Knock-down dome cover for a patio heater

Abstract

A dome cover for an outdoor heater is provided that is made up of a plurality of sides that easily assemble to form the cover. Each of the sides has at least three edges, at least one of which is a finished edge. The sides are configured and arranged for being connected to form a generally raised shape, where the sides are elevated at an angle above a plane formed by the finished edges of the assembled dome cover. A cap is configured and arranged to hold the sides at the angle. All of the sides are held in place by a locking plate that cooperates with the cap to capture the sides therebetween. A fastener holds the dome cover together. This construction makes the dome cover easily assembled by the user without the need for tools.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dome cover for an outdoor heater, comprising: 
 a plurality of sides, each having at least three edges at least one of which is a finished edge, configured and arranged for being connected to form a generally raised shape, said sides being elevated at an angle above a plane formed by said finished edges of said dome cover;    a cap configured and arranged to hold said sides at said angle; and    at least one locking plate configured and arranged to cooperate with said cap to capture said sides therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The dome cover of  claim 1  wherein said raised shape forms a pyramid or a dome.  
     
     
         3 . The dome cover of  claim 2  wherein said raised shape is a dome having from 3 to 10 sides.  
     
     
         4 . The dome cover of  claim 1  wherein said three edges comprise a first finished edge, a second edge having at least a first complementary fastener portion and a third edge having a second complementary fastener portion, and wherein said first and second complementary fastener portions are configured and arranged to attach adjacent pairs of said sides.  
     
     
         5 . The dome cover of  claim 1  further comprising a rim lock being configured and arranged for removably attaching adjacent pairs of first edges.  
     
     
         6 . The dome cover of  claim 1  wherein said first complementary fastener portion is a tongue and said second complementary fastener portion is a groove.  
     
     
         7 . The dome cover of  claim 6  further including a fastener, and wherein said locking plate cooperates with said upper plate to capture said sides therebetween by use of a fastener.  
     
     
         8 . The dome cover of  claim 1  wherein each of said sides is curved.  
     
     
         9 . The dome cover of  claim 1  wherein three or four of said sides are provided.  
     
     
         10 . The dome cover of  claim 1  wherein said side further comprises at least one rib.  
     
     
         11 . The dome cover of  claim 10  wherein said cap further comprises indentations to engage said rib.  
     
     
         12 . The dome cover of  claim 5 , wherein said finished edge has a rolled shape.  
     
     
         13 . The dome cover of  claim 12 , wherein said rolled shape defines a channel and said rim lock engages said channel of adjacent sides.  
     
     
         14 . The dome cover of  claim 5  wherein said rim lock comprises a pin.  
     
     
         15 . The dome cover of  claim 1  further comprising an upper plate disposed between said cap and said sides.  
     
     
         16 . The dome cover of  claim 1  wherein said cover is of knockdown construction allowing assembly without the use of tools.  
     
     
         17 . An outdoor heater comprising: 
 a base;    a standard mounted to said base;    a burner mounted to said standard;    an insulator disposed on said standard, said insulator being heated by said burner;    an emitter surrounding said insulator and emitting heart; and    a dome cover mounted atop said emitter and having a plurality of sides each having at least three edges, configured and arranged for being connected to form a generally raised shape, said sides being elevated at an angle above a plane formed by a base of said dome cover;    a cap configured and arranged to hold said sides at said angle;    a locking plate configured and arranged to frictionally engage each of said sides with said cap; and    a fastener to hold said locking plate in position to frictionally engage each of said sides with said cap.    
     
     
         18 . The outdoor heater of  claim 17  wherein said three edges comprise a first finished edge, a second edge having at least a first complementary fastener portion and a third edge having a second complementary fastener portion, and wherein said first and second complementary fastener portions are configured and arranged to attach adjacent pairs of said sides.  
     
     
         19 . The outdoor heater of  claim 18  wherein said dome cover further comprises a rib attached said second edge or said third edge of each of said sides, said rib comprising an tongue if said rib is attached to said second edge or said rib comprising a groove if said rib is attached to said third edge.  
     
     
         20 . The outdoor heater of  claim 19  wherein said rib is removably attached to said side.  
     
     
         21 . The outdoor heater of  claim 19  wherein said generally dome shape of said dome cover is constructed from 3 or 4 sides.  
     
     
         22 . The outdoor heater of  claim 19  wherein said dome cover is of knock-down construction allowing assembly without the use of tools.  
     
     
         23 . The outdoor heater of  claim 17  further comprising a rim lock configured and arranged for removably attaching adjacent pairs of sides.