HEATING DEVICE

FIELD OP THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to heating devices and more particularly to a heating device for consuming newspapers which are normally disposed of as waste mat¬ erial by converting them from a thickness about twelve times normal and into a carbon-like material and burn¬ ing this material at a controlled rate. The heating device is insertable into a fireplace or capable of use in a free standing mode and includes a housing and a structure for supporting folded newspapers in a suspen¬ ded manner in the housing which includes an expanded metal rate of combustion member engaging the front sur- face of the newspapers and a controlled draft device for supplying air to the newspapers when necessary. SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to pro¬ vide a heating device for consuming newspapers by con- verting them to carbon-like material and slowly burning this material and which includes an open front on a ver- disposed housing having an open upper end.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heating device in which the housing is provided with a supporting structure for suspending newspapers that includes a movable screen mesh member overlying the ^■ outer surface of the newspapers for confining them between the screen member and the rear of the housing to control the burning rate to convert them to carbon¬ like material which burns slowly to produce substant+i ial radiant energy for heating purposes. A further object of the invention is to provide a heating device having a forced draft and an adjustable control for varying the combustion supporting air that supplied to the bottom edges of the newspapers. Still another object of the invention is to provide a screen type supporting shelf along the bottom edge of the newspapers through which combustion supporting air passes and which retains the newspapers in place. Still another feature is a heating device that is simple in construction, easy to inert into a fireplace, easy to use in a free standing mode and efficiently burns newspapers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the heating device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along section line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along section line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional taken along section line 4-4 on Fig.3 showing the forced draft and diffuser. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the air diffuser. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the heating device 10 of the invention includes a vertically oriented housing 12 having arear wall which is designated by 14 and is Inclined rearwardly and provided with upwardly converging side walls 16 which diverge forwardly. The front of the housing is open at l8 with a partial top wall 20 defining the top of the opening. The bottom of the opening 18 is defined by a bottom partition 22 and extending downwardlt from the front edge of the part¬ ition 22 is a partial front wall 24 that is connected to the side walls 16 to provide an open front for recieving vertically disposed folded newspapers2β that are disposed between a pair of supporting rods 32.

The rods 32 are fixed to the rear walll4 in any desired manner and have an enlarged outer end34 whichserves as a stop member. The rods are spaced apart less than the width of the newspapers and deform and grip the side edges of the newspapers at the upper corners as at 28. A screen mesh member 36 is supported from the rods 32 for movement toward and away from the newspapers by using a poker or the like with the stops 34 preventing the member 36 from being pulled off the rods. A shelf in the form of wire mesh 40 is positioned under the newspapers and is connected to the side and rear walls and which retains ash from the burning news¬ papers so that all of the newspapers will be consumed and discharged from a top opening 44 in the housing. Inclined baffles 46 extend from front to rear in the opening 44. The entire device can be easily inserted into a fireplace of conventional size. The opening 44 is aligned with the chimney so that combustion products including any ash will be discharged form the chimney or a smokestack may be attached to the top end of the housing for use of the device in a free-standing mode either inside or outside for the purposes of heating, cooking or the like.

A forced air draft device 48 is provided below the shelf 4θ and includes a fan and motor assembly 50 discharging air through an aperture 52 in partition 22 with the front wall 24 having a louvered opening 4 to admit air to fan 50. A diffuser 56 i3 supported on top of partition 22 by a pair of front to rear track members 58 having inwardly spaced flanges 6θ slidably receiving a bottom plate 62 on the diffuser 56. The plate 62 includes an aperture 64 at the front to receive a poker to enable adjustment of the diff¬ user0 The plate 62 is also provided with an elongated opening 66 for registry with opening 52 o Extending upwardly from the plate is a transition member having front wall 68 and rear wall 70 with upwardly diverging side walls 72 connecting walls 68 and 70 to form an elongated slot 74 for discharging air upwardly through a substantial portion of the screen 40 with inward and outward movement of diffuser 56 determining the position of the air concentration in relation to the newspapers 26.

Newspapers of about one-half inch thick are placed between the rods32 and rest against the rear wall of the housing with the screen 36 resting against the newspapres can be ignited by any means. This does not require operation of fan50. By moving the screen 36 inwardly or outwardly, the rate of combustion can be controlled to convert thr the newspapers to a carbon¬ like material which will burn slowly to produce

radiant heat to efficiently use the heat produced by burning the newspapers .