ENERGY MANAGEMENT DEVICE FOR FIREPLACE(S)
The invention provides a readily deployed insulating seal for the hearth opening eliminating airflow to and from the chimney flue that utilizes a safe and uncomplicated expanding Pneumatic filled mass that acts as a closure preventing heat loss from exiting the room and blocking cold air from entering.
Heat loss and the ability of homes and businesses to conserve valuable energy has been a fundamental goal of many for a very long time. Everyone knows to close doors and windows in inclement weather and billions are spent on insulation and high-tech insulation methods, but at times the simplest and seemingly the most obvious failures are overlooked. Often times a chimney damper is simply an un-insulated metal flap with less than a perfect seal which allows air to flow past in both directions. Energy someone pays to produce flows right past primarily unchecked, and the elements can similarly flow in creating a need to expend more energy to mitigate the inflows or losses. A reasoning individual would never leave a window cracked open in the dead of winter and pumping air conditioned air out the flue is expensive and wasteful. This invention in one of its many manifestations creates an airtight barrier and insulates at the same time.
SUMMARYThe issue is simple; how do we seal off an area that is not uniform in size and/or dimension to eliminate the loss? The invention is scalable and malleable to the point of forming itself to virtually any opening and creating an airtight seal that insulates as part of its basic design by placing an air barrier between the inside and outside elements. Deployment is fast and takes no special skill or ability. Simply placing the invention into the opening roughly in the center of the space and inflating the device with one of the several available methods is all it takes. The device will form to the area as it is inflated creating a solid and insulated seal.
Detailed descriptions are provided below and incorporated in the detailed description of the invention. Reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Terms (defined as a name or word for something) are used throughout the following descriptions, discussions, and claims that refer to particular systems, components, and processes. The uses of these “terms” are in no way intended to be the exclusive and only representation of the described systems, components, and processes and are only intended to reference an embodiment of the noted systems, components, and processes. As is the case in most industries and as far as that is concerned most situations, one person may refer to a system, component, and/or process with one “term” where another may use a different “term.” The “terms” contained herein are not intended to distinguish between systems, components, and processes that differ in name but not function.
In review, when a “term” is used it should be interpreted as the “[term] including but not limited to.”
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThere are multiple embodiments of the invention that facilitate the same result. The following discussions reference several of those embodiments but is in no way intended to comprise the only embodiments. The discussions herein have broad application, and the discussions are intended to be exemplary and not exclusionary. The exemplary nature of the discussions herein is not intended to limit the scope or embodiments of the invention.
The device 100 creates an air pocket contained inside of the malleable material which has insulation values that vary depending on the size of the hearth, size of the flue, and proper installation of device 100.
Claims
1. A device consisting essentially of:
- A fire retardant inflatable product that eliminates energy loss through a fireplace flue;
- that prevents drafts from entering the property from the fireplace flue;
- that insulates the fireplace flue from airflow into or out from the property;
- that is self-anchoring in the fireplace hearth;
- that is scalable to accommodate variances in the hearth openings;
- that is easily deployed by inflating the device through a pneumatic fill valve (illustrative example of an embodiment of one manifestation of a pneumatic fill valve is displayed as FIG. 2);
- and is easily deflated for removal and use of the fireplace as intended by the designer.
2. The device as described in claim 1 as it relates to an energy management device for fireplace(s).
3. A design comprising:
- A shaped vessel that essentially creates an anchoring mechanism as part of its basic shape;
- that contains an easily accessed pneumatic fill valve that allow for ready access to install or remove the device from the hearth;
- that is purposefully produced in multiple sizes to accommodate variances in hearth openings and scalable in deployed size to cover all size parameters between produced sizes;
- and creates an insulating barrier between the inside and outside air.
4. The design as described in claim 3 as it relates to an energy management device for fireplace(s).
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2013
Inventor: Thomas McCann (Centennial, CO)
Application Number: 13/415,234
International Classification: F24B 1/189 (20060101);