SIMULATED FIRE GLOW LIGHTS FOR FIREPLACE

Abstract

A fireplace has an arrangement for providing a simulated ember glow using lights projected through colored light transmitting material, such as glass. The arrangement includes a panel that is supported relative to a burner with a light below the panel that projects upwardly through the panel. A bed of colored light transmitting pieces is supported on the panel, which transmits light projecting through the panel to simulate glowing embers. The colored pieces are coated with a dark material to enhance the simulation of embers even when the lights are turned off.

Description

This application refers to and claims the benefit of priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/066,199, filed Feb. 19, 2008, the contents of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides one or more lights in a fireplace opening or enclosure adjacent and ahead of the burner, with lenses above the lights, and a covering bed of suitably colored chips or pieces of glass that provide a fire-like glow, with controllable variations of light intensity to simulate glowing embers.

Various attempts to realistically simulate the look of a real fire in a gas fireplace have been advanced. In some instances, gas fireplaces have had additional lights for simulation of a fire or glowing embers that would be visible when the fireplace burner is turned off.

Flickering light has also been used by providing mechanically moving reflectors and the like while the fireplace burner is operating. Some devices use screens on which flicking light is reflected for simulating flames.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a fireplace construction that as shown has a burner providing a heat source, and also includes lights shining on and through simulated glowing embers that can be illuminated when the burner is either on or off. The use of lights to simulate glowing embers when the burner is off provides for the aesthetic appearance of a fireplace without generating heat, and thus is desirable in the summertime to create the appearance of glowing embers in the fireplace. When the burner is operating to provide heat, the lighted glass chips or pieces also provide a pleasing appearance.

Glass pieces or chips used are preferably made of colored glass, such as amber colored, and are preferably coated with dark, high temperature paint. When spread in a bed (one layer of chips or more) on a supporting glass panel or lens in the fireplace, with light projecting upwardly through the lens or panel, the chips glow to simulate actual wood embers. The paint is applied to the chips of glass such that the light will cause the color of the glass of the chips, at least in spots, to show through. When the lights under the bed of chips are turned off, the chips black or dark surfaces have the appearance to real log embers.

The system is easily installed in gas fireplaces, and regular wood fireplaces, if desired. A light control for adjusting the intensity of the light is also provided to permit adjustment to please the viewer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a gas fireplace as an example including fire glow simulating light arrangements made according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the fireplace of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the same line as FIG. 3 showing only a front portion of the burner chamber in a schematic representation;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a typical piece of glass or glass chip used for distributing (transmitting, reflecting or refracting) light in a manner to simulate fire glow;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a light can shown at FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fireplace with a burner unit in place;

FIG. 8 is a vertical perspective sectional view of the fireplace shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is sectional side view of the fireplace of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a gas fireplace or gas fireplace insert 10 that has an outer housing 12, forming an interior chamber 14. Chamber 14 has a floor 16, and a gas burner shown generally at 20. The burner 20 can be of any desired type, and as shown it has outer supports 21 that support simulated logs 28 that are illustrated in FIG. 3. An exhaust pipe connection 22 is also illustrated. The fireplace operates in a suitable manner and features such as an outlet for heated air, interior air circulation passageways, and the like are provided but are not detailed. The burner 20 has a top burner plate 22 with suitable openings for flame to come up around the simulated logs 28 in a normal manner. The fireplace chamber has a front opening through which the interior can be seen.

As shown in FIG. 3 for example, the burner 20 is mounted onto a base plate 24 that forms a support for the burner, and the base plate 24 is in turn supported in a spaced relation relative to the bottom wall 26 of the outer housing 12.

The gas burner 20 is also operated in a normal manner with flames moving up around the simulated logs, illustrated generally and schematically at 28 in FIG. 3, when the burner is operating.

The simulated fire glow feature of the present device is created from light passing through light transmitting reflective and refractive pieces of suitably colored and painted or coated glass pieces. A set of rear lights 30 is provided in one aspect of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6 each light 30 comprises a cylindrical can 32 with an interior bulb 34 of suitable design, preferably high intensity, such as a halogen bulb that withstands high temperatures. A lens or glass light transmitting plate 36 is supported adjacent to, but below, an upper end of the cylindrical can 32. On top of the plate 36, which preferably is of a color such as an amber color, a number of loose glass or other temperature resistant, light transmitting material pieces 38, made according to the present disclosure are placed as a covering bed of about ¼ to ½ inch deep (one or more layers of glass pieces deep). The glass or other light transmitting pieces 38 are held in place within the can 32, and light from the bulb 34 that projects up through the supporting, light transmitting plate 36 also projects or shines through the glass or light transmitting pieces 38. The term “glass pieces” is used for convenience, but other light transmitting pieces that withstand the temperature in the chamber 14 are usable and are intended to be included in “glass pieces”. The coating on the glass pieces 38 permits some light to shine through.

The glass pieces 38 are irregular shaped having peripheries that can be polygons or other configurations, and may colored amber, red or yellow to provide a colored light glow similar to fire. The glass pieces 38 are relatively small, being about ¼ to ⅜ inch in major dimension across and of a thickness of 1/16 inch, or so. The light transmitting glass pieces can be spherical also. The glass pieces are preferably at least partially coated with a thin coating of dark (black or dark grey) paint or other coating material as shown schematically at 66 in FIG. 6. The paint or other coating can be applied to the pieces by spraying the pieces while the pieces are tumbled in a tumbler. The paint coating is kept thin and can be irregular in thickness, with even some uncoated spots left so that light will pass through at least portions of the glass pieces and shine upwardly to reflect on the interior surfaces 13 and 13A (FIG. 3) of the surfaces of the lining of the back and side walls, and inclined top wall of the fireplace burner chamber. Light should pass through or be visible through at least 25% of the surface area of the glass pieces. The lights 30 provide a glow on the interior surfaces of the fireplace chamber, whether metal, or brick linings or other linings that simulates a fire glow. As can be seen in FIG. 1, this glow can be viewed through the front opening 15 of the fireplace.

Additionally, at the front of the burner 20, and in a place where embers are usually seen in a fireplace, a glowing ember light system or arrangement 50 is illustrated. The light system includes a glass or other light transmitting lens panel 52, that can take the shape of a rectangular panel extending across the entire front width of the burner. A plurality of smaller individual lenses across the compartment 14 can be provided. The light transmitting panel 52 is supported on the wall 24, and preferably is amber color although other colors or a clear or translucent panel can be provided. The bottom wall 24 has an opening 54, (or a plurality of openings if more than one lens or panel is provided) through which light from a plurality of light sources 56 projects, as shown typically in FIG. 3. The light sources 56 can be steady light sources, presently preferably Halogen bulbs, or if desired flickering light sources. The light sources 56 are powered from a suitable power source 58 through an adjustable intensity or rheostat switch 60, which can provide controllable power to both the light source 56 and the bulbs 34 in the lights 30.

The light transmitting panel or panels 52 are covered with a bed 64 made of a plurality of pieces 38 of light transmitting materials for example, colored glass. These pieces 38 of colored glass are loose and the bed of light transmitting pieces 64 is about ¼ to one inch thick. The light transmitting pieces (called glass pieces) are preferably yellow, amber or suitable reds and are thinly coated as previously described.

FIG. 5 shows a typical glass piece 38. The piece preferably has a thin coating 66 (not to scale) of black paint or other suitable dark color paint, such as a dark gray. The surfaces of the pieces 38 are coated in a manner that leaves very thin or clear spots to permit some visible light transmission or in spots or edges (in at least 25% of the surface area) when the light sources 56 are on. Also the coated pieces 38 have a dark areas, like an ember, when the light sources 56, or the light bulbs 34, are off.

The glass pieces can be made of heat resistant glass, as is known, and other light transmitting material that withstands the heat of the fire, and the coating layer 66 would also be heat resistant.

The electrical wires and components are heat resistant as well, and the variable switch 60 that is shown in FIG. 2, is within a chamber 70 that is isolated and can be suitably insulated from the gas burner. The switch 60 control is accessible to the user of the fireplace through a slot 72 so that the switch can be adjusted and the light level could be controlled as desired. The depths of the pieces or chips 38 forming the colored chip bed can also be adjusted to the user's desires, so that when the fireplace is not operating and the lights are on, there would be the appearance of glowing embers.

In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 a slightly modified form of the disclosure is shown, and it embodies the same concepts for providing a fire like glow. The fireplace or fireplace insert 80 has a complete burner assembly 82 installed therein, and the burner assembly includes a plate 84 that is above the burner unit. A pair of can lights 88 are positioned on a floor or base plate 90 of the fireplace insert as shown. The cans 88 extend through the plate 84 and are positioned as shown at FIGS. 7 and 8. The can lights 88 are constructed in substantially an identical manner to the lights 30 in the first form of the disclosure and some identical numbers are used in FIGS. 7-9 for identical elements. Can lights 88 each have a light transmitting plate 36 at the top with light transmitting chips or pieces 38 supported above a light bulb 34. In this instance, the can lights are positioned above floor plate 90 of the fireplace or fireplace insert, and the leads 92 pass through openings in the floor plate 90 and are sealed with high temperature sealant. The leads pass into a lower chamber 95 of the fireplace and are connected to the control switches as previously explained.

In addition, one or more separate halogen or high temperature resistant bulbs 94 are provided, with the bulb and its socket supported on a bracket 93 held on floor plate 90. The bulbs 94 are positioned below the plate 84 with each light bulb and the light from the bulb projecting up through an opening in the plate 84.

These bulbs 94 are not covered with light transmitting chips, but they could be, if desired. The leads for the bulbs 94, which are preferably halogen bulbs, can also pass through the floor plate 90 and the opening can be sealed with a sealant around the bulb where they pass through the floor plate 90 from the chamber 95 below the floor plate.

At the front of the burner, the bed 64 of glass or other light transmitting material pieces and the light source 56 are illustrated, and the light shines through a plate supporting the pieces 38 above it, as previously explained. The depth of the layer of pieces 38 can be varied as desired.

In this form, the lights are again high temperature resistant lights, such as halogen bulbs, with the high temperature wires flowing in the connections, and passing through seals in the bottom plate 90 of the fireplace insert, to seal off heat from the burner chamber and the burner itself.

The lights and simulated fire glow structure can be used in any type of fireplace desired, including wood burning fireplaces so that the appearance of glowing embers could be enjoyed without generating heat. Thus, the lights can be turned on to provide a display of simulated embers without operating the burner.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A fireplace having a burner on an interior of a fireplace chamber, said burner being supported relative to a base wall, the chamber having an opening on one side, a light transmitting panel supported in the fireplace chamber in a location to be viewed through the opening of the fireplace chamber, a plurality of pieces of light transmitting material forming a bed over the light transmitting panel, and a light source mounted relative to the fireplace chamber to project light through the light transmitting panel and the bed of pieces of light transmitting material so as to be viewed from an exterior of the fireplace.

2. The fireplace of claim 1 further comprising the base wall supporting the burner spaced upwardly from a fireplace bottom wall, a second opening in the base wall adjacent the chamber opening, the light transmitting panel overlying the second opening.

3. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein the light transmitting pieces are loose pieces forming the bed over the light transmitting panel.

4. The fireplace of claim 1 and a variable control for controlling the intensity level of the light.

5. The fireplace of claim 1 further comprising the light transmitting panel being located adjacent the opening of the chamber and at least one second light positioned on a side of the burner away from the opening of the chamber, the second light having an outlet through which light is projected, and a plurality of light transmitting pieces supported above a light source forming part of the second light.

6. The fireplace of claim 3 wherein at least some of the light transmitting pieces have a coating of material on surfaces thereof.

7. The fireplace of claim 6 wherein the coating is dark colored.

8. A fireplace assembly having walls forming a fireplace chamber with an open front, the fireplace including a bottom wall, and a base wall spaced upwardly from the bottom wall, an opening in the base wall adjacent the front opening of the chamber, a burner assembly positioned on an opposite side of the opening in the base wall from the opening of the chamber, a light transmitting panel supported over the opening in the base wall and spaced from the bottom wall, a plurality of small pieces of light transmitting material forming a bed supported on the light transmitting panel, and a light supported on the bottom wall below the base wall in a position to project light through the panel and through the light transmitting pieces, said light transmitting pieces being visible through the front opening of the chamber.

9. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the light transmitting material comprises a glass material.

10. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the light transmitting material pieces are less than ⅜ of an inch of any measured dimension.

11. The fireplace of claim 10, wherein the light transmitting pieces have a peripheral shape that is irregular, and have a thickness in the range of 1/16 of an inch.

12. The fireplace of claim 11, wherein said light transmitting pieces are arranged in a bed having a thickness of less than one inch above the panel.

13. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the light transmitting material pieces are glass pieces, and are colored with a color selected from one of the colors of amber, red and yellow.

14. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein said pieces of material have a coating of dark material of a thickness to be substantially non-light transmitting on at least portion of some of the pieces.

15. The fireplace of claim 14, wherein said coating is minimized on portions of the pieces of light transmitting material to a thickness that will permit light transmission through the coating.

16. The fireplace of claim 8, and at least one additional light on a side of the burner opposite from the opening of the chamber, said one additional light comprising a housing supporting a light transmitting panel and having a bed of light transmitting material pieces supported on the panel, and a light source below the panel within the housing.

17. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein said light transmitting pieces are glass having a coloration selected from the group consisting of amber, red and yellow.

18. The fireplace of claim 9, wherein said opening in said base wall extends laterally across the chamber to be substantially the same length as a lateral dimension of the burner assembly.