Ceiling fan heater with heater housing
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a combined ceiling fan and heating apparatus that can be used to heat the air in a room and to circulate the heated air throughout the room. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,958 relates to a ceiling fan that includes a fan motor, within a fan motor housing, the fan motor having a stationary stator and a rotatable rotor, with one or more heating elements being positioned around the outside of the rotor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,213 relates to a fan, such as a ceiling fan, the blades of which are provided with an air flow passage wherein there is mounted a heating element. Vanes are provided for deflecting air through the fan blades and over the heating elements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,825 discloses a space heater mounted beneath a ceiling fan. The space heater includes a downward pointing insulated frusto-conical member about which an elongate flexible heating element is wound. The frusto-conical member protects the fan motor from heat generated by the heating element. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,191 relates to a ceiling fan having heating elements incorporated within the fin blades. 
     U.S. Design Pat. No. 320,439 discloses a design for a heater which is used with a ceiling fan. 
     The ceiling fan heater that is presented herein is highly efficient, since a heat shield positioned against the upper interior wall of the heater housing prevents excessive heat loss to an attic or upstairs room. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention generally features an apparatus for heating and circulating air within a room having a ceiling, the apparatus including: a ceiling fan; a heater housing disposed vertically above the ceiling fan; a heating element disposed within the heater housing; at least one intake port provided in the heater housing for transferring air from the room into the interior of the heater housing; the at least one air intake port being disposed vertically above the ceiling fan; and at least one air output port provided in the heater housing for transferring air from the interior of the heater housing into the room; the at least one air output port being disposed vertically below the ceiling fan. 
     Preferably, the apparatus additionally includes at least one air channel extending from the heater housing to the at least one air output port. 
     In another aspect, the invention generally features a ceiling fan and heating apparatus for heating and circulating air within a room having a ceiling, the ceiling fan and heating apparatus including: a heater housing for attachment to the ceiling of the room; a heating device disposed within the heater housing for heating air passing through the heater housing; a plurality of fan blades disposed vertically below the heater housing; a motor for rotating the plurality of fan blades; at least one air intake port for transferring air from within the room into the heater housing; the at least one air intake port being disposed above the plurality of fan blades; and at least one air output port for transferring air from within the heater housing into the room; the at least one air output port being disposed vertically below the plurality of fan blades. 
     Preferably, the ceiling fan and heating apparatus additionally includes a first heat shield for protecting the heater housing from heat produced by the heating device; and a second heat shield for protecting the ceiling of the room from heat produced by the heating device; the first heat shield includes a first layer of a heat resistant material disposed on the heater housing adjacent the plurality of fan blades; the second heat shield includes a second layer of a heat resistant material disposed on the heater housing adjacent the ceiling of the room; the at least one air output port includes at least four air output ports, the at least four air output ports being spaced about the heater housing, and each of the at least four air output ports including an air output channel extending substantially vertically downward from the heater housing to a point substantially vertically below and substantially radially outside of the sweep of the plurality of fan blades; the at least four air output ports are spaced equally about the heater housing; the heater housing is, in plan view, of substantially rectangular shape, and the at least four air output ports are disposed at the four corners of the rectangular shape; the heater housing is, in plan view, of substantially square shape; the first heat shield is disposed on an exterior surface of the heater housing; the second heat shield is disposed on an interior surface of the heater housing;the heating device includes an electrical resistance heating element; the heater housing has an upper interior surface and a lower interior surface, the second heat shield being mounted on the upper interior surface of the heater housing, the electrical resistance heating element being disposed adjacent the upper interior surface of the heater housing and the second heat shield, and the electrical resistance heating element being spaced vertically from the lower interior surface of the heater housing to create a heated air flow passage therebetween, the at least one air intake port and the at least four air output ports being in communication with the heated air flow passage; the apparatus additionally includes a fan shaft for rotating the plurality of fin blades, and the at least one air intake port comprises a plurality of air intake openings arranged about the fan shaft. 
     In a further aspect, the invention generally features an apparatus for heating and circulating air within a room having a ceiling, the apparatus including: a ceiling fin, the ceiling fin including: a plurality of fan blades; a motor for rotating the plurality of fan blades; and a pedestal for suspending the plurality of fan blades and the motor from the ceiling such that a vertical gap exists between the ceiling and the plurality of fan blades and the motor; a heater housing disposed within the vertical gap; the heater housing having an upper wall and a lower wall; the upper wall of the heater housing being mounted against the ceiling; a heat resistant shield positioned within the heater housing and against an interior surface of the upper wall of the heater housing; an electrical resistance heater element disposed within the heater housing and adjacent the heat resistant shield; the electrical resistance element being spaced vertically from the lower wall of the heater housing to create a heated air flow passage therebetween; an additional heat resistant shield positioned outside of the heater housing and against an exterior surface of the lower wall of the heater housing; the additional heat resistant shield substantially encircling the pedestal; a plurality of air intake ports passing through the lower wall of the heater housing and from the room into the heated air flow passage; the plurality of air intake ports being positioned vertically above and radially within the sweep of the plurality of fan blades; and a plurality of air output ports passing through the heater housing and from the heated air flow passage into the room; the plurality of air output ports being positioned vertically below and radially outside of the sweep of the plurality of fan blades. 
     Preferably, the apparatus additionally includes a plurality of air output channels for directing heated air from the heated air passage to the plurality of air output ports, one each of the air output channels extending from the interior of the heater housing to one each of the air output ports. 
     One object of the present invention is the provision of a ceiling fan and heating device that will efficiently circulate heated air throughout a room or area. 
     Another object is the provision of a ceiling fan and heating device that can be advantageously used to augment a central heating system in a remote area of a house, or can be used to exclusively heat a selected area, while the remainder of the house is maintained at a lower temperature to conserve energy. 
     A still further object is the provision of such an apparatus that is very efficient in its energy usage for the heating action that it provides. 
     The invention will now be described by Way of a particularly preferred embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a bottom partially cut away plan view, looking upward, of a ceiling fan heater constructed according to the invention: 
     FIG. 2 is a partially sectional elevational view of the inventive ceiling fan heater; and 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the inventive ceiling fan heater. 
     FIG. 4 is partial, cross-sectional view projected from FIG. 2 to better show the hatching for the heat shields to denote the insulative materials used. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to all of FIGS. 1-4, a ceiling fan heater 10 constructed according to the invention generally includes a ceiling fan component 12 and a heater housing 14. The ceiling fan component 12 is of more or less conventional design and includes a plurality of radially extending fan blades 16. The ceiling fan component 12 also includes a fan motor housing 18 that encloses a fan motor for driving the rotation of the fan blades 16, as is well understood by those skilled in the art. The fan motor housing 18 may be provided with vents 20 for providing cooling air to the fan motor. 
     The ceiling fan heater 10 is designed for the heating of a room 22 that has a ceiling 24 from which the apparatus is to be suspended. To this end, the ceiling fan heater 10 also includes a downward projecting pedestal mount 26. The pedestal mount 26 spaces the fan motor housing 18 and the fan blades 16 downward from the ceiling 24 and thus affords sufficient space for the heater housing 14 to be positioned therebetween. 
     The heater housing 14 is, when viewed in plan, of generally rectangular shape, and, preferably, of generally square shape, as shown in the drawings. Preferably, the heater housing 14 is constructed of sheet material, for example, sheet steel. However, other shapes (e.g., cylindrical) and other materials could be used. Preferably, the ceiling fan and heating apparatus 10 additionally includes a first heat shield 36 for protecting the lower wall 30 from heat produced by the heating device 32; and a second heat shield 38 for protecting the ceiling 24 of the room from heat produced by the heating device 32; the first heat shield 36 includes a first layer of a heat resistant material as shown in FIG. 4 disposed on the heater housing adjacent the plurality of fan blades 16; the second heat shield 38 includes a second layer of a heat resistant material as shown in FIG. 4 disposed on the heater housing adjacent the ceiling of the room. 
     The heater housing 14 has an upper wall 28 and a lower wall 30, and encloses a heater element 32. The heater element 32 is positioned such that it is generally nearer to the upper wall 28 and is spaced vertically away from the lower wall 30, thereby creating a passageway 34. A first heat shield 36 is mounted on and covers the central exterior surface of the lower wall 30 of the heater housing 14. Additionally, a second additional heat shield 38 is provided above the heating element 32 on the interior surface of the upper wall 28 of the heater housing 14 and serves to protect the ceiling 24. 
     Air intake ports 40, which are located vertically above the fan blades 16, and which pass through the lower wall 30, admit, into the interior of the heater housing 14, air which is urged upward by the rotating fan blades 16. The admitted air is warmed by the heater element 32 and reenters the room 22 through air output ports 42. The air output ports 42 are positioned such that they are vertically below and radially outward of the fan blades 16. To this end, output air channels or conduits 44 extend downward from the heater housing 14 and terminate in the air output ports 42 at a point beneath and outside the ambit of travel (or radial sweep) of the fan blades 16. In the preferred embodiment shown, where the heater housing 14 is of generally rectangular shape, one air output port 42 and its associated air output channel or conduit 44 is located at each corner of the heater housing 14. 
     While the invention has been herein described by way of a particular preferred embodiment, various substitutions of equivalents may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
     For example, while the inventive ceiling fan heater has been shown as having air output channels or conduits 44 extending downward from the heater housing, it will be understood that other configurations are possible. In this regard, rather than having four separate and discrete air output channels 44 extend downward, the heater housing can be constructed such that it incorporates a downward extending annular channel surrounding and extending to a point beneath the fan blades 16 for the output of the heated air therefrom.