IE20020793U1 - An outdoor parasol heater - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a parasol heater (100) providing a housing portion (105) adapted to house a bottle of gas. A pole (110) extends upwardly from the housing portion and is adapted to support a first gas burner arrangement (115). The first burner arrangement (115) being provided below a parasol dish (120) adapted to deflect heat generated by the burner downwardly about the pole. The parasol heater also includes a second gas burner arrangement provided below the housing portion (105) within a burner housing (130), which is adapted to provide for the heating of the environment circumferentially about the housing portion. The burner housing (130) comprising of lower and upper portions between which extends a series of fingers, thereby defining a plurality of apertures from which heat generated by the gas burner can escape.

Description

An outdoor parasol heater Field of the Invention to a combined outdoor parasol heater and foot heating arrangement. In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to a parasol heater and foot heater arrangement which are fuelled from the same gas supply.

Background to the Invention Parasol heaters are well known in the art and are used for outdoor heating. They utilise a gas fuel supply which is provided in an housing in a lower portion of the heater. A pole extends upwardly from the lower portion to a burner arrangement which is above head height. A parasol dish is provided above the burner arrangement and is adapted to deflect heat downwardly about the pole, thereby providing for a heating or warming of persons around the heater. One example of such a parasol heater is described in EP 0 976 979, of the present inventor, which describes a parasol heater which provides the parasol in multiple sections so as to enable an efficient packing of same.

The traditional parasol heaters were only provided with a heater in an upper region thereof. The present inventor has modified such simple arrangements to incorporate other features such as tables, a light and also a table barbecue.

Such arrangements are described in GB 0125122 and IE S2000/0879. These adaptations are advantageous in that additional benefits are provided to the user. Not only can he extend the sitting out period in the outdoor environment by utilisation of the parasol heater but he can also provide lighting in the event that the user wishes to sit out in the evening or night time. Furthermore, the provision of a table barbecue enables the user(s) to sit around the parasol heater, taking advantage of the heat and light provided, and cook or prepare his food. This combination of features has prompted the user to extend further the time period in which they wish to sit out.

A problem in providing such additional structures to the user and enabling the user to sit around the parasol heater is that the heat from the parasol heater cannot always make its way to regions about the lower portions of the parasol heater. Thus, the users’ lower trunk portions and legs can be occluded from the heat and may become susceptible to cold. This is a problem also in situations not involving the additional parasol “furniture” described above, but where the users are not standing or sitting in an erect position but rather lounging or lying about. As the distance from the user to the warmth of the parasol heater is now increased, the heat provided by the parasol has dissipated greatly before it reaches the users.

There is therefore a need to provide a heating arrangement for heating regions immediately above the ground level so as to provide for a warming of the lower portions (feet, legs etc.) of users. The easiest, and most common, way to do this is to provide a fire, for example in the form of a campfire or braziers about which people can sit. As the parasol heater utilises a bottled gas supply it is important to keep it away from such direct heat for fear of combustion of the gas. Such arrangements thereby require the users to provide the parasol heater away from the campfire or braiier. For example the users may sit around the campfire, thereby warming their lower portions and provide one or more parasol heaters in an outer circumferential arrangement about the fire to provide warmth for their backs and upper portions. This is |E02(l795 disadvantageous in that it requires a plurality of burners and, as the persons are only utilising a small portion of the warmth provided by the burner, is inefficient. It also suffers in that people tend less to sit around the parasol heater.

One way to overcome this is to provide for the people to sit around the parasol heater and provide a plurality of braziers in an outer circumference about the people.

Although this is more cost effective, as braziers are cheaper than parasol heaters, there is the problem that dual supplies of heat are required. Furthermore, the user of traditional fuels such as campfires and braziers require a preparation and subsequent cleaning which many find tedious.

There is therefore a need to provide a parasol heater that is adapted to provide warmth not only to upper portions of a user, but also to lower portions.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a parasol heater that provides a heat supply in upper and lower portions thereof.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly the present invention provides a parasol heater having a housing portion adapted to house a bottle of gas, a pole extending upwardly from the housing portion and adapted to support a gas burner arrangement, the burner arrangement being provided below a parasol adapted to deflect heat generated by the burner downwardly about the pole and wherein the parasol heater includes a second gas ED20793 4 burner arrangement, the second burner arrangement provided below the housing portion and adapted to provide for a heating of the environment about the housing portion.

The second burner arrangement is desirably adapted to provide for a heating of the environment circumferentially about the housing portion.

The second burner arrangement is desirably provided in a burner housing, the burner housing having a lower portion and an upper portion, a series of fingers extending upwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion, thereby defining a plurality of apertures from which heat generated by the gas burner can escape.

The perimeter defined by the lower portion is desirably greater than that defined by the upper portion such that the fingers extend upwardly and inwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion. By providing the lower portion of greater perimeter area than that of the upper portion the burning housing provides stability to the parasol heater mounted above.

The burner arrangement is desirably provided in a mid portion of the burner housing, directly below the housing portion for the bottle of gas.

The upper portion is desirably provided with insulation means adapted to insulate the lower portion of the housing portion from heat generated by the burner arrangement. The insulation ensures that a bottle of gas contained within the housing is not heated by the burner arrangement provided below.

|EU20793 The insulating means desirably includes a plurality of individual insulating layers. In a preferred embodiment, the layers are selectable from one or more of the following types of insulation: an air gap, an insulating membrane, a layer of steel or similar metallic structure, and/or a reflective layer.

The use of a reflective layer directly above the burner arrangement serves to reflect heat downwardly from the upper portion of the burner housing. The provision of one or more layers of steel or similar metallic material in combination with one or more layers of insulating membranes provides a sandwich structure which provides additional heat insulation in the upper portion.

In a first embodiment a plurality of layers are provided in a sequence of a first reflective layer having a first steel layer provided thereon, the first steel layer having an insulating membrane provided thereon, the insulating membrane separating the first steel layer from a second steel layer, the second steel layer being separated from a support platform by an air gap.

The thickness of the reflective layer is typically greater than about 0.8 mm, the first and second steel layers having a thickness of about 3 mm each, the air gap having a height of about 20 mm and the insulating membrane being about 15mm in thickness.

The burner arrangement desirably provides at least about l.5KW of heat energy. The burner arrangement may include a catalytic converter.

|EU20795 In a first embodiment the burner arrangement is provided with a control knob on an outside surface of the burner housing. In an alternative embodiment the control knob may be provided elsewhere on the parasol heater, such as for example adjacent to the control knobs for the parasol burner arrangement.

These and other features of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a parasol heater according to the present invention, Figure 2 shows a portion of the parasol heater of Figure 1 illustrating the sharing of the same fuel supply, Figure 3 is a view from above of a burner housing according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a View from below of the burner housing of Figure 3 showing a burner arrangement, Figure 5 is a section through the burner arrangement showing the formation of insulating means in an upper portion of the burner housing.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figure 1, the present invention provides a parasol heater 100 having a housing portion 105 adapted to house a bottle of gas. A pole 110 extends upwardly from the housing portion 105 and is adapted to support a gas burner arrangement 115. The burner arrangement 115 is provided below a parasol dish 120 which is adapted to deflect heat generated by the burner downwardly about the pole. In the |EU20793 embodiment of Figure l the parasol dish is formed in multiple sections 120a, l20b but it will be appreciated that the dish 120 may be formed in one or more pieces or sections depending on the preference or intended use. The embodiment of Figure 1 also includes a lighting arrangement 125 provided between the burner arrangement ll5 and the pole llO, but again it will be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to parasol heaters with or without lights, as they can be included or omitted depending on the application of the invention.

As is seen in Figure l, the present invention provides for a second burner arrangement to be incorporated with the parasol heater. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure l the burner arrangement is provided in a burner housing 130, the burner housing being below the housing portion 105 for the bottle of gas. By providing a burner arrangement below the housing lO5, the parasol heater of the present invention provides for a heating of the environment about the housing portion lO5.

The burner housing is provided with a lower portion l35 and an upper portion 140. The upper and lower portions are separated by a series of fingers l45 extending upwardly from the lower portion 135 to the upper portion 140, thereby defining a plurality of apertures 150 from which heat generated by the gas burner can escape.

The plurality of apertures 150 about the burner housing 130 provide for an escape of heat, as generated by the burner within the housing, out in a radial or circumferential pattern about the housing portion.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the perimeter defined by the lower portion is lEn2n793 greater than that defined by the upper portion. As such, the fingers 145 extend upwardly and inwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion. By providing the lower portion of greater perimeter area than that of the upper portion, the burning housing provides stability to the parasol heater mounted above. It also provides for a dissipation of the heat generated by the burner within the burner housing away from the housing 105 for the gas supply bottle.

As shown in Figure 2, which shows a portion of the parasol heater of Figure 1 with the housing 105 removed, a gas fuel supply bottle 200 is provided with a fuel line 205 which branches into at least two individual supply lines 210, 215. A first supply line 210 extends upwardly so as to provide fuel for the burner arrangement 115, whereas a second fuel line 215 passes downwardly to provide fuel for the burner provided in the burner housing 130. The fuel lines are typically provided in a conventional flexible rubber material and in the case of the second fuel line 215 is connectable to fixed supply conduit 220 which is connectable to the burner arrangement within the burner housing 130.

Although shown as only one fuel line passing upwardly, it will be appreciated that if a number of other appliances, such as the lighting arrangement 125, are provided that this fuel line 210 may be branched further so as to provide for fuelling each of these separately. In this manner the present invention provides for the fuelling of two or more individual components of the parasol heater using the same gas supply bottle 200.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a burner arrangement 400 is desirably provided in a mid portion of the burner housing IEU20793 , directly below the housing portion for the bottle of gas. This is desirably effected by providing a support bracket 420 in a mid portion of the housing 130, the bracket adapted to support the burner 400. In the embodiment of Figure 4, three cross members 425 are arranged within an inner portion of the burner housing 135.

The cross members are arranged equidistant apart about the circumference of the burner housing 135 and extend from the side walls, as defined by the fingers 145, into the support bracket 420. Not only do the cross members 425 provide support for the bracket 420, they are also advantageous in that the provide structural support for the housing 135.

The fuel supply conduit 220 extends through an upper surface 300 provided in an upper region 140 of the housing to a control manifold 430 mounted to an inner portion of the housing opposite to a control knob 310 provided on a corresponding outer surface of the housing. Movement of the control knob 310 effects a control on the volume of gas that can pass from the supply conduit 220 to a direct feed supply 405 for the burner 400. Additional electrical connections 410 which provide for an ignition of the burner 400 also extend from the control manifold 430. The burner is typically of a conventional type and is desirably adapted to provide at least about l.5KW of heat energy. The burner arrangement may include a catalytic converter, which is not shown in these figures.

In this preferred embodiment the control knob is provided on an outside surface of the burner housing. In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown, the control knob may be provided elsewhere on the parasol heater, such as for example adjacent to control knobs 155 for the parasol burner and lighting arrangements (see Figure 1).

|ED2fl7As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the upper portion 140 is desirably provided with insulation means 320 adapted to insulate the lower portion of the housing portion (i.e. where the gas bottle will sit) from heat generated by the burner arrangement. The insulation ensures that a bottle of gas contained within the housing is not heated by the burner arrangement provided below.

The insulating means desirably includes a plurality of individual insulating layers. In a preferred embodiment, shown in the section of Figure 5, the layers are selectable from one or more of the following types of insulation: an air gap 505 an insulating membrane 510 a layer of steel or similar metallic structure 515, and a reflective layer 520.

The use of a reflective layer 520 directly above the burner arrangement serves to reflect heat downwardly from the upper portion 140 of the burner housing. The provision of one or more layers of steel or similar metallic material in combination with one or more layers of insulating membranes provides a sandwich structure which provides additional heat insulation in the upper portion.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, a plurality of layers are provided in a sequence of a first reflective layer 520 having a first steel layer 515 provided thereon. The first steel layer is provided with an insulating membrane 510 thereon, the insulating membrane separating the first steel layer 515a from a second steel layer 515b. Above the second steel layer 515b, an air gap 505 is provided, the air gap separating the second steel layer 515b from a support |E02fl7platform 525. The support platform 525 provides a support for the bottle or cannister of gas when placed within the housing 135.

The thickness of the reflective layer is typically greater than about 0.8 mm, the first and second steel layers having a thickness of about 3 mm each, the air gap having a height of about 20 mm and the insulating membrane being about 15mm in thickness.

It will be appreciated that the insulating means herein described is exemplary of the type of insulating means that may be utilised so as to prevent a transfer of heat, as generated by the burner 400, to the bottle of gas provided in the housing 135. Any other alternative insulating may use all or none of the types of layers provided herein to ensure that the heat is not transferred upwardly.

Similarly it will be appreciated that the configuration of the finger/aperture arrangement described is not intended to limit the present invention to such an arrangement, as it will be understood that a number of different configurations could be used to ensure an adequate transfer of heat from the gas burner within the burner housing to the environment about the lower portion of the parasol heater.

It will be further understood that the gas burner heater provided in the base portion can be operated separably from that of the parasol burner or other fittings to the parasol heater. Such independent operation is advantageous in that it provides for individual selection of the type and volume of heat that is required for a specific user.

|EU207 The present invention provides a parasol heater with separate individual burner arrangements provided in both upper and lower portions of the parasol heater. Although it has been described with reference to specific combinations of integers it will be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to be limited to any one set of combinations and individual integers can be included or omitted depending on the specific requirements of the heater.

The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims (1)

1. [ED2079 Claims A parasol heater having a housing portion adapted to house a bottle of gas, a pole extending upwardly from the housing portion and adapted to support a gas burner arrangement, the burner arrangement being provided below a parasol adapted to deflect heat generated by the burner downwardly about the pole and wherein the parasol heater includes a second gas burner arrangement, the second burner arrangement provided below the housing portion and adapted to provide for a heating of the environment about the housing portion. The heater as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second burner arrangement is adapted to provide for a heating of the environment circumferentially about the housing portion. The heater as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the second burner arrangement is provided in a burner housing. The heater as claimed in claim 3 wherein the burner housing has a lower portion and an upper portion, and a series of fingers extending upwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion, thereby defining a plurality of apertures from which heat generated by the gas burner can escape. The heater as claimed in claim 4 wherein the perimeter defined by the lower portion is greater than that defined by the upper portion such that the fingers extend upwardly and inwardly from the lower portion to the upper portion. The heater as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the burner arrangement is provided in a mid portion of the burner housing, directly below the housing portion for the bottle of gas. The heater as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the upper portion is provided with insulation means adapted to insulate the lower portion of the housing portion from heat generated by the burner arrangement, thereby ensuring that a bottle of gas contained within the housing is not heated by the burner arrangement provided below. The heater as claimed in claim 7 wherein the insulating means includes a plurality of individual insulating layers. The heater as claimed in claim 8 wherein the layers are selectable from one or more of the following types of insulation layers: a) an air gap b) an insulating membrane c) a layer of steel or similar metallic structure, and/or d) a reflective layer. The heater as claimed in claim 9 wherein a plurality of layers are provided in a sequence of a first reflective layer having a first metallic layer provided thereon, the first metallic layer having an insulating membrane provided thereon, the insulating membrane separating the first metallic layer from a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer being separated from a support platform by an air gap. The heater as claimed in claim 10 wherein the thickness of the reflective layer is greater than about 0.8 mm. The heater as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the first and second metallic layers have a thickness of about 3 mm each. The heater as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the air gap has a height of about 20 mm The heater as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the insulating membrane is about 15mm in thickness. The heater as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 14 wherein the burner arrangement is provided with a control knob on an outside surface of the burner housing. A parasol heater substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in