Fireplace flue sealing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a fireplace flue sealing device comprising a plate, a shaft mounted onto the plate, a tubular base for releasably receiving the shaft, and a locking mechanism having a locking position and a releasing position. The locking mechanism is positioned in relation to the tubular base and engaged with the shaft such that when the locking mechanism is in the locking position, no motion of the shaft relative to the tubular base is allowed, and when the locking mechanism is in the releasing position, the shaft is movable back and forth relative to the tubular base.

1 . A fireplace flue sealing device, comprising:
 (a) a plate having a first surface and an opposite, second surface;   (b) a gasket attached to the first surface of the plate;   (c) a shaft having a first end and an opposite, second end defining a shaft body portion therebetween, the first end of the shaft being mounted onto the plate such that the shaft body portion of the shaft extends outwards from the second surface of the plate;   (d) a tubular base having a first end and an opposite, second end defining a base body portion therebetween, the tubular base being adapted for releasably receiving the shaft body portion of the shaft from the first end of the tubular base; and   (e) a locking mechanism having a locking position and a releasing position, the locking mechanism being positioned in relation to the tubular base and engaged with the shaft body portion of the shaft such that when the locking mechanism is in the locking position, no motion of the shaft body portion of the shaft relative to the tubular base is allowed, and when the locking mechanism is in the releasing position, the shaft body portion of the shaft is movable back and forth relative to the tubular base.   
   
   
       2 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cup attached to the first end of the tubular base, the cup defining a bore adapted for releasably receiving the shaft body portion of the shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular base has a first window having a bottom edge and a second window having a bottom edge formed oppositely on the tubular body portion of the tubular base, the bottom edge of the first window and the first end defining a first distance, H 1 , therebetween, and the bottom edge of the second window and the first end defining a second distance, H 2 , therebetween. 
   
   
       4 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 3 , wherein H 2 >H 1 . 
   
   
       5 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 (a) a locking member placed across the first window and a second window of the tubular base, the locking member defining a bore adapted for releasably receiving the shaft body portion of the shaft; and   (b) a resilient spring having a first end and an opposite, second end, configured to be positioned inside the tubular base such that the first end and the second end are in contact with the cup and the locking member, respectively,   wherein when the resilient spring is in its extended position, the locking mechanism is in the locking position, and when the resilient spring is in its retracted position, the locking mechanism is in the releasing position.   
   
   
       6 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 5 , wherein in assembly, the second end of the shaft passes, in turn, through the bore of the cup, the resilient spring of the locking mechanism, and the bore of the locking member of the locking mechanism such that the shaft body portion of the shaft is releasably received in the tubular body portion of the tubular base. 
   
   
       7 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism is normally in the locking position. 
   
   
       8 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 7 , wherein in operation,
 (a) a force is applied to the locking member of the locking mechanism to cause the resilient spring of the locking mechanism to move from its extended position to its retracted position so that the locking mechanism is in the releasing position;   (b) the plate is moved to a desired position by moving the shaft; and   (c) the applied force is released from the locking member of the locking mechanism, thereby causing the resilient spring of the locking mechanism to move from its retracted position to its extended position so that the locking mechanism is in the locking position.   
   
   
       9 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the plate, the shaft, the tubular base and the locking mechanism are made of rigid materials. 
   
   
       10 . The fireplace flue sealing device of  claim 9 , wherein the plate, the shaft, the tubular base and the locking mechanism are made of metals, plastic, wood and/or fiberglass.