Electric heating belt for liquid propane bottles

• US 4,912,303 A
• Filed: 02/17/1989
• Issued: 03/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T.A. Pelsue Company
• Original Assignee: Allan E. Beavers, Robert A. Fulcher
• Inventors: Beavers, Allan E., Fulcher, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartis, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/312,901
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 219/310-312, 219/528, 219/535, 219/529, 219/548, 219/549, 219/527, 338/212, 338/214
• US Class Current: 219/535
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/58 Heating hoses; Heating collars

Abstract

An electric heating device for warming liquid propane gas (LPG) bottles includes a flexible heat resistant belt adapted to be secured around the outer peripheral surface of the bottle. The belt has embedded therein an electric resistance heating element with end portions of the belt being heating element-free. A dual safety system is provided on the belt for controlling the heating element and includes a low temperature (60°-80° F.) thermostat secured to a heating element-free end portion of the belt so as to be responsive to the temperature of the bottle and a high temperature (180°-200° F.) thermally-responsive device, such as a thermostat, fuse or circuit breaker located, on the portion of the belt in which the heating element is embedded, for controlling maximum temperature of the belt.

Claims

1. An electric bottle warmer for a liquid propane bottle which comprises:

a flexible belt having an electric heating element therein, said belt having a first heating element-free end portion at one end thereof and a second heating element-free end portion at the other end thereof;

a first cycle means consisting of a low temperature thermostat which is secured to a heating element-free end portion of the belt and is responsive to and controls the temperature of the bottle;

a second cycle means selected from a high temperature thermostat, a fuse or a circuit breaker which is secured to the heated portion of the belt in which the heating element is embedded and is responsive to and controls the temperature of the belt; and

attachment means for securing the belt to the outer circumference of the bottle.

2. The bottle warmer of claim 1 wherein the belt is made of a heat resistant resin.

3. The bottle warmer of claim 2 wherein the resin is a silicone resin.

4. The bottle warmer of claim 1 wherein the belt is of sufficient length to extend around at least about one-half of the outer circumference of the bottle.

5. The bottle warmer of claim 1 wherein the heating element has a wattage of about 375 watts.

6. The bottle warmer of claim 1 wherein the second cycle means is a thermostat.

7. The bottle warmer of claim 6 wherein the high temperature thermostat cycles off at about 180 to 200 degrees F.

8. The bottle warmer of claim 7 wherein the low temperature thermostat cycles off at about 60 to 80 degrees F.

9. The bottle warmer of claim 8 wherein the heating element has a wattage of about 375 watts.

10. The bottle warmer of claim 1 wherein the low temperature thermostat cycles off at about 60 to 80 degrees F.

11. An electric bottle warmer for a liquid propane bottle which comprises:

a flexible, heat resistant resinous belt having an electric heating element embedded therein, said belt having a first heating element-free end portion at one end thereof and a second heating element-free end portion at the other end thereof;

a first cycle means consisting of a low temperature thermostat which is secured to a heating element-free end portion of the belt and is responsive to and controls the temperature of the bottle, said low temperature thermostat being precalibrated to cycle off at about 60 to 80 degrees F.;

a second cycle means consisting of a high temperature thermostat which is secured to the portion of the belt in which the heating element is embedded and is responsive to and controls the temperature of the belt, said high temperature thermostat being precalibrated to cycle off at about 180 to 200 degrees F.; and

attachment means affixed to said heating element-free end portions for securing the belt to the outer circumference of the bottle.

12. The bottle warmer of claim 11 wherein the belt is of sufficient length to extend around at least about one-half of the outer circumference of the bottle.