Pipe heating assembly with hingedly attached light emitters

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pipe heating devices and more particularly pertains to a new pipe heating device for heating a PVC pipe so that the pipe may be selectively bent as needed for electrical purposes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of heating devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,145 describes a heat lamp device adapted for using infrared light to heat air. A pipe heating device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,760 and includes a housing having a heating coil therein. When a plastic pipe is extended through the housing, the heating coil is wrapped around the pipe for adequately heating the pipe.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that is used for heating pipes comprised of a plastic material in such a manner that they become pliable enough to bend into a required shape. Additionally, it is preferred that the device may be used as an auxiliary lighting assembly for illuminating a job site. This will allow a worker to bring only one tool or device to satisfy two job related needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs presented above by comprising a housing that has a pair of openings extending therethrough. The openings are axially aligned. At least one light emitter is hingedly attached to the housing and is selectively positioned in a first position facing inward of the housing or in a second position facing outwardly of the housing. A pipe may be positioned in the housing and heated by the at least one light emitter.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a pipe heating assembly with hingedly attached light emitters according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 2 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new pipe heating device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the pipe heating assembly 10 with hingedly attached light emitters generally comprises a housing 12 that has a bottom wall 14, a front wall 16, aback wall 18, a first side wall 20 and a second side wall 22. Each of the first 20 and second 22 side walls has an opening 24 extending therethrough. The openings 24 are axially aligned with respect to each other. A plurality of legs 26 is attached to and extends downwardly from the housing 12. At least one handle 28 is attached to the housing 12. The openings 24 are positioned generally adjacent to the bottom wall 14 and each of the openings 24 has a diameter generally between two inches and five inches. The housing 12 generally has a width from the first side wall 20 to the second side wall 22 generally equal to 18 inches, a height generally equal to 12 inches and a width generally equal to 8 inches. It should be understood that while these measurements are preferred, the housing 12 and the openings 24 may have a different size to accommodate alternately sized pipes which are extendable through the openings 24.

At least one light emitter 30, and preferably a pair of light emitters 30, is hingedly attached to the housing 12. The light emitters 30 are selectively positioned in a first position facing inward of the housing 12 or in a second position facing outwardly of the housing 12. The light emitters 30 substantially cover the housing 12 when the light emitters 30 are in the first position. A plate 32 may be extended across the top of the housing 12 and between the light emitters 30. The plate 32 allows the light emitters 30 to be spaced from each other while still ensuring that the housing 30 is completely covered. The plate 32 also allows the width of the housing 30 to be increased without increasing the size of the light emitters 30. Each of light emitters 30 is preferably a 500 W halogen lamp. A pipe 8, comprised of plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, may be positioned in the housing 12 and heated by the light emitters 30. Once heated by the light emitters 30, the pipe 8 may be selectively bent as needed.

An actuator 34 for selectively turning the light emitters 30 on or off is electrically coupled to the light emitters 30. A power supply 36 is electrically coupled to the actuator 34. The power supply 36 may be a conventional power cord. A loop 38 is preferably attached to the housing 12 for securing the power cord to the housing 12 when not in use.

An elongated saddle 40 is positioned in the housing and is attached to the bottom wall 14. The saddle 40 is adapted for supporting the pipe 8 when the pipe 8 is extended through the openings 24. A plurality of reflective plates 42 is mounted in the housing 12. The reflective plates 42 are positioned adjacent to the bottom wall 14 and are angled so that light from the light emitters 30 is directed toward the saddle 40 and pipe 8. This ensures that the pipe 8 is heated quickly and as hot as possible with the light emitters 30. When not being used to heat a pipe 8, the light emitters 30 may be positioned in the second position and used to illuminate a job site. The walls of the housing 12 are preferably insulated to ensure that heat from the light emitters 30 is retained in the housing and that the housing does not become overly hot to the touch. Insulating the walls themselves or positioning insulating material 50 between the reflective plates 40 and the housing 30 may accomplish this.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.