Fireplace

Abstract

A fireplace unit comprises a housing in which a liquid fuel is to be combusted, having at least one aperture for air flow; a front plate; and a burner for holding the liquid fuel and having an adjusting means for adjusting intensity of flame. A drawer is provided to hold the burner. A closing means is provided to cover the burner such that the flame is extinguished when the closing means is closed. The adjusting means is configured to close when the drawer is pulled out. A security means is further provided to prevent the drawer from being pulled out when the closing means is open. The drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a fireplace. More particularly, this invention relates to a fireplace using liquid fuel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fireplace serves heating and decorative purposes. Most people nowadays live in apartments and houses where installation of a chimney is not possible, which in turn makes installation of a conventional fireplace with a chimney not feasible. As a result, a fireplace using liquid or gas fuel has become popular.

Accordingly, an object is to provide improvements to a fireplace unit which uses liquid fuel. The fireplace unit further provides an easy and safe access to the liquid fuel for refilling and igniting.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, briefly stated, a fireplace unit comprises:

• • a) a housing in which a liquid fuel is to be combusted, having at least one aperture for air flow;
  • b) a front plate; and
  • c) a burner for holding the liquid fuel having an adjusting means for adjusting the intensity of the flame.

Preferably, the fireplace unit further comprises a drawer adapted to hold the burner.

A closing means may be provided to cover the burner such that the flame is extinguished when the closing means is closed.

Preferably, the adjusting means is configured to close when the drawer is pulled out.

It is an option that a security means is provided to prevent the drawer from being pulled out when the closing means is open.

Preferably, the drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

It is preferred that the front plate is transparent or translucent.

Optionally, an aperture is further provided on the housing or the front plate for igniting the liquid fuel.

The fireplace may further comprise a convection chamber, in which air is drawn from an inlet into the convection chamber to be heated by a heat exchange from the burner and exits from an outlet.

Preferably, the liquid fuel is methanol liquid alcohol, ethanol liquid alcohol or alcohol gel.

It will be appreciated that the fireplace unit may be installed almost anywhere, for example, mounted on a wall, or placed on a floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fireplace unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a drawer of the fireplace unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the fireplace;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an internal portion of the fireplace unit of FIG. 1 with a closing means in an open position; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an internal portion of the fireplace unit of FIG. 1 with a closing means in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is presented a preferred embodiment of a fireplace 10 having a housing 20, a front plate 30 and a drawer 40. Housing 20 includes apertures 60, 70 for air flow. A drawer 40 is configured to contain a burner 80 for easy access to the burner for refill of the liquid fuel. Burner 80 is in a form of a container for containing liquid fuel. Burner 80 has an adjusting means 90 and a handle 100 adapted to control the adjusting means 90 which in turn adjusts the intensity of the flame. Adjusting means 90 is slideable and controlled by the handle 100. When the adjusting means 90 is closed, the flame will be extinguished.

The adjusting means 90 may be configured to automatically cover the burner 80 when the drawer 40 is pulled out. A latch (not illustrated) may be used to cause the adjusting means 90 to slide and cover the burner 80 when the drawer 40 is pulled out. A person skilled in the art would have the knowledge in applying a suitable mechanism to achieve the purpose.

Alternatively, regardless of whether the adjusting means 90 is open or closed, a closing means 210 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may further be provided to cover the burner 80 and extinguish the flame when the closing means 210 is closed. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the internal mechanism of closing means 210 and security means 220 in relation to burner 80. Closing means 210 may be in the form of a block, pivotally controlled by a handle (not illustrated) outside housing 20. When closing means 210 is open as shown in FIG. 4, the flame is exposed. When closing means 210 is closed as shown in FIG. 5, burner 80 is covered and the flame is extinguished.

Alternatively, security means 220 may further be provided to refrain drawer 40 from being pulled out when closing means 210 is open. The security means may be in the form of a latch configured to lock drawer 40 when closing means 210 is open and unlock drawer 40 when closing means 210 is closed, in a usual fashion. For example, FIG. 4 shows that closing means 210 is opened. Security means 220 is configured to refrain drawer 40 from being pulling out of the fireplace, by means of end 230 of security means 220 interlocking with part of the fireplace. In FIG. 5, closing means 210 is pivotally placed in a closed position causing security means 220 to rotate which in turn causes end 230 of security means 220 to lie within the edge of drawer 40 unlocking part of the fireplace such that drawer 40 can be opened. A person skilled in the art shall have the knowledge in applying a suitable mechanism to achieve the purpose.

The front plate 30 has an aperture 50 through which a fire-lighter is used to ignite the liquid fuel. Alternatively, the aperture 50 may be located on the housing 20. A reservoir 120 is provided within the drawer 40 for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

Turning to FIG. 3, another embodiment of fireplace unit 10 is shown having a convection chamber 150 at the back defining a pathway 160 for air drawn from an inlet 140 into the convection chamber 150 to be heated by heat exchange from the flame of burner 80 (as described above) and to exit from an outlet 130. The inlet 140 may be located at the front, bottom, or sides of the housing. This embodiment of fireplace unit 10 may further include the features of drawer 40 and the locking and latching mechanism as described above (not illustrated).

The embodiments described above relate to preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are given by way of illustration. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes, modifications and variations may be made to the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A fireplace unit comprising:

a) a housing in which a liquid fuel is to be combusted, having at least one aperture for air flow;

b) a front plate; and

c) a burner for holding the liquid fuel and having an adjusting means for adjusting intensity of flame.

2. The fireplace unit of claim 1, which further comprises a drawer adapted to hold the burner.

3. The fireplace unit of claim 2, wherein the adjusting means is configured to close when the drawer is pulled out.

4. The fireplace unit of claim 1, wherein a closing means is provided to cover the burner such that the flame is extinguished when the closing means is closed.

5. The fireplace unit of claim 4, wherein a security means is provided to prevent the drawer from being pulled out when the closing means is open.

6. The fireplace unit of claim 1, wherein the drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

7. The fireplace unit of claim 1, wherein the front plate is transparent or translucent.

8. The fireplace unit of claim 1, wherein an aperture is further provided on the housing or the front plate for igniting the liquid fuel.

9. The fireplace unit of claim 1, which further comprises a convection chamber, in which air is drawn from an inlet into the convection chamber to be heated by heat exchange from the burner and exit from an outlet.

10. The fireplace unit of claim 1, wherein the liquid fuel is selected from the group consisting of methanol liquid alcohol, ethanol liquid alcohol and alcohol gel.

11. The fireplace unit of claim 2, wherein a closing means is provided to cover the burner such that the flame is extinguished when the closing means is closed.

12. The fireplace unit of claim 3, wherein a closing means is provided to cover the burner such that the flame is extinguished when the closing means is closed.

13. The fireplace unit of claim 2, wherein the drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

14. The fireplace unit of claim 3, wherein the drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

15. The fireplace unit of claim 4, wherein the drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

16. The fireplace unit of claim 5, wherein the drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel.

17. The fireplace unit of claim 2, wherein the front plate is transparent or translucent.

18. The fireplace unit of claim 3, wherein the front plate is transparent or translucent.

19. The fireplace unit of claim 4, wherein the front plate is transparent or translucent.

20. The fireplace unit of claim 5, wherein the front plate is transparent or translucent.