GB2307132A

GB2307132A - Combined fireplace and television or holographic display

Info

Publication number: GB2307132A
Application number: GB9523172A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-13
Filing date: 1995-11-13
Publication date: 1997-05-14
Also published as: GB9523172D0

Abstract

Display apparatus and surround in which the display apparatus displays an image 3 of a fire and the surround 2 comprises or resembles a fire surround. The display apparatus can also display images generated from television and similar signals. The display apparatus may alternatively display holographic images. Subliminal images may be incorporated into the display images. The room temperature may be displayed and used to prevent the subliminal images being displayed and to actuate heat generating means.

Description

Combined fireplace and television Prior art The domestic fireplace (open fire or the like) has been known for centuries. Apart from providing heat, it acts as the centre of family life and even where there is central heating in the residence, an open fire or an imitation of it is often provided. Also present in the vast majority of modern living rooms is a television set, which acts as another centre of attraction in the room.

This known arrangement has disadvantages. In the first place, it is not always easy to arrange the furniture so as to make either the fireplace or the television the centre of interest. Secondly, space may be limited in modern houses and having the fireplace and the television as separate units wastes space. In addition, the provision of a fire involves extra cleaning and the draught due to the chimney.

Where an artificial fire is provided, this may not have an entirely realistic appearance.

Statements of invention According to the present invention there is provided display apparatus for displaying an image of a fire, the apparatus comprising image producing means operable to produce and display an image of a fire, and a surround which comprises or resembles a fire surround and in which the means are at least partly located so that the image is viewable in the surround.

Preferably the image producing means comprises a viewing screen, and may comprise a television set, monitor, or other similar apparatus. Alternatively, the image producing means may comprise hologram generating means operable to produce and display a holographic image. Preferably the image producing means are operable to display images generated from video signals such as broadcast, satellite television and video recording signals. The image producing means may be switchable and desirably selectively switchable between a first condition in which a fire image is displayed, and one or more further conditions in which other video images, such as television and satellite programme images are displayed.

Preferably a fire image is stored on a recording medium, such as video tape, laser disc or other suitable medium, which is selectively operable to transmit image signals to the screen to display a fire image. Preferably a plurality of images is recorded, and means may be provided to randomly select the order in which the images are displayed to desirably give the image a realistic flickering effect. The fire image preferably comprises an image of a lit open fire and may be produced from a recording of a real open fire. Sound effects of a burning fire may also be producible by the apparatus.

Preferably the apparatus comprises means that suggest the fire image is radiating heat. The means may comprise one or more members resembling heat radiating members. Alternatively or additionally subliminal images may be incorporated into the display image(s).

According to a further alternative, the apparatus may comprise heat generating means.

The apparatus may further comprise monitoring means connectable to or comprising thermometer means operable to monitor the temperature of a room in which the apparatus is located and to display the temperature and/or any other desired image or message relating to the temperature desirably on the screen and preferably irrespective of what other image is displayed on the display means. The monitoring means may be operable to delete and/or prevent the generation of subliminal messages, and/or actuate any heat generating means, when the temperature of the room being monitored drops below a predetermined value.

The surround may be mountable to a wall or walls or any other fixture or in a corner or it may be freestanding.

The surround may resemble traditional fire surrounds, or may be of any original design of fire surround.

The image producing means may also be installed as a retrofit were a suitable surround already exists.

The apparatus may also include or have integrated with it the equipment usually installed in a music centre.

Description of the invention In the single figure, an appropriately shaped television screen 1 or the like is incorporated within a fireplace surround 2. Apart from showing the usual television programmes, video tapes and the like, the invention includes a video recording or some similar system to provide a real is tic picture 3 of a fire. There is no need for television controls to be on or near the fireplace (which would somewhat spoil the illusion) because such controls can be on an independent portable unit - as is now common practice.

In its simplest form, this recording could be on a video tape and show an appropriate type of fire, a small-sized coal fire in the case of a small surround or a large-sized wood fire in the case of a large surround, for example.

This recording can be permanently installed so that the fire could be made to appear by simply touching a button or operating a switch. Any convenient type of image recording arrangement known to the specialist can be used.

A number of image recordings, each lasting a comparatively short time and arranged so that any of them could precede or follow any of the others, can be included. The use of a random selection device would then provide an almost infinite variety of fire sequences which would produce a real is tic flickering effect.

A holographic moving picture of the fire can also be provided. Because the actual time recorded can (in total) be small, the cost of providing a moving holographic image of the fire can be comparatively small.

The illusion that heat is actually being radiated from the fire can be produced either by suitably placed radiant panels or the like or by subliminal techniques. The latter can be accomplished at very low cost but may be subject to legal limitations and involve certain dangers. Old people, for example, might be given the illusion of warmth - even though the central heating system was inoperative for some reason with the resulting danger of hypothermia. This danger can be avoided by including, as part of the invention, a room thermostat which switches off the subliminal message and/or actuates any heat generating means when the room temperature falls below a certain temperature. An opposite subliminal or clear message warning of the low temperature can also be included. This warning message can be made to appear even when a television programme is being shown. Because the screen would be operative most of the time - showing either the fire or the television programme - this provides a real element of protection against hypothermia for old people.

Although the invention is described in terms of a fireplace surround, which implies a standard unit fitted against a wall, it can be applied to other new or traditional fireplace arrangements such as a custom built stone surround, a corner fire or even a free-standing fire where, in particular, a holographic image is used. The image producing means can also be installed as a retrofit where a suitable surround already exists.

Claims

1. Display apparatus for displaying an image of a fire, the apparatus comprising image producing means operable to produce and display an image of a fire, and a surround which comprises or resembles a fire surround and in which the means are at least partly located so that the image is viewable in the surround.

2. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the image producing means comprises a viewing screen, and may comprise a television set, monitor, or other similar apparatus and may alternatively comprise hologram generating means operable to produce and display a holographic image, the image producing means being preferably operable to display images generated from video signals such as broadcast, satellite television and video recording signals.

3. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the image producing means may be switchable and desirably selectively switchable between a first condition in which a fire image is displayed, and one or more further conditions in which other video images, such as television and satellite programme images are displayed.

4. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a fire image is preferably stored on a recording medium, such as video tape, laser disk or other suitable medium, which is selectively operable to transmit image signals to the screen to display a fire image, a plurality of images being preferably recorded and means provided to randomly select the order in which the images are displayed to desirably give the image a realistic flickering effect and the fire image preferably comprising an image of a lit open fire, which image may be produced from a recording of a real open fire with sound effects of a burning fire also possibly producible by the apparatus.

5. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises means that suggest the fire image is radiating heat, such means possibly comprising one or more members resembling heat radiating members or, alternatively or additionally, subliminal images may be incorporated into the display image(s).

6. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises heat generating means.

7. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises monitoring means connectable to or comprising thermometer means operable to monitor the temperature of a room in which the apparatus is located and to display the temperature and/or any other desired image or message relating to the temperature desirably on the screen and preferably irrespective of what other image is displayed on the display means, which monitoring means may be operable to delete and/or prevent the generation of subliminal messages and/or to actuate any heat generating means when the temperature of the room being monitored drops below a predetermined value.

8. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the surround may be mountable to a wall or walls or any other fixture or in a corner or be freestanding.

9. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the surround may resemble traditional fire surrounds or may be of any original design of fire surround.

10. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the image producing means may be installed as a retrofit where a suitable surround already exists.

11. Display apparatus and surround as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the apparatus may include or have integrated with it the equipment usually installed in a music centre.