Fireplace safety barrier system

Abstract

A fireplace system can comprise a first safety barrier and a second safety barrier disposed across a firebox opening and defining an interbarrier space. A fireplace system can also comprise a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the interbarrier space. The interbarrier space and heat exchanger may further be in fluid communication with ambient air. Operation of the fireplace system may produce natural convection through the interbarrier space, resulting in cooling of the safety barrier and the fireplace system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A fireplace system comprising:
 a firebox;   a first safety barrier;   a second safety barrier, wherein the first safety barrier and the second safety barrier define an interbarrier space between the first safety barrier and the second safety barrier; and   an upper cavity defined by an enclosure disposed above the firebox, wherein the upper cavity is in fluid communication with the interbarrier space.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an outlet duct fluidly coupled to the upper cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of outlet ducts fluidly coupled to the upper cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an interbarrier space inlet in fluid communication with the interbarrier space. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a lower firebox opening surround surface defining the interbarrier space inlet. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the interbarrier space inlet comprises an inlet aperture between a lower edge of the second safety barrier and the lower firebox opening surround surface. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the interbarrier space inlet is disposed within an area defined by boundaries of the firebox opening. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system does not comprise a fan or blower operatively connected to the interbarrier space. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the system does not comprise a metal mesh screen within the firebox opening. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first safety barrier is configured to fluidly isolate the firebox from air within or proximate the interbarrier space. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a firebox exhaust system comprising an exhaust flue that is coaxial with a combustion air inlet, wherein the exhaust flue and the combustion air inlet are in fluid communication with an interior of the firebox. 
     
     
         32 . A firebox system, comprising:
 a firebox;   a first safety barrier;   a second safety barrier, wherein the first safety barrier and the second safety barrier define an interbarrier space between the first safety barrier and the second safety barrier;   an interbarrier space inlet in fluid communication with the interbarrier space; and   an interbarrier space outlet in fluid communication with the interbarrier space,   wherein the interbarrier space is configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of an upper cavity defined by a cavity enclosure or a top heat exchanger comprising a heat exchanger volume defined by an enclosure, wherein the at least one of the upper cavity and the top heat exchanger are configured to be disposed above the firebox.   
     
     
         33 . The firebox system of  claim 32 , wherein the system does not comprise a fan or blower operatively connected to the interbarrier space. 
     
     
         34 . The firebox system of  claim 32 , wherein the first safety barrier is configured to fluidly isolate the firebox from air within or proximate the interbarrier space. 
     
     
         35 . A method of using a fireplace system, comprising:
 transferring thermal energy from a firebox to an upper cavity disposed above the firebox, wherein the transferring thermal energy produces a decrease in an air density of air in the upper cavity, and wherein the decrease in the air density produces an increased air buoyancy of the air in the upper cavity;   venting the air in the upper cavity to a first external location, wherein the venting produces a bulk air flow;   supplying convection inlet air from an air inlet to maintain the bulk air flow; and   channeling the bulk air flow through an interbarrier space between a first safety barrier and a second safety barrier, wherein the first safety barrier is coupled to the firebox, wherein the interbarrier space is in fluid communication with the upper cavity, and wherein the bulk air flow travels through the interbarrier space and into the upper cavity.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the air inlet is an interbarrier space inlet in fluid communication with the interbarrier space 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the venting is performed using an outlet duct. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the supplying the convection inlet air is accomplished without using a fan or blower. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the bulk air flow is produced or maintained without using a fan or a blower. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the first safety barrier is configured to fluidly isolate the firebox from air within or proximate the interbarrier space.