U.S. patent application number 11/123365 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for fuel burning logset and hearth.
Invention is credited to John DeSautels, Paul J. Hoffmann, Robert W. Machacek.
Application Number | 20060037604 11/123365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35908506 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060037604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hoffmann; Paul J. ; et
al. |
February 23, 2006 |
Fuel burning logset and hearth
Abstract
An apparatus is provided that includes a freestanding fireplace
hearth having a cradle, a leg assembly supporting the cradle and a
rear curved deflector extending upwardly from a rear edge of the
cradle. The apparatus further includes an artificial logset having
a base disposed on the cradle, with the logset further including a
flame deflector pivotally mounted on the base, a fuel burning
chamber removably mounted on the base and at least a pair of
artificial non-burning log members. One of the log members is
removably mounted on the base and the other is removably mounted on
the flame deflector.
Inventors: |
Hoffmann; Paul J.; (Chicago,
IL) ; DeSautels; John; (Mill Creek, WA) ;
Machacek; Robert W.; (Lombard, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, HERRON & EVANS, LLP
2700 CAREW TOWER
441 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
35908506 |
Appl. No.: |
11/123365 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60568930 |
May 7, 2004 |
|
|
|
60568909 |
May 7, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/512 ;
126/552; 431/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 3/006 20130101;
F24C 5/18 20130101; F24B 1/1957 20130101; F24C 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/512 ;
431/125; 126/552 |
International
Class: |
F24C 3/00 20060101
F24C003/00; F24C 5/00 20060101 F24C005/00; F24B 1/18 20060101
F24B001/18 |
Claims
1. An artificial logset for producing the aesthetic appearance of a
wood burning fire, the logset comprising: a base; a flame deflector
movably mounted on said base; a fuel burning chamber removably
mounted on said base; and at least a pair of artificial non-burning
log members, one of said log members being mounted on said base and
the other of said log members being mounted on said flame
deflector; a linkage connecting said flame deflector to said base
for movement relative to said base and to said chamber, said
linkage supporting said flame deflector and said other of said log
members above said chamber in an operating position when a fire is
burning in said chamber, said flame deflector and said other of
said log members being sufficiently spaced apart from said chamber
in said operating position to permit flames to escape said chamber,
said linkage being moveable to a flame extinguishing position, to
close said chamber and extinguish flames burning in said
chamber
2. An artificial logset as recited in claim 1, further including: a
spring, said spring biasing said flame deflector toward an upward
direction away from said fuel burning chamber.
3. An artificial logset as recited in claim 2, further including:
an operating handle attached to said flame deflector for raising
the flame deflector away from said chamber for loading the fuel and
for bringing said flame deflector toward said fuel burning chamber
to position said logset in an operating position and, when
desirable, to lower the flame deflector further to extinguish any
fire in the chamber.
4. An artificial logset as recited in claim 1, wherein: said base
includes a plurality of upwardly extending positioning studs; said
fuel burning chamber is positioned on said base by said studs.
5. An artificial logset as recited in claim 2, wherein: said base
includes an upwardly extending rear wall, said rear wall being
positioned rearward of said fuel burning chamber; said rear wall
includes a plurality of apertures formed therein; said spring has
one end that passes through one of said apertures; said spring has
a second end in contacting engagement with said linkage.
6. An artificial logset as recited in claim 2, wherein: said fuel
burning chamber includes an upwardly extending forward wall and an
upwardly extending rear wall, each of said walls having an
outwardly extending lip at an upper end thereof, said chamber
further including an open top; said spring is sized and configured
so that a space exists between each of said lips and said deflector
when said other of said log members is mounted on said flame
deflector thereby permitting flames to escape said chamber out of
said top, through said spaces and adjacent at least one of said
non-burning log members when a fire is burning in said chamber.
7. An artificial logset as recited in claim 1, wherein: said
linkage includes first and second sets of parallelogram
linkages.
8. An artificial logset as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
artificial non-burning log members has a plurality of apertures
formed therein and said artificial logset further comprises: a
first plurality of clips attached to said base; and a second
plurality of clips attached to said flame deflector; said one of
said log members being mounted on said base with said holes formed
therein and said first plurality of clips, each of said first
plurality of clips being inserted in an aligned one of said holes
formed in said one of said log members; said other of said log
members being mounted on said flame deflector with said holes
formed therein and said second plurality of clips, each of said
second plurality of clips being inserted in an aligned one of said
holes formed in said other of said log members.
9. A freestanding fireplace hearth comprising: a cradle; a leg
assembly supporting said cradle; a rear curved deflector extending
upwardly from a rear edge of said cradle, said deflector being
mounted to at least one of said cradle and said leg assembly, said
deflector further including an upper, freestanding edge disposed
upwardly and forwardly from said rear edge of said cradle.
10. A freestanding fireplace hearth as recited in claim 9, wherein:
said leg assembly includes at least one mount adaptor integral with
a rear portion of said leg assembly; said rear curved deflector
includes a lower flange portion that extends downwardly away from a
remaining portion of said deflector having an arcuate shape as
viewed in side profile, said lower flange portion of said deflector
engaging said at least one mount adaptor thereby mounting said
deflector to said leg assembly.
11. A freestanding fireplace hearth as recited in claim 10,
wherein: said cradle includes a rear, downwardly extending flange
that engages said at least one mount adaptor of said leg
assembly.
12. A freestanding fireplace hearth as recited in claim 11,
wherein: said rear, downwardly extending flange of said cradle is
disposed between said leg assembly and said lower flange portion of
said deflector.
13. A freestanding fireplace hearth as recited in claim 11,
wherein: said cradle further includes an arcuately shaped portion
attached to a forward portion of said leg assembly.
14. A freestanding fireplace hearth as recited in claim 9, wherein:
said rear curved deflector includes a plurality of apertures formed
therethrough, said apertures providing an aesthetically pleasing
design.
15. A freestanding fireplace hearth as recited in claim 10,
wherein: said at least one mount adaptor of said leg assembly
comprises a plurality of upwardly facing hooks integral with a rear
portion of said leg assembly; said lower flange portion of said
deflector has a plurality of recesses formed in a lower edge
thereof, each of said recesses engaging one of said hooks thereby
mounting said deflector to said leg assembly.
16. An apparatus comprising: a freestanding fireplace hearth having
a cradle, a leg assembly supporting the cradle and a rear curved
deflector extending upwardly from a rear edge of said cradle; and
an artificial logset having a base disposed on said cradle, said
logset further including: a flame deflector pivotally mounted on
said base; a fuel burning chamber removably mounted on said base;
and at least a pair of artificial non-burning log members, one of
said log members being removably mounted on said base and the other
of said log members being removably mounted on said flame
deflector.
17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said artificial
logset further includes: a linkage connecting said flame deflector
to said base for movement relative to said base, said linkage being
operably effective for supporting said flame deflector and said
other of said log members above said chamber when a fire is burning
in said chamber and, when lowered, said flame deflector is
proximate said chamber and is operably effective for extinguishing
flame burning in said chamber.
18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, further comprising: a
second rear curved deflector secured to said rear curved deflector;
said rear curved deflector having a plurality of apertures formed
therethrough, said apertures providing an aesthetically pleasing
design, said second rear curved deflector being disposed rearward
of said apertures.
19. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein: said fuel burning
chamber has a width and a vertical centerline; said rear curved
deflector has an upper, freestanding edge that is positioned
rearward of said vertical centerline by a distance of at least
about 0.76 times said width of said fuel burning chamber.
20. An apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein; said rear curved
deflector has a radius of curvature that has a value of at least
about 3.75 times said width of said fuel burning chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/568,930, "Fuel Burning
Logset", filed May 7, 2004, which is expressly incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety. This application also claims the
priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/568,909, "Freestanding Artificial Logset Hearth", filed May 7,
2004, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a fuel burning logset and a
freestanding hearth and more particularly to a set of artificial
non-burning logs and a fuel burner mounted on a hearth or in a
fixed fireplace for producing flame, to provide, in combination
with the logs, an aesthetic impression of a naturally burning wood
fire.
[0003] It is desirable to provide an aesthetic impression of a
naturally burning wood fire but without actually burning natural
wood products, both in existing fireplaces and in freestanding or
non-fireplace environments, as well as out-of-doors. Additionally,
while artificial logsets used in conjunction with natural gas or
other sources have been proposed, it is desirable to produce an
aesthetic appearance of a naturally burning wood fire in a
freestanding hearth-like fire setting. Most, if not all, of the
prior artificial logsets are typically utilized in an existing
fireplace in conjunction with a chimney flue or the like, or in a
freestanding circular or square geometric configuration providing a
luminaria effect. It is desirable to produce a hearth-like setting
for an open fire which is not limited to use in a present standing
fireplace and does not constitute a fully enclosed fire burning
compartment, such as those sold as luminaria or the like.
SUMMARY
[0004] To these ends, according to one aspect of the invention, an
artificial logset is provided for producing the aesthetic
appearance of a wood burning fire. The logset includes a base, a
flame deflector pivotally mounted on the base and a fuel burning
chamber removably mounted on the base. The logset further includes
at least a pair of artificial non-burning log members, with one of
the log members being removably mounted on the base and the other
being removably mounted on the flame deflector. A linkage connects
the flame deflector to the base for movement relative to the base,
with the linkage being operably effective for supporting the flame
deflector and the log member mounted thereto above the chamber when
a fire is burning in the chamber and, when lowered, the flame
deflector is proximate the chamber it is operably effective for
extinguishing flame burning the chamber.
[0005] The artificial logset can further include a spring that
biases the flame deflector toward an upward direction away from the
burning fuel chamber. The spring can be sized and configured so
that a space exists between outwardly extending lips at the upper
end of each side of the fuel burning chamber and the flame
deflector. This permits flames to escape the chamber out of the
top, through the spaces and adjacent at least one of the
non-burning log members when a fire is burning in the chamber for
producing an aesthetic appearance of a wood burning fire.
[0006] The logset can also include an operating handle attached to
the flame deflector for raising the flame deflector away from the
chamber for loading fuel into the chamber and for lowering the
flame deflector toward the fuel burning chamber to position the
logset in an operating condition. When desirable, the handle can be
used to lower the flame deflector further for extinguishing a
burning flame in the chamber.
[0007] The non-burning log members can be removably mounted to the
base of the flame deflector via a plurality of clips, thereby
permitting easy installation and removal of the non-burning log
members.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
freestanding fireplace hearth is provided that includes a cradle
and a leg assembly supporting the cradle. The hearth further
includes a rear curved deflector extending upwardly from a rear
edge of the cradle, with the deflector being mounted to at least
one of the cradle and the leg assembly. The deflector further
includes an upper, freestanding edge disposed upwardly and
forwardly from the rear edge of the cradle.
[0009] The leg assembly can include at least one mount adaptor
integral with a rear portion of the leg assembly. The rear curved
deflector can include a lower flange portion that extends
downwardly away from a remaining portion of the deflector having an
arcuate shape as viewed in side profile, with the lower flange
portion of the deflector engaging the at least one mount adaptor of
the leg assembly, thereby mounting the deflector to the leg
assembly.
[0010] The cradle can include a rear downwardly extending flange
that also engages the at least one mount adaptor of the leg
assembly and the downwardly extending flange of the cradle can be
disposed between the leg assembly and the lower flange portion of
the deflector. The cradle can further include an arcuately shaped
portion attached to a forward portion of the leg assembly.
[0011] The at least one mount adaptor of the leg assembly can
comprise a plurality of upwardly facing hooks integral with a rear
portion of the leg assembly. In this case, the lower flange portion
of the deflector can have a plurality of recesses formed in the
lower edge thereof, with each of the recesses engaging one of the
hooks thereby mounting the deflector to the leg assembly.
[0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an
apparatus is provided comprising a freestanding fireplace hearth
having a cradle and a leg assembly supporting the cradle, and a
rear curved deflector extending upwardly from a rear edge of the
cradle. The apparatus further includes an artificial logset having
a base disposed on the cradle with the logset further including a
flame deflector pivotally mounted on the base and a fuel burning
chamber removably mounted on the base. The logset also includes at
least a pair of artificial non-burning log members, with one of the
log members being removably mounted on the base and the other of
the log members being removably mounted on the flame deflector.
[0013] The freestanding fireplace hearth and the artificial logset
can include various combinations of the features discussed
previously with respect to the logset and the hearth.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] This invention will be more readily apparent from the
figures, which are described as follows:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an artificial fuel burning
logset according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of the logset shown in FIG. 1,
with the artificial non-burning log members omitted for purposes of
illustration; illustrating a fill position of the logset that
permits a gel fuel to be added to a fuel chamber of the logset;
[0017] FIG. 2B is an isometric view similar to FIG. 2A, but
illustrating an operating position of the logset with a flame
deflector of the logset being lowered partially over the fuel
chamber to permit flames within the fuel chamber to escape;
[0018] FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of the logset shown in FIG.
1, with the logset illustrated in the fill position shown in FIG.
2A and the artificial non-burning log members included in
cross-section for purposes of illustration;
[0019] FIG. 3B is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 3A, but
partially in cut-away view and with the logset illustrated in the
operating position shown in FIG. 2B;
[0020] FIG. 3C is a side elevation view similar to FIGS. 3A and 3B,
but with the logset illustrated in a flame extinguishing
position;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a
spring and associated apparatus that can be used to bias the flame
deflector in the operating position shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a hearth according to one
embodiment of the present invention with the artificial fuel
burning logset illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 mounted on the hearth;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 5, but with the
artificial logset shown in phantom lines to illustrate additional
details of the hearth;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the hearth shown in FIGS.
5 and 6; and
[0025] FIG. 8 is an isometric view further illustrating the hearth
shown in FIGS. 5-7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an isometric view
illustrating an artificial logset 10 according to one embodiment of
the present invention. Logset 10 includes an upper, artificial
non-burning log member 12 and a lower non-burning log member 14. As
illustrated and subsequently discussed further in FIGS. 2A and 3A,
the upper log 12 may be raised above a fuel burning chamber 16 to
allow a combustible gel-like fuel 18 to be poured from a container
20 into the fuel burning chamber 16. Gel-like fuel 18 can be
obtained from any suitable source, and one suitable fuel is the
"Hearth Fuel" gel provided to applicant by The Blaze Products
Corporation of Shelbyville, Ky. When burned, such gel fuel produces
a natural color and an audible, authentic woodburning crackling
sound.
[0027] The artificial logset 10 of the present invention further
includes a base 22 with the fuel burning chamber 16 being removably
mounted on the base 22 and positioned on base 22 by a plurality of
studs 24 extending upwardly from the base 22. Accordingly, the fuel
burning chamber can be easily removed from the base for cleaning or
emptying. The fuel burning chamber 16 can also be positioned on
base 22 by a variety of other means as may be appreciated by one
skilled in the art.
[0028] The artificial logset 10 also includes a flame deflector 26
that converges downwardly as best shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, so that
viewed form the side, in the illustrative embodiment the deflector
26 has a generally V-shaped configuration. In the illustrative
embodiment, the flame deflector 26 includes a first member 27 and a
second member 29 attached to one another by conventional means such
as spot welding. The first member 27 includes a forward upwardly
extending flange or fin 31 and a rear upwardly extending flange or
fin 33. The second member 29 includes a pair of downwardly
extending flanges 34 disposed at opposite sides of the flame
deflector 26 and further includes a pair of upwardly extending
flanges or fins 35. Each of the flanges or fins 31, 33 and 35 are
effective for providing structural stability of the flame deflector
26, i.e., to prevent or significantly reduce warping due to
exposure to relatively high temperatures from the flames in the
fuel burning chamber 16 during operation and subsequent cooling
when the logset 10 is not in operation. Additionally, the flanges
or fins 31 and 33 help direct flames upward when a fire is burning
in chamber 16.
[0029] The flame deflector 26 is pivotally mounted on base 22 in
the illustrative embodiment by a linkage including first set 28 of
parallelogram linkages having links 28a and 28b and a second set 30
of parallelogram linkages (one link shown). More particularly, in
the illustrative embodiment, the flame deflector 26 is pivotally
mounted to a rear portion of the base 22 as may be appreciated by
reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3A-3C. The links 28a and 28b are
pivotally coupled at one end to an upstanding rear flange 32 of
base 22 and are pivotally coupled at opposite ends to one of the
downwardly extending flanges 34 of the flame deflector 26. The
downwardly extending flange 34 at the opposite end of flame
deflector 26 is coupled to the second set of linkages 30 which are
pivotally mounted in a similar manner as discussed with respect to
linkages 28a and 28b. It should be understood that the first set 28
and second set 30 of parallelogram linkages are illustrated by way
of example. However, other linkages can be provided within the
scope of the present invention and such other linkages could
provide different travel of the flame deflector 26 relative to the
base 22 and the fuel burning chamber 16.
[0030] The lower links of the first set 28 and second set 30 of
parallelogram linkages are coupled to one another by a common hinge
pin 38 which is rotatably coupled at one end to the rear flange 32
of base 22 and is rotatably coupled at the other end to a similar
structure (not shown) of base 22. The lower links of the first set
28 and second set 30 of parallelogram linkage are fixed to pin 38
by conventional means so that the lower links of both sets 28 and
30 of parallelogram linkages pivot about a longitudinal centerline
40 of pin 38. A handle 36 is integral with the first set 28 of
parallelogram linkages and is operably effective for moving the
flame deflector 26 relative to the base 22 in various positions
such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3A-3C.
[0031] As best seen in FIG. 4, an intermediate portion 42 of a
spring 44 is coiled about an end portion of hinge pin 38 that is
fixed to link 28b. The spring 40 also has a first end portion 46
that passes through one of a plurality of slots 48 formed in an
upwardly extending rear wall 50 of the base 22 that is positioned
rearward of the fuel burning chamber 16. A second end portion 52 of
spring 40 extends transversely to the link 28b and is positioned in
contacting engagement with a lower surface of link 28b so that an
upward biasing force is exerted against link 28b as may be
appreciated by one skilled in the art. The biasing force exerted by
spring 40 can be adjusted somewhat by the selection of the
particular slot 48 that end portion 46 of spring 40 passes through.
The particular purpose of spring 40 is subsequently discussed.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, logset 10 includes a plurality
of resilient clips 54 mounted to the base 22 and the flame
deflector 26 for purposes of mounting the upper non-burning log
member 12 on the flame deflector 26 and for mounting the lower
non-burning log member 14 on the base 22. In the illustrative
embodiment, a pair of clips 54 are mounted on base 22 and a pair of
clips 54 are also mounted to the flame deflector 26. However, other
numbers of clips 54 may be used within the scope of the present
invention. The upper log member 12 and lower log member 14 each
include a pair of apertures or slots 56 (one shown in each member
12, 14) formed in a lower surface of each of the log members 12,
14. The two apertures formed in log 12 are spaced apart by a
distance (not shown) that is substantially equal to the spacing
between the clips 54 mounted on the flame deflector 26. Similarly,
the apertures 56 in lower log member 14 are spaced apart by a
distance (not shown) substantially equal to a distance between
clips 54 mounted on base 22. Accordingly, the clips 54 mounted on
flame deflector 26 can be inserted into the slots 56 in upper log
member 12, thereby mounting the upper log member 12 to the flame
deflector 26. Similarly, the clips 50 mounted on base 22 can be
inserted into the slots 56 formed in lower log member 14, thereby
mounting log member 14 on base 22.
[0033] It will be appreciated that the log members 12, 14 are
essentially non-burning artificial members configured of any
suitable materials and coloration to produce the aesthetic
appearance of a burning log. Such logs can be made of fiber/ceramic
or any other suitable flame resistant materials. Log member 12 is
made as a monolithic construction but includes various slots and
openings such as slots 56, used for mounting, and an aperture 13
(FIG. 1) that extends from a bottom surface of log member 12 to and
through a top surface of log member 12 so that flame can pass
through aperture 13. In operation, this can give the appearance
that log member 12 comprises two logs, notwithstanding its
monolithic construction.
[0034] The fuel burning chamber 16 includes a bottom wall 58, a
forward wall 60a and an opposing rear wall 60b extending upwardly
from the bottom wall 58. The forward wall 60a includes an outwardly
extending lip 62a at an upper end thereof. Similarly, the rear wall
60b includes an outwardly extending lip 62b at an upper end
thereof. In operation, after the gel-like fuel 18 is added to the
fuel burning chamber 16, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the handle
36 can be used to lower the flame deflector 26 and the upper
non-burning log member 12 mounted thereon to an operating position
such as that shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B. The parameters of the spring
44 are selected so that when an upper log such as the upper
non-burning log member 12 is placed in the deflector 26, the
deflector 26 will be maintained, or float, at a position spaced
apart from the fuel burning chamber 16 so that a space 64 exists
between the forward lip 62a of the fuel burning chamber 16 and the
flame deflector 26 and also that a space 66 exists between the rear
lip 62b of the fuel burning chamber 16 and the flame deflector 26.
The spaces 64 and 66 and the open sides of deflector 26 permit
flames to escape the fuel burning chamber 16. The flames are
directed forwardly around the forward side of the upper log member
12, and across the upper portion of the lower log member 14, with
the assistance of flange or fin 31 and a lower surface of the
adjacent portion of deflector 26. The flames are also directed
rearwardly around the back side of the upper log member 12 with the
assistance of flange or fin 33 and the lower surface of the
adjacent portion of deflector 26. Flames are also free to pass
upward through the slot 13 formed in log member 12 and out the top
of log member 12. The various flame paths are illustrated generally
in FIGS. 1 and 3B at 15, 17 and 19, respectively, and create the
aesthetic appearance of a naturally burning wood fire.
[0035] When it is desired to extinguish the burning fire, the
handle 36 can be grasped and pulled downwardly, thereby further
lowering the flame deflector 26 against the bias of the spring 44
so that the deflector 26 comes into such close proximity to the
lips 62a and 62b, or contact with lips 62a and 62b, of the fuel
burning chamber 16 so that any burning flame is extinguished. The
flame extinguishing position of the artificial logset 10 is
illustrated in FIG. 3C The artificial logset 10 can be utilized in
any freestanding fashion but is particularly adaptable for use on a
grate, in a fireplace or in another environment in which burning
flame is desire, or in combination with a freestanding fireplace
hearth 70 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0036] The freestanding fireplace hearth includes a cradle 72 and a
leg assembly 74 that supports the cradle 72. The hearth 70 further
includes a rear curved deflector 76 extending upwardly from a rear
edge 78 (best seen in FIG. 8) of the cradle 72. The deflector 76
includes an upper, freestanding edge 80 that is disposed upwardly
and forwardly from the rear edge 78 of the cradle 72. As best seen
in FIG. 7, the rear curved deflector 76 has an arcuate shape as
viewed in side profile. The deflector 76 can include a plurality of
apertures 82 formed therethrough, with the apertures 82 providing
an aesthetically pleasing design. For instance, in the illustrative
embodiment, the deflector 76 includes a plurality of apertures 82
having a variety of geometric shapes such as squares and rectangles
arranges in a configuration that is determined to be aesthetically
pleasing. In other embodiments, the curved deflector 76 may include
one or apertures that give the appearance of a burning flame. In
other embodiments, the curved deflector 76 can incorporate
apertures having different shapes or apertures formed therethrough
such as apertures 82 can be omitted altogether. For those
embodiments including apertures such as apertures 82 or apertures
exhibiting other designs, a second rear curved deflector 79 (FIGS.
7 and 8) can be attached to the curved deflector 76 so that it is
disposed behind and spaced apart somewhat from deflector 76 to
enhance the visual effect produced by the design of apertures 82.
The second rear curved deflector 79 includes a continuous surface,
i.e., without apertures, disposed behind the apertures 82 so a
viewer cannot see through the hearth 70 due to apertures 82. The
second rear curved deflector 79 can be mounted to curved deflector
76 in a variety of ways. This can include the utilization of holes
77 formed in deflector 76, to accept fasteners for instance. In
embodiments that do not include the second rear curved deflector
79, holes 77 can be omitted.
[0037] In the illustrative embodiment, the leg assembly 74 includes
a pair of spaced apart forward legs 84 interconnected by a cross
member 86. The leg assembly 74 can further include a pair of spaced
apart rear legs 88 interconnected by a cross member 90. For further
stability the leg assembly 74 can include a pair of struts 92
disposed on either side of the leg assembly 74 and interconnecting
corresponding ones of the forward 84 and rear 88 legs. In the
illustrative embodiment, the rear cross member 90 includes a pair
of flanges 94, disposed at a top end thereof, with each of the
flanges 94 being disposed at contacting engagement with one of the
rear legs 88. Similarly, the cross member 86 includes a pair of
rearwardly extending flanges 96 (one shown), with each being
disposed in contacting engagement with one of the forward legs 84.
The cross members 86 and 90 can be secured to the forward 84 and
rear 88 legs, respectively, as subsequently discussed.
[0038] As best seen in FIG. 7, the cradle 72 includes a first
portion 98 having an arcuate shape as viewed in side profile and a
rear, downwardly extending flange 100 that is integral with the
arcuate portion 98. The rear curved deflector 76 has a lower flange
portion 102 and a plurality of notches 104 formed in a lower edge
thereof. The leg assembly 74 includes at least one mount adaptor
which, in the illustrative embodiment, comprises a pair of upwardly
facing hooks 106 which are effective for receiving the flanges 100
of cradle 72 and 102 of the curved deflector 76.
[0039] The assembly of the freestanding fireplace hearth 70 can be
further appreciated with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The cradle 72
is lowered onto the leg assembly 74, with the rear, downwardly
flange 100 engaging the hooks 106 of the leg assembly 74 and
disposed in a face-to-face abutting relationship with a rearwardly
facing surface 108 of cross member 90. The arcuate portion 98 of
cradle 72 is disposed in contacting engagement with the flanges 94
and 96 of the leg assembly 74 and can be further secured to the leg
assembly 74 with fasteners such as rivets 110 passing through holes
formed in the arcuate portion 98 of cradle 72 and mating holes in
the flanges 94 and 96. Other conventional fasteners may also be
used to secure the arcuate portion 98 to the leg assembly 74.
Furthermore, other conventional means, such as welding, etc. may be
used to secure the arcuate portion 98 to the leg assembly 74.
[0040] The curved deflector is lowered until the recesses 104 of
the flange 102 engage hooks 106 of the leg assembly 94, thereby
mounting the deflector 76 on the leg assembly 74. In the
illustrative embodiment, the flange 100 of the cradle is disposed
between the leg assembly 74 and flange 102 of deflector 76, giving
the appearance of a joint or seam 112 between cradle 72 and
deflector 76. As may be appreciated by one skilled in the art,
mount adaptors other than the hooks 106 can be used for mounting
the cradle 72 and curved deflector 76 to the leg assembly 74.
Furthermore, the cradle 72, leg assembly 74 and curved deflector 76
may be mounted to one another in other ways within the scope of the
present invention. For instance, rivets 110 may be omitted, with
the arcuate portion 98 of cradle 72 resting on top of the leg
assembly 72. In this embodiment, the cross members 90 and 96 may be
attached, by tack welding for instance, to the rear 88 and forward
84 legs, respectively. As another alternative, holes may be
included in flange 100 of cradle 72, the lower flange portion 102
of deflector 76 and cross member 90, with flange 100 and lower
flange portion 102 attached to cross member 90 using conventional
fasteners. In yet another alternative embodiment, the arcuate
portion 98 of cradle 72 may be made as a one piece construction
with the lower flange portion 102 of deflector 76 being omitted, as
well as the flange 100 of cradle 72. This one piece deflector and
cradle can be secured to the leg assembly 74 using various
conventional means including fasteners, and others.
[0041] As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, the arcuate portion 98 of
cradle 72 includes a laterally extending slot or cutout 114. The
slot 114 is effective for receiving a rear corner portion 116 of
the artificial logset 10, so that the logset 10 is disposed in a
generally horizontal orientation when it is mounted to the hearth
70, notwithstanding the shape of the arcuate portion 98 of cradle
72.
[0042] The shape of the curved deflector 76 and the spatial
relationship between the deflector 76 and the fuel burning chamber
16 can be selected to minimize flame damage, such as tarnishing, to
the forward surface of deflector 76. In one embodiment, this can be
accomplished as follows. The fuel chamber 16 has a width D.sub.1
shown in FIG. 7. The upper edge 80 of the deflector 76 is
positioned aft or rearward of a vertical centerline 81 of chamber
16 by a distance of D.sub.2. The deflector 76 includes a radius of
curvature R1 with the center located at a distance D.sub.3 forward
of the centerline 81 of chamber 16 and upward a distance of H.sub.1
from a bottom surface of leg assembly 74. Flame damage to the front
surface of deflector 76 can be minimized if R.sub.1 has a value of
at least about 3.75 times the width D.sub.1 of chamber 16 and if
D.sub.2 has a value of at least about 0.76 times the width D.sub.1.
In this embodiment, the value of D.sub.3 is about 1.36 times
D.sub.1 and the value of H.sub.1 is about 4.21 times D.sub.1.
However, it should be understood that in other embodiments flame
deflector 76 can have a radius of curvature different from the
foregoing value, or may have a different shape than that shown in
the illustrative embodiment, and the center of the radius could be
located in a different position. Also, the upper edge 80 of
deflector 76 can have a different spatial relationship to the
centerline 81 of fuel chamber 16 than that noted previously.
Furthermore, the selection of the material of construction for
deflector 76 may be such that tarnishing is not a design
consideration. The deflector 76 can be made of steel or other
materials can be selected.
[0043] In operation, the freestanding fireplace hearth compliments
the aesthetic effect of the artificial logset, when a fire is
burning in the fuel burning chamber 16 of logset 10.
[0044] Further advantages and modifications will be readily
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing
from the scope of the invention and applicant intends to be bound
only by the claims appended hereto.
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