Energy efficient outdoor heating device

Abstract

Embodiments herein disclose a device for people to stay warm outdoors. A preferred embodiment comprises a heating device and method for warming people who are sitting outdoors using a table, a heater located under the table, and a blanket that encircles the tabletop, and has an inner edge that is removably secured to the tabletop. The heater includes a supply line and a regulator to control the quantity of fuel to the heater. The embodiment includes a blanket support that encircles and is attached to the table. When the device is not in use, the blanket can be stored in the blanket support. The opening in the middle of the blanket approximates the perimeter of the tabletop. People sit in chairs around the table, pick up the blanket from the blanket support and place the outer portion of the blanket on their laps.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating apparatus comprising:
 a table, the table further comprising: 
 a tabletop and multiplicity of legs connected at one end to said tabletop, 
 a retention compartment for a heater under said tabletop, 
 a heater located in said retention compartment of said table, 
 a supply line for connecting said heater to a source of fuel, 
 a regulator for controlling quantity of fuel to said heater; 
   a blanket that encircles the tabletop, with an opening in the center that approximates the perimeter of the tabletop; and   fastening means to attach said blanket to said tabletop, allowing inner edge of said blanket to be fastened to outer edge of the tabletop.   
     
     
         2 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , said table further comprising:
 a second tabletop on top of the tabletop, with an air gap between the two tabletops,   wherein the second tabletop is insulated from heat generated by the heater to prevent burn hazard.   
     
     
         3 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , said table further comprising a screen mesh connected above the tabletop with spacers and screws to prevent accidental burns, wherein the tabletop is made of heat resistant material. 
     
     
         4 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , said table further comprising a non-combustible surface extending outward from the edge of the tabletop. 
     
     
         5 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tabletop includes a vent to dissipate heat, when the heat under the table exceeds a certain temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tabletop and the multiplicity of legs are made of heat resistant glass. 
     
     
         7 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tabletop and the multiplicity of legs are made of heat resistant metal. 
     
     
         8 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , the heater further comprises 
 a firebox comprising:
 a gas burner; 
 an ignitor; and 
 a regulator to control flow of gas, 
   where the heater is gas powered and the supply line is a gas line.   
     
     
         9 . The heating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the firebox has outlets that include a catalyst through which the hot exhaust gases flow to remove harmful pollutants, where the pollutants removed include at least carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         10 . The heating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the ignitor is an electronic ignition system. 
     
     
         11 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises a fan to propel hot air outwards with an on/off switch. 
     
     
         12 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises a thermostat to regulate the temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises an exhaust stack to release combustion gases away from users. 
     
     
         14 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises a deflector to direct hottest air away from the tabletop, where the deflector is made of transparent ceramic glass. 
     
     
         15 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises adjustable baffles to direct heated air to one side of the device. 
     
     
         16 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blanket attached with fasteners to the top of the tabletop’s outer edge, so that inner edge of the blanket overlaps with the outer edge of the tabletop. 
     
     
         17 . The heating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the fasteners are spring-loaded clips attached to the tabletop. 
     
     
         18 . The heating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the fasteners are:
 magnets placed along the outer edge of the tabletop, and   steel discs sewn into the blanket along the inner edge of the blanket, the steel discs aligning with the magnets and hold the blanket in place.   
     
     
         19 . The heating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the fasteners are:
 steel discs placed along the outer edge of the tabletop, and   magnets sewn into the blanket along the inner edge of the blanket, the magnets aligning with the steel discs to hold the blanket in place.   
     
     
         20 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blanket is made of one or more among the materials: cotton, wool, polyester, and flame-resistant cloth. 
     
     
         21 . The heating apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the blanket is treated with chemicals to reduce flammability. 
     
     
         22 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blanket is quilted to help reduce heat loss. 
     
     
         23 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blanket is made of a combination of materials, where the portion closest to the heater is made from heat resistant material, and where portion facing ground is made of fabric that is easier to clean. 
     
     
         24 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , said heating apparatus further comprising:
 a blanket support encircling the table and removably attached to the table, where the blanket support is shaped to hold the blanket when not in use.   
     
     
         25 . The heating apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the blanket support further comprises one or more support arms that encircle the table. 
     
     
         26 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , said heating apparatus further comprising:
 a windbreak around the heater to keep flames from blowing out and to increase heater efficiency.   
     
     
         27 . The heating apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the windbreak is a cylindrical shaped vertical barrier below the tabletop. 
     
     
         28 . The heating apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the barrier is made from one among:
 fabric;   sheet metal; and   brick pavers.   
     
     
         29 . The heating apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein there is a gap between the windbreak and the tabletop to allow heated air flow outwards. 
     
     
         30 . The heating apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein there is a gap between the bottom of the windbreak and the ground to allow air travel under the windbreak. 
     
     
         31 . A heating apparatus comprising:
 a table, the table further comprising: 
 a tabletop, 
 a retention compartment for a heater under said tabletop, 
 a heater located in said retention compartment of said table, the heater and the tabletop supported by multiplicity of legs attached to one side to keep the heater off the ground, 
 a supply line for connecting said heater to a source of fuel, 
 a regulator for controlling quantity of fuel to said heater; 
 a blanket that encircles the tabletop, with an opening in the center that approximates the perimeter of the tabletop; and 
 fastening means to attach said blanket to said tabletop, allowing inner edge of said blanket to be fastened to outer edge of the tabletop. 
   
     
     
         32 . A gas-fueled heater, comprising:
 a firebox having a multiplicity of outlets located below said tabletop;   a gas burner disposed within said firebox, said gas burner to provide a flame; and   a catalyst element in communication with said multiplicity of firebox outlets, to catalyze at least some of the combustion products.   
     
     
         33 . A gas-fueled heater, comprising:
 an outer shell including side panels, and a bottom panel;   a firebox being constructed and arranged with a primary combustion portion and a secondary combustion portion, said primary combustion portion including a gas burner, said secondary combustion portion including one or more catalytic converters, and said combustion chamber including a transparent top panel, side panels, and a base panel;   a plurality of air chambers disposed between said combustion chamber and said outer shell, each air chamber of said plurality being separated from and free of any flow communication with said combustion chamber and including side air chambers defined by the side panels of said combustion chamber and the side panels of said outer shell; and   an air inlet for providing combustion air into said combustion chamber, a second air inlet for providing air into said plurality of air chambers, a multiplicity of air exhaust in communication with said secondary combustion portion and a multiplicity of air exhaust in flow communication with said top air chamber and exiting below said tabletop.   
     
     
         34 . An electric heater, comprising:
 a firebox having a multiplicity of outlets located below a tabletop; and   an electric heating element disposed within said firebox, said element providing heat when connected to a source of electricity.