PTC airflow heater

Abstract

An airflow heater includes a housing, a control arrangement supported at an upper portion of the housing, an air source for generating a flow of air, a PTC heat generator for generating heat, and a terminal unit including an upward terminal connector upwardly extended from the PTC heat generator to align with the control arrangement and a sideward terminal connector rearwardly extended from the PTC heat generator to minimize a distance between the terminal unit and the control arrangement for electrical connection. The upward terminal connector and the sideward terminal connector are electrically connected to the control arrangement. The air source and the PTC heat generator are activated by the control arrangement for generating the air towards the PTC heat generator and for generating the heat respectively, such that when the air passes through the PTC heat generator, the air is heated up before exiting the housing.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . An airflow heater, comprising:
 a housing;   a control arrangement supported at an upper portion of said housing;   an air source supported within said housing for generating a flow of air;   a PTC heat generator supported within said housing at a position in front of said air source for generating heat, and   a terminal unit which comprises at least an upward terminal connector upwardly extended from said PTC heat generator to align with said control arrangement and at least a sideward terminal connector rearwardly extended from said PTC heat generator to minimize a distance between said terminal unit and said control arrangement for electrical connection, wherein said upward terminal connector and said sideward terminal connector are electrically connected to said control arrangement, wherein said air source and said PTC heat generator are activated by said control arrangement for generating said air towards said PTC heat generator and for generating said heat respectively, such that when said air passes through said PTC heat generator, said air is heated up before exiting said housing,   wherein said control arrangement comprises a control unit supported at said upper portion of said housing at a position above said PTC heat generator to electrically connect to said upward terminal connector, and a temperature control supported at said upper portion of said housing at a position above said sideward terminal connector to electrically connect to said sideward terminal connector.   
   
   
       22 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said upward terminal connector and said sideward terminal connector are integrally extended from a top side and a rear side of said PTC heat generator respectively. 
   
   
       23 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said upward terminal connector and said sideward terminal connector are affixed to a top side and a rear side of said PTC heat generator respectively. 
   
   
       24 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said PTC heat generator comprises at least a heat column having two side surfaces, at least two dissipating units sidewardly extended from said two side surfaces of said heat column, two inner retention walls mounted at said side surfaces of said heat column at a position that each of said inner retention wall is sandwiched between said heat column and said respective heat dissipating unit, and two outer retention walls mounted at two outer sides of said heat dissipating units respectively, wherein when said heat column is activated to generate said heat, said heat is transmitted to said heat dissipating units through said inner retention walls for heat dissipation. 
   
   
       25 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said PTC heat generator comprises at least a heat column having two side surfaces, at least two dissipating units sidewardly extended from said two side surfaces of said heat column, two inner retention walls mounted at said side surfaces of said heat column at a position that each of said inner retention wall is sandwiched between said heat column and said respective heat dissipating unit, and two outer retention walls mounted at two outer sides of said heat dissipating units respectively, wherein when said heat column is activated to generate said heat, said heat is transmitted to said heat dissipating units through said inner retention walls for heat dissipation. 
   
   
       26 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said PTC heat generator comprises at least a heat column having two side surfaces, at least two dissipating units sidewardly extended from said two side surfaces of said heat column, two inner retention walls mounted at said side surfaces of said heat column at a position that each of said inner retention wall is sandwiched between said heat column and said respective heat dissipating unit, and two outer retention walls mounted at two outer sides of said heat dissipating units respectively, wherein when said heat column is activated to generate said heat, said heat is transmitted to said heat dissipating units through said inner retention walls for heat dissipation. 
   
   
       27 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said upward terminal connector is upwardly extended from a top edge of one of said retention walls and said sideward terminal connector is rearwardly extended from a rear edge of another said retention walls. 
   
   
       28 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said upward terminal connector is upwardly extended from a top edge of one of said retention walls and said sideward terminal connector is rearwardly extended from a rear edge of another said retention walls. 
   
   
       29 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said upward terminal connector is upwardly extended from a top edge of one of said retention walls and said sideward terminal connector is rearwardly extended from a rear edge of another said retention walls. 
   
   
       30 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said PTC heat generator further has two adhering films provided on said two side surfaces of said heat column respective to affix said inner retention walls thereto, wherein said heat column further has a plurality of electrodes formed at said side surfaces thereof to electrically conduct with said inner retention walls. 
   
   
       31 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said PTC heat generator further has two adhering films provided on said two side surfaces of said heat column respective to affix said inner retention walls thereto, wherein said heat column further has a plurality of electrodes formed at said side surfaces thereof to electrically conduct with said inner retention walls. 
   
   
       32 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 30 , wherein said PTC heat generator further has an electrode element integrally affixed on said side surfaces of said heat column to form said electrodes having a sharp tip such that when said inner retention wall is overlapped on said respective side surface of said heat column, said electrodes penetrate through said respective adhering film to conductively contact with said inner retention wall. 
   
   
       33 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said PTC heat generator further has an electrode element integrally affixed on said side surfaces of said heat column to form said electrodes having a sharp tip such that when said inner retention wall is overlapped on said respective side surface of said heat column, said electrodes penetrate through said respective adhering film to conductively contact with said inner retention wall. 
   
   
       34 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 32 , wherein each of said heat dissipating unit comprises an elongated heat dissipating element bent in a Zigzag structure to form a plurality of heat dissipating panels and to define a heat dissipating channel between every said two heat dissipating panels for said air passing therethrough, wherein two side edges of each of said heat dissipating panels are affixed between said two retention walls. 
   
   
       35 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 33 , wherein each of said heat dissipating unit comprises an elongated heat dissipating element bent in a Zigzag structure to form a plurality of heat dissipating panels and to define a heat dissipating channel between every said two heat dissipating panels for said air passing therethrough, wherein two side edges of each of said heat dissipating panels are affixed between said two retention walls. 
   
   
       36 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising a supporting bracket, which is supported in said housing, having a front portion for said PTC heat generator mounting thereto and a rear portion for said air source mounting thereto so as to retain said PTC heat generator in front of said air source, wherein said air source comprises a motor mounted at said rear portion of said supporting bracket and a fan blade driven by said motor to rotate, such that when said fan blade is rotated to generate airflow, said air passes through said supporting bracket to said PTC heat generator. 
   
   
       37 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising a supporting bracket, which is supported in said housing, having a front portion for said PTC heat generator mounting thereto and a rear portion for said air source mounting thereto so as to retain said PTC heat generator in front of said air source, wherein said air source comprises a motor mounted at said rear portion of said supporting bracket and a fan blade driven by said motor to rotate, such that when said fan blade is rotated to generate airflow, said air passes through said supporting bracket to said PTC heat generator. 
   
   
       38 . The airflow heater, as recited in  claim 35 , further comprising a supporting bracket, which is supported in said housing, having a front portion for said PTC heat generator mounting thereto and a rear portion for said air source mounting thereto so as to retain said PTC heat generator in front of said air source, wherein said air source comprises a motor mounted at said rear portion of said supporting bracket and a fan blade driven by said motor to rotate, such that when said fan blade is rotated to generate airflow, said air passes through said supporting bracket to said PTC heat generator.