Shock-proof electric radiant heater

Claim 2

An electric heater comprising: a metal housing with an open front, a first protective grill attached to the housing and covering said open front, a reflector mounted within the housing and electrically insulated therefrom, a ribbon-type heating element centrally freely suspended within the reflector, a second grill attached to the reflector and located between the suspended heating element and the first protective grill a sufficient distance away from the first protective grill to prevent contact of the heating element with the first protective grill in the event of breakage of the heater element.

Claim 3

The electric heater of claim 1 wherein the second grill is located from more than a quarter to less than three quarters the distance between the heating element and the first protective grill.

Claim 4

The electric heater of claim 1 wherein the second grill has a plurality of spaced parallel rods oriented at substantially right angles to the suspended heating element as viewed from the front of the heater.

Claim 5

A portable electric space heater comprising: a metal housing with an open front, a first grill attached to the housing and covering said open front, an open-faced sheet metal reflector mounted within the housing and electrically insulated therefrom, said reflector having a rear reflective surface and end walls extending forwardly from the reflective surface, a ribbon-type heating element with a plurality of substantially horizontal runs suspended within the reflector extending from one forWardly projecting reflector end wall to the other, a second grill located between the suspended heating element and the first grill, said second grill having a plurality of spaced vertically disposed rods secured to at least two horizontal rods and attached to the reflector a sufficient distance away from the first grill to prevent contact of the heating element with the first grill in the event of breakage of said heating element.

Claim 6

A portable electric space heater comprising: a metal housing with an open front, a first grill attached to the housing and covering said open front, an open-faced sheet metal reflector mounted within the housing and electrically insulated therefrom, said reflector having a rear reflective surface and end walls extending forwardly from the reflective surface, a ribbon-type heating element with a plurality of substantially horizontal runs suspended within the reflector extending from one forWardly projecting reflector end wall to the other, a second grill located between the suspended heating element and the first grill, said second grill having a plurality of spaced vertically disposed rods secured to at least two horizontal rods and attached to the reflector a sufficient distance away from the first grill to prevent contact of the heating element with the first grill in the event of breakage of said heating element.

Claim 7

An electric heater comprising: a metal housing with an open front, a first protective grill covering said open front, means electrically insulating the first protective grill from the housing, a reflector mounted within the housing, a ribbon-type heating element suspended within the reflector, means electrically insulating the exposed portions of said housing from the user, and a second grill located between the suspended heating element and the first protective grill a sufficient distance away from the first protective grill to prevent contact of the heating element with the first protective grill in the event of breakage of the heater element.

Claim 8

An electric heater comprising: a metal housing with an open front, a first protective grill covering said open front, means electrically insulating the first protective grill from the housing, a reflector mounted within the housing, a ribbon-type heating element suspended within the reflector, means electrically insulating the exposed portions of said housing from the user, and a second grill located between the suspended heating element and the first protective grill a sufficient distance away from the first protective grill to prevent contact of the heating element with the first protective grill in the event of breakage of the heater element.

Claim 9

The electric heater of claim 5 wherein the first protective grill is electrically insulated from the housing by securing the grill to the housing with grommets made of electrically nonconducting material.

Claim 10

The electric heater of claim 5 wherein the exposed portions of the housing are covered with an electrically nonconducting material.

Claim 11

An electrical heater comprising: a metal housing with an open front, a first protective grill covering said open front, means electrically insulating the first protective grill from the housing, an open-faced sheet metal reflector mounted within the housing and electrically insulated therefrom, said reflector having a rear reflective surface and end walls extending forwardly from the reflective surface, a ribbon-type heating element with a plurality of substantially horizontal runs suspended within the reflector extending from one forwardly projecting reflector end wall to the other, means electrically insulating the exposed portions of said housing from the user, and a second grill located between the suspended heating element and the first protective grill, said second grill having a plurality of spaced vertically disposed rods secured to at least two horizontal rods and attached to the reflector a sufficient distance away from the first protective grill to prevent contact of the heating element with the first protective grill in the event of breakage of the heater element.

Claim 12

An electrical heater comprising: a metal housing with an open front, a first protective grill covering said open front, means electrically insulating the first protective grill from the housing, an open-faced sheet metal reflector mounted within the housing and electrically insulated therefrom, said reflector having a rear reflective surface and end walls extending forwardly from the reflective surface, a ribbon-type heating element with a plurality of substantially horizontal runs suspended within the reflector extending from one forwardly projecting reflector end wall to the other, means electrically insulating the exposed portions of said housing from the user, and a second grill located between the suspended heating element and the first protective grill, said second grill having a plurality of spaced vertically disposed rods secured to at least two horizontal rods and attached to the reflector a sufficient distance away from the first protective grill to prevent contact of the heating element with the first protective grill in the event of breakage of the heater element.

Claim 13

The electric heater of claim 4 wherein the ribbon-type heating element is suspended under tension and without intermediate support in front of the reflector.

Claim 14

The electric heater of claim 5 wherein the heating element is the ribbon-type with a plurality of runs across and within the reflector, said ribbon-type heating element being suspended under tension and without intermediate support in front of the reflector.