Abstract:
A portable heater includes a housing having an access door providing for receiving a fuel tank within the housing. The access door provides for insertion and removal of the fuel tank through the door. A burner within the housing is connected to the fuel tank and emits a flame above the housing. A vertical transparent tube extends above the burner and encompasses the flame along an entire height of the tube. A protective grill surrounds the tube and extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill. An upper cover assembly mounts to the top of the protective grill. The flame is enclosed extending up the tube along the entire height of the tube and creates a glowing vertical element from the housing to the cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to a heater apparatus and in particular to a heater apparatus having a vertical tube containing a flame exposed along its length and extending from a bottom base to a top cover. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Outdoor patio type heaters have become commonplace and are widely used for providing radiant heat. Such heaters typically use a gas for fuel such as propane. Well known configurations for outdoor heaters typically include a burner connected to a portable refillable fuel tank at a bottom portion of the heater. The burner emits a flame that is deflected downward by a top cover on the heater. Heat is therefore deflected and radiated outward from the heater. Such heaters have an advantageous configuration as the flame is raised upward above users&#39; normal seated position so that the heaters may be particularly well suited for placement for outdoor dining or where persons may be standing, as the flame is raised upward and heat is radiated from a more advantageous position that provides heating at a level of the intended users and is less likely to cause injuries such as from accidental burns. 
         [0005]    An improvement to such heaters provides a tube extending vertically above the burner to encompass a portion of the flame. Moreover, some heaters include guards that extend upward about the tube to keep hands and other body parts from touching the tube, which may become quite hot. Moreover, the guards provide a degree of protection against breaking the tube. 
         [0006]    Such heaters still have some drawbacks as the flame may often flare above the top of the tube and deflects outward to create a potential safety hazard with the flame exposed. The exposed flame is therefore at a greater risk of being blown out in windy locations. In addition, the guards have exposed edges that may provide a safety hazard and may not provide desired strength and support. Moreover, such heaters have a housing that requires removal of a panel to access the fuel tank so that changing the fuel tank is a time consuming task. 
         [0007]    It can be seen that a new and improved portable outdoor heater is needed that provides a safe, reliable and convenient heat source while providing a visually distinctive glow. Moreover, such a heater should provide safeguards around the glowing tube portion without risk of injury from sharp edges and providing greater structural integrity. Such a device should also provide easy access for safely and quickly changing fuel tanks. The present invention addresses these as well as other problems associated with portable outdoor gas heaters. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a heater apparatus and in particular to an outdoor gas type heater. The heater includes a triangular frame forming a lower housing. The housing includes a burner and a fuel tank with an access door providing access for changing the fuel tank and for actuating the burner controls. The frame is generally configured as a triangular frame with upright members extending at each of three corners of the triangular profile formed by the frame. The upright members generally include an outer rectangular support portion providing rigidity and structural integrity to the frame. A transparent tube extends upward from the housing above the burner and extends to a top cover. Protective grates attach to the upright members and provide protection around the transparent tube. The tube extends the length of the frame to above the top of the protective grate members and provides a visually glowing appearance along its entire length between the cover and the lower housing when the flame is lit. The tube also provides for more reliably maintaining a lit flame and improving safety at the top cover. 
         [0009]    In operation, the heater is started by opening the access door on the lower housing to gain access to the controls. The gas valve is turned on by opening up a control valve with an actuating knob to set the gas flow at desired rate. The igniter is then activated to light the burner. The flame from the burner shoots upward on the interior of the transparent tube. When the flame has been lit, the gas flow is set by the control knob so that the flame extends upward along the entire length of the exposed portion of the transparent tube. This provides an aesthetically pleasing glowing effect along the entire vertical length of the tube and provides for radiating heat outward from the tube. It can also be appreciated that in some embodiments, a remote control may be utilized to actuate the burner controls and igniter. The heater is turned off by simply stopping the flow of gas to the burner with the control knob. If the tank should become empty, the fitting is simply loosened from the line leading to the gas tank and the tank is then removed through the access door. A full tank is then inserted into the housing and the fitting is reattached. Valves on the tank itself are opened so that gas can flow to the controls and ultimately to the burner. 
         [0010]    These features of novelty and various other advantages that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings that form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference letters and numerals indicate corresponding structure throughout the several views: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a portable heater according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the portable heater shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a heater according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a second perspective view of the heater shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a grill for the heater shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the burner assembly and burner plate assembly for the heater shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the burner assembly shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the burner assembly shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a detail view of the flame tube for the heater shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of spark arrester assembly and deflector plate for the for the portable heater of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the spark arrester assembly shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a floor mounting bracket for the portable heater of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of a heater shown in  FIG. 3  with a wheel assembly; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of a wheel assembly shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a first embodiment of a portable outdoor heater apparatus, generally designated  10 . The heater  10  includes a burner assembly, generally designated  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The burner assembly  12  provides a flame that extends upward and radiates through an emitting assembly  14 . A top cover  18  extends above the emitting assembly  14 . A lower housing  42  retains the burner assembly  12  and a refillable and interchangeable fuel tank  60 , such as a conventional propane tank. Frame upright portions  24  extend at the three corners to support the cover  18  and protective grills  26 . The frame members  24  form a frame having substantially triangular profile with an upright member  24  at each of the three corners of the triangle. Each of the frame upright members  24  includes a square corner support portion  28  providing additional rigidity and structural integrity. 
         [0027]    The frame members  24  extend from the top of the lower housing  42 . The housing  42  includes panels  44  on two sides of the housing  42  and an access door  46  on the third side. The access door  46  includes a handle  48  and hinges  50  and opens to allow access to the burner assembly  12  and the fuel tank  60 . In a preferred embodiment, the door  46  extends substantially between the corners of the triangular lower housing  42 . 
         [0028]    A second embodiment of a portable outdoor heater apparatus is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  generally designated  110 . The heater  110  includes a burner assembly, generally designated  112 , as shown in  FIG. 6-8 . The burner assembly  112  provides a flame that extends upward and radiates through an emitting assembly  114 . A top deflector or cover  118  extends above the emitting assembly  114 . A lower housing  142  retains the burner assembly  112  and a refillable and interchangeable fuel tank  60 , such as a conventional propane tank. Frame upright portions  124  extend at the three corners to support the top cover  118  and protective grills  126 . The frame members  124  form a frame having substantially triangular profile with an upright member  124  at each of the three corners of the triangle 
         [0029]    The frame members  124  extend from the top of the lower housing  142 . The housing  142  includes panels  144  on two sides of the housing  142  and an access door which is removed for clarity in  FIGS. 3 and 4  on the third side. In a preferred embodiment, the opening for the door extends substantially between the corners of the triangular lower housing  142 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , three grates or grills  126  provide for ventilation around a central glass cylinder  130 . Each of the grills  126  has cross members  132  and an outer frame  134 A and inner frame  134 B. The lightweight protective structure provides an aesthetically pleasing and safety guard that allows sufficient light and heat out while preventing accidentally touching the cylinder  130  or having flammable materials contact the cylinder  130 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6-8 , the burner box assembly  112  includes a control valve  140 . The burner assembly  12  also includes a burner  162 , a tilt switch  164  and a gas line fitting  166  including a spud orifice. A pilot light type igniter  168  provides for lighting the burner  162  for the heater  110  and includes ground wire  170  and hot wire  172 . The tilt switch  164  automatically cuts off the gas supply should the heater  110  tip. A control knob controls the gas flow for ignition and the size of the flame. The fuel tank  60  is positioned completely within the housing  142  and rests on a support base  152 . The fuel tank  60  is easily connected and disconnected from the fitting  166  so that the tank  60  may be easily replaced when empty. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in some embodiments the adjustment knob  136  may be replaced with remote control  58 , which may also actuate the igniter  168 . The access door  46  is sufficiently large so that the fuel tank may be easily inserted and removed through the door and all controls are easily reached and viewed. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 6  a burner plate assembly  180  fits over the burner assembly  112 . The burner plate assembly includes a triangular plate  182  with a center ring  184  defining a center opening. The plate  182  mounts on helical springs  186  to build in a degree of resiliency in the mounting arrangement for the cylinder  130 . 
         [0033]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the heater  10  provides an improved light and heat emitting assembly  14 . A tube or cylinder  30  is made of glass or other transparent material that allows light from the flame to be seen through the tube  30 . The transparent tube  30  extends from an opening above the burner assembly  12  up through the tube  30  to a position extending above the top of the protective grates  26 . The transparent tube  30  extends to a collar extending down from the cover  18 . In this manner, the top of the flame extends directly into a volume defined by the cover  18  and protected from the wind and other weather elements. Such a configuration provides for improved reliability of the heater  10  as the likelihood that the flame may be accidentally extinguished decreases. 
         [0034]    Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 9 , it can be appreciated that the transparent tube  30  extending the full length from the burner assembly  12  to the cover  18  provides for improved visual impression and better aesthetics as the entire tube  30  is given a glowing appearance along its entire vertical length from the lower housing  42  to the cover. The improved appearance provides for a light source that is aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, its configuration provides for a pleasing overall appearance of the heater  10 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in some embodiments a spark arrester  200  may be utilized. The spark arrester includes a deflector  202 , a bottom plate  204 , a cylindrical grate  206  and a top plate  208 . The grate  206  is formed from cylindrical mesh material. The top plate  208  forms a central opening and attaches to an inner ring  210 , an outer ring  212  and fiberglass wick  214 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the heater  110  includes a bottom mounting bracket  220  for mounting the heater to the ground. The bracket  220  includes three legs  222  with end offset portions  224  and mounting orifices  226  as well as a center orifice  228 . The orifices  226  and  228  are configured for receiving conventional bolts or other connectors for securely mounting to a floor or other surface. As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the heater may also have a wheel assembly  52  with wheels  54 , an axle  56  and a bracket  58 . 
         [0037]    To operate the heater  10 , the access door  46  is opened so that the control unit controls  40  are easily accessed and operated. To light the flame, the gas supply is turned on by the control knob  36 . When proper gas flow has been obtained, the igniter  68  is activated until the flame is lit. The flame extends upward from the burner  12  inside the transparent tube  30 . The flame is adjusted until it extends only along the entire length of the vertical tube  30  and provides an anesthetically pleasing glow along the entire length of the tube  30 . In a preferred operating mode, the flame extends only to fill the transparent tube  30  rather than upward to impinge the cover  18  and flare outward with the flame exposed. This provides greater safety while proper control of the flame improves safety and increases the likelihood that a lit flame is maintained. To turn off the heater  10 , the gas flow is simply stopped by actuating the control knob  36 . When the flame is out of fuel and the gas flow stops, the heater  10  simply goes out. 
         [0038]    When the fuel tank  60  is empty, changing is easily accomplished with the present heater  10 . The access door  46  is opened and the gas line for the tank  60  is disconnected from the fitting  66 . The empty tank  60  is simply pulled out through the large access door  46  and a full tank  60  is replaced and set in the housing  42  on the base  52 . The fitting  66  is then reconnected and a valve on the fuel tank  60  is opened. The heater  10  is then again ready for operation. 
         [0039]    It can be appreciated that in some embodiments, a remote control  58  may be utilized for actuating the burner  12  and igniter  68  and for shutting off the burner  12  and the flame. Moreover, it can be appreciated that the heater  10  may include anchors for permanently fixing the frame members  24  to the ground. Wheels  54  may be optionally affixed to the housing  42  to provide for transporting the heater  10  when not in use. 
         [0040]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appending claims are expressed.