US 5,278,936 AGranted

Thermostatically controlled portable electric space heater with automatic temperature setback for energy saving

OwnerSteve Shaoinventor

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Abstract

An electrically-powered portable space heater of the type having one or more vertically extending fin-tube heating elements disposed within an elongated housing has a selectively adjustable temperature controller responsive to a signal from an upwardly extending thermistor externally pivotally mounted on the rear of the heater housing for movement from a storage position behind the housing to an upraised operative position, thermistor also being used to supply a room temperature signal to an ambient temperature display device on the heater housing. Furthermore, the heater includes a selectively actuable energy saving feature which, when actuated, automatically reduces by 5 degrees F. after a period of one hour the temperature to which the heater has been pre-set by the operator.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An electrically-powered portable space heater comprising:

a. an elongated housing having at least one intake opening through which ambient air may be drawn and at least one exhaust opening through which heated air may be discharged, said elongated housing having a top portion;
b. electrically-powered fan means disposed within said elongated housing for drawing ambient air through said at least one intake opening and discharging heated air through said at least one exhaust opening;
c. at least one vertically extending fin-tube heating element disposed within said elongated housing for heating the air drawn through said at least one intake opening, each of said at least one vertically extending fin-tube heating element comprising at least one resistance-type heating coil;
d. means for supplying said fan means and said at least one vertically extending fin-tube heating element with electrical current;
e. means for measuring ambient room temperture, said measuring means comprising a sensor, said sensor being mounted on said top portion of said elongated housing for movement from a use portion where it is projecting upwardly above said top portion to a storage position where it is behind said top portion;
f. a control panel in said top portion of said elongated housing;
and
g. a display in said control panel, said display being responsive to a signal generated by said sensor for displaying the ambient room temperature measured by said measuring means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.