Patent ID: 8176910

Claim:
A parasol heater comprising a base portion, a shaft portion, a radiant heat element and a parasol dish located above the radiant heat element, wherein the parasol dish is adapted to be tilted relative to the top of the radiant heat element, the parasol dish being pivotably connected to the radiant heat element by a pivot coupling which is adapted to allow the parasol dish to move in an arc over a side edge of the radiant heat element, the heater comprising an actuator coupled to the dish and extending over the radiant heat element, whereby in use movement of the actuator effects a corresponding movement of the dish through the pivot coupling to one or more predefined locations between a non-elevated position and an elevated position so as to allow for targeted reflection of heat from the radiant heat element, the actuator comprising a handle having first and second bends, the first bend being provided at a location coincident with an edge portion of the radiant heat element in the non-elevated position and the second bend being provided at a location configured to be proximate to an edge portion of the radiant heat element in the elevated position, and wherein the actuator biases the movement of the dish from a position above the pivot coupling of the parasol dish to the radiant heat element.