Heating unit with LEDs and venting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10359187-B2
Application number	US-201715595572-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2017
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

A heating unit includes a housing defining a thermal cavity and has a first longitudinal edge and an opposing second longitudinal edge, a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, a heating element, and a lighting element. The housing defines a vent positioned at least one of laterally between a central longitudinal plane of the housing and the first longitudinal edge and laterally between the central longitudinal plane and the opposing second longitudinal edge. The reflector assembly is coupled to an interior surface of the housing. A spacer is positioned between the reflector assembly and the interior surface forming an air gap therebetween. The heating element extends within the central longitudinal plane and is at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly. The lighting element is positioned along at least one of the first longitudinal edge and the opposing second longitudinal edge such that the vent is positioned laterally between the lighting element and the heating element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heating unit, comprising:
a housing defining a thermal cavity and having a first longitudinal edge and an opposing second longitudinal edge, the housing defining a vent positioned at least one of (i) laterally between a central longitudinal plane of the housing and the first longitudinal edge and (ii) laterally between the central longitudinal plane and the opposing second longitudinal edge;
a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, the reflector assembly including:
a first reflector coupled to the interior surface of the housing, wherein a first spacer is positioned between the first reflector and the interior surface forming a first air gap therebetween; and
a second reflector coupled to the first reflector, wherein a second spacer is positioned between the second reflector and the first reflector forming a second air gap therebetween;

a heating element extending within the central longitudinal plane and at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly; and
a lighting element positioned along at least one of (i) the first longitudinal edge and (ii) the opposing second longitudinal edge such that the vent is positioned laterally between the lighting element and the heating element.

2. The heating unit of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is at least partially surrounded by the second reflector.

3. The heating unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a flange extending along at least one of the first longitudinal edge and the opposing second longitudinal edge.

4. The heating unit of claim 3 , wherein the flange extends at least partially laterally inward from the at least one of the first longitudinal edge and the opposing second longitudinal edge towards the central longitudinal plane, defining a second air gap between the flange and the reflector assembly.

5. The heating unit of claim 3 , wherein the lighting element is coupled to the flange.

6. The heating unit of claim 5 , wherein the lighting element includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

7. The heating unit of claim 3 , wherein the flange is a first flange extending from the first longitudinal edge, the housing further comprising a second flange extending from the opposing second longitudinal edge.

8. The heating unit of claim 7 , wherein the vent is a first vent positioned between the central longitudinal plane and the first longitudinal edge, the housing further defining a second vent positioned between the central longitudinal plane and the opposing second longitudinal edge.

9. The heating unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a domed-shaped profile.

10. A heating unit, comprising:
a housing defining a thermal cavity;
a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, the reflector assembly including:
a first reflector coupled to the interior surface of the housing;
a first spacer positioned between the first reflector and the interior surface forming a first air gap therebetween;
a second reflector coupled to the first reflector; and
a second spacer positioned between the first reflector and the second reflector forming as second air gap therebetween;

a heating element disposed within the thermal cavity and at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly; and
a lighting element at least partially disposed within the thermal cavity, the lighting element including a plurality of light emitting diodes.

11. The heating unit of claim 10 , wherein the second reflector is disposed within a channel of the first reflector such that the first reflector at least partially surrounds the second reflector.

12. The heating unit of claim 11 , wherein the heating element extends within a central longitudinal plane of the housing.

13. The heating unit of claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a flange extending laterally inward from a longitudinal edge of the housing into the thermal cavity, wherein the lighting element is coupled to the flange.

14. The heating unit of claim 13 , wherein the housing defines a vent positioned between the reflector assembly and the lighting element.

15. The heating unit of claim 14 , wherein the vent includes a plurality of vents defined along a longitudinal length of the housing.

16. A heating unit, comprising:
a housing defining a central longitudinal plane, the housing including:
a cover having a first longitudinal edge and an opposing second longitudinal edge, the cover defining (i) a first vent positioned laterally between the central longitudinal plane and the first longitudinal edge and (ii) a second vent positioned laterally between the central longitudinal plane and the opposing second longitudinal edge;
a first flange extending along the first longitudinal edge; and
a second flange extending along the opposing second longitudinal edge;

a first reflector coupled to an interior surface of the cover, wherein a first plurality of spacers are positioned between the first reflector and the interior surface forming a first air gap therebetween;
a second reflector coupled to the first reflector, wherein a second plurality of spacers are positioned between the second reflector and the first reflector forming a second air gap therebetween;
a heating element extending within the central longitudinal plane and at least partially surrounded by the second reflector;
a first lighting element coupled to the first flange such that the first vent is positioned laterally between the first lighting element and the heating element; and
a second lighting element coupled to the second flange such that the second vent is positioned laterally between the second lighting element and the heating element.

17. The heating unit of claim 16 , wherein the first flange extends at least partially laterally inward from the first longitudinal edge towards the central longitudinal plane, defining a third air gap between the first flange and the first reflector, and wherein the second flange extends at least partially laterally inward from the opposing second longitudinal edge towards the central longitudinal plane, defining a fourth air gap between the second flange and the first reflector.

Assignees

• Hatco Corp

Inventors

• Scanlon John
• Veeser Kevin

Classifications

• A47J36/2488

  having infrared radiating elements · CPC title

• F21V33/0092

  with heating or cooling devices · CPC title

• F21V29/83 Primary

  the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V33/0044

  Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners · CPC title