GB2338058A

GB2338058A - Improvements in or relating to fires

Info

Publication number: GB2338058A
Application number: GB9812190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Warren Phillips
Original assignee: Charlton and Jenrick Ltd
Current assignee: Charlton and Jenrick Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-06
Filing date: 1998-06-06
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-06
Also published as: GB9812190D0; GB2338058B

Abstract

A simulated solid fuel fire having imitation fuel 4 arranged in a firebox 1 is provided with a light source 6 at the side and top of an opening 2 at the front of the firebox 1 for illuminating the fuel 4. The light source 6 is housed in a spacer 8 of inverted U-shape positioned behind a removable trim panel 7. The light source 6 may be used with a real fire to improve the appearance of the fire when not in use.

Description

2338058 1 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FIRES This invention concerns

improvements in or relating to fires. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to fires for solid fuel such as coal or logs and fires adapted to simulate solid fuel fires, and more especially to gas fires in which imitation coals or logs arranged on a bed are heated by flames from individual gas jets to simulate a real fire effect.

In use, both real and simulated coal or log fires have a pleasing appearance but there are many occasions when the fire is not required, especially during the summer months, and the present invention is intended to provide a way of improving the appearance of such fires when not in use.

According to the present invention there is provided in or for a fire having a fuel bed for real or imitation solid fuel, means for illuminating the fuel bed.

By this invention, the fuel bed may be illuminated when the fire is not in use so as to create the ambience of warmth. In this way, the appearance of the fire may be enhanced.

Preferably, the illumination means is arranged on both sides andlor at the top of an opening at the front of the fire. For example, the illumination means may comprise a light source arranged in an housing.

In one arrangement, the housing is of inverted U-shape with legs on opposite sides of the fire opening and a connecting web at the top of the opening.

Advantageously, the housing includes heat resistant, transparent or translucent material through which light from the light source can pass for illuminating the fuel bed.

Preferably, the housing is positioned behind a removable trim panel allowing access to the light source for repair or replacement. For example, the housing may be built-in to the fire or be a separate, detachable component.

invention; 2 The light source and/or the transparent or translucent material of the housing may be coloured to enhance the effect of the illumination. Alternatively or in addition, the effect of the illumination may be enhanced by the use of one or more mirrors, prisms, reflectors or similar devices.

Other features, benefits and advantages of the invention are explained later in relation to an exemplary embodiment.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a gas fire embodying the FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the fire shown in Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the light source shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The gas fire shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a rectangular firebox 1 having an opening 2 at the front bounded at the top and on each side by an external flange 3, and an outlet (not shown) at the rear for the combustion products.

The fire is installed in a room (not shown) with the firebox 1 received in an aperture (not shown) in a wall or surround and the flange 3 located and sealed against the wall or surround at the top and on each side of the aperture to prevent escape of combustion products into the room.

At the bottom of the firebox 1 there is a raised bed supporting a plurality of imitation coals 4 with a plurality of gas outlet holes (not shown) arranged between the coals 4. The imitation coals 4 may be replaced by imitation logs.

The coals 4 are made of a heat resistant material that glows when heated by the flames from the gas outlet holes producing an effect which, in use, simulates the appearance of a real coal fire..

3 The gas outlet holes are connected to a gas supply under the bed and a removable decorative panel 5 provides access to an on/off valve and regulator (not shown) for controlling the gas supply, and a manually operable ignition device for igniting the gas at the outlet holes.

In accordance with the present invention, the fire is provided with illumination at the top and on each side of the opening 2 by a light source 6 arranged at the front of the firebox 1 behind an inverted Ushaped decorative trim panel 7.

The light source 6 is housed in an inverted U-shaped spacer 8 of hollow rectangular section with transparent or translucent heat resistant material on the inner face to withstand the heat from the fire and allow light from the light source 6 to pass through and illuminate the interior of the firebox 1.

In this embodiment, the spacer 8 comprises a channel-section body of opaque or riven material, for example metal, with transparent or translucent heat resistant material closing the channel-section on the inner face of the spacer 8.

The light source 6 can be bulbs, fluorescent lights or filaments powered by direct mains voltage or low voltage from a battery or via a transformer. The light source 6 may be coloured to enhance the effect of the illumination of the interior of the firebox 1. A combination of differently coloured light sources may be provided.

Alternatively or in addition to the use of a coloured light source 6, the transparent or translucent material of the spacer 8 may be coloured, textured or patterned to enhance the effect of the illumination of the interior of the firebox 1.

The spacer 8 may also incorporate one or more mirrors, prisms, reflectors or the like devices to produce any desired optical effect to enhance the appearance of the illumination of the, interior of the firebox 1.

Alternatively or in addition, the or each light source may operate 4 continuously or intermittently to vary the effect of the illumination of the interior of the firebox 1.

The spacer 8 is held in place by the trim panel 7 which overlies the front and outer face of the spacer 8 to confine the effect of the illumination to the interior of the firebox 1.

The trim panel 7 is made of metal or alloy with any desired surface finish and is secured to the firebox 1 by releasable fastening means (not shown) such as magnets or clips facilitating access to the spacer 8.

In this way, the spacer 8 can be detached for repair or replacement by removing the trim panel 7. In addition, the spacer 8 and trim panel 7 can be fitted after installation of the firebox 1 reducing the risk of damage.

By illuminating the interior of the firebox 1, the fire can be given an attractive appearance, especially when not in use, by creating the ambience of warmth. Thus, the illumination of the coals 4 may be arranged to provide a flame effect simulating a real fire without heating the coals 4.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above- described. For example, the spacer may be of different shape and/or size to suit openings in different fires. The spacer may provide illumination at the side or top of the opening. The spacer may also be made of any suitable materials. The spacer and trim panel may be combined.

It will also be appreciated that the invention has application to other types and constructions of fires having a fuel bed for simulated or real solid fuel. Thus, application of the invention to open real solid fuel fires is envisaged for creating the ambience of warmth when the fire is not in use.

For example, the illumination may produce a flame effect simulating a real fire.

It will further be appreciated that the illumination can be provided in both new and existing fires by incorporating the light source in a separate unit or the light source can be built-in as an integral part of new fires during 3'0 manufacture.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fire for solid fuel or imitation solid fuel comprising means for illuminating an opening in which a bed for the fuel is arranged.

For example, the fire may have a generally rectangular opening at the front with the illumination means arranged at the side andlor top of the opening. In this way, the ambience of warmth may be created when the fire is not in use.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for securing to a wall or similar surface and having a 10 light source for providing local illumination of the wall or similar surface.

For example, the spacer above-described may be fixed to the wall or similar surface with the illumination of the wall or similar surface creating the ambience of warmth.

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Claims

Claims:

1. A fire for real or imitation solid fuel having an opening at the front in which a fuel bed is positioned, the opening being provided with illumination means.

2. A fire according to Claim 1 wherein the opening is generally rectangular and the illumination means is provided at the side andlor top of the opening.

3.

A fire according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the illumination means comprise a light source arranged in an housing.

4. A fire according to Claim 3 wherein the housing is of inverted Ushape with legs on opposite sides of the opening and a connecting web at the top of the opening.

5. A fire according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the housing includes heat resistant, transparent or translucent material through which light from the light source can pass for illuminating the fuel bed.

6. A fire according to Claim 5 wherein the housing comprises a channelsection member with the heat resistant, transparent or translucent material closing the channel- section.

7. A fire according to any one of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the housing is 20 positioned behind a trim panel.

8. A fire according to Claim 8 wherein the trim panel is removable.

9. A fire according to any one of Claims 3 to 8 wherein the housing is detachable.

10. A fire according to any one of Claims 3 to 9 wherein the light 25 source andlor the transparent or translucent material of the housing is coloured.

11. A fire according to any one of Claims 3 to 10 wherein the effect of the illumination is enhanced by the use of one or more mirrors, prisms, reflectors or similar devices.

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12. A fire according to any one of Claims 3 to 11 wherein the housing is arranged at the front of a fire box providing the opening in which the fuel bed is positioned.

13. A fire according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the 5 fuel bed is provided with gas outlet holes between imitation solid fuel to simulate a real solid fuel fire.

14. A fire according to Claim 13 wherein the imitation solid fuel is coal or logs.

15. A real or simulated solid fuel fire comprising a generally rectangular opening at the front of the fire, a bed for real or simulated fuel arranged in the opening, and means for illuminating the fuel bed arranged at the side and/or top of the opening.

16. In or for a fire having a fuel bed for real or imitation solid fuel, means for illuminating the fuel bed.

17. A fire substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

18. A method of illuminating a fuel bed of a real or simulated solid fuel fire by the use of illumination means provided at the top and/or side of an opening in which the fuel bed is positioned.

19. A method according to Claim 18 wherein the illumination means is arranged in an inverted U-shaped housing positioned behind a U-shaped trim panel of a fire box.

20. A method of illuminating a fuel bed of a real or simulated solid fuel fire substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.