is not conditioned. For example, when constructing a
new home or commercial building, the heating system may not be
installed and the environment may be very cold for the workers. One
solution to this problem is to bring small portable heaters into
the area where the workers are working to provide heat. One problem
with some portable heaters is that they may be bulky and hard to
move from one space to another.
[0003] An additional problem faced by workers, is that they often
require using many different tools. While tool belts are one way to
permit the workers to easily carry several different tools, some
workers may require more tools that can be fit on a tool belt.
Workers may have tool boxes in order to store all the tools they
may require. Additionally, tool boxes provide a small measure of
security to store tools. Additionally, tool boxes provide a means
for transporting tools from one place to another. One problem with
tool boxes that they may be bulky and heavy thus awkward to move to
place to place as workers finish one area and move on to another
area.
[0004] In addition to heaters and tools, workers may also require
lights, latters, and other pieces of equipment in order perform
their job. Often when work is finished for the day, at end of a
week, or other time period, in order to minimize tools lost to
theft or corrosion due being exposed to the elements, workers pack
up their equipment and take them with them when they leave the work
area.
[0005] Because there are so many different pieces of equipment,
many which may be heavy, awkward, and bulky, a substantial amount
of time is spent moving, packing and unpacking equipment. This time
could have been spent working.
[0006] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus that
and method that performs several functions desired by workers. Such
an apparatus and method may provide heating to a space, tool
storage, and a means of tool transportation in a easy to move and
manipulate manner. Such a method or apparatus can reduce the amount
of pieces of equipment that need to be moved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the
present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus and method is
provided that in some embodiments provide tool storage and heat in
a portable and easy to move around piece of equipment. By combining
both tool boxes and the heater, two large bulky pieces are
consolidated into one and by equipping the apparatus with wheels it
may be easily manipulated and moved from place to place.
[0008] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
a portable-heater is provided. The portable heater includes a
housing; a heating element encased in the housing; and a tool box
comprising part of the housing.
[0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention,
[0010] a portable heater is provided. The portable heater may
include means for housing; means for creating heat encased in the
housing means; and means for storing tools comprising part of the
housing means.
[0011] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present
invention, a method of providing heat and tool storage in a
portable unit is provided. The method includes providing a heating
element; housing the heating element; and attaching a tool box to
the housing thereby creating a unified tool box and heater
housing.
[0012] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain
embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will
be described below and which will form the subject matter of the
claims appended hereto.
[0013] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described
and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is
to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed
herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0014] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the portable
heater and tool box according one embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the tool box heater of FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a partial view of the mechanism that permits
locking of the handle when the handle is extended to an extended
position.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable heater with
accessories.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The invention will now be described with reference to the
drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like
parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present
invention provides a portable heater and tool box combined together
into a single unit
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portable heater
10 in accordance with the invention. A portable heater 10 has a
housing 12. The housing 12 includes a tool box portion 14 located
above a heater portion 16. The tool box portion 14 and heater
portion 16 share a common housing 12.
[0021] In some embodiments of the invention the housing 12 may be
metal. In other embodiments the housing 12 may be plastic. The
portable heater 10 is equipped with wheels 18. While only one wheel
18 is shown in the view illustrated in FIG. 1, a second wheel is
provided but is hidden by the heater portion 16.
[0022] Two feet 20 are attached to the housing 12 of the heater
portion 16. The feet 20 permit the portable heater 10 to remain
stationary when the heater 10 is left on substantially horizontal
surfaces. In other words, if a floor has a minor incline, the
heater 10 will not roll as the feet 20 will provide friction
between the heater 10 and the floor.
[0023] The heater 10 is equipped with a handle 22. The handle 22 in
some embodiments of the invention can be retracted between an
extended position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, and retracted
position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. In other embodiments
in the invention, the handle 22 is fixed and remains in the
extended position.
[0024] A tool box handle 24 is mounted to the tool box lid 44 via
the handle brackets 25.
[0025] Several controls for the heater are mounted on the tool box
portion 14. For example, an on/off switch 26, thermostat 28 and a
warning light and/or reset button 30 are mounted on the tool box
portion 14 of the housing 12.
[0026] The on/off switch 26 in some embodiments of the invention
may be a simple toggle switch for supplying or denying power to the
heating element 40 (see FIG. 2). The thermostat 28 in some of the
embodiments of the invention and as shown in FIG. 1, may be a
rotating knob that can vary the intensity of heat out put from the
heating element 40 (see FIG. 2).
[0027] The warning light 30 and/or reset button 30 may be
illuminated when power is supplied to the heating element 40 (see
FIG. 2). Some embodiments of the invention may be equipped with a
safety device such as a tip switch.
[0028] The tip switch will shut off the heating element 40 (see
FIG. 2), when an undesirable condition is detected such as the
heater 10 being tipped at an unacceptable angle. In such instances
the tip switch will cut off power to the heating element 40 (see
FIG. 2). Such embodiments may be equipped with a reset button 30
where an operator can push the reset button 30, once the
undesirable condition has been eliminated and restore power to the
heating element 40 (see FIG. 2).
[0029] in embodiments of the invention where the portable heater 10
is an electric heater, the heater 10 may be equipped with a power
inlet 32. The power inlet 32 may be a high voltage inlet configured
to receive a high voltage power line such as a 220 volt line. Also
mounting on heater 10, as shown in FIG. 1, some embodiments of the
invention may also be equipped with power outlets 34. The power
outlets 34 may be protected by outlet covers 36 as illustrated in
FIG. 1. The power outlets 34 may be a standard power outlet
delivering household voltage such as 120 voltage. In other
embodiments of the invention, the voltages and outlets may be
modified to conform with whatever power standards are used in the
location where the portable heater 10 will be used.
[0030] The examples stated above as the high voltage inlet being
240 and the standard being 120 volts, are merely mentioned as these
are standard voltages for the United States. However, other
voltages may be used in accordance of the invention.
[0031] Located within the housing 10, are wiring configurations to
permit the power outlets 34 to be wired to the power inlet 32 in
such a manner as to supply the voltages described above from power
inleted to the power inlet 32. Power obtained from the power inlet
32 in some embodiments of the invention, is also used to supply
power to the heating element 40 (FIG. 40). Thus, the power inlet 32
is operably connected to both the heating element 40 (see FIG. 2)
and the power outlet 34. In embodiments of the invention where the
warning light 30 is illuminated to indicate that power is being
supplied to the heater 10, the warning light 30 is also operatively
connected to the power inlet 32 in order to supply the appropriate
amount of power to the warning light 30.
[0032] The portable heater 10 is equipped with a grill 38 which
protects the heating element 40 (see FIG. 2), while at the same
time allows air to pass in and out of the housing 12.
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 2, a cutaway side view of the portable
heater 10 is shown. FIG. 2 illustrates the tool box lid 44 in an
open position exposing the interior portion 42 of the tool box 14.
The lid 44 secured to the toolbox 14 with a hinge 46. The hinge 46
may be any suitable hinge capable of securing the lid 44 to the
tool box 14 and permitting the lid 44 to be raised and lowered as
desired. The tools will be stored in the interior portion 42 of the
tool box 14.
[0034] The heater portion 16 of the portable heater 10 includes a
heating element 40. The heating element 40, as shown in FIG. 2, is
a tubular shaped electric heating element A reflector 39 is
configured to provide a conduit for air to flow through the heater
10 and to, in some embodiments, reflect the heat through the grill
38 and out into the environment in which the heater 10 is located.
In some embodiments of the invention and as shown FIG. 2,
insulation 41 may be located behind the reflector 39 providing
insulation between the heater portion 16 and the tool box portion
14. The insulation 41 my also be configured to permit the housing
12 to be cool enough as to avoid burning objects that come in
contact with the housing 12.
[0035] In embodiments of the invention where the electric heater 10
is a forced air heater, a fan motor 43 and fan 45 are mounted in
the heater 10 and configured to cause air to flow through the
heater, the electric heating element 40 and through the grill
38.
[0036] The wheel 18 is connected to the heater 10 via an axle 48.
The axle 48 is in turn connected to the heater 10 by a series of
brackets 50. The handle 22 is attached to the portable heater 10
via brackets 51. The heater 10 may be moved from place to place by
a user grasping the handle 22, pivoting the heater 10 about the
axel 48 to lift the feet 20 to no longer be in contact with a floor
and then wheeling the heater 10 to a desired location on the wheels
18.
[0037] When the heater 10 is in the desired location, the heater 10
may be rotated about the axle 48 until the feet 20 are again in
contact with the floor. The feet 20 may be equipped on their ends
with a rubber or plastic cup 53 that provides a skid-resistance
surface to help keep the heater 10 in place once the feet 20 are in
contact with the floor. The feet 20 are connected to the heater 10
via brackets 54 in some embodiments of the invention. In other
embodiments of the invention, the feet 20 may be attached to the
heater 10 in any suitable manner.
[0038] In the embodiments of the invention where the handle 22 can
be in a raised extended position or a lower retracted position as
illustrated in FIG. 1, the raising and lowering of the handle 22
may be accomplished by a telescoping portion of the handle 22 as
illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a larger diameter portion 58 of
the handle tube 22. A smaller diameter portion 52 of the handle
fits inside the larger diameter portion 58 of the handle 22. The
difference in diameter permits the smaller diameter portion 52 to
telescope within the larger diameter portion 22. In order to secure
the smaller diameter portion 52, in a particular place within the
larger diameter portion 22, the small diameter portion 52 is
equipped with spring loaded buttons 54.
[0039] The spring loaded buttons 54, when they are aligned with
holes 56 located in the larger diameter portion 58 of the handle
22, extend through the holes 56 the buttons 54 extending through
the holes 56 secure the small diameter portion 52 within the larger
diameter portion 58 of the handle 22. When it is desired to
collapse the handle 22, an operator may push in the spring loaded
buttons 54 in through the holes 56. Once the spring loaded buttons
54 have retreated inside the large diameter portion 58, the small
diameter portion 52 may telescope and move inside the large
diameter portion 58 allowing the handle 22 to move to a retracted
position.
[0040] Other suitable means for allowing the handle 22 to move
between an extended and retracted position, may also be done in
accordance with the invention. The larger diameter portion 22 may
also be equipped with several sets of holes 56 permitting the small
diameter portion 52 to be secured within the large diameter portion
58 of the handle 22 at multitude of different positions as selected
by a user.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a heater 10 with optional attachments 60-66. A
light 60 is mounted to the handle 22 and is plugged into the power
outlet 34. A battery charger 62 is also plugged into the power
outlet 34. The battery charger 62 can charge battery 64 for tools
such as a cordless drill 66 or other tools. The power outlets 34
can be used for any other desired attachments in accordance with
the invention. Attachments may include but are not limited to fans,
blowers, saws, vacuums, drills, radios or any other electric
device.
[0042] The many features and advantages of the invention are
apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended
by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *