Portable heater and tool box method and apparatus

Abstract

A portable heater includes a housing, a heating element incased in the housing, and a tool box comprising part of the housing. A method of providing heat and tool storage in a portable unit includes providing a heating element, housing heating element, and attaching a tool box to the housing thereby creating a unified tool box and heater housing.

1 . A portable heater comprising:
 a housing;   a heating element encased in the housing; and   a tool box mounted to the portable heater.   
   
   
       2 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a grill configured to let heated air heated by the heating element vent out of the housing and protect the heating element. 
   
   
       3 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle attached to the portable heater and configured to move the heater when the handle is manipulated by a user. 
   
   
       4 . The portable heater of  claim 3 , wherein the handle is collapsible attached to the portable heater such that the handle can achieve:
 an extended position where the handle is locked in place and can move the portable heater when manipulated by a user; and   an unlocked position where the handle can collapse and be moved to an out of the way position.   
   
   
       5 . The portable heater of  claim 3 , further comprising a wheel mounted proximate to an edge of the housing and secured to the portable heater sufficiently to bear at least part of the weight of the heater and roll when the handle is urged in a direction by the user. 
   
   
       6 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot mounted to the portable heater and configured to bear at least some of the weight of the heater. 
   
   
       7 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , wherein controls for the heating element are located on the tool box. 
   
   
       8 . The portable heater of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one of either: a 240 volt connection mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the heating element to provide a voltage to the heating element when a 240 volt source is connected to the volt connection, or a 120 volt outlet connected to the housing and configured to provide about 120 volts to a conductor connected to the outlet. 
   
   
       9 . The portable heater of  claim 8 , further including attachments configured to plug into the outlet. 
   
   
       10 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a control connected to the housing and configured to control the heating element. 
   
   
       11 . The portable heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid mounted to the tool box, the lid configured to open and expose an interior portion of the tool box. 
   
   
       12 . The portable heater of  claim 11 , further comprising a tool box handle connected to the lid. 
   
   
       13 . A portable heater comprising:
 means for housing;   means for creating heat encased in the housing means; and   means for storing tools comprising part of the housing means.   
   
   
       14 . A method of providing heat and tool storage in a portable unit comprising:
 providing a heating element;   housing the heating element; and   attaching a tool box to the housing thereby creating a unified tool box and heater housing.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 protecting the heating element with a grill.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 moving the portable heater on wheels fastened to the portable heater.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising connecting the portable heater to a voltage source. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising connecting conductors to electric power outlets on the portable heater. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising moving a handle mounted to the portable heater from an extended position to a retracted position. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising controlling the heating element with controls mounted on the tool box.