Flame simulating apparatus

• US 6,944,982 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Napoleon Systems and Develpements Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Napoleon Systems and Develpements Incorporated
• Inventors: Schroeter, Wolfgang, Kurtin, Jeremy, Lilley, Cliff
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoge, Gary C.
• Application Number:
  US10/256,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20040060213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 404/28, 362/92, 362/96, 362/806, 392/348, 472/65
• US Class Current: 40/428
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/004 simulating flames

Abstract

A flame simulating apparatus to simulate flames emanating from a wood or fossil fuel burning fire. The flame simulating apparatus includes a light source, a light reflecting element, and a fire simulation screen. The light reflecting element produces a moving and generally random pattern of reflected light when light is cast upon it by the light source. The fire simulation screen has the image of a fire thereon and is positioned so that reflected light from the light reflecting element is cast upon its rear surface. The fire simulation screen includes at least one portion that is at least partially translucent such that light cast upon the partially translucent portion by the light reflecting element is diffused and at least partially passes through the translucent portion to present a moving flame image when viewed from a position in front of the fire simulation screen.

Claims

1. A flame simulating apparatus to simulate flames emanating from a wood or fossil fuel burning fire, the flame simulating apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a light reflecting element;

a fire simulation screen containing the image of a fire thereon, said fire simulation screen having at least one portion that allows light reflected by said light reflecting element to create the appearance moving flames emanating from said image of said fire on said screen,

said light reflecting element comprising an elongate rotating shaft to which is attached a plurality of planar, arcuately shaped light reflecting members such that light cast upon said light reflecting members is reflected outwardly in a generally randomized pattern when said light reflecting element is rotated,

said light reflecting members being spaced at random radial locations about said rotating shaft, said light reflecting members being spaced at random axial locations along said rotating shaft.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 including a diffusing panel, said diffusing panel having a front and a rear surface and positioned relative to said light source and said light reflecting element such that light from said light source is reflected by said light reflecting element onto said rear surface of said diffusing panel, said diffusing panel having at least one portion that allows light to pass therethrough and onto said fire simulation screen.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 further including a light shield, said light shield being generally opaque and having at least one portion that allows light to pass therethrough and that is configured generally in a form to emulate the shape of a flame, said light shield positioned between said diffusing panel and said light reflecting element such that light that is cast upon said diffusing panel by said light reflecting element is generally in the shape of a flame.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fire simulation screen is comprised of a sheet of generally transparent film material onto which is received said image of a fire, said sheet of film material secured to said diffusing panel.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said image on said film material includes the image of at least a partial fire log set.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said diffusing panel is comprised of a sheet of glass, said glass having at least one of its front and rear surfaces sandblasted in order to enhance its diffusing characteristics.

7. In combination, an electric fireplace or stove and a flame simulating apparatus to simulate flames emanating from a wood or fossil fuel burning fire, the combination comprising:

(i) an exterior housing having front, back, top, bottom and side surfaces, and having a generally hollow open interior compartment;

(ii) a simulated fire log set positioned within the interior of said housing;

(iii) a light source;

(iv) a light reflecting element;

(v) means to move said light reflecting element such that light from said light source that is cast upon said light reflecting element is reflected away from said light reflecting element in a generally random pattern; and

,

(vi) a fire simulation screen having a rear surface and having a front surface, said fire simulation screen having received thereon the image of a fire, said fire simulation screen having at least one portion that allows light reflected by said light reflecting element to create the appearance of moving flames emanating from said image of said fire on said screens,

said light reflecting element comprising a plurality of planar, arcuately shaped light reflecting members such that light cast upon said light reflecting members is reflected outwardly in a generally randomized pattern when said light reflecting element is rotated, said light reflecting members being spaced at random radial locations about said moving means, said light reflecting members being spaced at random axial locations along said moving means.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 including a diffusing panel, said diffusing panel having a front and a rear surface and extending at least partially across said open interior of said housing, said diffusing panel positioned such that at least a portion of the light reflected by said light reflecting element is cast upon said diffusing panel.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8 including a light shield, said light shield being generally opaque and having at least one generally transparent portion in the shape of a flame such that light reflected from said light reflecting element is cast upon said diffusing panel in a shape emulating that of a flame.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said screen is comprised of a sheet of generally transparent film material that is adhered to said diffusing panel.

11. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said image on said screen includes the image of a fire log set.

12. The device as claimed in claim 7 including a secondary light source, when activated said secondary light source illuminating said simulated fire log set and said image on said fire simulation screen.

13. The device as claimed in claim 7 including an electric heating element and a fan to allow for the heating of the environment within which said device is located.

14. A flame simulating apparatus to simulate flames emanating from a wood or fossil fuel burning fire, the flame simulating apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a light reflecting element, said light reflecting element producing a moving and generally random pattern of reflected light when light is cast upon said light reflecting element by said light source; and

,

a fire simulation screen having the image of a fire, said fire simulation screen positioned such that light from said light source may be reflected by said light reflecting element and cast upon said fire simulation screen, said fire simulation screen including at least one portion that is at least partially translucent such that light cast upon said partially translucent portion by said light reflecting element is diffused by said partially translucent portion, said diffused light at least partially passing through said translucent portion of said fire simulation screen to present a moving flame image emanating from said image of said fire thereon,

said light reflecting element comprising an elongate rotating shaft to which is attached a plurality of planar, arcuately shaped light reflecting members such that light cast upon said light reflecting members is reflected outwardly in a generally randomized pattern when said light reflecting element is rotated,

said light reflecting members being spaced at random radial locations about said rotating shaft, said light reflecting members being spaced at random axial locations along said rotating shaft.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said fire simulation screen includes a simulated fire log set, at least a portion of said simulated fire log set being at least partially translucent to permit light generated by said light source to pass through said simulated fire log set to create the illusion of glowing members within said log set.

16. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said image includes the image of at least a partial fire log set.

17. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said image includes the image of at least a partial coal bed.