GB2402469A

GB2402469A - Electrical heating apparatus with a projected image

Info

Publication number: GB2402469A
Application number: GB0313055A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Betz; Noel O'neill; Neil Naughton
Original assignee: Basic Holdings
Current assignee: Basic Holdings
Priority date: 2003-06-06
Filing date: 2003-06-06
Publication date: 2004-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-06
Also published as: GB0313055D0; WO2004109189A1; GB2402469B; CN1802538A; EP1631770A1; CN100572926C

Abstract

An electrical heating apparatus with a projected image comprises a radiant heating device 14,22, 40 and an image projection assembly. Radiant heating devices 14, 22, 40 comprise either of a glass panel heater 14, 22 or a laminated heating device 40 having an electrically insulating layer (44, fig 8) with electrically conductive elements (42). Image projection assembly comprises of light from a source 16 being modified and projected on to a viewing screen 22 which may also be the glass panel heater 22. A means 18 for modifying the light comprises a rotating shaft (26, figs 4-6) having a plurality of reflective radially extending pieces of material (30) and causes light to be reflected towards a planar or curved reflective means 20 and hence to screen 22, and to a simulated fuel bed 24. Reflective means 20 may have cut out flame shapes so that screen 22 may provide an image of simulated flames. Other abstract images may also be provided. Shaft (26) may be connected to a flexible bush (32) at one end and its other end in another bush (36) in a bracket (34) with a slot (38) so that the shaft may be displaceable to permit changing of the light source 16.

Description

Eleeb ic Heating Apparatus The present invention relates to flame effect

heating appliances or apparatus (hereinafter "fires'') which provide a simulation of real flames in an electric heating appliance, and to such appliances including novel or alternative heat sources. Flame simulating apparatus in general are well known and have been described in, for example, GB 2 230335, W 097/41393 and GB 2 275 105.

Conventional flame effect fires provide an illusion of flames, usually behind a simulated fuel bed. However, this flame effect illusion does not make a major contribution to the heat output of the fire, the only heat output being incidental heating from the light bulbs which illuminate the flame effect. An additional heat source is therefore provided which may be radiant bars as in a conventional electric fire, a convection heater or, more usually, a fan heater mounted within the casing of the fire and expelling heated air through a grille in the casing of the fire. À À À

À The market for flame effect fires is developing and the inventors of the present À À . application have appreciated that a flame effect fire may no longer be required to À . provide the primary heat source in a room, since an increasing proportion of domestic dwellings have central heating systems. For this reason, the flame effect fire may be À required only as a supplementary heat source, with the aesthetic appearance of the À fire assuming a greater importance. The overall heat output of the fire may, in these circumstances be somewhat reduced, if desired.

Most prior art appliances, such as described in the above patents, are intended for use as an electric fire located in a conventional fireplace. As such, the fire is designed so that a major part of the fire fits into the recess of the fireplace or stands on a health.

The overall depth of the fire (i.e. its front-to-back dimension) can be relatively great, since this dimension can be accommodated in the recess of the fireplace or on the hearth. However the inventors have further appreciated that there is a demand in the market for a fire of sufficiently small front-to back dimension to enable it to be ) mounted directly on a plane wall surface, which has the advantage of increasing the possible number of locations of the fire, especially in modern houses, flats and apartments where there is no conventional fireplace and further allows enhancements of the aesthetic appearance of the fire, for example in what may be perceived as a more modern idiom.

This, in one form, the present invention seeks to provide a electric heating apparatus which has a flame simulating effect, primarily for use in an electric fire, but which is suitable for mounting directly on a wall, that is, without the need for any sort of recess in the wall to accommodate the apparatus. In order to achieve such an apparatus which is commercially and practically acceptable, the apparatus of the present invention is desirably constructed to have a depth which is considerably less than conventional apparatus. In another form, the present invention seeks to exploit alternative heat sources in a flame effect fire, which heat sources also contribute to reduced dimensions for the fire and to an enhanced aesthetic appearance of the fire. À

The present invention is not, however, confined to apparatus intended for mounting À.- on a wall and is applicable to heating apparatus for mounting in conventional À.

: À locations such as traditional fireplaces. À:e

According to the present invention, there is provided an electric heating apparatus À e-.

compnsmg: i) a housing; ii) radiant heating means mounted to the housing; and iii) a image providing assembly mounted in the housing and comprising: (a) a light source; (b) a viewing screen capable of diffusing and transmitting light; and (c) means for modifying light from the light source to produce an image of moving light on the viewing screen, wherein the radiant heating means comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising: a glass panel heater and a laminate heating means / comprising an electrically insulating layer having an electrically conductive heating element thereon.

The laminate heating means may comprise in one form an electrically conductive heating wire in a meandering path applied directly or indirectly to the electrically insulating layer. The wire may ideally be sandwiched between electrically insulating layers. In another form the laminate heating means may comprise a substrate cawing a printed circuit which acts as a resistance heating circuit. The printed circuit may also be sandwiched between electrically insulating layers. In either form, individual heating element sections maybe connected either in series or in parallel.

In either form, an important feature of the laminate heating means is its flexibility which allow it to conform to the surface to which it is, in use, applied.

Most preferably, the image providing assembly provides a simulation of flames on IS the viewing screen, whereby the apparatus takes the form of a flame effect fire. À

Images of other sorts, for example purely abstract images may alternatively tee À.

provided by the image providing assembly simply to give a pleasing visual effect Àe À - À À.

À À Preferably, the housing is adapted for mounting on a substantially plane wall area, optionally so that the base of the housing is spaced above floor level. To this end, À suitable fixing formations may be provided on the rear surface of the housing by À means of which the apparatus may be suspended on the wall. The housing may alternatively be constructed for mounting on a floor or in a fireplace or the like.

In a preferred arrangement, the housing comprises a body portion and a frame portion mounted on the body portion, the frame portion defining a viewing aperture through which the image from the image providing assembly is viewed in use. The fume portion may be essentially decorative when viewed from the front of the apparatus, but may also serve to carry a heating means not visible to a user, as described below. i)

In one preferred construction according to the invention the radiant heating means comprises said laminate heating means, the laminate being disposed on the inner surface of the frame portion. The laminate may be applied to substantially all, or only some, of the inner surface of the frame portion.

In another preferred construction the viewing screen consists of said glass panel heater. The glass panel heater may be provided as the sole primary heat source, or may be provided together with the above laminate heating means.

Most preferably, a substantially transparent front screen is disposed on said housing in front of the viewing screen. The front screen may serve simply to prevent the ingress of dust and dirt into the apparatus. Alternatively, the front screen may consist of said glass panel heater. Again, the glass panel heater may be provided as the sole primary heat source, or may be provided together with the above laminate heating means. À À - À. À Àe

In preferred arrangements according to the invention, the front screen is mounted in À . . said viewing aperture. À:.

Preferably, the means for modifying the light from the light source comprises means for producing moving beams of light, which may in a preferred form comprise a shaft À mounted substantially horizontally for rotation about its axis, said shaft having a plurality of generally radially directed pieces of reflective material depending therefrom, said pieces being effective to reflect light from the light source onto the screen. The shaft may preferably be driveably connected at its first end to a motor for rotation of the shaft and is retained at its second end in a supporting bracket, the shaft being displaceable from its operative position thereby to permit access to the light source. In this way, a facility is provided for a user to change the light bulbs forming the light source if the bulbs fail. To this end the shaft may be connected to the motor via a flexible bush and the second end of the shaft is releaseably mounted in the bracket, the shaft being displaceable when desired by flexure of the flexible bush. : )

Thus, in order to change a bulb of the light source, a user simply needs to release the second end of the shaft from its mounting and draw the second end of the shaft! forwards causing the bush at the first end to bend. Access to the bulb or bulbs is then possible and when the bulb has been changed, the second end of the shaft can be re mounted in its bracket.

In some preferred arrangements, the means for modifying light may include reflecting means operative to reflect light from the light source onto the viewing screen. Such reflecting means may be operative to reflect light from the means for producing moving beams of light onto the viewing screen and may, for example, comprise a sheet of material having reflecting regions and non-reflecting regions. The reflecting regions may be generally flame shaped. The reflecting surface of the reflecting means may be concave. The reflecting and non-reflecting regions may be formed by any suitable means such as treating a sheet of reflective material to make regions thereofmatte, or attaching shaped pieces of reflective material to a dull or matte À backing substrate. À. Àa

: À . . A preferred electric heating apparatus according to the invention, further comprises a À: À simulated fuel bed disposed directly in front of the viewing screen. When present, the front screen is preferably located directly in front of the simulated fuel bed. Àe a À.

Most preferably the viewing screen comprises a reflective front surface whereby a reflection ofthe fuel bed can be seen in the viewing screen. In this way, the simulated flames (i.e. the image) in the screen appear behind the simulated fuel bed and in front of its reflection, so that the flames appear to emanate from the middle of a combined fuel bed comprising the simulated fuel bed and its reflection.

Preferably the light source has a width of not more than about 40mm, especially not more than about 35mm. The front-to-back &ensign of the apparatus can thereby be minimised. )

Preferably, the laminate heating means has an output of from about 200W to 700W or more, preferably from about 300W to about 600W. Preferably the glass panel heater has an output of from about 50W to about 700W or more, preferably about lOOW to about SCOW. Where both a laminate heating means and a glass panel heath are Used, the total output maybe as much as lkW or more. The output ofthe respective laminate heating means and glass panel heater are determined by the size of the heater used. Clearly in larger heating appliances there is scope for using a larger glass panel heater andlor a larger laminate heating means, so providing a higher maximum heat output.

In an especially preferred arrangement where the means for producing moving beams of light comprises a shaft mounted substantially horizontally for rotation about its axis, said shaft having a plurality of generally radially directed pieces of reflective material depending therefrom, the pieces are effective to reflect light from the light source directly or indirectly onto the screen. Thus light from the light source striking À the pieces of reflective material is reflected by those pieces. Because the pieces of Àe reflective material are rotating about the shaft, the light is reflected at constantly Àe : À . . changing angles (since effectively the angle of incidence of the light on the pieces of À: À reflective material is constantly changing). This causes light reflected from the pieces of reflective material, (optionally after further reflection by the reflecting À À- means) to trace a path up the screen, giving the appearance of moving flames. The pieces of reflective material are preferably non-planar to further vary the angle of reflection of the light and to contribute to a random appearance of the flame-like image on the screen.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made by way of example only to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectioned perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention; ) Figure 2 is a cross-section of an apparatus similar to that of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a reflecting means employed in the invention; Figure 4 illustrates in greater detail the means for producing moving beams of light; Figure 5 shows a detail of the mounting of one end of the means for producing moving beams of light; Figure 6 shows the means for producing moving beams of light in its displaced position; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a frame portion of a housing according to the invention; and À À

I

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a laminate heating means used in the present Àe : invention. À:.

Referring now to the drawings the fire comprises a housing 10 preferably of metal . having a body portion 12 and a frame portion 120 (shown partially in Figure 1 and ..

not shown in Figure 2). The housing retains a front screen 14 of a suitable optically transparent matenal. Where the front screen 14 serves only as a protective screen it may preferably be of a glass or possibly plastic material through which the flame simulating arrangement of the fire can be viewed. The front screen 14 does not normally form part of the flame simulating arrangement and may serve primarily to enclose the flame simulating components to prevent the ingress of dust, for example.

The flame simulating arrangement shown in the examples is given by way of illustration only, other flame simulating arrangements being possible. The term "flame simulating arrangement" is generally used herein to include arrangements ) which provide an image or illuminated effect on a viewing screen 22 preferably, but not necessarily, a simulation of flames. The flame simulating arrangement of the exemplary illustrated fire comprises a light source 16, means 18 for modifying the light from the light source 16 to provide the appearance of movement, a reflecting meads 20, and a viewing screen 22. The fire of the invention preferably further comprises a simulated fuel bed 24 which may be formed from a plastic material moulded in to a suitable shape and suitably coloured to represent pieces of solid fuel (such as coal or logs) resting on an ember bed. Separate simulated fuel pieces, such as of ceramic material may additionally, or alternatively, be provided in the fuel bed.

The fuelbed24isilluminated from below bythelight source 16. A baffle 17maybe provided so that the fuel bed 24 is not directly illuminated by the light source 16.

Rather, the light from the light source 16 is first modified by the means 18 so that the intensity of the light falling on different parts of the fuel bed 24 varies in an apparently random manner, simulating the changing intensity of light from glowing À.. À. 15 embers. An electric supply is provided through flex 15.

* À . bee.

The means 18 for modifying the light from the light source 16 preferably comprises a he : shad 26 which is mounted essentially horizontally in use. The shafted is rotated c about its axis by a motor 28. Depending from the shaft 26 is a plurality of pieces of reflective material 30. These pieces 30 may be of metal, metal foil, metallised plastic He . . . or the like and are arranged to extend generally radially from the shaft 26. The pieces e need not lie exactly radially and considerable variance from an exact radial alignment is acceptable. The individual pieces 30 may be planar or may be twisted.

Light from the light source 16 strikes the pieces 30 as they rotate about the shaft 26 and is reflected by the pieces 30 towards the reflecting means 20 and towards the underside of the fuel bed 24. The rotation of the pieces 30 about the shad 26causes the light from the light source 16 to be reflected at constantly changing angles with respect to a vertical plane (i.e. up and down the reflecting means 20) and if the pieces are twisted this effect is enhanced by reflection at constantly changing angles in the horizontal plane (i.e. across the reflecting means from side to side). The result is an apparently random movement of the light. The means 18 for modifying light from the light source may have alternative constructions provided that an equivalent effect is achieved. For example, the means 18 may comprise pieces of reflective material such a pieces of glass or mirror tiles apparently randomly mounted on the outer surface of a rotatable cylinder so that light striking the glass or mirror pieces is reflected in an apparently random manner. Any of the reflecting components of the means 18 may be coloured in appropriate colours such as reds, greens, oranges and blues to enhance the appearance of the image in the viewing screen 22.

From the reflecting means 20, the light is reflected onto the viewing screen 22 to form a perceptible image. In some possible arrangements at least some of the light reflected by the means for producing moving beams of light may fall directly on the viewing screen 22. The reflecting means 20 may be an essentially planar sheet of material, or the sheet of material may be cowed or uneven in shape. The whole surface of the sheet may be reflective, or only part thereof may be reflective. In a preferred arrangement, the reflecting means 20 comprises a sheet of material having reflective areas which are approximately flame shaped with the remainder of the Àe sheet being essentially matte. The reflective areas may be formed from one or more À, : À cut-outs 20a of metal or other reflective material having the approximate shape of flames applied to an essentially matte front surface 20b of the sheet. The surface 20b may, for example be matte black. Alternatively, an essentially reflective sheet may have regions which are made matte by etching, painting or the like. Providing reflective areas in flame shape enhances the flame-like appearance of the image in the viewing screen 22. Other arrangements of the reflecting means are possible, but may require an increased depth (i.e. front-to-back dimension) of the overall fire. For example, the reflective means may comprise a reflective back sheet which reflects light from the light source 16 through a further sheet disposed in front of the back sheet, the further sheet having flame shaped apertures through which light passes after reflection by the back sheet. A supplementary light source 160 may be provided to illuminate the fuel bed directly from above. - )

The viewing screen 22 is preferably a planar glass screen but may be curved. The viewing screen may comprise a planar front surface and a nonplanar back surface and may be a laminate comprising a transparent front screen portion and a partially diffusing rear screen portion, the rear screen portion optionally being non-planar.

Theviewing screen 22, or the rear screen portion, may alternatively be formed from suitably optically transmissive plastics material. The viewing screen 22 is constructed to be partially diffusing of light and partially transmitting. Such screens are described in, for example GB 2 275 105. The partially diffusing nature ofthe screen enhances the flame like nature of the image which is visitable in the screen 22. In preferred arrangements, the front surface ofthe screen (as seen by a user) is made partially reflective so that the fuel bed 24 is reflected in the screen. In this way the image of the flames appears to emanate from the middle of a combined fuel bed comprising the fuel bed 24 and its reflection in the screen 22. Preferably the screen 22 is darkly tinted or "smoked" so that the internal components of the fire are not e À À À 15 visible when the fire is not in use. À Àe À.

À À A further important feature of the fires according to the invention is the provision of À.

À the heat source. Conventional fires have mounted a convector heater or, more :. . commonly, a fan heater in the fire housing, sometimes at the base so that the outlet À Àe . 20 for air heated by the fan heater, and the fan heater itself, are arranged essentially À.r.

horizontally and sometimes at the top of the housing so that the outlet for air heated by the fan heater, and the fan heater itself, are arranged essentially horizontally or at most at about 45 to the horizontal. This arrangement is satisfactory where space is not restricted as when, for example, a significant part of the depth of the fire is inset into the recess of the fireplace. However this a,,gement is not satisfactory for a fire intended for possible wall mounting, as in embodiments of the present invention, since a fire of the depth required to accommodate a conventionally mounted heater would be obstructive and unattractive in use. Furthermore fan heaters inherently make a certain amount of noise when in use which undesirable for users.

Accordingly the inventors of the present invention have sought an alternative solution and have appreciated that the heat source can be incorporated into the structure of the heating apparatus in ways which are not immediately apparent to a user and which facilitate a reduction in the overall size of the apparatus. A reduction is size can be advantageous whether or not the apparatus in intended for wall mounting. For example, where a relatively bulky fan heater is no longer required, more space may become available for other components of the apparatus. In one arrangement, the heating apparatus is provided with a glass panel heater. Glass panel heaters as such are known in the art and conventionally comprise a glass panel onto which a layer of a metallic resistance heating material is applied. A typical resistance heating material is tin oxide (SnO2). The tin oxide is applied in a thin layer so that the glass panel remains essentially transparent. The resistance of the layer is generally determined by its thickness, width and length, with the resistance, for a given layer thickness, being proportional to the length and inversely proportional to the width of the layer (length being measured parallel to the direction of current flow and width being measured perpendicular thereto). For a given current supplied to the À. e.

: ' .. 15 layer the heat output is generally proportional to the resistance of the layer. The À.

À resistance heating layer is most preferably sandwiched between two layers of glass, so that the layer is protected from damage. The glass panel heat provides space À Àe heating primarily by radiation, but may provide a limited amount of convection heating from the movement of air over the glass panel. À. À À À.

The glass panel heater may be incorporated into the heating appliance of the À.

invention as the viewing screen 22, in which case the glass panel heater must be provided means to allow it to be partially diffusing and partially transmitting of light.

- - A supplementary diffusing panel may be provided on the rear side of the glass panel heater to provide the required diffusion of light. Alternatively, for example, the rear surface of the glass panel heater may be rendered partially diffusing by abrading, etching or like means. The front surface of the glass panel heater when serving as the viewing screen 22 is preferably made partially reflecting, whereby an image of the fuel bed may be observed in the viewing screen 22.

Preferably, however, the glass panel heater is incorporated into the heating appliance of the invention as the front screen 14. The glass panel heater then serves the functions both of space heating and preventing ingress of dust, dirt and the like into the appliance. Preferably the glass panel heater when mounted on the housing is located immediately behind the frame portion 120. The frame portion 120 and the body portion 12 of the housing 10 are preferably so sized and shaped that the frame portion 120 obscures the whole of the body portion 12 when observed generally from the front of the appliance, except for the area of the front screen 14 or viewing screen 22 (as appropriate). This provides the appliance of the invention with a particularly neat and elegant appearance.

In another arrangement which there is provided, as a sole heat source or in conjunction with the glass panel heater as above, a laminate heating means 40 comprising a serpentine or meandering heating element 42which may be in the form of a wire sandwiched between electrically insulating layers 44 or a printed resistance heating circuit applied to a substrate. These sorts of laminate heating means are À À.' . known in the art and are provided as a sheet material which is flexible and, within . IS reasonable limits, can be made to confonn with any surface to which it is applied.

The 1aTninate heating means 40 may desirably be provided with a layer of heat Àe À reflecting material, such as metallic foil material on its face which is exposed in use to reflect heat in a desired direction. In accordance with the present invention the laminate heating means 40 is applied to an inner surface of the housing 10, most À À.

. e 20 preferably to an inner surface of the frame portion 120 ofthe housing 10. The Àe laminate heating means thereby provides essentially radiant space heating.

For mounting the fire directly on an essentially plane wall surface, the fire is desirably made as slim as possible (i.e. of a reduced depth) so that it does not penetrate too far into the room. In order to assist in this, the light source 16 preferably comprises one or more so-called "candle" bulbs which have a narrower lateral dimension than standard tungsten filament bulbs, typically not more than 40mm, preferably not more than about 35mm. Other bulbs such as halogen bulbs may alternatively be used. The smaller size of these bulbs enables them to be mounted behind the means 18 for producing moving beams of light and achieves a significant space saving. Typically, two bulbs are used as the light source. In order to maximise the amount of light transmitted from the light source to the fuel bed and the viewing screen (via the means 18) a rear reflector 21 maybe mounted behind the light source. The rear reflector 21 is preferably plane but may possible be non planar, such as parabolic. The rear reflector 21 may comprise a sheet of polished metal, a metallised plastic sheet or a mirror, for example. Provision of the rear reflector avoids the need for extra bulbs to achieve a given illumination, so avoiding adding to the dimensions and complexity of the apparatus.

A consequence of mounting the light source 16 behind the light modifying means 18 is that the means 18 obstructs access to the light source 16 for changing the bulbs when, at the end of their life, they fail. The present invention overcomes this problem by making the means 18 displaceable so that access can be gained to the light source. Àe À

As can be seen in particular in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the shaft 26 of the means 18 is

I

À .. connected at a first end to a motor 28 so that drive is transferred from the motor 28 to . the shaft 26 to rotate the shaft 26. The shaft 26 is connected to the motor 28 by means of a bush 32. The bush 32 is made from a rubber or other similarly flexible material. The other end of the shaft 26 is mounted in a bracket 34. A further bush 36 Àe : À . . . 20 may be provided. The bracket 34 includes a slot 38 through which the shaft 26 can

I

À ' be withdrawn to displace the means 18 from its use position. The slot 38 may be configured to retain the shaft 26 (via bush 36) with a latching action. For example the leading part of the slot may be made slightly narrower than the width of the bush 36 so that the bush 36 andlor the bracket 34 must be slightly deformed to remove or insert the shaft 26 in the slot 38. On releasing the shaft 26 from the bracket 34, the bush 32 is deformed to accommodate the movement of the shaft 26, as can be seen in Figure 8. The bush 32 allows the shaft to be moved until it isapproximately perpendicular to its use position so that virtually unobstructed access can be gained to the light source 16.

By means of Me present invention a slim fire is provided which is wall mountable, and which provides an excellent flame effect together with useful heating while having a depth of 200mm or less, preferably 1 80mm or less. In contrast, a conventional flame effect fire has a depth of the order of 300mm or more À. .. À À À À..e À Àe Àe À À Àce Àe Àe À À À. Àe À.

Claims

-

Claims 1. An electric heating apparatus comprising: iv) a housing; v) radiant heating means mounted to the housing; and vi) a image providing assembly mounted in the housing and comprising: (d) a light source; (e) a viewing screen capable of diffusing and transmitting light; and (f) means for modifying light from the light source to produce an image of moving light on the viewing screen, wherein the radiant heating means comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising: a glass panel heater and a laminate heating means À À À À IS comprising an electrically insulating layer having an electrically conductive Àe - .. heating element thereon.

- À À
2. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image providing assembly provides a simulation of flames on the viewing screen.

: À. 20 Àe À.
3. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the laminate heating means is non-rigid.
4. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the housing is adapted for mounting on a substantially plane wall area.
5. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the housing comprises a body portion and a frame portion mounted on the body portion, the frame portion defining a viewing aperture through which the image from the image providing assembly is viewed in use.
6. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the radiant heating means comprises said laminate heating means, Me laminate being disposed on the inner surface of the frame portion.
7. ! An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the viewing screen consists of said glass panel heater.
8. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a substantially transparent front screen disposed on said housing in front of the viewing screen.
9. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the front screen consists of said glass panel heater. À À

À IS
10. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9 when dependent on e . claim 5 wherein the front screen is mounted in said viewing aperture. À- À ÀÀ.
11. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for modifying the light from the light source comprises means for À- : À À 20 producing moving beams of light. Àe

- Àe a
12. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claiml 1, wherein the means for producing moving beams of light comprises a shaft mounted substantially horizontally for rotation about its axis, said shaft having a plurality of generally radially directed pieces of reflective material depending therefrom, said pieces being effective to reflect light from the light source onto the screen.
13. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the shaft is driveably connected at its first end to a motor for rotation of the shaft and is retained at its second end in a supporting bracket, the shaft being displaceable from its operative position thereby to permit access to the light source.
14. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the shaft is connected to the motor via a flexible bush and the second end of the shaft is releaseably mounted in the bracket, the shaft being displaceable when desired by flexure of the flexible bush.
15. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for modifying light include reflecting means operative to reflect light from the light source onto the viewing screen.
16. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 S wherein the reflecting means are operative to reflect light from the means for producing moving À À À À IS beams of light onto the viewing screen. À ce À À..-

:
17. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claimlS or 16 wherein the

-

: . reflecting means comprises a sheet of mataial having reflecting regions and non-reflecting regions. À -

À .. 20 Àe c. . c. .
18. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the reflecting regions are genaally flame shaped.
19. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting means is concave.
20. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a simulated fuel bed disposed directly in front of the viewing screen.
21. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the viewing screen comprises a reflective front surface whereby a reflection of the fuel bed can be seen in the viewing screen.
22. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the light source has a width of not more than about 40mm.
23. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the light source has a width of not more than about 35mm.
24. An electric heating apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the laminate heating means has an output of from about 200W to about 700W.
25. An electric heating appliance as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the À. À À 15 glass panel heater has an output of from about 50W to about 700W. À. e À be..
26. An electric heating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with À À.

reference to any of Figures 1 to 8. Àe À À e À.c À À-