Backlighting system for a fireplace

• US 7,322,819 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Berg, Richard, Lyons, David Charles, Schwie, Kurt Matthew, Jeutter, Scott Stephen, Bachinski, Thomas J., Waddell, Robert Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Price; Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US10/718,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20040173202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 126/500, 126/502, 126/512, 126/39.BA, 431/125, 431/126, 404/28, 362/92, 362/312, 362/806, 362/93, 362/125, 362/126, 362/133, 362/20, 362/127, 362/458, 446/480, 446/481, 392/348
• US Class Current: 431/125
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/1808 Simulated fireplaces

Abstract

A fireplace including a backlighting system. The backlighting system can be positioned in a back portion of the bottom panel of the fireplace. The backlighting system includes at least one light source to shine light upon the components of the fireplace. For example, the light source can be positioned to shine light on a back panel of the fireplace. The light source of the backlighting system can be modulated depending on a state of the fireplace. For example, the light source can be turned on or off depending on whether the flame of the fireplace is on or off.

Claims

1. A fireplace, comprising:

an enclosure defining a bottom back portion and including a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels defining a combustion chamber and including a lower panel and a rear panel;

a backlighting system positioned at the bottom back portion of the enclosure and including at least one light source adapted to shine light directly upon the rear panel of the fireplace;

a burner adapted for combusting gases to generate flames in the combustion chamber;

a sensor configured to sense flames generated by the burner in the combustion chamber; and

a control system in electrical communication with the sensor and the backlighting system, the control system configured to cause the backlighting system to shine light on the rear panel when the burner is not generating flames as sensed by the sensor.

2. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the lower panel has a back portion proximate the rear wall, the back portion of the lower panel forming an opening in the enclosure, and further wherein the light source is positioned at least partially below the lower panel so that the light from the light source shines through the opening in the back portion of the lower panel and into the combustion chamber.

3. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a front opening opposite the rear panel, and further wherein the backlighting system is positioned within the enclosure so as not to be visible through the front opening of the enclosure.

4. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the rear panel of the enclosure defines a lattice structure, and wherein the light source is configured to shine the light on the lattice structure.

5. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the backlighting system includes more than one light source positioned at the back portion of the enclosure.

6. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to withstand high temperature generated by the fireplace.

7. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a halogen bulb and a ceramic socket.

8. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to turn on the light source when a natural fire is being simulated within the fireplace.

9. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photocell module adapted to sense light from the flames in the enclosure and wherein the control system turns the backlighting system on and off depending on an amount of light in the enclosure of the fireplace.

10. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photocell module and wherein the control system is further configured to turn the backlighting system on and off depending on an amount of light outside of the fireplace.

11. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the control system further includes a manual control that is manually controlled by a user of the fireplace.

12. A fireplace, comprising:

an enclosure including a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels defining a combustion chamber and including a rear panel and a side panel

a burner connected to a source of combustible gas, the burner adapted to generate flames in the combustion chamber;

a backlighting system positioned to shine light directly upon the rear panel of the fireplace;

a sensor configured to sense flames in the fireplace; and

a control system in electrical communication with the backlighting system and the sensor;

wherein the control system is configured to cause the backlighting system to stop shining light on the rear panel when flames are being generated in the combustion chamber as sensed by the sensor.

13. The fireplace of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a photocell module coupled to the control system.

14. The fireplace of claim 12, further comprising a photocell module coupled to the backlighting system, wherein the photocell module turns the backlighting system on and off depending on an amount of light outside of the fireplace.

15. A fireplace, comprising:

an enclosure defining a combustion chamber and an open front, the enclosure including at least a lower panel, two side panels and a back panel opposite the open front;

a burner positioned adjacent to the lower panel, the burner adapted to combust gases to generate heat in the combustion chamber;

a backlighting system positioned to shine light directly upon components of the fireplace including at least the back panel,

a sensor for sensing a temperature of the fireplace;

a control system in electrical communication with the sensor and the backlighting system, the control system configured to cause the backlighting system to provide aesthetic lighting on at least the back panel when the burner is not generating heat in the combustion chamber as sensed by the sensor.

16. The fireplace of claim 15, wherein the lower panel has a back portion proximate the back panel and the back portion of the lower panel defines an opening, and further wherein the light source is positioned at least partially below the lower panel so that the light from the light source shines through the opening in the back portion of the lower panel into the combustion chamber.

17. The fireplace of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the back panel of the enclosure defines a lattice structure, and wherein the light source is positioned to shine the light on the lattice structure.

18. The fireplace of claim 15, wherein the light source is positioned adjacent to the burner of the fireplace.

19. A method of providing backlighting for a fireplace, comprising:

providing an enclosure defining a combustion chamber and an open front, the enclosure including at least a lower panel, two side panels, and a back panel, the side panels and the back panel forming a plurality of ledges;

providing a log set positioned in the enclosure;

positioning a backlighting system including a light source in a back portion of the enclosure behind the log set;

generating flames in the combustion chamber;

sensing light from the flames generated in the combustion chamber using a sensor; and

shining light directly on the plurality of ledges with the light source upon sensing that light from the flames is not being generated in the combustion chamber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of positioning the backlighting system further comprises:

defining an aperture in the lower panel of the enclosure; and

positioning the light source so that the light shines through the aperture and into the enclosure.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of providing the enclosure further comprises:

forming a lattice structure on at least a portion of the back panel of the enclosure; and

positioning the light source to shine the light on the lattice structure.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising modulating the light source of the backlighting system depending on a state of a flame generated in the combustion chamber.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of positioning the backlighting system further comprises positioning the backlighting system adjacent to a burner of the fireplace.