Patent Grant
7146975
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office Patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to fireplace systems, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gas-fired, simulated log fireplace system that incorporates vacuum formed ceramic fiber to distribute the flame. This invention accommodates distribution of flame heat and presentation of visual realism through collapsing log movement during fireplace operation.
2. Background
The ambiance and physical sensation associated with a natural flame such as those found in campfires and fireplaces are widely desired. But because of a number of economic and environmental issues including the pollution and physical mess of wood burning, the use of wood-burning appliances and open campfires has been severely restricted in recent years. Fireplaces have existed for several centuries. The original purpose of a fireplace was to provide heat for a living space. In modern times, in addition to heat, fireplaces are valued for the soothing ambiance they provide, derived from their appearance and the sound generated by burning wood. There have been a number of attempts to produce a realistic appearing system of synthetic logs, burning wood pellets, natural gas, propane, LPG, or butane that would duplicate the ambiance of wood burning without the liabilities. Several systems have reached the marketplace and have enjoyed some commercial success. However, none of these systems have achieved the appearance, ambiance, and functional realism of real wood fires.
In the face of the these economic and environmental factors, the traditional gas burning fireplaces are now commonly used in lieu of natural wood burning fireplaces. They are much easier to start, require almost no cleaning, and can be constructed so as to operate in an environmentally sound manner. In the past few years, due to added cleanliness, improved heating efficiency and environmental restrictions on air pollution, gas fireplaces have grown in popularity. Today, nearly all fireplaces sold are gas, not wood burning. The term gas fireplace as used herein is intended to encompass both natural gas as well as propane fueled units.
Conventional fireplace and gas log set designs consist of steel pans and/or tubes to distribute flame, are static and make no sound. Various configurations and designs of simulated gas-burning fireplace logs are in use and known in the prior art. Typically, the logs system has been made so that a natural gas inlet line leads to a gas manifold located within the firebox itself. The inlet line passes through the firebox containment bricks or metal liners and will normally include at least one main flow valve and a valved tap for a standing pilot. These valves and any associated electronic controls are placed either in the containment material or within the firebox itself. To complete the unit, a number of simulated, ceramic logs are placed atop the manifold. When the device is lit, flames from the manifold pass upwardly through the logs, thereby simulating the typical flame pattern of a traditional wood-burning fireplace. There is, however, a long-felt need for an improved burner and display apparatus for gas fireplaces and similar devices. In particular, there is a need for log movement to enhance the realism of the fireplace system.
The present invention addresses these and other problems in the prior art, by providing a realistic gas fire log system that provides log movement during the utilization of the fireplace.
A general object of this invention is to provide a gas fire log system with visual realism through collapsing logs. Owners of gas fireplaces express a desire for enhanced ambiance such as log movement, as would be experienced during the operation of burning wood. Insofar as is known, no gas system addresses this problem. There is a need for a gas fireplace system, which produces the visual realism of moving or collapsing logs.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrates embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serves to explain the principles of the present invention.
In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that terms such as front, back, inside, outside, and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Terminology used in this patent is not meant to be limiting insofar as devices described herein, or portions thereof, may be attached or utilized in other orientations. Referring in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described.
Generally, the present invention comprises a ceramic fiber top molded to look like charred embers and ash. The top can be molded to represent any shape of ash, embers or log pieces. The top is ported with any number of holes to allow gas to flow through. The ceramic top has a recess in the bottom to form a cavity. The top is then sealed to a steel plate or pan to form a gas chamber. This chamber is then fitted with a venturi and connected to a gas supply regulated by a valve and orifice. When placed in operation, the realistic gas fire log system has the appearance of glowing ash and embers with no visible metal burner parts. The system is fully adjustable and a remote control device can be used to allow flame setting to vary from high to low. Further, the system radiates more heat than refractory concrete logs.
Referring to the movement mechanism, the collapsing log falls into the fire at a predetermined time preferably by way of thermocouple and/or bimetallic spring temperature sensing which activates and deactivates the activating mechanism. The log is attached to an armature that allows it to be dropped into the fire and then repositioned into its original location when the fire is turned off. In one embodiment, the collapsing log comprises two logs, three hinges, a spring and a motor. Further, this invention operates without any electrical hook-up requirements although it can operate with an electric motor supplied with electric power via a battery or other electric supply. The hinges utilized can be of various types, pin-type axially rotating hinges, leaf and pin-type hinges, or other pivotable linkage and the references to “hinge” herein are intended to include all such types of connection means.
Referring to
Connecting rod 51 is also preferably pivotably connected to a pin-type hinge support 53 at a point between its central portion and the end connected to said first log to create a lever effect, such that when the motor 60 is activated, it causes the connecting rod 51 to pivot about the axis of the pin-type hinge support 53, causing the first end of said first log 20 to rise, which in turn causes the second end of said first log to drop, pushing down on the second log comprising log sections 40 and 42 in the area where log sections 40 and 42 are connected by spring 80. The second log sections 40 and 42 are preferably pivotably connected at their outer ends to a non-moving portion of the fireplace via pin-type leaf hinges 30 and 32 as shown. The second fire log, comprising log sections 40 and 42, is positioned under first log 20 near the end of the first log opposite to the end connected to the activating mechanism 60. When the activating mechanism is deactivated, such as when the fireplace is turned off and the temperature drops, the second log returns to its uncollapsed original position via force of spring 80, which results in the first log 20 also being returned to its original position.
The present invention is also a method for enhancing the realism of a gas fire log fireplace by providing a collapsing fire log feature, comprising the steps of: including a first fire log having a first end, a second end, a central portion and a bottom facing surface pivotably connected at a point between said first end and said central portion to a non-moving portion of said fireplace; connecting an activating mechanism to said first end of said first fire log; positioning a second fire log, comprising two or more log sections having adjacent ends connected to each other by a spring, underneath said first fire log near said first fire log's second end; and activating said activating mechanism to cause said first fire log to push said second fire log downward to a collapsed position. Additional steps include deactivating the activating mechanism to cause said first fire log and said second fire log to return to an uncollapsed position, and pivotably connecting the outer ends of the second log to a non-moving portion of the fireplace system.
The log movement mechanism can be incorporated into existing gas fire log systems or made part of the original equipment of a gas fire log system.
While the present invention has been shown and described herein in what are considered to be the preferred embodiments thereof, illustrating the results and advantages over the prior art obtained through the present invention, the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. Thus, the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as illustrative and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This Specification is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/516,534 filed on Oct. 31, 2003. The inventor claims the benefit of Title 35, Section 119 of the U.S. Code based on said provisional application.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60516534 | Oct 2003 | US |
