Flame simulating assembly

• US 7,194,830 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dimplex North America Ltd. (Glen Dimplex Plc)
• Original Assignee: Dimplex North America Ltd. (Glen Dimplex Plc)
• Inventors: Hess, Kristoffer
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Ruth C.
• Application Number:
  US11/013,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 404/28, 362/92, 362/96, 362/253, 362/806, 392/348, 472/65
• US Class Current: 40/428
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/004 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/12 using special optical effects

Abstract

A flame simulating assembly for providing an image of flames. The flame simulating assembly has a simulated fuel bed, a light source, and a screen with a front surface disposed behind the simulated fuel bed for transmitting light from the light source through the front surface so that the image of flames is transmitted through the front surface. Also, the flame simulating assembly includes a dynamic reflector disposed in front of the simulated fuel bed and including a plurality of reflective surfaces and an axis about which the reflective surfaces rotate. The dynamic reflector is positioned in a path of light from the light source to the simulated fuel bed, for reflecting light from the light source to the simulated fuel bed.

Claims

1. A flame simulating assembly for providing an image of flames, the flame simulating assembly having:

a simulated fuel bed;

a light source;

a screen with a front surface disposed behind the simulated fuel bed for transmitting light from the light source through the front surface such that the image of flames is transmitted through the front surface; and

a dynamic reflector disposed in front of the simulated fuel bed and including a plurality of reflective surfaces and an axis about which the reflective surfaces rotate, the dynamic reflector being positioned in a path of light from the light source to the simulated fuel bed, for reflecting light from the light source to the simulated fuel bed.

2. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 additionally including a simulated grate disposed in front of the dynamic reflector, the simulated grate having an inner side disposed opposite an outer side thereof, the inner side being positioned adjacent to the dynamic reflector, the inner side of the simulated grate having a static reflective surface for reflecting light from the light source onto the simulated fuel bed.

3. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 additionally including a flicker element positioned in a path of light from the light source to the screen, to produce an image of flickering flames transmittable through the front surface of the screen.

4. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 3 additionally including a flame effect element positioned between the flicker element and the screen and in a path of flickering light from the light source, for configuring the flickering light to produce the image of flames transmittable though the front surface of the screen.

5. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 3 in which the light source is positioned below the simulated fuel bed and the flicker element is positioned behind the light source.

6. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 in which the simulated fuel bed includes a simulated ember bed and at least one simulated fuel element disposed above the simulated ember bed, and in which the simulated ember bed includes a translucent portion positioned in the path of light between the light source and the dynamic reflector, such that light from the light source is transmittable though the translucent portion.

7. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 in which the simulated fuel bed includes a simulated ember bed and at least one simulated fuel element disposed above the simulated ember bed, the simulated ember bed including a plurality of apertures positioned in the path of light from the light source to the dynamic reflector, such that light from the light source is transmittable through the apertures.

8. A flame simulating assembly having:

a simulated fuel bed including a simulated ember bed and at least one simulated fuel element positioned over the simulated ember bed;

a bottom wall element, the simulated ember bed being positioned at least partially above the bottom wall element and seated directly on the bottom wall element;

the simulated ember bed and the bottom wall element at least partially defining a compartment;

a light source;

the simulated ember bed including a front portion positioned in a path of light from the light source and adapted to permit light to be transmitted therethrough;

a front wall positioned in front of the simulated fuel bed, the front wall including an observation zone;

a dynamic reflector positioned above the bottom wall element and positioned outside the compartment and between the simulated ember bed and the front wall;

the dynamic reflector being positioned in the path of light from the light source for reflecting light from the light source onto the simulated fuel bed; and

the dynamic reflector including an axis and a plurality of reflective surfaces which rotate about the axis, for causing light from the light source to flicker and to be reflected onto the simulated fuel bed.

9. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 in which said at least one simulated fuel element has at least one downwardly directed portion, the dynamic reflector being positioned relative to said at least one downwardly directed portion for reflecting light from the light source onto said at least one downwardly directed portion.

10. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 9 in which said at least one simulated fuel element additionally includes at least one partially reflective part positioned on said at least one downwardly directed portion in a path of light from the light source reflected from the dynamic reflector, for reflecting light to simulate burning embers.

11. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 10 in which said at least partially reflective part includes at least one ember decal, said at least one ember decal being positioned on said at least one downwardly directed portion in a path of light from the light source reflected from the dynamic reflector, for reflecting light to simulate burning embers.

12. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 11 wherein said at least one ember decal is reddish in color, such that said at least one ember decal simulates burning embers disposed on said at least one downwardly directed portion.

13. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 10 in which said at least one partially reflective part is reddish in color, such that said at least one partially reflective part simulates burning embers disposed on said at least one downwardly directed portion of said at least one simulated fuel element.

14. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 in which the front portion of the simulated ember bed is at least partially translucent.

15. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 additionally including a simulated grate positioned between the dynamic reflector and the front wall, the simulated grate having an inner side disposed adjacent to the dynamic reflector and an outer side positioned opposite to the inner side, the inner side having a static reflective surface thereon positioned in the path of light from the light source, for reflecting light from the light source onto the simulated fuel bed.

16. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 in which the front portion of the simulated ember bed includes a plurality of apertures through which light from the light source is transmittable to the dynamic reflector.

17. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 additionally including a screen with a front surface disposed behind the simulated fuel bed for transmitting light from the light source through the front surface such that an image of flames is transmitted through the front surface.

18. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 17 in which the screen includes a diffusing back member disposed behind the front surface for diffusing and transmitting light from the light source, and the flame simulating assembly additionally includes a flicker element positioned in a path of light between the light source and the diffusing back member, for creating a fluctuating light.

19. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 18 additionally including a flame effect element positioned in a path of the fluctuating light to configure the fluctuating light to form the image of flames which is transmittable through the front surface of the screen.