Tower type portable radiant heater

Claim 1

A portable heater for providing radiant and convection heat, said heater comprising: a housing including an upper end, a lower end, a rear portion and a front portion, said housing further including an air inlet located at said upper end, an air outlet located at said front portion and an air flow chamber therebetween and along the length of said housing; at least one vertically oriented heating element; a reflector disposed between said at least one heating element and said rear portion of said housing such that said air flow chamber is substantially defined by a vertical column formed by said reflector and said rear portion of said housing, said reflector partially surrounding said at least one heating element and opening outwardly at an obtuse angle about each of said at least one heating element for creating a direct path of communication between said upper end of the housing and said vertical column of the reflector, said reflector having a front surface capable of projecting radiant heat out of said heater through said air outlet; perforations extending through said reflector, said perforations arranged at least along said vertical column for creating a path of communication between said air flow chamber and said air outlet permitting passage of air across said at least one heating element; a fan mounted within said upper end and interposed between said reflector and said air inlet for propelling air into said air flow chamber; and electrical circuitry including fan controls, said electrical circuitry supplying power to said at least one heating element, said electrical circuitry being located at said upper end of said housing; whereby said at least one heating element provides radiant heat and whereby said fan causes air to pass in through said air inlet, into said air flow chamber, through said perforations, across said at least one heating element and out said air outlet, whereby said air is caused to be heated by said at least one heating element and said electrical circuitry is substantially cooled by air passing through said air inlet.