Fan assisted personal heater device

Abstract

A personal heater device including an ignition device configured to generate a spark to ignite a fuel; a combustion location where ignited fuel burns in response to the spark; a battery receiving port configured to receive a battery; a controller; and a fan assembly including a motor electrically coupled the battery receiving port and controlled by the controller, a fan coupled to an output shaft of the motor, and a passageway configured to route airflow generated by the fan to a location near the combustion location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A personal heater device comprising:
 an ignition device configured to generate a spark to ignite a fuel;   a combustion location where ignited fuel burns in response to the spark;   a battery receiving port configured to receive a battery;   a controller; and   a fan assembly comprising:
 a motor electrically connected to the battery receiving port and controlled by the controller; 
 a fan coupled to an output shaft of the motor; and 
 a passageway configured to route airflow generated by the fan to a location near the combustion location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The personal heater device of  claim 1 , wherein the personal heater device further comprises a diffuser through which the fuel moves prior to reaching the combustion location, and wherein the airflow generated by the fan passes by the diffuser. 
     
     
         3 . The personal heater device of  claim 2 , further comprising a hood disposed adjacent to the diffuser, wherein the hood comprises a hood opening in fluid communication with an outlet opening of the passageway, and wherein airflow passes from the passageway through the hood opening to enter a heating volume disposed between the hood and the diffuser before moving into a nearby environment. 
     
     
         4 . The personal heater device of  claim 1 , wherein the personal heater device comprises a fuel tank receiving area configured to removably receive a fuel tank storing the fuel, and wherein the fuel tank receiving area is selectively covered by a hinged door. 
     
     
         5 . The personal heater device of  claim 1 , wherein the personal heater device further comprises a body defining a base surface, and wherein the base surface comprises a first base surface and a second base surface angularly offset from the first base surface by at least 10°. 
     
     
         6 . The personal heater device of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a variable speed motor, and wherein the controller is configured to control a speed of the motor in response to a measured temperature of the heater device. 
     
     
         7 . The personal heater device of  claim 1 , wherein the personal heater device further comprises a handle, the handle rotatable between an in-use position and a stored position. 
     
     
         8 . The personal heater device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow enters the passageway from a rear side of the personal heater device and exits the personal heater device a front side located opposite the rear side. 
     
     
         9 . A method of heating an environment, the method comprising:
 adjusting a regulator of a personal heater device to permit flow of a fuel from a fuel tank coupled to the personal heater device to a combustion area;   igniting, with an ignition device, the fuel at the combustion area to create combustion;   activating a fan assembly to drive airflow from an air inlet opening to a diffuser defining the combustion area, wherein the fan assembly is powered by a removable battery coupled to the personal heater device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein activating the fan assembly comprises initiating a motor of the personal heater device to rotate such that a radial fan is driven by the motor and drives airflow to the combustion area. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the airflow is driven through a heating volume disposed between a hood and the diffuser, and wherein a controller of the personal heater device is configured to regulate airflow through the heating volume based at least partially on a temperature as measured at the personal heater device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 repositioning the heater device from a first base surface on which the personal heater device is supported to a second base surface; and   removing the fuel tank from the personal heater device after the heater device is repositioned to the second base surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein adjusting the regulator is performed manually. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 coupling the removable battery to a removable battery port of the personal heater device;   fluidly connecting the fuel tank to a conduit of the personal heater device, the conduit in fluid communication with the combustion area; and   moving the personal heater device to a desired area before igniting the fuel, wherein moving the personal heater device comprises carrying the personal heater device to the desired area.   
     
     
         15 . A personal heater device comprising:
 a frame;   a hydrocarbon fuel source removably coupled to the frame and selectively ignitable by an ignition device; and   a fan driven by a motor receiving power from a removable battery electrically coupled to a removable battery port of the personal heater device,   wherein the fan drives airflow across a location adjacent to the ignited hydrocarbon fuel source to heat the airflow and move the airflow into a nearby environment.   
     
     
         16 . The personal heater device of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel source comprises a fuel tank storing a hydrocarbon fuel, and wherein the fuel tank is removable from the personal heater device. 
     
     
         17 . The personal heater device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal heater device further comprises a handle, the handle rotatable between an in-use position and a stored position. 
     
     
         18 . The personal heater device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal heater device further comprises a body defining a base surface, and wherein the base surface comprises a first base surface and a second base surface angularly offset from the first base surface by at least 10°. 
     
     
         19 . The personal heater device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal heater device further comprises a diffuser through which the fuel moves prior to reaching a combustion location, and wherein the airflow passes by an outer sidewall of the diffuser. 
     
     
         20 . The personal heater device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal heater device weighs less than 75 pounds.