Patent Publication Number: US-2007101983-A1

Title: Patio heater with directional control

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      There are no related applications.  
     BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a method and apparatus for heating an outdoor area, such as a patio, and more particularly, to an apparatus designed to permit the warming of a selected area in a chosen radial direction distal from the apparatus.  
     BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
      Patio heaters have traditionally been sold to restaurants and bars in order to extend the usefulness of outdoor spaces such as decks and patios when the weather is cold. Recently, such heaters have also been sold to individuals for personal use on decks or in back yard spaces for the same purpose. These types of heaters usually comprise a base where the fuel source is located and a support member extending upward from the base in order to raise the heat generation mechanism to a height where it does not pose a danger to persons walking under it or in the same area. Having an elevated heat source also provides for more flexibility in using the space to be heated because there are no areas that are unsafe or uncomfortable whereas a heat source that is not elevated would necessitate a that a certain safety radius be maintained, thus taking up valuable space. These patio heaters are usually fuelled by liquefied petroleum (LP) gases so that they do not need to remain in a fixed location in order to operate in a beneficial way. The mobility offered by an easily transportable fuel source also offers flexibility in floor plans and outdoor activities.  
      One shortcoming of presently available free-standing heaters is that they must be centrally placed in the area to be heated in order to maximize the efficiency of the heat distribution and, accordingly, fuel consumption. Because they provide heat in a circular area having a pre-determined radius from the central point where the heat generation occurs, many existing heaters cannot be efficiently placed on the periphery of the seating area in a restaurant setting, for example, because they will waste energy and fuel by heating areas that do not generate income or are not being used. In a home setting, it may not be safe for children to have the heating device in the center of a patio where it could easily be knocked over.  
      It is known in the art to make one directional heaters or heaters that heat a specified arc while rotating back and forth, these types of heaters are usually powered by electricity and generate radiant heat and are thus limited to a certain location on the periphery of an area to be heated unless potentially dangerous extension cords are used. It these heaters were placed in the middle of an area to be heated, they suffer from the drawback that they are not raised above the floor and thus also create a burning hazard. Further, they do not have the capability of heating 360 degrees around the heat source, but rather must be pointed in a pre-selected direction and rotated periodically and are thus not suited for heating an area from the center of that area.  
      Accordingly, for the reasons set forth herein and for others as may be reasonably apparent to those skilled in the art, there is a need for a portable free-standing heater that can safely project heat either radially or in a chosen direction depending on the needs of the user.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with the present invention, a patio heater is provided which is improved in its economical use and distance and direction of heat projection in a desired direction over prior commercially available patio heaters. The concave heat reflector is capable of being angled relative to the heat exhaust opening, which is horizontal. Altering this angle permits heated gases and air to be redirected in a desired direction with increased distance capability. This improvement has the benefits of extending and focusing the reach of the heat generated by the heat source contained within the patio heater and, consequently, improving the efficiency of the patio heater. Of course, should the user wish, the patio heater of the instant invention can also be used in the traditional 360 degree heating mode. The heater of the instant invention can be placed either near a wall or in the center of a space to be heated and can still deliver maximum efficiency.  
      Of course, other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments hereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a patio heater in accordance with the present invention showing a concave reflector raised to a 45 degree angle relative to the heat exhaust opening in order to direct heat in a desired direction, and an elongated control rod engaged with the concave reflector to enable angle adjustment.  
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the patio heater of  FIG. 1  showing the concave reflector in a lowered position parallel to the heat exhaust opening in order to spread heat uniformly around the patio heater.  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary elevational view of an upper portion of a patio heater in accordance with the instant invention with the concave reflector in a lowered position.  
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary elevational view of an upper portion of a patio heater in accordance with the instant invention with the concave reflector in a raised position.  
       FIG. 5  is a view showing the heat distribution of prior existing patio heaters.  
       FIG. 6  is a view, similar to  FIG. 6 , showing the heat distribution of the patio heater in accordance with the instant invention with the concave reflector in a first raised position.  
       FIG. 7  is a view, similar to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , showing the heat distribution of the patio heater in accordance with the instant invention with the concave reflector in a second raised position.  
       FIG. 8  is a view, similar to  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 , showing the heat distribution of the patio heater in accordance with the instant invention with the concave reflector in a fully raised position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION—PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the patio heater  2  of the instant invention, comprising an elongated support member  10  with an upper end  12 . The upper end  12  supports the heat source  14 , which heat can be generated by combustion, resistance or some other means as the circumstance or need may require.  
      In a first embodiment, fuel such as LP gas or propane is stored in the enclosure  16  at the base of the elongated support member  10 . The elongated support member  10  is preferably hollow in order to permit the fuel to safely travel from the enclosure  16  to the heat source  14 , where combustion or other heat generation activity can occur. The shown embodiment also contains a clasp  8  that can be opened to access the LP gas or propane. Further, a set of wheels  6  are included for ease of movement and increased flexibility in floor-planning.  
      Once heat is generated in the heat source  14 , it is directed upward by the side wall  18  of the exhaust receptacle  20 , where it comes into contact with and is redirected by the heat reflector  22 . As demonstrated in this  FIG. 1 , the heat reflector  22  can be tilted to an approximate  45  degree angle relative to the heat exhaust opening  24  in order to direct the heat radiating off the heat reflector  22  in a desired direction  26 . While the preferred embodiment of the heat reflector  22  in the instant invention is concave in shape to assist in collecting and directing heat, other configurations such as frustoconical or flat are possible as may be required for a particular application.  
      In this embodiment, the position of the heat reflector  22  is altered by moving the elongated control rod  28  in a vertical direction. The elongated control rod  28  is engaged with the heat reflector  22  at a slidable connector  32  in such a way that moving the elongated control rod  28  in a vertical direction causes the heat reflector  22  to rotate about a rotatable connector  30 , said rotation occurring solely about a horizontal axis. The slidable connector  32  performs a function that may be performed by any number of different embodiments as those skilled in the art will recognize. To state it another way, the point of engagement between the elongated control rod  28  and the heat reflector  22  must be mobile, in this embodiment to permit travel when the angle of the heat reflector  22  in relation to the heat exhaust opening  24  is altered.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the patio heater  2  of the instant invention is shown with the heat reflector  22  in a fully horizontal position fully parallel to the heat exhaust opening  24 . Positioning the heat reflector  22  parallel to the heat exhaust opening  24  results in the heat generated by the heat source  14  being evenly distributed radially about the patio heater  2  as with existing art. In this embodiment, alteration of the position of the heat reflector  22  is accomplished by adjusting the elongated control rod  28  vertically. In the present embodiment, the elongated control rod  28  is kept in place through the use of one or a plurality of steps  40  cut into the elongated control rod at intervals. Each step engages a positioning ring  42  to enable the heat reflector  22  to be positioned at any desired angle relative to the heat exhaust opening  24 .  
      In  FIG. 3-4 , the movement of the heat reflector  22  via the movement of the elongated control rod  28  is demonstrated in an isolated view.  
      In  FIG. 5-8 , the pattern of heat distribution  50  is shown as changing with the tilting of the heat reflector  22 .  
      While the present invention is intended to increase the versatility and safety of outdoor patio heating, other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and that the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.