Sauna fireplace

• US 20060185665A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Kelly, Bachinski, Thomas J., Butler, Gary Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/067,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20060185665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/512
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/1808 Simulated fireplaces

Abstract

A sauna fireplace assembly that includes an outer enclosure, a combustion chamber enclosure, and a housing. The combustion chamber enclosure is positioned within the outer enclosure and defines a combustion chamber wherein heat is generated. The housing is positioned in contact with a panel of the combustion chamber enclosure and is configured to house a plurality of heat retaining members. An opening into the housing is accessible through the outer enclosure for access to the heat retaining members. Heat generated in the combustion chamber is passed to the heat retaining members and then radiated from the heat retaining members into a living space such as a sauna enclosure. A portion of the housing may be exposed within the combustion chamber for improved heat transfer to the heat retaining members.

Claims

1. A fireplace, comprising:

an outer enclosure;

a combustion chamber enclosure positioned within the outer enclosure, the combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber wherein heat is generated;

a plenum defined between the outer enclosure and combustion chamber enclosure, the plenum having an inlet and an outlet for the circulation of room air through the plenum to heat the room air;

a housing positioned in contact with a panel of the combustion chamber enclosure, the housing being configured to house a plurality of heat retaining members, an opening into the housing being accessible through the outer enclosure for accessing the heat retaining members;

wherein heat generated in the combustion chamber is passed through the housing to the heat retaining members.

2. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to hold a fluid.

3. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber enclosure includes at least one panel that defines an opening for viewing a source of heat positioned within the combustion chamber.

4. The fireplace of claim 3, wherein the source of heat is a flame generated by a gas burner.

5. The fireplace of claim 3, wherein the combustion chamber enclosure includes a front panel and an opposing rear panel that each define an opening for viewing the source of heat.

6. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing is exposed within the combustion chamber.

7. The fireplace of claim 6, wherein the portion of the housing exposed within the combustion chamber includes at least one heat transfer structure.

8. A fireplace, comprising:

a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber wherein combustion occurs to generate heat, the combustion chamber enclosure including a front panel through which the combustion chamber is viewable and a top panel; and

a housing configured to hold at least one heat retaining member, the housing including a bottom panel that defines a portion of the top panel of the combustion chamber enclosure.

9. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the bottom panel of the housing includes a plurality of heat transfer members.

10. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the combustion chamber enclosure includes a rear panel on an opposing side of the combustion chamber enclosure from the front side, the front and rear panels each defining an opening through which the combustion chamber is viewable.

11. The fireplace of claim 8, further comprising an outer enclosure defined by a plurality of panels, the combustion chamber enclosure being at least partially disposed within the outer enclosure, and a plenum defined between the outer enclosure and the combustion chamber enclosure, the housing extending through the plenum and exposed outside of the outer enclosure.

12. The fireplace of claim 8, further comprising a burner positioned within the combustion chamber, the burner being configured to generate a flame, the flame being viewable through the front panel.

13. A fireplace, comprising:

a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber, the combustion chamber enclosure including at least one panel for viewing the combustion chamber;

a burner positioned within the combustion chamber, the burner being configured to produce a flame that generates heat and is viewable through the at least one panel; and

a housing configured to hold at least one heat retaining member, a panel of the housing being at least partially exposed within the combustion chamber.

14. The fireplace of claim 13, wherein the housing includes at least one drain channel configured to direct fluid away from within the housing.

15. The fireplace of claim 13, further comprising a gasket positioned between the housing and the combustion chamber enclosure.

16. The fireplace of claim 13, further comprising a hydronic heating member configured to transfer heat from the combustion chamber to a fluid flowing through the hydronic heating member between an inlet opening and an outlet opening of the hydronic heating member.

17. A sauna, comprising:

an enclosure including at least one wall;

a fireplace positioned at least partially within the enclosure, the fireplace including a combustion chamber enclosure wherein a flame is generated for the production of heat, the combustion chamber enclosure including at least one panel through which the flame is viewable; and

a heat exchanging housing coupled to a top panel of the combustion chamber enclosure, the housing including a plurality of panels that define a storage space sized to receive a plurality of heat retaining objects, the housing being configured to absorb heat generated in the combustion chamber and radiate the absorbed heat within the enclosure.

18. The sauna of claim 17, wherein the housing is at least partially exposed within the combustion chamber enclosure.

19. The sauna of claim 17, further including a grate member positioning within the housing and configured to support the heat retaining members.

20. A heat exchanging assembly configured for use with a fireplace, the assembly comprising:

a heat emanating member configured to absorb heat from the fireplace and radiate heat into a dwelling space; and

a housing sized to retain the heat emanating member, the housing including at least one panel configured for exposure to a heat source positioned within the fireplace, the at least one panel including at least one heat exchanging member configured for exposure to the heat source.

21. The heat exchanging assembly of claim 20, wherein the fireplace includes a combustion chamber enclosure and a burner positioned within the combustion chamber enclosure for the generation of heat, wherein the at least one heat exchanging member is exposed within the combustion chamber enclosure.

22. A method of manufacturing a sauna fireplace, the fireplace including an outer enclosure, a combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber, and a heat exchanging assembly, the heat exchanging assembly defining an housing within which heat retaining objects may be positioned, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the combustion chamber enclosure with at least one panel through which the combustion chamber is viewable;

positioning the combustion chamber enclosure within the outer enclosure wherein the at least one panel is exposed for viewing; and

securing the heating exchanging assembly to a top panel of the combustion chamber enclosure with the heating exchanging assembly at least partially exposed outside of the outer enclosure to provide access to the heat retaining objects positioned within the housing.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising exposing a portion of the housing within the combustion chamber enclosure.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the heat exchanging assembly defines a portion of the top panel of the combustion chamber enclosure.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the fireplace further includes a burner configured to generate heat, the method including positioning the burner within the combustion chamber enclosure, the burner being viewable through the at least one panel.