System of short-wave-infrared heater support assembly

A system for heating a patio, the system comprising: a head unit comprising a heating unit configured for heating a patio; an offset assembly, wherein the offset assembly is coupled to the head unit; a mounting pole comprising a plurality of sections, the mounting pole being coupled to the offset assembly; and a base unit the base unit supporting the mounting pole.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a patio heating device, and more specifically, system of short-wave-infrared (SWI) heater support assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, freestanding Liquid Propane gas (LPG) heaters are used for heating a patio. However, the conventional LPG patio heaters do not operate with an optimal efficiency to adequately heat a sizable area. Also, in the presence of wind the efficiency of the LPG patio heater is further reduced. Additionally, the conventional LPG patio heaters are bulky and, are therefore, hard to move around. Moreover, the LPG patio heaters have to be periodically refilled.

LPG patio heaters have approximately 40% energy conversion rate and they heat only the area surrounding the subject object. Also, LPG heaters can be safely used only outdoors. Besides, the cost to operate an LPG patio heater is approximately eight times greater than a Short-Wave-Infrared (SWI) heater.

Some of the existing SWI heater systems for heating a patio are wall mounted SWI heaters, or tripod mounted SWI heaters. Wall mounted SWI heaters limit the area, which can be heated by them, to the area adjacent to the wall it is mounted on. SWI heaters that are not mounted on walls are those that are mounted on a simple tripod stand. Such tripod mounted SWI heaters require that the tripod be immediately adjacent to the heating area which is not a practical arrangement for a typical patio heater scenario because the tripod stand can get in the way and can become obtrusive.

SWI heaters have an energy conversion rate of approximately 92% and can be used indoors or outdoors. SWI heaters directly heat an object and not the air around the object. However, this means the object to be heated must be in the path of the infrared light waves. Wall mounted and tripod mounted units are often not capable of being in close enough proximity to the objects to be heated.

Therefore, there is a need for a system for heating a patio which has an efficiency of a SWI heater and has a support assembly that is non-obtrusive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to the various embodiments, the invention discloses a system of short-wave-infrared (SWI) heater support assembly. The support assembly, essentially, comprises a mounting pole and an angled pole section providing an offset to the SWI heater.

Referring toFIG. 1, a block diagram of a patio heating device is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The patio heating device comprises a head unit105. Head unit105may comprise a heating unit110such as a SWI heater. Head unit105can be used in a manner similar to a conventional LPG patio heater. An embodiment of the present invention, heating unit110is a SWI heater and an adjoining assembly that can be analogous to conventional LPG patio heaters but with additional features. The present invention enables heating a patio more effectively and more cost effectively than a conventional LPG patio heater.

Head unit105can further comprise a shield115surrounding heating unit110to protect heating unit110from, say, light rain or morning dew. Shield115can be made of aluminum or any suitable material.

An offset assembly120is coupled to head unit105to provide an offset to head unit105. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that offset assembly120allows head unit105, which comprises heating unit110, to be placed in close proximity to the area being heated without being obtrusive. Offset assembly120, basically comprises an angled pole section which ensures that head unit105is substantially away or ‘offset’ from rest of the patio heating device. In an embodiment of the present invention, head unit105is mounted on offset assembly120via a mounting device. The mounting device allows a user to adjust the position of head unit105.

A mounting pole125is coupled to offset assembly120for easy portability and storage. Mounting pole125can be, for example, a telescoping pole or can comprise a plurality of sections such that the sections can be screwed together. Height of mounting pole125can be made adjustable by placing the plurality of sections in a particular way.

Further, a base unit130is coupled to mounting pole125. Base unit130can comprise a plurality of wheels that also enable easy portability and storage. In an embodiment of the present invention, a weighted body, for example a weighted disc, is attached to the base unit130. Those skilled in the art will realize that the weighted body can provide stability to the patio heating device.

Head unit105, comprising shield110, mounting pole125and base unit130may be made of powder-coated steel, stainless steel or other suitable material which is durable, weather proof and economic.

Turning now toFIG. 2, a side view of a short-wave-infrared (SWI) heater support assembly is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A shield205is used to house a SWI heater210in the SWI heater support assembly. Shield205can be made of aluminum or any other suitable material. Shield205can provide SWI heater210protection from light rain or morning dew. Shield205together with SWI heater201forms head unit105ofFIG. 1. Those skilled in the art shall realize that the shape of shield205is not restricted to the one shown inFIG. 2and can be of any shape, provided it protects SWI heater210.

In an embodiment of the present invention, shield205can be mounted on angled pole section220via a rotating collar mount215having a first portion203and a second portion204, for example a 45-degree rotating collar mount. Rotating collar mount215allows head unit105, to be rotated about rotating collar mount215so that a user can adjust head unit105to direct the heat towards an area to be heated. Moreover, angled pole section220can have a 110 to 120 degree bend to provide an offset to head unit105. Those of ordinary skill in the art shall realize that having head unit105offset from rest of the short-wave-infrared (SWI) heater support assembly allows head unit105to heat from overhead instead of directly adjacent to, for example from the side of, the area to be heated.

An embodiment of the present invention also comprises a positioning bar225coupled to SWI heater210. Positioning bar225can allow the user to adjust the position of SWI heater210without having to touch SWI heater210, which can get hot while SWI heater210is operating.

The mounting pole shown in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2comprises three sections, an uppermost section230, a middle section235and a bottommost section240, in addition to angled pole section220. The three sections enable the mounting pole to be adjustable, for example the three sections can be telescoping or can be screwed together. Angled pole section220is coupled to uppermost section230of a mounting pole. The mounting pole, for example a telescoping pole, allows the SWI heater support assembly to be compact for shipping and can minimize the height of the SWI heater support assembly for easy storage. When the mounting pole is retracted, the height of head unit105, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, may be reduced by approximately 30 inches to approximately 64 inches. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when the sections are substantially fully extended, head unit105has a height of approximately 94 inches. This height allows the head unit105to be high enough to heat from overhead. Those skilled in the art will realize that other dimensions for the mounting pole can also be used and is within the scope of the present invention.

Bottommost section240of the mounting pole is mounted on a base unit245. Base unit245can be circular in shape. However, those skilled in the art will realize that different dimensions and shape can also be used for base unit245and are within the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a weighted body, like a weighted disc, providing stability to the SWI heater support assembly is mounted on the underside of base unit245. Those skilled in the art will realize that the weighted body can provide stability for the SWI heater support assembly thereby compensating for the weight of SWI heater210in head unit105, which is offset from the center of base unit245and mounting pole. A steel flange250can be mounted to the top of base unit245. Bottommost section240of the mounting pole may be fastened to steel flange250. On a side surface of the steel flange250is a receptacle252to accommodate a power cord with a power plug254. Also, a plurality of wheels255can be attached to base unit245enabling the SWI heater support assembly to be easily moved.

In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, a tightening collar260is affixed to the upper portion of bottommost section240. Middle section235can be inserted in tightening collar260and affixed to bottommost section240. Another tightening collar265can be used to attach uppermost section230to middle section235. Those skilled in the art will realize that if the mounting pole is desired to be telescoping in nature, uppermost section230may need to be smaller in diameter than middle section235and middle section235may need to be smaller in diameter than bottommost section240. An attachment, coupling collar270can be mounted on the top of uppermost section230so that angled pole section220can be inserted in attachment coupling collar270. Adjacent a distal end of the angled pole section is a receptacle217for accommodating power line purposes. Adjacent another end of the angled pole section is a receptacle219also for accommodating power line purposes. Those skilled in the art will realize that attachment coupling collar270can be mounted on top of uppermost section230such that angled pole section220can be freely rotated about attachment coupling collar270, for example a 360 degree rotation of angled pole section220is possible as illustrated by radial arrows272. Angled pole section220can bend at an approximate 110 to 120 degree angle or may be otherwise angled relative to uppermost section230, middle section235and bottommost section240.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a power switch coupled to a dimmer275are mounted to the mounting pole with a power cord280running to head unit105and providing power to SWI heater210. Power switch coupled to a dimmer275can allow a user to turn SWI heater210on and off and to adjust the heat output.

Turning now toFIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of a retracted short-wave-infrared (SWI) heater support assembly is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Uppermost section230and middle section235of the mounting pole ofFIG. 2are retracted to obtain a mounting pole305with a decreased height. Therefore, the height of a SWI heater310can be adjusted by the virtue of the present embodiment. Moreover, the position of SWI heater310can be changed using a rotating collar mount315and a positioning bar320. For example, if a user is sitting on a chair and wishes to have SWI heater310directed towards him form the side, mounting pole305can be retracted and adjusted accordingly as depicted in the present embodiment and rotating collar mount315and positioning bar320can be adjusted according to the user's comfort. Also, the heat output of SWI heater310can be adjusted using a power switch coupled to a dimmer325.

Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention relate to the SWI heater support assembly with an offset mounting pole. Such a heater can solve the problems of a conventional SWI heater support assembly, for example a tripod mounted unit which falls over easily, by making the SWI heater a free standing stable unit with an offset design. This design allows a user to place the SWI heater immediately above or adjacent to the objects to be heated without the SWI heater being obtrusive. More specifically, the offset design of the SWI heater support assembly allows head unit105to overhang the area to be heated without base unit245and the mounting pole of the SWI heater support assembly needing to be placed in the space to be heated.