GB2471127A

GB2471127A - Free standing fireplace constructed from separate chimney and base portions

Info

Publication number: GB2471127A
Application number: GB0910543A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Anthony Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2009-06-18
Publication date: 2010-12-22
Also published as: GB0910543D0

Abstract

A free standing fireplace 10 (e.g. Chimenea) includes a base 12 and a flexible. plate (36, Figure 3) with reversible fixings, whereby plate (36, Figure 3) can be assembled to form a chimney 14 and dismantled for storage when not needed. Chimney 14 may be conical or cylindrical in shape when assembled, with an opening 24 in its side, Base 12 may be a constructed from a second flexible plate (38, Figure 3) that is shaped into an inverted cone 16, and into which a bottom plate (18, Figure 3) and fire grate 20 are placed, and legs 30, 32, 34 attached. The flexible plates forming the chimney 14 and base 12 may be constructed from metallic (0.6mm stainless steel) plate and held in their assembled shape by fixings (e.g. nuts and bolts). They may be further attached to one another by interlocking members such as slots 28 and tabs 26. A method and kit of parts for constructing the free standing fireplace 10 is also provided.

Description

Fire place The present invention relates to a free standing fireplace, more particularly to free standing fire place for outside use.

In recent years, free standing fire places have become increasingly popular. One popular type of free standing fire place is a chimenea. A chimenea typically has a bulbous body with an opening, where the fire is lit, and a chimney.

Chimeneas are typically made from clay and have the disadvantage that they are bulky, making them unsuitable for winter storage and for transportation.

A first aspect of the invention provides a free standing fire place, comprising: a base to accommodate a fire; a flexible plate and reversible fixings, such that the flexible plate can be assembled to form a chimney and dismantled.

This allows the chimney to be dismantled for storage and transportation. This allows not only the free standing fire place to be easily stored, for example in winter but to be easily transported, for example on camping trips. The ease of storage and transportation is also an advantage during sale and delivering of the fire place.

The flexible plate may be shaped so that when assembled the chimney has a substantially conical shape, such as a truncated cone. Alternatively, the flexible plate may be shaped so that it can be assembled into other shapes suitable for a chimney, for example a substantially cylindrical shape.

The flexible plate may be shaped so that when assembled the chimney has an opening in its side. This opening provides access to the interior of the fire place, for example to light and/or tend a fire.

The reversible fixings may be integral with the flexible plate, for example, they may comprise cooperating tabs and slots.

Alternatively, the reversible fixings may not be integral with the flexible plate. The reversible fixings may comprise mechanical fixings, for example nuts and bolts and equivalents.

Suitable mechanical fixings include screws, wingnuts, clips and pins etc. The flexible plate may be provided with apertures with a screw thread to receive fixings with a screw thread, for

example bolts etc.

The base may comprises a second flexible plate and reversible fixing, such the second flexible plate can be assembled to form a base and dismantled for storage. The second flexible plate may be shaped so that when assembled the base has a substantially conical shape, such as a truncated cone.

The reversible fixings used may be integral with the second flexible plate, for example they may comprise cooperating tabs and slots. Alternatively, the reversible fixings may not be integral with the flexible plate. The reversible fixings may comprise mechanical fixings, for example nuts and bolts and equivalents. Suitable mechanical fixings include screws, wingnuts, clips, etc. The flexible plate may be provided with apertures with a screw thread to receive fixings with a screw thread, for example bolts etc. The base may further comprise a bottom plate to define the bottom of the base. The bottom plate may be circular and dimensioned to fit at a pre-defined position within the assembled second flexible plate.

In an alternative embodiment, the base may have a fixed form, which does not allow it to be assembled and dismantled. The base may, for example, be formed from a casting process.

The base may reversibly attached to the chimney with reversible fixings.

The first and/or second flexible plates may comprise metallic plate. The term metallic includes alloy, for example steel. The metallic plate may be of uniform or laminated cross-section.

The free standing fire place may further comprise a plurality of legs, for example three. The plurality of legs may be reversibly attachable to the base. If the base has a fixed form, the legs may be either reversibly attachable or permanently attached.

The free standing fire place may also comprise a fire grate. The fire grate may be circular and dimensioned to fit at a pre-defined position within the assembled second flexible plate.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of constructing a free standing fire place comprising a base and a flexible plate and reversible fixings, the method comprising the steps of: assembling the flexible plate into a substantially conical or cylindrical shape; fixing the assembled chimney with the reversible fixings; attaching the assembled cone onto the base with reversible fixings.

The method may comprise the additional step of: constructing the base by assembling a second flexible plate into a substantially conical shape; fixing the assembled base with reversible fixings; The method may also include the steps of placing a bottom plate into the assembled base, placing a fire grid into the assembled base and/or of attaching three or more legs to the assembled base.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a kit for a free standing fire place comprising: a first flexible plate, shaped to form a substantially cylindrical or conical chimney when assembled; a base; and reversible fixing means.

The base may comprise a second flexible plate, shaped to form a substantially conical base when assembled.

The kit may further comprise a plurality of legs, a circular fire grate and/or a bottom plate Preferred features of the second and third aspects of the invention may be as described above in connection with the first aspect.

Throughout the description and claims of this

specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", mean "including but not limited to", and do not exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this

specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following example. Generally speaking the invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings). Thus features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Moreover unless stated otherwise, any feature disclosed herein may be replaced by an alternative feature serving the same or a similar purpose.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a free standing fireplace; Figures 2A-D are top, front, side and bottom views of the free standing fireplace of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the component parts of the free standing fireplace of Figure 1.

A free standing fireplace of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2A-D. Figure 1 is a perspective view, whilst Figures 2A-D show top, front, side and bottom views respectively.

The free standing fireplace 10 has a base 12 and chimney 14. The base 12 is made up of an inverted cone 16 and bottom plate 18.

A fire grid 20 is positioned within the inverted cone 16 of the base, above the bottom plate 18.

The chimney 14 is constructed from a cone 22, with an opening 24 at the front. The chimney 14 is attached to the base 12 by tabs 26 on the base 12 which engage with slots 28 on the chimney cone 22.

The base 12 is mounted on three legs 30,32,34, which hold the base 12 off the ground.

The component parts of the free standing fireplace are shown in Figure 3. The components parts are made up of a chimney plate 36, a base plate 38, a bottom plate 18, a fire grid 20 and three legs 30,32,34. The free standing fireplace is constructed from these components parts as described below.

The base is constructed by forming the base plate 38 into a cone. The bottom plate 18 is positioned towards one end of the cone and held in place by tabs 40a,40b,40c on the circumference of the bottom plate 18 and corresponding slots 42a,42b,42c on the base plate 38.

The base plate 38 is held in place in its cone shape by the use of fixings, such as nuts and bots. Apertures 44a,44b,44c,44d are located in the base plate 38 to accommodate the nuts and bolts. By this means, a first fixing passes through apertures 44a and 44d, whilst a second fixing passes through apertures 44b and 44c.

The legs 30,32,34 are attached to the constructed base 16. The base plate 38 has further apertures 46a-f to accommodate fixings to attach the legs.

The fire grate 20 is positioned within the assembled base 16.

Two lugs 48a,48b protrude from its circumference and are inserted into corresponding apertures 50a,50b on the side of the base plate 38 to hold it in position.

The chimney is constructed by forming the chimney sheet 36 into the shape of a truncated cone. The chimney sheet 36 has three slots 52a-c along one edge which forms the bottom edge of the constructed chimney. Three lugs 54a-c on the upper surface of the constructed base are inserted into the slots 52a-c, holding the chimney onto the base.

The chimney is held in its conical shape by the use of fixings such as nuts and bolts which pass through apertures 56a-c and 58a-c on two opposite edges of the sheet.

The chimney plate, base plate and bottom plate are all constructed of 0.6mm 304 (also known as 1.4301 or 18/8) bright polished stainless steel. The fire grate and the three legs are made from 3mm cr4 mild steel.

When constructed the free standing fireplace has a height of 810mm and diameter of 430mm. When flat packed, the component parts have dimensions of approximately 900mm x 640mm x 30mm.

The chimney plate 36 is shaped so that when constructed, it has an opening in its side to provide access to the fire inside the fire place. In this embodiment, the base plate 38 is shaped so that when constructed, an opening is formed in both the chimney and base.

The assembled fire place can be dismantled into its component parts for storage and transportation. The flexible plates forming the chimney and base may retain some curvature, however they can be substantially flattened by positioning a weight on top, in known fashion.

In an alternative embodiment, the base may comprise a solid base, whilst the chimney is assembled from a flexible plate.

The free standing fire place of this invention provides a convenient outdoor heater, stove or chemenea which can be easily stored and transported.

Claims

Claims 1. A free standing fire place, comprising: A base to accommodate a fire; a flexible plate and reversible fixings, such that the flexible plate can be assembled to form a chimney and dismantled for storage.
2. A free standing fire place according to claim 1, wherein the flexible plate is shaped so that when assembled the chimney has a substantially conical shape.
3. A free standing fire place according to claim 2, wherein the substantially conical shape is a truncated cone.
4. A free standing fire place according to claim 1, wherein the flexible plate is shaped so that when assembled the chimney has a substantially cylindrical shape.
5. A free standing fire place according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible plate is shaped so that when assembled the chimney has an opening in its side.
6. A free standing fire place according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reversible fixings are integral with the flexible plate.
7. A free standing fire place according to any of claims 1 to wherein the reversible fixings comprise mechanical fixings.
8. A free standing fire place according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises a second flexible plate and reversible fixing, such the second flexible plate can be assembled to form a base and dismantled for storage.
9. A free standing fire place according to claim 8 wherein the second flexible plate is shaped so that when assembled the base has a substantially conical shape.
10. A free standing fire place according to claim 9 wherein the substantially conical shape is a truncated cone.
11. A free standing fire place according to claims 8 to 10, wherein the reversible fixings are integral with the flexible plate.
12. A free standing fire place according to claims 8 to 10 wherein the reversible fixings comprise mechanical fixings.
13. A free standing fire place according to claims 8 to 12, wherein the base further comprises a bottom plate to define the bottom of the base.
14. A free standing fire place according to claim 13 wherein the bottom plate is circular and dimensioned to fit at a pre-defined position within the assembled second flexible plate.
15. A free standing fire place according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base is reversibly attached to the chimney with reversible fixings.
16. A free standing fire place according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible plate comprises metallic plate.
17. A free standing fire place according to claim 16 wherein the metallic plate comprises steel plate.19. A free standing fire place according to claims 8 to 18 wherein the second flexible plate comprises metallic plate.20. A free standing fire place according to claim 19 wherein the metallic plate comprises steel plate.21. A free standing fire place according to any one of the preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of legs, reversibly attachable to the base.22. A free standing fire place according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of legs comprises three legs.23. A free standing fire place according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fire grate.24. A free standing fire place according to claim 23 wherein the fire grate is circular and dimensioned to fit at a pre-defined position within the assembled second flexible plate.25. A method of constructing a free standing fire place comprising a base and a flexible plate and reversible fixings, the method comprising the steps of: assembling the flexible plate into a substantially conical or cylindrical shape; fixing the assembled chimney with the reversible fixings; attaching the assembled cone onto the base with reversible fixings.26. A method of constructing a free standing fire place according to claim 25, comprising the additional step of: constructing the base by assembling a second flexible plate into a substantially conical shape; fixing the assembled base with reversible fixings; 27. A method of constructing a free standing fire place according to claim 26, further comprising the step of placing a bottom plate into the assembled base.28. A method of constructing a free standing fire place according to any of claims 26 or 27, further comprising the step of placing a fire grid into the assembled base.29. A method of constructing a free standing fire place according to any of claims 26 to 28, further comprising the step of attaching three or more legs to the assembled base.30. A kit for a free standing fire place comprising: a first flexible plate, shaped to form a substantially cylindrical or conical chimney when assembled; a base; and reversible fixing means.31. A kit according to claim 30 wherein the base comprises a second flexible plate, shaped to form a substantially conical base when assembled 32. A kit according to any of claim 30 or 31 further comprising a plurality of legs.33. A kit according to any of claims 30 to 32 comprising a bottom plate.34. A kit according to any of claims 30 to 33 comprising a fire grid.35. A free standing fire place, the free standing fire place being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.36. A kit for a free standing fire place, the kit being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.