Reflective device for an electric fireplace and an electric fireplace incorporating the same

• US 8,234,803 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heat Surge LLC
• Original Assignee: Heat Surge LLC
• Inventors: Gallo, Christopher J., Baker, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Shin
• Application Number:
  US12/796,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20110299283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 404/28, 404/30, 404/31, 362/253, 362/234, 362/297, 362/304, 362/346, 362/35, 362/92, 362/127, 362/217.05, 362/269, 362/551, 362/559, 362/560, 362/567, 362/806, 472/65
• US Class Current: 40/428
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames

Abstract

A reflective device for use in an electric fireplace and a fireplace incorporating the same. The reflective device includes a shaft having a first and a second end cap mounted at opposite ends. An intermediate member extends outwardly from the shaft between the first and second end caps. One or more reflecting strips extend longitudinally between the first and second end caps and are spaced a distance away from the shaft. The reflecting strips are separated from each other by longitudinal gaps and are mounted so that they angle downwardly relative to the shaft from the intermediate member toward the first and second end caps. The shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis so that it reflects light from a light source toward one of a screen, simulated ember bed and artificial log display in the fireplace housing.

Claims

1. A reflective device for use in an electric fireplace that includes a screen positioned rearwardly of an artificial log display and ember bed, and a light source for illuminating one of the screen, the artificial log display and ember bed;

the reflective device comprising;

a shaft having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends and about which the shaft is rotatable,

a first end cap disposed at the first end of the shaft;

a second end cap disposed at the second end of the shaft;

a first reflecting strip extending longitudinally between the first and second end caps and being spaced a distance outwardly away from the shaft; and

wherein the first reflecting strip is adapted to reflect light from the light source back toward one or more of the screen, the artificial log display and the ember bed; and

an intermediate member disposed on the shaft between the first and the second end caps; and

the intermediate member includes a first region that is spaced a distance outwardly away from an exterior surface of the shaft, and wherein the first reflecting strip contacts the first region of the intermediate member.

2. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflecting strip engages each of the first and second end caps a first distance away from the exterior surface of the shaft and engages the region of the intermediate member a second distance away from the exterior surface of the shaft;

and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance such that the reflecting strip angles downwardly relative to the exterior surface of the shaft from the intermediate member toward one or both of the first and second end caps.

3. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a ring member, and wherein the ring member is complementary to a peripheral outer edge of the intermediate member and is receivable therearound;

and the first region is disposed on the peripheral outer edge and the ring member retains the first reflecting strip in abutting contact with the intermediate member.

4. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second end caps and the intermediate member are disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and are fixedly mounted on the shaft;

and wherein the first and second end caps and the intermediate member rotate in unison with the shaft.

5. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second end caps are substantially identical and each comprises:

a planar wall;

an annular wall extending outwardly from the planar wall and substantially at right angles thereto;

a post extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the planar wall;

the post being adapted to be used to mount the reflective device for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

a boss extending inwardly away from an interior surface of the planar wall and generally in alignment with the post;

the boss being configured to engage the shaft.

6. The reflective device as defined in claim 5, wherein each of the first and second end caps further includes a first slit defined in one or both of the planar wall and annular wall, the first slit being positioned so as to receive a first portion of the first reflecting strip therein.

7. The reflective device as defined in claim 6, wherein each of the first and second end caps further includes a second slit defined in one or both of the planar wall and annular wall;

the second slit being spaced a distance from the first slit and being positioned so as to receive a second portion of the first reflecting strip therein.

8. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a series of pairs of first and second slits defined at intervals in each of the first and second end caps;

the first and second slits being defined in one or both of the annular and planar walls; and

wherein the first reflecting strip is an elongate member that is threaded back-and-forth between the first and second end caps by threading it through a first pair of first and second slits on the first end cap, then through a first pair of first and second slits on the second end cap, then through a second pair of first and second slits on the first end cap, then through a second pair of first and second slits on the second end cap, and so on until the first reflecting strip has been threaded through substantially all of the series of pairs of first and second slits on each of the first and second end caps.

9. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first reflecting strip is made from one of a soft and pliable material.

10. The reflective device as defined in claim 9, wherein the material is aluminum foil.

11. The reflective device as defined in claim 2, further comprising a second reflecting strip extending longitudinally between the first and second end caps and being spaced a distance outwardly away from the shaft;

and wherein the second reflecting strip is spaced a distance away from the first reflecting strip and is separated therefrom by a gap; and

wherein the second reflecting strip contacts a second region of the intermediate member a spaced distance from the first region thereof.

12. The reflective device as defined in claim 11, wherein each of the first and second reflecting strips has a length as measured between the first and second end caps, and a width disposed at right angles to the length, and wherein the width of each of the first and second reflecting strips is between ⅛

inch to 1 inch, and the gap has a width of between ⅛

inch to 1 inch.

13. The reflective device as defined in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of additional reflecting strips that are each substantially identical to the first and second reflecting strips, each additional reflecting strip extending longitudinally between the first and second end caps, contacting the intermediate member and being spaced a distance outwardly away from the shaft;

and where adjacent additional reflecting strips are separated from each other by a gap that is substantially identical to the gap between the first and second reflecting strips, such that the plurality of additional reflecting strips and the first and second reflecting strips form a reflective ring spaced a distance outwardly away from the shaft, and wherein the ring of reflecting strips is substantially concentric with the shaft.

14. The reflective device as defined in claim 8, wherein the first reflecting strip has a length as measured between the first and second end caps, and a width disposed at right angles to the length, and each of the first and second slits has a width and the width of the first reflecting strip is greater than the width of the first and second slits, and wherein the first reflecting strip is compressed in width when threaded through each of the first and second slits.

15. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first reflecting strip has an interior surface and an exterior surface and both of the interior and exterior surfaces are reflective in nature.

16. The reflective device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first reflecting strip is retained slackly between the first and second end caps.

17. The reflective device as defined in claim 5, wherein the boss further includes a detent that projects outwardly therefrom and the shaft includes a slot therein that is complementary to the detent;

and wherein the boss and shaft are engaged in such a manner that the detent is interlocking received in the slot.

18. The reflective device as defined in claim 5, wherein the first and second end caps further each include a ring member, and wherein the ring member comprises:

a planar wall complementary to the planar wall of one of the first and second end caps;

a hole defined in the planar wall, said hole being located so as to receive the post of the one of the first and second end caps therethrough; and

an annular wall extending outwardly away from the planar wall and substantially at right angles thereto;

said annular wall being complementary to the annular wall of the one of the first and second end caps; and

wherein said ring member is engageable with the one of the first and second end caps.

19. In combination:

an electric fireplace comprising;

a housing;

a transparent panel mounted in the housing;

a simulated ember bed and artificial log display disposed rearwardly of the panel;

a diffusion screen provided rearwardly of the ember bed and log display;

a light source positioned to illuminate one or more of the screen, the ember bed and the log display; and

a rotatable reflective device mounted adjacent the one or more of the screen, the ember bed and the log display;

wherein the reflective device comprises;

a shaft having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween and about which the shaft is rotatable, said shaft being adapted to be operatively connected to a motor to rotate the same;

a first end cap disposed at the first end of the shaft;

a second end cap disposed at the second end of the shaft;

an intermediate member extending outwardly from the shaft between the first and second end caps;

a plurality of reflecting strips, each reflecting strip extending longitudinally between the first and second end caps and contacting a region of the intermediate member thereinbetween;

each reflecting strip being spaced a distance outwardly away from an exterior surface of the shaft, wherein adjacent reflecting strips are separated from each other by a longitudinal gap; and

wherein the reflecting strips are adapted to reflect light from the light source back toward one or more of the screen, the ember bed and the log display.

20. The combination as defined in claim 19, wherein the reflecting strips engage each of the first and second end caps a first distance away from the exterior surface of the shaft and engage the regions of the intermediate member a second distance away from the exterior surface of the shaft;

and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance so that the reflecting strips angle downwardly relative to the exterior surface of the shaft from the intermediate member toward both of the first and second end caps.