Fireplace assembly with aromatherapy system
In one embodiment, a fireplace assembly is provided that includes a firebox partially surrounded by an outer housing and a receptacle carried by the outer housing. The outer housing is spaced apart from the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox. The fireplace assembly further includes an airflow passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The receptacle is positioned above the firebox in fluid communication with the airflow passageway. The receptacle is configured to hold a selected aromatic material that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the receptacle is heated by heat from the firebox. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims (37 C.F.R. 1.72(b)).
The present invention is directed to fireplace assemblies and, more particularly, to fireplace assemblies, including fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and stoves and components therefore.
SUMMARYThe present invention is directed to fireplace assemblies with integrated aromatherapy systems. A brief summary of some embodiments and aspects of the invention are presented. Thereafter, a detailed description of the illustrated embodiments is presented, which will permit one skilled in the relevant art to understand, make, and use aspects of the invention. One skilled in the art can obtain a full appreciation of aspects of the invention from the subsequent detailed description, read together with the figures, and from the claims, which follow the detailed description.
Under one aspect of the invention, a fireplace assembly is provided that has a receptacle for holding an aromatic fluid. The fireplace assembly includes an outer housing surrounding a firebox. The outer housing is spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox. The receptacle is coupled to the outer housing and is positioned generally adjacent to the firebox and partially within the airflow passageway. The receptacle is configured to receive an aromatic fluid, such as aromatherapy oil. As the firebox heats the air in the airflow passageway and the receptacle, the aromatic fluid evaporates and mixes with the heated air. The evaporated aromatic fluid and heated air are subsequently dispersed into the room where the fireplace assembly is located.
Under another aspect of the invention, a fireplace frame is provided that is attachable to a fireplace or fireplace insert. The fireplace frame includes support members connected to the outer housing of a fireplace or fireplace insert, and a receptacle is carried by the fireplace frame. The receptacle is configured to hold an aromatic fluid, such as aromatherapy oil. A fire in the fireplace or fireplace insert heats the receptacle, causing the aromatic fluid in the receptacle to evaporate. The evaporating aromatic fluid mixes with heated air that is dispersed into the room where the fireplace or fireplace insert is located.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fireplace assemblies with integrated aromatherapy systems are described in detail herein in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In the following description, numerous specific details are discussed to provide a thorough and enabling description for embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art, however, will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown, or are not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. In general, alternatives and alternate embodiments described herein are substantially similar to the previously described embodiments, and common elements are identified by the same reference numbers.
The receptacle 70 is moveable relative to the front wall 22 of the fireplace assembly 10 to slide or otherwise move between an open position and a closed position. When the receptacle 70 is in the open position, the receptacle projects from the aperture 83 in the front wall 22 to provide access to the receptacle's receiving area through the open top portion 81. In one embodiment, the receptacle 70 is a drawer that is slidably received by the aperture 83 of the fireplace assembly 10. In other embodiments, the receptacle 70 can be hinged such that it pivotably opens and closes.
Selected aromatic material 79 can be added to the receptacle 70 when in the open position. The receptacle 70 is then moved to the closed position so that the front wall 72 of the receptacle 70 is immediately adjacent to or flush against the front wall 22 of the fireplace assembly 10. The remaining portions of the receptacle 70 extend into the aperture 83, behind the front wall 22, and adjacent to the firebox 12. The front wall 72 of the receptacle 72 can include a handle or the like to facilitate opening and closing of the receptacle 70. The receptacle 70 may be refilled at any time with more or different aromatic material 79.
The firebox 12 in the illustrated embodiment includes a bottom wall 36, a back wall 38, opposing side walls 40, and a top wall 44. The firebox 12 is spaced apart from the walls of the outer housing 14 to define a heat exchanger 50 between the firebox and the outer housing. The heat exchanger 50 can include an airflow passageway with bottom plenum 52 disposed between the outer housing bottom wall 26 and the firebox bottom wall 36, a back plenum 54 disposed between the outer housing back wall 28 and the firebox back wall 38, and a top plenum 56 disposed between the outer housing top wall 34 and the firebox top wall 44.
The heat exchanger 50 is in fluid communication with the air inlet 62 and the air outlet 64 in the front wall 22 of the outer housing 14. The heat exchanger 50 is adapted to direct an airflow 66 from the air inlet 62, around the firebox 12, past the receptacle 70, and out the air outlet 64. Heat from the firebox 12 heats airflow 66 as it passes through the passageways of the heat exchanger 50 before the heated airflow 66 is exhausted through air outlet 64. In some embodiments, the fireplace assembly 10 can include a blower that facilitates the flow of air through the fireplace assembly 10.
As the heated airflow 66 passes through the top plenum 56 of the heat exchanger 50, the heated air and the radiant heat from the firebox 12 heats the receptacle 70 and its contents. The heated aromatic material 79 in the receptacle 70 evaporates and mixes with the airflow 66 before the airflow exits the heat exchanger 50 through the air outlet 64 and into the room where the fireplace assembly 10 is located. In this way, the evaporated aromatic material 79 is diffused throughout the room when the fireplace assembly 10 is in operation to provide aromatherapy to the occupants in the room. In one embodiment, the top portion of the receptacle 70 is open, as described above with respect to
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The fireplace insert 100 further includes a receptacle 170 carried by the outer housing 114 and positioned above the firebox 112. In one embodiment, the receptacle 170 is positioned above the firebox 112. In alternative embodiments, the receptacle 170 may be positioned at various locations in the fireplace insert 100. When the receptacle 170 is in the closed position, the front face 172 of the receptacle 170 is flush with the front face 122 of the fireplace insert 100. The receptacle 170 in the fireplace insert 100 is substantially similar to the receptacle 70 in the embodiments described above with respect to
The firebox 112 in the illustrated embodiment further includes a bottom wall 136, a back wall 138, opposing side walls 140 and 141 (not shown in
The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other direct vent fireplace installations, not necessarily the particular installations described above.
While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be construed to include all components and methods of manufacturing the components in accordance with the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead the scope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the claims.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A fireplace assembly, comprising:
- a firebox;
- an outer housing surrounding the firebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox, the airflow passageway having an inlet and an outlet; and
- a receptacle integrally connected to the outer housing and in fluid communication with the airflow passageway, receptacle being movable relative to the outer housing between an open position and a closed position, the receptacle being recessed within the outer housing and positioned adjacent to the airflow passageway when the receptacle is in the closed position, the receptacle being in proximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox and configured to contain a selected aromatic material that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the receptacle is heated by heat from the firebox.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the firebox contains a burner assembly connectable to a gas source.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the selected aromatic material when the receptacle is in the open position.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle slides relative to the outer housing between the open and closed positions.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is positioned above the firebox.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is positioned at least partially in the airflow passageway.
7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an aromatic material in the receptacle and that evaporates when heated by the heat from the firebox.
8. A fireplace insert, comprising:
- a firebox;
- a fireplace insert housing partially surrounding the firebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox, the airflow passageway having an inlet and an outlet; and
- a receptacle carried by the fireplace insert housing adjacent to the outlet and in fluid communication with the airflow passageway, the receptacle being movable relative to the firebox between an open position and a recessed closed position the receptacle in proximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox when in the closed position and configured to contain a selected aromatic material that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the receptacle is heated by the heat from the firebox to provide an aromatic airflow out of the airflow passageway through the outlet.
9. The insert of claim 8 wherein the firebox contains a burner assembly connectable to a gas source.
10. The insert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the selected aromatic fluid when the receptacle is in the open position.
11. The insert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle slides relative to the housing between open and closed positions.
12. The insert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is positioned above the firebox.
13. The insert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is positioned at least partially in the airflow passageway.
14. The insert of claim 8, further comprising an aromatic material in the receptacle and that evaporates when heated by the heat from the firebox.
15. A fireplace frame for attachment to a fireplace insert having an outer housing surrounding a firebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox, the frame comprising:
- a support member configured for attachment to a portion of the fireplace insert; and
- a receptacle carried by the support member and in fluid communication with the airflow passageway, the receptacle in proximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox and configured to contain a selected aromatic material that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway when the receptacle is heated by the heat from the firebox to provide an aromatic airflow out of the airflow passageway, wherein the receptacle is movable relative to the support portion between an open position and a closed position.
16. The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle being configured to receive the selected aromatic material when the receptacle is in the open position.
17. The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle slides relative to the support member between the open and closed positions.
18. The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle is positioned above the firebox.
19. The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle is positioned at least partially in the airflow passageway.
20. The frame of claim 15, further comprising an aromatic material in the receptacle and that evaporates when heated by the heat from the firebox.
21. A heating appliance, comprising:
- a firebox;
- an outer housing surrounding the firebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox, the airflow passageway having an inlet and an outlet; and
- a receptacle movably coupled to the outer housing and in fluid communication with the airflow passageway, the receptacle being translatable relative to the outer housing between an extended open position and a recessed closed position the receptacle being in proximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox and configured to contain a selected aromatic material that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the receptacle is heated by the heat from the firebox.
22. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the appliance is a stove.
23. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the appliance is a fireplace.
24. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the appliance is a fireplace insert.
25. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the selected aromatic material when the receptacle is in the open position.
26. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the receptacle slides relative to the outer housing between open and closed positions.
27. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the receptacle is positioned above the firebox.
28. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the receptacle is positioned at least partially in the airflow passageway.
29. The heating appliance of claim 21 further comprising an aromatic material in the receptacle and that evaporates when heated by the heat from the firebox.
30. A fireplace assembly, comprising:
- a firebox;
- an outer housing surrounding the firebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox, the airflow passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
- a receptacle carried by the outer housing and being movable between an open position and a closed position, the receptacle being adjacent to the outlet of the airflow passageway when in the closed position, the receptacle in the closed position being in proximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox; and
- a selected aromatic material in the receptacle that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between the inlet and the outlet of the airflow passageway when the aromatic material is heated by the heat from the firebox.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 24, 2003
Publication Date: Apr 28, 2005
Inventor: Kurt Rumens (Kirkland, WA)
Application Number: 10/693,198