Granted Patent B2

US 6,902,287 · App. 10/294,161 · Granted Jun 7, 2005

Abstract

Claims (56)

1. An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure comprising:

a spacer;

a cover secured to the spacer;

a gasket positioned between the spacer and the cover, the spacer, the cover and the gasket defining an enclosed area that is sealed from an external environment;

a heater assembly positioned within the enclosed area, the heater assembly including a heater, a fan, a high voltage circuit electrically connected to the heater and a low voltage circuit electrically connected to the fan, the heater assembly being operable to maintain a uniform temperature within the enclosed area; and

an appliance positioned within the enclosed area.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said spacer is an enclosed spacer.

3. The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein said enclosed spacer includes a circular base and a wall extending from said circular base.

4. The enclosure of claim 3 , further comprising a pair of conduit connectors and the wall extending from the circular base defining a pair of apertures, each conduit connector being secured to the wall in alignment with one aperture of the pair of apertures.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a light emitting device.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein the light emitting device is a strobe light.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the cover is transparent.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the gasket comprises a neoprene gasket.

9. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat positioned within the enclosed area that is operable to activate the heater.

10. The enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the thermostat comprises a low temperature thermostat.

11. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a silicone laminate heater.

12. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a high voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.

13. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising a low voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.

14. An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure comprising:

a spacer;

a cover secured to the spacer;

a gasket positioned between the spacer and the cover, the spacer, the cover and the gasket defining an enclosed area that is sealed from an external environment;

a heater assembly positioned within the enclosed area, the heater assembly including a heater, a fan, a high voltage circuit and a low voltage circuit;

an appliance mounting plate positioned on the heater assembly; and

an appliance positioned on the appliance mounting plate.

15. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the spacer is an enclosed spacer.

16. The enclosure of claim 15 , wherein the enclosed spacer includes a circular base and a wall extending from the circular base.

17. The enclosure of claim 16 , further comprising a pair of conduit connectors and the wall extending from the circular base defining a pair of apertures, each conduit connector being secured to the wall in alignment with one aperture of the pair of apertures.

18. The enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the appliance is a light emitting device.

19. The enclosure of claim 18 , wherein the light emitting device is a strobe light.

20. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the cover is transparent.

21. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the gasket comprises a neoprene gasket.

22. The enclosure of claim 14 , further comprising a thermostat positioned within the enclosed area that is operable to activate the heater.

23. The enclosure of claim 22 , wherein the thermostat comprises a low temperature thermostat.

24. The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the heater comprises a silicone laminate heater.

25. The enclosure of claim 14 , further comprising a fuse positioned on the appliance mounting plate and electrically connected to the high voltage circuit.

26. The enclosure of claim 14 , further comprising a high voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.

27. The enclosure of claim 14 , further comprising a low voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.

28. An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure comprising:

a spacer;

a cover secured to the spacer;

a gasket positioned between the spacer and the cover, the spacer, the cover and the gasket defining an enclosed area that is sealed off from an external environment;

a heater assembly positioned within the enclosed area, the heater assembly including a heater, a fan, high voltage circuit and a low voltage circuit, the heater assembly being operable to maintain a uniform temperature within the enclosed area;

a thermostat electrically connected to the heater assembly; and

an appliance positioned with the enclosed area.

29. The enclosure of claim 28 , wherein the spacer is an enclosed spacer.

30. The enclosure of claim 29 , wherein the enclosed spacer includes a circular base and a wall extending from the circular base.

31. The enclosure of claim 30 , further comprising a pair of conduit connectors and the wall extending from the circular base defining a pair of apertures, each conduit connector being secured to the wall in alignment with one aperture of the pair of apertures.

32. The enclosure of claim 28 , wherein the appliance is a light emitting device.

33. The enclosure of claim 32 , wherein the light emitting device is a strobe light.

34. The enclosure of claim 28 , wherein the cover is transparent.

35. The enclosure of claim 28 , wherein the gasket comprises a neoprene gasket.

36. The enclosure of claim 28 , wherein the thermostat comprises a low temperature thermostat.

37. The enclosure of claim 28 , wherein the heater comprises a silicone laminate heater.

38. The enclosure of claim 28 , further comprising a high voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.

39. The enclosure of claim 28 , further comprising a low voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.

Assignments (7)