Artificial fireplace

• US 20060098428A1
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elite Group, Co.
• Original Assignee: Elite Group, Co.
• Inventors: Rosserot, Jean Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/227
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/004 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An artificial fireplace for simulating flaming logs has a housing containing a solid state light source, a rotating flame simulation assembly, a viewing screen, and a simulated fuel source. The solid state light source preferably comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs) affixed to a printed circuit board. The light produced by the LEDs reflects off of the rotating flame simulation assembly and an image of a flame is transmitted onto the viewing screen. This design creates a realistic, randomly-flickering flame image above the simulated fuel source. Optional features include a dimmer assembly to adjust the intensity of the image and a second light source to simulate smoldering embers within the simulated fuel source. This design eliminates the problems associated with using a light bulb for a light source by instead using LEDs with a longer life span which emit less undesirable heat and consume less electricity.

Claims

1. An artificial fireplace comprising:

a housing having an interior cavity and a viewing aperture for viewing said interior cavity;

a viewing screen disposed within said interior cavity;

a solid state light source disposed adjacent to said viewing screen, wherein said solid state light source emits a light having a generally constant brightness;

a power source operatively coupled to said solid state light source; and

a flame simulation assembly disposed in a light-receiving relationship with said solid state light source, for receiving the light emitted by the solid state light source and projecting at least a portion of the light onto the viewing screen.

2. The artificial fireplace of claim 1, wherein said solid state light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

3. The artificial fireplace of claim 2, wherein said light emitting diodes are removably affixed to a printed circuit board for allowing said light emitting diodes to be interchanged.

4. The artificial fireplace of claim 2, wherein a plurality of said light emitting diodes are colored.

5. The artificial fireplace of claim 4, wherein all of said light emitting diodes are colored.

6. The artificial fireplace of claim 2, wherein two or more of said light emitting diodes have different electrical characteristics.

7. The artificial fireplace of claim 1, wherein said flame simulation assembly includes a frame and a shaft rotatably affixed to said frame.

8. The artificial fireplace of claim 7, further comprising a control assembly for selectively adjusting the rotational speed of the shaft.

9. The artificial fireplace of claim 7, wherein said flame simulation assembly is disposed generally above said solid state light source.

10. The artificial fireplace of claim 7, wherein said flame simulation assembly further includes flame elements affixed to said shaft.

11. The artificial fireplace of claim 10, wherein said flame elements comprise a light-reflecting material.

12. The artificial fireplace of claim 11, wherein said light-reflecting material is aluminum.

13. The artificial fireplace of claim 7, wherein said flame simulation assembly further includes a generally hollow cylinder affixed to said shaft for housing the solid state light source.

14. The artificial fireplace of claim 13, wherein said cylinder further includes a plurality of light-receiving slits configured for projecting an image of one or more flames onto said viewing screen.

15. The artificial fireplace of claim 1, further comprising a dimmer assembly interconnecting said solid state light source and said power source for selectively adjusting the brightness of the light transmitted by said solid state light source.

16. An artificial fireplace comprising:

a housing having an interior cavity and a viewing aperture for viewing said interior cavity;

a simulated fuel source disposed within said interior cavity of the housing, wherein said simulated fuel source includes a plurality of apertures;

a fuel light source disposed in light-transmitting relationship to said plurality of apertures, wherein said fuel light source emits a light having a generally constant brightness and comprises a solid state light source for projecting said light through the plurality of apertures and creating the appearance of smoldering embers within the simulated fuel source; and

a power source operatively coupled to said fuel light source.

17. The artificial fireplace of claim 16, wherein said fuel light source is generally disposed within said simulated fuel source.

18. The artificial fireplace of claim 16, wherein said fuel light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

19. The artificial fireplace of claim 18, wherein two or more of said light emitting diodes have different electrical characteristics.

20. The artificial fireplace of claim 18, wherein said light emitting diodes are removably affixed to a printed circuit board for allowing said light emitting diodes to be interchanged.

21. The artificial fireplace of claim 18, wherein a plurality of said light emitting diodes are red.

22. The artificial fireplace of claim 21, wherein all of said light emitting diodes are red.

23. The artificial fireplace of claim 16, further comprising a dimmer assembly interconnecting said fuel light source and said power source for selectively adjusting the brightness of the light emitted by the fuel light source.

24. A method for simulating one or more flames comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having an interior cavity and a viewing aperture for viewing said interior cavity;

providing a viewing screen disposed within said interior cavity;

providing a light source which emits a light having a generally constant brightness, wherein said light source is disposed adjacent to said viewing screen and comprises a plurality of red and orange light emitting diodes and a lesser number of green and blue light emitting diodes;

providing a power source operatively coupled to said light source; and

projecting at least a portion of the light onto said viewing screen, wherein said portion of the light simulates one or more flames.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said portion of the light is projected by a rotatable flame simulation assembly for simulating movement of the one or more flames.