Flame stimulating assembly

• US 7,770,312 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glen Dimplex Americas, Ltd. (Glen Dimplex Plc)
• Original Assignee: Dimplex North America Ltd. (Glen Dimplex Plc)
• Inventors: Stinson, Kelly, Hess, Kristoffer
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US11/622,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20070107280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 404/28
• US Class Current: 40/428
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/004 simulating flames

Abstract

A flame simulating assembly for providing one or more images of flames. The flame simulating assembly includes one or more light sources for producing the image of flames and a screen with a front surface and positioned in a path of light from the light source. The screen is adapted for transmission of the images of flames through the screen. The assembly also includes one or more simulated interior fireplace walls positioned behind the screen, a first simulated fuel bed positioned in front of the screen and a second simulated fuel bed positioned behind the screen and at least partially viewable through the screen. The screen is adapted to permit observation of at least part of the simulated interior fireplace wall.

Claims

1. A flame simulating assembly for providing at least one image of flames, the flame simulating assembly comprising:

at least one light source for producing said at least one image of flames;

a screen comprising a front surface and positioned in a path of light from said at least one light source, the screen being adapted for transmission of said at least one image of flames through the screen;

at least one simulated interior fireplace wall positioned behind the screen;

a first simulated fuel bed positioned in front of the screen;

the front surface of the screen comprising at least one observation region through which said part of said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall is observable, and a viewing region through which said at least one image of flames is transmittable;

a second simulated fuel bed positioned behind the screen and at least partially viewable through the screen;

the viewing region being at least partially reflective, for providing a virtual image of at least a reflected part of the first simulated fuel bed; and

at least a preselected portion of the second simulated fuel bed being positioned relative to the virtual image such that the second simulated fuel bed appears to be part of the first simulated fuel bed.

2. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 in which the front surface of the screen comprises:

a transition region disposed between the viewing region and said at least one observation region;

said at least one image of flames being at least partly transmittable through the transition region; and

said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall and said second simulated fuel bed being at least partially observable through the transition region.

3. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 in which said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall is a back wall and the flame simulating assembly additionally comprises side walls extending from the back wall beyond the front surface of the screen.

4. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 3 in which each of the back wall and the side walls has a pattern thereon resembling firebrick.

5. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 3 in which the back wall comprises firebricks and the side walls comprise patterns thereon resembling firebrick and aligned with the firebrick in the back wall.

6. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 3 additionally comprising a light control member positioned in said path of light from said at least one light source for obstructing light from said light source so that said light illuminates preselected portions of the back wall and the side walls.

7. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 additionally comprising at least one background light source for providing light to at least partially illuminate said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall.

8. A flame simulating assembly for providing at least one image of flames, the flame simulating assembly comprising:

a first simulated fuel bed;

at least one light source for producing said at least one image of flames;

a screen positioned behind the first simulated fuel bed, the screen comprising a front surface adjacent to the first simulated fuel bed;

the screen being positioned in a path of light from said at least one light source and adapted for transmission of said at least one image of flames through the screen;

at least one simulated interior fireplace wall positioned behind the screen;

the front surface of the screen comprising;

a partially reflective viewing region disposed proximate to the first simulated fuel bed, said at least one image of flames being transmittable through the viewing region;

an observation region disposed distal to the first simulated fuel bed, the observation region being adapted to permit observation of at least part of said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall through the observation region;

the viewing region providing a virtual image of at least a reflected part of the first simulated fuel bed; and

a second simulated fuel bed positioned behind the screen and at least partially observable through the screen, said second simulated fuel bed comprising a preselected portion thereof positioned relative to the virtual image such that the second simulated fuel bed appears to be part of the first simulated fuel bed.

9. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 additionally comprising a transition region disposed between the observation region and the viewing region, said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall being at least partially observable through the transition region, and said at least one image of flames being at least partially transmittable through the transition region.

10. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 in which the screen additionally comprises a diffusing portion of a back surface located behind the viewing region on the front surface, the diffusing portion being adapted to diffuse light transmitted therethrough.

11. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 in which said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall comprises a pattern simulating firebrick thereon.

12. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 11 additionally including a housing, said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall being mounted on a back wall of the housing.

13. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 12 in which the housing comprises at least two simulated interior fireplace side walls, and each of said at least two simulated interior fireplace side walls extends forwardly from said back wall.

14. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 13 in which said at least two simulated interior fireplace side walls extend forwardly from said back wall beyond the front surface of the screen.

15. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 14 in which said at least two simulated interior fireplace side walls comprise patterns simulating firebrick thereon, said patterns being configured to mate with the firebrick pattern on said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall.

16. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 comprising a flame effect element for configuring light from said at least one light source to form said at least one image of flames, the flame effect element being positioned in the path of light between said at least one light source and the screen.

17. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 8 comprising a flicker element for causing light from said at least one light source to fluctuate to form said at least one image of flames, the flicker element being positioned in the path of light between said at least one light source and the screen.

18. A flame simulating assembly for providing at least one image of flames, the flame simulating assembly comprising:

a first simulated fuel bed;

a screen positioned behind the first simulated fuel bed, the screen comprising a front surface adjacent to the first simulated fuel bed and being adapted for transmission of said at least one image of flames therethrough;

at least one simulated interior fireplace wall positioned behind the screen;

at least one light source for producing said at least one image of flames;

a flicker element positioned in a path of light between said at least one light source and the screen for causing light from said at least one light source to fluctuate;

the screen being positioned in a path of fluctuating light from said at least one light source, such that said at least one image of flames is transmittable therethrough;

the front surface comprising;

a viewing region disposed proximate to the first simulated fuel bed, said at least one image of flames being transmittable through the viewing region;

an observation region disposed distal to the first simulated fuel bed, the observation region being adapted to permit observation of at least part of said at least one simulated interior fireplace wall through the observation region;

a second simulated fuel bed positioned behind the screen and at least partially viewable through the screen;

the viewing region of the front surface of the screen at least partially reflecting an image of the first simulated fuel bed; and

at least a preselected portion of the second simulated fuel bed being substantially aligned with said image of the first simulated fuel bed such that the second simulated fuel bed appears to be part of the first simulated fuel bed.