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A portable heater comprises a housing, a heating element, and a fuel supply. The fuel supply is preferably a liquid gas type wherein a valve assembly meters the gas to the heating element. A regulator is used to regulate flow of gas from the fuel source, and a connector assembly rotatably interconne

A portable heater comprises a housing, a heating element, and a fuel supply. The fuel supply is preferably a liquid gas type wherein a valve assembly meters the gas to the heating element. A regulator is used to regulate flow of gas from the fuel source, and a connector assembly rotatably interconnects the regulator to the valve assembly. This rotatable connection allows the fuel source, typically in the form of a gas bottle, to be rotated away from the housing for easier removal and replacement of the gas bottle. Rotation of the regulator can be supported by use of a bracket which is attached to the regulator.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A portable heater comprising:a housing; a heating element mounted in said housing for producing heat; a valve assembly communicating with said heating element for controlling the flow of a fuel to said heating element; a regulator; a gas bottle removably attached to said regulator; and a connecto

1. A portable heater comprising:a housing; a heating element mounted in said housing for producing heat; a valve assembly communicating with said heating element for controlling the flow of a fuel to said heating element; a regulator; a gas bottle removably attached to said regulator; and a connector assembly rotatably interconnecting said regulator and said valve assembly so that the gas bottle may be selectively rotated from a first use position to a second angular position for removal and replacement of the gas bottle. 2. The heater, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector assembly includes:a first coupling element having a first end communicating with said valve assembly, and said first coupling element further having a second end; and a second coupling element having a first end communicating with said regulator, and said second coupling element having a second end which connects to said second end of said first coupling element, wherein said second coupling element is rotatable with respect to said first coupling element thereby allowing rotation of the regulator along with the gas bottle connected to the regulator. 3. A heater, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:said first coupling element is in the form of an elbow, and said second coupling element is in the form of a union. 4. A heater, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:said first coupling element is in the form of an elbow, and said second end thereof includes a crimped portion for engagement with said second end of said second coupling element; and said second coupling element is in the form of a union, said first end thereof having threads for connection to said regulator. 5. A heater, as claimed in claim 2, further including:at least one seal placed between said second end of said first coupling element and said second end of said second coupling element. 6. A heater, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:said seal is in the form of an o-ring. 7. A heater, as claimed in claim 1, further including:a stabilizing bracket attached to said regulator thereby stabilizing said regulator for rotation about a fixed axis of rotation. 8. A heater, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:said stabilizing bracket attaches to one side of said regulator, and said connector assembly connects to a substantially opposite side of said regulator. 9. A heater, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:said stabilizing bracket includes upper and lower jaws engaging said regulator, and a spring loaded rod connected between said upper and lower jaws, and attaching to said housing. 10. A heater, as claimed in claim 1, further including:a removable cover placed over said gas bottle when said gas bottle is installed within said heater. 11. A heater, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:said first use position is substantially vertical and said second angular position is angled away from substantially vertical. 12. A portable heater comprising:a housing; a heating element mounted in the housing for providing heat; a valve assembly communicating with the heating element for controlling fuel to the heating element; a regulator communicating with the valve assembly; a gas bottle mounted to the regulator; and means for rotatably interconnecting the regulator and the valve assembly enabling the gas bottle to be selectively rotated between a first use position and a second angular position whereby the gas bottle may be removed and replaced. 13. A heater, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for rotatably interconnecting includes:a first coupling element having a first end communicating with the valve assembly, and said first coupling element having a second end; and a second coupling element having a first end communicating with the regulator, and said second coupling element having a second end which connects to said second end of said first coupling element, wherein said second coupling element is rotatable with respect to said first coupling element thereby allowing rotation of the regulator along with the gas bottle connected to the regulator. 14. A heater, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:said first coupling element is in the form of an elbow, and said second coupling element is in the form of a union. 15. A heater, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:said first coupling element is in the form of an elbow, and said second end thereof includes a crimped portion for engagement with said second end of said second coupling element; and said second coupling element is in the form of a union, said first end thereof having threads for connection to the regulator. 16. A heater, as claimed in claim 13, further including:at least one seal placed between said second end of said first coupling element and said second end of said second coupling element. 17. A heater, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:said seal is in the form of an o-ring. 18. A heater, as claimed in claim 12, further including:a stabilizing bracket attached to the regulator thereby stabilizing the regulator for rotation about a fixed axis of rotation. 19. A heater, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:said stabilizing bracket attaches to one side of the regulator, and said means for rotatably interconnecting connects to a substantially opposite side of the regulator. 20. A heater, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:said support bracket includes upper and lower jaws engaging the regulator, and a spring loaded rod connected between said upper and lower jaws, and attaching to the housing. 21. A heater, as claimed in claim 12, further including:a removable cover placed over the gas bottle when the gas bottle is installed within said heater. 22. A portable heater comprising:a housing; a heating element mounted in the housing for providing heat; a valve assembly communicating with the heating element for controlling fuel to the heating element; a regulator communicating with the valve assembly; a gas bottle mounted to the regulator; and a connector assembly interconnecting the regulator and the valve assembly enabling the gas bottle to be selectively rotated between a first use position and a second angular position for removal and replacement of the gas bottle. 23. The heater, as claimed in claim 22, wherein the connector assembly includes:a first coupling element having a first end communicating with the valve assembly, and said first coupling element having a second end; and a second coupling element having a first end communicating with the regulator, and said second coupling element having a second end which connects to said second end of said first coupling element, wherein said second coupling element is rotatable with respect to said first coupling element thereby allowing rotation of the regulator along with the gas bottle connected to the regulator. 24. A heater, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:said first coupling element is in the form of an elbow, and said second coupling element is in the form of a union. 25. A heater, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:said first coupling element is in the form of an elbow, and said second end thereof includes a crimped portion for engagement with said second end of said second coupling element; and said second coupling element is in the form of a union, said first end thereof having threads for connection to the regulator. 26. A heater, as claimed in claim 23, further including:at least one seal placed between said second end of said first coupling element and said second end of said second coupling element. 27. A heater, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:said seal is in the form of an o-ring. 28. A heater, as claimed in claim 22, further including:a stabilizing bracket attached to the regulator thereby stabilizing the regulator for rotation about a fixed axis of rotation. 29. A heater, as claimed in claim 28, wherein:said stabilizing bracket attaches to one side of the regulator, and said connector assembly connects to a substantially opposite side of the regulator. 30. A heater, as claimed in claim 28, wherein:said stabilizing bracket includes upper and lower jaws engaging the regulator, and a spring loaded rod connected between said upper and lower jaws, and attaching to the housing. 31. A heater, as claimed in claim 22, further including:a removable cover placed over the gas bottle when the gas bottle is installed within said heater. 32. A heater, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:said first use position is substantially vertical and said second angular position is angled away from substantially vertical. 33. A method of changing a fuel bottle housed in a portable heater having a carrying handle and an integral heating element, said method comprising the steps of:providing a first fuel bottle connected to a regulator of the heater; rotating the first fuel bottle and the regulator from a first use position to a second angular position away from the first use position, so that the first fuel bottle extends away from the heater; detaching the first fuel bottle from the regulator; attaching a second fuel bottle to the regulator; and rotating the second fuel bottle and the regulator from the second angular position back to the first use position. 34. A method as claimed in claim 33, including the further steps of:removing a removable cover from the heater to access the first fuel bottle prior to said step of rotating the first fuel bottle and the regulator from the first use position to the second angular position; and replacing the removable cover after said step of rotating the second fuel bottle and the regulator from the second angular position back to the first use position. 35. A method as claimed 33, including the step of:providing a stabilizing bracket attached to the regulator for supporting the regulator during said rotating steps. 36. A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein:said rotating steps further comprises the step of rotating the regulator and the stabilizing bracket about an axis. 37. A method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising the step of:providing a connector assembly between the regulator and a valve assembly, the connector assembly enabling the first fuel bottle and the regulator to be selectively rotated between the first use position and the second angular position. 38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein:the connector assembly includes: a first coupling element having a first end communicating with the valve assembly, and said first coupling element having a second end; and a second coupling element having a first end communicating with the regulator, and said second coupling element having a second end which connects to said second end of said first coupling element, wherein said second coupling element is rotatable with respect to said first coupling element thereby allowing rotation of the regulator along with the first or the second fuel bottle connected to the regulator. 39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein:the first coupling element remains substantially immobile during said rotating steps. 40. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein:said rotating steps further comprise the step of rotating the regulator and the second coupling element about an axis.