Portable radiant heater with two reflectors

• US 6,188,836 B1
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Appliance Development Corporation
• Original Assignee: Appliance Development Corporation
• Inventors: Weidemann, Karl H., Wolfe, Robert E., Glucksman, Dov Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/273,621
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 392/376, 392/423, 392/425, 392/422, 392/374, 392/373, 392/375, 392/383, D23/335, D23/340
• US Class Current: 392/376
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/22 Reflectors for radiation heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/043 Stoves
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/105 Stoves
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/18 by applying coatings, e.g. radiation-absorbing, radiation-reflecting; by surface treatment, e.g. polishing
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2245/06 having particular radiating, reflecting or absorbing features, e.g. for improving heat transfer by radiation

Abstract

A portable radiant heater comprises an electrically energized heating element extending along a vertical axis. A first, multi-faceted, concave reflective surface is positioned to the rear of the heating element. A second reflector is positioned forward of and in close proximity to the heating element. The first reflector directs radiant energy received directly from the heating element and indirectly from the second reflector forward with minimal radial dispersion.

Claims

1. A portable heater comprising:

A) a frame for being supported in a vertical orientation including a back portion having a concave surface formed about a vertical axis and an open frame for supporting said back portion,

B) an electrically operated, thermostatically controlled quartz radiant heating element,

C) a support for said heating element including;

i) a bracket having a horizontal portion for connection to said housing means and a vertical portion, and

ii) first and second vertically spaced end supports attached to said horizontal and vertical portions of said bracket respectively,

D) a first reflector carried by said end supports including a plurality of planar members arranged about a portion of the circumference of a circle with each planar member being tangent to the circle and having a reflective surface generally directed in the direction of said radiant heater element,

E) a second reflector carried by said end supports on the opposite side of said heating element comprising;

i) a reflector member having first and second parallel semi-hexagonal channels extending along channel axes parallel to the vertical axis, each of said channels having a reflective surface facing said heating element, and

ii) a support member for carrying said reflector member, and

F) first and second grills being disposed adjacent opposite sides of said second reflector means, the width of said first reflector being greater than the width of said second reflector and the width of said second reflector means and said first and second grills corresponding to the width of said first reflector means.

2. A portable heater comprising:

A) an upstanding housing comprising an open housing frame with front and rear frame surfaces and a curved back portion for spanning said rear frame surfaces,

B) first reflector means lying along an arc for defining a concave, multifaceted reflective surface extending along a vertical axis through said upstanding housing, said first reflector means being positioned proximate said housing back portion and comprising a plurality of adjacent planar members each having a reflective surface, each planar member being positioned parallel to the vertical axis and tangent to the arc,

C) an elongated radiant heating element extending along an axis parallel to the vertical axis,

D) a second reflector means for defining at least one reflective surface extending parallel to the vertical axis and facing said first reflector, said second reflector means including first and second parallel, semi-hexagonal channels having reflective surfaces facing said heating element and a parallel support and first and second end plates for attaching said parallel support to said housing frame means.

3. A portable heater comprising:

A) an upstanding housing comprising an open housing frame with front and rear frame surfaces and a curved back portion for spanning said rear frame surfaces,

B) first reflector means lying along an arc for defining a concave, multifaceted reflective surface extending along a vertical axis through said upstanding housing, said first reflector means being positioned proximate said housing back portion and comprising a plurality of adjacent planar members each having a reflective surface, each planar member being positioned parallel to the vertical axis and tangent to the arc,

C) an elongated radiant heating element extending along an axis parallel to the vertical axis,

D) a second reflector means for defining at least one reflective surface extending parallel to the vertical axis and facing said first reflector means, said first reflector means having a width transverse to the vertical axis that is greater than the corresponding width of said second reflector means,

E) support means for supporting said first and second reflector means and said radiant heating element on said housing frame, and

F) first and second grills disposed on opposite sides of said second reflector means.

4. A portable heater as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said grills includes an open grid structure and means for attaching said open grid structure to said housing frame means.

5. A portable heater comprising:

A) an upstanding housing comprising an open housing frame with front and rear frame surfaces and a curved back portion for spanning said rear frame surfaces,

B) first reflector means lying along an arc for defining a concave, multifaceted reflective surface extending along a vertical axis through said upstanding housing, said first reflector means being positioned proximate said housing back portion and comprising a plurality of adjacent planar members each having a reflective surface, each planar member being positioned parallel to the vertical axis and tangent to the arc,

C) an elongated radiant heating element extending along an axis parallel to the vertical axis,

D) a second reflector means for defining at least one reflective surface extending parallel to the vertical axis and facing said first reflector means and including end plates and a parallel support, said first and second end plates attaching to said parallel support, and

E) support means for supporting said first and second reflector means and said radiant heating element on said housing frame.

6. A portable heater as recited in claim 5 wherein said first reflector means has a width transverse to the vertical axis that is greater than the corresponding width of said second reflector means, said portable heater additionally comprising first and second grills disposed on opposite sides of said second reflector means.

7. A portable heater as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said grill includes an open grid structure and means for attaching said open grid structure to said housing frame means.