GB2459924A

GB2459924A - Flame effect fire with perforated front screen

Info

Publication number: GB2459924A
Application number: GB0808627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Michael Wright
Original assignee: LFL GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: LFL GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-13
Filing date: 2008-05-13
Publication date: 2009-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-13
Also published as: GB2459924B; GB0808627D0

Abstract

A flame effect fire has a reflective back panel 8 (e.g. mirror), a perforated front screen 6, and a visible heat source 9, 14 (e.g. simulated or real coals, logs, flames) between front screen 6 and back panel 8, whereby back panel 8 reflects an image of heat source 9, 14 through front screen 6. Front screen 6 may have a (matt/dark) image on its inner surface of a brick wall or other design, which is also reflected by back panel 8 to produce a background, giving an illusion of greater depth. Front screen 6 may be a transparent screen with an adhesive-backed perforated film 7 bonded over the whole of its inner surface. Back panel 8 may include frosted/brushed regions 9 shaped like flames and visible heat source 9, 14 may include multiple controllable light sources (e.g. LEDs) directed at regions 9. The flame effect fire may include an electric heater.

Description

VISUAL EFFECT FIRE iNSTALLATION This invention relates to a visual effect fire installation that provides a visual simulation of a real fire.

Visual effect fire installations which have real or simulated heat sources and which use mirrors to give the impression of a depth are known. Such installations can be of slim construction suitable for fixing on a building wall without requiring deep recessing and can therefore be conveniently used on a room wall which has no chimney breast.

GB 239 1934A describes a visual effect fire installation having a back panel which is a fully reflective mirror, a front transparent glass plate with screen-printed dots on its internaL surface, and a simulated heat source between the back mirror and the front glass plate comprising an illuminated pile of stones on a hearth. A fan heater is incorporated in the installation as an actual heat source. The screen-printed dots define a background design of a brick wall. When viewed through the front glass plate with internal illumination, the brick wall design and also the simulated heat source on the hearth can be seen reflected from the mirror to give the impression of a relatively deep conventional chimney breast fire installation. The reflected brick-wall background design enhances the view and also prevents or obscures viewing of foreground images, such as images of the room in front of the fire installation, reflected in the mirror.

With this arrangement, the screen-printed dots can be inconvenient and expensive to manufacture and do not necessarily give a clear, sharply-defined background image whereby the resulting effect may not be wholly aesthetically

acceptable.

U.S. 6050011 describes a visual effect fire installation having a back panel which is partially reflective, a front glass plate with screen-printed dots on its internal surface, a simulated flame heat source behind the back panel, and simulated logs between the back panel and the front glass plate. When viewed through the front glass plate with internal illumination, a background design defined by the dots, and also the simulated logs, can be seen reflected in the partially reflective back panel, and simulated flames can be seen through the back panel superimposed on the reflected image of the simulated logs.

This arrangement is complicated and expensive to manufacture and the partially reflective back panel and the screen-printed dots do not give a clear,

sharply-defined background image.

An object of the present invention is to provide a visual effect fire installation with a reflected heat source whereby reflected foreground images can be obscured in an aesthetically acceptable manner with a convenient and inexpensive construction.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a visual effect fire installation comprising a reflective back panel, a front screen, and a visible heat source between the front screen and the back panel, whereby the mirror reflects forwardly an image of the visible heat source, and wherein the front screen is a perforated structure which permits viewing of the said reflected image through the screen.

With this arrangement, the perforated screen can have a substantial surface area, made up of solid parts between and around perforations, which can obscure unwanted reflected foreground images in an aesthetically acceptable manner and, in particular, without unduly restricting vision through the screen. Moreover, due to the arrangement of the visual heat source between the front screen and the back panel, the reflective properties of the back panel need not be compromised, as is the case where there is dependency on a heat source behind the back panel. Accordingly, a sharp, clear reflected image can be readily achieved with a simple, inexpensive construction.

An image of the inner surface of the perforated screen will also be reflected in the reflective back panel. This inner surface may have a maft andlor dark finish or surface appearance so that the reflected image appears as a darkened background.

Alternatively or additionally, the inner surface of the perforated screen may have thereon a background design which is reflected as an image of such design. This background design may be of a fireplace interior back wall.

The perforated screen may be of any suitable kind and may be used as a self-supporting structure or a structure which is peripherally supported whereby the interior of the installation is open to the external environment through the screen.

Alternatively the screen may be covered by a transparent panel to support the screen andlor to prevent ingress of dust through the screen. Thus, the screen may comprise a film which may be bonded to the transparent panel. Such film may be a conventional adhesive-backed perforated window film of the kind used for printed graphic displays on windows of vehicles and buildings where the graphic display can be seen clearly from one side but there is clear vision through the window from the opposite side.

The film may have a maft dark coated surface on the inner side and may also have a background image printed on the inner surface. The film may be formed from a suitable coated plastics sheet material and may be dark or black on its adhesive-coated side, and may have a white surface on its opposite (inner) side, such white surface being printed or otherwise provided with the mall dark coating and/or background image. Typically the film may have perforations of diameter 1.5mm and may have a 50% open area.

Where used, the background design may be printed, using any suitable printing method, on the perforated film.

With regard to the reflective back panel this is preferably a fully reflective mirror, i.e. a mirror which is fully silvered, or is made from a solid reflective material such as a metal sheet, whereby there is no transmission of light through the panel, over all or substantially all of its surface area.

With regard to the visible heat source, this may take any suitable form and may comprise an actual heat source, such as visible gas flames, andlor heated elements such as stones or simulated coals or logs which glow in use. Alternatively or additionally, a simulated heat source may be used involving lamps, illuminated surfaces, moving ribbons or the like, with or without elements such as real or simulated stones, coals, logs, etc. In a particularly preferred embodiment controllable light sources are used directed at a back surface, operation of the light sources being varied in intensity and/or colour and/or direction to give changing or moving light patterns simulating flames and/or hot, glowing elements.

The light sources may be directed at one or more textured regions of said back surface, regions may be roughened or brushed or frosted by physical or chemical erosions or by surface coating. The (or each) textured region may extend upwardly from a lower part, particularly a lower edge, of the back surface, and the light sources may be directed upwardly at or along the (or each) said region.

The light sources may be LED lamps of one or more colours and operation may be controlled by an electronic control device which may be programmed to give a random or predetermined variation in the operation of the lamps.

The back surface may be a surface of a transparent panel, such as a glass plate, and such transparent panel may be applied to or form part of the reflective back panel.

The above mentioned light sources may provide the sole source of illumination within the installation. Alternatively, there may be one or more additional light sources, such as lamps, between the back reflective panel and the front screen to enhance illumination.

The installation may incorporate a support surface or hearth between the reflective back panel and the front screen on which the visible heat source is mounted, whereby the reflective back panel also provides a forwardly reflected image of the support surface or hearth. Where elements, such as simulated stones, coals or logs are provided these may be mounted on the support surface or hearth as an integral unit to facilitate construction of the installation.

The installation may comprise an open box-structure or a frame structure whereby side walls are provided extending transversely between the front screen and the back reflective panel.

This box or frame structure may provide support for one or both of the back panel and the front screen.

The installation may be arranged to be free-standing, mounted on a building wall so as to be recessed in the wall, or simply attached to a building wall without recessing.

The arrangement may be such that the reflective back panel and the front screen may be vertical in use e.g. when the installation is mounted on or attached to a vertical wall. Alternatively, one or both of the back panel and the front screen may be inclined.

The installation may include an actual heat source which conveniently may be an electric heat source such as an electric fan heater which may be concealed from view.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through one kind of visual effect fire installation according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the installation; and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the installation.

The installation shown in the drawings comprises a housing having a front frame 1 removably attached to an open box-shaped body structure 2.

The body structure 2 has a rectangular flat back wall 3 with forwardly transversely extending parts at the sides, top and bottom.

The front frame 1 is rectangular and has interconnected top, bottom and side parts formed from or faced with suitably decorative material.

The front frame 1 bounds a rectangular opening 5 in which a front panel 6 is fitted. This panel 6 comprises a clear, transparent glass pane with a film 7 bonded over the whole of its inner surface. The film 7 is an adhesive-backed perforated film of the perforated window film kind hereinbefore described. This is bonded to the glass pane 6 with the adhesive black side onto the glass pane 6 and the mall dark coated side facing away from the glass pane 6. This mall dark coated side has a printed background design consisting of a life-size picture of a fireplace interior back wall.

Attached to the inner surface of the back wall 3 there is a back panel 8, extending substantially over the whole of the back wall 3. This panel 8 is a fully silvered glass pane defining a fully reflective forwardly-facing mirror through which there is no light transmission.

This silvered glass pane 8 is modified by grinding or surface treatment to define frosted or lightly brushed areas 9 at the lower region of its front surface generally in the shape of several flames.

Between the back panel 8 and the front panel 6, there is a rectangular box-structure frame 10 made from interconnected elongate members 11 which have top and bottom surfaces extending transversely to the panels 6, 8. The bottom member 11 has a central area 12 which is recessed at its top surface and which has a series of apertures 13 along the rear edge of such surface, one for each frosted area 9.

An insert 14 fits securely into this recessed part of the central area 12. The insert 14 comprises a supporting base with a pile of simulated coals or stones or other elements bonded in position on the base. Projecting upwardly through the apertures 13, and concealed within or behind the elements of the insert 14, there are multiple directional LED light sources (not shown) of different colours pointing at different angles at the frosted areas 9. These light sources are connected by electrical leads beneath the bottom member 11 to a controlled power supply (not shown).

The inner surface of the members 11 are appropriately finished or decorated and the bottom member 11 with the insert 14 define a simulated fire hearth.

An actual heat source, such as an electric fan heater (not shown) is incorporated in the installation at a concealed position e.g. beneath the bottom member 11 and this is connected to a suitably positional control switch.

The installation so far described is fitted to a building wall 15 by attachment of the body structure 2 to the wall with the open front of the body structure 2 facing forwardly. As necessary, the inner frame 10 is then inserted into position with the LED light sources projecting through the apertures 13 in the insert 14, the front frame 4 is then mounted on the front of the body structure 2 and an electrical lead which connects, via a control switch on the installation (not shown), to the power supply for the light sources, and to the electric heater, is connected to mains power supply.

The arrangement of the back panel 8 and the front panel 6 is such that they extend parallel to the building wall 15, which may be vertical, or one or both may be at an angle thereto.

In use, when the power supply for the LED light sources is switched on, light of different colours is directed at the frosted areas 9 with a controlled pattern of variation in intensity. This gives the visual effect of flames. As viewed from the front of the installation through the front panel 6, and through the perforations in the film 7, the pile of elements on the bottom member 11 can be seen directly and also reflected in the back panel mirror 8. This reflected image can be seen against the background of a reflected image of the brick wall printed on the inner surface of the film 7.

This gives the visual effect of a fire installation which is of greater depth than the actual depth of the installation, and which appears to be recessed into the building wail 15 in the manner of a conventior1al chimney-breast fire.

Due to the use of the perforated film 7 and the fttlly reflective back panel mirror 8 a clearly visible sharp image of the brick wall can be seen.

The LED light soiirces may provide sufficient illumination to achieve adequately visible reflected images. If desired however additional light sources, such as concealed electric lamps, may be incorporated within the installation to give additional illumination. These lamps may be separately controllable e.g. by a separate manual switch or may be automatically controlled so as to switch on together with the LED light sources.

The installation can be slim and can be manufactured as a completely assembled, or readily assemblable structure, whereby it can be readily installed by mounting on any suitable building wall or other position, and can then be connected to a mains power supply ready to be used.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, instead of mounting the back panel 8 and the front screen 6 on the body structure 1 and the front frame 1, one or both of the panel 8 and the screen 6 may be mounted on the inner frame 10. Conveniently, the frame 10 and the attached panel 8 and screen 6 can be formed as an integral unit. In the case where the screen 6 is mounted on the frame 10 there may be an additional transparent panel mounted within the front frame 1 for protection and to help seal against dust ingress.

Claims

Claims 1. A visual effect fire installation comprising a reflective back panel (8), a front screen (6), and a visible heat source between the front screen (6) and the back panel (8), whereby the reflective back panel (8) reflects forwardly an image of the visible heat source, and wherein the front screen (6) is a perforated structure which permits viewing of the said reflected image through the screen (6).
2. The visual effect fire installation according to claim 1, wherein an image of an inner surface of the perforated screen (6) is also reflected in the reflective back panel (8).
3. The visual effect fire installation according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface has a matt and/or dark finish or surface appearance so that the reflected image appearsasadarkenedbackground. * * * ***

*
4. The visual effect fire installation according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface has thereon a background design which is reflected as an image of said design. I* * * * * * **

* : * * 20
5. The visual effect fire installation according to any preceding claim, wherein the perforated screen (6) is used as a self-supporting structure or a structure which is peripherally supported whereby the interior of the installation is open to the external environment through the screen (6).
6. The visual effect fire installation according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein perforated screen (6) is covered by a transparent panel to support the screen (6) andlor to prevent ingress of dust through the screen (6).
7. The visual effect fire installation according to claim 6, wherein the perforated screen (6) comprises a film (7) bonded to the transparent panel.
8. The visual effect fire installation according to any preceding claim, wherein the reflective back panel (8) is a fully reflective mirror.
9. The visual effect fire installation according to any preceding claim, wherein the visible heat source comprises an actual heat source, andlor a simulated heat source.
10. The visual effect fire installation according to claim 9, wherein the simulated heat :. 15 source comprises controllable light sources directed at a back surface, the back * surface being a surface of a transparent panel applied to or forming part of the * reflective back panel (8), * * * e*. *S *** *11. The visual effect fire installation according to claim 10, wherein the light sources * : * : 20 are directed at one or more textured regions (9) of said back surface, said textured regions (9) being roughened or brushed or frosted by physical erosion, chemical erosion, or surface coating.
11. The visual effect fire installation according to claim 10 or 11, wherein there are -12 -one or more additional light sources between the reflective back panel (8) and the front screen (6).
12. The visual effect fire installation according to any preceding claim, wherein the installation incorporates a support surface or hearth (14) between the reflective back panel (8) and the front screen (6) on which the visible heat source is mounted, and whereby the reflective back panel (8) also provides a forwardly reflected image of the support surface or hearth (14).
13. The visual effect fire installation according to any preceding claim, wherein the installation comprises an open box-structure or a frame structure (10) whereby side waIls (11) are provided extending transversely between the front screen (6) and the reflective back panel (8).
14. A visual effect fire installation as substantially as hereinbefore described and with * reference to the accompanying drawings.A * * I .* SI I.e *5 * * I * * II : 20I I