Gas heater

Abstract

A heater including a housing, a heater unit, a control interface, and a fan unit. The housing includes a base. The heater unit is supported on the base and includes an ignitor mechanism and a heater element having an external surface configured to emit heat. The control interface is supported on an exterior of the housing and includes an actuator operable by a user. The fan unit is coupled to the base or the heater unit and is positioned to induce an airflow through the heater unit within the heater element to heat the airflow. The fan unit includes a fan shroud having an air outlet to direct the heated airflow radially outward.

1 . A heater comprising:
 a housing including a base;   a heater unit supported on the base and including an ignitor mechanism and a heater element having an external surface configured to emit heat;   a control interface supported on an exterior of the housing and including an actuator operable by a user; and   a fan unit coupled to the base or the heater unit and positioned to induce an airflow that is heated by the heater unit and that flows through the heater unit, the fan unit including a fan shroud having an air outlet to direct the heated airflow radially outward.   
     
     
         2 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the fan has an adjustable rotational speed and the actuator is manipulatable to adjust the rotational speed. 
     
     
         3 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a grip extending outward, the grip graspable by a user to facilitate manipulation of the control interface. 
     
     
         4 . The heater of  claim 3 , wherein the grip includes a first grip and the housing includes a second grip, and wherein the control interface is positioned between the first grip and the second grip. 
     
     
         5 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heater element extends 360 degrees around a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the housing and the heater unit. 
     
     
         6 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the air outlet defines a first air outlet of a plurality of air outlets of the fan shroud, and wherein the plurality of air outlets are disposed 360 degrees around the fan shroud. 
     
     
         7 . The heater of  claim 6 , wherein the fan shroud further includes airflow guides circumferentially and arranged, the airflow guides at least partially defining the plurality of outlets, and wherein the airflow guides are configured to direct the heated airflow to the plurality of outlets. 
     
     
         8 . The heater of  claim 7 , wherein the fan shroud further includes vanes positioned between pairs of airflow guides. 
     
     
         9 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a first actuator of the control interface and the control interface includes a second actuator configured to control gas flow and a third actuator configured to control the ignitor mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a battery receptacle configured to removably receive a battery configured to supply power to the fan unit. 
     
     
         11 . The heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a first airflow duct extending linearly along a longitudinal axis through the heater unit and a second airflow duct extending from the first airflow duct and defined by a curved wall to distribute the heated airflow radially outward. 
     
     
         12 . The heater of  claim 11 , further comprising a cap coupled to the heater unit and positioned to guide air through an air inlet into the first airflow duct. 
     
     
         13 . The heater of  claim 11 , wherein the heater unit further includes gas flow ducts positioned within the heater element, and wherein the first airflow duct extends between the gas flow ducts. 
     
     
         14 . A heater comprising:
 a housing including a base having a first grip extending from the housing to facilitate transport of the heater;   a heater unit supported on the base and including an ignitor mechanism and a heater element having an external surface configured to emit heat 360 degrees around a longitudinal axis;   a control interface supported on an exterior of the base and including an actuator operable by a user to control the heater unit; and   a second grip positioned on the base adjacent the control interface, the second grip graspable by a user to facilitate manipulation of the control interface.   
     
     
         15 . The heater of  claim 14 , wherein the second grip is graspable adjacent lateral sides of the control interface. 
     
     
         16 . The heater of  claim 14 , wherein the second grip at least partially surrounds the control interface. 
     
     
         17 . The heater of  claim 14 , wherein the second grip is cantilevered on the base and extends outward and downward when the base is positioned on a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         18 . A heater comprising:
 a housing including a base;   a heater unit supported on the base and including an ignitor mechanism and a heater element having an external surface configured to emit heat;   a fan unit coupled to the base or the heater unit and positioned to induce an airflow that is heated by the heater unit and that flows through the heater unit, the fan unit including a fan shroud having a plurality of air outlets positioned to direct the heated airflow radially outward 360 degrees around a longitudinal axis extending through the housing and the heater unit; and   a control interface supported on an exterior of the housing and manipulatable by a user to control the heater unit and the fan unit.   
     
     
         19 . The heater of  claim 18 , wherein the fan shroud further includes airflow guides that at least partially defining the plurality of outlets and that are positioned between pairs of airflow guides. 
     
     
         20 . The heater of  claim 18 , wherein the housing includes a battery receptacle configured to removably receive a battery configured to supply power to the heater, and wherein the heater element is configured to be ignited by the ignitor mechanism and produce heat independent of the battery being electrically coupled to the battery receptacle.