Stationary ceramic glass electric baseboard heater

Abstract

An electric baseboard heater includes a ceramic glass block within which a steel wire electric heating element is insert molded and which is provided with several through holes for convective movement of air through the block. The ceramic glass block is mounted in a heater housing which includes a lower draft opening below the ceramic glass block and an upper air outlet above the ceramic glass block. The glass block is preferably mounted so that one of its faces is exposed by the housing. When a voltage is applied to the steel wire, heat is generated by the wire and is absorbed and radiated by the ceramic glass block. Cool air is drawn into the draft opening in the housing and up through the through holes in the ceramic glass block whereupon it exits the air outlet heated by the ceramic glass block. The ceramic glass block is advantageously mounted at an angle in the housing to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance while at the same time increasing the convective movement of air through the heater. The housing may be made of plastic or thin metal with a plastic film or enamel coating. The ceramic glass block may be clear so that the heating element can be seen to glow red when the heater is turned on. Alternatively, the ceramic glass block may be tinted or colored.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.