Panel Heaters

Abstract

A panel heater with enhanced safety features for us as room heaters disposable on at least one of a wall and a floor includes: a flat panel heater component; at least one protrusion provided on at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the flat panel heater component; and a covering surrounding at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat panel heater component. The flat panel heater component includes one of a) an electrical heating element incorporated in an oil filled chamber; and b) a wire heating element covered with an electrical insulating material. The at least one protrusion creates an air gap between at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat panel heater component and the covering, thereby reducing temperatures attained on surfaces of the flat panel heater component and the covering significantly.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A panel heater with enhanced safety features for us as room heaters disposable on at least one of a wall and a floor, the panel heater comprising:
 a flat panel heater component comprising: one of a) an electrical heating element incorporated in an oil filled chamber accommodated within a flat covering panel and supplied with electrical energy from a conventional source; and b) a wire heating element covered with an electrical insulating material accommodated within a flat covering panel and supplied with electrical energy from a conventional source;   at least one protrusion provided on at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the flat panel heater component; and   a covering surrounding at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat panel heater component,   wherein the at least one protrusion creates an air gap between at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat panel heater component and the covering, thereby reducing temperatures attained on surfaces of the flat panel heater component and the covering significantly.   
     
     
         9 . The panel heater as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one protrusion extends from at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat panel heater component by about 6 mm to about 25 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The panel heater as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the at least one protrusion is selected to correspond to an expected temperature rise on a surface of the flat panel component. 
     
     
         11 . The panel heater as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to be integrated with at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat panel heater component during manufacture or before usage. 
     
     
         12 . The panel heater as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one protrusion is configured as an independent member configured to be undetachably attached to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat panel heater component. 
     
     
         13 . The panel heater as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the shape of the at least one protrusion is selected from the group consisting of rectangular, square, and trapezoidal.