Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 2726061 2017-04-25
1VI1.)LTI:-COLOR SIMULATED FLAME SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC FIREPLACES
FIELD OF TIE INVENTION
100011 The invention relates to a lighting system, More particularly, the
invention relates
to a system for producing simulated flame effects in multiple colors in
electric fireplaces.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As a source of heat and for aesthetic reasons, fireplaces are
frequently
incorporated into homes. There are currently several fireplace options
available to consumers:
traditional fuel (wood or coal)-burning fireplaces, gas-burning fireplaces,
and electric fireplaces,
Traditional fuel-burning fireplaces generally offer the greatest heat-
production and aesthetics,
but require more set-up and maintenance time to operate. Gas-burning
fireplaces offer a real
flame and convenience, but lack the natural sound, flickering, and shadowing
associated with
traditional fuel-burning fires. Electric fireplaces do not offer a real flame,
but have many safety
and convenience features,
[0003] Many conventional electric fireplaces also lack a visually
attractive and realistic
flame effect. For example, a conventional electric fireplace does not feature
a multi-color light
gradient that can be seen in real flames. Natural fires generally include
multiple colors, shades,
and hues within their flames. Conventional electric fireplaces have not
replicated this multi-
color gradient in a manner that is visually appealing and realistic.
[00041 A need exists for a lighting system that can be used with an
electric fireplace and
other devices to create a realistic, multi-color simulated flame effect.
SUMMARY
100051 The invention features lighting systems and methods for producing
multi-color
light effects. The multi-color light effects can feature at least two colors
of light projected inside
a firebox of an electric fireplace. The lighting system includes a projection
surface, a reflective
spindle, a first light-emitting device, and at least a second light-emitting
device. The first
light-
emitting device projects light of a first color onto the reflective spindle.
Light from the first
light-emitting device striking the reflective spindle is reflected onto the
projection surface, which
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can be a projection screen installed in the firebox of the electric fireplace.
The second light-
emitting device projects light of a second color directly onto the projection
surface. The first
color light and second color light can be projected onto adjacent, overlapping
light projection
areas of the projection screen so as to produce a realistic multi-color
simulated flame effect.
Each light-emitting device may feature only a single color of light elements
or each may include
light elements of two or more colors.
[0006] The lighting system provides an advantage in creating a realistic
simulated flame
effect having multiple colors that can be used in electric fireplaces. The
first and second colors
emitted onto the projection screen by the first and second light-emitting
devices produce a
gradient of colors, shades, and hues imitative of real flames providing a more
visually aesthetic
appearance to the electric fireplace or other device utilizing the lighting
system.
[0007] Accordingly, the invention features a lighting system that includes
a projection
surface, a reflective spindle, a first light-emitting device, and at least a
second light-emitting
device. The first light-emitting device can be used to project light of a
first color onto the
reflective spindle. The light from the first light-emitting device striking
the reflective spindle is
reflected onto the projection surface. The at least second light-emitting
device can project light
of a second color directly onto the projection surface.
[0008] In another aspect, the invention can feature the lighting system
being disposed
inside a housing of an electric fireplace to create a simulated flame effect
that includes simulated
flames of at least two colors.
[0009] In another aspect, the invention can feature the first light-
emitting device
including a first panel of a plurality of light-emitting diodes of the first
color.
[0010] In another aspect, the invention can feature the at least second
light-emitting
device including a second panel of a plurality of light-emitting diodes of the
second color.
[0011] In another aspect, the invention can feature the first light-
emitting device being
positioned in front of the reflective spindle.
[0012] In another aspect, the invention can feature the at least second
light-emitting
device being installed above the reflective spindle so that its light is
projected onto the reflective
spindle and reflected by the reflective spindle onto the projection screen.
[0013] In another aspect, the invention can feature the at least second
light-emitting
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device being positioned so that light emitted by the second plurality of light-
emitting diodes does
not strike the reflective spindle.
[0014] In another aspect, the invention can feature the at least second
light-emitting
device being installed beneath the reflective spindle.
[0015] In another aspect, the invention can feature the projection surface
being a
projection screen.
[0016] In another aspect, the invention can feature the projection screen
being installed in
a firebox of an electric fireplace. The lighting system can be installed
behind the projection
screen so as to be positioned between the projection screen and a rear wall of
the firebox.
[0017] In another aspect, the invention can feature light emitted by the
first and second
light-emitting devices being projected, directly or by reflection, onto a rear
surface of the
projection screen.
[0018] In another aspect, the invention can feature the projection surface
including a first
light projection area and at least a second light projection area.
[0019] In another aspect, the invention can feature the first light
projection area being
adjacent to and overlapping the at least second light projection area.
[0020] In another aspect, the invention can feature light of the first
color being projected
by the first light-emitting device onto the first light projection area and
light of the second color
being projected by the at least second light-emitting device onto the at least
second light
projection area.
[0021] In another aspect, the invention can feature light of the first
color being projected
by the first light-emitting device onto the at least second light projection
area and light of the
second color being projected by the at least second light-emitting device onto
the first light
projection area.
[0022] In another aspect, the invention can feature the first light
projection area being
adjacent to and overlapping the at least second light projection area so that
light of the second
color is projected by the at least second light-emitting device directly onto
the second light
projection area and light of the first color is projected by the first light-
emitting device onto the
reflective spindle. The reflective spindle reflects the light of the first
color onto the first light
projection area.
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[0023] In another aspect, the invention can feature the lights of first and
second colors
projected onto the first and at least second light projection areas by the
first and second light-
emitting devices to create a realistic, multi-color simulated flame effect
that is visible on the
projection surface.
[0024] In another aspect, the invention can feature the projection surface
including a
flame-shaped section onto which light is projected by at least one of the
first and second first
light-emitting devices.
[0025] In another aspect, the invention can feature the reflective spindle
being rotatable
by a motor to which it is connected.
[0026] In another aspect, the invention can feature the lighting system
further including a
controller for varying one or more controllable features of the lighting
system. The controllable
features can include at least two of the following: light color, light
intensity, light pattern of
display among groups of light elements on each light-emitting device, and
power.
[0027] In another aspect, the invention can feature the first light-
emitting device
including a first panel of a plurality of light elements. The plurality of
light elements of the first
panel can include light elements of a single color or light elements of two or
more different
colors installed on the first panel.
[0028] In another aspect, the invention can feature the at least second
light-emitting
device including a second panel of a plurality of light elements of the second
color. The plurality
of light elements of the second panel can include light elements of a single
color or light
elements of two or more different colors installed on the second panel.
[0029] A method of the invention can be used to produce a multi-color
simulated flame
effect. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a lighting system
that features a first
light-emitting device and a second light-emitting device; (b) projecting a
first color light
produced by the first light-emitting device onto a reflective spindle; (c)
rotating the reflective
spindle and reflecting the first color light onto a projection screen; and (d)
projecting a second
color light produced by the second light-emitting device onto the projection
screen to create a
multi-color simulated flame effect that is visible on the projection screen.
[0030] Another method of the invention includes the step of overlapping the
first color
light and the second color light that is projected onto the projection screen
so that the multi-color
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simulated flame effect creates a gradient color area.
[0031] Another method of the invention includes a step selected from the
group of:
projecting the second color light directly onto the projection screen, or
projecting the second
color light onto the reflective spindle and reflecting the projected second
color light off of the
reflective spindle onto the projection screen.
[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the
same meaning
as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs.
Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein
can be used in
the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and
materials are described
below. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references
mentioned herein are
incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case of conflict, the
present specification,
including defmitions will control.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Figure 1 is a side view of an electric fireplace having a lighting
system installed
between a projection screen and a rear wall of a firebox of the electric
fireplace.
[0034] Figure 2 is a front view of an electric fireplace having the
lighting system of
Figure 1, which is illustrated in phantom view installed behind the projection
screen.
[00351 Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the lighting system of
Figure 1.
[0036] Figure 4 is a top view of the lighting system of Figure 1.
[0037] Figure 5 is a front view of the electric fireplace of Figure 1
illustrating simulated
flames having been projected onto a rear surface of the projection screen by
the lighting system
that are visible on a front surface of the projection screen in light of a
first color and light of a
second color.
[0038] Figure 6 is a side view of an electric fireplace having another
embodiment of a
lighting system installed between a projection screen and a rear wall of a
firebox of the electric
fireplace.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
100391 The invention provides a lighting system 10 that can be used to
create a multi-
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color light effect 12. In an exemplary embodiment, shown in Figures 1-4, which
will be referred
to throughout the specification herein, the multi-color light effect 12
created by the lighting
system 10 can be produced inside an electric fireplace 14 as a multi-color
simulated flame effect;
however, in other embodiments, the system can be used in other devices to
produce multi-color
light effects, for example, in any apparatus, device, or system in which the
projection of multi-
color simulated flame effects is desired. In the exemplary embodiment, the
lighting system 10
can be installed inside a housing 16 of the electric fireplace 14, for
example, inside a firebox 36
of the electric fireplace.
[0040] The lighting system 10 includes a projection surface 18, a
reflective spindle 20, a
first light-light emitting device 22, and a second light-emitting device 24.
The first light-emitting
device 22 produces light of a first color 26 and the second light-emitting
device 24 produces light
of a second color 28. The lighting system 10 uses the first and second light-
emitting devices 22
and 24 to create a simulated flame effect 12 that includes simulated flames of
at least two colors,
i.e., the first color 26 and the second color 28. In alternate embodiments,
the lighting system 10
may include more than two light-emitting devices, e.g., 3, 4, 5, or more light-
emitting devices.
Each light-emitting device of the system 10 can feature a plurality of light
elements 30. In an
exemplary embodiment, the light elements 30 can be light-emitting diodes
(LEDs). In other
embodiments of the lighting system 10, the light elements 30 can be
incandescent bulbs,
fluorescent bulbs (e.g., compact fluorescent lamps), gas discharge lamps
(e.g., neon lights), or
any other light bulb, lamp, or light element suitable for installing on the
light-emitting device and
inside an electric fireplace.
[0041] The plurality of light elements 30 of the first light-emitting
device 22 can be
arranged on and electrically connected to a first panel 32. Similarly, the
plurality of light
elements 30 of the second light-emitting device 24 can be arranged on and
electrically connected
to a second panel 34. The first and second panels 32 and 34 can be permanently
installed on and
electrically connected to their respective light-emitting devices 22 and 24,
or in another
embodiment, the first and second panels can be removably installed on and
electrically
connected to their respective light-emitting devices. In embodiments in which
the panels are
removable from their respective light-emitting devices, the panels may be
replaceable with other
panels featuring a different color, or combination of colors, of lights.
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[0042] Each light-emitting device can include a single color of light
elements 30 installed
thereon or more than one color of light elements installed thereon. For
example, the first light-
emitting device 22 could include light elements 30 of two different colors and
the second light-
emitting device 24 could include light elements 30 of only a single color. In
another example,
the first light-emitting device 22 could feature light elements 30 having only
a single color and
the second light-emitting device 24 could light elements 30 of two or more
colors. In still
another example, the first light-emitting device 22 could include light
elements 30 of two or
more colors and the second light-emitting device 24 also could include light
elements 30 of two
or more colors. In all embodiments of the invention, the first light-emitting
device 22 will
include some light elements 30 of at least one color that is different than
the color of the light
elements 30 of the second light-emitting device 24.
[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the majority of the light elements 30 on
a panel are
orange with five or fewer (e.g., one or two) red light elements. Light
elements 30 can be
provided in any color to produce light of any color; however, orange, red, and
yellow lights will
be most commonly used, particularly for projecting light of those colors onto
upper portions of
the projection surface 18 as those colors most nearly imitate the colors of
real flames. Blue,
violet, or indigo light elements 30 may be used to with one of the light-
emitting devices 22, 24 to
produce the blue or deep purple colors that sometimes appear in a glow just
above the logs or
other fuel feeding a real fire. In one embodiment, the first light-emitting
device 22 can include
orange, red, or yellow light elements while the second light-emitting device
24 can include blue,
indigo, or violet light elements.
[0044] The lighting system 10 can be installed inside the firebox 36
between the
projection surface 18 and a rear wall 38 of the firebox. The projection
surface 18 can be a
projection screen having a front surface 40 that faces outward so as to be
visible to a person
looking at the electric fireplace 14 from its outside and a rear surface 42
that faces inward toward
the rear wall 38 of the firebox 36. As shown in Figure 5, light that is
projected by the lighting
system 10 onto the rear surface 42 of the projection screen 18 is visible on
the front surface 40 to
a person looking at the electric fireplace 14. The projection screen 18 can be
constructed from a
translucent or semi-transparent material so as to permit light projected onto
its rear surface 42 to
be visible therethrough on its front surface 40. The material can be glass,
plastic, other polymer,
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artificial cloth or fabric, natural cloth or fabric, or any other material
suitable for transmitting
some light therethrough from the rear surface 42 so as to be visible to a
person on the front
surface 40.
[0045] As described above and in the drawings, in an exemplary embodiment,
the
lighting system 10 is installed in the firebox 36 of the electric fireplace 14
between the projection
screen 18 and the rear wall 38 of the firebox 36. The first light-emitting
device 22 can be
positioned in front of the reflective spindle 20 so that it is proximal to the
projection screen 18
rather than to the rear wall 38 of the firebox 36. The first light-emitting
device 22 can be
installed on a floor surface 44 of the firebox 36. Light emitted by the
plurality of light elements
30 of the first light-emitting device 22 can be projected onto the reflective
spindle 20. The light
from the first light-emitting device 22 projected onto the reflective spindle
20 is then reflected
onto the rear surface 42 of the projection screen 18. The light of the first
color 26 emitted by the
first light-emitting device 22 can be reflected by the reflective spindle 20
onto a first light
projection area 46 of the projection screen 18.
[0046] As shown in Figure 1, the second light-emitting device 24 can be
positioned
inside the firebox 36 so that light emitted by its plurality of light elements
30 does not strike the
reflective spindle 20. In an exemplary embodiment, the second light-emitting
device 24 can be
installed beneath the reflective spindle 20 so that its light is projected
directly onto the rear
surface 42 of the projection screen 18 without striking the reflective spindle
20. The second
light-emitting device 24 can be installed on a floor surface 44 of the firebox
36. The light of the
second color 28 emitted by the second light-emitting device 24 can be
projected directly onto a
second light projection area 48 of the projection screen 18.
[0047] In another embodiment, shown in Figure 6, the second light-emitting
device 24
can be installed above the reflective spindle 20 so that its light is
projected downward onto the
reflective spindle 20. The reflective spindle 20 then reflects the second
color of light 28 emitted
by the second light-emitting device 24 onto the rear surface 42 of the
projection screen. In this
embodiment, the second light-emitting device 24 can be installed on the rear
wall 38, a side wall
58, or a top inner surface 60 of the firebox 36. From this position above the
reflective spindle,
the light of the second color 28 emitted by the second light-emitting device
24 can be projected
onto the reflective spindle and reflected from there onto the first light
projection area 46 of the
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projection screen 18. Light of the second color 28 is thereby concentrated in
the first light
projection 46, i.e., an upper portion of the projection screen 18, while light
of the first color 26
emitted by the first light-emitting device is projected onto the reflective
spindle 20 and reflected
from there onto the second light projection area 48, i.e., concentrated on a
lower portion of the
projection screen 20. The two separate areas of first color and second color
light reflected onto
the projection screen 18 by the reflective spindle 20 overlap to create the
gradient multi-colored
light effect 12.
[0048] The first light projection area 46 can be located in a position
that is primarily
above the second light projection area 48 on the projection screen 18. In an
exemplary
embodiment, the first light projection area 46 can be located adjacent to and
overlapping the at
least second light projection area 48 on the projection screen 18. In
embodiments of the lighting
system 10 having more than two light-emitting devices, the projection screen
18 can include two,
three, four, five, or more light projection areas. By projecting the lights of
first and second
colors 26 and 28 onto the first and second light projection areas 46 and 48
from the first and
second light-emitting devices 22 and 24, a realistic, multi-color simulated
flame effect 12 is
created that is visible on the front surface 40 of the projection screen 18.
The multi-color
simulated flame effect 12 can include flame areas of the first and second
colors 26 and 28 as well
as a color gradient area 56 as shown in Figures 2 and 5. The color gradient
area 56 can be an
area in which the first color 26 and the second color 28 of light mix and
gradually blur or fade
into one another at upper and lower edges of the color gradient area.
[0049] For example, the multi-color flame effect 12 in the first light
projection area 46 at
the top of the projection screen 18 can be orange as in a real flame. The
multi-color flame effect
12 in the second light projection area 48 at the bottom of the projection
screen can be blue as is
often seen just above a fuel source burning at a very high temperature. The
multi-color flame
effect 12 displayed within the color gradient area 56 between and in the
overlapping areas of the
first light projection area 46 and second light projection area 48 can be
orange or yellow at an
upper edge of the area 56; a mixture of orange, yellow, blue, indigo, or
violet in a central portion
of the area 56; and fading to blue or indigo at a lower edge of the area 56.
[0050] The projection screen 18 can feature a flame-shaped section 50
onto which light is
projected by at least one of the first and second first light-emitting devices
22, 24. The flame-
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shaped section 50 assists in creating the multi-color simulated flame effect
12 in the shape of
natural flames that are visible on the front surface 40 of the projection
screen 18.
[0051] The lighting system 10 further includes a motor (not shown in the
drawings)
connected to the reflective spindle 20 so as to rotate the reflective spindle.
The reflective spindle
20 can feature a plurality of reflector elements 52 that are attached to an
extend outward from an
axis element 54 of the reflective spindle. The motor is connected to at least
one end of the axis
element 54 to drive the rotational motion of the reflective spindle 20. As the
reflective spindle
20 is rotated by the motor, light from the first light-emitting device 22
strikes the plurality of
reflector elements 52 and is reflected onto the projection screen 18 to
simulate the "licking" or
"dancing" effect of real flames.
[0052] The lighting system 10 can further include a controller (not shown
in the
drawings) for varying one or more controllable features of the lighting
system. The controllable
features can include at least two of the following: light color, light
intensity, light pattern of
display among groups of light elements on each light-emitting device, and
power.
[0053] The lighting system 10 is connected to a power source (not shown in
the
drawings) that provides electricity to operate the electrical and mechanical
components of the
system. Any suitable power source may be used with the lighting system.
[0054] The invention also relates to methods that can be used to produce a
multi-color
simulated flame effect. The methods use a lighting system as described herein,
which features a
first light-emitting device and a second light-emitting device. In one step of
the method, a first
color light produced by the first light-emitting device is projected onto a
reflective spindle. In
another step of the method, the reflective spindle rotates and reflects the
first color light onto a
first light projection area of a projection screen. In another step of the
method, a second color
light produced by the second light-emitting device is projected directly onto
a second light
projection area of the projection screen to create a multi-color simulated
flame effect that is
visible on the projection screen.
[0055] The method can also include the step of installing the lighting
system in a firebox
between the projection screen and a rear wall of the firebox of an electric
fireplace.
[0056] In another possible step of the method, a plurality of light
elements installed on
each light-emitting device may be independently controlled or controlled in
groups so as to
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alternate the light elements to which power is supplied. For example, where a
light-emitting
device includes light elements of two colors, the light elements of one color
on the device could
be controlled independently of the light elements of the other color.
Other Embodiments
100571 It is
to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction
with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended
to illustrate and not
limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the
appended claims. Other
aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following
claims.
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