Heater including a bracket assembly for mounting

Abstract

A heater includes a heating unit having a heating element and a fan, and a bracket assembly for mounting the heating unit to a structure. The bracket assembly includes a first bracket having a channel and defining a first longitudinal axis. The first bracket is configured to couple to the structure. A second bracket is coupled to the heating unit and at least partially received within the channel. The second bracket defines a second longitudinal axis that extends along the first longitudinal axis when the second bracket is engaged with the first bracket. A fastener couples the first bracket and the second bracket to each other. The second bracket slides relative to the first bracket to position the heating unit relative to the first bracket and the fastener engages the first bracket and the second bracket to inhibit the second bracket from sliding relative to the first bracket.

Description

Attorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W001HEATER INCLUDING A BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTINGFIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to heaters, and more particularly, to ceiling mounted heaters.BACKGROUND

[0002] Various heaters can be provided for heating a defined space. Common types of heaters are free-standing, floor-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or wall-mounted heaters and typically produce heat either through an electrical heating element or combusting natural gas. Ceilingmounted heaters should be located on the ceiling and arranged near a wall, such that the air stream discharged by the heater blows generally parallel to the wall. Multiple heaters may be arranged along the ceiling, so that each supports the air stream of the next heater, thereby creating circulatory air movement in the defined space. The height at which the heater is mounted above the floor is important for maximum comfort. The heater will not effectively deliver the heated air stream to the floor if the heater is mounted too high. However, it should also be avoided to direct the air stream directly at occupants so the heater cannot be mounting too low.SUMMARY

[0003] The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a heater including; a heating unit having a heating element and a fan; a bracket assembly for mounting the heating unit to a structure, the bracket assembly having: a first bracket including a channel and defining a first longitudinal axis along which the channel extends, the first bracket is configured to couple to the structure, and a second bracket coupled to the heating unit and at least partially received within the channel, the second bracket defining a second longitudinal axis that extends along the first longitudinal axis when the second bracket is engaged with the first bracket; and a fastener that couples the first bracket and the second bracket to each other, wherein the heating unit is capable of rotating relative to the first bracket and the second bracket, and wherein the second bracket slides relative to the first bracket along the first longitudinal axis to position the heating unit relative to the first bracket and the fastener engages the first bracket and the second bracket toAttorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W001 inhibit the second bracket from sliding relative to the first bracket along the first longitudinal axis.

[0004] The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a bracket assembly for mounting a heating unit to a structure, the bracket assembly including: a first bracket configured to couple to the structure and including a channel; a second bracket configured to couple to the heating unit, the second bracket is at least partially received within the channel and capable of sliding along the channel when the second bracket is engaged with the first bracket; and a fastener that extends through the first bracket and the second bracket to inhibit the second bracket from sliding along the channel of the first bracket.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a heater in accordance with one embodiment, illustrating a heating unit and a bracket assembly for mounting the heating unit.

[0006] Fig. 2 is a plan, front view of the heater of Fig. 1, illustrating the bracket assembly coupled to the heating unit.

[0007] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bracket assembly of Fig. 1 , illustrating a first bracket and a second bracket coupled together.

[0008] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly of Fig. 1, illustrating a fastener coupling the first bracket and the second bracket together.

[0009] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Fig. 1 illustrates a heater 100 that is configured to be mounted to a structure 104 (e.g., a ceiling, rafters, ceiling joist, etc.). The heater 100 includes heating unit 108 and a bracketAttorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W001 assembly 1 12 for mounting the heating unit 108 to the structure 104 (Figs. 2 and 3). In the illustrated embodiment, the heating unit 108 includes a heating element 116, such as an infrared heater or convection heater. In some embodiments, the heating unit 108 may also include a fan 120 for blowing heat generated from the heating element 116, thereby creating a heated air stream. The heater 100 of the illustrated embodiment is an electric heater that receives power by being plugged into a wall outlet (e.g., an A / C wall outlet), while in other embodiments, the heater 100 may alternatively be a gas heater that combusts natural gas to produce heat. In such an embodiment, the heating element 116 is gas (e.g., natural gas, etc.). The fan 120 may still be incorporated into the gas heater to create the heated air stream.

[0011] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the bracket assembly 112 includes a first bracket 124 and a second bracket 128 that are configured to couple to each other. The first bracket 124 is mounted to the structure 104 and the second bracket 128 is coupled to the heating unit 108, at which point the heating unit 108 is raised up toward the ceiling until the second bracket 128 is received by the first bracket 124.

[0012] With reference to Figs. 1 and 3, the first bracket 124 includes a first end 132, a second end 136, and a first longitudinal axis 140 extending between the first end 132 and the second end 136. The first bracket 124 is composed of metal and includes features that may be formed by either extruding into form or bending into form. Specifically, the first bracket 124 includes a first base 144 and a plurality of apertures 148 extending through the base. The plurality of apertures 148 are in line with each other and collectively extend along a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis 140. The plurality of apertures 148 may receive one of more mounting fasteners 150 to affix the first bracket 124 to the structure 104, at which point the first base 144 is disposed between the mounting fasteners 150 and the structure 104.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first base 144 directly abuts the structure 104 when the first bracket 124 is mounted to the structure 104. In other embodiments, extension rods 151 may be coupled between the first bracket 124 and the structure 104 to adjust the height above which the heater 100 is suspended relative to a floor surface. In this situation, the extension rods 151 couple directly to the first base 144 and the structure 104, such that the first base 144 is spaced away from the structure 104.Attorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W001

[0014] The first bracket 124 further includes a pair of sidewalls 152 extending away from the first base 144, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The pair of sidewalls 152 are oriented generally perpendicular to the first base 144. Further, there is a lip 156 that extends away from each of the sidewalls 152. The lips 156 extend inward toward the first longitudinal axis 140, such that one lip 156 extends toward the other lip 156. The lips 156 are oriented generally perpendicular to the sidewalls 152, yet parallel with the first base 144. The first base 144, the pair of sidewalls 152, and the lips 156 form a channel 160, which is configured to receive at least a portion of the second bracket 128.

[0015] The first bracket 124 further includes a pair of elongated slots 164 that are centrally located between the first end 132 and the second end 136. The pair of elongated slots 164 are disposed on one or both of the sidewalls 152 (even though only one pair of elongated slots 164 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2). Each elongated slot 164 extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis 140. As explained in further detail below, at least one elongated slot from the pair of elongated slots 164 is configured to receive a threaded fastener 168 (e.g., threaded screw, pin, bolt, etc.) for coupling the first bracket 124 to the second bracket 128, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

[0016] With continued reference to Figs. 1 and 3, the second bracket 128 is also composed of metal and includes features that may be formed by either extruding into form or bending into form. Specifically, the second bracket 128 defines a second longitudinal axis 172 and includes a second base 176 that is configured to abut against the heating unit 108. An aperture 180 extends through the second base 176 and is configured to receive a mounting fastener 184 to affix the second bracket 128 to the heating unit 108, at which point the second base 176 is disposed between the mounting fastener 184 and the heating unit 108.

[0017] The second bracket 128 further includes a pair of shoulders 188 extending outward relative to the second base 176, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The pair of shoulders 188 are oriented generally parallel to and spaced away from the second base 176. Further, there is a flange 192 extending from each of the shoulders 188. The flanges 192 are oriented generally perpendicular to the shoulders 188 and second base 176.Attorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W001

[0018] The second bracket 128 further includes a threaded hole 196 that is centrally located on each flange 192. The threaded hole 196 can be aligned with one of the elongated slots 164 of the first bracket 124, at which point the threaded fastener 168 (Fig. 4) passes through the elongated slot 164 and threadably engages the threaded hole 196 to inhibit the second bracket 128 from moving relative to the first bracket 124 along the first longitudinal axis 140. When the threaded fastener 168 passes through the first bracket 124 and the second bracket 128, the threaded fastener 168 extends along a direction perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axes 140, 172.

[0019] During assembly and mounting of the heater 100, the first bracket 124 is mounted to the structure 104 and the second bracket 128 is coupled to the heating unit 108. The second bracket 128 can be mounted to the heating unit 108 at various angles relative to the heating unit 108 so the heating unit 108 can be positioned within a space at a desired orientation. That is, the heating unit 108 can rotate about a rotational axis 198 relative to the second bracket 128 (and therefore the first bracket 124 when coupled together), so that the heating unit 108 can be positioned within the space at a desired orientation. Subsequently, the heating unit 108 is raised upward toward the first bracket 124 with the second longitudinal axis 172 preferably remaining generally parallel to the first longitudinal axis 140. The heating unit 108 is moved until the second bracket 128 is adjacent either the first end 132 or the second end 136 of the first bracket 124. Once the second longitudinal axis 172 is coaxial with the first longitudinal axis 140, the heating unit 108 is translated until at least a portion of the second bracket 128 is received within the channel 160 of the first bracket 124, resulting in the second bracket 128 being coupled to the first bracket 124, as shown in Fig. 4. Specifically, the pair of shoulders 188 and the flanges 192 are disposed within the channel 160 when the second bracket 128 is coupled to the first bracket 124, while the second base 176 is disposed outside the channel 160 when the second bracket 128 is coupled to the first bracket 124.

[0020] At this point, the heating unit 108 no longer needs to be held upward because the first bracket 124 supports the weight of the heating unit 108 via the second bracket 128. In other words, when the second bracket 128 is coupled to the first bracket 124, the pair of shoulders 188 of the second bracket 128 rest against the lips 156 of the first bracket 124, thereby supporting and suspending the heating unit 108 about the floor surface (Fig. 3). That said, the pair ofAttorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W001 shoulders 188 of the second bracket 128 are still allowed to slide against the lips 156 of the first bracket 124 as the second bracket 128 is translated along the first longitudinal axis 140 to a location (preferably to a central location) between the first end 132 and the second end 136 of the first bracket 124. Meanwhile, the pair of sidewalls 152 of the first bracket 124 and the flanges 192 of the second bracket 128 are oriented parallel to each other (Fig. 3) when the second bracket 128 is coupled to the first bracket 124. The first bracket 124 and the second bracket 128 are inhibited from rotating relative to each other at this time.

[0021] Once the second bracket 128 is slid along the channel 160 to a central location between the first end 132 and the second end 136, the threaded hole 196 is aligned with one of the elongated slots 164. Here, the threaded fastener 168 is inserted through the elongated slot 164 of one of the sidewalls 152 of the first bracket 124 and the threaded hole 196 of one of the flanges 192 to couple the second bracket 128 to the first bracket 124, as shown in Fig. 4. As a result, the second bracket 128 is inhibited from moving relative to the first bracket 124 along the first longitudinal axis 140.

[0022] Since the channel 160 of the first bracket 124 receives a majority of the second bracket 128, the heating unit 108 can be mounted adjacent the structure 104 — only a short distance D exists between the heating unit 108 and the structure 104 (Fig. 3). Specifically, once mounted, the heating unit 108 is approximately 1.5 inches to approximately 2.0 inches from the structure 104, as represented by distance D. More specifically, the heating unit 108 is approximately 1.84 inches (i.e., distance D) from the structure 104 when mounted without the extension rods 151.

[0023] Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

Attorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W001CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A heater comprising: a heating unit including a heating element and a fan; a bracket assembly for mounting the heating unit to a structure, the bracket assembly including: a first bracket including a channel and defining a first longitudinal axis along which the channel extends, the first bracket is configured to couple to the structure, and a second bracket coupled to the heating unit and at least partially received within the channel, the second bracket defining a second longitudinal axis that extends along the first longitudinal axis when the second bracket is engaged with the first bracket; and a fastener that couples the first bracket and the second bracket to each other, wherein the heating unit is capable of rotating relative to the first bracket and the second bracket, and wherein the second bracket slides relative to the first bracket along the first longitudinal axis to position the heating unit relative to the first bracket and the fastener engages the first bracket and the second bracket to inhibit the second bracket from sliding relative to the first bracket along the first longitudinal axis.

2. The heater of claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are coaxial when the first bracket and the second bracket are coupled to each other.

3. The heater of claim 1, wherein the first bracket further includes a first base that is configured to abut against the structure, a pair of sidewalls extending away from the first base, and a lip on each of the sidewalls, such that the lips extends inward toward each other.

4. The heater of claim 3, wherein the lips and the first base are oriented parallel to each other.

5. The heater of claim 3, wherein the first base, the pair of sidewalls, and each lip form the channel.Attorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W0016. The heater of claim 3, wherein the second bracket further includes a second base that is configured to abut against the heating unit, a pair of shoulders extending outward relative to the second base, and a flange extending from each of the shoulders, such that the flanges are oriented perpendicular to the second base.

7. The heater of claim 6, wherein the pair of shoulders and the flanges are disposed within the channel when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket, while the second base is disposed outside the channel when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket.

8. The heater of claim 6, wherein the pair of shoulders of the second bracket rest against the lips of the first bracket when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket.

9. The heater of claim 6, wherein the first bracket includes a first end, a second end, and the longitudinal axis extends between the first end and the second end, and wherein the pair of shoulders of the second bracket slide against the lips of the first bracket when the second bracket is moved to a location between the first end and the second end of the first bracket.

10. The heater of claim 6, wherein the pair of sidewalls of the first bracket and the flanges are oriented parallel to each other when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket.

11. The heater of claim 6, wherein the fastener is inserted through an elongated slot of one of the sidewalls of the first bracket and a threaded hole of one of the flanges to couple the second bracket to the first bracket.

12. The heater of claim 11, wherein the fastener is a screw that threadably engages the threaded hole and extends along a direction perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axis when inserted through the first bracket and the second bracket.

13. The heater of claim 1, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are inhibited from rotating relative to each other.Attorney Docket No. 022233-0021-W00114. A bracket assembly for mounting a heating unit to a structure, the bracket assembly comprising: a first bracket configured to couple to the structure and including a channel; a second bracket configured to couple to the heating unit, the second bracket is at least partially received within the channel and capable of sliding along the channel when the second bracket is engaged with the first bracket; and a fastener that extends through the first bracket and the second bracket to inhibit the second bracket from sliding along the channel of the first bracket.

15. The bracket assembly of claim 14, wherein the first bracket further includes a first base that is configured to abut against the structure, a pair of sidewalls extending away from the first base, and a lip on each of the sidewalls, such that the lips extends inward toward each other.

16. The bracket assembly of claim 15, wherein the first base, the pair of sidewalls, and each lip form the channel.

17. The bracket assembly of claim 15, wherein the second bracket further includes a second base that is configured to abut against the heating unit, a pair of shoulders extending outward relative to the second base, and a flange extending from each of the shoulders, such that the flanges are oriented perpendicular to the second base.

18. The bracket assembly of claim 17, wherein the pair of shoulders and the flanges are disposed within the channel when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket, while the second base is disposed outside the channel when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket.

19. The bracket assembly of claim 17, wherein the pair of shoulders of the second bracket rest against the lips of the first bracket when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket.

20. The bracket assembly of claim 17, wherein the pair of sidewalls of the first bracket and the flanges are oriented parallel to each other when the second bracket is coupled to the first bracket.

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