Portable oscillating space heater

Abstract

A portable oscillating space heater is provided, which comprises at least one opening therein, at least one heating assembly including an electric heating element disposed within the housing for producing radiant heat energy, at least one fan mounted within the housing and adapted to produce a directed air flow introducing from the opening in the rear portion of the housing and passing through the electric heating element and thereby producing a heated air flow, and an oscillation mechanism for providing oscillatory movement at least to the heating assembly thereby to continuously change the direction of the heated air flow produced by the fan.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electric heater comprising: 
 a housing including a front portion and a rear portion, each having at least one opening therein;    at least one heating assembly including an electric heating element disposed within the housing for producing radiant heat energy;    at least one fan mounted within the housing and adapted to produce a directed air flow introducing from the opening in the rear portion of the housing and passing through the electric heating element and thereby producing a heated air flow; and    an oscillation mechanism for providing oscillatory movement at least to the heating assembly thereby to continuously change the direction of the heated air flow produced by the fan.    
     
     
         2 . The electric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heating element is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater element.  
     
     
         3 . The electric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the oscillation mechanism is adapted to provide oscillatory movement over an arc of between about 15 and about 360 degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The electric heater of  claim 1  further including a heater actuator for controlling operating conditions of the electric heating element.  
     
     
         5 . The electric heater of  claim 4  further including an oscillation actuator for controlling operation of the oscillation mechanism.  
     
     
         6 . The electric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating assembly is a single heating assembly disposed adjacent the front portion of the housing.  
     
     
         7 . The electric heater of  claim 6 , wherein the oscillation mechanism includes a drive a motor.  
     
     
         8 . The electric heater of  claim 7 , wherein the oscillation mechanism further includes a drive arm operatively connected to the drive motor for the oscillatory movement of the heating assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The electric heater of  claim 6  further including an air guide mechanism for guiding air flow toward the electric heating element.  
     
     
         10 . The electric heater of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating assembly includes two heating assemblies, one located adjacent to the other.  
     
     
         11 . The electric heater of  claim 10 , wherein one of the two heating assemblies is located above the other heating assembly in substantial vertical alignment with respect to each other.  
     
     
         12 . The electric heater of  claim 11 , wherein the oscillation mechanism includes a drive motor.  
     
     
         13 . The electric heater of  claim 12 , wherein the oscillation mechanism further includes a pinion operatively connected to the drive motor and a pair of racks connected to the two heating assemblies for providing oscillatory movement of the two heating assemblies in simultaneous opposite directions.  
     
     
         14 . The electric heater of  claim 10  further including an air guide mechanism for guiding air flow toward the electric heating assemblies.  
     
     
         15 . A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater comprising: 
 a housing;    a first and a second heater assembly, one located above the other, each including a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater element for producing heat energy when connected to an electric source;    at least one fan disposed within the housing and adapted to produce a directional air flow toward the PTC heater elements and thereby to generate a heated air flow;    an air flow guide mechanism disposed within the housing for guiding the direction of the air flow toward the PTC heater elements; and    an oscillation mechanism for providing oscillatory movement of the first and the second heater assemblies, each continuously moveable in opposite directions with respect to each other.    
     
     
         16 . The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater of  claim 15 , wherein the oscillation mechanism includes a drive motor, a pinion operatively connected to the drive motor, and a pair of racks connected to the first and the second heater assemblies.  
     
     
         17 . A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater comprising: 
 a housing;    a PTC heater element for producing heat energy when connected to an electric source;    a holding member for holding the PTC heater element within the housing;    at least one fan disposed within the housing and adapted to produce a directional air flow toward the PTC heater element and thereby to generate a heated air flow;    an air flow guide mechanism disposed within the housing for guiding the direction of the air flow toward the PTC heater element; and    an oscillation member for providing oscillating movement of the holding member.    
     
     
         18 . The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater of  claim 17 , wherein the oscillation member includes a drive motor and a drive arm adapted for providing the oscillating movement of the holding member.