US20180347819A1

US20180347819A1 - Fireplace with removable door

Info

Publication number: US20180347819A1
Application number: US15/615,479
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Hunter, III; Adam Culley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-06
Filing date: 2017-06-06
Publication date: 2018-12-06

Abstract

A fireplace with a removable door includes a hemispherically shaped firebox with a flat, sloped front face with an opening therethrough to allow access to the firebox, with a protruding lip extending along the lower edge of the flat front face beneath the opening. A removable glass panel door positioned against the flat front face and supported on the protruding lip covers the front opening. A latching mechanism secures the door against the front face by rotating an extending arm to engage against the interior side of the front face. Alternative embodiments having a mesh screen door, a vent in the firebox, a grate integrated into the firebox, and an eccentrically positioned chimney with a damper are also described.

Description

BACKGROUND

Fireplaces of various configurations are commonly used for heating, as well as for cooking and decorative purposes. Different fireplaces are configured to be used with specific types of fuel, for example, many fireplaces burn wood, while others burn coal or fuel pellets. While the various types of fireplaces differ in some respects, they all share many common features. For example, fireplaces generally include an opening for loading a fuel source, a firebox for containing the burning fuel, and a chimney for directing smoke from the burning fuel upwardly away from the firebox. The opening in wood burning fireplaces is typically positioned at the front of the fireplace so that users can load wood into the firebox from the front and can view the burning fire within.
Many fireplaces also include a removable grate that positions the fuel above the bottom floor or surface of the firebox to allow better oxygen flow to the burning fuel. And, many fireplaces include one or more doors hingedly or otherwise attached to the front face of the fireplace so that front opening can be covered and uncovered as desired to allow loading fuel into the firebox and/or to regulate and contain the heat within the firebox, and often include attached sliding mesh screens that can be drawn across the opening to inhibit sparks and embers from leaving the firebox area.
While known fireplace designs are useful for their intended purpose, their designs and features are not without drawbacks. For example, typical removable grates are not attached to the firebox floor, allowing the grate to slide or move when adding or adjusting fuel within the firebox. And, permanently attached doors cannot be removed for cleaning and cannot be positioned out of the way if desired. Furthermore, typical folding or hingedly attached doors do not provide a good seal to the front opening of the fireplace. Thus it can be seen that there remains a need in the art for a fireplace that overcomes the disadvantage of prior art designs.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention is provided here to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the Detailed-Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. In brief, this disclosure describes, among other things, a fireplace having a lockable and removable door, an integrated grate, and an eccentrically oriented chimney.
In one embodiment, the fireplace includes a hemispherically shaped firebox with front, back, left, right, top, and bottom walls formed integrally into the generally hemispherical shape. The front fact includes a flat portion that slopes rearwardly as it extends upwardly to form a slanted front face with an opening formed therethrough allowing access to the interior firebox. A protruding lower lip extends along the lower edge of the front face underneath the front opening, with the junction of the front lip at the lower outer corners of the flat front face forming a cradle configured to support a glass panel door or mesh screen door to cover the front opening. The door includes an arm at the end of a rotating latching mechanism actuated by a front mounted T-handle, allowing a user to lock the door into place when positioned against the front face of the fireplace to prevent smoke and/or embers from leaving the firebox through the front opening. With the door unlatched, the entire door may be removed from the front opening and set aside to allow loading wood or fuel into the firebox.
In one aspect, the fireplace includes a grate formed in the floor of the firebox to position wood or fuel above the bottom floor of the firebox and to allow air to flow freely around the wood or fuel.
In another aspect, a vent is formed in the bottom floor of the firebox to allow air to flow into the firebox. A movable vent cover allows a user to regulate the amount of airflow into the firebox to similarly regulate the burn rate of the wood or fuel.
In yet another aspect, the chimney of the fireplace is positioned eccentrically rearward, or offset from the vertical center axis of the fireplace. The rearward eccentric positioning draws smoke from the firebox back, away from the front opening of the fireplace. In a further aspect, a damper vent is positioned within the fireplace such that no damper is required in the flue.
In further aspects, the door may comprise a glass panel, an ember screen, or combinations thereof.
Thus, the fireplace of the present invention allows a user to seal the front opening with a removable door, and to lock the door in place to prevent accidental opening. A user can likewise completely remove the door from the fireplace to allow full access to the firebox for loading fuel or cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a fireplace in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention depicting the removable door in place covering the firebox opening.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 depicting the removable door removed from the firebox opening.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 without the removable door and showing the interior of the fireplace.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the removable door of the fireplace of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the removable door of the fireplace of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 with the removable door in place.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 with the removable door in place.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the fireplace of FIG. 1 with the removable door in place.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the damper plate and operating mechanism located in the chimney of the fireplace of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a close-up perspective view of the vent and cover of the fireplace of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different components, steps, or combinations thereof similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. The terms “about” or “approximately” as used herein denote deviations from the exact value in the form of changes or deviations that are insignificant to the function.
Embodiments of the invention include a fireplace having a removable and lockable door. Various embodiments described employ various features of the fireplace that may be present individually or in combination in various embodiments of the present invention.
Looking first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fireplace in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted generally by the numeral 10. The fireplace 10 includes a contiguous body portion 12 generally defined by rounded top 14, back 16, front 18, and left 20 and right 22 side walls, and substantially flat bottom wall 24, each transitioning to the other seamlessly to form an integral, generally hemispherical shaped fireplace having a flat bottom 24. The body portion 12 defines an interior firebox 26 into which wood or other fuel is placed for burning, with the interior surfaces of the walls 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 forming the contiguous inner surface of the firebox. The front wall 18 comprises a sloped flat face portion 28, with a semicircular front opening 30 formed through the flat face so that the flat face 28 forms a frame 32 surrounding the front opening 30. A front edge of the bottom wall 24 extends outwardly and upwardly from the bottom edge of the front wall 14, forming a lower protruding lip 34 extending across the bottom of the front opening 30, forming a cradle 36 a, 36 b at each side of the lower protruding lip 34, at the junction between the upwardly extending protruding lip 34 and the corresponding side wall 20, 22, near the bottom corners of the front opening 30.
As best seen in FIG. 3, a grate 38 is formed integrally with the interior surface of the bottom wall 24, within the interior of the firebox 26. The grate 38 comprises a series of closed, elongated, triangular-shaped protrusions 40 extending upwardly from the interior surface of the bottom wall 24 into the firebox 26 in spaced-apart relationship. Each adjacent pair of protrusions 40 defines a corresponding space 42 therebetween, so that the set of protrusions 40 and spaces 42 form the integrated grate 38 along the interior bottom wall 24. In use, wood or fuel is placed onto and across the upper edges of the spaced-apart protrusions 40, which support the wood above the bottom wall 24 of the firebox 26. The spaces 42 between the adjacent protrusions 40 allow air to flow under and around the supported wood to facilitate even burning of a fire within the firebox 26.
Preferably the body portion 12 and the grate are formed of a strong, rigid material such as steel or metal. Most preferably, they are formed of cast iron.
The upper portions of each of the rounded front 18, back 16, left 20, and right 22 walls converge at the rounded top wall 14 of the hemispherical body portion 12 and into a tubular chimney 44 which extends upwardly from the top wall 14 of the hemispherical body portion 12. The interior passageway 46 of the chimney 44 is in flow communication with the interior firebox 26 so that hot air, smoke, and gasses emitted by the burning wood or fuel within the firebox 26 rise and travel upwardly from the firebox and through the chimney. As is known in the art, the chimney of the fireplace is typically connected to a flue which further directs the smoke and gasses upwardly from the firebox.
As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the center axis 100 of the chimney 44 is positioned rearwardly of the center axis 102 of the generally hemisphrically shaped body portion 12 of the fireplace. The eccentric placement of the chimney draws air (and thus smoke) away from the front opening 30. Thus, even without a door in place covering the front opening 30, smoke is drawn back and away from the front opening.
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 9, a circular shaped damper 48, formed to conform closely to the inner wall of the interior passageway 46 of the chimney 44, is positioned within the chimney 44. A shaft 110 attached across a diameter of the damper 48 extends through the wall of the chimney 44 and is coupled at one end to a knob 50 positioned adjacent the outer wall of the chimney 44. The knob 50 allows a user to rotate the shaft to move the damper 48 between a closed position in which the damper is substantially horizontal, an open position in which the damper is substantially vertical, and any point therebetween. A flange 112 extends radially outwardly from the shaft, proximate the knob 50 and positions the shaft against one side of the outer wall of the chimney 44. A nut 114 secures the opposite end of the shaft 110 at the opposing side of the chimney 44 with a spring 116 fitted over the shaft and compressed between the nut 112 and the outer wall of the chimney 44 so that the frictional engagement of the spring against the chimney wall secures the damper in any position selected by a user by using the knob 50 to rotate the damper to a desired position.
Looking FIGS. 1 through 4, a semicircular shaped removable door 52 is configured to cover the similarly-shaped front opening 30 in the front wall 18 when placed against the flat face portion 28. The door 52 includes front and back semicircular frames 54, each having an arced upper portion 56 and a straight bottom portion 58, defining an opening 60 therethrough. The height and width of the door 52 exceed the corresponding height and width of the front opening 30 in the front wall 18 of the fireplace, preferably by at least one-half to one-inch in both dimensions so that with the door 52 placed against the flat face portion 28 of the front wall 18, the front opening 30 is entirely covered by the door.
A glass panel 62 is attached between the opening 60 in the door 52 formed between the arced upper portions 58 of the door frames 54 and the straight bottom portions 56 of the door frames 54. The glass is preferably sandwiched between the front and back door frames 54 and secured therebetween via fasteners attaching the two frames together with the glass trapped between. Preferably, the glass panel 62 is made from tempered glass. In alternative embodiments, a mesh screen may be used in place of the glass panel. With the glass panel 62 positioned on the protruding lip 34 and cradles 36 a, 36 b protruding from the lower edge of the front wall 18, the frame 54 of the door rests against the flat face 28 of the front wall 18 so that the door covers and seals the entire front opening 30.
As best seen by viewing FIGS. 1 and 2 in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4, a latching mechanism 64 if positioned at the upper middle portion of the door 52, in the arced upper portion 58 of the frame 54. The latching mechanism 64 comprises a cylindrical rod 66 extending through the door frame 54, a T-shaped handle 68 attached to the outer end of the rod 66 on the outer-facing face of the door 52, and a leg 70 attached to and extending radially outwardly from the inner end of the rod 66 on the firebox-facing side of the door.
Turning the T-shaped handle 68 rotates the shaft 66 which in turn rotates the leg 70 attached at the opposite end of the shaft 66. Preferably the elongated portion of the T-shaped handle 68 is aligned with the elongated leg 70 so that the position of the leg 70 can be determined by observing the corresponding position of the handle. The leg 70 can thus be positioned horizontally—in which case the leg 70 is positioned entirely over the door 52—or vertically—in which case the leg 70 extends outwardly and perpendicular to the upper edge of the door 52.
With the leg 70 in the horizontal position, the door 52 is placed in position against the front face 28 of the front wall, and the door is latched into place by turning the handle 68 to rotate the leg 70 to its vertical position so that the leg engages against the inner side of the upper portion of the flat face 28, in the firebox 26, to secure the door in place against the flat face 28. Thus, the front opening 30 of the firebox can be sealed with the removable door 52. If desired or when required, the door 52 can be completely removed from the fireplace by turning the T-shaped handle 58 to rotate the leg 70 to its horizontal position and the door 52 can be removed completely from the fireplace.
In alternative embodiments, the latching mechanism 64 may include a spring or spacer positioned over the shaft 66, near the extending leg 70 to provide a bias or force resistance against the leg to further secure the door 52 against the flat front face 28.
As best seen in FIGS. 3, 8, and 10, a vent opening 72 comprising a series of four generally triangular shaped apertures arranged in a circular pattern is formed through bottom wall 24 to allow air to be drawn into the firebox 26. A vent control 74 having a similar series of triangular shaped apertures is attached in axial alignment with the vent opening 72 so that the vent control 74 can be rotated about the axis. Thus, the vent opening 72 can be controlled between a fully closed position in which the vent control covers the apertures of the vent opening, and a full open position in which the apertures of the vent opening are unblocked, allowing full flow of air into the firebox, or to any position therebetween. Thus, a user can adjust the flow of air into the fire box when the removable door 52 is in place as described above to regulate the flow of air and the burn rate of the fire within the firebox. A screen 73 is preferably positioned over the vent opening 72 apertures to prevent material from falling from the firebox through the vent opening.
As can be seen, the fireplace described is well suited to overcome deficiencies in fireplaces known in the art. The fireplace includes a fully removable door for covering the firebox opening, comprising a glass panel or mesh screen. The door can be placed against the flat front face of the fireplace and secured in place via a latching mechanism, or may be removed entirely from the fireplace. The chimney is positioned eccentrically rearward from the vertical axis of the hemispherically shaped firebox so that smoke is drawn back and away from the front opening, even with the door removed from the fireplace, and a damper is positioned within the chimney of the fireplace, eliminating the need for a damper in an external flue. A grate is formed integrally with the bottom wall of the fireplace to allow wood or fuel to be positioned above the bottom for more efficient burning. A vent formed in the bottom wall allows the flow of air into the firebox to be regulated to control the burning in the firebox when the front opening of the fireplace is covered with the removable door secured in place.
While the fireplace with removable door of the present invention respect to several exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that other configurations are within the scope of the present invention. For example, while the fireplace with removable door has been described with respect to embodiments in which the fireplace is hemispherical in shape and the opening and removable door are semicircular, other shapes and configurations are anticipated by the present invention. For example, the firebox may be shaped as a pyramid or box, with a triangular or square door, respectively, without deviating from the present invention. Or the latching mechanism may be positioned other that at the top center portion of the door. These and other embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.
Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Identification of structures as being configured to perform a particular function in this disclosure and in the claims below is intended to be inclusive of structures and arrangements or designs thereof that are within the scope of this disclosure and readily identifiable by one of skill in the art and that can perform the particular function in a similar way. Certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fireplace, comprising:

a front wall defining a front portion of a firebox, the front wall comprising a flat surface surrounding and defining an opening into the firebox, wherein the flat surface is sloped from perpendicular such that a top edge of the flat surface is positioned rearwardly of bottom edge of the flat surface; and

a removable door shaped to conform to the shape of the opening and configured to cover and extend beyond the opening in height and width such that the door entirely covers the opening when positioned against the flat surface.

2. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the front wall further comprises a lip protruding outwardly from a lower edge of the flat surface, the lip configured to the shape of a lower edge of the removable door and operable to support the door.

3. The fireplace of claim 2, wherein the removable door comprises a latching mechanism extending therethrough, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a user-operable handle operably coupled to a member configured to engage against a rear portion of the flat surface to secure the door in place against the flat surface.

4. The fireplace of claim 3, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a T-shaped handle coupled to a first end of a rotatable rod and the member comprises a bar extending radially outwardly from a second end of the rotatable rod.

5. The fireplace of claim 2, wherein the lip comprises first and second notches formed at opposite lower corners of the flat surface, the notches configured to cradle the removable door.

6. The fireplace of claim 1, wherein the firebox is hemispherical in shape and further comprises a cylindrical shaped chimney having an interior passageway extending upwardly from a top of the hemisphere and in fluid communication with the firebox, wherein the chimney is positioned eccentrically rearward from a vertical center axis of the hemispherical shaped firebox.

7. The fireplace of claim 6, further comprising a damper positioned in the chimney, the damper movable between a closed position in which the interior passageway of the chimney is substantially blocked by the damper and an open position in which the passageway of the chimney is substantially open.

8. The fireplace of claim 1, further comprising a grate formed integrally with an interior bottom wall of the firebox.

9. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the grate comprises a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the interior bottom wall.

10. The fireplace of claim 8, wherein the bottom wall comprises a vent opening therethrough and wherein a cover coupled to the bottom wall is movable to cover at least a portion of the vent opening.

11. A fireplace, comprising:

a firebox comprising a plurality of walls integrally joined into a hemispherical shape, wherein a front wall comprises a flat surface surrounding and defining a semicircular shaped opening into the firebox, wherein the flat surface is sloped from perpendicular such that a top edge of the flat surface is positioned rearwardly of a bottom edge of the flat surface; and

a semicircular shaped removable door having a height and width greater that a corresponding height and width of the opening configure to cover and extend beyond the opening such that the door entirely covers the opening when positioned against the flat surface.

12. The fireplace of claim 11, wherein the front wall further comprises a lip protruding outwardly from a lower edge of the flat surface, the lip configured to the shape of a lower edge of the removable door and operable to support the door.

13. The fireplace of claim 12, wherein the removable door comprises a latching mechanism extending therethrough, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a user-operable handle operably coupled to a member configured to engage against a rear portion of the flat surface to secure the door in place against the flat surface.

14. The fireplace of claim 13, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a T-shaped handle coupled to a first end of a rotatable rod and the member comprises a bar extending radially outwardly from a second end of the rotatable rod.

15. The fireplace of claim 12, wherein the lip comprises first and second notches formed at opposite lower corners of the flat surface, the notches configured to cradle the removable door.

16. The fireplace of claim 11, wherein the firebox further comprises a cylindrical shaped chimney having an interior passageway extending upwardly from a top of the hemisphere and in communication with the firebox, wherein the chimney is positioned eccentrically rearward from a vertical center axis of the hemispherical shaped firebox.

17. The fireplace of claim 16, further comprising a damper positioned in the chimney, the damper movable between a closed position in which the interior passageway of the chimney is substantially blocked by the damper and an open position in which the passageway of the chimney is substantially open.

18. The fireplace of claim 11, further comprising a grate formed integrally with an interior bottom wall of the firebox.

19. The fireplace of claim 18, wherein the grate comprises a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly from the interior bottom wall.

20. The fireplace of claim 18, wherein the bottom wall comprises a vent opening therethrough and wherein a cover coupled to the bottom wall is movable to cover at least a portion of the vent opening.