CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light post heater. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable combination light post and heater.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood when the detailed description of the preferred embodiment is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the heater components of one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the top cap assembly and spacer assembly of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a view of the spacer assembly; and
FIG. 6 is a dissasembled perspective view of the light post heater of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While this invention is capable of embodiments in many different forms, multiple embodiments are shown in the figures and will be herein described in detail. The present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to FIG. 1, in one embodiment the light post heater 1 of the invention comprises a gas light 2, a burner assembly 4, and a cabinet assembly 6. The gas light 2 is positioned at the top of the light post heater 1, and the burner assembly 4 is positioned in the middle in order to allow heat to radiate outward from the burner assembly 4 and toward a person's torso. In FIG. 1, the cabinet assembly 6 is positioned at the bottom of the light post heater 1 and is large enough to securely store a propane tank or other energy source for the heater 1.
The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 also has a heater ignitor switch 8, a heater control knob 10, and a light power switch 12 on the outside of the cabinet assembly 6. These various controls allow the gas light 2 and the burner assembly 4 to be used and controlled separately. For example, lighting the gas light 2 may not be necessary or desirable during the day on which the burner assembly 4 may be employed to provide warmth to a user. Similarly, the heater may be turned off or on low while the light 2 is placed in an “on” position.
Below cabinet assembly 6 is base assembly 14, which stabilizes the light post heater 1 and also has wheels 16, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1. Having wheels 16 enables the light post heater 1 to be moved on a patio or deck or other surface where it may be placed.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the invention. The light post heater 1 of the invention has a light post cap assembly 18 at its upper end and a cabinet assembly 6 and base assembly 14 at its lower end. The light post cap assembly 18 comprises a light post top cap 20, a shroud 22, and a light post cap base 24. Within the light post cap assembly 18 is a gas light 2 (see FIG. 1), which illuminates the area around the light post 1 through the shroud 22.
Referring once again to FIG. 2, a light post spacer assembly 26 is below and adjacent to the light post cap 18 assembly. The light post spacer assembly 26 comprises four panels 28 that can be joined together to form a hollow rectangular structure having openings at the top and bottom. When the light post spacer assembly 26 is attached to the light post cap assembly 18, its top opening attaches to the light post top cap base 24. In this embodiment, the light post spacer assembly 26 may be substantially hollow in order to have space for wiring and other connections of gas light 2.
The spacer assembly 26 ensures that there is space between the burner assembly 4 and the gas light 2. Below the light post spacer assembly 26 is a burner assembly 4, which in FIG. 3 is broken down into its component parts. The burner assembly contains a main burner 210 (not shown in FIG. 2) that radiates heat. In one embodiment, gas flows up into the burner 210 at a constant pressure of 1 pound per square inch, which is maintained by a hose and regulator (not shown). The constant pressure provides for even burning at all parts of burner 210.
In addition to a burner 210, as shown in FIG. 2, the burner assembly 4 comprises a front grate 30, a screen 32 positioned between the grate 30 and the burner 210, a burner housing 38 and a reflector assembly comprising a left reflector 34, a right reflector 36, a reflector top 40 and a reflector bottom 42. The front gate 30 and screen 32 both shield the burner 210 from the weather and other interference. The left reflector 34, right reflector 36, reflector top 40, and reflector bottom 42 all focus heat toward the front gate 30 and screen 32. In one embodiment, the burner assembly 4 (see FIG. 1) is low enough so that heat radiates mainly out towards a person's lower torso when they are standing. The reflector assembly also helps to focus heat on the side of the burner assembly 4 on which the screen 32 (see FIG. 2) and grate 30 (see FIG. 2) are placed and reflect heat in this area.
The heat source of the invention within the burner assembly can be a number of different burner embodiments. FIG. 3 shows the gas assembly 200 of the invention, which comprises the gas light 2 and the main burner 210, among other things. In FIG. 3, the main burner 210 is a wire mesh emitter. Because the invention is primarily for outside use, its components must be able to withstand the elements, including cold temperatures, wind and rain. Wire mesh heaters are durable and efficient and are used in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention. However, many types of heaters may be utilized. In addition, the reflector assembly, screen 32 (see FIG. 2), and grate 30 (see FIG. 2) partially shield the burner from the effects of the elements and prevent wind from extinguishing the burner when it is lit.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the gas assembly 200 comprises a main burner 210 and a gas light burner 220. Gas light burner 220 is the burner for gas light 2 (see FIG. 1), and it is joined to a gas source through a series of connections. Gas light burner 220 connects to light post burner flex line 222 via a first compression fitting 256. The burner flex line 222 extends downward and connects to the top light burner valve 258 by way of a second compression fitting 224. A third compression fitting 260 on top light burner valve 258 attaches to a valve fitting 262 of valve flex line 242. A hose and regulator (not shown) from a propane tank (not shown) attach to elbow fitting 238, which in turn attaches to an outlet T fitting 266, which connects to first fitting 268 of main burner control valve 232. Outlet T fitting 266 also attaches to a fourth compression fitting 272, which attaches to manual shutoff valve 240.
Turning to gas light 2, when gas light power switch 12 is depressed, an electronic signal goes from battery 244 or other power source to control module 400 to ignitor wire 252 to trigger a spark. The spark from ignitor wire 252 ignites the gas flowing through burner flex line 222 to gas light burner 220. If gas light 2 blows out, sensor wire 250 senses the absence of heat in the gas light 2 and signals top light burner valve 258 to stop the flow of gas to gas light burner 220.
Main burner 210 has a separate burner ignitor electrode 226 and a thermocouple sensor 246 that detects whether or not main burner 210 is operating. The thermocouple sensor 246 sends a signal through thermocouple wire 228 and connector 236 to main burner control valve 232 to stop the flow of gas to the main burner 210 if burner 210 does not light or goes out. A second fitting 270 extends from the main burner control valve 232 on the opposite side of first fitting 268 and connects to main burner tube 234, which ultimately connects to main burner orifice 230 and main burner 210. After the heater control knob 10 has been pressed and turned so that gas will flow into the burner 210, electronic ignitor 8 can be pressed so that battery 244 or another power source provides electricity to ignitor electrode 226. Electricity proceeds from the battery through radiant ignitor wire 252 to ignitor electrode 226 so that ignitor electrode 226 will spark. At the same time, gas travels up through main burner tube 234 and into the main burner 210 where the gas is lit by a spark from ignitor electrode 226.
As described above, main burner 210 and gas light 2 have separate controls—electronic ignitor 8 and heater control knob 10 for the burner; gas light power switch 12 for the gas light—so that gas light 2 and main burner 210 are separately operable. For example, if a user wants to use the gas light 2 on a summer night but not employ the main burner 210, he or she can do so. Alternatively, if a user wants to warm himself on a chilly day, he can light main burner 210 by turning heater control knob 10 and pressing electronic ignitor 8.
Turning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the light post heater 1 further comprises a cabinet assembly 6 located below the burner assembly 4. The cabinet assembly 6 comprises a cabinet base 44, a cabinet base top 110 and a cabinet door 46. The cabinet assembly 6 is designed to store a propane tank or other energy source for the main burner 210 and gas light 2 so that the light post heater 1 is mobile. The cabinet assembly 6 of FIG. 6 further comprises a base assembly 14, which has a light post base 48 and a base weight 50, and the shape and size of the base 48 and base weight 50 both ensure that a propane tank or other energy source will fit well in the cabinet assembly 6 and not wobble or move substantially within it. In FIG. 2, the light post base 48 has a recessed area 52 with a lip 54 on it that is designed to hold a 20 pound propane tank.
The ability of the cabinet assembly 6 to hold an energy source allows the light post heater 1 to be mobile. Since the energy source is self-contained, the light post heater 1 does not have to be plugged in to an electrical outlet or connected by tubing to an external source. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the base 48 of the cabinet has wheels 26 so that the heater can be readily moved. The cabinet assembly 6 is sturdy enough for the light post heater 1 to be left outside for extended periods of time without it being damaged, but if the heater 1 is used at a restaurant or other public venue, it can be moved indoors after closing time or to specific areas where needed.
FIG. 4 shows an isolated view of the light post spacer assembly 26 and light post cap assembly 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the light post heater 1 of the invention further comprises a lightpost top cap 20, a light post spacer assembly 26, and a decorative shroud 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the shroud 22 may be formed from multiple pieces. Within the light post cap assembly 18 is gas light 2, which in the exploded view of FIG. 4 is located above the spacer assembly 26. The light post top cap 20 covers the gas light 2 and shields it from rain or inclement weather. The shroud 22 also protects the gas light 2 by covering it somewhat, but the shroud 22 also has a number of apertures 80 that allow light to escape. The light post spacer assembly 26 of FIG. 4 comprises four panels 28 that form a rectangular opening 84 through which wiring and necessary tubing can be placed in order for the gas light 2 to function properly. Although the light post spacer assembly 26 shown in FIG. 4 is rectangular, such a design is not required. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the light post cap assembly 18 fits on top of the spacer assembly 26, and the gas light 2 fits within the light post cap assembly.
FIG. 5 shows the light post spacer assembly 26 and the burner assembly 4. The light post spacer assembly 26 can be placed on top of the burner assembly 4 and attached so that the rectangular opening 84 of the spacer assembly 26 lines up properly with burner assembly 4. Burner grate 30 is also visible in FIG. 5 on the burner assembly 4.
Turning now to FIG. 6, the burner assembly 4 is positioned above cabinet assembly 6 and is attached to the assembly 6 when the light post heater 1 is fully assembled. Cabinet assembly 6 has a gas light power switch 12 on it that controls the gas light 2. When the power switch 12 is in the “on” position, the gas light 2 will automatically light. The power switch 12 can be toggled to “off” to extinguish the gas light 2.
Positioned below the burner assembly 4 in FIG. 6 is a cabinet base top 110 to which heater control knob 10 is attached. To turn the heater on, the heater control knob 10 is pushed in and turned to the “on” position at the same time the ignitor 8 is pressed. To increase the amount of heat, the knob 10 can be rotated to a different setting.
While there have been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20080285258
