U-door folding fireplace screen
A foldable fireplace screen for use with fireplaces and other heating units includes a main screen assembly, a left screen assembly and a right screen assembly, each of which is pivotally attached to the main screen assembly. The main screen assembly includes a U-shaped frame on which is pivotally mounted a screened door. When the screened door is pivoted to an open position on the U-shaped frame, full access is provided to the fireplace or other heating unit in front of which the fireplace screen is situated. The top bridging member or structure found on conventional fireplace screens is eliminated to allow the user full access to the fireplace or heating unit through the opened screened door.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fireplace enclosures, and more particularly relates to fireplace screens with outwardly opening access doors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fireplace screens have been used extensively throughout the world to prevent hot embers in wood burning fireplaces from being discharged into the premises where the fireplace is located which could cause personal injury, or fire or damage to the premises. Very often, homeowners prefer fireplace screens to glass enclosures, as they prefer to experience the sound, odor and warmth of a wood burning fireplace, which are less evident through a glass fireplace enclosure. Fireplace screens are also used for protection as well as for aesthetic purposes with other sources of heat, such as stoves, radiators, burners and the like, whose surfaces may become dangerously hot.
There are many different types of fireplace screens on the market, some being more decorative than others, and some being purely functional in nature. Many are free-standing, and may be positioned by the homeowner in front of the fireplace or other heating unit, and removable to gain access to the fireplace or when the fireplace is not in use. Some of these freestanding fireplace screens are foldable allowing size adjustment, convenient storage by the homeowner, and to facilitate shipping by the manufacturer.
A typical free-standing, foldable fireplace screen 2 is shown in
The prior art free-standing fireplace screen 2 shown in
First, the door 10 is rather heavy, the fireplace screen frame and door typically being made from wrought iron, with the door extending the full length of the front section 4. When opened, the weight of the door 10 shifts the balance of the fireplace screen 2 from where the screen is being supported by the side or wing sections 6, 8 to outwardly of the front section 4, where there is no support, causing the fireplace screen to tip forward.
Second, in all such free-standing fireplace screens having a door known to the applicants, a top bridging section 12 of the front screen section 4 over the door 10 remains in place and immovable. This top bridging section 12 limits the homeowner's access to the fireplace or other heating unit. The homeowner has to stoop below the stationary bridging section 12 to gain access to the fireplace through the door 10, or not use the door and reach above and around the stationary bridging section, when stoking the fire or adding wood, for example.
Third, the inherent instability of free-standing, foldable fireplace screens, with or without doors, creates a dangerous situation, especially for children, since the freestanding fireplace screens are typically not secured to the fireplace or other heating unit.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable, free-standing fireplace screen for use with any type fireplace, fireplace glass door, stoves, radiators, burners and other sources of heat.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a foldable, free-standing fireplace screen that includes structure for securing the screen to a fireplace, fireplace glass door or the like for child safety and added stability.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a foldable free-standing fireplace screen that provides full frontal access to the fireplace or fireplace glass door in front of which it is positioned by means of a U-frame construction, eliminating the top bar obstruction found on other conventional fire screens.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a foldable free-standing fireplace screen that overcomes the inherent disadvantages of known fireplace screens.
In accordance with one form of the present invention, a foldable protective screen for use with a heating unit, such as a fireplace, stove or the like, includes a main screen assembly, a first side screen assembly and a second side screen assembly. The main screen assembly has a first lateral side and a second lateral side situated opposite the first lateral side. The first side screen assembly is pivotally mounted to the first lateral side, and the second side screen assembly is pivotally mounted to the second lateral side.
The main screen assembly of the foldable, protective screen includes a U-shaped frame having a first vertical leg disposed on the first lateral side of the main screen assembly, a second vertical leg disposed on the second lateral side of the main screen assembly, and a horizontal bottom leg joined to and interconnecting the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg. The U-shaped frame defines an open area between the first and second vertical legs and the horizontal bottom leg, and further defines the open area with a top opening situated opposite the horizontal bottom leg, i.e., with no stationary top bridging section found on conventional fireplace screens having access doors.
The foldable protective screen of the present invention further includes at least one screened door pivotally joined to at least one of the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg of the U-shaped frame and selectively situated within the open area defined by the U-shaped frame. The at least one screened door is pivotally moveable on the U-shaped frame between a first position in which the at least one screened door is situated within the open area defined by the U-shaped frame where it at least partially bridges the top opening, and at least a second position in which the at least one screened door is primarily situated outside the open area so as not to at least partially bridge the top opening. When the at least one screen door is in the open position, a user may have access to the fireplace or other heating unit through the open area and top opening of the foldable protective screen without being hindered by a nonmoveable top bridging section found on conventional fireplace screens.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, and referring particularly to
The main screen assembly 22 includes a U-shaped flame 32 having a first vertical leg 34 disposed on the first lateral side 28 of the main screen assembly, a second vertical leg 36 disposed on the second lateral side 30 of the main screen assembly, and a horizontal bottom leg 38 joined to and interconnecting the first vertical leg 34 and the second vertical leg 36. The U-shaped frame 32 defines an open area 40 between the first and second vertical legs 34, 36 and the horizontal bottom leg 38, and further defines the open area 40 with a top opening 42 situated opposite the horizontal bottom leg 38. It is evident from this description and the drawings that there is no top horizontal leg or structure as found in conventional foldable protective screens that would impede a user's access to the heating unit.
The main screen assembly 22 further includes at least one screened door 44 pivotally joined to at least one of the first vertical leg 34 and the second vertical leg 36 of the U-shaped frame 32 and selectively situated within (i.e., across) the open area defined by the U-shaped frame. The at least one screened door 44 is pivotally moveable on the U-shaped frame 32 between a first position in which the at least one screened door is situated across the open area 40 defined by the U-shaped frame and at least partially bridges the top opening 42, and at least a second position in which the at least one screened door is situated outside and not across the open area 40 so as not to at least partially bridge the top opening. This structure allows a user to have access to the heating unit through the open area 40 and top opening 42 of the foldable protective screen 20 when the at least one screened door 44 is in the at least second position.
The invention will now be described in more detail. The U-shaped frame 32 for the foldable protective screen 20, also referred to herein generally as a fireplace screen, is illustrated by
In the single door embodiment, the uppermost end of one of the left vertical support member 34 or right vertical support member 36 has mounted thereon a latch plate 46. The latch plate 46 cooperates with a pivotal latch arm 48 that is mounted on the door 44, in the single door embodiment shown in
Referring now to
The left screen assembly 24 is now described in detail, and reference should be had to
The preferred form of the main screen assembly 22, also referred to herein as the front screen assembly, is now described in detail and is illustrated by
In assembling the fireplace screen 20 of the present invention, the right screen assembly 26 is secured to the right vertical support member 36 of the U-shaped support frame 32. The slots 72 of the short width hinge second portions 70 are positioned over the short width hinge threaded receiving bores 52 in the right vertical support member 36 of the U-shaped support frame. Bolts 136 are threaded through the slots 72 into the short width hinge threaded receiving bores 52 to hingedly attach the right screen assembly 26 to the U-shaped support frame 32.
Similarly, the left screen assembly 24 is positioned on the left vertical support member 34 of the U-shaped support frame 32. The slots 98 of the short width hinge second portions 96 are aligned with the short width hinge threaded receiving bores 52 in the left vertical support member 34 of the U-shaped frame 32. Again, bolts 136 are threaded through the slots 98 into the short width hinge threaded receiving bores 52 to hingedly attach the left screen assembly 24 to the U-shaped support frame 32. The slots 72, 98 allow the left and right side screen assemblies 24, 26 to be independently adjusted on the U-shaped support frame 32 for proper alignment with the frame.
The front screen assembly 22, which primarily consists of the pivoting screened door 44, is placed over the front face of the U-shaped support frame 32. The lower horizontal frame member 112 of the front screen assembly 22 is aligned with and made parallel to the horizontal base member 38 of the U-shaped frame 32. The openings 124 in the long width hinge second portion 122 are positioned in alignment with the long width hinge threaded receiving bores 54 formed in the left vertical support member 34 (or the right vertical support member 36, depending on which side the door is mounted) of the U-shaped support frame 32. Bolts 136 are passed through the openings 124 and threaded into the long width hinge threaded receiving bores 54 to hingedly attach the front screen assembly 22 to the U-shaped support frame 32.
As can be seen from
When the screened door 44 is in the closed position, the latch arm 48 is rotated, overlapping the safety latch plate 46 situated on the U-shaped support frame 32, preventing outwardly hinged movement of the screened door. The bottom of the front screen assembly 22 rests on the screened door supporting lip 50. To gain access to the fireplace or other heating unit, the user rotates the latch arm 48 in the opposite direction, disengaging the latch arm from the safety latch plate 46, thus allowing the screened door 44 to be opened with respect to the fireplace screen 20.
Another feature of the present invention is that the fireplace screen 20 may be mounted to the fireplace or other heating unit or to a fireplace glass enclosure, for added safety and security. For this purpose, mounting or attachment brackets 138, 140, 142 may be provided. Such brackets are shown in
A masonry fireplace attachment bracket 140 is illustrated by
For metal fireplaces and for attachment of the fireplace screen 20 to the outside surface of the glass door of a glass fireplace enclosure, the bracket 142 shown in
Alternatively, a presser bar 152, as shown in
The axial ends of the presser bar 152, and in particular, the first and second presser tips 158, 160 respectively of the elongated tubular member 154 and the threaded rod 156, may be attached to brackets 166 extending from the left and right side screen assemblies 24, 26, as shown in
As is mentioned previously and as is evident from the foregoing description, a major advantage of the present invention is that the entire front screen assembly 22, which generally comprises the screened door 44, can open outwardly, allowing full access to the fireplace or heating unit situated behind the fireplace screen 20. The non-movable overhead arch and/or supporting structure 12 found in conventional fireplace screens prevents full access to the fireplace, and this structure has been eliminated in the present design. In the present invention, the upper frame member 114 forms part of the front screen assembly 22 that can outwardly open in its entirety, eliminating the stationary, access-limiting member 12 found in conventional fireplace screen designs.
As is further evident from the present invention, instead of a single opening door 44, multiple doors may be provided, as shown in
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A foldable protective screen for use with a heating unit, which comprises:
- a main screen assembly, the main screen assembly having a first lateral side and a second lateral side situated opposite the first lateral side;
- a first side screen assembly pivotally mounted to the first lateral side of the main screen assembly; and
- a second side screen assembly pivotally mounted to the second lateral side of the main screen assembly;
- the main screen assembly including a U-shaped frame having a first vertical leg disposed on the first lateral side of the main screen assembly, a second vertical leg disposed on the second lateral side of the main screen assembly, and a horizontal bottom leg joined to and interconnecting the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg, the U-shaped frame defining an open area between the first and second vertical legs and the horizontal bottom leg and further defining the open area with a top opening situated opposite the horizontal bottom leg; and
- at least one screened door pivotally joined to at least one of the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg of the U-shaped frame and selectively disposed across the open area defined by the U-shaped frame;
- wherein the at least one screened door is pivotally moveable on the U-shaped frame between a first position in which the at least one screened door is disposed across the open area defined by the U-shaped frame and at least partially bridges the top opening, and at least a second position in which the at least one screened door is not disposed across the open area so as not to at least partially bridge the top opening, whereby a user may have access to the heating unit through the open area and top opening of the foldable protective screen when the at least one screened door is in the at least second position.
2. A foldable protective screen as defined by claim 1, wherein the first side screen assembly and the second side screen assembly are pivotally attached respectively to the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg of the U-shaped frame; and
- wherein the fireplace screen further comprises first hinges for pivotally attaching the first and second side screen assemblies respectively to the first and second vertical legs of the U-shaped frame, and at least one second hinge for pivotally attaching the at least one screened door to at least one of the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg of the U-shaped frame, whereby the at least one screened door is hingedly mounted to the U-shaped frame separately from the first and second side screen assemblies.
3. A foldable protective screen as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one screened door is a single door extending between the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg of the U-shaped member.
4. A foldable protective screen as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one screen door is defined by a first screen door and a second screen door, the first screen door being pivotally mounted to the first vertical leg of the U-shaped flame, the second screened door being pivotally mounted to the second vertical leg of the U-shaped frame.
5. A foldable protective screen as defined by claim 1, wherein each of the first side screen assembly and the second side screen assembly includes at least one bracket extending laterally therefrom, the bracket being provided for attachment to the heating unit.
6. A foldable protective screen as defined by claim 1, which further comprises:
- an expandable rod, the expandable rod being operatively joined to the first side screen assembly and the second side screen assembly, the rod being expandable in an axial direction to engage the heating unit and to provide further stability to the foldable protective screen.
7. A foldable fireplace screen for use with fireplaces, stoves, radiators, burners and other sources of heat, the fireplace screen comprising:
- a main screen assembly, the main screen assembly having a first lateral side and a second lateral side situated opposite the first lateral side;
- a first side screen assembly pivotally mounted to the first lateral side of the main screen assembly; and
- a second screen assembly pivotally mounted to the second lateral side of the main screen assembly;
- the main screen assembly including a U-shaped frame having a first vertical leg disposed on the first lateral side of the main screen assembly, a second vertical leg disposed on the second lateral side of the main screen assembly, each of the first and second vertical legs having a lowermost end, and only one horizontal leg situated at a bottom of the U-shaped frame and joined to and interconnecting the lowermost ends of the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg, the U-shaped frame defining an open area between the first and second vertical legs and the horizontal leg situated at the bottom of the U-shaped frame and further defining the open area with a top opening situated opposite the horizontal leg, the first vertical leg, the second vertical leg and the horizontal leg mutually residing in the same plane; and
- at least one screened door pivotally joined to at least one of the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg of the U-shaped frame and selectively situated within the open area defined by the U-shaped frame;
- wherein the at least one screened door is pivotally moveable on the U-shaped frame between a first position in which it at least partially resides in the plane in which the first vertical leg, second vertical leg and horizontal leg of the U-shaped frame resides and within the open area defined by the U-shaped frame and at least partially bridges the top opening, and at least a second position in which the at least one screened door is situated out of the plane in which the first vertical leg, the second vertical leg and the horizontal leg reside so as not to at least partially bridge the top opening, whereby a user may have access to the fireplace, stove, radiator, burner and other source of heat through the open area and the top opening of the foldable fireplace screen when the at least one screened door is in the at least second position
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 28, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 3, 2008
Inventor: Maxwell Gardner (Wallingford, CT)
Application Number: 11/528,911
International Classification: F24B 1/192 (20060101);