Tiltable radiant heater
AssigneeNational Presto Industries, Inc.
InventorsCharles F. Caldwell, Brian Ruben
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a portable radiant heating device that has a base, a radiant heat source mounted in a tiltable reflector, and a safety interlock device located in the base. The safety interlock uses a pressure-sensitive foot that prevents the heater from producing infrared heat when not in contact with a mounting surface. The safety interlock device also prevents the heater from producing infrared heat when the reflector is not tilted so as to prevent excessive amounts of infrared heat from being directed towards the mounting surface.
Claims16
A safety interlock system for a portable radiant heating device, the system comprising:
- a disconnect switch;
- an engagement finger;
- a plunger shaft;
- and
- a plunger foot;
- wherein the plunger shaft comprises a first flange, a second flange, and a recess formed between the first and second flange;
- wherein the plunger shaft is movably attached to the plunger foot, the safety interlock system further comprising a second spring which exerts a spring force against the plunger shaft such that plunger shaft is held in a first position by the spring force, the plunger shaft movable to a second position when the spring force is overcome;
- and
- wherein an actuator of the disconnect switch is actuated by the second flange when the portable radiant heater is in a normal condition such that the disconnect switch is closed.
A portable electric heater comprising:
- a heater assembly comprising:
- a reflector;
- a heating element;
- a grating;
- and
- an engagement finger;
- a base flexibly connected to the heating assembly such that the heating assembly can be tilted from a storage position to a heating position, the base comprising:
- a disconnect switch;
- a plunger shaft;
- and
- a plunger foot;
- wherein the plunger shaft comprises a first flange, a second flange, and a recess formed between the first and second flange;
- a first spring which applies a force to the plunger foot such that the plunger foot extends from the base portion of the portable heating device when the base portion is not in contact with a placement surface;
- wherein the plunger shaft is movably attached to the plunger foot, the safety interlock system further comprising a second spring which exerts a spring force against the plunger shaft such that plunger shaft is held in a first position by the spring force, the plunger shaft movable to a second position when the spring force is overcome;
- wherein an actuator of the disconnect switch is actuated by the second flange when the portable radiant heater is in the heating condition such that the disconnect switch is closed;
- and
- wherein the actuator of the disconnect switch is de-actuated when the plunger foot extends from the base portion of the portable electric heater device such that the disconnect switch is opened.
A method of preventing the operation of a portable electric heater when the heater is in a storage configuration, the method comprising:
- providing a portable electric heater, the heater comprising:
- a heater assembly, the heater assembly further comprising:
- a reflector;
- a heating element;
- a grating;
- and
- an engagement finger;
- a base flexibly connected to the heating assembly such that the heating assembly can be tilted from a storage configuration to a heating configuration, the base comprising:
- a disconnect switch;
- a plunger shaft;
- and
- a plunger foot;
- wherein the plunger shaft comprises a first flange, a second flange, and a recess formed between the first and second flange;
- wherein the plunger shaft is movably attached to the plunger foot, the safety interlock system further comprising a second spring which exerts a spring force against the plunger shaft such that plunger shaft is held in a first position by the spring force, the plunger shaft movable to a second position when the spring force is overcome;
- and
- contacting the plunger shaft with the engagement finger to cause the plunger shaft to be in the second position when the heating assembly is in the storage position, the disconnect switch opens to prevent a flow of electrical power to the heating element when the plunger shaft is in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.