Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
EMBERBED ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN ELECTRIC FIREPLACE
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001]
The application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.
62/513,166 filed on May 31, 2017, entitled "EMBERBED ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN
ELECTRIC FIREPLACE". As far as is permitted, the contents of U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 62/513,166 are incorporated in their entirety herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002]
Fireplaces of various types can be installed in homes and commercial
establishments as a means to provide a source of heat and for aesthetic
reasons.
Although traditionally such fireplaces have most often taken the form of wood-
burning
fireplaces and gas-burning fireplaces, electric fireplaces have become
increasingly
popular in recent years. An electric fireplace is typically designed to look
like a
traditional wood-burning fireplace, but does not actually burn wood. As such,
there is
a continuing desire to make electric fireplaces look more realistic, i.e. to
make electric
fireplaces look more like a traditional wood-burning fireplace.
SUMMARY
[0003]
The present invention is directed toward an electric fireplace that is
configured to look more realistic, i.e. more like a traditional wood-burning
fireplace.
In various embodiments, the electric fireplace includes a grate and an
emberbed.
The grate has a substantially horizontally-oriented middle section. The
emberbed is
positioned substantially directly below the middle section of the grate.
Additionally,
the emberbed is positioned spaced apart from the grate by a bed gap.
[0004] In
some embodiments, the bed gap is between approximately one-half
inch and four inches. Additionally, the emberbed can be selectively coupled to
the
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grate.
[0005]
The electric fireplace can also include an assembly base that is formed
together with the emberbed as a unitary structure. The unitary structure of
the
emberbed and the assembly base can then be selectively coupled to the grate.
In
some such embodiments, the assembly base provides a flat surface that extends
laterally (e.g., to the left and to the right) away from the emberbed.
[0006] In
certain embodiments, the electric fireplace can further include an
assembly light source that is positioned directly underneath the emberbed. The
assembly light source can be selectively activated to create a glowing effect
for the
emberbed. In some such embodiments, the assembly light source includes a
plurality of LED light bulbs.
[0007]
The components of the electric fireplace can be formed from any suitable
materials.
For example, in some non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the
emberbed can be formed from at least one of vacuum-molded plastic, pour-molded
resin, injected plastic or paper pulp. Additionally, in certain non-exclusive
embodiments, the grate can be formed from metallic materials. Alternatively,
the
emberbed and/or the grate can be formed from other suitable materials. For
example, in other embodiments, the grate can be formed from plastic, resin,
and/or
another suitable material.
[0008]
Additionally, in some embodiments, the electric fireplace can further
include at least one simulated log that is positioned on top of the grate. The
at least
one simulated log can be formed from a molded resin material. Alternatively,
one or
more of the logs can be made of other materials, including, but not limited
to, vacuum
molded plastic, pour-molded resin, injected plastic or paper pulp.
[0009]
The electric fireplace can further include a fireplace housing, wherein the
grate and the emberbed are positioned substantially within the fireplace
housing.
[0010] In
another embodiment, the present invention is further directed toward a
grate and an emberbed assembly that is selectively coupled to the grate.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention
itself, both
as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the
accompanying
drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which
similar
reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
[0012] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an electric
fireplace having features of the present invention;
[0013] Figure 2A is a front perspective view of a portion of another
embodiment
of the electric fireplace;
[0014] Figure 2B is a partial cutaway view of the portion of the electric
fireplace
taken on line B-B in Figure 2A; and
[0015] Figure 2C is an exploded partial cutaway view of the portion of the
electric fireplace illustrated in Figure 2B.
DESCRIPTION
[0016] Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the
context
of an emberbed assembly for use in an electric fireplace. More specifically,
as
provided herein, the emberbed assembly is configured to give the electric
fireplace a
more realistic looking appearance, i.e. more like a traditional wood-burning
fireplace,
in comparison to conventional electric fireplaces.
[0017] Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following
detailed
description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended
to be in any
way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest
themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.
Reference
will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as
illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
[0018] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the
implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course,
be
appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation,
numerous
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implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the
developer's
specific goals, such as compliance with application-related and business-
related
constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation
to
another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated
that
such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would
nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary
skill in the
art having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0019]
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an electric
fireplace 10 having features of the present invention. As illustrated herein,
the
electric fireplace 10 can be used to provide heat and to simulate a wood-
burning fire,
e.g., in a room of a home or other type of building. More particularly, in
certain
embodiments, the electric fireplace 10 can be configured to look like a
traditional
wood-burning fireplace, although the electric fireplace 10 does not actually
burn
wood.
[0020] The design of the electric fireplace 10 can be varied. In
certain
embodiments, as illustrated in Figure 1, the electric fireplace 10 can include
a
fireplace housing 12, a viewing area 14 within the fireplace housing 12, a
simulated
flame 16 (i.e. when the electric fireplace 14 is in use), one or more
simulated logs 18,
a first light source 20 (illustrated in phantom) that can be used to
selectively generate
the simulated flame 16 and create a glowing effect for the simulated logs 20,
a grate
22, a heater 24, a controller 26, and an emberbed assembly 28. Alternatively,
the
electric fireplace 10 can include more components or fewer components than
those
specifically illustrated in Figure 1. For example, in one non-exclusive
alternative
embodiment, the electric fireplace 10 can be designed without the heater 24.
[0021] As
an overview, in certain embodiments, the electric fireplace 10 is
uniquely configured to provide a more realistic appearance for the electric
fireplace
10, i.e. more like a traditional wood-burning fireplace.
More particularly, the
emberbed assembly 28, as illustrated and described herein, is configured to
look
more realistic as it has a smaller and lower profile than in existing electric
fireplaces
and is positioned substantially directly below at least a portion of the grate
22 and is
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spaced apart a bed gap 30 from the main substantially horizontally-oriented
middle
section 22B of the grate 22. Additionally, in various embodiments, the
emberbed
assembly 28 includes an emberbed 32 and an assembly base 34 that are formed
together as a unitary structure, and an assembly light source 236 (illustrated
in Figure
2B) that can be used to create a glowing effect for the emberbed 32.
[0022] The fireplace housing 12 can be sized and shaped to retain most, if
not
all, of the remaining components of the electric fireplace 10. In particular,
in many
embodiments, the simulated flame 16 (i.e. when the electric fireplace 10 is in
use),
the one or more simulated logs 18, the first light source 20, the grate 22,
the heater
24, the controller 26 and the emberbed assembly 28 can be positioned
substantially
within the fireplace housing 12. In some embodiments, the fireplace housing 12
has
a substantially rectangular shape, and includes a housing base 38 that
supports
various components of the electric fireplace 10. Additionally, the fireplace
housing 12
can further include a window (not shown) located at a front side of the
fireplace
housing 12. The window can include tempered glass or a meshed door through
which the simulated flame 16 can be seen. Alternatively, the fireplace housing
12
can have a different shape and/or the fireplace housing 12 can be designed
without
the window.
[0023] Further, the fireplace housing 12 can be formed from any suitable
materials. For example, in various embodiments, the fireplace housing 12 can
be
formed from any of a number of suitable metallic materials.
[0024] The viewing area 14 is the area within the fireplace housing 12 in
which
the simulated flame 16, the simulated logs 18, the grate 22 and the emberbed
assembly 28 are displayed and can be seen by the user.
[0025] The simulated flame 16 can be formed from any suitable method. For
example, in various embodiments, the electric fireplace 10 can utilize the
first light
source 20 to illuminate a reflective medium (not shown), e.g., a suitable
metal
material, to generate the simulated flame 16, i.e. a flickering flame image.
The first
light source 20 can have any suitable design. For example, in one non-
exclusive
alternative embodiment, the first light source 20 can include an LED panel
having
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one or more LED light bulbs. Alternatively, the first light source 20 can
include other
types of light bulbs or another type of light source. As noted and as shown in
Figure
1, in various embodiments, the simulated flame 16, when in use, is displayed
within
the viewing area 14 of the electric fireplace 10.
[0026] Additionally and as noted above, the simulated (or artificial) logs
18 can
also be positioned within the viewing area 14. Similar to the simulated flame
16, the
simulated logs 18 can utilize the first light source 20 to create a glowing
effect for the
simulated logs 20. Thus, the combination of the simulated logs 18 and the
simulated
flame 16 can use the first light source 20 to create the appearance of burning
logs,
thereby closely simulating the flames of a wood-burning fireplace.
Alternatively, the
electric fireplace 10 can include a second light source (not shown) to create
the
glowing effect for the simulated logs.
[0027] Further, as illustrated, the simulated logs 18 can be placed on top
of the
grate 22, i.e. an actual or a simulated grate.
[0028] As illustrated, the grate 22 includes a pair of substantially
vertically-
oriented, spaced apart ends 22A, and a substantially horizontally-oriented
middle
section 22B that extends between the ends 22A. Additionally, as noted, the
grate 22
is configured to support the simulated logs 18 above the housing base 38
and/or the
emberbed assembly 28. More particularly, in various embodiments, the simulated
logs 18 are supported by the substantially horizontally-oriented middle
section 22B of
the grate 22.
[0029] As described herein, and as illustrated in Figure 1, the middle
section
22B of the grate 22 provides a base supporting structure for the simulated
logs 18
that is oriented substantially horizontally. Thus, even in embodiments where
the
middle section 22B of the grate 22 includes portions that slope generally
upwardly,
downwardly and/or at an angle away from the substantially horizontal base
supporting structure of the middle section 22B, the middle section 22B can
still be
said to be substantially horizontally oriented.
[0030] Further, the heater 24, e.g., an integrated electric heater, can be
configured to provide heated air which can be directed in a generally outward
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direction away from the electric fireplace 10.
More particularly, in certain
embodiments, the heater 24 can include a blower (not shown) that blows hot air
through heat vents 40 into the area surrounding the electric fireplace 10,
e.g., a room
in a house, in order to heat such area. In some such embodiments, the heat
vents
40 can be positioned at or near an upper portion of the fireplace housing 12.
[0031]
The controller 26 can include one or more circuits or processors that can
be utilized to control the various functions of the electric fireplace 10. For
example,
the controller 26 can be utilized to activate and/or control (i) the intensity
of the first
light source 20 within the electric fireplace 10 that generates the simulated
flame 16
and creates the glowing effect for the simulated logs 18, (ii) the speed of
the blower
within the heater 24 to regulate the amount of heat produced and dispersed by
the
heater 24, and (iii) the intensity of the assembly light source 236 that
creates the
glowing effect for the emberbed 32.
[0032]
The emberbed assembly 28, e.g., formed at least in part by the
emberbed 32 and/or the assembly base 34, is positioned adjacent to the housing
base 38 and substantially below the grate 22, e.g., substantially directly
below the
middle section 22B of the grate 22. However, as utilized herein, the emberbed
assembly 28 being positioned substantially directly below the grate 22 allows
for
some of the emberbed 32 and/or the assembly base 34 to extend outwardly enough
that they are not positioned directly below the grate 22. Additionally, as
provided
herein, in certain embodiments, the emberbed assembly 28 is configured to be
selectively coupled to the grate 22. In existing electric fireplaces, the
emberbed is
typically formed together with the grate as a unitary structure. However, in
the
present invention, the emberbed 32 (and the assembly base 34) is formed
separate
from the grate 22, and, as noted, can be selectively coupled to the grate 22.
With
such design, the emberbed 32 can have a smaller and lower profile that enables
the
bed gap 30, and thus provides a more realistic appearance for the emberbed 32,
and
thus for the electric fireplace 10.
[0033]
Further, as noted above, the emberbed 32 is spaced apart the bed gap
30 from the substantially horizontally-oriented middle section 22B of the
grate 22 (i.e.
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ignoring the ends 22A of the grate 22 that curve downward and provide support
for
the rest of the grate 22). It should be appreciated that due to the various
bumps,
curves and undulations formed in the emberbed 32 that the size of the bed gap
30
will vary across the surface of the emberbed 32. Thus, as utilized herein, the
bed
gap 30 can be defined as the minimum distance between an upper surface 32A of
the emberbed 32 and the substantially horizontally-oriented middle section of
the
grate 22, i.e. as measured in a generally vertical direction.
[0034] As provided herein, the size of the bed gap 30 can be varied. For
example, in certain non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the size of the bed
gap
30 can be between approximately one-half inch and four inches. Alternatively,
in
other embodiments, the size of the bed gap 30 can be greater than four inches
or
less than one-half inch. As other, non-exclusive examples, the bed gap 30 can
be
between approximately one-quarter inch and six inches. Stated is a different
fashion,
in alternative non-exclusive embodiments, the bed gap 30 can be at least one-
eight
(1/8), one-quarter (1/4), one-half (1/2), three-quarters (3/4), one, two,
three, four, five,
or six inches.
[0035] Still alternatively, in one embodiment, the electric fireplace 10
can be
designed without an actual bed gap, but with a mere illusion of a bed gap
between
the emberbed 32 and the middle section 22B of the grate 22.
[0036] Figure 2A is a front perspective view of a portion of another
embodiment
of the electric fireplace 210. As shown, the electric fireplace illustrated in
Figure 2A is
substantially similar to the electric fireplace 10 illustrated and described
above in
relation to Figure 1, e.g., with only the simulated logs 218 having a slightly
different
appearance than what is shown in Figure 1. In particular, Figure 2A again
provides a
perspective view of the simulated logs 218, the grate 222 and the emberbed
assembly 228 of the electric fireplace 210.
[0037] Figure 2A further illustrates a slightly different perspective of
the bed gap
230 that is formed between the upper surface 232A of the emberbed 232 and the
main substantially horizontally-oriented middle section 222B of the grate 222.
[0038] Figure 2B is a partial cutaway view of the portion of the electric
fireplace
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taken on line B-B in Figure 2A. As shown, Figure 2B again illustrates the
simulated logs 218, the grate 222 and the emberbed assembly 228, i.e. the
emberbed 232 and the assembly base 234. Additionally, Figure 2B also
illustrates
the assembly light source 236 that can be utilized, i.e. selectively
activated, for
purposes of creating a glowing effect for the emberbed 232. Figure 2B also
illustrates another view of the bed gap 230 between the emberbed 232 and the
middle section 222B of the grate 222.
[0039] The simulated logs 218 can be formed from any suitable materials.
For
example, in certain non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the simulated logs
218
can be hollow molded logs that are formed from a molded resin material.
Alternatively, the simulated logs 218 can be formed from another suitable
material.
[0040] Additionally, the grate 222 can also be formed from any suitable
materials. For example, in certain non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the
grate
222 can be formed from metallic materials such as a welded steel or aluminum
material. Alternatively, the grate 222 can be formed from plastic, resin,
and/or
another suitable material.
[0041] Further, the emberbed assembly 228, i.e. the emberbed 232 and the
assembly base 234, can also be formed from any suitable materials. For
example, in
some embodiments, the emberbed assembly 228 can be formed from vacuum-
molded plastic, pour-molded resin, injected plastic or paper pulp.
Alternatively, the
emberbed assembly 228 can be formed from other suitable materials.
[0042] Still further, in alternative embodiments, the emberbed 232 can be
formed separately from the grate 222, or the emberbed 232 can be integrally
formed
with the grate 222 as a unitary structure.
[0043] Additionally, the assembly light source 236 can have any suitable
design.
For example, as illustrated, the assembly light source 236 can include a flat,
PCB
board 236A upon which are mounted a plurality of LED light bulbs 236B.
Additionally, as shown, the assembly light source 236 can be positioned
substantially
below, e.g., substantially directly below, the emberbed 232. With such design,
the
assembly light source 236 can have a low profile that can fit easily
underneath the
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emberbed 232 in order to create the glowing effect for the emberbed 232.
Alternatively, the assembly light source 236 can have another suitable design
and/or
use a different type of light bulbs. Still alternatively, the assembly light
source 236
can be positioned in another manner relative to the emberbed 232, i.e. not
substantially directly below the emberbed 232.
[0044] The location and size of the PCB board 236A can be varied. For
example, in some embodiments, the PCB board 236A can be substantially
rectangle-
shaped, with an upper surface 236C upon which the plurality of LED light bulbs
236B
are secured or mounted. Alternatively, the PCB board 236A can have another
suitable shape.
[0045] Additionally, the quantity, size, type and placement of the LED
light bulbs
236B can also be varied. For example, in some embodiments, the assembly light
source 236 can include twenty LED light bulbs 236B. Alternatively, the
assembly
light source 236 can include greater than twenty or fewer than twenty LED
light bulbs
236B.
[0046] It should be appreciated that the low profile for the assembly light
source
236 enables the emberbed assembly 228 as a whole to have a smaller and lower
profile such that it can fit substantially below the grate 222 and be spaced
apart from
the grate 222, i.e. the middle section 222B of the grate 222, by the bed gap
230. As
noted, the low profile for the emberbed assembly 228, i.e. the emberbed 232,
enables the electric fireplace 210 to have a more realistic appearance.
[0047] It should further be appreciated that the use of LED light bulbs
236B
make it generally unnecessary to access the assembly light source 236 as the
LED
light bulbs have a very long life span and do not need to be regularly
replaced.
[0048] Figure 2C is an exploded partial cutaway view of the portion of the
electric fireplace 210 illustrated in Figure 2A. In particular, Figure 20
again illustrates
the simulated logs 218, the grate 222 and the emberbed assembly 228, i.e. the
emberbed 232, the assembly base 234 and the assembly light source 236.
Additionally, Figure 2C also illustrates that the electric fireplace 210 can
further
include at least one first fastener 242 (two are illustrated in Figure 2C)
that can be
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=
utilized to fasten the simulated logs 218 to the grate 222; and at least one
second
fastener 244 (two are illustrated in Figure 2C) that can be utilized to fasten
the grate
222 to the emberbed assembly 228, i.e. to the emberbed 232 and/or the assembly
base 234.
[0049] The first fasteners 242 can have any suitable design. For example,
as
shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2C, the first fasteners 242 can
be
screws that extend through the grate 222 and into and/or through at least a
portion of
the simulated logs 218. Alternatively, the first fasteners 242 can have
another
suitable design. Still alternatively, the simulated logs 218 can be
selectively coupled
to the grate 222 in another suitable manner.
[0050] Somewhat similarly, the second fasteners 244 can have any suitable
design. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2C, the second
fasteners
244 can be screws that extend through the emberbed assembly 228, i.e. the
emberbed 232 and/or the assembly base 234, and into the grate 222.
Alternatively,
the second fasteners 244 can have another suitable design. Still
alternatively, the
emberbed assembly 228 can be selectively coupled to the grate 222 in another
suitable manner.
[0051] It should be understood that the use of the terms "first
fasteners" and
"second fasteners" is merely for convenience and ease of discussion; and
either
fasteners 242, 244 can be referred to as the "first fasteners" and/or the
"second
fasteners".
[0052] As noted above, the emberbed 232 and the assembly base 234 can be
formed together as a unitary structure. With such design, as shown in Figure
2C
(also shown in Figure 2B), the assembly base 234 can provide a flat surface
(i.e. a
"flat floor") that extends laterally away, i.e. outwardly to the left and the
right, from the
emberbed 232. Alternatively, the emberbed 232 and the assembly base 234 can be
formed separately from one another, and can be selectively coupled to one
another
in any suitable manner.
[0053] Importantly, as provided herein, the emberbed assembly 228, e.g.,
the
emberbed 232, is formed separately from the grate 222, and is then selectively
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coupled to the grate 222. With such design, the emberbed assembly 228, e.g.,
the
emberbed 232, can have a much smaller and lower profile than in existing
electric
fireplaces. This enables the presence of the bed gap 230 (illustrated, for
example, in
Figure 2A), and, thus, the ability to create a more realistic appearance for
the electric
fireplace 210, i.e. more like a traditional wood-burning fireplace.
[0054] It is understood that although a number of different embodiments of
the
emberbed assembly 28 for the electric fireplace 10 have been illustrated and
described herein, one or more features of any one embodiment can be combined
with one or more features of one or more of the other embodiments, provided
that
such combination satisfies the intent of the present invention.
[0055] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments of an emberbed
assembly 28 for an electric fireplace 10 have been discussed above, those of
skill in
the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-
combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended
claims and
claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,
permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit
and
scope.
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