Patent Application
20170106414
The chimney of a fireplace contains a build up of burned organic matter over time that accumulates in the chimney or chimney liner of a fireplace. The build up of organic matter within the chimney liner presents a fire hazard to the overall structure and must be cleaned out or otherwise removed from time to time. Typically, a chimney sweep service is scheduled to manually clean and clear the chimney liner of organic matter.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an integrated chimney cap and chimney cleaner. In certain embodiments, a chimney cleaner for cleaning a chimney liner, the chimney cleaner may comprise a cleaner tool connected to a cable and a cable guide, wherein the cable guide is adapted to substantially center the cleaner tool across the diameter of a chimney liner. The cleaner tool may be a rake or a brush. In some embodiments, cleaner tool is removably affixed to the cable.
Additionally an electric wench may be connected to the cable and adapted to raise and lower the cleaner tool within the chimney liner. In additional embodiments, the cable may be selected from the group consisting of braided steel cable and twisted steel cable. Still further, in some embodiments, the cable guide and cable may be integrated with a chimney cap. In additional embodiments, a removable chimney cleaner may include a cleaner tool removably connected to a cable, a cable guide affixed to a chimney cap, wherein the cable guide is adapted to substantially center the cleaner tool across the diameter of a chimney liner, and a cable conduit passing through a weather shield of the chimney cap, wherein the cable passes through the cable conduit, and wherein the chimney cap is adapted to be removably affixed to a chimney liner.
Embodiments of the invention is directed to a chimney cleaner that is integrated with a chimney cap to allow for instant and frequent cleaning of the chimney or chimney liner. Most modern wood burning fireplaces have a chimney liner that is made from tile, metal, or is cast-in-place. As used herein, “chimney liner” refers to the internal passage of the chimney in which exhaust gases from the wood burning fireplace travel and exit the building. The chimney cleaner is easily adaptable to virtually any residential chimney by replacing the chimney cap with an integrated chimney cleaner and chimney cap in accordance with certain embodiments of present invention.
With reference to
The cleaner tool 12 is attached to a cable 16. In some embodiments, the cleaner tool 12 is removably affixed or attached to the cable 16 such that different types cleaner tools may be interchanged with one another if desired. The cable 16 extends from the cleaner tool 12 to a top portion of the chimney liner 14. The cable 16 is preferably constructed from a material that can withstand the temperatures and conditions within the chimney liner 14 during operation of the fireplace. In some embodiments, the cable 16 may include, but is not limited to, braided steel cable, twisted steel cable, and polymer rope. The length of the cable 16 is sized to lift the cleaner tool 12 along the length chimney liner 14. Preferably, the length of the cable 16 is sized to lift the cleaner tool 12 from the base of the chimney liner to the top of the chimney liner. In some embodiments, the length of the cable 16 is sized to lift the cleaner tool 12 from the base of the chimney liner 14 to the top of the chimney liner 14 by a person at ground level with the building. In other embodiments, an electric motor or electric cable wench (not shown) may be used to wind and unwind the cable 16 to automatically raise and lower the cleaner tool 12 in the chimney liner 14. The position of the motor or cable wench is not critical and may be positioned near the chimney cap or near the ground based on the preference of the user.
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, the chimney cleaner 10 and chimney cap 16 are integrated together as a single unit that may be installed as a replacement or removable chimney cap. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the chimney cleaner 10 may be installed with exiting chimney caps provided that a pathway for the cable 16 is created to allow the cable 16 to exit the existing chimney cap. In some embodiments the chimney cap may be integrally formed with the chimney liner as shown in
In operation, the user installs the cleaner tool 12 of choice and then raises and lowers the cleaner tool within the chimney liner 14 by pulling and releasing or winding and unwinding the cable 16 to break free any build up of organic material in the chimney liner 14. It is not necessary to remove the cleaner tool 12 after cleaning is finished. The cleaner tool 12 may stay attached to the cleaner cable 16 during operation of the fireplace. If the cleaner tool does not significantly restrict air flow and operation of the fireplace, the storage position of the cleaner tool is not particularly limited. If the cleaner tool 12 is in the form of a brush or other similar tool that does restrict air flow, the cleaner tool 12 is preferably stored near the weather shield and above the exit of the chimney liner.
Having described embodiments of the invention in detail above, the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.
