CA2059417C - Localized heating elements for use with desks - Google Patents

Localized heating elements for use with desks

Info

Publication number
CA2059417C
CA2059417C CA 2059417 CA2059417A CA2059417C CA 2059417 C CA2059417 C CA 2059417C CA 2059417 CA2059417 CA 2059417 CA 2059417 A CA2059417 A CA 2059417A CA 2059417 C CA2059417 C CA 2059417C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
trough
unit
flap
heating surface
heating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA 2059417
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2059417A1 (en
Inventor
Thomas Morgan Nelson
Per Bernard Arnt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2059417 priority Critical patent/CA2059417C/en
Priority to AU33407/93A priority patent/AU3340793A/en
Priority to PCT/CA1993/000007 priority patent/WO1993014351A2/en
Publication of CA2059417A1 publication Critical patent/CA2059417A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2059417C publication Critical patent/CA2059417C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C7/00Stoves or ranges heated by electric energy
    • F24C7/06Arrangement or mounting of electric heating elements
    • F24C7/062Arrangement or mounting of electric heating elements on stoves
    • F24C7/065Arrangement or mounting of electric heating elements on stoves with reflectors

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Central Heating Systems (AREA)
  • Electric Stoves And Ranges (AREA)

Abstract

A heating unit includes a frame and a substantially flat radiant heating surface supported by the frame. A
generally parabolic trough with a reflective inner surface is mounted along one edge of the periphery of the heating surface, and contains an elongate heating element. Further, a reflective flap is hingedly mounted adjacent the trough but remote from the heating surface, disposed so that at least a portion of the radiant energy reflected out of the trough by the reflective inner surface is re-reflected by the flap, depending upon its angulation with respect to the heating surface.

Description

20~9417 LOCALIZED HEATING UNIT FOR DESRS
This invention relates generally to comfort heating for individuals in the work area, and has to do particularly with a radiant panel which can be utilized in the well of a typical desk.
RA~;KOuNv OF THIS INVENTION
Research conducted by one of us has confirmed that temperature sensors located in the forehead have an effect on heart rate. Cooler temperatures tend to slow the heart rate, whilst higher temperatures tend to increase the heart rate. It has been demonstrated that there is a connection between increased heart rate and feelings of exertion in office environments. Higher temperatures produce feelings of fatigue despite the amount of real effort being expended. Conversely, lower temperatures, particularly at the hands and feet, tend to create discomfort. Thus, an idealized ambience for a working environment is one which keeps the forehead cool (by maintaining a low ambient temperature) while at the same time providing warmth to the more sensitive areas of the body (hands and feet) to allow physical activity to proceed in comfort. Using this method, it has been demonstrated that performance capability can be maintained.
It is also considered important to provide maximum flexibility in providing localized heat, i.e. by directing the heat to specific targets. All of these concepts have been taken into account in the development of the present device.
Prior Art The following prior art developments are considered relevant to the present invention.
U.S. patent 4,052,588, issued October 4, 1977 to Nakamura et al., is directed to the micro-construction of an electric heater panel.

2059~17 -U.S. patent 3,961,157, issued June 1, 1976 to Miller et al., describes a radiant heater construction which is in the form of a sandwich having the resistance heater in the centre.
U.S. patent 3,309,500, issued March 14, 1967 to Reynolds is directed to a flat, rectangular heater adapted to be positioned in a vertical orientation inside the well of a desk.
U.S. patent 2,032,622, issued March 3, 1936 to Le Guillou, describes a reflector with a reflective surface of which the contour can be altered by the user.
U.S. patent 2,479,425, issued August 16, 1949 to Steingruber is directed to a stand-alone heater having a complex internal construction.
U.S. patent 2,612,825, issued September 30, 1952 to McCann, describes a heating device for feet, the device being suggested for use on the floor within the well of a desk.
U.S. patent 2,613,308, La Mirand, discloses a radiant heater and tray, with means for supporting the same at an angle to the horizontal.
U.S. patent 2,715,668, issued August 16, 1955 to Booker et al., is directed to a panel heater adapted to provide radiant heat.
The prior as described above tends to lack versatility and adaptability to the particular needs of individual users. For example, simple flat, rectangular panel heaters tend to give off heat uniformly, typically presenting the user with a choice between full on and full off (as controlled by a switch). It is generally not possible to direct the radiant heat from such a panel.
.~NFD~T. DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION
In view of the foregoing discussion of the prior art, it is an object of one aspect of this invention to provide a radiant panel heater of which at least a 20S~7 portion of the radiated heat can be selectively directed by the user. This is accomplished by providing a reflector flap which is hingedly mounted and capable of re-directing radiated heat.
It is an object of a further aspect of this invention to provide a radiant heater from which at least a portion of the radiant heat can be directed, for use within the well of a desk in order to provide localized heat for the worker, without requiring the entire space of the room to be uniformly heated.
Accordingly, this invention provides a heating unit for desks, comprising:
a frame, a substantially flat radiant heating surface supported by said frame, said surface having a periphery, an elongate, substantially U-shaped trough having a reflective inner surface, the trough being supported by said frame and located adjacent a portion of said periphery, an elongate heating element within and parallel to said trough, a reflector flap hingedly mounted with respect to the frame about a swivel axis adjacent the trough but remote from the heating surface, and disposed such that at least a portion of the radiant energy reflected out of said trough by said inner surface is re-reflected by said flap when it has a predetermined angulation with respect to said heating surface, and electrical means for energizing both the heating 0 surface and the elongate heating element.
. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a heater constructed in accordance with this invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 2-2 in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a simplified wiring diagram for the heater constructed in accordance with this invention.
DE~ATT~n DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As can be seen in the Figures, a radiant panel heater 10 includes a frame 12 which includes four external frame members 14, 15, 16 and 17. The frame members 14, 15 and 17 have the cross-sectional configuration shown at the bottom of Figure 2, this configuration including a first outer flange 20, a second outer flange 22, a first inner flange 24, a second inner flange 26, a main wall member 28, and a projection 30 for receiving threaded fasteners and the like. As best seen in Figure 2, a first external panel 32 is adapted to be received within the space defined between the outer and inner flanges 20 and 24, whereas a second exterior panel 34 is adapted to be received within the space between the flanges 22 and 26. Located within the space between the panels 32 and 34 is a radiant heater element 38 which may be of conventional construction, drawing electrical power and converting this to radiant heat.
Toward the top in Figure 2, it will be noted that the panels 32 and 34 are received between spaced-apart flanges on an intermediate frame member 40 which is similar to the exterior frame member 12 except that it supports spaced-apart flanges extending in both directions.
Between the intermediate frame member 40 and the upper, external frame member 16 there is defined an elongate chamber 44 in which is disposed a specular heat deflector in the form of a trough having a substantially parabolic section, along with two marginal portions 50 2~5~417 -which are received within the spaces between the rightward flanges of the frame members 40 and 16 (rightward as viewed in Figure 2).
Mounted within and parallel to the deflector 46 is an elongate heating element 48, which may be a CALROD
(TM) or any other suitable element adapted to give off radiant heat upon electrical energization.
The illustrated heater also includes a reflector flap 52 having a reflective surface 54. The flap 52 is hingedly mounted about a swivel axis 56 defined by the internal projection 58 of the frame member 16. The mounting of the flap 52 with respect to the frame member 16 is accomplished in such a way that friction will cause the flap 52 to remain in any desired angular position with respect to the remainder of the panel.
It will be noted in particular that the reflector flap 52 is located adjacent the trough defined by the deflector 46, but is remote from the radiant heating panel 38 and from the external panel 32 through which heat from the unit 38 is radiated.
It will further be noted that the flap 52 has a gentle curvature which is concave toward the panel 32, and that this section is uniform throughout the length of the flap 52. It will thus be understood that at least a portion of the radiant energy reflected from the deflector 46 (and originally generated by the heating element 48) will be re-reflected by the inner surface 54 of the flap 52, the particular angulation of the flap 52 determining the quantity of heat that is re-reflected.
Finally, it will be appreciated that the flap 52 is configured so as to allow it to be folded tightly against the heating surface while covering the trough, for ease of shipping, packaging and stacking.
In Figure 2, it will be noted that the panel 10 includes L-shaped mounting flanges 60 by which the heating unit can be mounted to a vertical surface 62, 2059~7 `_ for example the vertical surface inside the well of a desk.
In Figure 1, it can be seen that a side-mounted ground receptacle 64 is mounted along one edge of the unit.
Preferably the unit includes a rheostat or other equivalent unit by which the amount of heat generated by the unit can be controlled by the user.
A specific wiring diagram is shown in Figure 3, in which a source 65 of AC power provides the input to an autotransformer 68, of which the output voltage can be adjusted by the sliding contact 70. As can be seen in Figure 3, a resistance 48a representing the heating element 48 in Figure 2, and a further resistance 38a representing the radiant heater element 38, are wired in parallel. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that alternative wiring diagrams could be provided.
It will thus be understood that the heating unit provided herein, when mounted in the well of a desk, permits office temperatures to be reduced while maintaining the necessary heat input to the user. This results in energy savings, improved productivity due to the cooler ambient air surrounding the upper portion of the user's body, and a perception of control over the work environment. Discomfort associated with lowered office air temperature is thus avoided.
While one embodiment of this invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A heating unit for desks, comprising:
a frame, a substantially flat radiant heating surface supported by said frame, said surface having a periphery, an elongate, substantially U-shaped trough having a reflective inner surface, the trough being supported by said frame and located adjacent a portion of said periphery, an elongate heating element within and parallel to said trough, a reflector flap hingedly mounted with respect to the frame about a swivel axis adjacent the trough but remote from the heating surface, and disposed such that at least a portion of the radiant energy reflected out of said trough by said inner surface is re-reflected by said flap when it has a predetermined angulation with respect to said heating surface, and electrical means for energizing both the heating surface and the elongate heating element.
2. The unit claimed in claim 1, in which the flap has a uniform section taken perpendicular to the swivel axis, said section exhibiting a concave curvature toward said radiant heating surface.
3. The unit claimed in claim 2, in which the curvature is substantially cylindrical.
4. The unit claimed in claim 1, in which the trough has a substantially parabolic section taken perpendicular to the elongate heating element.
5. The unit claimed in claim 2, in which the trough has a substantially parabolic section taken perpendicular to the elongate heating element.
6. The unit claimed in claim 1, in which the radiant heating surface is substantially rectangular.
7. The unit claimed in claim 5, in which the radiant heating surface is substantially rectangular.
8. The unit claimed in claim 1, in which the flap is configured so as to allow it to be folded tightly against the heating surface, while covering the trough, for ease of shipping, packaging and stacking.
9. The unit claimed in claim 2, in which the flap is configured so as to allow it to be folded tightly against the heating surface, while covering the trough, for ease of shipping, packaging and stacking.
10. The unit claimed in claim 4, in which the flap is configured so as to allow it to be folded tightly against the heating surface, while covering the trough, for ease of shipping, packaging and stacking.
11. The unit claimed in claim 5, in which the flap is configured so as to allow it to be folded tightly against the heating surface, while covering the trough, for ease of shipping, packaging and stacking.
12. The unit claimed in claim 7, in which the flap is configured so as to allow it to be folded tightly against the heating surface, while covering the trough, for ease of shipping, packaging and stacking.
CA 2059417 1992-01-15 1992-01-15 Localized heating elements for use with desks Expired - Fee Related CA2059417C (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2059417 CA2059417C (en) 1992-01-15 1992-01-15 Localized heating elements for use with desks
AU33407/93A AU3340793A (en) 1992-01-15 1993-01-08 Localized heating unit for desks
PCT/CA1993/000007 WO1993014351A2 (en) 1992-01-15 1993-01-08 Localized heating unit for desks

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2059417 CA2059417C (en) 1992-01-15 1992-01-15 Localized heating elements for use with desks

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2059417A1 CA2059417A1 (en) 1993-07-16
CA2059417C true CA2059417C (en) 1996-03-19

Family

ID=4149098

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2059417 Expired - Fee Related CA2059417C (en) 1992-01-15 1992-01-15 Localized heating elements for use with desks

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3340793A (en)
CA (1) CA2059417C (en)
WO (1) WO1993014351A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19801082C2 (en) * 1998-01-14 2001-12-20 Schott Glas Room heater
ES1067976Y (en) * 2008-04-30 2008-11-01 Violante Gutierrez Ascanio S L HEATING EQUIPMENT

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR975320A (en) * 1948-11-20 1951-03-05 Electric heater
DE1095493B (en) * 1955-02-09 1960-12-22 Continental Elektro Ind Ag Electric radiation and convection heater
FR2328162A1 (en) * 1975-10-14 1977-05-13 Seb Sa Direct radiation heating device - has pivoted side reflectors formed from folded sheet metal with ends gripping mounting rods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1993014351A2 (en) 1993-07-22
WO1993014351A3 (en) 1994-11-10
AU3340793A (en) 1993-08-03
CA2059417A1 (en) 1993-07-16

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