GB2408322A

GB2408322A - A flame effect stove with a door featuring a window with a window having a mask of fine dots

Info

Publication number: GB2408322A
Application number: GB0424597A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Wood
Original assignee: WARMLAND STOVES Ltd
Current assignee: WARMLAND STOVES Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-07
Filing date: 2004-11-08
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Also published as: GB0424597D0; GB0326014D0

Abstract

An artificial solid fuel burning stove 1 comprises an enclosed stove body with a front door 2 incorporating a transparent window 7, a matrix 9 located behind the window 7, shaped and coloured to imitate a base of burning coal, wood or other solid fuel, ribbons 15 extending from behind the rear of and loosely supported above said matrix 9 in front of a neutral coloured backing plate 19 a fan to create fluttering of the ribbons 15 to imitate the appearance of flickering flames, an illuminating member to shine light through said matrix 9 and also onto the ribbons 15, and a masking design (20, figure 4) on or in the window 7 in the form of fine dots designed to create a hazy or smoky appearance of the illuminated ribbons 15 when viewed through the window 7 of the door panel 2. The mask (20, figure 4) may be in the form of a fine spray of dark paint droplets or a screen printing on the window 7. The mask design may be in the shape of an arc, with the density fading gradually from the top of the window to a point at about the middle of the window 7. The window 7 may be covered by a decorative latticework 8. The ribbons 15 may be supported at their upper and lower ends 14, 16. The ribbons 15 may incorporate one or more vertical slits 17. The matrix 9 may be fibreglass with support recesses for real fuel elements. The stove may feature a fan heater.

Description

. A rat "Improvements Relating to Artificial Stoves" It is commonplace for

heating stoves to be manufactured to imitate the appearance of a solid fuel or wood-burning stove. This can be just for a decorative effect, or the stove can additionally incorporate a heating element and fan to supply warm air. Various methods have been employed to create an illuminated effect of artificial fuel and flickering flames. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved form of artificial stove of this nature.

According to the invention, there is provided an artificial solid fuel burning stove comprising an enclosed stove body with a front door panel incorporating a transparent window, a matrix located behind the window and shaped and coloured to imitate a base of burning coal, wood or other solid fuel, ribbons extending from behind the rear of and loosely supported above said matrix in front of a neutral coloured backing plate, a fan to create fluttering of the ribbons to imitate the appearance of flickering flame, an illuminating member to shine light through said matrix and also onto the ribbons, and a masking design on or in the window in the form of fine dots designed to create a hazy or smoky appearance of the illuminated ribbons when viewed through the window of the door panel.

The masking design could be diffused onto the window in the form of a fine spray of dark paint droplets or screen printing on the window. Another possibility is that the window could be manufactured to incorporate the masking design. The design could be in the shape of an arc, with the density fading gradually from the top of the window to a point at about the middle of the window where the design will terminate.

In order to enhance the appearance of the stove and break up the view of the ribbons, the window could be covered by decorative latticework design.

Ideally the ribbons are held in a slack manner at their upper and lower ends in front of the backing plate. The degree of slackness determines the extent of flattening of the ribbons. The effect can be further enhanced by providing that the ribbons incorporate one or more vertical slits. A further advantageous feature is to provide that each ribbon is of greater width across the central portion of the plane of the ribbon than at its two ends. It is greatly preferred that the ribbons should be aligned so that the ribbon plane lies generally in the front to rear direction of the stove. This tends to give the greatest level of flicker appearance to the ribbons, particularly when added to the other features designed above.

In the preferred form the matrix extends across the front of and towards the two sides of the rear of the stove interior to leave an open region centrally at the rear of the stove interior, and the ribbons extend from that open region. The matrix may be formed from fibreglass or like material to define the shapes and colours of burning and unburnt portions of the solid fuel. The matrix can incorporate support recesses for mounting pieces of real fuel.

Ideally, a heating element and fan are provided within the stove for blowing out heated air from the stove.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred example thereof will now be described, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an artificial stove of this invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an insert enclosed within the stove of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an illustration of a ribbon used as part of the insert of Figure 2; and Figure 4 illustrates a pattern formed on a window of the stove of Figure 1.

The stove 1 shown in Figure 1 has all the conventional external features of a real solid fuel-buming stove, including a door 2. Additionally it incorporates a heating unit 3 and a cable 4 for connection to an electrical supply. This heating unit 3 incorporates a fan and can be used to provide warm air. Internally the stove just has structure representing the appearance of coal or other fuel 5 and flickering flames 6, which can be viewed through the transparent window 7 in the door 2. The door also incorporates a decorative latticework effect 8.

The insert within the stove 1 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2. This comprises a fibreglass matrix 9 incorporating representations of pieces of coal (or wood) 10. A {amp (not shown) is located beneath the matrix 9 and will shine through suitably coloured semi-transparent regions 11 of the matrix 9 to give the appearance of glowing embers surrounding the darker coal portions 10. The matrix 9 extends across from the front of the stove and also towards the rear as two side portions 12, thus leaving a central rearward gap 13. Within this gap is positioned a ribbon support 14 carrying a number of ribbons 15 in front of a backing plate 19. The upper ends of the ribbons 15 are attached to an additional support member 16, as shown in Figure 3. Such ribbons are held loosely so that they are slack and can flutter when air is passed over them. The unit additionally incorporates a fan (not shown) below the matrix 9 which will \AI^ - blow air up past ribbons 15. As can be seen from Figure 3, the ribbon is provided with a central slit 17 and in the central region as widened portions 18.

These two features enhance the flickering appearance of the ribbons as it is caused to flutter in the airstream created by the fan.

The window 7 of the door 2 incorporates a masking design 20 (of Figure 4) in the form of a diffused pattern of fine dots. This can most readily be achieved by lightly spraying an aerosol paint onto the window 7 of the door panel 2. This is done in such a way that the interior of the stove 1 is readily visible, but the masking pattern creates a hazy or smoky appearance of the illuminated fluttering ribbons so that they tend to be viewed as flickering flames.

As can be seen the masking design 20 is of arc-like shape with the density of the dots fading gradually to the middle of the window where the design terminates. This gives the appearance of greater brightness of the flickering ribbons 15 and parts of the matrix 9 in the central upper region of the viewed area, thus mimicking the appearance of the hot heart of a real fire. The ribbons will be formed from yellowish material which represents the natural colour of flames created by a coal (or wood) fire. As an added feature, to add realism to the insert, pieces of real coal (or small pieces of wood) could be positioned in recesses of the regions 11 between the imitation coal (or wood) features 10.

Claims

1. An artificial solid fuel burning stove comprising an enclosed stove body with a front door panel incorporating a transparent window, a matrix located behind the window and shaped and coloured to imitate a base of burning coal, wood or other solid fuel, ribbons extending from behind the rear of and loosely supported above said matrix in front of a neutral coloured backing plate, a fan to create fluttering of the ribbons to imitate the appearance of flickering flame, an illuminating member to shine light through said matrix and also onto the ribbons, and a masking design on or in the window in the form of fine dots designed to create a hazy or smoky appearance of the illuminated ribbons when viewed through the window of the door panel.

2. A stove according to claim 1, wherein said masking design has been diffused onto the window in the form of a fine spray of dark paint droplets on the window.

3. A stove according to claim 1, wherein the masking design is a diffused pattern of dots formed by screen printing.

4. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the design is in the shape of an arc, with the density fading gradually from the top of the window to a point at about the middle of the window where the design will terminate.

5. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the window is covered by a decorative latticework design.

6. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ribbons are held in a slack manner at their upper and lower ends in front of the backing plate.

7. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ribbons incorporate one or more vertical slits.

8. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each ribbon is of greater width across the central portion of the plane of the ribbon than at its two ends.

9. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the ribbons are aligned so that each ribbon plane lies generally in the front to rear direction of the stove.

10. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the matrix extends across the front of and towards the two sides of the rear of the stove interior to leave an open region centrally at the rear of the stove interior, and the ribbons extend from that open region.

11. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the matrix is formed from fibreglass or like material to define the shapes and colours of burning and unburnt portions of the solid fuel.

12. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the matrix incorporates support recesses for mounting pieces of real fuel.

13. A stove according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a heating element and fan are provided within the stove for blowing out heated air from the stove.

14. An artificial solid fuel burning stove substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.