Patent Application
20080181587
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to fireplaces. More particularly, the invention relates to electric fireplaces which simulate the appearance of a wood-burning or gas-burning fireplace. Specifically, the invention relates to an electric fireplace that includes a planar panel having an image of a firebox thereon, with the panel being positioned rearwardly of a plurality of artificial firelogs and in front of a light source.
2. Background Information
Fireplaces may add to the warmth and ambiance of any room. However, in many locations, installing a wood-burning or gas-burning fireplace is not practical or even possible because of space constraints or venting issues. In warmer climates, on the other hand, homeowners may want the ambiance offered by a fireplace but do not want any heat to be emitted therefrom. It is in these instances that electric fireplaces are the ideal solution.
An electric fireplace will only tend to add to the appearance of a room if it creates an effective illusion that it is a wood-burning or gas-burning fireplace. This has caused manufacturers to include various components in electric fireplaces that are essentially decorative and not functional. So, for example, electric fireplaces include a grate, artificial firelogs and embers, and none of these components contribute to the production of heat from the fireplace. Furthermore, the fireplaces have included mechanisms for creating the illusion of burning firelogs. These mechanisms have included providing a rotating cylinder that has flame-shaped apertures formed in its exterior surface. A light is shone through the rotating cylinder and onto a diffuser screen positioned behind the firelogs. Other fireplaces, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,393,207 and 6,757,487 both issued to Martin et al, include a screen on which colored flame-shaped images are silk screened. A light is shone through an apertured rotating cylinder positioned rearwardly of the screen and the moving light causes the silk-screened images to appear to flicker, thereby creating the illusion of burning logs
Another of the components that manufacturers have needed to include, but which does not serve any functional purpose, is a firebox in which the grate, artificial firelogs and embers are presented. So, for example in the patents to Martin et al referenced previously, a simulated firebox insert having a top, a bottom, a back and sides is positioned within a cavity in a housing. The sides of the insert are painted to appear like firebricks or, alternatively, ceramic fiber refractory panels which are appropriately shaped and colored are attached to the interior sides of the insert. These additional components add to the cost of manufacturing the electric fireplace.
There is therefore a need in the art for an improved electric fireplace that has the illusion of a firebox for a wood-burning or gas-burning fireplace, but that does not require the actual construction of a firebox during manufacture of the unit.
The device of the present invention comprises a panel for simulating a firebox in an electric fireplace. The electric fireplace includes housing with a grate, a plurality of artificial firelogs positioned on the grate and an ember bed positioned under the grate. A light source is positioned to transmit light through a plurality of apertures in a rotatable cylinder that is disposed rearwardly of the firelogs. The panel is a planar member that is positioned in the housing between the cylinder and the firelogs. The panel includes a pattern thereon which represents a firebox of a wood-burning fireplace. The pattern is formed by silk-screening, painting or etching one of a flat wall of firebricks, a recessed wall of firebricks, stones, a logset or any other markings that represent a firebox found in a fireplace. The light source preferably transmits light through flame-shaped apertures in the rotatable cylinder, thereby projecting flame-shaped images onto the panel or onto a screen that is positioned forwardly of the panel.
The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Referring to
One or more rotatable cylinders 28, 30 are positioned rearwardly of firelogs 24. Cylinders 28, 30 each have an outer surface in which a plurality of flame-shaped apertures (not shown) are formed. Light from a light source 29 shines through the outer surface of cylinders 28, 30 and through these flame-shaped apertures. As the cylinders 28, 30 rotate, the light shining through the apertures is directed forwardly toward front end 10a of fireplace 10 and onto a diffuser screen 32. An image of a plurality of flames 36 is thereby formed on diffuser screen 32 by the light.
In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, fireplace 10 is provided with a panel 34 situated between diffuser screen 32 and cylinders 28, 30. Panel 34 preferably is a planar sheet that is at least partially one of opaque, translucent or transparent to allow some light to be transmitted therethrough. Panel 34 is provided with a pattern thereon to represent the interior of a firebox of a wood-burning fireplace. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, pattern 38 is one of a plurality of firebricks. This is illustrated in a first embodiment in
It will also be understood that the pattern 38 preferably is produced at least partially in color. The pattern 38 is formed on panel 34 any suitable method including silk screening, painting, etching or any combination of these.
While panel 34 has been disclosed above to preferably be a planar sheet, it will be understood that panel 34 may also be integrally formed with or otherwise attached to the logset without departing from the spirit of the present invention. This fourth embodiment is shown in
Fireplace 10 is used in the following manner. A switch (not shown) is used to activate both the light source 29 and cylinders 28, 30. As cylinders 28, 30 are rotated, the light from light source 29 passes through the flame-shaped apertures in the rotating cylinders 28, 30, through panel 34 and through diffuser screen 32. The pattern of firebricks 38 on panel 34 is illuminated by the light forming the flame-shaped images 36 on diffuser screen 32. This creates the illusion, when viewed from the front end 10a of fireplace 10, that the firelogs 24 are burning and that the flames are illuminating a portion of the firebox in which the logs are situated. The illusion of a firebox is thus created by the provision of the planar panel 34. There is therefore no need for the construction of a specially shaped firebox to be received within a cavity of the fireplace housing. The panel 34 is simply positioned across a rear portion of the generally rectangular cavity 20 formed by the mantel, base and sides. There is also no need for painting a brickwork pattern onto the interior side walls of a specially shaped firebox or for the attachment of ceramic fiber panels onto the interior side walls thereof. Panel 34 therefore reduces the time required and the cost for manufacturing an electric fireplace.
Referring to
It will be understood that the illusion of the flames may be created in a manner other than by shining light through flame-shaped apertures in the rotating cylinders, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. So, for example, the fireplace may include a screen in which the flames are preformed such as by silk-screening or painting. Furthermore, the pattern 38, 138 of the firebricks disclosed and claimed herein may be superimposed upon any such screen.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
