Flame simulating assembly including an air filter

Abstract

A flame simulating assembly having a housing including a top panel, two or more side panels supporting the top panel, a back panel connecting the side panels, and one or more front panels positioned substantially opposite to the back panel. Also, the assembly has a simulated fuel bed, a screen positioned behind the simulated fuel bed, and a flame image subassembly for providing images of flames on the screen, and the screen, the housing and the simulated fuel bed define an internal chamber. The assembly also has a fan positioned to provide an air flow through the chamber from one or more intake apertures to one or more exit apertures, through which said air exits the chamber, and one or more filters for filtering at least a portion of said air in the air flow. The internal chamber is substantially airtight, except for the intake and exit apertures.

1 . A flame simulating assembly having: 
 a housing including: 
 a top panel;  
 at least two side panels supporting the top panel;  
 a back panel connecting said at least two side panels;  
 at least one front panel positioned substantially opposite to the back panel;  
   a simulated fuel bed disposed in the housing;    a screen positioned behind the simulated fuel bed, the screen having a front surface disposed adjacent to the simulated fuel bed;    a flame image subassembly for providing images of flames on the front surface of the screen;    the screen, the housing and the simulated fuel bed delimiting an internal chamber;    a fan positioned to generate an air flow through the internal chamber from at least one intake aperture, through which air is drawn into the internal chamber, to at least one exit aperture, through which said air in the air flow exits the internal chamber;    the internal chamber being substantially airtight, except for said at least one intake aperture and said at least one exit aperture; and    at least one air filter for filtering at least a portion of said air in the air flow, said at least one air filter being positioned to filter said air in the air flow.    
   
   
       2 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 1  additionally including at least one heating element for heating said air in the air flow.  
   
   
       3 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 2  additionally including a thermal switch positioned proximal to said at least one heating element and in the air flow, the thermal switch being operatively connected to at least one alerting device such that the thermal switch causes said at least one alerting device to be energized upon the thermal switch sensing that the air in the air flow reaches at least a predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       4 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 3  in which said at least one alerting device is an electric lamp.  
   
   
       5 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 1  additionally including a control device for measuring a flow rate of the air flow, the control device being operatively connected to an alerting device such that, upon the flow rate of the air flow falling below a preselected flow rate, the control device causes the alerting device to be energized.  
   
   
       6 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 1  in which said at least one exit aperture is located in said at least one front panel.  
   
   
       7 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 1  in which said at least one intake aperture is disposed in the back panel and said at least one air filter is positioned adjacent to said at least one intake aperture.  
   
   
       8 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 7  additionally including a mantel portion positionable substantially above said at least one air filter, the mantel portion being movable to provide access to said at least one air filter for removal thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 7  in which the fan is positioned proximal to the top panel and said at least one front panel, for generating the air flow through the internal chamber.  
   
   
       10 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 6  in which said at least one air filter is approximately 20 inches in height by approximately 20 inches in width by approximately 1 inch in thickness and said at least one intake aperture is approximately 20 inches in width and approximately 20 inches in height.  
   
   
       11 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 1  in which: 
 the housing includes a bottom panel connecting said at least two side panels and the back panel;    the bottom panel includes said at least one intake aperture; and    said at least one air filter is positioned adjacent to said at least one intake aperture.    
   
   
       12 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 11  additionally including a front exterior portion positionable in front of said at least one air filter, the front exterior portion being removable to provide access to said at least one air filter for removal thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 11  in which the fan is positioned proximal to the top panel and said at least one front panel, for generating the air flow through the chamber.  
   
   
       14 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 11  in which said at least one air filter is approximately 20 inches in height by approximately 10 inches in width by approximately 1 inch in thickness.  
   
   
       15 . A flame simulating assembly having: 
 a housing including: 
 at least two side panels;  
 a bottom panel positioned substantially orthogonal to said at least two side panels;  
 a back panel positioned substantially orthogonal to said at least two side panels;  
 a top panel positioned substantially orthogonal to said at least two side panels;  
 at least one front panel positioned substantially orthogonal to the top panel;  
   a simulated fuel bed disposed in the housing;    a screen positioned in the housing behind the simulated fuel bed;    the screen, the simulated fuel bed, and the housing defining an internal chamber;    a flame image subassembly for providing images of flames on the screen;    an air flow generator, for providing for generating an air flow through at least a portion of the chamber from at least one input aperture to at least one exit aperture; and    at least one filter for filtering at least a portion of said air in the air flow.    
   
   
       16 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 14  in which the internal chamber is substantially airtight, except for said at least one intake aperture and said at least one exit aperture.  
   
   
       17 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 16  additionally including at least one heating element for heating said air in the air flow before said air exits the chamber.  
   
   
       18 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 16  additionally including: 
 at least one lamp;    a control device operatively connected to said at least one lamp for activating and de-activating said at least one lamp; and    the control device including at least one sensor for sensing a temperature of said air in the air flow; and    a control circuit operatively connecting said at least one sensor to said at least one lamp for activating said at least one lamp when the temperature of said air is at a predetermined temperature or higher, said at least one sensor being positioned proximal to said at least one heating element such that when said at least one air filter is obstructed to a predetermined extent, said at least one lamp is energized.    
   
   
       19 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 16  additionally including a control device for measuring a flow rate of the air flow, the control device being operatively connected to an alerting device such that, upon the flow rate of the air flow falling below a preselected flow rate, the control device causes the alerting device to be energized.  
   
   
       20 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 15  in which said at least one exit aperture is located in said at least one front panel.  
   
   
       21 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 15  in which said at least one intake aperture is disposed in the back panel and said at least one air filter is positioned adjacent to said at least one intake aperture.  
   
   
       22 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 18  additionally including a mantel portion positionable substantially above said at least one air filter, the mantel portion being removable to provide access to said at least one air filter for removal thereof.  
   
   
       23 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 21  in which the fan is positioned proximal to the top panel and said at least one front panel, for generating the air flow through the chamber.  
   
   
       24 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 21  in which said at least one air filter is approximately 20 inches in height by approximately 20 inches in width by approximately 1 inch in thickness and said at least one intake aperture is approximately 20 inches in width and approximately 20 inches in height.  
   
   
       25 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 15  in which: 
 the housing includes a bottom panel connecting said at least two side panels and the back panel;    the bottom panel includes said at least one intake aperture; and    said at least one air filter is positioned adjacent to said at least one intake aperture.    
   
   
       26 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 25  additionally including a front exterior portion positionable in front of said at least one air filter, the front exterior portion being removable to provide access to said at least one air filter for removal thereof.  
   
   
       27 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 25  in which the fan is positioned proximal to the top panel and said at least one front panel, for generating the air flow through the chamber.  
   
   
       28 . A flame simulating assembly according to  claim 25  in which said at least one air filter is approximately 20 inches in a first dimension by approximately 10 inches in a second dimension by approximately 1 inch in thickness.