Patent Application
20240271796
The present invention relates to an adjusting device of an imitation flame of an electric fireplace and, more particularly, to an electric fireplace capable of changing the size of a flame displayed on a screen while providing more stable adjustment.
A conventional electric fireplace, such as a device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,709,229, generally includes a light emitting member, a flickering unit, a flame effect board, and a screen. The flickering unit includes a plurality of oar-shaped reflective plates which can rotate and reflect light. The flame effect board includes a flame-shaped through-hole for transmission of light, such that the light emitting from the light emitting member can be reflected by the reflective plates to pass through the through-hole of the flame effect board and onto the screen. The reflective plates rotate to change the reflection angle to provide a dynamic flame effect as seen from the outer side of the screen.
Although the above structure may provide a dynamic flame effect by reflecting light to different angular positions by movement of the reflective plates, the extent of change of the flame size is small, failing to provide a satisfactory flame imitation effect.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an electric fireplace capable of changing the size of a flame displayed on a screen while providing more stable adjustment.
An electric fireplace according to the present invention comprises a casing, a screen, a flickering unit, a light emitting device, a flame imitation board, and an adjusting device. The casing includes a receiving chamber. The screen is disposed vertically in a front end of the receiving chamber. The flickering unit is disposed in the receiving chamber and behind the screen. The light emitting device is disposed in the receiving chamber and is configured to emit light towards the flickering unit. The flame imitation board is disposed in the receiving chamber and between the flickering unit and the screen and is movable in a vertical direction. The flame imitation board includes a central portion having a plurality of light transmitting portions. The adjusting device is configured to move the flame imitation board in the vertical direction and to change a height of the plurality of light transmitting portions.
In an example, the adjusting device includes an operating shaft, a second motor, two gears, and two interlocking seats. The operating shaft is pivotably received in the receiving chamber and extends in a horizontal direction. The second motor is connected to the operating shaft and configured to drive the operating shaft to rotate. The two gears are securely mounted on two ends of the operating shaft, respectively. The two interlocking seats are securely mounted on two sides of the flame imitation board, respectively. Each of the two interlocking seats includes a rack meshed with one of the two gears.
In an example, each of the two interlocking seats includes a guiding plate having a rectilinear guiding groove receiving the operating shaft.
In an example, the adjusting device further includes two positioning blocks and two positioning switches. The two positioning blocks are disposed on upper and lower portions of the flame imitation board. The two positioning switches are in electrical connection with the second motor and are securely mounted in upper and lower portions of the receiving chamber, respectively. The second motor is stopped when one of the two positioning switches contacts with one of the two positioning blocks.
In an example, the casing includes two sidewalls. Two rectilinear lateral mounting plate are respectively disposed on inner sides respectively of the two sidewalls and abut two sides of the flame imitation board. An upper mounting plate is disposed on a lower side of the top wall and abuts an upper end of the flame imitation board.
According to the present invention, the light emitting device emits light, and the light is reflected by the flickering unit to the flame imitation board and transmits through the plurality of light transmitting portions to the screen. Thus, a dynamic flame effect can be displayed on the screen. Furthermore, the second motor of the adjusting device is activated to drive the gears which interlock with the racks to move the flame imitation board in the vertical direction and to change the height of the plurality of light transmitting portions. Thus, the shapes and positions of the flames projected onto the screen can be changed to provide a more lively dynamic flame effect. Furthermore, when the flame imitation board moves in the vertical direction, the guiding grooves receiving the operating shaft assure rectilinear movement of the flame imitation board. Furthermore, the two sides of the flame imitation board abut the lateral mounting plates, and the upper end of the flame imitation board abuts the upper mounting plate, providing more stable movement in the vertical direction. Furthermore, when the flame imitation board reaches the lowest position or the highest position, one of the two positioning switches contacts with one of the two positioning blocks, thereby stopping the second motor. This provides more stable movement.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
With reference to
The screen 2 is disposed vertically in a front end of the receiving chamber 14. The flickering unit 3 includes a shaft 31, a first motor 32, and a plurality of reflective plates 33. The shaft 31 is pivotably mounted in the receiving chamber 14, extends in a horizontal direction, and is located behind the screen 2. The first motor 32 is disposed on one of the two sidewalls 13. The first motor 32 is connected to the shaft 31 and is configured to rotate the shaft 31. The plurality of reflective plates 33 is disposed on the shaft 31. Rotation of the shaft 31 causes a change in a reflection angle of each of the plurality of reflective plates 33.
The light emitting device 4 includes a plurality of light emitting members 41 disposed on the connecting portion 15 of the casing 1 and configured to emit light towards the plurality of reflective plates 33. The light shielding plate 151 assures that the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting members 41 will not be directly reflected to the flame imitation board 5, such that the light projected onto the flame imitation board 5 can be reflected by the movable reflective plates 33, thereby providing a better dynamic effect.
The flame imitation board 5 is in the form of a planar plate and is disposed in the receiving chamber 14. The flame imitation board 5 is disposed between the flickering unit 3 and the screen 2 and is movable in a vertical direction. The flame imitation board 5 includes a central portion having a plurality of light transmitting portions 51. Two sides of the flame imitation board 5 abut the lateral mounting plates 16, respectively. An upper end of the flame imitation board 5 abuts the upper mounting plate 17.
The adjusting device 6 is configured to move the flame imitation board 5 in the vertical direction and to change the height of the plurality of light transmitting portions 51. The adjusting device 6 includes an operating shaft 61, a second motor 62, two gears 63, two interlocking seats 64, two positioning blocks 65, and two positioning switches 66. The operating shaft 61 is pivotably received in the receiving chamber 14 and extends in a horizontal direction. The second motor 62 is disposed on one of the two sidewalls 13, is connected to the operating shaft 61, and is configured to drive the operating shaft 61 to rotate. The two gears 63 are securely mounted on two ends of the operating shaft 61, respectively. The two interlocking seats 64 are securely mounted on two sides of the flame imitation board 5, respectively. Each of the two interlocking seats 64 includes a rack 641 meshed with one of the two gears 63. Each of the two interlocking seats 64 includes a guiding plate 642 having a rectilinear guiding groove 643 receiving the operating shaft 61. The two positioning blocks 65 are respectively disposed on upper and lower portions of the flame imitation board 5. The two positioning switches 66 are in electrical connection with the second motor 62 and are securely mounted on upper and lower portions of one of the two sidewalls 13 of the receiving chamber 14, respectively. The second motor 62 is stopped when one of the two positioning switches 66 contacts with one of the two positioning blocks 65.
With reference to
The second motor 62 of the adjusting device 6 is activated to drive the operating shaft 61 and the two gears 63 to rotate. The two gears 63 interlock with the racks 641 to move the plurality of light transmitting portions 51 of the flame imitation board 5 between a lowest position A (see
When the flame imitation board 5 according to the present invention moves in the vertical direction, the guiding grooves 643 receiving the operating shaft 61 assure rectilinear movement of the flame imitation board 5. Furthermore, the two sides of the flame imitation board 5 abut the lateral mounting plates 16, and the upper end of the flame imitation board 5 abuts the upper mounting plate 17, providing more stable movement in the vertical direction.
The first motor 32 and the second motor 62 are in electrical connection with a controller 7. The controller 7 is configured to control a rotating speed of the first motor 32 and forward and reverse rotation and a rotating period of the second motor 62. Thus, through control of the rotating speed of the first motor 32 and the rotational angle in the forward or reverse direction and the rotating period of the second motor 62, continuous presentation of different flames at different heights can be provided, thereby providing a more dynamic flame effect.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention enables the electric fireplace to provide a better and lively imitation of flames and provide better movement stability.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.
