GB2408794A - Flexible elements in an air current variably occluding light to a simulated fuel effect - Google Patents

Abstract

An artificial fire has a moulded simulated fuel effect 3 of logs or coals illuminated from below by lights 7 with flexible ribbons or strips 11 inbetween which move in an air current (B, fig 3) to variably occlude or break light to the fuel effect 3. The air current may be from a tangential fan of a convector heater or flame effect, and may circulate within an air space (fig 3) without outlets. The strips 11 may be mounted on a fixing strip 13, may be directly behind the fuel effect (fig 5), and may extend forward and rearward of the mounting in a cantilever fashion. A gaseous appearance can be produced by additional ribbons (20, fig 5) and an etched plastic screen (22, fig 5). The moving light effect of the simulated fuel effect creates the illusion of combustion.

Description

TITLE: Improvements in or relating to the Simulated Fuel Effect of an

artificial fire.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to the simulated fuel effect of an artificial fire.

It is known to provide artificial fires with simulated fuel and simulated Game effects. The simulated fuel effect traditionally comprises a semitranslucent moulding in the form of logs or coal that is illuminated from underneath by a bulb. Simulated flame effects are created on or behind a diffused viewing screen using light shining on moving elements that are visible on or through the screen.

The traditional way of creating movement in an artificial electric fire has been by the use of spinners comprising round vented discs with a bearing in the middle.

These discs begin to spin by means of air that is heated by electric lamps situated immcdately beneath the spinners. Turmng of the spinners interrupts the beam of light and creates a shadow on the fuel effect. However, whilst satisfactory, it is still sometimes possible to see the rotating discs which reduces its realistic effect. It is desirable to provide a more realistic shimmering effect for an artificial fire.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to introduce a realistic glow to the fuel effect of an artificial fire.

Accordingly the present invention provides an artificial fire having a simulated fuel effect means and at least one light source disposed to illuminate the simulated fuel effect means from below, and an air space between the simulated fuel effect means and the at least one light source, and in which air space is disposed a plurality ol flexible elements mounted between the at least one light source and the simulated fuel effect means, and means for generating an air current in said air space which causes the flexible elements to move to occlude the light falling on the simulated fuel effect means to a varying degree according to their position and thereby produce a changing glow effect to the simulated fuel effect means.

The flexible elements conveniently comprise strips of plastic or fabric.

Conveniently the strips are held captive either at one end or at a position intermediate the ends. In a preferred embodiment the at least one light source comprises a bulb that is located directly to the underside of the simulated fuel effect means and the flexible elements. In a preferred embodiment the flexible elements are mounted above the light source, conveniently by way of an elongate mounting strip extending from one side of the fuel effect means to the other as viewed from the front and the flexible elements are arranged to have portions that extend forwardly and rearwardly of the mounting means. The forwardly extending portions are preferably longer than the rearwardly extending portions.

A flexible element that is completely limp when at rest is preferred, as these [latter in the air current. However, in some applications, where a less volatile effect is required, the flexible element may comprise a plastic film of a thicker material which will remain suspended in cantilever fashion from the mounting when at rest, but which will still move under the influence of the air current.

The flexible elements are conveniently opaque. More preferably they have a reflective finish. More particularly still they have a silver or aluminium finish.

Preferably, a backboard is provided behind the simulated fuel effect means and light source. More preferably, the backboard forms part of a housing that surrounds the internal components of the fire.

In order to enhance the simulated fuel effect further, one or more additional moving elements, such as flexible strips of material, may be provided behind the fuel effect means and the light source. The strips may be secured at one end only.

Preferably, these strips of material, for example, being in the form of ribbons, extend vertically behind the fuel effect means and the light source. The strips preferably extend above the height of the fuel effect means. The strips may be provided at or towards the rear of the housing, for example immediately in front of the backboard.

A semi-transparent screen is preferably provided in front of the strips to enhance their effect. More preferably, an etched plastic screen Is used.

The present invention will now be described further, hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure I Is a front view of part of an artificial fire simulated fuel effect means embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a section on A-A of figure 1 showing the flexible elements in a first position; Figure 3 is a section on A-A of figure I showing the flexible elements in a second position; Figure 4 is a front view of an artificial fire simulated fuel effect means according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 Is a section on A-A of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, an artificial fire comprises a housing 1 accommodating a simulated fuel effect means 3, an electric fan 5, two bulbs 7 mounted in a respective bulb holder carried by a respective bulb holder support 9, and a plurality of flexible plastic strips or ribbon 11 mounted by way of a fixmg strip 13.

The simulated fuel effect means 3 can take any convenient form and will usually comprise a glass fibre moulding of coals or logs. The fan 5 is conveniently a tangential fan and may be provided specifically for generating an air current within the housing to effect movement of the flexible elements 11, or may be the one used for controlling any simulated flame effect means that may be provided, and not described in connection with the invention. More particularly the fan may be a convector heater of the artificial fire.

An air space is defined between the simulated fuel effect means and the illumination means that accommodate the flexible elements. It has been found that an adequate air circulation within the air space can be achieved without providing any specific outlets. Thus air entering at the rear at A is drawn round the air space as indicated by arrows B as it finds its way back to the fan - see Figures 2 and 3.

Figures 2 and 3 shows the flexible elements I] in two different positions. It will be understood that they will move continually between these and other positions in response to the variations in air current within the air space.

From Figure 1 it will be seen that the fixing strip 13 extends in a lateral direction, between bulb holder support 9, and that the flexible elements It are mounted in spaced relation. It was found that for a fixing strip length of 300 mm-350 mm, flexible elements of the order of 4 mm-7 mm wide and space approximately 20 mm-25 mm apart gave a suitable effect.

Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an artificial fire having a simulated fuel effect means according to another embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, identical features to those shown in Figures 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals. Again, thin pieces of flexible material l l are provided in an air space provided between a simulated fuel effect means 3 and the illumination means 7. The elements gently move by means of the fan 5, giving the impression that the fire is actually burning due to the flexible elements 11 breaking the light source eminating from the electric light 7 that is situated behind the fuel effect 3 to create an illusion that there is actually combustion taking place.

The effect is enhanced by the provision of flexible ribbons 20 placed vertically behind the fuel effect 3. A specially etched plastic screen 22 is provided in front of the ribbons, extending from the roof of the casing 24 of the artificial fire. The screen filters the image of the ribbons to give them a more gaseous appearance. The casing is supported by means of an outer framework 21.

Claims (20)

1. An artificial fire having a simulated fuel effect means and at least one light source disposed to illuminate the simulated fuel effect means from below, and an air space between the simulated fuel effect means and the at least one light source, and in which air space is disposed a plurality of flexible elements mounted between the at least one light source and the simulated fuel effect means, and means for generating an air current in said air space which causes the flexible elements to move to occlude the light falling on the simulated fuel effect means to a varying degree according to their position and thereby produce a changing glow effect to the simulated fuel effect means.

2. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible elements comprise strips of plastic or fabric.

3. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strips are held captive either at one end or at a position intermediate the ends.

4. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the at least one light source comprises a bulb that is located directly to the underside of the simulated fuel effect means and the flexible elements.

5. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 wherein the flexible elements are mounted above the light source.

6. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 5 wherein the flexible elements are mounted by way of an elongate mounting strip extending from one side of the fuel ef'f'ect means to the other as viewed from the front.

7. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flexible elements are arranged to have portions that extend forwardly and rearwardly of the mounting means.

8. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 7 wherein the forwardly extending portions are longer than the rearwardly extending portions.

9. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible element is one that is completely limp when at rest.

10. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the flexible element comprises a plastic film of relatively thick material which remains suspended in cantilever fashion from the mounting when at rest, but which will still move under the influence of the air current.

11. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible elements are opaque.

12. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible elements have a reflective finish.

13. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 12 wherein the flexible elements have a silver or aluminium finish.

14. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a backboard is provided behind the fuel effect means and the light source.

15. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fire is contained within a housing.

16. An artificial fire as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising one or more moving elements provided behind both the fuel eficct means and the light source.

17. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 16 wherein the moving elements extend vertically behind the fuel effect means and light source and extend above the height of the fuel effect means.

18. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein a semitransparent screen is provided in front of the strips.

19. An artificial fire as claimed in claim 18 wherein the screen is a plastic etched screen.

20. An artificial fire substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures I to 3 or 4 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.