Abstract:
A system, apparatus, and method for heating air with a space heater is presented. The space heater includes a space heater cabinet and a plurality of candles. The space heater cabinet is more than three times as wide as it is tall. The space heater cabinet has a top wall and a bottom wall. The space heater cabinet houses a heating unit, an intake vent, and an exhaust vent. The heating unit can heat air within the space heater cabinet. The intake vent allows air to enter the cabinet and the exhaust vent allows warmed air to exit the cabinet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The current invention relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for heating air. More particularly, the apparatus systems and methods relate to heating air with a space heater. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide for heating a space with a space heater that is attractive and that appears as if the space is being heated with candles and that is still relatively portable. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    Space heaters can be used to heat one area of a building or a home without requiring the central heating system to heat the entire home or building to a high temperature. This can reduce the overall heating cost because one room or a couple of rooms may be heated by space heaters to 70 degrees Fahrenheit while the rest of the building may be heated to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Space heaters are also popular because they are portable, are generally inexpensive, and can be moved from room-to-room. Even though space heaters are useful, they do have certain drawbacks and can cause problems. For example, the grill at the rear of the space heater may become clogged with dust and the space heater may overheat or may catch fire. Even though some space heaters have anti-tipping devices that turn off the space heater if it is tipped over, some space heaters may tip over and overheat and still start a fire. 
         [0005]    Space heaters are generally a rectangular-shaped box made out of plastic or metal. The box generally houses electrical coils that are heated with electricity to warm air passing through the coils. A fan is generally used to push more air through the coils to create a flow of warm air. Knobs on the exterior of the box are used to control the space heater to adjust temperature and to turn the space heater on and off. Other space heaters may have electric or automatic controls to automatically turn on and off the space heater at desired times. Even though current space heaters have desirable and undesirable characteristics, a better space heater is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a system, apparatus, and method for heating air. In one embodiment for heating air, an apparatus includes a space heater. The space heater includes a space heater cabinet and a plurality of candles. The space heater cabinet is more than three times as wide as it is tall. The space heater cabinet has a top wall and a bottom wall. The space heater cabinet houses a heating unit, an intake vent, and an exhaust vent. The heating unit can heat air within the space heater cabinet. The intake vent allows air to enter the cabinet and the exhaust vent allows warmed air to exit the cabinet. The space heater can include glass plates extending vertically between the candles and outside edges of the top wall of the cabinet. 
         [0007]    The top wall of the cabinet can be formed with various pieces of wood. For example, wood edge pieces can be used to form a generally rectangular perimeter of the top wall and these pieces may be mitered or curved to create attractive edges on the top wall or top surface of the portable space heater. The top perimeter pieces of wood can form an interior area which can be filled with a center piece of wood. The center piece of wood can be formed with elongated notches along its perimeter. The plates of glass can be fitted between the elongated notches and the perimeter pieces of wood. A supporting piece of wood can be located beneath the edge pieces of wood and the center piece of wood. The support piece of wood will prevent the glass plates from sliding beneath the edge pieces of wood and the center piece of wood. 
         [0008]    The space heater may include other useful features and contain other components. For example, the space heater can include a chassis that supports a heating unit or heating coils, a fan, and a motor to turn the fan. The fan can be used to force air through the heating coils and to blow warm air out of the portable heater. Standard alternating current or batteries may be used to power the candles and alternating current may be used to supply power to the heating coils. A control unit can be built into one of the sides of the space heater cabinet for controlling the space heater. Alternatively, a remote control can be used to control the space heater and to operate the electric candles. The glass plates may be clear glass plates between ⅛ th  and 3/16 th  of an inch in thickness. An exhaust manifold may transport air from the heating unit to exhaust vents. The exhaust manifold may be an elongated trapezoidal shape. 
         [0009]    The preferred embodiment may be configured as a method which includes placing a space heater in a first location. The space heater has a cabinet housing that is at least three times as wide as it is tall. The method lights candles located on top of the space heater. The method includes turning on the space heater so that it heats air at the first location and then later turning off the space heater. The space heater is then relocated to a second location and the space heater is turned on at the second location so that air is heated at the second location. The space heater can be turned on or off with a remote control or through a control panel located on the space heater. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant has contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a space heater that appears as a base displaying candles. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an exploded view of the upper proportion of the preferred embodiment of the space heater that appears as a base displaying candles. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an exploded view of the lower proportion of the preferred embodiment of the space heater that appears as a base displaying candles. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a remote control to control the preferred embodiment of the space heater. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates the bottom of a candle used in the preferred embodiment of the space heater. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates the front view of the preferred embodiment of the space heater. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates the top view of the preferred embodiment of the space heater. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates the bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the space heater. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates the back view of the preferred embodiment of the space heater. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates different positioning of the candles of the preferred embodiment of the space heater. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates the preferred embodiment configured as a method for using a space heater that appears as a base with candles for heating an area. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a decorative space heater  1  that includes a base unit  2 , five candle units  3 , and six glass plates  4 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an example remote control  40  that can be used to control the space heater  1 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom of a candle  3  used in a space heater  1 .  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 , and  8  illustrate the front, top, bottom and back views of the space heater  1 , respectively. As discussed further below, the base unit  2  of the space heater  1  includes a heating assembly  6  that blows warm air from the base unit  2 . 
         [0024]    The candles  3  on top of the base  2  provide for a space heater  1  that is more attractive than a traditional space heater. As a best seen in  FIG. 4 , the candles  3  can be formed with plastic internal cores  52  and with a wax  50  exterior. The candles  3  in the preferred embodiment are light yellow paraffin wax pillar candles  3 . The candles  3  may have a battery compartment  54  to supply battery power to lights  60  that resemble natural candlelight. The battery compartment  54  includes a door  55  to hold a battery in the battery compartment  54 . A switch  58  is used to turn on/off the candle  3  when the candle  3  is powered by the battery compartment  54 . In the preferred embodiment, the lights  3  can be switch between battery power and alternating current that is provided through an electrical cord  38  that supplies the current to electrical pins  47  protruding from the base unit  2 . The candles  3  include electrical sockets  56  that can be mounted to the electrical pins  47  to supply alternating current to the candle lights  60 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that more than five candles  3  may be used or that less than five candles  3  may be used. Additionally, the candles  3  may be different shapes and different sizes than what is shown in the figures, and the candles  3  may be different colors than light yellow. In the preferred embodiment, the candles  3  are about 3½ inches in diameter and about 5 inches tall. In the preferred embodiment, the candle units  3  contain lights and the lights in the candles  3  are configured to appear as if the candle  3  is burning with a wick. Electrical circuits can be used to make it appear as if the candles  3  are flickering randomly to appear more like a real candle. 
         [0025]    To create a more realistic image that candles  3  are creating heat, the candles  3  are surrounded by plates of glass  4 . The plates of glass form a chamber  45  around the candles  3 . The plates of glass  4  are mounted vertically on a top surface  46  of the base unit  2 . As discussed further below, the plates of glass  4  are mounted between a center member  7  and top edge members  8  of the base unit  2 . The glass plates  4  are generally clear glass plates  4  that are between ⅛ th  of an inch and 3/16 th  of an inch thick. In the preferred embodiment, the glass plates  4  are approximately 10 inches wide and approximately 6 inches tall. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that more or less than six glass plates  4  may be used in the space heater  1 . For example, one, three, or more glass plates  4  may be used on the front of the space heater  1  or the back of the space heater  1 . 
         [0026]    The base unit  2  contains several components that can be best seen in the exploded views of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . In general, the base unit  2  is rectangular-shaped with a front  10 , a left end  11 , a right end  12 , and back  13 . The base unit  2  is formed with several wooden components that form a chamber to hold the heating assembly  5 . The wood portions of the base unit  2  include the center member  7 , the top edge members  8 , a wood support  14 , a right side panel assembly  15  and a left side panel assembly  16 . 
         [0027]    An upper portion of the base unit  2  is formed by the center member  7 , the top edge members  8 , and the wood support  14 . The center member  7  may be formed out of a sheet of wood so that it has elongated notches  9  on the perimeter edges of the center member  7 . The top edge members  8  are formed with a left portion  20 , a right portion  21 , a front portion  22 , and a back portion  23 . These portions form a rectangular shape with a chamber  24 . In the preferred embodiment, these portions are formed out of wood and the outside edges of these portions may be routered to form a decorated curved edge. The center member  7  is placed into the chamber  24  of the top edge members  8  and the wood support  14  is located under the center member  7  and the top edge member  8  to prevent the glass panels  4  from falling below the wood support  14 . The glass plates  4  are positioned in the notches  9  between the center member  7  and the top edge members  8 . 
         [0028]    Both the left and right side panel assemblies  16  and  15  are formed with a front wall  17 , a rear wall  18 , and a side wall  19 . In the preferred embodiment, these walls are formed out of wood and are connected together with screws, nails, or other fasteners. The right and left side panel assemblies  15  and  16  form bases upon which the upper assembly  25  can be rested on and be mounted to. The upper assembly  25  may be attached to the right and left side panel assemblies  14  and  15  with screws, nails, or other fasteners. The upper assembly  25  and the right and left side panel assemblies  15  and  16  form an internal base unit chamber. 
         [0029]    A heating unit chassis  27  is located within the internal base unit chamber of the base unit  2 . The heating unit chassis  27  can be bolted with one or more bolts to the right and left side panel assemblies  15  and  16 . Of course, the chassis  27  can be connected to the base unit  2  by other fasteners as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The heating unit chassis  27  supports the heating assembly  5 . Heating assembly  5  includes a motor  29 , a blower assembly  30 , an electrical box  63  and a duct assembly  31 . The motor  29  is configured to turn a fan within the blower assembly  30  to blow heated air from the heating assembly  5  through the duct assembly  31  and out a front side of the space heater  1 . Electrical heating coils  65  within the blower assembly  30  are configured to heat air within the blower assembly  30 . The duct assembly  31  is generally an elongated trapezoidal shape that may have a tapered opening that increases from the blower assembly  30  toward the front side of the base unit  2 . The duct assembly  31  is generally trapezoidal-shaped with four sides. The electrical box  63  may contain electrical components used to control the heating assembly  5 . A bottom cover  28  may be attached to the bottom of the base unit  2  to protect the heating assembly  5  and to prevent excess dust from entering the heating assembly  5 . 
         [0030]    A rear intake grill  32  and a front exhaust grill  33  are attached to the heating unit chassis  27  for safety reasons and to improve the overall appearance of the space heater  1 . The front exhaust grilled  33  can be a snap in type of grill so that different types of grills can be installed in the space heater  1 . Both grills  32  and  33  are generally rectangular-shaped with elongated horizontal openings for the intake and expelling of heated air. The front grill  33  may contain arrays of vents  36  with horizontal and/or vertical bars. The front grill  33  can be formed of a polished metal such as brass, or can be composed of plastic or any another suitable material and finished with a paint or other material so that it appears to be formed of a polished metal such as brass to increase the attractiveness of space heater  1 . The exhaust vent grill  33  may include a decorative emblem. The decorative emblem can be included to make the space heater  1  more attractive so that it does not look like a traditional space heater. 
         [0031]    In the preferred embodiment, a control panel  34  is attached to one of the right or left side panel assemblies  15  or  16 . The control panel  36  may include one or more buttons  35 . The preferred embodiment of the space heater  1  also includes a remote control  40  with one or more buttons  42 . Both the remote control  40  and the control panel  34  are configured to respond to user inputs to turn off and turn on the space heater  1  or to adjust how warm the space heater  1  is to heat air passing through the space heater  1 . In one configuration of the preferred embodiment, the control panel  34  is configured to operate based upon a timer configured to turn on the space heater at certain times and to turn off the space heater at specified times. 
         [0032]    Space heater  1  can provide additional advantageous features and components. For example, the space heater can have rubber feet  37  positioned beneath the base unit  2  so that the space heater does not scratch a surface the space heater  1  is sitting on. Additionally, the space heater may have an electrical cord  38  of sufficient length so that as the space heater is moved to different locations at different times, the electrical cord  38  may easily be plugged into an ordinary electrical outlet. 
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment, the base unit  2  of the space heater  1  has a front width of approximately 22.5 inches and a side width of about 8.5 inches. These dimensions allow the space heater  1  to sit upon a shelf or a fireplace without taking up a lot of room. Because the space heater  1  has candle units  3  and a wood-finished cabinet base  2 , the space heater  1  may be placed on a shelf or another elevated location within a room so that it appears as part of the room and not as a traditional metallic block-like space heater that is generally placed on the floor. 
         [0034]    Having described the components and the assembly of the decorative space heater  1 , we will now discuss the use and operation of the space heater  1 . As discussed earlier in the preferred embodiment, the space heater  1  has relatively small dimensions. This allows an ordinary person to pick up and relocate the space heater  1  to a different location without difficulty. Also, the candles  3  and the general shape of the space heater  1  create the appearance that the space heater  1  is part of the room or the environment where the space heater  1  is located as opposed to a traditional space heater that does not appear to be part of the room. 
         [0035]    A user can use either the control panel  34  or the remote control  40  to turn on and turn off the space heater  1 . The user can also increase or decrease the temperature the space heater  1  is heating air to through the control panel  34  and/or the remote control  40 . In one configuration of the preferred embodiment, the user can set a timer in the control panel  34  or via the remote control  40  to turn off and turn on the space heater  1  at certain times. In another configuration of the preferred embodiment, a user can remove the candle units  3  and replace them with different candle units  3  or candle units  3  of a different color to periodically change the appearance of the space heater  1 . Also, the electric lights in the candle units  3  can be turned on and turned off with the control panel  34  or remote control  40 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the candles  3  can be moved in the direction of arrows A and B two pivot the candles  3  about the connection pins  47  to alter the appearance of the space heater  1 . 
         [0036]    Example methods may be better appreciated with reference to flow diagrams. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the illustrated methodologies are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from that shown and described. Moreover, less than all the illustrated blocks may be required to implement an example methodology. Blocks may be combined or separated into multiple components. Furthermore, additional and/or alternative methodologies can employ additional, not illustrated blocks. 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  illustrates a method of using a space heater where the space heater is housed in a cabinet housing that is at least three times as wide as it is tall. For example, the front of the housing cabinet can be about 22½ inches wide and about 4 inches tall. The method  900  begins by placing space heater at a first location, at  902 . Next, candles located on top of the space heater are lit, at  904 . The candles can be standard 110 Voltage or battery operated and can be turned on with a remote control. Next, the space heater is turned, at  906 , on so that it heats air at the first location. Electric coils in the space heater can be heated by electricity so that as air is forced through the coils the air is heated. 
         [0038]    The space heater is turned off, at  908 . The space heater is then relocated to a second location that is different than the first location, at  910 . Even though the space heater is about three times as wide as it is tall, the space heater is still small enough to be portable and relocated to different locations. The space heater is again turned on at  912 , so that it heats air in the second location. 
         [0039]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, the representative embodiments, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0040]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. References to “the preferred embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in the preferred embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may.