U.S. patent application number 12/368325 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-20 for simulated fire glow lights for fireplace.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hussong Manufacturing Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dudley D. Hussong, Josh J. Wessel.
Application Number | 20090205633 12/368325 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40953956 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090205633 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hussong; Dudley D. ; et
al. |
August 20, 2009 |
SIMULATED FIRE GLOW LIGHTS FOR FIREPLACE
Abstract
A fireplace has an arrangement for providing a simulated ember
glow using lights projected through colored light transmitting
material, such as glass. The arrangement includes a panel that is
supported relative to a burner with a light below the panel that
projects upwardly through the panel. A bed of colored light
transmitting pieces is supported on the panel, which transmits
light projecting through the panel to simulate glowing embers. The
colored pieces are coated with a dark material to enhance the
simulation of embers even when the lights are turned off.
Inventors: |
Hussong; Dudley D.;
(Lakefield, MN) ; Wessel; Josh J.; (Lakefield,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WESTMAN CHAMPLIN & KELLY, P.A.
SUITE 1400, 900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Assignee: |
Hussong Manufacturing Company,
Inc.
Lakefield
MN
|
Family ID: |
40953956 |
Appl. No.: |
12/368325 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61066199 |
Feb 19, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/512 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 7/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/512 |
International
Class: |
F24B 1/191 20060101
F24B001/191 |
Claims
1. A fireplace having a burner on an interior of a fireplace
chamber, said burner being supported relative to a base wall, the
chamber having an opening on one side, a light transmitting panel
supported in the fireplace chamber in a location to be viewed
through the opening of the fireplace chamber, a plurality of pieces
of light transmitting material forming a bed over the light
transmitting panel, and a light source mounted relative to the
fireplace chamber to project light through the light transmitting
panel and the bed of pieces of light transmitting material so as to
be viewed from an exterior of the fireplace.
2. The fireplace of claim 1 further comprising the base wall
supporting the burner spaced upwardly from a fireplace bottom wall,
a second opening in the base wall adjacent the chamber opening, the
light transmitting panel overlying the second opening.
3. The fireplace of claim 1 wherein the light transmitting pieces
are loose pieces forming the bed over the light transmitting
panel.
4. The fireplace of claim 1 and a variable control for controlling
the intensity level of the light.
5. The fireplace of claim 1 further comprising the light
transmitting panel being located adjacent the opening of the
chamber and at least one second light positioned on a side of the
burner away from the opening of the chamber, the second light
having an outlet through which light is projected, and a plurality
of light transmitting pieces supported above a light source forming
part of the second light.
6. The fireplace of claim 3 wherein at least some of the light
transmitting pieces have a coating of material on surfaces
thereof.
7. The fireplace of claim 6 wherein the coating is dark
colored.
8. A fireplace assembly having walls forming a fireplace chamber
with an open front, the fireplace including a bottom wall, and a
base wall spaced upwardly from the bottom wall, an opening in the
base wall adjacent the front opening of the chamber, a burner
assembly positioned on an opposite side of the opening in the base
wall from the opening of the chamber, a light transmitting panel
supported over the opening in the base wall and spaced from the
bottom wall, a plurality of small pieces of light transmitting
material forming a bed supported on the light transmitting panel,
and a light supported on the bottom wall below the base wall in a
position to project light through the panel and through the light
transmitting pieces, said light transmitting pieces being visible
through the front opening of the chamber.
9. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the light transmitting
material comprises a glass material.
10. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the light transmitting
material pieces are less than 3/8 of an inch of any measured
dimension.
11. The fireplace of claim 10, wherein the light transmitting
pieces have a peripheral shape that is irregular, and have a
thickness in the range of 1/16 of an inch.
12. The fireplace of claim 11, wherein said light transmitting
pieces are arranged in a bed having a thickness of less than one
inch above the panel.
13. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the light transmitting
material pieces are glass pieces, and are colored with a color
selected from one of the colors of amber, red and yellow.
14. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein said pieces of material have
a coating of dark material of a thickness to be substantially
non-light transmitting on at least portion of some of the
pieces.
15. The fireplace of claim 14, wherein said coating is minimized on
portions of the pieces of light transmitting material to a
thickness that will permit light transmission through the
coating.
16. The fireplace of claim 8, and at least one additional light on
a side of the burner opposite from the opening of the chamber, said
one additional light comprising a housing supporting a light
transmitting panel and having a bed of light transmitting material
pieces supported on the panel, and a light source below the panel
within the housing.
17. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein said light transmitting
pieces are glass having a coloration selected from the group
consisting of amber, red and yellow.
18. The fireplace of claim 9, wherein said opening in said base
wall extends laterally across the chamber to be substantially the
same length as a lateral dimension of the burner assembly.
Description
[0001] This application refers to and claims the benefit of
priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/066,199, filed
Feb. 19, 2008, the contents of which is incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure provides one or more lights in a
fireplace opening or enclosure adjacent and ahead of the burner,
with lenses above the lights, and a covering bed of suitably
colored chips or pieces of glass that provide a fire-like glow,
with controllable variations of light intensity to simulate glowing
embers.
[0003] Various attempts to realistically simulate the look of a
real fire in a gas fireplace have been advanced. In some instances,
gas fireplaces have had additional lights for simulation of a fire
or glowing embers that would be visible when the fireplace burner
is turned off.
[0004] Flickering light has also been used by providing
mechanically moving reflectors and the like while the fireplace
burner is operating. Some devices use screens on which flicking
light is reflected for simulating flames.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] The present disclosure relates to a fireplace construction
that as shown has a burner providing a heat source, and also
includes lights shining on and through simulated glowing embers
that can be illuminated when the burner is either on or off. The
use of lights to simulate glowing embers when the burner is off
provides for the aesthetic appearance of a fireplace without
generating heat, and thus is desirable in the summertime to create
the appearance of glowing embers in the fireplace. When the burner
is operating to provide heat, the lighted glass chips or pieces
also provide a pleasing appearance.
[0006] Glass pieces or chips used are preferably made of colored
glass, such as amber colored, and are preferably coated with dark,
high temperature paint. When spread in a bed (one layer of chips or
more) on a supporting glass panel or lens in the fireplace, with
light projecting upwardly through the lens or panel, the chips glow
to simulate actual wood embers. The paint is applied to the chips
of glass such that the light will cause the color of the glass of
the chips, at least in spots, to show through. When the lights
under the bed of chips are turned off, the chips black or dark
surfaces have the appearance to real log embers.
[0007] The system is easily installed in gas fireplaces, and
regular wood fireplaces, if desired. A light control for adjusting
the intensity of the light is also provided to permit adjustment to
please the viewer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a gas fireplace as
an example including fire glow simulating light arrangements made
according to the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the
fireplace of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along
lines 3-3 in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially
along the same line as FIG. 3 showing only a front portion of the
burner chamber in a schematic representation;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a typical piece of
glass or glass chip used for distributing (transmitting, reflecting
or refracting) light in a manner to simulate fire glow;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a light can shown at
FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fireplace with a burner
unit in place;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a vertical perspective sectional view of the
fireplace shown in FIG. 7; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is sectional side view of the fireplace of FIG.
7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] FIG. 1 schematically shows a gas fireplace or gas fireplace
insert 10 that has an outer housing 12, forming an interior chamber
14. Chamber 14 has a floor 16, and a gas burner shown generally at
20. The burner 20 can be of any desired type, and as shown it has
outer supports 21 that support simulated logs 28 that are
illustrated in FIG. 3. An exhaust pipe connection 22 is also
illustrated. The fireplace operates in a suitable manner and
features such as an outlet for heated air, interior air circulation
passageways, and the like are provided but are not detailed. The
burner 20 has a top burner plate 22 with suitable openings for
flame to come up around the simulated logs 28 in a normal manner.
The fireplace chamber has a front opening through which the
interior can be seen.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 3 for example, the burner 20 is mounted
onto a base plate 24 that forms a support for the burner, and the
base plate 24 is in turn supported in a spaced relation relative to
the bottom wall 26 of the outer housing 12.
[0019] The gas burner 20 is also operated in a normal manner with
flames moving up around the simulated logs, illustrated generally
and schematically at 28 in FIG. 3, when the burner is
operating.
[0020] The simulated fire glow feature of the present device is
created from light passing through light transmitting reflective
and refractive pieces of suitably colored and painted or coated
glass pieces. A set of rear lights 30 is provided in one aspect of
the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6 each light 30 comprises a
cylindrical can 32 with an interior bulb 34 of suitable design,
preferably high intensity, such as a halogen bulb that withstands
high temperatures. A lens or glass light transmitting plate 36 is
supported adjacent to, but below, an upper end of the cylindrical
can 32. On top of the plate 36, which preferably is of a color such
as an amber color, a number of loose glass or other temperature
resistant, light transmitting material pieces 38, made according to
the present disclosure are placed as a covering bed of about 1/4 to
1/2 inch deep (one or more layers of glass pieces deep). The glass
or other light transmitting pieces 38 are held in place within the
can 32, and light from the bulb 34 that projects up through the
supporting, light transmitting plate 36 also projects or shines
through the glass or light transmitting pieces 38. The term "glass
pieces" is used for convenience, but other light transmitting
pieces that withstand the temperature in the chamber 14 are usable
and are intended to be included in "glass pieces". The coating on
the glass pieces 38 permits some light to shine through.
[0021] The glass pieces 38 are irregular shaped having peripheries
that can be polygons or other configurations, and may colored
amber, red or yellow to provide a colored light glow similar to
fire. The glass pieces 38 are relatively small, being about 1/4 to
3/8 inch in major dimension across and of a thickness of 1/16 inch,
or so. The light transmitting glass pieces can be spherical also.
The glass pieces are preferably at least partially coated with a
thin coating of dark (black or dark grey) paint or other coating
material as shown schematically at 66 in FIG. 6. The paint or other
coating can be applied to the pieces by spraying the pieces while
the pieces are tumbled in a tumbler. The paint coating is kept thin
and can be irregular in thickness, with even some uncoated spots
left so that light will pass through at least portions of the glass
pieces and shine upwardly to reflect on the interior surfaces 13
and 13A (FIG. 3) of the surfaces of the lining of the back and side
walls, and inclined top wall of the fireplace burner chamber. Light
should pass through or be visible through at least 25% of the
surface area of the glass pieces. The lights 30 provide a glow on
the interior surfaces of the fireplace chamber, whether metal, or
brick linings or other linings that simulates a fire glow. As can
be seen in FIG. 1, this glow can be viewed through the front
opening 15 of the fireplace.
[0022] Additionally, at the front of the burner 20, and in a place
where embers are usually seen in a fireplace, a glowing ember light
system or arrangement 50 is illustrated. The light system includes
a glass or other light transmitting lens panel 52, that can take
the shape of a rectangular panel extending across the entire front
width of the burner. A plurality of smaller individual lenses
across the compartment 14 can be provided. The light transmitting
panel 52 is supported on the wall 24, and preferably is amber color
although other colors or a clear or translucent panel can be
provided. The bottom wall 24 has an opening 54, (or a plurality of
openings if more than one lens or panel is provided) through which
light from a plurality of light sources 56 projects, as shown
typically in FIG. 3. The light sources 56 can be steady light
sources, presently preferably Halogen bulbs, or if desired
flickering light sources. The light sources 56 are powered from a
suitable power source 58 through an adjustable intensity or
rheostat switch 60, which can provide controllable power to both
the light source 56 and the bulbs 34 in the lights 30.
[0023] The light transmitting panel or panels 52 are covered with a
bed 64 made of a plurality of pieces 38 of light transmitting
materials for example, colored glass. These pieces 38 of colored
glass are loose and the bed of light transmitting pieces 64 is
about 1/4 to one inch thick. The light transmitting pieces (called
glass pieces) are preferably yellow, amber or suitable reds and are
thinly coated as previously described.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a typical glass piece 38. The piece preferably
has a thin coating 66 (not to scale) of black paint or other
suitable dark color paint, such as a dark gray. The surfaces of the
pieces 38 are coated in a manner that leaves very thin or clear
spots to permit some visible light transmission or in spots or
edges (in at least 25% of the surface area) when the light sources
56 are on. Also the coated pieces 38 have a dark areas, like an
ember, when the light sources 56, or the light bulbs 34, are
off.
[0025] The glass pieces can be made of heat resistant glass, as is
known, and other light transmitting material that withstands the
heat of the fire, and the coating layer 66 would also be heat
resistant.
[0026] The electrical wires and components are heat resistant as
well, and the variable switch 60 that is shown in FIG. 2, is within
a chamber 70 that is isolated and can be suitably insulated from
the gas burner. The switch 60 control is accessible to the user of
the fireplace through a slot 72 so that the switch can be adjusted
and the light level could be controlled as desired. The depths of
the pieces or chips 38 forming the colored chip bed can also be
adjusted to the user's desires, so that when the fireplace is not
operating and the lights are on, there would be the appearance of
glowing embers.
[0027] In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 a slightly modified form of the
disclosure is shown, and it embodies the same concepts for
providing a fire like glow. The fireplace or fireplace insert 80
has a complete burner assembly 82 installed therein, and the burner
assembly includes a plate 84 that is above the burner unit. A pair
of can lights 88 are positioned on a floor or base plate 90 of the
fireplace insert as shown. The cans 88 extend through the plate 84
and are positioned as shown at FIGS. 7 and 8. The can lights 88 are
constructed in substantially an identical manner to the lights 30
in the first form of the disclosure and some identical numbers are
used in FIGS. 7-9 for identical elements. Can lights 88 each have a
light transmitting plate 36 at the top with light transmitting
chips or pieces 38 supported above a light bulb 34. In this
instance, the can lights are positioned above floor plate 90 of the
fireplace or fireplace insert, and the leads 92 pass through
openings in the floor plate 90 and are sealed with high temperature
sealant. The leads pass into a lower chamber 95 of the fireplace
and are connected to the control switches as previously
explained.
[0028] In addition, one or more separate halogen or high
temperature resistant bulbs 94 are provided, with the bulb and its
socket supported on a bracket 93 held on floor plate 90. The bulbs
94 are positioned below the plate 84 with each light bulb and the
light from the bulb projecting up through an opening in the plate
84.
[0029] These bulbs 94 are not covered with light transmitting
chips, but they could be, if desired. The leads for the bulbs 94,
which are preferably halogen bulbs, can also pass through the floor
plate 90 and the opening can be sealed with a sealant around the
bulb where they pass through the floor plate 90 from the chamber 95
below the floor plate.
[0030] At the front of the burner, the bed 64 of glass or other
light transmitting material pieces and the light source 56 are
illustrated, and the light shines through a plate supporting the
pieces 38 above it, as previously explained. The depth of the layer
of pieces 38 can be varied as desired.
[0031] In this form, the lights are again high temperature
resistant lights, such as halogen bulbs, with the high temperature
wires flowing in the connections, and passing through seals in the
bottom plate 90 of the fireplace insert, to seal off heat from the
burner chamber and the burner itself.
[0032] The lights and simulated fire glow structure can be used in
any type of fireplace desired, including wood burning fireplaces so
that the appearance of glowing embers could be enjoyed without
generating heat. Thus, the lights can be turned on to provide a
display of simulated embers without operating the burner.
[0033] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *