Claims
- 1. A flame simulating assembly for providing a three-dimensional image of flames formed by fluctuating light, the flame simulating assembly having:
a simulated fuel bed; a light source; a screen disposed behind the simulated fuel bed for diffusing and transmitting light, the screen including a conoid concavity positioned adjacent to the simulated fuel bed; a flicker element for creating the fluctuating light, the flicker element being positioned in a path of light between the light source and the screen; and said fluctuating light being transmitted through the screen and attenuated to form the three-dimensional image of flames.
- 2. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the conoid concavity extends above the simulated fuel bed, such that the three-dimensional image of flames appears to curve around the simulated fuel bed.
- 3. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the simulated fuel bed is at least partially positioned in the conoid concavity.
- 4. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the conoid concavity includes a plurality of grooves, for further attenuating the fluctuating light transmitted through the conoid concavity, to form the three-dimensional image of flames.
- 5. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 additionally including a flame effect element positioned in a path of the fluctuating light between the flicker element and the screen, to configure the fluctuating light to form the image of flames.
- 6. A flame simulating assembly for providing a three-dimensional image of flames formed by fluctuating light, the flame simulating assembly having:
a simulated fuel bed; a light source; a screen including a front member disposed behind the simulated fuel bed and a diffusing member disposed behind the front member for diffusing and transmitting light, the front member having a partially reflective front surface for reflecting and transmitting light and the diffusing member having a conoid concavity positioned proximal to the simulated fuel bed; and a flicker element for creating the fluctuating light, the flicker element being positioned in a path of light between the light source and the diffusing member; and said fluctuating light being transmitted through the screen and attenuated to form a three-dimensional image of flames which appears to curve around the simulated fuel bed.
- 7. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the diffusing member is spaced apart from the front member, such that the fluctuating light transmitted through the screen is attenuated to form the three-dimensional image of flames.
- 8. A flame simulated assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the conoid concavity extends substantially above the simulated fuel bed.
- 9. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the conoid concavity includes a plurality of grooves, for attenuating the fluctuating light transmitted through the conoid concavity to form the three-dimensional image of flames.
- 10. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 6 additionally including a flame effect element positioned in a path of the fluctuating light between the flicker element and the diffusing member, to configure the fluctuating light to form the image of flames.
- 11. A flame simulating assembly for providing an image of flames, the flame simulating assembly having:
a simulated fuel bed defining a profile thereof; a light source; a screen positioned behind the simulated fuel bed for transmitting and diffusing light, the screen including a plurality of curved portions, each said curved portion being adapted to attenuate the image of flames upon transmission thereof through the screen to give at least a portion of the image of flames a three-dimensional appearance; and a flicker element for causing light from the light source to fluctuate to form the image of flames, the flicker element being positioned between the light source and the screen.
- 12. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which said curved portions are randomly positioned in the screen.
- 13. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 12 in which said curved portions are spaced apart from each other, each by at least a minimum predetermined distance.
- 14. A flame simulating assembly as claimed in claim 11 additionally including a flame effect element for configuring light from the light source to form the image of flames, the flame effect element being positioned in a path of light from the light source between the flicker element and the screen.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 10/101,013, filed Mar. 20, 2002, which was a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 09/443,324, filed Nov. 19, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,636, which was a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/868,948, filed Jun. 4, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,011, which was a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 08/649,510, filed May 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,580.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08868948 |
Jun 1997 |
US |
Child |
09443324 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10101013 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Child |
10799611 |
Mar 2004 |
US |
Parent |
09443324 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
10101013 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Parent |
08649510 |
May 1996 |
US |
Child |
08868948 |
Jun 1997 |
US |