GB2469862A

GB2469862A - Decorative trim for a fireplace

Info

Publication number: GB2469862A
Application number: GB0907491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Jonathan Stokes
Original assignee: Valor Ltd
Current assignee: Valor Ltd
Priority date: 2009-05-01
Filing date: 2009-05-01
Publication date: 2010-11-03
Also published as: GB0907491D0

Abstract

A decorative fire trim comprising an elongate light glide (10, 12, 14) which at least partially surrounds a heating appliance. The light guide allows light directed into the light guide from a light source 26 to escape from one or more locations. In one arrangement, light is allowed to escape from the light guide through matt portions formed on the exterior surface of the light guide. In another embodiment a diffusely reflecting layer 28 is provided on a rear planar surface of the light guide and the light reflected from the surface is visible through the light guide. The light source may be controllable to adjust or change the light directed into the light guie.

Description

DESCRIPTION

DECORATIVE TRIM

The present invention relates to decorative trims and in particular but not exclusively to decorative trims for electric fires.

The prevalence of flame-effect and/or fuel-effect electric fires has increased as they provide instant heat and a pleasing appearance without the maintenance associated with a real fire. In order to further enhance the aesthetics of the fire, it is known to mount a decorative trim around the periphery of the fire in order to conceal the region where the fire meets the edge of the recess in which it is located or the portion of the wall upon which it is mounted. The decorative trim generally takes the form of two generally planar, parallel, vertical uprights which are joined at their top end by a generally planar horizontal cross-member. The size of the trim is chosen to match the size of the periphery of the fire with which it is to be used.

The appearance of the decorative trim is normally chosen to match the appearance of the fire with which it is to be used and/or the decor of the room in which the fire is located. The trim can be made from metal, plastics, wood or any other material, depending upon the desired appearance.

One drawback with existing fire trims is that their appearance is fixed. Consequently, if a different appearance is required, it is necessary to replace the fire trim. (

Moreover, there is an increasing tendency for electric fires to be provided with a bed of pebbles or other articles which are not intended to have the appearance of a real fire and indeed which are commonly illuminated with light which is very different from that produced by a real fire, for example blue, purple or green. Indeed, it is known for the illumination of such fires to be variable in order to change the appearance and the mood or ambience produced by the fire, as desired. The appearance of traditional fire trims may not be compatible with such fires.

Moreover, even if a suitable fire trim decoration can be found, they not suit all the different illumination possibilities of the fire.

In accordance with the present invention, a decorative fire trim comprises an elongate Light guide adapted to at least partially surround a heating appliance and a light source for introducing light along the light guide, the light guide being adapted to allow light to escape from one or more locations.

This allows much more flexibility in the appearance of the fire trim and allows the illumination to be selected to match the decor or to produce a desired feel or ambience.

In one embodiment, the fire trim comprises one or more regions on the exterior surface of the light guide which allow light to escape, for example one or more mall or roughened portions which allow incident light to escape from the interior of the light guide. /

The fire trim may comprise one or more elongate portions from which light can escape from the interior of the light guide.

There may be one or more locations along the periphery of the light guide from which light is allowed to escape.

s In one embodiment, the light guide comprises two locations from which light is adapted to escape. The two spaced-apart locations may be located at different portions of the periphery of the light guide. For example, there may be a first portion located on an inner periphery of the light guide and a second portion on an outer periphery of the light guide.

In another embodiment, the fire trim further comprises a reflective layer located on the exterior of a portion of the light guide.

The light guide may comprise a planar face and the reflective layer may be located on the exterior of the planar face. The reflective layer is preferably diffusely reflective and may, for example, be white, The light source may be controllable to adjust or change the light introduced into the light guide. For example the light source may be adjustably controllable to produce light at a plurality of different, controllable wavelengths.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of fire trim in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the fire trim of Fig. 1, Looking in the direction of arrows I -I; S Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of side trim in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section side elevation through the fire trim of Fig. 3, iooking in the direction of arrows IV-IV.

Referring firstly to Figs. I and 2, a fire trim comprises first and second straight, elongate, upright parallel side members 10, 12 which are interconnected at their top ends by means of a cross-member 14 extending perpendicularly to each of the two side members 10, 12. The side members 10, 12 and cross member 14 are all made from clear, colourless acrylic (for example Perspex�) and the two side members 10, 12 are adhesively joined to the cross-member 14 at respective mitred joints 16, 18.

The side members 10, 12 and cross-member 14 are generally planar, whilst the inner and outer longitudinal edges of each of the side members 10, 12 and the cross-member 14 which will face outwardly in use are formed into continuous inner and outer bevelled edges 20, 22. In addition, the bevelled edges are provided with a roughened matt finish to allow escape of light, as will be explained, whereas the remainder of the surface of the trim is smooth and polished.

Moreover, each of the side members 10, 12 and the cross-member 14 is provided with an elongate plate 20a, 20b, 20c between the rnatt bevelled edges 20, 22, forming a continuous opaque border 24 between the inner and outer bevelled edges 20, 22. The opaque elongate plates s can be made from metal, plastic or wood, for example, or a sheet of any other opaque planar substance.

Located at the lower end of each of the side members 10, 12 is a light emitting diode (LED) 20. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the LEDs are controllable by an electronic control unit ECU to produce red and/or green and/or blue light, so that light of any colour, and white light, can be produced, as desired. Endeed, the LEEDs 26 can be controlled to change the light produced. Such control can be carried out manually or the LEDs 26 can be controlled to change the light output over time.

In use, the fire surround is placed around the periphery of a fire, as for a conventional fire trim. The LEDs are then switched on, which causes light to pass along the side members 10, 12 and into the cross-member 14. The light produced by the LEEDs is not transmitted parallel to the longitudinal direction of the side members 10, 12, but much of the light is reflected from the smooth, non-matt faces of the side members 10, 12 and is thereby transmitted along the side members 10, 12 and into and along the cross-member 14 where the internal reflection continues. However, where the light is incident upon the bevelled matt portions, the light escapes and is visible to an observer. ln the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the appearance will be of an inner illuminated border adjacent to the inner periphery of the opaque border 24 and an outer illuminated border around the outer periphery of the opaque border 24.

As mentioned previously, the colour of the light produced by the LEDs 26 can be changed. The colour can be selected manually in order s to match or complement the colour of light produced by the fire with which the fire trim is used or to create a particular mood or ambience.

Alternatively! the LEDs 26 may be controlled to vary the colour or light produced, either in accordance with predetermined sequences or in a random fashion, in order to produce a different visual effect.

The second embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is very similar to the embodiment of Figs. I and 2, and the same reference numerals have been used to identify corresponding features. The main difference as compared with the first embodiment is that the elongate opaque plates 24a, 24b, 24c located between the matt bevelled edges covering each side members 10, 12 and the crossmember 14 is omitted.

In addition rear face of the trim is planar and is provided with a white, matt coating layer 28, for example. In use! the fire trim is located around the periphery of a fire, as for conventional fire trims. The LEDs 26 are illuminated, which causes light to pass along the side members 10, 12.

The light which is incident upon the clear front face and side edges of the trim is reflected internally and transmitted further along the side members 10, 12 and into the cross-member 14, where such internal reflection continues. However, any light incident upon the rear face of the trim is not reflected internafly but instead is reflected diffusely by the rear white coating layer. Consequently, the fire trim is illuminated around the whole of its periphery, as viewed by an observer.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing s embodiments. For example, in the second embodiment, the rear coating layer 24 need not be continuous around the periphery of the fire trim but may be intermittent For example, the rear coating layer may be patterned. Indeed, the rear coating layer 24 may be omitted altogether and portions of the fire trim may be formed into a matt surface to allow light to escape in desired regions of the fire trim, as for the bevelled portions of the second embodiment.

Moreover, the invention is also applicable to a fire trim in the form of a complete annular surround which surrounds the entire periphery of a fire, which would be particularly appropriate for wall-mounted heaters.

is Furthermore, although the embodiments described use light emitting diodes, it would be possible to use other light sources, such as incandescent bulbs of different colours, electroluminescent devices, and the like.

Claims

SCLAIMS1. A decorative fire trim comprising an elongate light guide adapted to at least partially surround a heating appliance and a light source for introducing light along the light guide, the light guide being adapted to s allow the light to escape from one or more locations.
2. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or more regions on the exterior surface of the light guide which allow light to escape.
3. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 2, comprising one or more mail or roughened portions which allow incident light to escape from the interior of the light guide.
4. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, comprising one or more elongate portions from which light can escape from the interior of the light guide.
5. A decorative fire trim as claimed in any of claims I to 4, comprising one or more locations along the periphery of the light guide from which light is allowed to escape.
6. A decorative fire trim as claimed in any of claims I to 5, comprising two locations from which light is adapted to escape.
7. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two spaced-apart locations are located at different portions of the periphery of the light guide.
8. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 7, comprising a first portion located on an inner periphery of the light guide and a second portion on an outer periphery of the light guide.
9. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim I further comprising a reflective layer located on the exterior of a portion of the light guide.
10. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light guide comprises a planar face and wherein the reflective layer is located on the exterior of the planar face.
11. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the reflective layer is diffusely reflective.
12. A decorative fire trim as claimed in any of claims U to 11, wherein the reflective layer is white.
13. A decorative fire trim as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the light source is controllable to adjust or change the light introduced into the light guide.
14. A decorative fire trim as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light source is adjustably controllable to produce light at a plurality of different, controllable wavelengths.
15. A decorative fire trim substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.