The present invention relates to flame simulating assemblies.
Various types of flame simulating assemblies, such as electric fireplaces, are known. Many of the prior art flame simulating assemblies include one or more components intended to resemble actual fuel in a real fire. Typically, the fuel which is simulated is wood (i.e., logs), or coal.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 566,564 (Dewey) discloses an electric heating apparatus with a cover (B′) which “is made . . . of a transparent or semitransparent material” (p. 1, lines 50-52). The cover is “fashioned or colored” so that it resembles coal or wood “in a state of combustion when light is radiated through it” (p. 1, lines 53-57).
However, the use of a partially translucent shell such as the cover disclosed in Dewey to imitate burning solid combustible fuel has some disadvantages. In particular, a portion of the shell typically is formed to simulate the fuel (e.g., logs), and another portion of the shell simulates an actual ember bed (i.e., embers and ashes) which results from combustion of the fuel. For instance, where the combustible fuel to be simulated is wood in the form of logs, the logs are simulated in the shell by raised parts which are integral to the shell, rather than pieces which are physically separate from the ember bed. Because it is evident from even a cursory observation of this type of prior art imitative fuel bed that the raised parts (i.e., simulated logs) are formed integrally with the simulated ember bed part of the shell, this type of imitative fuel bed tends to detract from the simulation effect sought.
In some flame simulating assemblies of the prior art, the simulated fuel components are intended to represent actual glowing coals, i.e., partially combusted (and combusting) coals in a fire. For example, some prior art imitative coal pieces are separate elements, shaped and sized to resemble actual pieces of coal, which are made of a transparent or translucent material (e.g., glass) through which light is transmitted, in an attempt to simulate the glowing effect sometimes provided by actual pieces of coal in a real fire. Examples of such simulated fuel components are found in GB 249,321 (White), U.S. Pat. No. 1,692,021 (Auer), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,707 (Butterfield). In each of these prior art fuel beds, however, the pieces of glass or other light-transmitting material intended to simulate coal are shaped and colored internally (i.e., they are made of a transparent or translucent material colored appropriately) in order to achieve such an effect. However, the known imitative coal pieces have some disadvantages.
In particular, each such piece generally has only one color, unlike actual pieces of coal in a real fire. In contrast, actual pieces of coal in a fire tend to have dark portions which are generally black or dark gray, and glowing portions which have brighter colors, such as red, orange, yellow, and combinations thereof. The dark portions may be largely matte, or partly matte with some small glossy parts irregularly distributed therethrough. Also, the part of the surface of each prior art imitative coal piece which is not glowing tends to be much more glossy than the surfaces of coal pieces in a real fire, so that the simulation provided is thereby undermined.
There is therefore a need for an improved flame simulating assembly to overcome or mitigate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
In its broad aspect, the invention provides a flame simulating assembly for providing one or more images of flames and simulating one or more actual fuel elements in a fire. Each such actual fuel element has one or more glowing portions and one or more dark portions. The flame simulating assembly includes one or more light sources, a screen, and a simulated fuel bed. The screen is positioned in a first path of light from the light source, and the screen is adapted for transmission of the image of flames therethrough. The simulated fuel bed is positioned at least partially in front of a front surface of the screen. The simulated fuel bed includes a simulated ember bed and one or more simulated fuel elements positioned on an upper surface of the simulated ember bed. The simulated ember bed is positioned in a second path of light from the light source and adapted for transmission of the light therethrough. Each simulated fuel element includes a base surface positioned proximal to the upper surface and including one or more light-transmitting portions through which light from the light source is transmittable. Each simulated fuel element also includes an exposed surface which is at least partially viewable and which includes one or more uncovered portions through which light from the light source is transmittable. Light from the light source is transmittable through the simulated ember bed and through the uncovered portion(s) to simulate the glowing portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
In another aspect, the exposed surface of the simulated fuel element includes one or more covered portions for simulating the dark portions of the actual fuel element.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides a simulated fuel element for simulating an actual fuel element in a fire having one or more glowing portions and one or more dark portions. The simulated fuel element includes a light-transmitting body having a base surface which is positionable in a predetermined position in which the base surface faces downwardly. The body additionally includes an exposed surface which is at least partially viewable when the body is positioned in the predetermined position. The base surface also includes one or more light-transmitting portions through which light is transmittable into the body. The exposed surface also includes one or more uncovered portions through which light transmitted through the body is transmittable to simulate the glowing portion of the actual fuel element.
In yet another aspect, the exposed surface additionally includes one or more covered portions for simulating the dark portion of the actual fuel element.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides a method of forming a simulated fuel element for simulating an actual fuel element in a fire. The method includes, first, the step of providing a light-transmitting body with a base surface on which the body is positionable when the body is disposed in a predetermined position, and an untreated surface which is substantially exposed when the body is in the predetermined position. Next, the untreated surface is at least partially covered with a treatment material, to provide a preliminary exposed surface. Finally, one or more uncovered portions of the preliminary exposed surface are formed, to permit light to be transmitted through the uncovered portion(s) so that the uncovered portion(s) simulate the glowing portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
In yet another aspect, the step of forming the uncovered portions at least partially defines one or more covered portions for simulating the dark portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
In yet another of its aspects, the invention provides another method of forming a simulated fuel element for simulating an actual fuel element in a fire. The method includes, first, the step of providing a light-transmitting body with a base surface on which the body is positionable when the body is disposed in a predetermined position. The body also includes an untreated surface which is substantially exposed when the body is in the predetermined position. Next, one or more light-transmitting portions of the base surface are masked to substantially prevent a treatment material from contacting the light-transmitting portion. In the next step, the untreated surface is at least partially covered with the treatment material, to provide a preliminary exposed surface. Finally, one or more uncovered portions of the preliminary exposed surface are formed to permit light to be transmitted through the uncovered portion(s) so that the uncovered portion(s) simulates the glowing portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides a simulated fuel bed for simulating an actual fuel bed including one or more actual fuel elements having one or more glowing portions and one or more dark portions. The simulated fuel bed includes one or more light sources, a simulated ember bed, and one or more simulated fuel elements. The simulated ember bed is positioned in a path of light from the light source and is adapted for transmission of light from the light source therethrough. The simulated fuel element is positioned on an upper surface of the simulated fuel bed, and includes a base surface which is positioned proximal to the upper surface. The base surface includes one or more light-transmitting portions through which the light from the light source is transmittable. The simulated fuel element also includes an exposed surface which is at least partially viewable and which includes one or more uncovered portions through which light from the light source is transmittable. Accordingly, light from the light source is transmittable through the simulated ember bed and through the uncovered portion(s) to simulate the glowing portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
In yet another aspect, each simulated fuel element's exposed surface includes one or more covered portions (which are covered with the treatment material) for simulating the dark portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
The invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which:
Reference is first made to
As shown in
Preferably, the simulated fuel elements 40 are selectively positionable relative to each other on the upper surface 36, in a variety of positions. For example, in one embodiment, the simulated fuel elements 40 preferably are positioned loosely on a substantially planar upper surface 36, and this permits a user (not shown) to arrange the simulated fuel elements 40 according to the user's preferences from time to time. As shown in
The simulated ember bed 32 preferably is at least partially translucent and has any suitable coloring. Depending on the fuel which the simulated fuel bed is intended to resemble, various colors (and/or combinations thereof, as the case may be) may be used. The light source may provide light which is colored, if desired. If the light provided by the light source is not white light, then the coloring of the light preferably is taken into account in determining the coloring of the simulated ember bed. However, it is preferred that the light source provides white light, because sources of white light are more common. It is also preferred that the simulated ember bed is colored with suitable shades of the colors yellow, red, and orange, and/or combinations thereof. The term reddish, as used herein, refers to any suitable combination of colors used in a simulated ember bed to simulate burning embers. Those skilled in the art would be aware of the colors which are suitable. Preferably, the simulated ember bed is reddish in color.
As will be described, each simulated fuel element includes a body which preferably is adapted for transmission of light therethrough. It is preferred that the body is translucent or transparent. The body preferably is colored so that the coloring thereof enhances the overall simulation effect provided by a simulated fuel bed in which the simulated fuel element is located. For instance, a body which is colored reddish provides a simulated glowing effect which is generally an effective simulation of an actual fuel bed.
As shown in
The covered portions 50 preferably are covered with the treatment material, which preferably is selected so that the covered portions resemble the dark portions of an actual piece of coal. In practice, this is achieved primarily by applying a coat of a suitable paint to the exposed surface, as will be described. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any suitable paint could be used as the treatment material. Accordingly, it is preferred that the paint which is selected for use as the treatment material provides a realistic finish and coloring. For instance, in one embodiment, the treatment material is a dark paint which provides a matte finish. In another embodiment, the treatment material preferably is a dark enamel paint. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the treatment material is a dark polyester-based paint. In particular, it has been determined that paint no. 12848 (hot paint—black) provided by ICI Canada is a suitable treatment material.
Where the body is colored reddish, the body's reddish color also tends to infuse the covered portions 50 with such reddish color when light is transmitted through the body. This tends to enhance the overall simulation effect provided by the simulated fuel bed because it is a somewhat more realistic representation of the dark portion(s) of an actual fuel element in a fire.
Preferably, the flame simulating assembly 20 includes one or more light sources 24, positioned generally as shown in
The second path of light 38 is from the light source 24 to the simulated ember bed 34. The second path of light 38 is schematically illustrated by arrows 51, 57, 58, and 59 in
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that different arrangements of light sources are feasible. For instance, the flame simulating assembly of the invention may, alternatively, include separate light sources for the image of flames and the simulated fuel bed respectively. However, the use of one or more light sources positioned as shown in
Additional embodiments of the invention are shown in
One embodiment of a method 60 of the invention of forming the simulated fuel element 40 is disclosed in
In this method, the last step also at least partially defines one or more covered portions (i.e., covered with the treatment material) for simulating the dark portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
The uncovered portions may be formed in various ways. As indicated above, in one embodiment, it is preferred that the untreated surface is covered with the treatment material (preferably, a suitable paint), which is allowed to dry. Next, the treatment material is removed from the uncovered portions by abrasion, for example, via manually-applied sandpaper. However, in an alternative embodiment of the method of the invention, the treatment material is not allowed to dry, and instead, the treatment material (i.e., while still at least partially liquid) is wiped off the uncovered portions, for example, using a manually-applied cloth. In yet another embodiment of the method of the invention, a mask material is used to mask the uncovered portions, i.e., to substantially prevent treatment material from contacting the uncovered portions. After the treatment material is applied, the mask material is removed, to provide uncovered portions which are not covered by the treatment material.
It is preferred that the uncovered portions are formed by at least partial removal of the treatment material from the uncovered portions. In this method, the step of removing some of the treatment material to define the uncovered portion(s) also at least partially defines one or more covered portions (i.e., covered with the treatment material) for simulating the dark portion(s) of the actual fuel element.
As described above, the uncovered portions may be formed in various ways. For instance, in one embodiment, the paint (i.e., treatment material) is allowed to dry on the untreated surface, and the paint is removed from the uncovered portions by abrasion. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the paint is not allowed to dry on the untreated surface. Instead, the paint is substantially removed from the uncovered portions by wiping the uncovered portions.
In another alternative method, the uncovered portions are masked before the paint is applied to the untreated surface. The mask is removed thereafter to expose the uncovered portions.
The simulated ember bed is made of any suitable material. However, it is preferred that the simulated ember bed is made of polypropylene. Also, although the simulated fuel element body may be made of any suitable material, it is preferred that the body is made of glass. Preferably, the body is a fragment of glass which is shaped so that its shape generally resembles the shape of an actual piece of coal.
In use, the bodies preferably are positioned with the base surfaces thereof facing downwardly (i.e., in the predetermined position) on a sheet, or a tray. The treatment material is then distributed over the untreated surfaces of the bodies. This could be done, for example, by spraying the treatment material, if it is amenable to spraying. Preferably, the treatment material is allowed to dry. After the treatment material has dried, then abrasion preferably is used to selectively remove the treatment material from those parts of the exposed surface which are intended to be the uncovered portions. Preferably, the uncovered portions are located substantially along preselected edges of the body, i.e., selected to provide a realistic simulation. The uncovered portions are located in this way because it provides a simulated coal element which is a realistic simulation of a burning (or at least partially burning) piece of coal, when light is transmitted through the body. Once the uncovered portions are defined, the covered portions are also defined, to provide the exposed surface 46.
As indicated above, another alternative method is to mask the light-transmitting portion(s) on the base surface. Any suitable mask material is used to mask the light-transmitting portion(s) of the base surface. For example, the mask material preferably is masking tape. In this method, the treatment material can be applied to the simulated fuel element bodies generally indiscriminately. For instance, it may be economic to apply the treatment material to the simulated fuel element bodies in a rotating drum, in which the treatment material and the masked simulated fuel element bodies are positioned. The treatment material (e.g., paint) is applied relatively evenly to the simulated fuel element bodies as the drum rotates. After the treatment material has dried, the mask material is removed, to uncover the light-transmitting portion(s) of the base surface. It is preferred that the uncovered portions are formed as follows. The treatment material preferably is selectively removed from those parts of the exposed surface of each simulated fuel element body which are intended to be the uncovered portions. This is done by any suitable method. In one embodiment, this is most effectively done manually, using sandpaper or any other suitable device to remove the treatment material after it has dried. As noted above, the last two steps of this process may be performed in any order, i.e., if desired, treatment material could be removed prior to removal of the mask material. Also as noted above, however, the uncovered portions may be defined using various methods.
The simulated ember bed is located in position substantially in front of the front surface of the screen of the flame simulating assembly. The simulated fuel elements preferably are positioned on the upper surface of the simulated ember bed, with base surfaces thereof facing downwardly and preferably engaging the upper surface. In one embodiment, the simulated fuel elements are positionable in predetermined positions on the upper surface. However, it is preferred that the upper surface is substantially planar, and also that the simulated fuel elements are positionable in a variety of positions on the upper surface, with base surfaces facing downwardly. Where the simulated fuel elements are positionable in a variety of positions relative to each other, the simulated fuel elements may be rearranged by the user from time to time to provide different arrangements.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can take many forms, and that such forms are within the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the descriptions of the preferred versions contained herein.
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