Outdoor fireplace
A secure, easy to use and aesthetically appealing outdoor fireplace includes a housing, fuel management component and burner assembly. The fuel management component is disposed alongside the burner assembly and facilitates safe and effective distribution of fuel and dispersion of heat. A roller assembly eases fuel tank transfer while providing stable support, and an outer decorative wall cooperates with the frame platform mounted on the roller assembly to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the fireplace. The fireplace maintains a low profile for stability and aesthetics while properly managing heat so as to avoid damaging supporting surfaces as well as components of the fireplace itself.
The present invention relates to fireplaces, and more particularly to outdoor fireplaces combining desirable aesthetic features with safe and effective functionality.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOutdoor fireplaces can be used for a variety of reasons, including for cooking, heating, drying, burning and even environmental aesthetics.
In using outdoor fireplaces, it is important to consider appropriate safety precautions to minimize personal risk and prevent property damage. As with any outdoor fire, there is the risk that the fire may spread to nearby objects and/or the natural surroundings of the fireplace. This risk is particularly prevalent with top heavy fireplaces, woodburning fireplaces, fireplaces positioned too close to flammable materials, and fireplaces with inadequate fuel control or heat dispersion. There is the further risk of heat damage to surfaces on which the fireplace is maintained, as well as any surfaces or materials forming a part of the outdoor fireplace. Patios, decks, yards and other surfaces can be damaged by exposure to fire or prolonged heated temperatures.
Maintaining a fireplace with a low center of gravity is desirable from a safety standpoint, in that a low profile fireplace tends to be more stable. However, placing the floor of the mixing chamber too close to the underlying support surface can transfer damaging radiant heat to the underlying surface. For outdoor fireplaces with propane gas fuel supplies, the positioning of the tank further complicates the balancing of safety, damage prevention and aesthetic considerations inherent in outdoor fireplace operation.
There is thus a need for providing improved outdoor fireplaces which maintain a low profile, provide improved fuel control and fuel flow, minimize dispersion of heat to areas where heat is not desirable and allow for simple, aesthetically desirable storage of fuel supplies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is an outdoor gas fireplace that is aesthetically appealing, safe and easy to use. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a frame or housing having roller means for allowing a tank platform to extend into and out of the housing. A propane tank can be positioned on the platform and maintained securely in place. Hoses are also provided to direct the fuel from the propane tank through a regulator to an adjustable gas valve, wherein the fuel proceeding through the gas valve enters a mixing chamber to be mixed with air and thereafter directed to a burner within the housing for heat, cooking or other purposes. In one embodiment, venting slots or openings are provided in the walls of the fireplace and around the rim of the fire pan or burner plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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It will be appreciated that the forming, relative positioning and angling of edges 71 through 75 facilitates outgoing and incoming air flow, which can dissipate heat away from the assembly 30 and help cool the surrounding elements of fireplace 10 as well as the supporting surfaces of the fireplace. Due to the generally open lower frame member 12a, airflow can enter from the bottom and out the gap between the burner pan and the table top, as shown at 81. In one embodiment, the fireplace of the present invention includes or is positioned on legs that create an airspace for air to rise from below the fireplace, as shown by the dashed arrows 84. It will further be appreciated that the present invention further facilitates helpful ventilation when incorporated with handle members 80 as shown in
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The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims of the application rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. An outdoor fireplace, comprising:
- a frame having an upper and lower base and at least one outer wall so as to form a housing, said upper base having inner edges which define an opening therein;
- a top member secured atop said frame upper base, said top member having inner and outer edges, said inner edges forming an opening therein which cooperates with said upper base opening;
- a roller assembly mounted to said lower base;
- a tank platform movably engaging said roller assembly for supporting a removable fuel supply;
- a burner assembly having a fire pan secured to said frame upper base; and
- at least one burner mounted to said burner assembly above said fire pan.
2. The fireplace of claim 1 further including a fuel supply securably positioned on said tank platform and means for delivering fuel from said fuel supply to said burner, said means comprising a regulator attached to said fuel supply, a hose attached at one end to said regulator and at another end to a fuel supply valve, said valve capable of directing fuel to an ignitor secured to said frame as well as to a mixing chamber secured via an inlet hose to said burner assembly.
3. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said roller assembly allows said tank platform to extend substantially outside the length of said housing to an additional length at least one third of the length of said housing in the platform closed position.
4. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said tank platform includes a substantially horizontal base and a substantially vertical support so as to form a substantially U-shaped tank support.
5. The fireplace of claim 4 wherein an outer wall is mounted to said frame wall and to said substantially vertical support of said tank platform.
6. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said tank platform includes substantially horizontal structural members forming an opening therebetween for receiving a bottom portion of a fuel supply tank.
7. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said tank platform has an open position and a closed position, said open position occurring when said platform is movably extended along said roller assembly to a position outside of said housing, and further wherein said fireplace has a length and a height, said length being increased when said platform is in said open position, said length to height ratio when said platform is in said open position being at least 3-to-1 so as to maintain a low profile while maintaining the ability to manageably interchange a fuel supply.
8. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said tank platform has an open position and a closed position, said open position occurring when said platform is movably extended along said roller assembly to a position outside of said housing, and further wherein said fireplace has a length and a width, said length being increased when said platform is in said open position, said length to width ratio when said platform is in said open position being at least 3-to-1 so as to maintain a low profile while maintaining the ability to manageably interchange a fuel supply.
9. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said fire pan is secured to said frame upper base so as to form a gap between said pan and said upper base for venting.
10. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said top member lies in a top member plane and wherein said fire pan has an exterior upper wall extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said fire pan upper wall angle being at least approximately 1 to approximately 5 degrees.
11. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said top member lies in a top member plane and wherein said top member inner edge includes a first interior edge portion extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said first interior edge portion angle being at least approximately 1 to approximately 5 degrees.
12. The fireplace of claim 11 wherein said top member inner edge has a second interior edge portion extending substantially in a direction which is coplanar with said top member plane and towards said top member outer edge, and further wherein said top member inner edge includes a third interior edge portion extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said third interior edge portion angle being at least approximately 1 to approximately 15 degrees and further extending from said second interior edge in a direction which is opposite a direction of extension followed by said top member first interior edge portion.
13. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said top member lies in a top member plane and wherein said fire pan has an exterior upper wall extending from an upper surface of said fire pan at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, and wherein said top member inner edge has at least a portion extending at an angle from a plane normal to said top member plane, said top member inner edge extending in a direction opposite to a direction of extension of said fire pan exterior upper wall from said fire pan upper surface.
14. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said housing is at most 30 inches tall, and wherein said top member has an upper surface which extends at least approximately 0.8 inches above an upper surface of said fire pan.
15. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said housing is substantially rectangular in cross-section.
16. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein said housing is substantially oval in cross-section.
17. The fireplace of claim 11 wherein said top member is hingeably secured to said frame.
18. A method of constructing an outdoor fireplace, comprising the steps of:
- providing a frame having an upper and lower base and at least one outer wall so as to form a housing, said upper base having inner edges which define an opening therein;
- securing a top member atop said frame upper base, said top member having inner and outer edges, said inner edges forming an opening therein which cooperates with said upper base opening;
- providing a roller assembly mounted to said lower base;
- providing a tank platform movably engaging said roller assembly for supporting a removable fuel supply;
- providing a burner assembly having a fire pan secured to said frame upper base; and
- providing at least one burner mounted to said burner assembly above said fire pan.
19. An outdoor fireplace, comprising:
- a housing having a base, an interior and an exterior;
- a fuel management component mounted to said housing, said fuel management component including a tank platform rollably mounted to said housing base, so as to allow said platform to move between the interior and exterior of said housing; and
- a burner assembly mounted to said housing.
20. An outdoor fireplace, comprising:
- a housing having an upper and a lower base and at least one wall, said bases and said wall forming an interior and an exterior;
- a fuel management component mounted to said housing, said fuel management component comprising: a fuel tank situated upon said lower base and having a fuel exit location; a regulator mounted to the fuel exit location of said fuel tank; a hose mounted to said regulator at one end and to a valve at another end; a control panel mounted to said housing wall, said control panel having an ignitor mounted thereto, said ignitor being in fluid communication with said valve; a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said valve; and an inlet hose connected at a first end to said combustion chamber; and a burner assembly, comprising: a fire pan secured to said housing upper base; a burner base secured atop said fire pan; and
- a burner top secured to said burner base so as to engageably support at least one burner, said burner being in fluid communication with a second end of said inlet hose.
21. The fireplace of claim 20 wherein said housing further includes a tank platform rollably mounted to said housing base, so as to allow said platform to move between the interior and exterior of said housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 15, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 16, 2006
Inventors: James Borowske (Delaware, OH), Robert Ferguson (Sharon, VT), Stephen Richardson (Randolph Center, VT), Derik Andors (Braintree, VT)
Application Number: 10/941,186
International Classification: F24C 3/00 (20060101);