Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A portable weatherproof heating unit for softening rigid plastic tubing comprising: a. a hollow electrical induction heater having both ends open, and including induction heater coil means, b. a rigid housing surrounding said hollow induction heater in spaced relationship therewith including an opening at each end concentric to said hollow induction heater, c. means to support said hollow induction heater within said surrounding housing, d. means to allow linear and diametrical expansion of said hollow heater within said supporting means, e. an electrical appliance input, connection, f. means to electrically connect the ends of the heater coil to the electrical appliance input connection, and g. means to attach said appliance input connection to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A portable weatherproof heating unit for softening rigid plastic tubing comprising: a. a hollow electrical induction heater having both ends open, and including induction heater coil means, b. a rigid housing surrounding said hollow induction heater in spaced relationship therewith including an opening at each end concentric to said hollow induction heater, c. means to support said hollow induction heater within said surrounding housing, d. means to allow linear and diametrical expansion of said hollow heater within said supporting means, e. an electrical appliance input, connection, f. means to electrically connect the ends of the heater coil to the electrical appliance input connection, and g. means to attach said appliance input connection to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A portable weatherproof heating unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support for said induction heater comprises a removeable end cap of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A portable weatherproof heating unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hollow electrical induction heater comprises: a. a length of steel pipe, b. a high temperature resistant electrical insulation covering on the outside of said pipe, c. a continuous single layer coil of electrically conducting wire wound with adjacent turns in spaced relationship throughout a major portion of the length of said pipe, and d. a second layer of high temperature resistant electrical insulation covering said wire coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A portable weatherproof heating unit as claimed in claim 3 which also comprises a thermostatic control switch in contact with said steel pipe and connected in series with said coil, said thermostatic switch having normally closed contacts allowing energizing of the said coil when the pipe is cold and said thermostatic switch opening at a control temperature so that when the temperature of the pipe reaches the control temperature the switch will open to deenergize the heater coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A portable weatherproof heating unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the hollow induction heater is shorter than the housing and each end of the hollow induction heater is inset from the adjacent end of the housing so that the housing ends serve to protect the user of the heating unit from accidental contact with the heater.