Heater apparatus

Abstract

A portable heater includes a housing having an access door providing for receiving a fuel tank within the housing. The access door provides for insertion and removal of the fuel tank through the door. A burner within the housing is connected to the fuel tank and emits a flame above the housing. A vertical transparent tube extends above the burner and encompasses the flame along an entire height of the tube. A protective grill surrounds the tube and extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill. An upper cover assembly mounts to the top of the protective grill. The flame is enclosed extending up the tube along the entire height of the tube and creates a glowing vertical element from the housing to the cover.

1 . A heater apparatus, comprising:
 a housing;   a burner within the housing and emitting a flame;   a vertical tube above the burner and having the flame extend therein the length of the tube;   a protective grill surrounding the tube; wherein the tube extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill.   
     
     
         2 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an upper cover assembly mounted to the top of the protective grill. 
     
     
         3 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cover assembly comprises an angled cover. 
     
     
         4 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an access door providing access to the burner. 
     
     
         5 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel tank within the housing connected to the burner. 
     
     
         6 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises an access door and wherein the access door provides for insertion and removal of the fuel tank. 
     
     
         7 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective grill comprises elements having rectangular elements at an outermost portion. 
     
     
         8 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube extends into a lower portion of the cover assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the burner creates a flame and wherein the flame extends up the tube along an entire height of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . A heater apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises an at least partially transparent material and where in the flame extends up the tube along the entire height of the tube and creates a glowing vertical element from the housing to the cover. 
     
     
         11 . A heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a three sided housing. 
     
     
         12 . A heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective grill comprises three sides. 
     
     
         13 . A heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the burner comprises a gas burner. 
     
     
         14 . A heater according to  claim 1 , further comprising wheels for moving the heater. 
     
     
         15 . A heater apparatus, comprising:
 a housing having an access door;   a fuel tank within the housing, wherein the access door provides for insertion and removal of the fuel tank;   a burner within the housing connected to the fuel tank and emitting a flame above the housing;   a vertical tube above the burner and having the flame extending therein along an entire height of the tube;   a protective grill surrounding the tube; wherein the tube extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill;   an upper cover assembly mounted to the top of the protective grill;   wherein the tube comprises an at least partially transparent material and wherein the flame extends up the tube along the entire height of the tube and creates a glowing vertical element from the housing to the cover.   
     
     
         16 . A method for lighting a portable outdoor heater apparatus having a housing having an access door at one side of the housing and a fuel tank with a control valve within the housing, a burner assembly within the housing connected to the fuel tank and including an igniter, an least partially transparent vertical tube above the burner, a protective grill surrounding the tube, wherein the tube extends at least as far as the top of the protective grill, and an upper cover assembly mounted to the top of the protective grill; the method comprising:
 opening the control valve to begin flow of fuel from the fuel tank to the burner assembly;   actuating the igniter assembly to light the fuel flowing from the fuel tank to create a flame extending up from the burner assembly into the vertical tube; and   adjusting the control valve so that the flame extends up the vertical tube only to a top end of the vertical tube and creates a glow along the entire length of the vertical tube.