Abstrict
A portable electric heater including a housing having a rear wall,
a substantially planar front wall, a bottom support and a top wall.
Retained by the housing are a resistive heating element and an electrical
circuit for connecting the heating element to an electrical power
source. The circuit includes a switch having a closed condition
that connects the heating element to the electrical power source
and an open condition that disconnects the heating element from
the electrical power source. Included with the switch is a manually
operable actuator projecting from the front wall and movable in
a single motion between a stable first position producing the closed
condition and a stable second position producing the open condition,
and wherein the actuator is shaped and arranged to be moved into
the second position in response to contact with a substantially
planar surface.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable electric heater comprising:
a housing having a rear wall, a substantially planar front wall,
a bottom support means and an top wall; said housing defining an
air inlet and an air outlet and resting on said bottom support means
during use of said heater;
a resistive heating element retained in said housing and adapted
to be heated be electrical current; and
circuit means for connecting said heating element to an electrical
power source, said circuit means comprising a switch adapted in
a closed condition to connect said heating element to said electrical
power source and in an open condition to disconnect said heating
element from said electrical power source, said switch including
a manually operable actuator projecting from said front wall and
movable in a single motion between a first stable position producing
said closed condition and a second stable position producing said
open condition, and wherein said actuator is shaped and arranged
to be moved into said second stable position in response to contact
of said actuator with a substantially planar surface.
2. An electric heater according to claim 1 wherein said actuator
comprises an arm mounted for pivotal movement between said first
and second positions.
3. An electric heater according to claim 2 wherein said arm in
said first position projects outwardly from said front wall and
in said second position is substantially in coplanar alignment therewith.
4. An electric heater according to claim 3 wherein said arm in
moving from said first position to said second position moves toward
said top wall.
5. An electric heater according to claim 4 wherein said arm in
said first position includes an outer end portion projecting outwardly
and upwardly from said front wall.
6. An electric heater according to claim 5 wherein said top wall
defines a recess for receiving said outer end portion with said
arm in said second position.
7. An electric heater according to claim 1 wherein said circuit
means comprises a plug for insertion into an electrical outlet socket.
8. An electric heater according to claim 7 wherein said actuator
comprises an arm mounted for pivotal movement between said first
and second positions.
9. An electric heater according to claim 8 wherein said arm in
said first position projects outwardly from said front wall and
in said second position is substantially in coplanar alignment therewith.
10. An electric heater according to claim 9 wherein said arm in
moving from said first position to said second position moves toward
said top wall.
11. An electric heater according to claim 10 wherein said arm in
said first position includes an outer end portion projecting outwardly
and upwardly from said front wall.
12. An electric heater according to claim 11 wherein said top wall
defines a recess for receiving said outer end portion with said
arm in said second position.
13. An electric heater according to claim 1 wherein said actuator
comprises an arm mounted for pivotal movement between said first
and second positions.
14. An electric heater according to claim 13 wherein said arm in
said first position projects outwardly from said front wall and
in said second position is substantially in coplanar alignment therewith.
15. An electric heater according to claim 14 wherein said arm in
moving from said first position to said second position moves toward
said top wall.
16. An electric heater according to claim 15 wherein said arm in
said first position includes an outer end portion projecting outwardly
and upwardly from said front wall.
17. An electric heater according to claim 16 wherein said top wall
defines a recess for receiving said outer end portion with said
arm in said second position.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a portable electric baseboard
heater and, more particularly, to a portable electric baseboard
heater having a safety shutoff switch.
Portable electric heaters are used extensively to heat various
types of environments. Typically such heaters are equipped with
a power cord for connection to a conventional power outlet and a
on-off switch for controlling a resistive heating element. Safe
operation of such heaters requires that they be energized only when
in a predetermined orientation. For that reason, many heaters are
provided with auxiliary tip-switches that prevent energization of
the heating element with the heater in other than the predetermined
operating orientation. Although providing an important safety feature,
conventional tip-switches are relatively expensive and add significantly
to the cost of the heating unit. Another problem associated with
portable electric heaters results from shipment thereof with an
on-off switch in an on position. Such a condition commonly results
in undesirable energization of the heater's heating element in response
to initial insertion by a user of a power cord plug into an electrical
outlet.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved
portable electric baseboard heater that alleviates the problems
described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a portable electric heater including a housing
having a rear wall, a substantially planar front wall, a bottom
support and a top wall; the housing defining an air inlet and an
air outlet. Retained by the housing are a resistive heating element;
and an electrical circuit for connecting the heating element to
an electrical power source. The circuit includes switch adapted
in a closed condition to connect the heating element to the electrical
power source and in an open condition to disconnect the heating
element from the electrical power source. Included with the switch
a manually operable actuator movable between a first stable position
producing the closed condition and a second stable position producing
the open condition. The actuator is shaped and arranged to be moved
into the second position in response to contact with a substantially
planar surface and thereby prevent energization of the heating element
with the heater tipped on its front wall.
According to one feature of the invention, the actuator comprises
an arm mounted for pivotal movement between the first and second
positions, and the arm in the first position projects outwardly
from the front wall and in the second position is substantially
aligned therewith. The pivotable arm facilitates desired operation
of the switch in response to engagement between the front wall and
a surface such as the floor.
According to other features of the invention, the arm in moving
from the first position to the second position moves toward the
top wall, and its first position includes an outer end portion projecting
outwardly and upwardly from the front wall. This arrangement facilitates
closing of the switch by a packing carton to prevent shipment of
the heater in an on condition.
According to yet another feature of the invention, the top wall
defines a recess for receiving the outer end portion with the arm
in its second position. The recess accommodates the arm when the
front wall abuts a planar surface such as the floor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and features of the invention will become
more apparent upon a perusal of the following description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portable heater unit;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the heater shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the heater shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the heater in a tipped over condition;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the heater of FIGS. 1-3 partially
within a shipping carton;
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram employed with the heater unit of FIGS.
1-3; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relationship
of the switch actuator to the switch.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A portable electric heater 11 includes a housing 12 having a planar
front wall 13, a rear wall 14, a top wall 15 and a bottom support
wall 19. Included in the top wall 15 is an arcuate portion 17 that
defines a recess. A conventional resistive heating element 21 is
mounted in the housing 12 and is connected to a power cord 22 terminating
with a male plug 23. Defined by the front wall 13 are a plurality
of openings 25 that form an air inlet to the housing 12. Similarly
formed in a planar portion 27 of the top wall 15 are a plurality
of openings 28 that form an air outlet in the housing 12.
Also mounted within the housing 12 and electrically connected to
the resistive heating element 21 is an electrical on-off switch
31. The switch 31 includes a manually operable actuator arm 32 projecting
through a slot 30 in the front wall 13. An inner length portion
33 of the arm 32 is fixed to a pivotable on-off switch mechanism
34 within the housing 12 and an outer end portion 35 forms an obtuse
angle with the inner portion 33. The actuator arm 32 is manually
operable between a stable position shown by solid lines in FIG.
3 and an off position shown by dashed lines therein. As shown in
FIG. 6, the resistive heating element 21 is connected to the electrical
plug 23 by the on-off switch mechanism 34.
During proper use, the electric heater unit 11 is oriented in the
manner shown in FIGS. 1-3 with the bottom wall 19 resting on a suitable
support surface such as the floor and the rear wall 14 engaging
a suitable planar surface such as a wall. After insertion of the
electrical plug 23 into a conventional outlet, the switch 31 can
be operated to produce energization of the resistive heating element
21 and creating airflow that enters the air inlet 25, acquires heat
from the heating element 21 and is discharged through the air outlet
28.
As shown in FIG. 3, with the switch 31 in its on position, the
outer end portion 35 of the actuator arm 32 projects outwardly and
upwardly from the planar front wall 13. Conversely, with the switch
31 in its off position the portion 33 of the actuator arm 32 is
substantially coplanar alignment with the planar front wall and
the outer end portion 35 is received by the recess formed by the
surface 17. In the event that the electric heater unit 11 tips forwardly
producing engagement of the front wall 13 with a planar support
surface 41 as shown in FIG. 4, the switch arm 32, if in its on position
will be engaged thereby and automatically pivoted to its off position.
Thus, energization of the resistive heating element 21 is prevented
with the heater unit 11 in the unsafe position illustrated.
The switch 31 additionally functions to prevent undesirable shipment
of the heater unit 11 with the switch 31 in an on position. As shown
in FIG. 5, during insertion of the unit 11 into an open upper end
42 of a shipping carton 43, the actuator arm 32, if in an on position
will engage the carton 43 and be pivoted into its off position.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is to be understood,
therefore, that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
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