Methods and Apparatus for a Patio Heater

Abstract

A patio heater that supports an object placed on the patio heater by a user and that provides heat to the user. The patio heater includes a tabletop, a deflector, and a dispersal unit. The tabletop supports the objects placed on the patio heater by the user. The deflector is positioned between the tabletop and a source of heat to regulate a temperature of the tabletop. The dispersal unit is positioned below the deflector, encircles the source of heat, and cooperates with the deflector to regulate the temperature of the tabletop. The tabletop includes an uppermost surface of the patio heater. The deflector deflects a heat from the source of heat away from the tabletop and the dispersal unit disperses the heat away from the deflector and from the source of heat, thereby regulating a temperature of the tabletop and providing the heat to the user. The deflector and the dispersal unit maintain the tabletop at a temperature that does not burn the user.

1 . A patio heater for supporting provided objects placed on the patio heater by a user and for providing heat to the user, the patio heater comprising:
 a tabletop for supporting the objects placed on the patio heater by the user;   a deflector positioned between the tabletop and a source of heat to regulate a temperature of the tabletop; and   a dispersal unit positioned below the deflector, encircles the source of heat and cooperates with the deflector to regulate the temperature of the tabletop; and wherein:
 the tabletop includes an uppermost surface of the patio heater; 
 the deflector deflects a heat from the source of heat away from the tabletop and the dispersal unit disperses the heat away from the deflector and from the source of heat, thereby regulating a temperature of the tabletop and providing the heat to the user; and 
 the deflector and the dispersal unit maintain the tabletop at a temperature that does not burn the user. 
   
   
   
       2 . The patio heater of  claim 1  wherein the dispersal unit comprises a body having a plurality of bores. 
   
   
       3 . The patio heater of  claim 2  wherein the bores are tapered from a smaller size on an interior of the body to a larger size on an exterior of the body. 
   
   
       4 . The patio heater of  claim 2  wherein the bores are angled downward from a horizontal plane from an interior of the body to an exterior of the body. 
   
   
       5 . The patio heater of  claim 1  wherein a surface of the dispersal unit comprises a compound that decreases a transfer of heat to the dispersal unit thereby maintaining the surface cool to a touch of the user. 
   
   
       6 . The patio heater of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a fan; and   a conduit; and wherein:
 the tube is positioned through an opening in a center of the source of heat; and 
 the fan moves air through the tube. 
   
   
   
       7 . The patio heater of  claim 6  wherein the conduit comprises a metal conduit that conducts at least a portion of the heat provided by the source of heat. 
   
   
       8 . The patio heater of  claim 1  wherein the tabletop comprises a flat surface. 
   
   
       9 . The patio heater of  claim 1  wherein the tabletop comprises a convex surface. 
   
   
       10 . The patio heater of  claim 1  wherein the tabletop is angled from a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       11 . The patio heater of  claim 1  wherein the source of heat comprises a gas burner. 
   
   
       12 . The patio heater of  claim 2  wherein the heat disperses through the holes. 
   
   
       13 . The patio heater of  claim 1  further comprising a fan to disperse the heat. 
   
   
       14 . A patio heater for providing heat to a user from a provided source of heat, the patio heater comprising:
 a deflector for redirecting a heat from the source of heat; and   a dispersal unit for dispersing the heat away from the deflector and the source of heat, the dispersal unit having an interior, an exterior, and a plurality of bores; and wherein:
 the deflector is positioned above the source of heat; 
 the dispersal unit encircles the source of heat; 
 each bore of the plurality of bores is tapered from a smaller diameter on the interior to a larger diameter on the exterior; and 
 each bore of the plurality of bores is angled downward from a horizontal plane from the interior to the exterior thereby directing the heat downward; 
 the heat disperses through the plurality of bores to the user. 
   
   
   
       15 . The patio heater of  claim 14  wherein a surface of the dispersal unit comprises a compound that decreases a transfer of heat to the dispersal unit thereby maintaining the surface cool to a touch of the user. 
   
   
       16 . The patio heater of  claim 14  wherein a surface of a side of the deflector proximate to the source of heat comprises a compound that decreases a transfer of heat to the deflector. 
   
   
       17 . A method performed by a patio heater for supporting an object provided by a user on the patio heater and for providing a heat from a source of heat that does not burn a human user, the method comprising:
 supporting the object an uppermost surface of the patio heater;   generating the heat from the source of heat;   deflecting heat from an underside of the uppermost surface to regulate a temperature of the uppermost surface; and   dispersing heat from the source of heat and from the underside of the uppermost surface to regulate the temperature of the uppermost surface and to provide heat to the user; and wherein:
 the temperature of the upper surface does not burn the user; and 
 the temperature of the heat dispersed to a user does not burn the user. 
   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein deflecting comprises reflecting the heat from a deflector positioned below the underside of the uppermost surface. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein dispersing comprises moving the heat away from the source of heat through a plurality of bores. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein supporting comprises supporting a weight and maintaining a position of the object.