Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Convection space heater
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2001-02-13
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Convection space heater
C392S423000, C392S373000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188836
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to portable heating systems and more specifically to portable radiant heaters.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable heaters are used in a number of applications to provide localized heating. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,001 (1995) to Cheney et al. discloses an upright radiant electrical heater with a reflector assembly supporting a vertically extending heating element assembly. Energy radiates in all directions in a horizontal plane so the inherent radiation pattern is onmidirectional. The reflector assembly includes heat reflective panels that redirect energy directed to the rear through an open grill at the front of the heater. A fan forces room air into the heater from below the reflector assembly upwardly through an air passage behind the assembly into an open control chamber at the top of the heater and outwardly into the room through ducts along the top front edge of the assembly. The resulting air flow assures that accessible components remain cool to the touch.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,377 (1998) to Wolfe et al. depicts another portable radiant heater that includes a plurality of vertically oriented, horizontally spaced quartz heating tubes. A common reflector partially surrounds the heating tubes and is configured to open at an obtuse angle at each quartz tube. The reflector is perforated to allow air to pass out from the interior of the heater. A fan moves the air for cooling purposes.
As shown in both these patents and is generally found in commercially available portable radiant heaters, the heating elements themselves are directly visible from the front exterior of the heater. Consequently various standards require an increased spacing between such heating elements and any surface which an individual can contact. In the above identified Cheney et al. patent a cylindrical grill extends partially around the heating elements. In the Wolfe et al. patent the corresponding protection is provided by a flat grill piece. This requirement for extra spacing increases the bulkiness of such space heaters by increasing the front-to-back dimension, or depth, of the portable radiant heater. That is a disadvantage in many applications.
Typically in these heating systems an individual sees only one image of each heating element which is the view of the actual heating element itself. For many individuals the result is not pleasing aesthetically.
Further in these systems heating elements radiate heat omnidirectionally so forward directed radiant energy from the heating element disperses radially. The radial dispersal dissipates energy more rapidly than a directed beam as a function of distance from the source. Energy emanating from the rear of the heating elements is reflected by the rear reflector to direct that energy into a better defined beam. Nevertheless, the forward energy continues to disperse so portable radiant heaters tend to be inefficient.
SUMMARY
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved portable radiant heater.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved portable radiant heater that operates with maximum efficiency.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved portable radiant heater that has a minimum depth.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved portable radiant heater that is aesthetically pleasing in appearance especially during operation.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a portable heater comprises a housing, a first reflector in the housing for directing energy in a first direction and a second reflector in the housing displaced from the first housing in the first direction for directing energy toward the first reflector. A radiant heater is located in the housing intermediate the first and second reflectors. The first reflector directs energy in the first direction that is received from the second reflector and the radiant heater.
In accordance with another object of this invention, a portable radiant heater comprises an upstanding housing comprising an open housing frame with front and rear frame surfaces and a curved back portion for spanning the rear frame surface. A first reflector has a concave, multifaceted reflective surface extending along a vertical axis through the upstanding housing and is positioned proximate the housing back portion. An elongated radiant heating element extends along an axis parallel to the vertical axis. A second reflector with at least one reflective surface faces the first reflector means and the radiant heater. A support carries the first and second reflectors and the radiant heating element on the housing frame with the first reflector being proximate the housing back portion.
In accordance with yet another aspect of this invention, a portable radiant heater comprises a frame for being supported in a vertical orientation including a back portion having a concave cylindrical surface formed about a vertical axis and an open frame for supporting the back portion. An electric radiant heater means includes a quartz radiant heating element that connects to a power source for energizing the heating element and a thermostat for controlling the energization of the heating element. A support carries the heating element and includes a bracket having a horizontal portion for connection to the housing means and a vertical portion and first and second vertically spaced end supports attached to the horizontal and vertical portions of the bracket respectively. The support means carries a first reflector including a plurality of planar members arranged along an arc with each planar member being tangent to the arc and having a reflective surface generally directed toward the radiant heater element. The support means also carries a second reflector on the opposite side of the heating element. The second reflector includes a reflector member having first and second parallel semi-hexagonal channels extending along channel axes parallel to the vertical axis and a support member for carrying the reflector member. Each of the channels has a reflective surface facing the heating element. First and second barriers adjacent opposite sides of the second reflector means that has a width that is less than the width of the first reflector.
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Glucksman Dov Z.
Weidemann Karl H.
Wolfe Robert E.
Appliance Development Corporation
Herbster George A.
Jeffery John A.
Pearson & Pearson
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