DUAL SOURCE HEATER WITH RADIANT AND CONVECTION HEATERS

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to space heaters. More particularly, this invention relates to space heaters producing radiant heat and convective heat for heating the surrounding space.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] Presently, there exists many types of space heaters that employ various heat sources. One of the oldest types of space heaters consists of a propane or natural gas space heater that operates by producing a flame proximate to a ceramic heating element to radiate heat therefrom. Another popular type of space heater includes a fan blower that blows air across an electric resistive heating element to the space to be warmed. Still another type of space heater employs a quartz heating element surrounded on one side by a reflector for radiating heat outwardly from the heater. Finally, still other types of heaters consist of a baseboard configuration wherein the heating element is heated by means of steam or hot water or by an electric resistive element whereupon air flow from the bottom of the base board heater convectively flows upwardly there through to be warmed by the heating element and to then flow into the surrounding space.

[0005] The aforementioned space heaters have enjoyed widespread use throughout the world in various climates. For example, baseboard heaters are more commonly utilized in colder climates, whereas resistive space heaters, being more portable in nature, are more commonly used in the warmer climates. Unfortunately, each type of space heater has certain disadvantages that reduces their versatility. For example, gas space heaters require a permanent connection to a gas line and therefore they are not portable. Baseboard heaters supplied by steam or heated water are likewise non-portable. However, baseboard heaters do not present the safety concerns associated with gas heaters. Similarly, quartz heaters are commonly portable and efficient, yet, the wattages employed are typically reduced to minimize excessive heating of the grillwork across the face of the space heater. Space heaters employing fans and resistive elements, are inherently safer than quartz space heaters that are not as efficient.

[0006] Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of the space heater art.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a space heater that employs a quartz element for producing radiated heat at a sufficiently low wattage to minimize fire hazards that is integrated with a resistive heating element to thereby provide a dual source heater.

[0008] Another object of this invention is to provide a dual source heater that employs a quartz heating element for producing radiated heat and a resistive heating element that produces heat convectively.

[0009] Another object of this invention is to provide a dual source space heater that includes a quartz heating element for producing radiated heat and a resistive heating element and fan for producing heated air flow.

[0010] The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises a dual source space heater for producing heat to heat the surrounding space around the space heater.

[0012] In its preferred embodiment, the dual source space heater of the invention is fully electrically operated and configured with an appropriate handle and housing stand so as to be portable in nature. In the preferred embodiment, a quartz heating element is employed along with a reflector for reflecting the radiant heat outwardly from the face of the space heater. In one of the preferred embodiments, the heat produced by the quartz heater heating element is supplemented by means of a resistive element and blower fan that produces a heated air stream outwardly from the face of the space heater.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment, the quartz heating element is supplemented with a resistive element that is positioned above vent holes in the bottom of the space heater so as to produce heat convectively.

[0014] It should be appreciated that in both of the preferred embodiments, one source of heat comprises the quartz element and another source of heat comprises the resistive element. This dual-source functionality allows the space heater to operate efficiently. Specifically, the quartz element may be powered to produce low and medium heating levels. Whenever higher levels of heating are required, the resistive heating element is employed. In this manner, the efficiencies of employing a quartz heater are achieved while minimizing the possibility of the grill of the space heater becoming too hot as could occur in the prior art quartz heaters of a higher wattage.

[0015] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0016] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the dual source heater of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a right end view of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 showing the relative positioning of the resistive heating element above the vent holes in the bottom of the housing that allows convective flow from such vent holes upwardly through the vent holes along the upper front of the space heater;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the dual source heater of the invention that employs a blower fan for circulating air flow through the bottom vents, across the resistive heating element and then through the front vents of the space heater;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view, partially cut away, of another preferred embodiment of the dual source space heater of the invention wherein the quartz heating element is positioned vertically and wherein the resistive heating element and blower fan are positioned below the quartz heating element to circulate air from the lower vents, across the resistive heating element and then through upper vents to then flow outwardly from the grillwork of the space heater; and

[0023] FIG. 7 is a right side view, partially cut away, of FIG. 6.

[0024] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

[0025] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the first preferred embodiment of the dual source space heater 10 of the invention. Specifically, the space heater 10 comprises a generally rectangular-shaped housing 12 having a floor stand 14 and carrying handle 16. A quartz heating element 18 is positioned horizontally within the longitudinal length of the housing 12 and is encompassed by an arcuate reflector 20. The opened end 22 of the reflector is connected to the front wall 24 of the housing 12. A grillwork 26 is positioned across the opened end 22 of the reflector 20. Electrical power from a conventional power cord flows to a switch 30 and then to the quartz heating element 18 for supplying electrical energy thereto causing the quartz heating element to produce heat which is then radiated off the reflector 20 to exit the housing 12 via the opened end 22.

[0026] As also shown in FIGS. 1-4, this preferred embodiment of the space heater 10 includes another source of heat; namely, a resistive heating element 32 that is similarly positioned horizontally within the longitudinal length of the housing 12. Preferably, the resistive heating element 32 includes a plurality of heat-dissipating fins 34 along its longitudinal length to enhance its convectivity. Electrical power to the resistive heating element 32 is supplied via cord 28 and switch 31.

[0027] As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the convective heat flow through the fins 34 of the resistive heating element 32 flows upwardly through vents 36 positioned across the longitudinal bottom of the housing 12, upwardly through the fins 34 of the resistive heating element 32 and around the reflector 20 to then exit the housing 12 via a plurality of upper vents 38 positioned across the upper face 40 of the housing 12.

[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the dual source space heater 10 of the invention that is similar to the first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 but additionally includes a fan assembly 50, powered via switch 31 and positioned within the housing 12 in alignment with the front vents 38. The addition of the fan assembly 20 creates an air flow from the bottom vents 36, across the fins and resistive heating element 34 and 32, and out the front vents 38. Thus, in this embodiment it should be appreciated that while some convective heat flow occurs, increased flow can be achieved by means of the fan assembly 50.

[0029] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate still another preferred embodiment of the dual source space heater 10 of the invention that includes a generally vertical configuration as opposed to the horizontal configurations shown in FIGS. 1-5. More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this vertical embodiment includes a vertically disposed housing 12 in which is vertically positioned in the quartz heating element 18 and reflector 20. The resistive heating element 32 comprises a generally cylindrical configuration that is positioned in the bottommost portion of the housing 12. The bottom vents 36 are positioned across the bottommost face 24 of the housing 12 and the upper vents 38 are positioned proximate to the lower end of the space encompassed by the reflector 20. Finally, the fan assembly 50 is positioned proximate to the resistive heating element 32.

[0030] Upon operation of the quartz heating element 18, the heat produced thereby is radiated off the reflector 20 outwardly from the opened end 22 thereof to heat the surrounding space. Additional heat can be obtained by turning on the resistive heating element 32 and the fan assembly 50 whereupon air is drawn through the bottom vents 36, across the resistive heating element 32 and then through the upper vents 38 into the space defined by the reflector 20 to then exit the space heater 10.

[0031] The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0032] Now that the invention has been described,