Compact portable electric heater with high thermal output

Abstract

A portable heater composed of a housing having a bottom surface, an exterior top surface, a front exterior surface which contains a grille composed of air outlet apertures is capable of providing a relatively large heat output for its size in either of a natural convection mode or a forced convection mode. The heater includes a heating element inside of a housing. A plurality of baffles define a convection chamber within the housing that extends from the housing bottom, rearward of a heating element, upwardly and forwardly to a point above the air outlet apertures on the inner surface of the housing. The convection chamber maintains exterior portions of the housing at or below a threshold temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius.

1 . A portable heater comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom surface, an exterior top surface, a front exterior surface, the front exterior surface including a grille composed of air outlet apertures, and the bottom surface having a series of air intake apertures formed therein;    a plurality of baffles located within the housing and a heating element disposed within the housing, the heating element capable of heating air flowing from the air intake apertures to the air outlet apertures in a natural convection movement; and    the baffles disposed so as to define a convection chamber within the housing positioned from a location at the bottom of the housing rearward of the heating element, and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom to a location on the inside of the front exterior surface above the air outlet apertures;    wherein the convection chamber maintains a portion of the housing exterior surface at or below a threshold temperature.    
   
   
       2 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , wherein the convection chamber has one of an arcuate or rectilinear cross-section.  
   
   
       3 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising an air movement mechanism that urges air to move into the housing through the series of air intake apertures.  
   
   
       4 . The portable heater of  claim 3 , wherein the air movement mechanism is one of a fan and an electrokinetic device.  
   
   
       5 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety device that causes a reduction in heat output by the heating element when an overheat condition is detected.  
   
   
       6 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first series of air intake apertures is located beneath the heating element, and a second series of air intake apertures is positioned beneath the convection chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear chamber formed between at least one baffle and an exterior portion of the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The portable heater of  claim 7 , wherein a third series of air intake apertures is positioned beneath the rear chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold temperature is about 80 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       10 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior top surface and a leading edge of the front surface are maintained at or below the threshold temperature.  
   
   
       11 . A portable heater comprising: 
 a housing having a series of air intake apertures and air outlet apertures formed therein;    a heating element disposed within the housing; and    at least two baffles located within the housing disposed so as to define a convection chamber within the housing positioned from a location at a bottom of the housing rearward of the heating element, and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom to a location on a front inside surface of the housing;    wherein a first natural convection movement of air flows into the housing through a first group of the air intake apertures, past the heating element and out the air outlet apertures, and a second natural convection movement of air flows into the housing through a second group of air intake apertures and through the convection chamber;    wherein the convection chamber maintains a portion of an exterior surface of the housing at or below a threshold temperature.    
   
   
       12 . The portable heater of  claim 11 , wherein the convection chamber has one of an arcuate or rectilinear cross-section.  
   
   
       13 . The portable heater of  claim 11 , further comprising an air movement mechanism that urges air to move into the housing through air intake apertures.  
   
   
       14 . The portable heater of  claim 13 , wherein the air movement mechanism is one of a fan and an electrokinetic device.  
   
   
       15 . The portable heater of  claim 11 , further comprising a rear chamber formed between at least one baffle and an exterior portion of the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The portable heater of  claim 15 , wherein a third series of air intake apertures is positioned beneath the rear chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The portable heater of  claim 11 , wherein the threshold temperature is about 80 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       18 . The portable heater of  claim 11 , wherein t a top surface and a front surface leading edge are maintained at or below the threshold temperature.  
   
   
       19 . A portable heater comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom surface, an exterior top surface, a front exterior surface, the front exterior surface including a grille composed of air outlet apertures, and the bottom surface having a series of air intake apertures formed therein;    the front exterior surface further including a leading edge and a face surface with venting apertures formed therein;    at least two baffles located within the housing and a heating element disposed within the housing, the heating element capable of heating air flowing from the air intake apertures to the air outlet apertures in a natural convection movement; and    the baffles disposed so as to define an arcuate convection chamber within the housing positioned from a location at the bottom of the housing rearward of the heating element, and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom to a location on the inside of the front exterior surface above the air outlet apertures;    wherein the convection chamber maintains the leading edge and exterior top surface at or below a threshold temperature.    
   
   
       20 . The heater of  claim 19 , wherein the threshold temperature is about 80 degrees Celsius.