Modular fireplace assembly

• US 5,249,567 A
• Filed: 05/21/1991
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monessen Hearth Systems Company
• Original Assignee: Majco Building Specialties, L.P.
• Inventors: Schoeff, Terry G., Morgan, Philip D., Maitland, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US07/703,485
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 126/58, 126/60, 126/64, 126/65, 126/66, 126/77, 126/307 R, 126/312, 126/316, 126/500, 126/509, 126/510, 126/512, 126/519, 126/531, 126/551, 126/548
• US Class Current: 126/519
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/18 Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/181 Free-standing fireplaces, e.g. for mobile homes ; Fireplaces convertible into stoves

Abstract

A fireplace assembly is disclosed which provides a simplistic assembly technique that enables construction of numerous different fireplace models with a minimum of unique parts. These can be constructed into a desired form without the use of a frame. The internal components of the fireplace are secured to each other in such a manner that a frame is unnecessary. These components are also constructed such that many of them are interchangeable to enable fabrication of various types of fireplaces, such as see-through, cove, island and bay type fireplaces. A pair of combustion dome assemblies, each of which includes an upwardly extending nozzle, creates a significant upward suction within the combustion chamber. This provides superior air flow and combustion together with greater safety.

Claims

1. An assembly for constructing a plurality of different types of self-supporting fireplaces without the use of a frame, comprising:

a first front surround assembly including a pair of first opposing vertical supports and a pair of first opposing horizontal supports extending between said first opposing vertical supports, said first front surround assembly including first means for supporting a first transparent door assembly;

a second front surround assembly including a pair of second opposing vertical supports and a pair of second opposing horizontal supports extending between said second opposing vertical supports, said second front wall assembly including means for supporting a second transparent door assembly;

a hearth pan including mounting means for mounting said hearth pan to either of said first and second front surround assemblies;

a plurality of first side wall assemblies, each side wall assembly including a combustion casing, an outer casing, a space defined between said combusion casing and outer casing, and mounting means for mounting said first side wall assembly to at least one of the pair of first opposing vertical supports of said first front surround assembly;

a plurality of second side wall assemblies, each second side wall assembly including a top surround end, a bottom surround end, and mounting means for mounting said second side wall assembly to at least one of the pair of second opposing vertical supports of said second front surround assembly such that said top surround end is substantially parallel to said bottom surround end, said second side wall assembly including means for supporting a transparent panel;

a base pan assembly including means for securing said base pan assembly in spaced relation to said hearth pan;

a first rear surround assembly including a pair of opposing vertical supports and a pair of opposing horizontal supports extending between and coupled to said opposing vertical supports, said first rear surround assembly including means for supporting a transparent glass door assembly and means for securing said first rear surround assembly to at least one of said first and second side wall assemblies;

a second rear wall assembly including mounting means for securing said second rear wall assembly to at least one of said first and second side wall assemblies; and

a top wall assembly securable to said first and second front surround assemblies and to said first rear surround and second rear wall assemblies, wherein

said first front surround assembly, a pair of said first side wall assemblies, said first rear surround assembly, said hearth pan, said base pan assembly and said top wall assembly can be assembled to form a see-through fireplace, and wherein

said second front surround assembly, at least one second side wall assembly, said second rear wall assembly, said hearth pan, said base pan assembly and said top wall assembly can be assembled to form a fireplace of a type different from said see-through fireplace.

2. An assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said second rear wall assembly is opaque;

and said second front surround assembly, a pair of said second side wall assemblies, said second rear wall assembly, said hearth pan, said base pan assembly and said top wall assembly can be assembled to form a bay type fireplace.

3. An assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said second rear wall assembly includes an opening extending therethrough and means for supporting a transparent door assembly;

and wherein said second front surround assembly, a pair of said second side wall assemblies, said second rear wall assembly, said hearth pan, said base pan assembly and said top wall assembly can be assembled into an island type fireplace.

4. An assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said second rear wall assembly includes an opening extending therethrough and means for supporting a transparent door assembly;

said first side wall assembly including mounting means for mounting said second side wall assembly to the vertical supports of said second front surround assembly;

wherein said second front surround assembly, said first side wall assembly, said second side wall assembly, said second rear wall assembly, said hearth pan, said base pan assembly and said top wall assembly can be assembled to form a cove type fireplace.

5. An assembly as described in claim 1 including first and second substantially identical transparent door assemblies, said first door assembly being secured to said first front surround assembly and said second door assembly being secured to said first rear surround assembly.

6. An assembly as described in claim 1 including a primary combustion dome assembly and a secondary combustion dome assembly, said primary and secondary combustion dome asemblies each including means for coupling with said first and second front surround assemblies such that said combustion dome assemblies are oriented substantially parallel to said hearth pan and to each other, each of said combustion dome assemblies further including an opening extending vertically therethrough.

7. An assembly as described in claim 6 wherein each of said front surround assemblies include first means for admitting air between said primary and secondary combustion dome assemblies.

8. An assembly as described in claim 7 wherein each of said front surround assemblies include means for admitting air beneath said hearth pan.