Patent ID: 8640690

Claim:
A solar heater comprising: a plurality of suspended vertical components that cover at least a portion of an interior side of a window, each suspended vertical component comprising: a transparent sheath defined by a first side portion, a second side portion, an open top end and an open bottom end, the first side portion having an outer sheath surface for facing the window and an inner sheath surface and the second side portion having an outer sheath surface for facing an interior space of a building and an inner sheath surface; a heat absorbing body positioned within the transparent sheath and having an energy absorbing surface and a room facing surface, the energy absorbing surface of the heat absorbing body located a first spaced distance from the inner sheath surface of the first side portion and the room facing surface of the heat absorbing body located a second spaced distance from the inner sheath surface of the second side portion, wherein the heat absorbing body extends from a top that attaches to a valence structure and extends entirely beyond the open top of the transparent sheath to at least the open bottom of the transparent sheath; wherein the first and second spaced distances are substantially equal; wherein the open bottom end of the transparent sheath receives cool ambient air that is heated while passing between the inner sheath surface of the first side portion and energy absorbing surface of the heat absorbing body and between the inner sheath surface of the second side portion and the room facing surface of the heat absorbing body; and wherein the open top end of the transparent sheath exhausts the air heated by the heat absorbing body to the interior space of a building.