1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to an electric fireplace mounted with cabinetry. More particularly, the invention relates to an electric fireplace which is removably secured within a mount having cabinetry. Specifically, the invention relates to a removable electric fireplace which can easily be secured and removed from a number of cabinetry based mounts to provide the appearance of a non-modular unit and the function of a modular unit.
2. Background Information
Fireplaces are a common way of providing heat within the home. However, the installation of a fireplace requires substantial investment in the home as well as planning during construction or significant remodeling. Further, once the fireplace is installed, the look and feel of the room is difficult to change since the fireplace cannot be moved.
In an effort to remedy the concerns of providing heat along with the maneuverability of a portable fireplace, electric fireplaces have been developed. The electric fireplace provides the appearance and heat of a traditional fireplace with the additional benefit of being portable. Since the fireplace is portable, the fireplace can be moved from room to room or repositioned within a room with very little effort.
Fireplaces are also known to be combined with shelving and storage equipment in addition to having the appearance of a traditional brick or wood accented look. In particular, the electric fireplace may include bookshelves on either side, or storage compartments above the fireplace to provide storage capacity proximate the electric fireplace. While the storage capacity is beneficial, the additional material increases the weight of the fireplace assembly and does not provide for adapting the fireplace assembly to the room. Since the fireplace assembly is a single unit, the appearance of the fireplace assembly cannot be changed and must be replaced if a different look or feel is required. Since replacing the fireplace is expensive and a difficult process due to weight of the unit and associated costs, there is a long-felt need for a suitable replacement.
The present invention broadly comprises a fireplace assembly comprising a base defining a recess for receiving a fireplace, a fireplace releasably held within the recess, and wherein the base is a functional piece of furniture when the fireplace is removed.
The present invention also broadly comprises a method of removing and replacing a fireplace comprising the steps of providing a first base defining a recess, locating a fireplace within the recess, removing the fireplace from the first base to provide a functional piece of furniture, and locating the fireplace within the recess.
A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices and materials are now described.
A first embodiment of the fireplace assembly of the present invention is indicated generally at 20, as is particularly shown in
In accordance with one of the main features of the present invention, base 24 includes a front wall 46, a pair of side walls 48 and a rear wall 50. Front wall 46 and side walls 48 are preferably arranged to form a top surface 52 that extends around three sides of the base. Rear wall 50 is preferably shorter than the front wall 46 and side walls 48 to allow the electric fireplace to easily rest on base 24. Further, front wall 46, side walls 48 and rear wall 50 form and define a cavity 54 therein. Each of side walls 48 include holes 56 extending from cavity 54 through their respective side wall. Base 24 is preferably shaped complimentary to fireplace housing 32, and top surface 52 is preferably identical to bottom surface 44 in width and length so that the fireplace housing fits on top of base 24.
First side assembly 26 includes an inner side wall 58, a top wall 60 and an outer side wall 62. Inner side wall 58 and outer side wall 62 are generally arranged to provide a triangular shape, with top wall 60 resting on the upper edges of side walls 58 and 62. At the bottom of inner side wall 58, a pair of holes 64 are formed therein and arranged to be aligned with holes 56 of base 24. Further, top wall 60 includes an aperture 66 for receiving a dowel pin, while inner side wall 58, top wall 60 and outer side wall 62 and form a cavity 68. First side assembly 26 may also include a shelf 70 for separating cavity 68 into several usable sections. Having described the first side assembly, a second side assembly is identical to the first but is merely mirrored to attach to base 24 at the opposite side wall. To that end, second side wall assembly 28 includes the same numbering as first assembly side wall 26.
The first embodiment fireplace assembly also includes a rear upper plate 30 and a prop rod 72. Rear upper plate 30 includes a pair of dowel pins 74 extending from the front periphery of the plate and a hole 76 formed in the back portion of the plates. The rear upper plate is generally triangular in shape and sized such that dowel pins 74 fit within respective aperture 66 of first side assembly 26 and second side assembly 28. Prop rod 72 is preferably the same height as fireplace 22 and first base 24 such that the prop rod maintains the height of rear upper plate 30 at the height of top wall 42 of housing 32. Advantageously, prop rod 72 includes a dowel pin 78 arranged to fit within hole 76. Since rear upper plate 30 has a thickness approximately equal to top wall 42 of housing 32, the rear upper plate and the fireplace top wall create the appearance of a continuous top surface.
In accordance with another main feature of the invention, after base 24, side assemblies 26 and 28, and rear upper plate 30 are assembled as a single unit, electric fireplace 22 and fireplace housing 32 can then be inserted within cavity 84. Electric fireplace 22 also includes a plurality of wheels 86 where one set of wheels is preferably a caster style to allow the wheel to swivel while the other set of wheels is preferably fixed direction style wheels. Wheels 86 extend from bottom wall 40 of fireplace housing 32 and are attached between bottom surface 44. The wheels protrude below the bottom surface to permit the wheels to contact the ground and facilitate movement of the fireplace when outside of the fireplace assembly. Accordingly, when electric fireplace 22 is inserted within cavity 84, wheels 86 are located within cavity 54 of base 24 and no longer in contact with the ground. Since the wheels are located within base 24, the electric fireplace is securely mounted within the fireplace assembly and bottom surface 44 of housing 32 rests directly on top surface 52 of the base.
After the electric fireplace is inserted within cavity 84, the fireplace may be enjoyed along with additional storage within cavities 68 and utilize top wall 42, rear upper plate 30, and top walls 60 of side assemblies 26 and 28 as a mantle to support pictures or other objects. When the owner desires to change the look of fireplace assembly 20, the objects are removed. Next, the owner either lifts electric fireplace 22 and fireplace housing 32 upwards and out of cavity 84 or leans the fireplace housing forward and then pulls the fireplace housing out of cavity 84. The owner can then roll the fireplace housing on wheels 86 to another room or a different location. Thus, the fireplace housing 32 can easily be inserted and removed multiple times from cavity 84 in fireplace assembly 20.
Having described the structure and operation of the first embodiment, a second embodiment will now be described in greater detail. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various embodiments.
A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally at 88 as is particularly shown in
In accordance with yet another main feature of the invention, top plate 90 includes a pair of apertures 106 extending through top surface 92 and top plate 90. Apertures 106 are shaped and sized to each receive a pair of wheels 86 of fireplace housing 32. An alignment system 108 extends from top surface 92 and includes a pair of tabs 110 proximate apertures 106. Tabs 110 preferably have rounded corners and are generally circular in shape to locate fireplace housing 32 and ensure that wheels 86 extend into aperture 106.
Electric fireplace 22 and housing 32 are located on top surface 92 of top plate 90 and housing front wall 38 is located proximate tabs 110 as seen in
When fireplace housing 32 is located atop top plate 90, wheels 86 extend through apertures 106 and into cavity 98. However, due to the height of fireplace housing 32, wheels 86 extend only slightly through apertures 106 and into cavity 98. In particular, wheels 86 extend within cavity 98 a short enough distance to still permit full function of cabinet 104 while disengaging the wheels. When the owner desires to change the fireplace assembly, the owner lifts housing 32 upwards to release the alignment system from the housing as well as remove wheels 86 from cavity 98. Once again, the owner can roll housing 32 to another room or may locate the housing within fireplace assembly 20 or fireplace assembly 88.
Thus, fireplace assemblies 20 and 88 provide an aesthetically pleasing and functional mounts to secure an electrical fireplace while still permitting interchangeability and adaptability within a room. In particular, the fireplace assembly can be adapted with the changing requirements of the room without the additional expense of purchasing a large and cumbersome product. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that a variety of changes can be made that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, any particular fireplace assembly mount may be used so long as the electric fireplace is removably secured to the mount and provides the appearance of a single unit.
Accordingly, the electric fireplace assembly is an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device that achieves all the enumerated objectives of the invention, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior art devices, systems, and methods, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but 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 is by way of example and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the electric fireplace assembly is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.