FIREPLACE SCREEN

Abstract

A fireplace screen including a frame comprising an upper portion and a lower portion coupled at a hinge oriented horizontally and configured to rotatably adjust the upper portion; and a screen supported within the frame.

Description

BACKGROUND

Background

The present disclosure is directed to an improved fireplace screen.

A fireplace has been used in homes for many years. A fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design.

Historically, they were used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for laundry and domestic uses. A fire is contained in a firebox or fire pit; a chimney or other flue allows exhaust gas to escape. A fireplace may have the following: a foundation, a hearth, a firebox, a mantel, a chimney crane (used in kitchen and laundry fireplaces), a grate, a lintel, a lintel bar, an overmantel, a damper, a smoke chamber, a throat, and a flue.

The fireplace has an open front designed to allow access to the firebox and grate for loading and tending combustibles, such as wood logs, peat moss, coal and the like. Certain combustibles emit sparks and embers from the fire out of the firebox beyond the fireplace. The sparks can cause damage to rugs, floors, furniture and even ignite other materials posing a fire danger.

Fireplace screens or spark guard screens are an easy and inexpensive way to protect the floor and hearth from sparks. There are a variety of spark guard screens that have been deployed over the years. The screen can be a fixed design with a formed or shaped screen supported on a frame. There are no moving parts. The screen can be shaped in a curved or domed configuration. The frame can be sized to enclose the entire fireplace opening, to prevent any sparks from exiting the fireplace. Handles are attached to the frame instead of the screen for support. The handles can be used to lift the screen in order to access the fire. However, in order to access the firebox, the entire screen must be moved aside, often being heavy and large, causing issues due to a lack or available space proximate the fireplace to store the large screen.

Another fireplace screen design employs vertical framed screen sections that are hinged vertically about vertical axis and configured to bi-fold, or tri-fold to the left and right sides of the firebox. The framed screen sections are moved aside to reveal the firebox. Alternative designs include a fixed frame that supports the screen, similar to a curtain, on a horizontal track. The screen is supported by multiple hangers that hang from the uppermost section of the frame. The hangers slide on a track within the uppermost section of the frame to the sides. The screen is moved to the sides to reveal the firebox, similar to a stage curtain.

These prior designs have proven to fail to operate from being seized due to corrosion and/or can be cumbersome to operate.

What is needed is an alternative fireplace screen design that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior designs.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a fireplace screen comprising a frame comprising an upper portion and a lower portion coupled at a hinge oriented horizontally and configured to rotatably adjust the upper portion; and a screen supported within the frame.

A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the frame comprises at least one stabilizer attached to the frame extending from the frame configured to maintain the frame upright.

A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the fireplace screen further comprising a latch coupled to the frame proximate the hinge and configured to secure the upper portion and the lower portion.

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a fireplace screen comprising a frame comprising a track mechanism having a first track section and a second track section adjacent and parallel each other; a first panel comprising a first panel frame supporting a first screen supported in the first track section; a second panel comprising a second panel frame supporting a second screen supported in the second track; the first panel and the second panel overlap; and the first panel and the second panel operatively slide in the first track section and the second track section respectively at least one of horizontally and vertically oriented.

A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the first panel and the second panel are configured to slide in an overlapping orientation to reveal an opening to access a fireplace.

Other details of the fireplace screen are set forth in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals depict like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view schematic representation of an exemplary fireplace screen.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematic representation of the exemplary fireplace screen.

FIG. 3 is a front view schematic representation of the exemplary fireplace screen.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view schematic representation of the exemplary fireplace screen bi-folded.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view schematic representation of the exemplary fireplace screen with details of a latch.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view schematic representation of the exemplary fireplace screen bi-folded with latch details.

FIG. 7 is a multi-view schematic representation of another exemplary fireplace screen.

FIG. 8 is a multi-view schematic representation of another exemplary fireplace screen.

FIG. 9 is a front view schematic representation of the exemplary fireplace screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6 and 9, there is illustrated an exemplary fireplace screen 10. The fireplace screen 10 includes a frame 12. The frame 12 generally forms a rectilinear shaped silhouette, as shown, however curvilinear shapes are also contemplated. The frame includes an upper portion 14 operatively coupled to a lower portion 16.

A hinge 18 and/or hinges 18 operatively couple the upper portion 14 with the lower portion 16 in a horizontal orientation. Horizontal is defined as orthogonal to the force of gravity, such as axis H shown in FIG. 1. In alternative embodiments as described below, the upper portion 14 and lower portion 16 can be operatively coupled in an overlapped fashion by use of tracks 20 (shown in FIGS. 7&8) in the frame 12.

The frame 12 supports a screen 22. The screen 22 can be constructed from a variety of materials, such as steel, nickel alloy, stainless steel, and brass and the like. The screen 22 extends between the frame 12 and allows for the radiation of thermal energy and air to transport while preventing projectiles, such as sparks from discharging out of the fireplace F. The frame 12 can include channel stock, tube stock, C-channel, U-channel and the like.

A latch 24 can be utilized to secure the upper portion 14 and lower portion 16. The latch 24 can be configured in a variety of mechanisms. As seen in FIGS. 2, 4-6 utilize a pin 26 and receiver 28 arrangement. A latch handle 30 can be utilized to actuate the latch 24.

In an exemplary embodiment, the upper portion 14 can be pivoted on the hinge 18 and swing down (as shown in FIGS. 4&6) to allow for access to the fireplace F to load combustible fuel, such as logs L. The upper portion 14 is shown as a fraction of the size of the lower portion 16. For example, the upper portion 14 can be ⅓ of the total frame 12 size and the lower portion 16 can be ⅔ of the total frame size. In other alternative embodiments, the upper portion can be about ½ of the total frame size and the lower portion 16 can be ½ of the total frame size. The upper portion 14 and lower portion 16 can be any ratio relative to each other as long as the upper portion 14 can rotate and not interfere with access to the fireplace F.

The frame 12 can include slots or cutouts 32 that are configured to allow for andirons 34 to pass through the frame 12. Stabilizers 36 can be attached to the frame 12 proximate to the lower portion 16 and configured to keep the frame 12 upright and stable.

Referring also to FIGS. 7 & 8, alternative embodiments of the fireplace screen 10 can be seen. The fireplace screen 10 as seen in FIG. 7 can be configured as multiple panels 40 that include a separate panel frame 42 that supports a screen 22 and mounted within the frame 12. The fireplace screen 10 operates similar to a slider window, the panels 40 slide within tracks 44 supported at the top 46 and bottom 48 of each panel 42. As the panels 40 are slid in the tracks 44 sideways, the fireplace F is accessed. The panels 42 can also be slid to cover the opening between the frame 12 to act as a fireplace screen 10. Similarly to the above described embodiments, similar frame 12 and screen 22 materials can be utilized. Handle 50 can be attached to the panel 40.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 can include a similar sliding configuration as shown in FIG. 7 except the track 44 orientation can be vertical as opposed to the horizontal orientation of FIG. 7. The FIG. 8 embodiment can function similarly to a double-hung window. The panels 40 can be oriented one above the other, an upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16 with a portion of the panel frame 40 overlapping. The upper portion 14 can be slid down alongside the lower portion 16 to create an opening inside the frame 12, to allow for access to the fireplace F. A latch 24 can be utilized to secure the upper portion 14. The panels 40 can include screen 22 and frame 12 similar to the embodiments described above.

As seen in FIG. 9, the hinge 18 can include a pivot rod 52. The pivot rod 52 enables the lower portion 16 to pivot about the horizontal axis H. The lower portion 16 can swing upward toward the upper portion 14 to allow for access to the fireplace F for cleaning out ashes and the like. Securing features 54, such as pins with springs, can be used to prop open the lower portion 16 to allow for hands free access through the fireplace screen 10. Handles 56 are fixed to the frame 12. The securing features 54 can also secure the upper portion 14.

A technical advantage of the disclosed fireplace screen can include access to the fireplace without the need to move the fireplace screen away from the fireplace.

Another technical advantage of the disclosed fireplace screen can include a horizontally oriented hinge arrangement between the upper portion and lower portion of the frame.

A technical advantage of the disclosed fireplace screen can include a latch mechanism that can secure the upper portion with the lower portion.

A technical advantage of the disclosed fireplace screen can include a panel arrangement that allows for sliding orientation that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

There has been provided a fireplace screen. While the fireplace screen has been described in the context of specific embodiments thereof, other unforeseen alternatives, modifications, and variations may become apparent to those skilled in the art having read the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace those alternatives, modifications, and variations which fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fireplace screen comprising: a frame comprising an upper portion and a lower portion coupled at a hinge oriented horizontally and configured to rotatably adjust the upper portion; anda screen supported within the frame.

2. The fireplace screen according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises at least one stabilizer attached to the frame extending from said frame configured to maintain the frame upright.

3. The fireplace screen according to claim 1, further comprising: a latch coupled to said frame proximate said hinge and configured to secure the upper portion and the lower portion.

4. The fireplace screen according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one slot formed in the frame, said at least one slot configured to pass an andiron through said frame.

5. A fireplace screen comprising: a frame comprising a track mechanism having a first track section and a second track section adjacent and parallel each other;a first panel comprising a first panel frame supporting a first screen supported in said first track section;a second panel comprising a second panel frame supporting a second screen supported in said second track;said first panel and said second panel overlap; andsaid first panel and said second panel operatively slide in said first track section and said second track section respectively at least one of horizontally and vertically oriented.

6. The fireplace screen according to claim 5, wherein said first panel and said second panel are configured to slide in an overlapping orientation to reveal an opening to access a fireplace.