Patio heater with directional control

Abstract

The present invention provides a patio heater that has the capability of heating an area in a desired direction rather than heating all areas in all directions radially from the patio heater. The disclosed patio heater has a heat source that sits upon an elongated support member that spaces the heat source vertically away from ground level to protect the user from accidentally coming too close to the heat source. The heat source is enclosed in a receptacle having one or a plurality of side walls that extend above the heat source to form a heat exhaust opening directed generally upward. The heat generated by the heat source is reflected in a desired direction by a heat reflector located above the heat exhaust opening and supportively connected to the receptacle. A directional control mechanism is provided for angling the heat reflector relative to the heat exhaust opening and, thus, reflecting the heat in the desired direction.

1 . A patio heater with directional heat control comprising: 
 a heat source;    an elongated support member for spacing the heat source vertically away from ground level, said elongated support member having an upper end;    a receptacle that houses the heat source attached to the upper end of the elongated support member; said receptacle having one or a plurality of side walls that extend above the heat source to form a heat exhaust opening directed generally upward;    a heat reflector located above the heat exhaust opening for reflecting heat generated by the heat source in a desired direction; said heat reflector being supportively connected to the receptacle; and    a directional control mechanism for angling the heat reflector relative to the heat exhaust opening to reflect the heat in said desired direction.    
   
   
       2 . The patio heater of  claim 1 , wherein the directional control mechanism comprises: 
 a rotatable connector attached to both the heat reflector and to one of the side walls of the receptacle to enable the heat reflector to be rotated relative to the receptacle;    an elongated control rod positioned to engage the heat reflector whereby vertical movement of the elongated control rod causes the heat reflector to rotate about the rotatable connector such that heat is reflected in the desired direction.    
   
   
       3 . The patio heater of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated rod further comprises an adjustment means for tilting the heat reflector to one or a plurality of predetermined angles relative to the heat exhaust opening.  
   
   
       4 . The patio heater of  claim 3 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a guide mechanism attached to the elongated support member; said guide mechanism being designed to slidably receive a lower portion of the elongated rod; said lower portion having an elevation lock means for temporarily locking the elongated rod at one of a plurality of predetermined elevations.  
   
   
       5 . The patio heater of  claim 1 , wherein the directional control mechanism comprises an actuator connected to the heat reflector and the receptacle in order to adjust that angle of the heat reflector relative to the receptacle.  
   
   
       6 . The patio heater of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator is motorized.  
   
   
       7 . A patio heater with directional heat control comprising: 
 an elongated support member for spacing a heat source vertically away from ground level, said support member having an upper end;    a receptacle that houses a heat source; said receptacle having a heat exhaust opening directed generally upward;    a heat reflector positioned directly above the heat exhaust opening for reflecting heat generated by the heat source in a desired direction; said heat reflector being attached to an upper outer edge of the receptacle by a rotatable connector; said rotatable connector being rotatable about a horizontal axis;    a directional control rod having an upper end and a lower end; said upper end connected to the heat reflector to enable rotation of the heat reflector about the horizontal axis; said lower end having adjustment means for fixing the directional control rod at one or a plurality of vertical positions relative to the elongated support member.