FIREPLACE GRATE
According to an embodiment, a fireplace grate is disclosed. The fireplace grate includes a plurality of cross bars, a plurality of support bars, and a plurality of fasteners. The plurality of support bars and the plurality of cross bars can be nested together in a disassembled configuration. Each fastener is configured to extend through a hole in one of the cross bars and engage a corresponding threaded hole in one of the support bars so that each cross bar can be fastened to the plurality of support bars in an assembled configuration with each cross bar spanning the plurality of support bars. A width of the fireplace grate in the disassembled configuration is less than 50% of a width of the fireplace grate in the assembled configuration.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a fireplace grate that is assembled by the end user, thereby providing a full-size fireplace grate that can be shipped and displayed on store shelves with a relatively compact size.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONEmbodiments of the present invention generally related to a fireplace grate that may be suitable for holding logs and the like in a fireplace, but can be shipped and provided on retail shelves in a relatively compact format.
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The nested arrangement of the cross bars 102 and support bars 104 in the box 108 allows the box 108 to have relatively small dimensions. For example, the box 108 holding the entire fireplace grate 100 in the disassembled configuration may have a height more than 50% smaller than a height of the fireplace grate 100 in the assembled configuration. According to an embodiment, the height of the box 108 is less than 33% of the height of the fireplace grate 100 in the assembled configuration.
The height of the box 108 may be selected based on the width of the cross bars 102 and support bars 104 (which may all have the same width) in the nested arrangement.
The length of the box 108 may be selected on the length of the longest component, namely, the length of one support bar 104.
The width of the box 108 may be selected based on the combined thickness of the cross bars 102 and support bars 104 in the nested arrangement, with additional width for the curved ends of the outermost cross bar 102 in the nested arrangement. The assembly hardware, namely the fasteners 106 and tool 110 do not add to the width of the box, because the assembly hardware can be packaged in the box 108 in available space between the curved ends of the outermost cross bar 102.
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The relatively compact size of the box 108 and the packaged and assembled configuration of the fireplace grate 100 allows a large number of fireplace grates 100 to be stacked significantly more efficiently compared to a traditional fireplace grate. Thus, storage volume is significantly reduced, which reduces shipping costs because, for example, more fireplace grates 100 can be shipped in a single shipping container. Likewise, a retailer can provide a larger inventory supply on a given retail shelf space. Furthermore, the user can more conveniently handle the fireplace grate 100 from the retail shelf to their car and then into their home.
As another advantage, the fireplace grate 100 is easy to assemble by the user in just a few minutes, and no additional hardware is required.
As another advantage, the box 108 provides sufficient surface area for product information and marketing materials, such as a brand name and/or artwork that the retailer may want to include. For example, the retailer may want the box 108 to include a brand name to improve brand awareness. As another example, the retailer may want the box to include artwork to inform potential users of the utility of the fireplace 100 or to increase the attractiveness of the box 108 to attract more customer interest.
Claims
1. A fireplace grate comprising:
- a plurality of cross bars,
- a plurality of support bars, and
- a plurality of fasteners, wherein:
- the plurality of support bars and the plurality of cross bars can be nested together in a disassembled configuration,
- each fastener is configured to extend through a hole in one of the cross bars and engage a corresponding threaded hole in one of the support bars so that each cross bar can be fastened to the plurality of support bars in an assembled configuration with each cross bar spanning the plurality of support bars, and
- a width of the fireplace grate in the disassembled configuration is less than 50% of a width of the fireplace grate in the assembled configuration.
2. The fireplace grate according to claim 1, wherein a height of the fireplace grate in the disassembled configuration is less than 50% of a height of the fireplace grate in the assembled configuration.
3. The fireplace grate according to claim 2, wherein the height of the fireplace grate in the disassembled configuration is less than 33% of the height of the fireplace grate in the assembled configuration.
4. A method of providing a fireplace grate, the method comprising the steps of:
- arranging, in a box, a plurality of cross bars, a plurality of support bars and a plurality of fasteners, wherein the plurality of support bars and the plurality of cross bars are in a nested arrangement in the box in a disassembled configuration, wherein:
- each fastener is configured to extend through a hole in one of the cross bars and engage a corresponding threaded hole in one of the support bars so that each cross bar can be fastened to the plurality of support bars in an assembled configuration with each cross bar spanning the plurality of support bars, and
- a width of the fireplace grate in the disassembled configuration is less than 50% of a width of the fireplace grate in the assembled configuration.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a height of the fireplace grate in the disassembled configuration is less than 50% of a height of the fireplace grate in the assembled configuration.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the height of the fireplace grate in the disassembled configuration is less than 33% of the height of the fireplace grate in the assembled configuration.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 30, 2022
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2023
Inventors: Roger Dale HURLEY, JR. (Raleigh, NC), Cecil WILSON (Sanford, NC), Jonathan S. BECKWITH (Durham, NC)
Application Number: 17/899,337