GB2428579A

GB2428579A - Mini electric heater

Info

Publication number: GB2428579A
Application number: GB0515902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Pau; Lai Ling Rita Pau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-02
Filing date: 2005-08-02
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: GB0515902D0

Abstract

A mini electric heater that is small enough to be placed inside an ordinary aromatherapy oil burner as a safer and longer lasting substitute for candles. An ordinary oil burner consists of an oil container (1, fig 1) which may be a dish, a bowl or a plate being supported above a heat source, usually a candle, by some structure of the burner. The heat source being directly under the oil container so as to vaporise the oil above. The mini electric heater releases heat by powering a heat radiating plate 3 through a heat creating circuit powered by electricity from the mains, or by rechargeable batteries. The heat radiating plate may be substituted by other heating elements, which can create light, coloured or not, as well as heat for decorative purposes. The circuit may be housed in a case made from a good heat insulator, so that it can be handled comfortably with bare hands. The device may include a dimmer switch 7 so as to adjust the amount of heat created by the heater. The heater may be cylindrical in shape with a diameter of less than 40mm and a height of less than 25mm.

Description

1 2428579 Mini electric heater This invention relates to a mini electric

heater that substitutes for candles as a safer and longer lasting heat source for oil burners which are usually used for aromatherapy.

An ordinary oil burner consists of an oil container which may be a dish, a bowl or a plate being supported on the top by some structure of the burner. A lit candle as a heat source is usually placed directly under the oil container to vaporise the oil above.

Because candle burns with flames, they can cause fire if not handled carefully.

Being restricted by the physical size of the ordinary oil burners, small candles specially made for the purpose are usually used. The dimensions of such standard sized cylindrical candles are usually 15 mm in height and 40 mm in diameter. Because of their small size, they can burn for only about 3Y2 hours.

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes a mini electric heater made small enough so it can be placed inside an ordinary oil burner and fitted with a heat radiating metal plate which is powered by electricity from the mains.

The mini electric heater provides a flameless heat source that can last as long as there is electricity supply from the mains.

Preferably, the heat radiating metal plate on the mini electric heater is heated by an electric heating circuit housed in a case which is made with a good heat insulator so it can be handled comfortably with bare hands.

Preferably, the heat created by the mini electric heater is between lOW and 20W.

Preferably, the mini electric heater is made cylindrical in shape with a diameter and height of less than 40 mm and 25 mm respectively.

Preferably, a dimmer switch is fitted so that the degree of heat created by the mini electric heater can be adjusted.

Preferably, the heat radiating metal plate is substituted by other heating element which can create light, whether coloured or not, as well as heat for artistic and decorative reasons.

Preferably, the mini electric heater is powered by rechargeable batteries such that no electric wire needs be attached to it while in use.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an ordinary oil burner made of ceramic; Figure 2 shows a mini electric heater fitted with a dimmer switch and a plug to the mains; Figure 3 shows a mini electric heater that runs on rechargeable batteries and the electric wire can be detached from the case after recharging; Figure 4 shows another ordinary oil burner made with a metal tripod; and Figure 5 shows how a tube is fitted on the mini electric burner to make the heat more focused for use in oil burners with an open structure as shown in figure 4.

In figure 1, an ordinary oil burner made with ceramic is shown with its oil container I and a small cavity 2 for housing a candle. A mini electric heater as shown in figure 2 is made small enough to be placed inside the cavity 2 of such an oil burner. It consists of a heat radiating metal plate 3, being heated by an electric heating circuit inside the case 4 which is made with a good heat insulator so that it can be handled comfortably with bare hands. An electric wire 5 is connected to the heating circuit on one end and an electric plug 6 on the other. A dimmer switch 7 is fitted as shown so that the degree of heat created by the mini electric heater can be adjusted.

For the convenience of a wireless mini electric heater, rechargeable batteries are preferably used to power the heating circuit. As shown in figure 3, a charger 9 can be unplugged from the socket 8 on case 4 so that the mini electric heater can be used without the wire 5. Preferably the rechargeable battery can last for at least 7 hours from a single charge to provide a constant heat source of at least lOW.

For some oil burners, the oil container is supported by an open structure as shown in figure 4. For such oil burners, the heat created by the mini electric heater as shown in figure 2 may be not focused enough to vaporise the oil. Therefore, a tube 10, which may be made of glass, ceramic or other material, is preferably fitted on the mini electric heater to focus the heat as shown in figure 5. For this purpose, tube 10 may be fitted onto case 4 via some threads built on their contact surfaces. Alternatively, another version of the invention may be made with such fixed tube structure for use on oil burners of this design.

Claims

Claims I. A mini electric heater made small enough so it can be placed

inside an ordinaiy oil burner and fitted with a heat radiating metal plate which is powered by electricity from the mains.
2. A mini electric heater according to claim 1, in which the heat radiating metal plate is fitted on one surface which is pointing directly at the bottom of the oil container of an oil burner.
3. A mini electric heater according to claim 1, in which the heat radiating metal plate is connected to and heated by an electric heating circuit housed in a case.
4. A mini electric heater according to claim 3, in which the case is made of a good heat insulator so it can be handled comfortably with bare hands.
5. A mini electric heater according to claim 3, in which the electric heating circuit is connected to an external electric wire for obtaining electricity from the mains.
6. A mini electric heater according to claim 3, in which the electric heating circuit is fitted with a dimmer switch so that the degree of heat created can be adjusted.