Abstract: This invention relates to portable heating systems that utilize a portable fuel source. Portable heating systems of the invention generally include a regulator that is configured to vaporize fuel released from a cartridge and to transfer the vaporized fuel to a burner for ignition.

Abstract: A dual gas and AC electric hair styler comprises: a heater, a housing, and a control member movably disposed in the housing. One end of the control member is exposed out of the housing and another end of the control member is inserted in the housing to connect a linkage device of the heater. The linkage device includes a guiding member. A gas supply and an electric power supply are selectively inserted in the housing to the heater and each have a valve which is pressed to achieve connection. The axial movement of the control member causes axial movements of the linkage device and the guiding member to affect connection of the gas and the electric power supply to the heater. The hair styler can be powered by gas or electric power, and the switching of gas and electric power supplies can be done by the control member.

Abstract: A hair styling device includes a styling rod and a handle connected with the styling rod, which features a holding device and a pivoting cap connected to the holding device. The cap can be pivoted between an opening and closing position and serves to close the housing for the gas cartridge. The inside of the cap features in the area of its free end contact parts, which are designed to exert, upon closure of the cap, a displacement force on the gas cartridge in axial direction of the device. As a result, by closing the cap, the gas cartridge is moved directly into operating position during which a needle valve is inserted in a valve of the gas cartridge by displacing the gas cartridge. In addition, in the area of its linkage to the holding device, the cap features a clamp which, upon opening of the cap, exerts an axial displacement force on the gas cartridge in longitudinal direction of the device toward the handle's end of the hair styling device and thus brings it into a position of removal.

Abstract: Hair-care appliances such as curling tongs are provided. The hair care appliances include a heating device that is controlled in dependence on temperature by a thermostat adjacent to the heating device. The thermostat may be shielded thermally from the heating device by a partition wall.

Abstract: A hot melt glue gun comprising a main housing (5) having a glue stick accommodating bore (8) extending therethrough and terminating in a dispensing nozzle (9) through which melted glue is dispensed. A catalytic combustion element (16) is located in a combustion chamber (15) for raising the temperature of the main housing (5) to an appropriate temperature for melting the glue stick. Fuel gas is supplied to the catalytic combustion element (16) through a fuel gas valve (20) having a spindle (40) extending therefrom. A piezo electric ignition unit (27) generates an EMF for generating a spark across a pair of electrodes (25) in the combustion chamber (15) for igniting the fuel gas to initially burn with flame combustion to raise the temperature of the catalytic element (16) to its ignition temperature.

Abstract: A gas-heatable appliance for personal use receives an inflammable gas reservoir and comprises a combustion chamber and a valve assembly mounted between the inflammable gas reservoir and the combustion chamber. The valve assembly comprises a valve housing defining a gas passageway, a sealing member mounted in the gas passageway and movable between a first position allowing flow of the inflammable gas and a second position blocking the gas passageway, a movable member mounted in the gas passageway in a position other than the sealing member, and a temperature-responsive member disposed in the valve housing. The movable member is movable by the temperature-responsive member in response to a temperature of the combustion chamber to thereby vary an area of cross section permitting gas flow.

Abstract: A portable catalytically heatable appliance is provided. The appliance includes a catalyst support structure to flamelessly combust liquid or gaseous fuel and thereby provide a lower temperature heat source than a heat source that combusts fuel via flame. The fuel is ignited inside the catalytic support structure by a spark electrode. The ignition of the fuel inside the structure obviates the need for separate flame arresters. The ignition system includes a piezoelectric device that causes a voltage potential to form between the electrode and the catalytic support structure. A spark jumps from the electrode to an interior surface of the structure and ignites the fuel inside the structure, causing a flame to propagate. The flame heats the catalytic structure to an activation temperature, after which the fuel is combusted flamelessly on the surface of the catalytic structure.

Abstract: An igniting device has a valve mechanism (8) which controls fuel supply from a gas reservoir, a gas injection nozzle (26) provided on a tip of a rod-like portion projecting from the valve mechanism(8) and a discharge electrode (32) which is disposed in the vicinity of the gas injection nozzle (26) and produces discharge spark to ignite the fuel gas discharged from the nozzle. A nozzle cover (30) made of non-conductive material is provided around the gas injection nozzle (26). The nozzle cover (30) is provided with a front end face (31a) disposed in front of the nozzle at a distance therefrom. The front end face (31a) is cut away at a portion opposed to the gas injection nozzle (26) and a portion opposed to the discharge electrode (32) to form an opening.

Abstract: An apparatus which is heated by a gasified liquid fuel has between the liquid fuel reservoir and a burner, a flow regulator/evaporator consisting of two porous masses separated by a recondensation chamber, the valve for cutting off the combustion being provided between the burner and the downstream mass. Liquid fuel can accumulate in the recondensation chamber so that, for startup of the system, there is an increased flow of fuel through the downstream porous mass to the burner to allow rapid heat up of the heat-distributing member. After the initial heating period the flow to the burner is determined by the porosity characteristics of both masses in series.

Abstract: A portable heating appliance having a member to be heated, includes first and second burners for heating the member; a portable fuel cartridge for supplying fuel to the burners, the furel cartridge including a fuel delivery valve for controlling the flow of fuel from the fuel cartridge, the fuel delivery valve including a control device for preventing the flow of fuel when in a first position and for permitting the flow of fuel when in a second, different position, and a first spring for biasing the control device to the first position; a plunger for actuating the fuel delivery valve in response to user actuation to start the flow of fuel from the fuel cartridge, the plunger pushing in the control device from the first position to the second position against the force of the spring to open the fuel delivery valve so that the latter permits the flow of fuel to the burners; the fuel cartridge further including a ring rotatably mounted on the housing of the cartridge and connected with the fuel delivery valve fo

Abstract: An internal-combustion type iron has a nozzle provided in a grip portion so as to spray a jet of gas supplied from a liquified-gas tank into a hollow barrel. The hollow barrel has a base portion fitted to the grip portion and communicating with the nozzle. An air hole is provided in the base portion of the barrel so that the outside air may be sucked into and be mixed with the gas from the nozzle. A gas flow control body is disposed in the center of a hollow portion of the barrel generates a stagnant vortex flow in the flow of the mixture of the gas and air. A mixing chamber is provided in the hollow portion of the barrel between the air hole and the gas flow control body. The mixing chamber has a length sufficient for the required mixing of the gas with air and for stabilization of flow velocity. A heating chamber is provided in the hollow portion of the barrel between the gas flow control body and an exhaust port provided at the tip of the barrel.

Abstract: A portable hair roller heating device includes a housing defined by top, side and bottom walls, the top wall including apertures through which elongated hair rollers can be inserted into the housing; a heating chamber in the housing for heating the hair rollers inserted through the apertures; two burner tubes with free ends extending into the heating chamber; a fuel delivery system for supplying fuel to the heating chamber through the burner tubes; an ignition device for igniting the fuel supplied to the heating chamber by the burner tubes so as to heat the chamber; a plurality of heat conducting tubes positioned adjacent the heating chamber and in line with the plurality of apertures for supporting the hair rollers in the housing and for conducting heat to the hair rollers from the heating chamber; a first screw-threaded well in the top wall for removably connecting a fuel supply cartridge thereto in an inoperative state when the heating appliance is not being used; a second screw-threaded well in the bottom

Abstract: A portable curling iron having a barrel to be heated, includes first and second burners which heat the barrel; a fuel supply cartridge which supplies fuel to the first and second burners, the cartridge including a fuel delivery valve which controls the flow of fuel from the cartridge; a plunger which applies a force to the valve in response to user actuation, to start the flow of fuel from the cartridge; a regulator assembly including a diaphragm which applies a reverse force to the plunger when the gas pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, to maintain a substantially constant flow rate of fuel to the first and second burners; a valve stem through which the fuel travels from the cartridge to the second burner; a bimetallic element for applying a force to the valve stem to permit the fuel to pass to the second burner when the temperature is less than a predetermined start-up temperature and for removing such force when the predetermined start-up temperature is attained; and a spring which applies a revers

Abstract: In a gas-powered curling iron having a catalyst, a support for the catalyst comprising an inner member having a middle air-pervious portion and an outer member concentrically disposed about the inner member and having a catalytic substrate disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system utilizing solar, or other energy, includes a solar heat collector having fluid ducts connected to the lower portion of a buried fluid thermal unit, which transfers collected heat to an underground storage area. The thermal unit provides fluid convection flow between portions of the unit surrounded by lower and upper heat transfer jackets. A heat pump, installed in a building to be heated or cooled, has ducts for selectively circulating fluids between the heat pump and the upper and lower heat transfer jackets of the buried thermal unit.