Heating apparatus

A heating apparatus for maximizing the concentration of heat thereabout and above ground level so that persons standing or sitting adjacent the apparatus will be warmed thereby, the heating apparatus comprising:

• a burner assembly for igniting fuel from a fuel source;
• an upper housing for the burner assembly with the housing having a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
• an elongate support member extending upwardly along the longitudinal axis to the burner assembly housing to space the housing from ground level by at least approximately seven feet, with the housing extending for a shorter distance than the support member along the axis;
• and
• an emitter surface of the housing including apertures for directing heat generated by the ignited fuel out away from the housing, the emitter surface being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis so as to direct heat in a generally downward direction about the longitudinal axis for maximum efficiency in warming of a preselected area by the heat emitted from the housing, the elongate support member allowing persons to be positioned in a tight radius thereabout in the preselected area to be exposed to heat as it is directed downwardly by the emitter surface,
• wherein the upper housing includes an inner member of insulative material and having a cone shape with a substantially hollow interior to form an inclined annulus between the emitter surface and the inner member into which heat generated by the burner assembly is directed, the inclined emitter surface and the inner member providing the housing with a relatively thin material thickness in a radial direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.