Fireplace Front Or Screen

Abstract

Fireplace front or screen for fitting over fireplace opening has self-supportingly rigid, rectangular supportive frame including rigid top, bottom and opposite side supportive strips defining frame opening; and separate top, bottom, and side facing strips of relatively thin, facing material, of selectively variable decorative designs, complementally fitted and affixed over the corresponding frame supportive strips. Frame carries heat-proof glass panel means, and at least one of top and bottom supportive and facing strips forms chamber for concealed draft means adjustable to control inward passage of draft air therethrough.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,173 dated Aug. 5, 1969 discloses a fireplace front or screen of the general type related to the present invention. Fireplace fronts of the general type referred-to, however, mainly comprised a unitary, rigid, rectangular frame, including channel shaped top, bottom and opposite side strips of heavy gauge brass having polished forwardly presented surfaces. Such prior fireplace fronts were rather plain, and were required to be fully assembled and packaged at the manufacturing plant, for shipment in quantity to various warehouses or sales distribution center, from which the individual units were reshipped or moved to fill individual orders. For this purpose it was necessary for such warehouses or distribution centers to maintain a backlog supply of complete units in forty-eight or more different sizes, ready for installation in substantially the same number of different fireplace opening sizes. In addition to the waste of storage space and handling, confusion and loss of time was often experienced due to errors in selection of unit sizes for given fireplace openings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In the present invention, there is provided an improved fireplace front or enclosure which utilizes a self-supportingly rigid, rectangular, supportive frame, formed by fixedly connecting top, bottom and opposite side supportive strips of channel-shaped cross-section. For purposes to be described later, said top and bottom strips may be flanged forwardly of the supportive frame, and the side strips may be flanged rearwardly of the supportive frame. In order to give the supportive frame a pleasing decorative appearance, separate top, bottom and opposite-side facing strips of thin brass or like decorative material may be complementally fitted and secured over the corresponding supportive strips. In this way, the top and bottom facing strips may be associated with the respective top and bottom, channel-shaped supportive strips to form closed top and bottom draft chambers. All of the facing strips are adapted to be provided with selective three-dimensional design markings, such as parallel ribs or protrusions and/or perforations, for example, to give the pleasing eye effect, as well as an illusion of reduced widths and overall size of the completed frame, while the latter is at the same time adapted to fit over fireplace openings of a large number of different sizes and proportions. Stop strips having brass or like decorative finish also may be provided in the frame opening, in association with the several facing strips, for cooperation with high-heat resistant glass doors or panels hingedly connected to the finished fireplace front.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved fireplace front or screen, having novel features which make it possible to provide, for example, two overall frame sizes adapted to fit over a large number of different sizes of fireplace openings which formerly required a different size screen for each opening size.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation illustrating a complete fireplace front, made in accordance with the invention, in a position of use over a fireplace opening.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-section, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation, of a rigid, rectangular, supportive frame which forms a basic part of the complete fireplace front shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross-section, taken substantially on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-section, corresponding to FIG. 4, but taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the rigid supportive frame shown in FIG. 3, on the same scale as FIG. 3, illustrating an initial step of attaching a decorative facing strip onto a supportive side strip of the frame.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal cross-section, taken substantially on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front view of the complete fireplace screen, corresponding to the upper left-hand corner of FIG. 1, and shown partly broken and in section.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 9--9 of FIG. 8, and on the same scale.

FIG. 10 is a corner view corresponding to FIG. 8, on the same scale, and illustrating use of a modified ornamental design with use of mitred decorative facing strips on the same basic supportive frame.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 the improved fireplace closure screen or front 12 includes a unitary, rigid rectangular supportive frame 13, as best shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, and self-supportingly rigid, top and bottom supportive strips 14 and 15 respectively affixed to laterally spaced supportive side strips 16 and 17, thereby to define a rectangular frame opening 18 (see FIGS. 3 and 6). Separate top and bottom facing strips 19 and 20 and opposite side facing strips 21 and 22, all of polished brass or like decorative sheet material, are complementally fitted and secured over the supportive strips. By using thin brass sheeting on the relatively heavy gauge metal supportive strips, the costs of producing the completed closure screen 10 may be reduced considerably and at the same time the use of thin brass facing strips makes it possible to roll and/or dieshape an endless variety of decorative designs in the facing strips, including protrusions 24, 24 and/or perforations 25, 25 which were not possible or practical with use of heavy gauge brass used in the past. Moreover, this feature makes it possible to use wider supportive strips for the inner frame 13 than was thought feasible in the past, because designs can be formed in the thin brass facing strips to provide an optical illusion which makes the frame facing strips appear to be relatively narrow. This feature makes possible the use of a single given size of finished closure screen 12 capable of fitting over 24 or more sizes of fireplace openings.

Metal trimmed glass doors 26, 26 may be hinged within the finished supportive frame 13 at points 27, 27, for use in known manner (see FIGS. 1 and 2). However, other types of door means, such as folding glass doors (not shown) may be used. A brass, channel-shaped strip 28 may be selectively secured to the upper edge of the finished closure screen 12, as shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, to accomodate rectangular fireplace openings having a greater variance of heights, in relation to the normal variance in widths of such openings.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, the top and bottom supportive strips 14 and 15 may be channel-shaped to have out-turned flanges 29, 29, which are secured to the inner flanges 19f of the side supportive strips 16 and 17 as by means of bolts 30, 30, or similar attaching means as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Thus, the open sides of the top and bottom strips 14 and 15 are presented forwardly of the unit, while the open sides of the strips 16 and 17 are presented rearwardly, for purposes which will be self-evident later. In securing the supportive channel strips, as described, Z-shaped brass strips 31 also may be secured to extend vertically between the end flanges 29 of the top and bottom supportive strips and inner flanges 32 of the side strips 16 and 17 (see FIG. 7), to provide laterally spaced door-stop or backing flanges 31a and 31b for cooperation of the respective hinged doors 26 therewith (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The forward stop flanges 31a of the Z-shaped strips 31 are each adapted, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, to fit into a vertical slot 34 defined between an elongated sheet-metal tongue 35, welded to the forward walls 16a of the respective side supportive strips to overlie offset portions 37 of said forward wall. However, the slots 34 are also adapted to receive inturned edge portions 38, of the side facing strips 21 and 22, each of which, in the conditions shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 is also retained on the respective side supportive strip by an inturned flange extension engaging over the rearward edge 41 of the respective outer side wall 40 of the corresponding supportive strip, as best shown in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the side facing strips 21 and 22 are adapted to be slidably but firmly received on the respective supportive strips 16 and 17, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and to be slidably shifted as from the starting position shown in FIG. 6 to the fully applied condition (or conditions) shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8.

After applying the two side facing strips 21 and 22, and the two door stop strips 31 as described above, the top and bottom facing strips 19 and 20 may be applied, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9 in general, and in FIG. 9 in particular. That is, the top brass facing strip 19 may be applied from the open front side of the supportive strip 14, complementally to receive the spaced top and bottom flanges 14a and 14b thereof between and against the top and bottom facing strip flanges 19a and 19b. In other words, the transversly spaced, down-turned flanges 19c and 19d integrally formed or connected on the strip 19 are adapted to be selectively received between the laterally spaced inner walls 19f of the supportive side strips, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The oppositely disposed bottom facing strip 20 also may be correspondingly formed with flanges 19c and 19d, and is likewise selectively adapted complementally to fit over the bottom openfaced supportive strip 15 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9).

Accordingly, the top and bottom facing strips 19 and 20 may be readily applied, removed, or replaced, and may be secured to the respective supportive strips by means of screws 45 threaded through the overlapping flanges, as shown in FIG. 9. The door hinge plates 27, 27 may be removably attached to the finished unitary fireplace front, by use of convenient screws 45 as best shown in the lower portion of FIG. 9. Also, when the top decorative strip 28 is not required, the respective screw 45 may be replaced by use of a modified facing channel 19 provided with down-turned flange means 46, indicated by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 9. In this regard, FIG. 10 shows a corner of a complete fireplace front, wherein top and side facing strips of modified design are mitred at all corners, and the top flange 19a is provided with a downturned retaining flange 46. Here again, the four decorative facing strips would be capable of selective attachment, removal, or replacement, as described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 9, without necessarily changing the unitary frame as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in conjunction with FIGS. 3 to 5, hollow chambers 50 formed by assembly of the facing strips 19 and 20 on the channel-shaped top and bottom supportive strips, may have therein adjustable draft passage and control means 51 (see FIGS. 3 to 6), which is suitably operable through a pivoted lever mechanism 52 of known type actuated by a knob, or knobs, 53 mounted on the finished front 12, in known manner. The draft control means, being contained within the supportive frame in known manner, does not interfere with assembly or removal of the facing strips, with the possible exception of the easily removable control knobs 53 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Draft air will be free to enter the chamber 50 through the design apertures 25 in the facing strip 20, in known manner.

Upon assembly of the decorative facing strips on the supportive frame, as described, the double glass-door panels 26, 26 may be easily mounted therein by means of axially aligned pivot pins 56, 56, affixed on outer corners of the panels, for reception between free ends of spring-type hinge brackets 27, 27 with the pins inserted in apertures in the same. Spring clips 58, 58 are provided centrally on the finished frame 10 for yieldingly retaining the door panels in closed condition.

For affixing the finished unit in a fireplace opening, as shown in FIG. 1, suitable anchor means 57, 57 is provided on the rear walls of the supportive strips 14 and 15, for attachment thereto of suitable bracing means anchored to the fireplace structure (not shown).

In the production of fireplace front 10, as shown and described above, it is possible to maintain a substantial stock of a given size of supportive frames 13, at a central supply point, for rapid assembly of one or any number of complete fireplace screens 10, of a selective given facing design such as that shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, or of selective different designs, such as that shown in FIG. 10 for example. Moreover, by use of thin metal facing material, such as brass sheeting, the present invention makes it possible to produce facing strips having contoured, three-dimensional designs producing a visible impression of the facing strips being narrower than they are in reality. This feature makes it possible to use wider supportive strips 14 to 17, than practiced heretofore, and also makes possible the aforementioned use of a few given sizes of fireplace units 10 capable of use on a large number of different sizes of fireplace openings. It is possible, with provision of two basic sizes of supportive frames 13, to assemble 75 percent to 80 percent of the total requirements for glass fireplace fronts.

Modifications of the invention, such as that shown in FIG. 9, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A frame for a fireplace screen, adapted to fit over a rectangular opening of a fireplace to be in front of a fuel burning space thereof, comprising; a rigid rectangular supportive frame having front and rear face portions, and including self-supportingly rigid top, bottom, and opposite-side supportive strips, fixedly connected and defining a frame opening therethrough; separate top, bottom and side decorative facing strips of thin material, complementally fitting over said front face portions of the supportive strips of said frame; and interengaging means on said supportive frame and said facing strips for complementally securing the same together, at least one of said supportive strips and its complementary facing strip defining a hollow draft air containment chamber with its facing strip including draft openings communicating with said chamber and being arranged in keeping with the decor of said decorative facing strip.

2. A fireplace screen as in claim 1, said decorative facing strips having adjoining mitered ends.

3. A fireplace screen as in claim 1, including a closure panel means, and attaching means for mounting the same on said frame to close said frame opening.

4. A fireplace screen as in claim 3, said closure panel means including at least one panel frame containing high heat-resistant glass for substantially unrestricted view of a said fuel burning space.

5. A fireplace screen as in claim 1, said interengaging means for retaining the facing strips of at least two said oppositely disposed supportive strips, including connector means by which the respective decorative strips are adjustable longitudinally of at least two said oppositely disposed supportive strips, to given fixed positions of use thereon between the facing strips positioned on the other two supportive strips.

6. A fireplace screen as in claim 5, said connector means including groove means extending longitudinally of the respective supportive strips, and tongue means on the decorative facing strips for endwise sliding reception in the respective said groove means to said given fixed positions.

7. A fireplace screen as in claim 6, including closure means hingedly connected to said supportive frame to close said frame opening; said facing strips having door stop flanges extending inwardly of the frame, said door stop flanges coextending with said groove means and being provided tongue portions gripped within the groove means.

8. A fireplace screen as in claim 7, said at least two oppositely disposed supportive strips being said opposite-side supportive strips of the frame, and said top and bottom facing strips being disposed on the frame between said opposite-side facing strips.

9. A fireplace screen as in claim 1, said supportive strips and the corresponding said decorative facing strips therefor having complemental attaching means for retaining the facing strips on said supportive frame, said attaching means for said side supportive strips, the respective facing strips therefor, including tongue and groove connection between the same.

10. A fireplace screen as in claim 9, said tongue and groove means including groove means on said opposite-side supportive strips, and tongues on said opposite side facing strips for reception in said groove means.