Shroud for space heater

Abstract

A shroud is used to encompass a space heater ordinarily used within a tent or shelter. The shroud allows the space heater to be used outside the tent or shelter. The shroud is made from a series of components and is readily disassembled to allow compactness for storage or moving. The shroud is positioned over the space heater and ambient air is drawn into the spaces between the shroud and the heater where the air is heated by the heater. The heated air leaves the shroud through a duct when extends to the tent or shelter sought to be heated.

1 . A shroud for a space heater used for combusting fuel with the combustion products exiting the heater through a stack and combustion air entering the heater through a heater intake, a casing surrounding the heater which casing is heated by combustion within the heater and which casing radiates heat to the atmosphere, said shroud enclosing a significant portion of said space heater and allowing ambient air to circulate between said casing of said space heater and the inside of said shroud and to therefore become heated ambient air, an exit port formed in one end of said shroud to allow said heated ambient air to exit said shroud and to enter into a duct operable to extend to a tent or shelter and to discharge said heated ambient air into said tent or shelter, said shroud being removably positioned on said heater for facilitated installation or removal thereof, said shroud further having a door which may open or close to allow the commencement of combustion within said heater. 
     
     
         2 . A shroud as in  claim 1  wherein said shroud comprises a top member and four side members. 
     
     
         3 . A shroud as in  claim 2  wherein said top member and said side members are individual components. 
     
     
         4 . A shroud as in  claim 3  wherein at least one of said side members is removably connected to said top member and hangs downwardly from said top member. 
     
     
         5 . A shroud as in  claim 4  wherein at least two of said side members are removably connected to said top member and hang downwardly from said top member. 
     
     
         6 . A shroud as in  claim 5  wherein said side members number four (4), two of said side members hanging from said top member of said shroud and two of said side members being positioned inside said top member and being secured by said two side members hanging from said top member. 
     
     
         7 . A shroud as in  claim 6  and further comprising a bottom tray operable to hold said heater. 
     
     
         8 . A shroud as in  claim 7  wherein said bottom tray has movable legs which extend downwardly from said bottom tray and which are rotatable on said bottom tray. 
     
     
         9 . A shroud as in  claim 8  and further comprising a cutout in one of said side members. 
     
     
         10 . A shroud as in  claim 9  and further comprising a collar mounted to said cutout and a duct extending from said collar. 
     
     
         11 . A shroud as in  claim 10  and further comprising a fan in said duct to draw air into said shroud and out from said cutout. 
     
     
         12 . A shroud as in  claim 11  and further comprising a cutout in said top member operable to allow a stack to extend though said cutout to said heater. 
     
     
         13 . A shroud as in  claim 12  and further comprising a door in said top member operable to be opened or closed to allow access though said shroud and into the interior of said heater. 
     
     
         14 . A method of heating a tent or shelter from a location outside said tent or shelter and using a space heater otherwise operable within said tent or shelter, said method comprising positioning said space heater outside said tent or shelter, positioning a removable shroud on said space heater such that said shroud substantially encloses said space heater and leaves air passageways between the outside of said space heater and the inside of said shroud, allowing said ambient outside air to enter said air passageway and to be heated by the outside of said space heater, directing said heated ambient air through a duct to said tent or shelter and releasing said heated ambient air into said tent or shelter. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14  and further comprising using a fan in said duct to draw said ambient outside air into said air passageway. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 15  and further comprising inserting said space heater into a bottom tray, and extending a plurality of legs connected to said bottom tray thereby to allow the lower surface of said bottom tray to be positioned above the surface on which said legs are positioned. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16  wherein at least some of said side members are hung from said top member to allow spaces for said air passageway. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17  and further comprising exhausting the combustion products from said heater through a stack extending through said shroud. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18  and further comprising forming a door in said shroud and allowing said door to open or close thereby to allow access to said heater from outside said shroud.