Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Convection space heater
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2001-11-20
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Convection space heater
C392S360000, C219S507000, C200S043110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321033
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to portable, environmental conditioning appliances and, more particularly, to a child-safe portable electrical heater.
Environmental conditioning devices such as heaters, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners and air cleaners are used extensively to create comfortable environmental conditions in residential and commercial enclosures. The electrical controls of such devices are very attractive to curious children whom delight in experimental manipulation of the controls. Such activity can result in either unsafe operations or damage to the electrical controls.
Latchable controls have been proposed and employed previously to avert undesirable operation of electrical equipment. Such a control mechanism is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,636. However, prior latchable controls have been subject to contravention by innovative, dexterous children.
The object of this invention therefore, is to provide an improved tamper resistant environmental conditioning device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a portable electric appliance including a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therebetween; a conditioner disposed in the air flow path and operable to condition air in the air flow path; a power source; and an electrical switch connected between the conditioner and the power source and having an actuator movable between an inactive position and at least one active position, the switch in its one active position transmitting power from the source to the conditioner, and in its inactive position preventing power transmission therebetween. Also included is a lock mechanism including a release element adapted for predetermined movement between a locked position and an unlocked position the actuator and release element being shaped and arranged to require independent manipulation by, respectively, first and second body parts; and wherein in its locked position the element prevents the given movement of the actuator, and in its unlocked position allows the given movement of the actuator. The lock mechanism can be employed to inhibit operation of the electrical switch by children.
According to one feature of the invention, the given movement is of one sense and the predetermined movement is of another sense different than the one sense. The requirement for different senses of movement inhibits contravention of the lock mechanism.
According to another feature of the invention, the actuator is a rotatable knob defining at least one notch, the release element is a push button defining a tab; and wherein in the inactive position of the actuator the tab is aligned for reciprocal movement in and out of the one notch, and in its locked position the tab is latched in the one notch, and in its unlocked position the tab is removed from the one notch. This featured structure efficiently provides the desired prevention of operation of the appliance by children.
According to a further feature of the invention, the housing defines a plurality of outer wall surfaces, the actuator projects from one surface and the element projects from a different wall surface. This structural feature complicates release of the lock mechanism to inhibit further activation of the switch by children.
According to an additional feature of the invention, the one surface is a side surface and the different surface is a top surface. The side and top surfaces are conveniently located to facilitate desired operation of the appliance.
According to yet another feature of the invention, the actuator is movable into a plurality of active positions and in each active position the switch activates the conditioner to provide a different level of conditioning to air in the air flow path. This feature provides the appliance with desired multiple modes of operation.
According to still additional features of the invention, the actuator is a rotatable knob defining a plurality of additional notches each associated with a different active position, the release element is a push button defining a tab; and wherein in each active position of the actuator, the tab is aligned for reciprocal movement in and out of the associated additional notch, and in the locked position the tab is latched in the associated notch, and in the unlocked position said tab is removed from the associated notch. This feature inhibits alteration by children of a selected operational mode of operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3839614 (1974-10-01), Saganowski et al.
patent: 4683369 (1987-07-01), Rieckman et al.
patent: 5195164 (1993-03-01), Lambert
patent: 8-14668 (1996-01-01), None
Birdsell Walter
Lapetina John
Montague, Jr. William J.
Honeywell International , Inc.
Jeffery John A.
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