Device for applying heat radiation to a surface

Abstract

A device (1) for applying heat radiation to a surface, for softening and/or removing one or more coatings, includes a head assembly (2) and a handle assembly (3) connected to the head assembly. The head assembly includes at least one heat radiation element (6) arranged in a reflector unit (4), which has an aperture intended to be directed towards the surface to be radiated. The head assembly and the handle assembly are separated by a clearance and at least one heat dissipating member that spans the clearance connects a first attachment area (14) of the head assembly and a second attachment area (16) of the handle assembly. At least a portion of the heat dissipating member has a curvature such that the length of the heat dissipating member exceeds the distance between the first and second attachment areas.

Claims

1. A device (1) for applying heat radiation to a surface, for softening and/or removing one or more coatings on said surface, which device (1) comprises: a head assembly (2), the head assembly (2) including a first attachment area (14) and a first connecting part (10a, 11a); a handle assembly (3) connected to said head assembly (2), the handle assembly (3) including a second attachment area (16) and a second connecting part (12b, 12c); fastening elements (8, 9) fastening the first connecting part (10a, 11a) of the head assembly (10a) to the second connecting part (12b, 12c) of the handle assembly, wherein the head assembly and the handle assembly are separated by a clearance between the first attachment area (14) on the head assembly (2) and the second attachment area (16) on the handle assembly (3), wherein the head assembly (2) comprises at least one heat radiation element (6) arranged in a reflector unit (4), which reflector unit (4) has an aperture intended to be directed towards the surface to be radiated; and at least one heat dissipating member (13) spanning said clearance and connecting the first attachment area (14) on the head assembly (2) and the second attachment area (16) on the handle assembly (3), wherein at least a portion of the at least one heat dissipating member (13) has a curvature such that a length of the heat dissipating member (13) exceeds a distance between the first attachment area (14) on the head assembly (2) and the second attachment area (16) on the handle assembly (3), and wherein the each heat dissipating member (13) spans said clearance between the first attachment area (14) on the head assembly (2) and the second attachment area (16) on the handle assembly (3), and each of at least one heat dissipating member (13) has a length of the at least one heat dissipating member (13) exceeds at least twice the distance between the first attachment area (14) on the head assembly (2) and the second attachment area (16) on the handle assembly (3), and the length of each heat dissipating member is the distance between a first end portion of the heat dissipating member, which first end portion is connected to the first attachment area on the head assembly, and a second end portion of the heat dissipating member, which second end portion is connected to the second attachment area on the handle assembly, the length of the heat dissipating member being measured along a line that follows the curvature of the heat dissipating member.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat dissipating member (13) has a helical shape.

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one heat dissipating member (13) is a coil spring.

4. The device (1) according to claim 1, which device (1) comprises at least two of said heat dissipating members (13).

5. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the head assembly (2) is pivotally connected to the handle assembly (3).

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one heat dissipating member (13) is pivotally connected to the head assembly (2).

7. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one heat dissipating member (13) is pivotally connected to the handle assembly (3).

8. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the length of each of the at least one heat dissipating member (13) is more than 3 times as long as the length of the distance between the first attachment area (14) on the head assembly (2) and the second attachment area (16) on the handle assembly (3).

9. The device (1) according to claim 2, which device (1) comprises at least two of said heat dissipating members (13).

10. The device (1) according to claim 3, which device (1) comprises at least two of said heat dissipating members (13).

11. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein, the head assembly includes a pair of mounting arms (10, 11) and the first connecting part (10a, 11a) is comprised of end sections of the pair of mounting arms, each end section having an through-hole, the second connecting part (12b, 12c) of the handle assembly (3) includes a bore that receives the fastening elements (8, 9), and the fastening elements (8, 9) pass through the through-holes of the end sections and through the bore of the second connecting part (12b, 12c) to thereby provide of pivoting connection between the head assembly (2) and the handle assembly (3).

12. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the head assembly (2) is pivotally connected to the handle assembly (3).

13. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one heat dissipating member (13) is pivotally connected to the handle assembly (3).

14. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the length of each of the heat dissipating member (13) is 5 to 15 times longer than the length of the distance between the first attachment area (14) on the head assembly (2) and the second attachment area (16) on the handle assembly (3).

15. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, the head assembly includes a pair of mounting arms (10, 11) and the first connecting part (10a, 11a) is comprised of end sections of the pair of mounting arms, each end section having an through-hole, the second connecting part (12b, 12c) of the handle assembly (3) includes a bore that receives the fastening elements (8, 9), and the fastening elements (8, 9) pass through the through-holes of the end sections and through the bore of the second connecting part (12b, 12c) to thereby provide of pivoting connection between the head assembly (2) and the handle assembly (3).

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) The description will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is perspective view of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device 1 for applying heat radiation to a surface. The device 1 comprises a head assembly 2 and a handle assembly 3 separated by a clearance. The device has a longitudinal axis L and a transverse axis T.

(7) Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the head assembly 2 comprises a reflector unit 4 mounted in a protective casing 5. A heat radiation element 6 comprising a plurality of electric resistance wires arranged in tubes made of quartz crystal is mounted within the reflector unit 4. The reflector unit 4 comprises a U-shaped central part 4a and two side walls 4b, 4c connected to the central part so as to define a space enclosed on five sides, which space houses the heat radiation element 6. The central part 4a and the side walls 4b, 4c also define an aperture intended to face the surface to be treated. Thus, the reflector unit 4 is adapted to reflect the radiation from the heat radiation element 6 towards the surface to be treated.

(8) The skilled person understands that the shape of the reflector unit 4 can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

(9) The casing 5 comprises two separate casing parts 5a, 5b, which cover a large portion of the central part 4a and the side walls 4b, 4c of the reflector unit 4. The casing 5 is formed by extrusion pressing and is preferably made of aluminium. The casing 5 acts as a protective cover that prevents a user from coming into direct contact with the reflector unit 4, which may be heated to temperatures of about 600? C. during use of the device 1.

(10) FIG. 3 is an exploded view that shows how the head assembly 2 is pivotally connected to the handle assembly 3.

(11) The handle assembly 3 comprises a handle portion 21 and a first bracket 7. The first bracket 7 comprises a first end connected to the handle portion 21 and a second end, located opposite the first end as seen in the longitudinal direction of the device 1. The second end comprises two thin end portions 7a, 7b with a circular cross-section as seen in the transverse direction of the device 1. The end portions 7a, 7b are located opposite one another along and extend in respective planes perpendicular to the transverse axis T. The end portions 7a, 7b are pivotally mounted on pins 22 (only one is shown in FIG. 3) that extend through central through holes in the end portions 7a, 7b.

(12) Each casing part 5a, 5b is rigidly connected to a respective mounting arm 10, 11. Each mounting arm 10, 11 extends from its corresponding casing part 5a, 5b in a direction towards the handle assembly 3. Each mounting arm 10, 11 has an outermost section 10a, 11a (located at a distance from the casing 5) and each outermost section 10a, 11a extends in a plane perpendicular to the transverse axis T of the device 1. Each end section 10a, 11a has a through-hole adapted to receive a fastening member 8, 9. In this embodiment, the fastening members 8, 9 are screws. Other types of fastening members 8 are possible. The end sections 10a, 11a are located outside of the end portions 7a, 7b of the first bracket 7, as seen in the transverse direction of the device 1.

(13) The head assembly 2 can be rotated about the transverse axis T of the device 1 by means of a head assembly positioning means 12. That is, the head assembly positioning means 12 can be used to adjust the angular position of the head assembly 2. The head assembly positioning means 12 comprises an elongate and curved rod 12a, which at opposite ends is connected to two connection elements 12b, 12c. Each connection element 12b, 12c has a circular cross-section, as seen in the transverse direction of the device 1, and comprises a central bore that extends along the transverse axis T of the device 1. Each bore is adapted to receive one of the fastening members 8, 9. The inside of the bores are threaded and the threads of the bores are adapted to cooperate with corresponding threads on the fastening members 8, 9. Washers are arranged outside of the end sections 10a, 11a of the mounting arms 10, 11. Each fastening member 8, 9 extends through one of the washers, through the through-hole in one of the end sections 10a, 11a of the mounting arms 10, 11 and into the bore in one of the connection elements 12b, 12c. The fastening members 8, 9 are tightened in the bores to force the end sections 10a, 11a of the mounting arms 10, 11 into frictional engagement with the connection elements 12b, 12c. Thus is ensured that the casing 5 rotates with the head assembly positioning means 12.

(14) A heat dissipating member 13 adapted to transfer heat away from the reflector unit 4 is mounted between the head assembly 2 and the handle assembly 3. The heat dissipating member 13 is at a first end welded to a fastening element 24 at a first attachment area 14. The fastening element 24 is attached to a second bracket 15 by means of a pair of screws (not shown) and the second bracket 15 is attached to the reflector unit 4. The heat dissipating member 13 also has a second end welded to a third bracket 17 at a second attachment area 16. The first end of the heat dissipating member 13 is located opposite the second end of the heat dissipating member 13 as seen in the longitudinal direction of the heat dissipating member 13. The third bracket 17 is part of the handle assembly 3 and the second bracket 15 is part of the head assembly 2, so that the heat dissipating member 13 extends from the head assembly 2 to the handle assembly 3.

(15) The second bracket 15 straddles the central portion 4a of the reflector unit 4 and is adapted to transfer heat from the reflector unit 4 to the heat dissipating member 13 via the fastening element 24. Some of the heat transferred to the heat dissipating member 13 dissipates into the air surrounding the heat dissipating member 13 and some of it is transferred to the handle assembly 3.

(16) The third bracket 17 comprises a base portion 17a connected to the heat dissipating member 13 and two legs 17b, 17c connected to and extending away from the base portion 17a. The legs 17b, 17c extend in parallel in planes perpendicular to the transverse axis 1 of the device. The two legs 17b, 17c are located at a distance from one another along the transverse axis 1. Each leg 17b, 17c is connected to a corresponding connection element 12b, 12c of the head assembly 12 by means of one of the above mentioned pins 22 (only one is shown). The pins 22 ensure that the third bracket 17 and thus the reflector unit 4 rotates with the head assembly positioning means 12 and the casing 5. As mentioned above, the pins 22 extend through central through-holes in the end portions 7a, 7b of the first bracket 7, so that the head assembly 2 is allowed to rotate about the transverse axis T of the device in relation to the handle assembly 3.

(17) A stop member 23 extends between the inner surfaces of the end portions 7a, 7b. The stop member 23 extends through notches in the semi-circular peripheries of the legs 17b, 17c. The ends of the notches are adapted to cooperate with the stop member 23 to prevent the head assembly 2 from rotating any further in relation to the handle assembly 3. In this embodiment, the head assembly 2 is allowed to rotate relative the handle assembly 3 through an angle of 45? about the transverse axis T of the device 1.

(18) The heat dissipating member 13 shown in FIGS. 1-3 is a coil spring. That is, the heat dissipating member 13 is curved and has a helical shape, so that the length of the heat dissipating member 13 exceeds the distance between the first and second attachment areas 14, 16. Thus is also ensured that the surface area of the heat dissipating member 13 is increased in comparison to the surface area of a straight heat dissipating member with the same diameter. The increased surface area ensures that more heat is transferred from the heat dissipating member 13 to the surrounding air and the increased length ensures that the distance the heat has to travel along the heat dissipating member 13 is increased. The result is that less heat is transferred from the head assembly 2 to the handle portion 21 of the handle assembly 3.

(19) The handle assembly 3 further comprises electronic components housed in the handle portion 21. The handle portion 21 is made of plastic. The heat dissipating member 13 ensures that the amount of heat transferred from the head assembly 2 to the handle portion 21 of the handle assembly 3 is not sufficient to melt the plastic in the handle portion 21.

(20) In conclusion, the curvature of the heat dissipating member 13 ensures that a sufficient amount of heat is dissipated to the air surrounding the heat dissipating member 13, so that the temperature of the handle portion 21 is maintained at a level that allows a user to hold the handle portion without being burned.

(21) The heat dissipating member 13, which is a coil spring, is also adapted to absorb some of the movements of the head assembly 2 and the handle assembly 3. This arrangement allows the device 1 to withstand impact forces generated upon impact with other elements, for example a floor or a wall.

(22) The resiliency of the heat dissipating member 13 and the pivotal connection between the head assembly 2 and the handle assembly 3 also makes the device 1 advantageous from an ergonomical point of view, as these features allow a user to maintain the handle assembly 3 in essentially the same position regardless of the position of the head assembly 2.

(23) In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the device may comprise two or more heat dissipating members 21 connecting the head assembly 2 and the handle assembly 3. The addition of a second heat dissipating member 13 further increases the total surface area of the heat dissipating members 13 and ensures that more heat is dissipated to the surrounding air.

(24) In an alternative embodiment, the head assembly 2 may be rigidly connected to the handle assembly 3.

(25) In an alternative embodiment, the head assembly 2 can be connected to the handle assembly only by means of one or more heat dissipating members 13. That is, the mounting arms 10, 11 that connects the casing parts 5a, 5b and the handle assembly 3 are optional.

(26) The dimensions of the device 1 are not essential for the invention. Advantageously, the device 1 is intended to be easy to use as a handheld device even though assisting holding devices may be used for holding and positioning the device. A suitable device 1 may for example have an oblong aperture in the reflector unit 4 with a width of 90 mm and a height of 72 mm.

(27) Heat dissipating members may also be used in larger devices intended to be mounted on one or more supporting structures.

(28) The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims. Also, the above described embodiments and features can be combined in a multitude of ways. For example, the device shown in FIGS. 1-3 may comprise two or more heat dissipating members with a spiral shape and the mounting arms can be removed (the casing 5 can be connected to the reflector unit 4 in many different ways).