Single cartridge, self regulating, fuel efficient alcohol gel fireplace insert

Abstract

A fireplace insert consisting of a noncombustible logset with a cavity that accepts a single, disposable, rectangular fuel cartridge containing alcohol gel fuel. The fuel cartridge sits below a vapor restrictor plate that restricts the amount of fuel that is fully exposed to ambient air but which also has one or more apertures. The plate and fuel cartridge, acting together, regulate the fire without any manually operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms so as to produce a clean burning rectangular flame pattern that lasts at least one hour and flutters and peaks at predictable and acceptable heights, providing a visually pleasing fireplace effect without the use of any electric bulbs.

1 . A fireplace insert comprising: 
 a noncombustible logset having a cartridge-receiving cavity which communicates with the atmosphere,    a fuel cartridge having at least one cartridge aperture, located within said cartridge-receiving cavity, and    a vapor restrictor plate having at least one plate aperture, 
 said vapor restrictor plate being disposed proximate to said rectangular fuel cartridge so that said cartridge aperture is proximate to said plate aperture and said fuel cartridge communicates with the atmosphere.  
   
   
   
       2 . The fireplace insert of  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge-receiving cavity is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       3 . The fireplace insert of  claim 1 , wherein said vapor restrictor plate is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       4 . The fireplace insert of  claim 2 , wherein said vapor restrictor plate is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       5 . The fireplace insert of  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge aperture is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       6 . The fireplace insert of  claim 1 , wherein said plate aperture is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       7 . The fireplace insert of  claim 5 , wherein said plate aperture is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       8 . The fireplace insert of  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge-receiving cavity is substantially rectangular, said vapor restrictor plate is substantially rectangular, said cartridge aperture is substantially rectangular, and said plate aperture is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       9 . The fireplace insert of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel cartridge comprises alcohol gel fuel.  
   
   
       10 . The fireplace insert of  claim 9 , wherein said fuel cartridge comprises alcohol gel fuel.  
   
   
       11 . A substantially rectangular alcohol gel fuel cartridge comprising: 
 a bottom,    a left sidewall,    a right sidewall,    a front wall,    a back wall,    a substantially open top, 
 said fuel cartridge containing alcohol gel fuel.  
   
   
   
       12 . A substantially rectangular alcohol gel fireplace insert fuel cartridge comprising: 
 a bottom,    a left sidewall,    a right sidewall,    a front wall,    a back wall,    a substantially open top, 
 said fuel cartridge containing alcohol gel fuel.