Abstract:
A device for temporary positioning in the interior of a vehicle for warming and defrosting through one or more resistance electric heater/blowers controlled by a timer connected to an exterior AC power source with an optional ground fault interrupter circuit. The attachment arm is preferably a tough, flexible elastomeric band having flat wire conductors extending therethrough from the device to the exterior of the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to automotive heating systems and particularly such a system which is portable and removable from the automobile. The perennial problem of entering a cold automobile which has been parked either outdoors or in an unheated garage is a well-known problem for most people. The prior art contains many attempts directed at solving the problem by building various descriptions of units into portions of the car such as the back deck behind the rear seat. There are also proposed many systems which utilize the heating fluids from the engine in conjunction with minor auxiliary electric heating devices for heating systems built into the dashboard area of an automobile. It is to be understood and appreciated that, while the device of this invention is described as an automobile heater, it of course may be used in many other vehicle types including trucks, mobile homes and heavy equipment vehicles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a fully portable device which can be installed and removed from a vehicle easily. In one aspect of the invention, the mounting apparatus can be simply slipped through the open car door and fixed in place by firmly closing the door. A further object of the invention is to provide a device in which the heated air may be directed in two different directions to simultaneously achieve several purposes including defrosting windows and heating the car at the same time. In yet another aspect of the invention, a timer is provided which can automatically be programmed to operate several times a day to accommodate the particular schedule of the user. Another object of the invention is to provide a device which includes a timer which has a clock mechanism which is continuously accurate despite disconnection from the AC power source. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a safe and portable device which incorporates a ground fault interrupter circuit to assure no electrical hazard exists between the AC power source and the vehicle which is being heated. Yet another object is to provide a very light weight unit to enhance the portability object already set forth. 
    
    
     These objects, advantages and features together with others which will become apparent following the detailed description of the invention are all provided by various embodiments of the device of this invention. Reference may be made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this description. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the heating device in its operating position in a vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device. 
     FIG. 3 is a view partly in plan, partly in sectional view illustrating the internal components of the device. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the device. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial bottom view of the device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is set forth in conjunction with the accompanying drawings FIG. 1 through FIG. 5. The portable vehicle heater 8 is shown in each figure. The following description is directed to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The housing 10 is a rectangular enclosure which can be formed of any suitable material including plastic, wood, metal, etc. Attached to the housing 10 are a pair of heater/blower assemblies 12, 14 which are mounted on opposing sides of the housing 10. Another major component is the window attachment arm 16 which has incorporated as a part thereof an electrical connector 18 located on the terminus of the window attachment arm most distant from where the arm 16 attaches to the housing 10. Enclosed within the housing is a timer assembly 20 which includes a DC battery 22 along with a transformer 24 which is used to charge the DC battery 22. On the rear face of the housing which is shown in FIG. 4 in rear elevation, the timer includes a time display 26 and a timer switch 28 which controls the operation of the timer which an on and off bias configuration. The timer controls 30 are shown on the partial bottom view in FIG. 5. These timer controls are used to the clock which is shown in the time display 26 as well as the timer which may be programmed from a plurality of on and off sequences during a given 24 hour day. The timer is battery operated and continues to maintain the accurate time and timing function regardless of whether the unit is attached to an AC power source. 
     Also included within the housing is the power supply 40 and included therein is a relay 42 which converts the signal from the timer to an electrical signal which turns the AC current on and off via the relay 42. When the relay is activated by the timer, AC power is sent to the heater/blower assemblies 12 and 14, one of which is shown in the cutaway section of FIG. 3. The heater ducting 50 is a generally cylindrical shroud containing heating elements 52, an inlet 54 and an outlet 56. It is understood that unheated ambient air is drawn through the inlet 54 by the operation of a blower 58 composed of a fan 60 and a motor 62. The air is forced through the heating elements 52 and is heated to the appropriate temperature prior to exiting through outlet 56. A thermostatic cutout 64 is provided adjacent to the outlet 56 to assure that the exiting air does not get overheated. The thermostatic cutout 64 will disengage the electrical supply if such overheating occurs for any reason whatsoever. This feature enhances the safety of the unit in operation. 
     The heater/blower assemblies 12 and 14 are both mechanically and electrically connected to the housing 10. The mechanical linkage is shown in the preferable mode using the pivotal hinge 66. Of course, in other embodiments the assemblies 12 and 14 may be fixedly attached to the housing in other suitable hinging means. It is most desirable that the assemblies 12 and 14 be capable of articulation in relation to the housing so that air flow from the outlet 56 can be directed in a preferred direction. By having two assemblies 12, 14 and mounting the portable heater through the one of the front door 104 or window assemblies 108 of the vehicle 100, the heater/blower assembly 12 can be directed toward the front windshield 110 for defrosting purposes and the other assembly 14 may be directed into the main compartment of the automobile. For the purposes of electrical connection, it is understood that an electrical conductor 68 is routed through the hinge into the power supply 40 within the housing 10. The window attachment arm 16 is a flexible, deformable and substantially flat band of tough, flex fatigue resistant material which in the preferred embodiment shown contains a flat wire conductor 74 which conducts the electrical current from the electrical connector 18 which is attached to the distal end of the arm 16. The electrical connector 18 includes a male plug 72. One means of storing the window attachment arm in a convenient manner is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 where a velcro strip 79 is adhered to the electrical connector 18 and, when in the storage position which is shown in hidden lines in FIG. 2, the velcro strip 79 attaches to a companion velcro strip 78 which is adhered to the appropriate place on the housing 10. By use of this convenient attachment means, the window attachment arm 16 can be conveniently wrapped around the housing in order to achieve a very small and convenient package for the unit when it is not in use. This is a great enhancement to the portability of the device. 
     The electrical connection of the unit to the AC power source 80 is shown in simple schematic form in FIG. 1. The power source 80 is of course an electrical outlet in a garage, carport or other convenient location. The electrical power source is most preferably connected to a ground fault interrupter circuit 82 which is a well-known device for protecting against electrical shock. The ground fault interrupter circuit continuously monitors the outgoing and incoming current in the circuit and, if there is any variance, the circuit is discontinued. A drop cord 84 electrically connects the power source 80 with the connector 18. Any conventional electrical hookup can be substituted for the indicated schematic portion of the invention. 
     The housing 10 is suspended from the window 104 or door 102 of the vehicle 100, and the housing as oriented 
     in FIG. 1 rotates 90 degrees downward and is provided with an optional set of bumpers 86 which protect both the window surface and the housing from damage. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     As an alternative to a pair of heater/blower assemblies 12, 14, applications for some vehicles may require only one heater/blower assembly and others may require three or more. The heater/blower assemblies may be of circular or rectangular cross-section. 
     As an alternative to the door/window attachment arm 16, a plastic or metal hanger 19 or clip may be used. This can be attached to the window 104, to the door 104, or to the drip channel 108 and extend through the door gasket 106. In this instance, the electrical conductor would be either built into the hanger or clip or routed separately to the electrical connector 18. 
     In other embodiments any or all of the following elements--the timer 20, the timer controls 30, the timer switch 28 and the time display 26--may be located remotely near the power source 80 and may or may not be combined with the ground fault interrupter 82. 
     In other embodiments the assemblies 12, 14, or other assemblies that replace them in these other arrangements, may be automatically oscillated either continuously or intermittently to distribute the air flow throughout the vehicle. 
     Door/window attachment arm 16 may be easily disconnectable from the housing 10 both electrically and mechanically to facilitate replacement of the door/window attachment arm 16 with another similar attachment arm in case of damage or with another attachment arm of different design for special mounting conditions encountered in certain vehicles The means of disconnecting and reconnecting attachment arms might be suitable mechanical and electrical plugs with clasps and releases which together make secure electrical and mechanical connections. 
     As an alternative to a pair of heater/blower assemblies 12, 14 a single heater/blower assembly of rectangular or circular cross-section might be used. The incorporation of the timer and other components might be made into the housing of the single heater/blower assembly so that the complete heater 8 is quite compact. 
     The heater/blower assemblies may be constructed so they may be easily removed and disconnected electrically and mechanically from the housing by means of electrical plugs and quick disconnecting screws, pins or other fasteners. 
     The bumpers 86 may be designed so that they adjust inward and outward to better accommodate the contour of various vehicles 
     An additional part called a support bracket may optionally be added which is attached to the door/window attachment arm 16. It provides a supplemental attachment to the window by means of a hook to support the entire portable vehicle heater 8 (PVH) while the vehicle door 102 is being opened so that the installation and removal of the unit can be done with one hand. This support bracket might be adjustable up and down the door/window attachment arm to accommodate different vehicles and assist in establishing the proper hanging height for the heater 8. The support bracket would protrude out from arm 16 and would fold away so as not to interfere with the wrapping of the door/window attachment arm 16 into the storage position around the housing, shown best in FIG. 2. 
     In other arrangements, the heater unit 8 might be suspended from some other part of the vehicle interior such as the rear view mirror or the clothes hanger hook and an electrical cord 84 used to connect the power supply to the electrical connector 18 might be routed through the window 104 or door gasket space 106. A short segment of flat wire 74 might be used to facilitate the routing of the electrical conductors through the small window or door gasket space 106. 
     The flat wire conductor 74 element of the invention is understood to encompass a whole class of conductors designed to have a low profile in one dimension or direction. A common form has a rectangular cross-section in which the ratio of wide dimension to narrow dimension would have from greater that 12:1 to about 3:1 or less. The conductor may be in a stranded, solid or braided configuration. The braid may be foreshortened and flattened to form the desired conductor form. 
     While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is understood that modifications and changes to components are still within the ambit of the invention so long as they are within the scope of the appended claims.