Patent Application
20070215144
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a fireplace, and in particular to a modular fireplace and methods of using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fireplaces are often used to heat living spaces. Typically, fireplaces can be either wood-burning or gas-burning. Gas-burning fireplaces are advantageous when compared to wood-burning fireplaces because they provide immediate heating, are convenient to light, and avoid problems associated with purchasing, handling, and storing wood logs. In a gas-burning fireplace, one or more artificial, non-combustible logs that resemble natural logs are often positioned atop a grate that is located on the floor of the fireplace. A burner connected to a gas source is often located beneath the logs. When gas emitted from the burner is ignited, the artificial logs and the resulting flames simulate the appearance of a wood-burning fireplace. The appearance of the artificial log assembly can significantly impact the aesthetic characteristics of the flame produced by the burner and the overall “look” of the fireplace.
Installation of a gas-burning burner assembly in a fireplace is often too complex for the average homeowner. Installation may require the skill of a professional. Additionally, a person installing a gas-burning burner assembly can encounter additional difficulties because the burner assembly may comprise a variety of separate components that are assembled together. The burner assembly can comprise, for example, a burner for burning gas, a gas connection, a grate, a base, and one or more artificial logs. The artificial logs can form an artificial log assembly that resembles a stack of wood logs. In some embodiments, the logs are coupled together to form a unitary structure.
The difficulties posed by installation of a gas-burning burner assembly can significantly diminish a user's ability to alter the aesthetic characteristics of the fireplace by replacing the artificial log assembly. Also, similar difficulties are encountered when attempting to alter a component of the fireplace, such as the burner assembly, for purposes of repair, maintenance, or replacement of a fireplace component. As used herein, the term “repair” is a broad term and includes, without limitation, restore, replace, refurbish, or otherwise improve the performance of the component. Moreover, when the component (e.g., the burner assembly) is removed from the fireplace during one of the aforementioned alterations, the complexity of installation precludes substitution of the burner assembly. In other words, a user of the fireplace will not be able to use the fireplace during the alteration.
In one embodiment, a modular fireplace burner assembly replacement method comprises providing a burner assembly positioned on a floor of a fireplace. Gas flow from the gas source is stopped. A gas connection of the burner assembly is decoupled from the gas source. The burner assembly is removed from the fireplace. In some variations, the burner assembly is altered by positioning the burner assembly on floor of the fireplace, coupling the gas connection to the gas source, and turning on the gas source. In some variations, the method further comprises repairing the burner assembly or one or more subcomponents thereof, performing maintenance on the burner assembly or one or more subcomponents thereof, cleaning the burner assembly or one or more subcomponents thereof, and/or replacing the burner assembly or one or more subcomponents thereof. As used herein, the term “subcomponents” is a broad term and includes, without limitation, a portion or component of an entire assembly. For example, a subcomponent of the burner assembly can be a burner, log (e.g., an artificial log or wood log), grate, base, etc.
In another embodiment, a modular fireplace burner assembly replacement method comprises providing a first burner assembly positioned on a floor of a fireplace. A gas connection of the first burner assembly is decoupled from a gas source. The first burner assembly is removed from the fireplace.
In another embodiment, a modular fireplace includes a first burner assembly positioned on a floor of a fireplace. The first burner assembly is removed from the fireplace. A second burner assembly is then placed the fireplace. In some variations, the first burner assembly is visually distinct from the second burner assembly.
In yet another embodiment, a method of altering a modular fireplace comprises removing a first burner assembly from the fireplace. The first burner assembly is configured to burn fuel when installed in the fireplace. After removing the first burner, second burner assembly is installed in the fireplace. Maintenance is performed on the first burner assembly.
The burner assembly 110 is positioned on the floor of the fireplace 105 and is in communication with a gas connection 120, which is coupled to a gas source 115. In some embodiments, other types of fuel sources and delivery constructions can be used. Gas from the fuel source 115 can flow through the gas connection 120 to the burner assembly 110 for combustion.
As noted above, the burner assembly 110 can be removed from the fireplace assembly 100 to perform repairs, maintenance, or can be replaced with another burner assembly 110 as noted above. To alter the overall appearance of the fireplace assembly 100, the illustrated burner assembly 110 can be replaced with another burner assembly that is visually distinct from the illustrated burner assembly 110.
In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment of
The illustrated burner 135 of
Additionally or alternatively, the burner assembly 110 can comprise a base 140. The base 140 can have different types of designs and configurations. For example, the base 140 of
A burner mounting structure 141 preferably couples the burner 135 to the base 140 and forms at least a portion of the grate 130. The burner mounting structure 141 and the grate 130 cooperate to hold the decorative element 125 resting thereon. The design and configuration of the mounting structures 141 can be selected based on the configuration of the burner 135.
In some embodiments, the illustrated decorative element 125 can be replaced with a second log assembly (or other decorative element) so as to alter the overall aesthetic of the fireplace, as mentioned above. Substituting one decorative element for another not only alters the visual appearance of the fireplace or burner assembly 110 but may also alter the visual appearance of the flames generated by the burner assembly 110. Additionally or alternatively, the decorative element 125, gas connection 120, and/or burner 135 can be removed and replaced with different components. In some embodiments, for example, these components are removed so that the fireplace can be used as a wood burning fireplace. Natural wood logs can be placed on the grate 130 positioned on the floor of the fireplace 105. Doing so can increase the versatility of the fireplace 100, permitting it to be both gas-burning and wood-burning.
One or more components of the burner assembly 110 may be repaired or replaced. In some embodiments, a first burner assembly 110 can be removed and replaced with another burner assembly. The first burner assembly 110 can be repaired at a different location, preferably off-site. The fireplace 100 can thus be used while maintenance is being performed on the first burner assembly 110.
The embodiments, features, systems, devices, materials, methods and techniques described herein may, in some embodiments, be similar to any one or more of the embodiments, features, systems, devices, materials, methods and techniques described in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/793,325, filed on Mar. 4, 2004, which incorporated by reference in its entirety. In addition, the embodiments, features, systems, devices, materials, methods and techniques described herein may, in certain embodiments, be applied to or used in connection with any one or more of the embodiments, features, systems, devices, materials, methods and techniques disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/793,325. For example, the fireplace 100 described above can have prefabricated brick panels.
The articles disclosed herein may be formed through any suitable means. The various methods and techniques described above provide a number of ways to carry out the invention. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all objectives or advantages described may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods may be performed in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objectives or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize the interchangeability of various features from different embodiments disclosed herein. Similarly, the various features and steps discussed above, as well as other known equivalents for each such feature or step, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in this art to perform methods in accordance with principles described herein. Additionally, the methods which are described and illustrated herein are not limited to the exact sequence of acts described, nor are they necessarily limited to the practice of all of the acts set forth. Other sequences of events or acts, or less than all of the events, or simultaneous occurrence of the events, may be utilized in practicing the embodiments of the invention.
Although the invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/778,056 filed on Mar. 1, 2006, which the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60778056 | Mar 2006 | US |
