U.S. patent application number 14/356702 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for radiant heater.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sunbeam Products, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Sunbeam Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steve Vernaglia.
Application Number | 20140341550 14/356702 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48290471 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140341550 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vernaglia; Steve |
November 20, 2014 |
RADIANT HEATER
Abstract
A portable heater providing both radiant and forced air heat a
closed loop heating element positioned within a substantially oval
shaped reflector, The reflector air vent allows air to pass in from
a bottom of the reflector, over the closed loop heating element and
the reflector. A housing surrounds the reflector and heating
element. A blower is located at a lower end of the housing and
draws air inward and up between the reflector and the heating
element from which it emerges past the heating element. Control
knobs for controlling a thermostat and output power level are
located at the top surface of the housing.
Inventors: |
Vernaglia; Steve; (Boca
Raton, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sunbeam Products, Inc. |
Boca Raton |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sunbeam Products, Inc.
Boca Raton
FL
|
Family ID: |
48290471 |
Appl. No.: |
14/356702 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
November 5, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US12/63524 |
371 Date: |
May 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61556928 |
Nov 8, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/365 ;
392/376 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/22 20130101;
F24C 7/04 20130101; F24C 7/043 20130101; F24C 7/065 20130101; F24H
3/0405 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
392/365 ;
392/376 |
International
Class: |
F24H 3/04 20060101
F24H003/04; F24C 7/04 20060101 F24C007/04 |
Claims
1. A portable heater for providing radiant and convection heat,
said heater comprising: a housing including an upper end, a lower
end, a back portion and a front portion, the housing further
including an air intake located a bottom of the back portion, a
grill located in the front portion forming an air outlet; a heating
element; a reflector disposed between the heating element and the
back portion of the housing, the reflector having a substantially
oval shape, where the heating element is positioned within the
reflector with the reflector at least partially surrounding at
least of portion of the heating element, the reflector having a
front surface capable of projecting radiant heat out of the heater
through the grill, the reflector including an air vent arranged
along a bottom portion of the reflector; a blower mounted within
the lower end of the housing, interposed between the air intake and
the air vent in the reflector for propelling air across the length
of the reflector and the heating element; and electrical circuitry
including fan controls, said electrical circuitry supplying power
to the blower and the closed loop heating element.
2. A portable heater as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating
element comprises a closed loop heating element.
3. A portable heater as set forth in claim 2, wherein the closed
loop heating element comprises two "U" shaped heating elements.
4. A portable heater as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reflector
forms a race track prismatic reflector having a raised center
portion and a curved outside wall.
5. A portable heater as set forth in claim 4, wherein the reflector
has a substantially "W" shape cross section along a horizontal
axis.
6. A portable heater as set forth in claim 5, wherein the reflector
has a substantially "W" shape cross section along a vertical
axis.
7. A portable heater as set forth in claim 5, wherein the outside
walls of the reflector are stepped.
8. A portable heater as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating
element provides radiant heat and the blower causes air to pass in
through the air vent, between the reflector and the heating element
and between the heating element and the grill.
9. A portable heater for providing radiant and convection heat,
said heater comprising: a housing including an upper end, a lower
end, a back portion and a front portion, the housing further
including an air intake located a bottom of the back portion, a
grill located at the front portion forming an air outlet; a closed
loop heating element; a reflector having a raised center portion
and a curved outside wall forming a substantially oval channel, the
heating element positioned within the oval channel, the reflector
having a front surface capable of projecting radiant heat out of
the heater through the grill, the reflector including an air vent
arranged along a bottom portion of the oval channel; a blower
mounted within the lower end of the housing, interposed between the
air intake and the air vent in the reflector for propelling air
across the length of the oval channel and the heating element; and
electrical circuitry including fan controls, said electrical
circuitry supplying power to the blower and the closed loop heating
element.
10. A portable heater as set forth in claim 9, wherein the closed
loop heating element comprises two "U" shaped heating elements.
11. A portable heater as set forth in claim 9, wherein the
reflector has a substantially "W" shape cross section along a
horizontal axis.
12. A portable heater as set forth in claim 11, wherein the
reflector has a substantially "W" shape cross section along a
vertical axis.
13. A portable heater as set forth in claim 9, wherein the outside
walls of the reflector are stepped.
14. A portable heater as set forth in claim 9, wherein the closed
loop heating element is affixed to the reflecting with a plurality
of support members, the support member spacing the closed loop
heating element a distance from the outside wall of the
reflector.
15. A portable heater as set forth in claim 14, wherein the support
members are made of a resilient material.
16. A portable heater as set forth in claim 9, wherein the closed
loop heating element provides radiant heat and the blower causes
air to pass in through the air vent, between the oval channel of
the reflector and the closed loop heating element and between the
closed loop heating element arid the grill.
17. A portable heater for providing radiant and convection heat,
said heater comprising: a housing including an upper end, a lower
end, a back portion and a front portion; a grill located in the
front portion forming an air outlet; a base removeably attached to
the lower end, wherein said base is decoupled from lower end of the
housing in a shipping configuration, the base being affixed to the
back portion in the shipping configuration.
18. A portable heater for providing radiant and convection heat as
set forth in claim 17, further comprising: a heating element; and a
reflector disposed between the heating element and the back portion
of the housing, the reflector including an air vent arranged along
a bottom portion of the reflector, where the heating element is
positioned within the reflector with the reflector at least
partially surrounding at least of portion of the heating element,
the reflector having a front surface capable of projecting radiant
heat out of the heater through the grill.
19. A portable heater for providing radiant and convection heat as
set forth in claim 18, further comprising: a blower mounted within
the lower end of the housing, interposed between an air intake
located a bottom of the hack portion and the air vent in the
reflector far propelling air across the length of the reflector and
the heating element.
20. A portable heater for providing radiant and convection heat as
set forth in claim 17, wherein when in the shipping configuration
the potable heater is disposed in a package for shipment from a
place of manufacturing to a place of sale.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to portable radiant heaters
and more particularly to an electrically powered radiant heater
incorporating a blower for forcing air across a profile reflector
surface and out into a space. The air absorbs heat from the heating
elements and surfaces of the reflector, and is discharged forward
from the heater, thereby augmenting radiant heating. The reflector
is shaped to direct the radiant heat outwardly from the front of
the heater.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Supplementary heat for limited spaces may be provided by
portable heaters. Typically electrical, portable heaters may
distribute heat by convection, forced air, radiation, or a
combination of these, Radiant heaters have become popular since
they are capable of heating solid objects within reach of the
radiant heat, but they do not heat ambient air surrounding these
objects. Thus, a person in the room or space benefits from the
heat, although the air temperature is not greatly increased.
[0003] However, only surfaces exposed to the source of radiant heat
experience heating. If, for example, a person standing by a radiant
heat source turns, or if another person or object is interposed
between the standing person and the heat source, the warmed part of
the standing person will chill. To even the heating effect, it
becomes desirable to both project radiant heat and to warm the air
of the space or room.
[0004] To provide this benefit, combination radiant and forced air
heaters have been proposed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No,
5,381,509, issued to Thomas H. Mills on Jan. 10, 1995, describes
such a combination of forced air and radiant heater. The heater has
a reflector plate for projecting radiated heat forwardly out from
the heater, and a fan located behind the reflector plate for
forcing air upwardly and out from the heater.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,070, issued to Orville C. Wells on Jan.
11, 1966, incorporated herein by reference describes a portable
forced air and radiant electric heater which illustrates typical
features such as manual on-off switch, thermostatic switch for
protection against overheating, heating element guard for
preventing direct contact by an external object, and fins for
directing airflow. The fan draws air down through the center and
directs it out the sides over the circular heating rod. The Wells
invention acts primarily as a conventional conductive heater where
air is the conductive medium.
[0006] An industrial convection and radiant heater is shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,336,442, issued to Eugene W. Starr on Jun. 22, 1982. Due
to its industrial application, the direction of radiation and
egress of heated air differs from those of the present invention.
Because it is handling pressurized heated gas,
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 1,900,956, issued to William W. Somersall on
Mar. 14, 1933, sets forth an upright, portable electric heater with
air forced out radially at the top. This device humidifies occupied
space by heating water contained above the heat source.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,590, issued to William Joseph Gartner on
Nov. 27, 1973, describes a portable forced air heater which
features a fan mounted toward the top of the heater, and which
discharges air horizontally and radially from the top of the
heater. Unlike the present invention, there is no significant
degree of radiant heating provided by this device. Air flow is
different in the present invention, passing through a reflector
plate absent in the Gartner device. Also, Gartner locates a manual
control near the bottom of the heater.
[0009] in U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,518, issued to Mituharu Tomioka et
al. on Mar. 3, 1992, there is presented a combustion heater which
features forced ejection of heated air. The thrust of the invention
is to make constant the reach of projected heated air regardless of
the amount of heat being dispersed.
[0010] A portable radiant heater is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,004,128, issued to Carlo Marchesi on Jan. 18, 1977. This heater
surrounds a heating element with a thermal mass, which absorbs heat
and radiates heat over a period of time extending beyond the period
of time during which the heating element is energized.
[0011] A radiant heater described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,642,
issued to Edward A. Ebert, on Aug. 14, 1979, is employed to heat
eyeglass frames. A perforated metallic sheet is interposed between
the heating element and an eyeglass frame. The metallic sheet
absorbs energy of a given wavelength, and retransmits energy of
another wavelength. Energy passing unobstructed through the
perforations combine with retransmitted energy to assure that
radiant energy of different wavelengths strikes the eyeglass
frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present disclosure provides a portable heater for
providing radiant and convection heat. The heater includes a
housing having an upper end, a lower end, a back portion and a
front portion. An air intake is located at bottom of the back
portion and a grill is located at the front portion forming an air
outlet.
[0013] A heating element and reflector are positioned within the
housing. The reflector is disposed between the heating element and
a back portion of the housing. The reflector has a substantially
oval shape, with the heating element being positioned within the
reflector, the reflector at least partially surrounding at least of
portion of the heating element. The reflector has a front surface
capable of projecting radiant heat out of the heater through the
grill. The reflector further includes an air vent arranged along a
bottom portion thereof.
[0014] A blower is mounted within the lower end of the housing. The
blower is interposed between the air intake of the back portion of
the housing and the air vent in the reflector. The blower operates
to propel air across the height of the reflector and the heating
element. Electrical circuitry including blower controls is provided
in the upper end of the housing. The electrical circuitry supplying
power to the blower and the heating element. The heating element
can be a closed loop heating element, including two "U" shaped
heating elements.
[0015] The reflector is substantially oval in shape, forming a race
track, having a raised center portion and a curved outside wall.
The raised center portion and curved outside wall form a channel
into which the heating element is positioned.
[0016] The heater provides a two-fold heating function, the heating
element providing radiant heat and the blower causes air to pass in
through the air vent, between the reflector and the heating element
and between the heating element and the grill to expel heated air
through the gill.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] A more complete understanding of the present invention, and
the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of the portable
heater of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts a rear perspective view of the portable
heater;
[0020] FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of the portable heater with the
base attached thereto
[0021] FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the portable heater;
[0022] FIG. 5 depicts a front perspective view of the portable
heater showing the reflector and heating element;
[0023] FIG. 6 depicts a front sectional view of the portable
heater;
[0024] FIG. 7 depicts a front perspective view of the reflector and
heating element of the portable heater;
[0025] FIG. 8 depicts a front view of the reflector and heating
element of the portable heater
[0026] FIG. 9 depicts a horizontal cross sectional view of the
reflector and heating element;
[0027] FIG. 10 depicts a vertical cross sectional view of the
reflector and heating element; and
[0028] FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary electrical diagram of a
simplified electrical circuit for the portable heater.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference
designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
a radiant heater 10 of the present disclosure. The radiant heater
10 includes a housing 12 have a front portion 14 and a back portion
16. A control panel 18 is positioned on an upper end 20 of the
housing 12. The control panel 18 can include an "on/off" switch,
blower power control, oscillation, and thermostat. A base 22 is
removable affixed to a lower end 24 of the housing 12. A power cord
(not shown) fitted with a power plug extends from the housing 12,
supplying electrical power from a household electrical receptacle
to the heater 10.
[0030] The back portion 16 of the housing includes an air intake
32, though which air is drawn into the heater 10, the air intake 32
being located at a bottom of the back portion 16. A pair of
attachment clips 25 and 27 are centrally located on the back
portion 16, such that the base 22 can be removeable attached to the
attachment clips 25 and 27 for shipping. In this configuration, the
footprint of the heater 10 is decreased, allowing for smaller
packaging. In addition, the cord can be wrapped about clips 25 and
25 for storage.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, in use, a user removes the heater 10
from the packaging, detaching the base 22 from the back portion 16
of the heater 10. The base 22 is then removeably attached to the
lower end 24 of the housing 12.
[0032] Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 5, the front portion 14 of the
housing 12 includes a grill 26, partially enclosing a reflector 28
and heating element 30. The grill 26 is shaped to be offset a
distance "d" from the front portion 14, spacing the grill 26 a
distance from the heating element 30. In this manner, air can pass
around an object covering at least a position of the grill 26,
reducing the radiant heat on the object.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, a blower 40 is positioned in a bottom
portion 24 of the heater 10, below and adjacent to the reflector
28. The reflector 28 includes air vents 44 in fluid communication
with the blower 40. In operation, the blower 40 draws air in from
the air intake 32 in the back portion 16 of the housing and blows
the air into reflector though the reflector air vents 44. The air
vents 44 are positioned on a bottom portion 42 of the reflector 28,
such that the air from the blower 40 travels between the reflector
28 and the heating element 30 as well as in front of the heating
element 30. The blown air can travel the height of the reflector 28
and heating elements 30, the opposite end 48 of the reflector 28
thereby directing the heated air out from the heater 10 through the
grill 26.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 6-8, the reflector 28 is shaped is a
substantially oval configuration 50 having a raised central potion
52. In this configuration, the reflector 28 forms a "race track"
prismatic reflector. Referring also to FIG. 9, a horizontal cross
sectional view of the reflector 28, and FIG. 10, a vertical cross
sectional view of the reflector 28, the cross sections 54, 56 of
the reflector 28 each forms a substantially "W" shape. The cross
sectional 54, 56 "W" shapes of the reflector 28 are configured for
reflecting the light and transport the heat outwardly from the
heater 10 in all directions, allowing the radiated heat energy to
heat up a room.
[0035] The outside walls 58 of the "W" shaped cross sections 54, 56
act like a "bowl" 60 where the combination of the "W" shaped cross
sections 54, 56 and "bowl" 60 keep reflecting the light and heat
produced by the heating element 30 until it passes beyond the grill
26. Furthermore, the combination of the "W" shaped cross sections
54, 56 and "bowl" 60 form a channel 62 through which the blown air
travels, directing the heat away from the heater 10. The outside
wall 58 of the reflector 28 can also be stepped 64, where the
stepped walls 64 aid in the distribution of the heated air away
from the heater 10.
[0036] The combination of the prismatic reflector 28 and the blower
40 provide a two-fold heating function. The prismatic reflector 28
directed the radiated heat energy outwardly from the beater 10 in
all directions. The blower 40 forces air across the length of the
heating element 30, both between the reflector 28 and the heat
element 30, and the heating element 30 and the grill 26, where the
shape of the reflector 29 directs the heated air outward from the
heater 10.
[0037] The heating element 30 can be a closed loop heating element,
or be formed from a pair of "U" shaped heating elements 66, 68
electrically connected. The heating element 30 is attached to the
reflector 28 by support members 70. The support member 70 space the
heating element 30 apart from the reflector 28, allowing the blower
40 to blow air between the reflector 28 and the heating element 30.
The support members 70 can be made of a resilient material,
allowing the heating element 30 to move with respect to the
reflector 28. In this manner the resilient support members 70 can
absorb impact energy during transport or a sudden dropping of the
heater, thus helping isolate and prevent the damage to the heating
element 30.
[0038] A reset button 27 is located on the back of the housing 16
and a thermal cut-out switch is mounted on the reflector 28. The
location of the cut-out switch aids in the safe functioning of the
heater. By placing it on the reflector surface, it is able to
detect heat build-up which typically arises from being turned
towards a wall or drapery or from towels or articles of clothing
hanging nearby.
[0039] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary electrical circuitry fur heater
10. Power supplied through cord and plug 80 is signaled by a lit
indicator 82 merely indicating that heater 10 is connected to
power, and that ordinary precautions pertaining to any energized
appliance would be appropriate. Switch 84 offers the choice of
levels of power output connected to heating element 30, this being
controlled by appropriate diodes 86. The blower 49 is energized in
a power level selected by switch 84.
[0040] Thermostatic reset switch 86 is an automatic safety device
comprising, preferably, a thermally responsive, snap action switch
subjected to the heat from the front of the reflector 28. Switch 86
is located in series within the electrical circuitry so as to
control all power. Switch 86 has a metallic element which flexes,
or snaps, when subjected to a predetermined temperature. Flexure
operates switch contacts (not shown), thus breaking electrical
continuity at temperatures above the predetermined temperature. At
temperatures below the predetermined temperature, the metallic
element flexes back to its original position, and switch returns to
a normally closed position.
[0041] A second lit indicator 88 (caution light) can be included
which is placed in parallel with switch 86, and illuminates should
switch 86 break contact. This signals that switch 86 has detected
and responded to a potentially dangerous high temperature.
[0042] Thermostat 90 is manually adjustable, and operates by
controlling all power flowing in the electrical circuitry.
Thermostat 90 provides the user with control over the temperature
at which heater 10 will operate. This control function is separate
from the level of power output selected by switch 84. On-off
control may be provided either by selecting an appropriate
actuating temperature at thermostat 90, or by incorporation of an
"off" position in switch 84.
[0043] Thermostat 90 can also incorporate a tip-over switch 92.
Switch 92 is preferably a pendulum switch, which opens switch
contacts when heater 10 is not in its normal, upright position.
Switch 92 could comprise a mercury switch or any other suitable
switch responsive to inclination of heater 10 from its normal,
upright position. As a further safety feature, an over current
device 94 is located in series within the electrical circuitry.
Device 94 is a fuse or circuit breaker, as desired, selected to
break all power responsive to detection of electrical current
exceeding a predetermined magnitude.
[0044] Thus, it will be seen that both manual controlled switches
84 and 90, and automatic safety devices 86, 92, and 94, all are
placed in series so as to control all power flowing within
electrical circuitry. This arrangement effectively de-energizes all
components, thus assuring safety regardless of the source of a
potential fault.
[0045] All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
[0046] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly
shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was
made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the
accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *