Patent Application
20140001171
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reptile breeding facilities and more particularly, to a heater for reptile breeding that has a low profile and avoids scaling accidents under long-term use.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of reptiles and amphibians, such as iguana, dragon, tortoise, aquatic turtle, phelsuma, dactylus, crickets, grasshoppers, snake, and etc. are living in this world. Recently, the wave of reptile breeding has become a rising trend due to the reason that reptile enthusiasts can observe reptile living environment when breeding reptiles and enjoy the feeling of coming into contact with the wild word.
People who love reptiles as pets may use a reptile cage to raise reptiles. Nowadays, various different reptiles and amphibians breeding cages are commercially available. Riverbed sand, rain forest bark, jungle soil and plants may be provided in a reptile cage to simulate natural breeding environment, ensuring a healthy growth of breeding reptiles. Further, a reptile cage may be equipped with a lighting fixture to simulate daylight and to keep cold blooded reptiles warm.
However, the aforesaid heat lamp 101 is not good enough for use in a reptile breeding cage. The metal lampshade 103 can transfer heat. A scalding injury may occur if the user touches the hot metal lampshade 103 accidentally.
Further, to fit the shape of the heat bulb 102, the metal lampshade 103 has a certain height and dimension, occupying much installation space. Further, it is not beautiful to use of the heat lamp 101 in a reptile breeding cage.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a heater for reptile breeding, which is practical for long-term application, avoiding scalding accidents.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a heater for reptile breeding, which has a low profile, requiring less installation space.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a heater for reptile breeding, which efficiently converts watt into heat, saving power consumption.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a heater for use in a reptile breeding cage comprises a flat heater body. The flat heater body comprises a front heat-radiating face, a flat back cover covered on the back side of the front heat-radiating face, a heating layer set in between the front heat-radiating face and the flat back cover, and a thermal insulation layer sandwiched between the heating layer and the flat back cover.
Preferably, the front heat-radiating face and the thermal insulation layer are directly molded in the flat heater body.
Further, the flat heater body comprises a positioning structure, for example, a locating groove located on the front side of the flat heater body around the front heat-radiating face.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the heater further comprises a flat protective shell accommodating the flat heater body. The flat protective shell has an opening through which the front heat-radiating face of the flat heater body is exposed to the outside.
The protective shell further comprises a mounting device for fastening to a reptile breeding cage.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the heater further comprises an annular top heat insulation shield and an annular bottom heat insulation shield respectively attached to opposing front and back sides of the flat heater body, a protective panel holding the annular top heat insulation shield, the flat heater body and the annular bottom heat insulation shield, a first heat insulation plate set between the flat heater body and the annular bottom heat insulation shield, a second heat insulation plate set between the annular bottom heat insulation shield and the protective panel, and a grid guard covered on the annular top heat insulation shield opposite to the flat heater body.
Referring to
The flat heater body 10 can be made in any of various shapes. In this embodiment, the flat heater body 10 has a disc-like shape.
The aforesaid heating layer 13 is preferably formed of a spiral heating coil, and electrically connectable to a power outlet by a power cable 15. Using a heating coil for the heating layer 13 has the advantage of power saving. When compared to heating lamp, a 60 W heating coil can achieve the same effects of a 100 W heating lamp.
The aforesaid thermal insulation layer 14 is made of a thermal insulation material and configured subject to the size of the heating layer 13. In this embodiment, the diameter of the thermal insulation layer 14 fits the diameter of the heating layer 13.
Preferably, the flat heater body 10 is a single piece member having the heating layer 13 and the thermal insulation layer 14 embedded therein.
Further, a positioning structure, for example, a locating groove 16 can be formed on the front side of the flat heater body 10 around the front heat-radiating face 11 for mounting. However, the design of the locating groove 16 is not requisite.
Referring to
Further, the flat protective shell 20 comprises a plurality of clamps 22 for clamping on the locating groove 16 of the flat heater body 10 to secure the flat heater body 10 inside the flat protective shell 20.
As illustrated, the flat protective shell 20 comprises a mounting device 23 for securing to a selected part of a reptile breeding cage.
Referring to
In conclusion, the invention provides a heater for reptile breeding, which has a low profile characteristic, requiring less installation space. Under a long-term use to give off heat, the thermally insulated outer surface remains at a low temperature, avoiding scalding accidents. Further, the heating layer uses a spiral heating coil to efficiently convert watt into heat, saving power consumption and practical for use in temperature controlling applications.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
