Heating unit with LEDs and venting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10900655-B2
Application number	US-201916457854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2019
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A heating unit includes a housing defining a thermal cavity, a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, and a heating element disposed within the thermal cavity. The reflector assembly includes a first reflector coupled to an interior surface of the housing and a second reflector coupled to the first reflector. The first reflector is spaced from the interior surface forming a first air gap therebetween and the second reflector is spaced from the first reflector forming a second air gap therebetween. The heating element is at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. 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 an interior surface of the housing, wherein the first reflector is spaced from the interior surface forming a first air gap therebetween; and
a second reflector coupled to the first reflector, wherein the second reflector is spaced from the first reflector forming a second air gap therebetween; and

a heater disposed within the thermal cavity;
wherein the reflector assembly and the heater are arranged with the heater positioned beneath the first reflector and the second reflector; and
wherein the heater is at least partially surrounded by the second reflector.

2. The heating unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing has 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 or (ii) laterally between the central longitudinal plane and the opposing second longitudinal edge.

3. The heating unit of claim 2 , 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.

4. The heating unit of claim 2 , further comprising a light 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 light and the heater.

5. The heating unit of claim 4 , wherein the housing includes a flange extending along at least one of the first longitudinal edge or the opposing second longitudinal edge.

6. The heating unit of claim 5 , wherein the flange extends at least partially laterally inward from the at least one of the first longitudinal edge or the opposing second longitudinal edge towards the central longitudinal plane, defining a third air gap between the flange and the reflector assembly.

7. The heating unit of claim 5 , 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 5 , wherein the light is coupled to the flange.

9. The heating unit of claim 4 , wherein the light includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

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 an 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; and
a heater disposed within the thermal cavity and at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly.

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 10 , wherein the heater extends within a central longitudinal plane of the housing.

13. The heating unit of claim 10 , further comprising a light coupled to the housing.

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

15. The heating unit of claim 13 , wherein the housing defines a vent positioned between the reflector assembly and the light.

16. The heating unit of claim 15 , wherein the vent includes a plurality of apertures defined is a serial arrangement along a longitudinal length of the housing.

17. 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 heater disposed within the housing and extending within the central longitudinal plane;
a first light disposed along the first flange such that the first vent is positioned laterally between the first light and the heater; and
a second light disposed along the second flange such that the second vent is positioned laterally between the second light and the heater, a reflector assembly disposed within the housing and at least partially surrounding the heater, the reflector assembly including: 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; and 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.

18. The heating unit of claim 17 , wherein the first flange extends at least partially laterally inward from the first longitudinal edge towards the central longitudinal plane, and wherein the second flange extends at least partially laterally inward from the opposing second longitudinal edge towards the central longitudinal plane.

19. The heating unit of claim 17 , further comprising a reflector positioned between the housing and the heater, wherein a first air gap is defined between (i) the reflector and (ii) the first flange and the first light, and wherein a second air gap is defined between (i) the reflector and (ii) the second flange and the second light.

Assignees

• Hatco Corp

Inventors

• Scanlon John
• Veeser Kevin

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V29/83 Primary

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

• F21V33/0044

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

• F21V33/0092

  with heating or cooling devices · CPC title

• A47J36/2488

  having infrared radiating elements · CPC title