Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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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.
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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
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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 heating0 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:
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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
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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,
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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.
