U.S. patent application number 11/377654 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for fireplace plug.
Invention is credited to David J. Formosa, Rozanne Gail Gray, Joe Pate.
Application Number | 20060219236 11/377654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37054266 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060219236 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Formosa; David J. ; et
al. |
October 5, 2006 |
Fireplace plug
Abstract
There is provided, in combination, a fireplace having a flue and
a damper handle, and a fireplace flue sealing device. The fireplace
flue sealing device has an inflatable bag-like member with a top
portion and a bottom portion of a flexible, air impermeable
material. The top portion and the bottom portion are sealed
together about an outer periphery of the bag-like member for
retaining pressurized air therebetween. The bag-like member has a
selectively slitable, sealed area extending from the outer
periphery towards the centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable
area. The bag-like member is sized and shaped to sealingly engage
the fireplace below the flue thereof when inflated. There is also a
closable conduit communicating with the bag-like member for
admitting pressurized air into the bag-like member.
Inventors: |
Formosa; David J.; (Powell
River, CA) ; Pate; Joe; (Abbotsford, CA) ;
Gray; Rozanne Gail; (Abbotsford, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NORMAN M. CAMERON
SUITE 1401 - 1166 ALBERNI STREET
VANCOUVER
BC
V6E 3Z3
CA
|
Family ID: |
37054266 |
Appl. No.: |
11/377654 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/319 ;
126/500 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23L 11/005 20130101;
F24B 1/189 20130101; F24B 1/191 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/319 ;
126/500 |
International
Class: |
F24B 1/18 20060101
F24B001/18; F23J 13/08 20060101 F23J013/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 18, 2005 |
CA |
2,501,174 |
Claims
1. In combination: a fireplace having a flue and a damper handle;
and a fireplace flue sealing device having an inflatable bag-like
member with a top portion and a bottom portion of a flexible, air
impermeable material, the top portion and the bottom portion being
sealed together about an outer periphery of the bag-like member for
retaining pressurized air therebetween, the bag-like member having
a selectively slitable sealed area extending from the outer
periphery towards the centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable
area, the bag-like member being sized and shaped to sealingly
engage the fireplace below the flue thereof when inflated, and a
closable conduit communicating with the bag-like member for
admitting pressurized air into the bag-like member.
2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bag-like
member further includes a centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable
area having a prop device engagement means for engaging a prop
device that supports the fireplace sealing device
3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bag-like
member is substantially elliptical in shape.
4. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selectively
slitable sealed area comprises a round end portion and a narrow
elongated portion.
5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit
includes an elongated hose.
6. In combination: a fireplace having a flue and a damper handle;
and a fireplace flue sealing device having an inflatable bag-like
member with a top portion and a bottom portion of a flexible, air
impermeable material, the top portion and the bottom portion being
sealed together about an outer periphery of the bag-like member for
retaining pressurized air therebetween, the bag-like member having
a centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable area having a prop
device engagement means for engaging a prop device that supports
the fireplace sealing device, and a closable conduit communicating
with the bag-like member for admitting pressurized air into the
bag-like member.
7. The combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bag-like
member further includes a selectively slitable sealed area
extending from the outer periphery towards the centrally located,
sealed, non-inflatable area, the bag-like member being sized and
shaped to sealingly engage the fireplace below the flue thereof
when inflated.
8. The combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the prop device
engagement means comprises a pair of loops that are affixed to the
non-inflatable area.
10. The combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bag-like
member is substantially elliptical in shape.
11. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the conduit
includes an elongated hose.
12. In combination: a fireplace having a flue and a damper handle;
a telescoping prop device having a first end and a second end
opposite thereof; and a fireplace flue sealing device having an
inflatable bag-like member with a top portion and a bottom portion
of a flexible, air impermeable material, the top portion and the
bottom portion being sealed together about an outer periphery of
the bag-like member for retaining pressurized air therebetween, the
bag-like member having a centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable
area having a prop device engagement means for engaging the
telescoping prop device, and a closable conduit communicating with
the bag-like member for admitting pressurized air into the bag-like
member.
13. The combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bag-like
member further includes a selectively slitable sealed area
extending from the outer periphery towards the centrally located,
sealed, non-inflatable area, the bag-like member being sized and
shaped to sealingly engage the fireplace below the flue thereof
when inflated.
14. A method of sealing a fireplace having a damper with a damper
handle from air-leakages comprising the steps: providing a
fireplace flue sealing device having an inflatable bag-like member
with a top portion and a bottom portion of a flexible, air
impermeable material, the top portion and the bottom portion being
sealed together about an outer periphery of the member for
retaining pressurized air therebetween, the bag-like member having
a centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable area having a prop
device engagement means for engaging a prop device that sustains
the fireplace sealing device, the bag-like member having a
selectively slitable sealed area extending from the outer periphery
towards the centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable area, and a
closable conduit communicating with the bag-like member for
admitting pressurized air into the bag-like member; partially
inflating the bag-like member using the conduit; slitting the
selectively slitable sealed area according to the placement of the
damper handle and thereby providing a slit and a first portion of
the bag-like member and a second portion of the bag-like member on
opposite sides of the slit; inserting the bag-like member using the
telescoping prop device into the fireplace such that the damper
handle extends through the slit; overlapping the first portion and
the second portion of the bag like member to accommodate the size
of the fireplace; and inflating the bag-like member using the
conduit to ensure a proper seal with the fireplace.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a fireplace flue sealing device,
commonly known as a fireplace plug, for stopping air leakage
through fireplace flues, and, in particular, for stopping air
leakage through zero clearance fireplaces.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventional fireplace plugs for fireplace flues, as in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,649,896 by Formosa, have included an inflatable, air
impermeable, bag-like member having a top and a bottom of a
flexible material, sealed together about an outer periphery. The
member has a plurality of selectively slitable sealed areas for
permitting a damper handle to pass through one of the areas. The
top and the bottom are sealed together about each of the areas. A
closable conduit communicates with the member for admitting
pressurized air into the member.
[0005] A disadvantage of previous fireplace plugs is their
inability to accommodate a wide variety of fireplace sizes, and in
particular, the limited range of adjustment necessary to
accommodate various zero-clearance fireplaces. The combination of
various zero-clearance fireplace sizes and the location of the
damper handle have made previous fireplace plugs unuseable for many
configurations.
[0006] Another disadvantage of previous fireplace plugs is the lack
of convenience associated with these plugs during installation.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided,
in combination, a fireplace having a flue and a damper handle, and
a fireplace flue sealing device. The fireplace flue sealing device
has an inflatable bag-like member with a top portion and a bottom
portion of a flexible, air impermeable material. The top portion
and the bottom portion are sealed together about an outer periphery
of the bag-like member for retaining pressurized air therebetween.
The bag-like member has a selectively slitable sealed area
extending from the outer periphery towards the centrally located,
sealed, non-inflatable area. The bag-like member is sized and
shaped to sealingly engage the fireplace below the flue thereof
when inflated. There is also a closable conduit communicating with
the bag-like member for admitting pressurized air into the bag-like
member.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention there is
provided, in combination, a fireplace having a flue and a damper
handle, and a fireplace flue sealing device. The fireplace flue
sealing device has an inflatable bag-like member with a top portion
and a bottom portion of a flexible, air impermeable material. The
top portion and the bottom portion are sealed together about an
outer periphery of the bag-like member for retaining pressurized
air therebetween. The bag-like member has a centrally located,
sealed, non-inflatable area which has a prop device engagement
means for engaging a prop device that supports the fireplace
sealing device. There is also a closable conduit communicating with
the bag-like member for admitting pressurized air into the bag-like
member.
[0009] According to a third aspect of the invention there is
provided, in combination, a fireplace having a flue and a damper
handle, a telescoping prop device having a first end and a second
end opposite thereof, and a fireplace flue sealing device. The
fireplace flue sealing device has an inflatable bag-like member
with a top portion and a bottom portion of a flexible, air
impermeable material. The top portion and the bottom portion are
sealed together about an outer periphery of the bag-like member for
retaining pressurized air therebetween. The bag-like member has a
centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable area having a prop device
engagement means for engaging the telescoping prop device. There is
also a closable conduit communicating with the bag-like member for
admitting pressurized air into the bag-like member.
[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
method is provided of sealing a fireplace having a damper with a
damper handle from air-leakages comprising the steps of providing a
fireplace flue sealing device which has an inflatable bag-like
member with a top portion and a bottom portion of a flexible, air
impermeable material, the top portion and the bottom portion are
sealed together about an outer periphery of the member for
retaining pressurized air therebetween, the bag-like member has a
centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable area having a prop device
engagement means for engaging a prop device that sustains the
fireplace sealing device, the bag-like member has a selectively
slitable sealed area extending from the outer periphery towards the
centrally located, sealed, non-inflatable area, and a closable
conduit communicating with the member for admitting pressurized air
into the member, partially inflating the bag-like member using the
conduit, slitting the selectively slitable sealed area according to
the placement of the damper handle and thereby providing a slit and
a first portion of the bag-like member and a second portion of the
bag-like member on opposite sides of the slit, inserting the
bag-like member using the telescoping prop device into the
fireplace such that the damper handle extends through the slit,
overlapping the first portion and the second portion of the bag
like member to accommodate the size of the fireplace, and inflating
the bag-like member using the conduit to ensure a proper seal with
the fireplace.
[0011] An advantage of the present invention is the novel use of
overlapping portions enabling the fireplace plug of the present
invention to accommodate a wide variety of fireplace and flue
sizes.
[0012] The telescoping prop device of the present invention
advantageously allows consumers to conveniently install the
fireplace plug in fireplaces of various dimensions, without having
to over-extend, and possibly injure, themselves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be more readily understood from
the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a fireplace having a fireplace
plug installed according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the fireplace plug of FIG. 1
shown in a deflated configuration;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a telescoping prop device of
the fireplace plug of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fireplace plug of FIG. 1
shown in an inflated and inverted configuration; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fireplace plug of FIG. 1
shown in an alternative inflated and inverted configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a sectional view is shown of a
fireplace 10 having a flue 12. A damper 14 is located near the
bottom of the flue 12 and is fitted with a damper handle 16. The
invention provides a fireplace plug, indicated generally by
reference numeral 20, for preventing drafts and air leakages
through the flue 12 of the fireplace 10. The plug 20 is
compressively in place at the top of the fireplace 10 adjacent the
flue 12 and accommodates the damper handle 16 accordingly.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 2, the fireplace plug 20 has an
inflatable bag-like member 22 having a top portion 24 and a bottom
portion 26. The top and bottom member are made of a flexible, air
impermeable material such as vinyl or a polyurethane film.
[0021] The fireplace plug 20 has an outer periphery 28 where the
top portion 24 and the bottom portion 26 are sealed together to
retain pressurized air therebetween. It may be seen in FIGS. 2, 4
and 5 that the plug 20 is substantially elliptical in shape in this
example, but can be different shapes in other examples.
[0022] The bag-like member 22 has a centrally located,
non-inflatable, flat area 30, which is substantially circular in
this example, but does not need to be in other examples. The flat
area 30 is also of vinyl in this example and has a pair of loops 32
connected thereto.
[0023] There is also a selectively slitable, sealed, elongated,
flat area indicated generally by reference numeral 34 in the
bag-like member 22 extending from the periphery 28 towards the
central flat area 30. The elongated flat area 34 has a narrow
elongated portion 38 and a round portion 36 at an end of the narrow
elongated portion near the central flat member 30.
[0024] There are portions 70 and 72 of the bag-like member 22 on
opposite sides of the elongated flat area 34. The portions 70 and
72 can overlap each other when the narrow elongated portion 38 of
the elongated flat area 34 is slit.
[0025] The elongated flat area 34 is sealed when the plug 20 is
supplied to the consumer, but is slitable by the consumer along the
narrow elongated portion 38. The narrow elongated portion 38 is
slit substantially enough in order to accommodate the position of
the damper handle 16 in the fireplace 10.
[0026] In some situations, the narrow elongated portion 38 is slit
substantially enough in order to accommodate, not only the damper
handle 16, but also to allow the overlapping of the portions 70 and
72. This advantageously allows the fireplace plug 20 to accommodate
fireplaces of a wide variety of dimensions.
[0027] The bag-like member 22 has a closable conduit 40 for
communicating pressurized air into the inflatable, bag-like member
22. The closable conduit 40 is connected to the bag-like member 32
at a junction 42.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an exploded view of
a telescoping prop device generally indicated by reference numeral
50. The telescoping prop device 50 has a first tubular member 52, a
second tubular member 54 and a retainer member 56. The retainer
member 56 is tapered towards the first tubular member 52. In use
the second tubular member 54 is telescopically received through
retainer member 56 and within the first tubular member 52. To fix
the telescopic position of the second tubular member 54 along the
first tubular member 52, the retainer member 56 is slidingly wedged
into the first tubular member 52, thereby press-fitting the second
tubular member 54 to the first tubular member 52.
[0029] There is also a t-shaped member 58 connected to one end 60
of the first member 52. The t-shaped member has a first end 62 and
an a second end 64 opposite thereto. The first and second ends 62
and 64 are received by respective loops 32 of the central flat area
30 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of
the fireplace plug 10 in an inflated configuration. The telescoping
prop device 50 is connected to the loops 32 of the flat area 30.
The portions 70 and 72 of the bag-like member 22 are not
overlapping in this configuration. The elongated narrow portion 38
of the elongated flat area 34 is slit accordingly to accommodate
the damper handle 16.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of
the fireplace plug 10 in an alternative inflated configuration. In
this configuration, the elongated narrow portion 38 of the
elongated flat area 34 has been slit substantially enough to allow
the portions 70 and 72 of the bag-like member 22 to overlap. The
overlapping portions 70 and 72 allow the plug to accommodate
fireplaces of different sizes.
[0032] To install the fireplace plug 20 the consumer partially
inflates the bag-like member 22 in order to give it a resilient
shape. The consumer can either use his or her own lung power by
blowing into the conduit 40 to inflate the bag-like member 22, or
can use a pump connected to the end of the conduit 40. The conduit
is then closed to prevent the pressurized air from escaping.
[0033] The consumer then adjusts the telescoping prop device 50 to
an appropriate length by unscrewing member 56, telescopically
adjusting members 52 and 54 and then tightening member 56, and then
uses the telescoping prop device 50 to insert the bag-like member
22 into and near the top of the fireplace 10 near the flue 12. The
elongated narrow portion 38 of the elongated flat member 34 is slit
so that the damper handle 16 extends therethrough in a relaxed
manner.
[0034] The portions 70 and 72 on either side of the slit, elongated
narrow portion 38 of the elongated flat member 34 may be overlapped
in order to accommodate the dimensions of the fireplace. The
bag-like member 22 can be further inflated to ensure a snug
fit.
[0035] The telescoping prop device supports the bag-like member 22
by contacting the bottom of the fireplace 10, and thereby providing
additional sealing force for the bag-like member 22 around the
damper 14.
[0036] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various
modifications may be made within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *