Abstract:
A heating apparatus. The heating apparatus further comprises a heating element, and a temperature regulating unit, wherein the temperature regulating unit causes the heater to stop producing heat once a specified temperature has been reached.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a heating apparatus, and, more particularly, to heating apparatus that may be applied to a viscous body such as asphalt, sealant, or bitumen. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    From time to time, a viscous body must be heated in order to be applied and used. In this application, “viscous body” refers to any material with high viscosity at or around room temperature which decreases in viscosity upon the application of heat, for example but not limited to asphalt, driveway sealant, bitumen, or other road-repair preparations. 
         [0003]    There are several existing methods and devices for heating a viscous body prior to application. For example, heated air, steam, or oil can be applied to the viscous body. Likewise, a wire or heating element can be placed in or near the viscous body. Other heating methods include the application of infrared light, electromagnetic forces, or fire may be used. The viscous body can coke or otherwise materially change if it is subject to uncontrolled heating or overheating. Generally, these heating methods are scaled for industrial and commercial use, such as the construction of an entire building or an entire driveway; they are therefore not cost-effective for occasional use by a homeowner or small business that requires only a small capacity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention resides in one aspect in a heating apparatus. The heating apparatus has a heating element, a handle, a temperature regulating unit, and a power source. The temperature regulating unit causes the heating element to stop producing heat once a specified temperature has been reached. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the heating apparatus; and 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side view of one embodiment of the heating apparatus showing a user interface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a heater apparatus  100  is disclosed, comprised of a heating element  120  at a heater end  150  connected to a power source  420  by a heating cable  200 . The heater end  150  may be disposed in a heat-resistant container containing a viscous body, which is not shown. The viscous body is any material with high viscosity at room temperature that must be softened or melted in order to be applied, such as, for example, asphalt, bitumen, driveway sealant, or crack sealer. 
         [0008]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the heating element  120  is made of cast metal. Each component part of the heater apparatus  100  may be composed of the same material, or of different materials. A heating plate  110  is disposed inside a heating element casing  112 . In one embodiment, the heating plate  110  is be heated by a resistive heater wire. In another embodiment, the heating plate  110  is heated by an electromagnetic coil. It is understood that the means of converting electric energy into heat energy in the heating plate  110  is not limited by these listed commercial embodiments. 
         [0009]    The heating element  120  is sized to fit inside a container, such as, for example, a bucket, tub, tin, or bag containing the viscous body. In one embodiment, the container is a proprietary canister holding approximately 8 liters of the viscous body (e.g., DSeal Driveway Repair™, a trademark of OrderBid International, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China). It is understood that containers of different volumes, shapes, and materials may be interchanged without departing from the present invention. 
         [0010]    The heating plate  110  causes the viscous body to attain a temperature up to or exceeding 392° Fahrenheit. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, a user interface  520  is connected to a temperature control module  500  by a connecting cable  510 . The user interface  520  permits a user to select the temperature at which point the heating element  120  will stop producing heat. A temperature sensor, not shown, is connected to the temperature control module  500  and reads the internal temperature of the viscous body. The temperature control module  500  is in communication with the heating plate  110  via the connecting cable  510  and heating cable  200 . The temperature of the heating plate  110  is controlled by any arrangement known in the art, such as, for example, a wire or series of wires and switches. In one embodiment, the temperature control module  500  triggers the shutoff at 392° F. In another embodiment, the temperature control module  500  triggers the heat shutoff at 374° F. In another embodiment, the temperature control module  500  triggers the heat shutoff at 356° F. In another embodiment, the temperature control module  500  triggers the heat shutoff at 302° F. In another embodiment, the temperature control module  500  triggers the heat shutoff at 221° F. In another embodiment, the temperature control module  500  triggers the heat shutoff at 147.2° F. In yet another embodiment, the temperature control module  500  triggers the heat shutoff at any temperature by user input. It is understood that the temperature control module  500  may be triggered at any temperature. 
         [0011]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the heater plate  110  is disposed within a case  112 . In one embodiment, the case  112  is water-tight. In another embodiment, the case  112  is composed of a heat-resistant material, such as, for example a thermosetting polymer. In another embodiment, the case  112  directs the heat produced by the heater plate  110  in one direction only, such as, for example, away from the heating cable  200 . In another embodiment, the case  112  protects the heater plate  110  without limiting the directionality of the heat thereby produced. In yet another embodiment, the case  112  is formed such that a user may aim or control the directionality of the heat produced by the heater plate  110 . 
         [0012]    As show in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the case  112  is fixedly attached to a power cable casing  222 . In another embodiment, the case  112  is contiguous with the power cable casing  222 . In another embodiment, the case  112  and the power cable casing  222  are formed of the same heat-resistant and water-tight material. In another embodiment, the case  112  is removably attached to the power cable casing  222 . 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the heating cable  200  has a heating end  210  and a controller end  220 . The heating cable  200  is connected to the heating element  120  at the heating end  210  by a coupling  226  disposed within the connection cover  224 . In one embodiment, the connection cover  224  is made of heat-resistant material, such as, for example a thermosetting polymer. In another embodiment, the connection cover  224  is water-tight. In another embodiment, the connection cover  224  is removably attached to the case  112 . In another embodiment, the connection cover  224  is removably attached to the power cable casing  222 . Each component part of the heating cable  200  may be composed of the same material, or of different materials. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the controller end  220  of the heating cable  200  terminates in a handle end  300 . In one embodiment, a handle  310  is fixedly attached to a power cord coupling  312  disposed within a cover  314 . In one embodiment, the cover  314  is made of heat-resistant material. In another embodiment, the cover  314  is water-tight. In another embodiment, the cover  314  is removably attached to the coupling  312 . In another embodiment, the cover  314  is removably attached to the handle  310 . In yet another embodiment, the cover  314  is contiguous with the coupling  312 . In another embodiment, the coupling  312  and the cover  314  are formed of the same heat-resistant and water-tight material. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the cover  314  is fixedly attached to the handle  310 . In another embodiment, the cover  314  is removably attached to the handle  310 . In yet another embodiment, the cover  314  is contiguous with the handle  310 . In another embodiment, the handle  310  and the cover  314  are formed of the same heat-resistant and water-tight material. 
         [0016]    Each component part of the handle end  300  may be composed of the same material, or of different materials. In one embodiment, the handle  310  is composed of heat-resistant plastic, such as, for example a thermosetting polymer. In another embodiment, the handle  310  is composed of wood. In one embodiment, the handle  310  is sized to be easily gripped by one hand of a user. In one embodiment, the handle  310  has one or more recessed areas  316  which provide additional surface area, for example, by which a user may securely grip the handle  310 . In another embodiment, the handle  310  is cylindrical. In yet another embodiment, the handle  310  has an asymmetrical shape. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the heater plate  110  is of sufficient mass such that, as the temperature of the viscous body increases and the viscous body reduces in viscosity, the heater end  150  will sink towards the bottom of the viscous body. In another embodiment, a user may grip, push, or hold the handle  310  and manipulate the heater  100 . 
         [0018]    It is contemplated that a variety of types of viscous body may be suitable for uses to which the present invention is applicable. Materials having properties rendering them substantially viscous at room temperature are well-known in the art, and are readily commercially available. The present invention need not be used in conjunction with any proprietary container and is not limited to any specific viscous body. 
         [0019]    It is understood that in other embodiments of the present invention the user interface  520  may operate wirelessly or by other computer-controlled means and need not be fixedly attached to the heating apparatus  100 . It is understood that in other embodiments of the present invention, the temperature control module  500  may operate wirelessly or by other computer-controlled means and need not be fixedly attached to the heating apparatus  100 . 
         [0020]    A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.