EP0298160A1 - Fireplace insulator - Google Patents
Fireplace insulator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0298160A1 EP0298160A1 EP87302204A EP87302204A EP0298160A1 EP 0298160 A1 EP0298160 A1 EP 0298160A1 EP 87302204 A EP87302204 A EP 87302204A EP 87302204 A EP87302204 A EP 87302204A EP 0298160 A1 EP0298160 A1 EP 0298160A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- areas
- fireplace
- sealed
- sealed together
- flue
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24B—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES FOR SOLID FUELS; IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH STOVES OR RANGES
- F24B1/00—Stoves or ranges
- F24B1/18—Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces
- F24B1/185—Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces with air-handling means, heat exchange means, or additional provisions for convection heating ; Controlling combustion
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Air-Flow Control Members (AREA)
Abstract
A device for stopping air leakage through fireplace flues includes an inflatable bag-like member having a top and a bottom of a flexible, air impermeable material. The top and the bottom are sealed together about an outer periphery of the member for retaining pressurized air therebetween. 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.
Description
- This invention relates to an inflatable device for stopping air leakage through fireplace flues. Studies have shown that considerable air leakage occurs through fireplaces flues either through the infiltration of cold air moving downwardly through the flue or through warm air moving upwardly. In cold weather this leads to high energy losses. Studies have indicated that normal dampers, even when closed, do not affect the amount of air leakage. This problem has been recognized and conventional advice dictates the use of fibreglass insulation to be stuffed about the damper. It is difficult to assure proper sealing in this manner and, in addition, it is easy to forget that the fibreglass is in place when a fire is started. The problem has been recognized and some devices have been developed to seal the flue. An example of such a device is the fireplace plug found in United States Patent # 4,194,494 to Wagner. However, this is a special device adapted only for one type of free-standing fireplace and is not for general application in most fireplaces.
- Inflatable devices for sealing conduits and the like have been developed in the past. For example, United States Patent # 3,998,464 to Jenkins shows a balloon-like device for sealing a heating duct. Similarly, United States Patent # 4,160,464 to Ballinger shows an inflatable member for insertion into a bore of a pipe, while United States Patent # 3,232,207 shows a balloon closure for an industrial stack.
- The prior art has not revealed a convenient inflatable device suitable for sealing the flue of a fireplace which must accommodate the damper handle normally extending downwardly from the damper.
- According to the invention, a device for stopping air leakage through fireplace flues includes an inflatable bag-like member having a top and a bottom of a flexible, air impermeable material. The top and the bottom are sealed together about an outer periphery of the member for 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.
- Preferably the member is substantially rectangular with a front, a back and opposite ends, each having at least one U-shaped sealed area to accommodate compression of the device when received in the top of a fireplace. The top and the bottom of the member are sealed together across the U-shaped areas.
- In the drawings:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fireplace showing a device according to the invention for stopping air leakage through the fireplace;
- Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device when inflated;
- Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof when deflated;
- Figure 5 is a sectional view thereof when inflated taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4; and
- Figure 6 is an enlarged fragment of Figure 5.
- Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a
fireplace 1 having aflue 2. Adamper 4 is fitted near the bottom of the flue and has adamper handle 6. The invention provides adevice 8 for stopping air leakage through the flue of the fireplace. The device is compressively received at the top of the fireplace adjacent the flue. Thedevice 8 is shown in better detail in Figures 3 and 4. - The
device 8 has an inflatable bag-like member 10 having atop 12 and abottom 14. Each of these is made of a flexible, air impermeable material such as polyvinyl chloride (vinyl). The material used for waterbeds is suitable. The device has anouter periphery 16 where the top and bottom are sealed together to retain pressurized air therebetween. It may be observed from Figure 4 that the member is substantially rectangular, having afront 18, aback 20, andopposite ends portions adjacent ends back 20 has similar taperingportions ends portions back 20 such that the ends taper towards the back of the member. This shape was developed empirically to fit most fireplaces. The overall size, when deflated, is such that thefront 18 is approximately 104 cm., while the front and back are spaced-apart 43 cm. at the midpoint of each. - It may be observed from Figure 4 that the front has a plurality of U-shaped
areas 38 spaced-apart thereon. Similarly, the back has a plurality ofsimilar U-shaped areas 40, while the ends have onesuch area areas areas - The member has a plurality of selectively slitable, sealed
areas damper handle 6 to pass through one of the areas. The areas are spaced-apart to accommodate damper handles of different locations for different fireplaces. The areas are all sealed when the device is supplied to the consumer, but are slitable by the consumer according to the position of the damper handle on his fireplace. The areas are all similar in shape although theareas area 46, each of the areas has generally roundportions elongated portion 60. The top andbottom 14 of the member are sealed together about aperiphery 62 of each of the areas. Aslit 64 is illustrated inarea 46 on the assumption that this is the location of the damper handle. Preferably the ends of the slit are rounded to resist further tearing. In the preferred embodiment the top and bottom of the member are sealed together completely across the slitable areas. - In use, if the fireplace has a damper handle as shown, the use first ascertains the one of the
slitable areas 46 to 54 closest to the damper handle. This is slit. No slit is made if a damper handle need not pass through the device. The device is inflated through anelongated conduit 66 which communicates with themember 10. After the member is inflated, aplug 68 is fitted to the conduit to prevent escape of pressurized air from the member. Alternatively, a one-way valve can be fitted to the conduit, preferablyadjacent member 10. A flag orsimialr indicia 70, shown in Figure 1, is fitted to the end of the conduit to warn that the device is in place in case a fire is to be lit. - The user pushes the device upwardly with the damper handle extending through the slit until the device is fitted tightly at the top of the fireplace adjacent the flue. Additional air can be added through
conduit 66 if necessary to provide a tight seal. The dimensions stated above are for typical fireplaces in North America and a different size or sizes may well be necessary in Europe.
Claims (8)
1. A device for stopping air leakage through fireplace flues, comprising:
an inflatable bag-like member having a top and a bottom of a flexible, air impermeable material, the top and the bottom being sealed together about an outer periphery of the member for retaining pressurized air therebetwen, the member having a plurality of selectively slittable sealed areas for permitting a damper handle to pass through one of the areas, the top and the bottom being sealed together about each of the areas; and
a closable conduit communicating with the member for admitting pressurized air into the member.
an inflatable bag-like member having a top and a bottom of a flexible, air impermeable material, the top and the bottom being sealed together about an outer periphery of the member for retaining pressurized air therebetwen, the member having a plurality of selectively slittable sealed areas for permitting a damper handle to pass through one of the areas, the top and the bottom being sealed together about each of the areas; and
a closable conduit communicating with the member for admitting pressurized air into the member.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member is substantially rectangular, with a front, a back, and opposite ends, each having at least one U-shaped sealed area to accommodate compression of the device when received in the top of a fireplace, the top and bottom of the member being sealed together about the U-shaped areas.
3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the front and the back each have a plurality of spaced-apart said U-shaped areas.
4. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the front and the back taper towards each other at each end of the member and wherein the ends tapers towards each other at the back of the member.
5. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of the areas has two round end portions joined by a narrow elongated portion.
6. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the front is generally 104 cm., long and the front and the back are generally 43 cm., apart.
7. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the conduit includes an elongated hose having warning indicia thereon.
8. In combination with a fireplace having a flue and a damper handle, the device for stopping air leakage through the flue according to any one of Claims 1- 7, wherein the member is sized and shaped to sealingly engage the fireplace below the flue thereof when inflated.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/763,640 US4649896A (en) | 1984-08-14 | 1985-08-08 | Device for stopping air leakage through fireplace flues |
EP87302204A EP0298160A1 (en) | 1987-03-16 | 1987-03-16 | Fireplace insulator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP87302204A EP0298160A1 (en) | 1987-03-16 | 1987-03-16 | Fireplace insulator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0298160A1 true EP0298160A1 (en) | 1989-01-11 |
Family
ID=8197817
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP87302204A Withdrawn EP0298160A1 (en) | 1984-08-14 | 1987-03-16 | Fireplace insulator |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0298160A1 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3253861A (en) * | 1965-10-20 | 1966-05-31 | Howe Plastics And Chemical Co | Inflatable cushion |
CA1192459A (en) * | 1984-08-14 | 1985-08-27 | David J. Formosa | Fireplace insulator |
US4649896A (en) * | 1984-08-14 | 1987-03-17 | Formosa David J | Device for stopping air leakage through fireplace flues |
-
1987
- 1987-03-16 EP EP87302204A patent/EP0298160A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3253861A (en) * | 1965-10-20 | 1966-05-31 | Howe Plastics And Chemical Co | Inflatable cushion |
CA1192459A (en) * | 1984-08-14 | 1985-08-27 | David J. Formosa | Fireplace insulator |
US4649896A (en) * | 1984-08-14 | 1987-03-17 | Formosa David J | Device for stopping air leakage through fireplace flues |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19890712 |