Decorative palm patio heater

Abstract

A patio heater with a outer shrouding of the functional upright fuel line formed to resemble the trunk of a palm tree, with an access means to reach the control but otherwise keep them from sight, and with a secondary heat distribution shield topped by decorative metal leaves resembling the leaves of a palm tree distributed in a balanced fashion around the circular trunk, embodies a functional aesthetic that will keep it both on display and in use in more circumstances than traditional, bare-bones functional patio heaters.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An aesthetically pleasing outdoor patio heater with an appearance of a palm tree, comprising: 
 a functional outdoor patio heater unit; and,    an overall decorative and ornamental design aesthetic realized in a covering body, deliberately resembling a palm tree, to encourage extended use said body comprising 
 a stabilizing base;  
 an ascending circular trunk attached to the stabilizing base;  
 a control shrouding assemblage attached to the topmost part of the ascending circular trunk; and,  
 a top fronds assembly attached to the topmost part of the control shrouding assemblage.  
   
     
     
         2 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing base further comprises: 
 a bottom plate of heavy metal, having a protective coat to prevent it from rusting and from staining a surface it is placed upon; and,    attached to the bottom plate and spaced around the center, at least three vertical uprights to which the ascending circular trunk is attached.    
     
     
         3 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 2 , wherein the stabilizing base further comprises: 
 a circular bottom plate of heavy metal, having a protective coat to prevent it from rusting and from staining a surface it is placed upon; and,    attached to the circular bottom plate and spaced around the center, at least three vertical uprights to which the ascending circular trunk is attached,    such that the outdoor patio heater resembles an existing palm growing straight from the surface on which the circular bottom plate is placed.    
     
     
         4 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 2 , wherein the stabilizing base alternatively comprises: 
 a bottom plate of heavy metal, having a protective coat to prevent it from rusting and from staining a surface it is placed upon; and,    a planter box with at least one side and a top surface, attached to said bottom plate and capable of enclosing the functional base of a standard outdoor heater; said planter box further having: 
 a utility door in one side, giving access to the functional outdoor patio heater unit for maintenance, recharging, or checking of the fuel or connections;  
 a potting tray in the top surface that can be filled with sand or vegetation at the owner's desire;  
 such that the outdoor patio heater resembles a planter box out of which a palm tree is growing, said planter box's bottom plate resting on the surface.  
   
     
     
         5 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 3 , wherein the stabilizing base further comprises: 
 a predrilled off-center hole that allows a user to pipe natural gas directly to the functional outdoor patio heater unit.    
     
     
         6 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 4 , wherein the stabilizing base further comprises: 
 a predrilled off-center hole that allows a user to pipe natural gas directly to the functional outdoor patio heater unit.    
     
     
         7 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a track on the bottom plate for a utility door to permit access to the functional outdoor patio heater unit for changing its fuel, checking its operation, or maintaining it.    
     
     
         8 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 1 , wherein the ascending circular trunk further comprises a series of sized metal elements, each element being: 
 fabricated from precision cut durable material;    hoop-shaped;    wrapped around and enclosing a vertical portion of the functional outdoor patio heater unit;    formed to resemble a section of palm bark; and,    attached to the element of the ascending circular trunk immediately below, with the lower portion slightly overlapping the higher element, the bottommost element being attached to the stabilizing base;    such that the entirety of the ascending circular trunk tapers inwards with a natural-appearing curve between the stabilizing base and the control shrouding assemblage, and resembles the trunk of a palm tree.    
     
     
         9 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 3 , wherein the ascending circular trunk further comprises a series of sized metal elements, each element being: 
 fabricated from precision cut durable material;    hoop-shaped;    wrapped around and enclosing a vertical portion of the functional outdoor patio heater unit;    formed to resemble a section of palm bark; and,    attached to the element of the ascending circular trunk immediately below, with the lower portion slightly overlapping the higher element, the bottommost element being attached to the stabilizing base; and,    a utility door is provided at the base of the ascending circular trunk giving access to the functional outdoor patio heater unit for maintenance, recharging, or checking of the fuel or connections;    such that the entirety of the ascending circular trunk tapers inwards with a natural-appearing curve between the stabilizing base and the control shrouding assemblage, and resembles the trunk of a palm tree.    
     
     
         10 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 1 , wherein the control shrouding assemblage further comprises: 
 a controls access element which incorporates both: 
 an opening through which the controls for the functional outdoor patio heater unit can be accessed; and,  
 a moveable cover plate which closes and conceals said opening except when that moveable cover plate is opened to gain access to the controls;  
   an elevated heat ring that provides additional burn area and a single central bolt rising above the control shrouding assemblage;    a perforated heat absorbing metal shroud surrounding the burn area; and,    openings which are cut out of the perforated heat absorbing metal shroud that allow the flame to be viewed through them.    
     
     
         11 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 10 , wherein the perforated heat absorbing metal shroud surrounding the burn area is comprised of a high steel content alloy, to enhance thermal conductivity and glow in the presence of a lower-temperature flame and increased airflow through the openings.  
     
     
         12 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 1 , wherein the top fronds assembly further comprises: 
 a first heat deflector;    a second heat deflector; and    a third heat deflector assemblage;    all attaching to the control shrouding assemblage.    
     
     
         13 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 10 , wherein the top fronds assembly further comprises: 
 a first heat deflector;    a second heat deflector; and    a third heat deflector assemblage;    all attaching to the single central bolt rising above the control shrouding assemblage.    
     
     
         14 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 13 , wherein the first heat deflector is a convex dome shaped piece of durable heat-conductive metal with a wide central portion having a central axial hole, that fits over the single central bolt, cut with five tapered leaves spaced symmetrically about and extending from the center portion, wherein the center portion is relatively large and the leave shapes slight, but the whole is only one and a half to five times as wide as the control shrouding assemblage.  
     
     
         15 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 13 , wherein the second heat deflector is cut from durable heat-conductive metal with a central portion that also has a central axial hole that fits over the central bolt, which has the same approximate diameter as the first heat deflector, but which has its leaves proportionately larger and central element smaller, wherein the leaves are stamped with texture and incorporate a specialized center ridge (on the top, forming a corresponding upward cleft on the bottom) of each leaf leading to the smaller central portion to provide a path for the heat to travel through, and each ridge empties into the comfort zone, wherein the second heat deflector is offset from the first heat deflector to provide coverage of space which would otherwise let the heat escape.  
     
     
         16 . An outdoor patio heater as in  claim 13 , wherein the third heat deflector is a set of individual formed leaves, each of which has a hole in the stem to fit over the central bolt, with the set symmetrically placed and offset from both the first and second heat deflectors.  
     
     
         17 . An aesthetically pleasing outdoor patio heater with an appearance of a palm tree, comprising: 
 a functional outdoor patio heater unit; and,    an overall decorative and ornamental design aesthetic realized in a covering body, deliberately resembling a palm tree, to encourage extended use said body comprising 
 a stabilizing base, comprising: 
 a bottom plate of heavy metal, having a protective coat to prevent it from rusting and from staining a surface it is placed upon; and, attached to the bottom plate and spaced around the center, at least three vertical uprights to which an ascending circular trunk is attached;  
 
 said ascending circular trunk, comprising: 
 a series of sized metal elements, each element being: 
 fabricated from precision cut durable material;  
 hoop-shaped;  
 wrapped around and enclosing a vertical portion of the functional outdoor patio heater unit;  
 formed to resemble a section of palm bark; and,  
 attached to the element of the ascending circular trunk immediately below, with the lower portion slightly overlapping the higher element, the bottommost element being attached to the stabilizing base;  
 
 such that the entirety of the ascending circular trunk tapers inwards with a natural-appearing curve between the stabilizing base and the control shrouding assemblage, and resembles the trunk of a palm tree;  
 
 a control shrouding assemblage atop the topmost element of the ascending circular trunk, comprising: 
 a controls access element which incorporates both: 
 an opening through which the controls for the functional outdoor patio heater unit can be accessed; and,  
 a moveable cover plate which closes and conceals said opening except when that moveable cover plate is opened to gain access to the controls;  
 
 an elevated heat ring that provides additional burn area and a single central bolt rising above the control shrouding assemblage;  
 a perforated heat absorbing metal shroud surrounding the burn area; and,  
 openings which are cut out of the perforated heat absorbing metal shroud that allow the flame to be viewed through them; and,  
 
 a top fronds assembly, comprising: 
 a first heat deflector;  
 a second heat deflector; and  
 a third heat deflector assemblage, comprising a set of individual formed leaves, each of which has a hole in the stem to fit over the central bolt, with the set symmetrically placed and offset from both the first and second heat deflectors.