Abstract:
A secure, easy to use and aesthetically appealing outdoor fireplace includes a housing, fuel management component and burner assembly. The fuel management component is disposed alongside the burner assembly and facilitates safe and effective distribution of fuel and dispersion of heat. A roller assembly eases fuel tank transfer while providing stable support, and an outer decorative wall cooperates with the frame platform mounted on the roller assembly to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the fireplace. The fireplace maintains a low profile for stability and aesthetics while properly managing heat so as to avoid damaging supporting surfaces as well as components of the fireplace itself.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to fireplaces, and more particularly to outdoor fireplaces combining desirable aesthetic features with safe and effective functionality.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Outdoor fireplaces can be used for a variety of reasons, including for cooking, heating, drying, burning and even environmental aesthetics.  
         [0003]     In using outdoor fireplaces, it is important to consider appropriate safety precautions to minimize personal risk and prevent property damage. As with any outdoor fire, there is the risk that the fire may spread to nearby objects and/or the natural surroundings of the fireplace. This risk is particularly prevalent with top heavy fireplaces, woodburning fireplaces, fireplaces positioned too close to flammable materials, and fireplaces with inadequate fuel control or heat dispersion. There is the further risk of heat damage to surfaces on which the fireplace is maintained, as well as any surfaces or materials forming a part of the outdoor fireplace. Patios, decks, yards and other surfaces can be damaged by exposure to fire or prolonged heated temperatures.  
         [0004]     Maintaining a fireplace with a low center of gravity is desirable from a safety standpoint, in that a low profile fireplace tends to be more stable. However, placing the floor of the mixing chamber too close to the underlying support surface can transfer damaging radiant heat to the underlying surface. For outdoor fireplaces with propane gas fuel supplies, the positioning of the tank further complicates the balancing of safety, damage prevention and aesthetic considerations inherent in outdoor fireplace operation.  
         [0005]     There is thus a need for providing improved outdoor fireplaces which maintain a low profile, provide improved fuel control and fuel flow, minimize dispersion of heat to areas where heat is not desirable and allow for simple, aesthetically desirable storage of fuel supplies.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is an outdoor gas fireplace that is aesthetically appealing, safe and easy to use. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a frame or housing having roller means for allowing a tank platform to extend into and out of the housing. A propane tank can be positioned on the platform and maintained securely in place. Hoses are also provided to direct the fuel from the propane tank through a regulator to an adjustable gas valve, wherein the fuel proceeding through the gas valve enters a mixing chamber to be mixed with air and thereafter directed to a burner within the housing for heat, cooking or other purposes. In one embodiment, venting slots or openings are provided in the walls of the fireplace and around the rim of the fire pan or burner plate. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention, shown with invisible front wall to reveal interior detail, and further shown with fuel tank platform in both an open and closed position.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top schematic view of the general embodiment of  FIG. 1 , shown with invisible top to reveal interior detail.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the general embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown with invisible side wall to reveal interior detail.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a control panel used as part of the fuel management component of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a layer of the fuel management component of the present invention which is behind the control panel of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the fire pan and burner assembly portion of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown with invisible top to reveal interior detail.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are front and right side views, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , there is provided an outdoor fireplace  10  having frame  12  which houses fuel management component  20  and fire pan/burner assembly  30 . Frame  12  includes a lower  12   a  and upper  12   b  base and at least one wall  12   c  so as to form a housing for the components  20  and  30 . Upper base  12   b  is provided with inner edges so as to form an opening in the upper base whereby burners  31  can be exposed. In one embodiment, upper base comprises an edge extending the perimeter of the frame  12  for support of top member  16  and assembly  30  as will be described. Lower base member  12   a  is open to assist in allowing a cooling airflow to enter from under the fireplace, as discussed later. An outer panel  14  can be secured to the frame wall  12   c  for decorative purposes as well as for further insulation. A top member  16  is secured atop the frame upper base  12   b  and is provided with inner  16   a  and outer  16   b  edges, with the inner edges forming an opening  17  cooperating with the opening in the frame upper base to allow fire pan/burner assembly  30  to be exposed at the surface of the fireplace. As shown in  FIG. 1 , top member  16  can be provided with fitting brackets or shims  77  on the underside surface  16   c  of top member  16 . These brackets  77  can be provided to mate appropriately with frame member  12  in order to secure top member to frame  12  as well as to provide sufficient height above firepan assembly  30  for ventilation and heat dispersion when the fireplace of the present invention is assembled. In one embodiment, brackets  77  allow top member  16  to extend at least approximately 0.8 inches above frame member. Brackets can be secured to frame using bolts and/or screws or similar mounting materials, or brackets can be shaped so as to engage corners and/or edges of frame member such that top member lies in close fitting engagement with frame while being readily removable.  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , fire pan/burner assembly  30  can be secured to frame  12  via attachment means  15  such as screws, bolts and other mechanisms known in the art with sufficient strength to maintain the weight of the fire pan assembly  30  and any elements that might be held within it.  
         [0017]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the outdoor fireplace  10  includes roller assembly  42  which engages tank platform  44  to allow the tank platform to move into and out of the interior of the fireplace. Tank platform supports tank  40  in both an open position  40   a  and a closed position  40   b , as shown in  FIG. 1 . It will be appreciated that, while  FIG. 1  shows the tank in both the fully open  40   a  and fully closed  40   b  platform positions, the fireplace  10  of the present invention is preferably designed for use with a single tank at a time. As shown in  FIG. 3 , tank platform  44  and support members  46  form a substantially U-shaped support frame in cross-section which helps maintain tank  40  in an upright and secure position. As shown in  FIG. 1 , platform  44  can include substantially horizontal structural members  44   a  and  44   b  which form an open interior area  44   c  so as to allow the bottom edge of tank  40   c  to at least partially reside in the open interior area  44   c  for further stability. Outer panel  14  can also be secured to the support members  46 .  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  through  5 , the fuel management component  20  of the present invention includes tank regulator member  38  and hose  39 , which allow fuel from tank  40  to be controllably released upon opening tank such as is commonly known in the art. Fuel is released to a standard valve and connection means such as shown at  25  in  FIG. 5 . The fuel is directed through the adjustable gas valve  25  to a mixing chamber  28  to be mixed with outside air and then directed via inlet tube  29  through the burners  31  of the burner assembly  30  to be ignited and burned. When a user intends to light the fireplace using knob  24  and ignitor  22  on the control panel  23  (see  FIG. 4 ), the spark ignitor  22  lights the main burner and the thermocouple  36  (see  FIG. 6 ) senses the main flame. If the main flame extinguishes for any reason, the thermocouple  36  cools and causes the valve to shut off the gas supply to the burner. An air shutter  27 , orifice  26   a  and orifice bracket  26   b  can operate as known in the art to facilitate the process. In one embodiment, the regulator  38  is disposed in approximately the same horizontal plane as the burners  31 . The fireplace can be turned off by closing the valve  25  to stop flow of fuel to the burners. In one embodiment, a pilot can be used to light the burners and valve  25  can be adapted or replaced with an appropriate valve to accommodate this version of the present invention with a pilot.  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 6  and  7 , the burner assembly  30  can include individual gas burners  31  to assist in radiating the heat and enhancing the visual appeal of the flame. The burner assembly also includes a fire pan  32  mounted to fireplace frame  12 , a burner support  33  secured atop the fire pan to support the burners, and a burner top  34  secured atop the burner support  33  to engage the individual burners  31  as is known in the art. Electrode  35  and thermocouple  36  are also provided as shown in  FIG. 6 . In one embodiment, the fire pan  30  is secured to the upper base so as to form a gap between the pan and the top member for venting.  
         [0020]     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the firepan assembly  30  is formed with an angled exterior upper wall  71 , which can extend at an angle A from the plane N normal to the plane of the frame upper surface and/or the upper surface of top member  16 . In one embodiment, angle A can be approximately 1 to approximately 5 degrees. As further shown in  FIG. 6 , as part of interior edge  16   a , top member  16  can have a first angled interior edge  72  which extends at an angle B from the plane N, and another angled interior edge  74  which extends at an angle C from the plane N. As shown in  FIG. 6 , edges  72  and  74  can extend in opposite directions from a middle interior edge portion  73 . Middle interior edge portion  73  extends substantially in a direction which is coplanar with the top member upper surface plane and towards the top member outer edges  16   b . In an illustrative embodiment, angles B and C are each between approximately 1 degree and approximately 15 degrees. When combined with angled pan assembly upper wall  71 , edges  72  and  74  provide structure which influences a draft around and away from firepan assembly  30 , thereby assisting in the dissipation of heat during operation. In one embodiment, edge  71  is angled about substantially the entire edge of the fire pan assembly  30 , and edges  72 ,  73  are angled about substantially the entire edge  16   a  of top member  16 . In another embodiment, edges  71 ,  72  and  73  are angled only about a portion of the fire pan assembly  30  or top member edge, respectively.  
         [0021]     As further shown in  FIG. 6 , the fire pan exterior upper wall  71  can extend from an upper surface  76  of the fire pan in a direction relative to plane N which is opposite the direction of extension of top member inner edge portion  74  from portion  73 , and in the same direction as top member inner portion  72  from top member upper surface. The fire pan exterior lower wall  75  can also extend at an angle from the plane N and, in one embodiment, this extension can be at the same angle as angle A.  
         [0022]     It will be appreciated that the forming, relative positioning and angling of edges  71  through  75  facilitates outgoing and incoming air flow, which can dissipate heat away from the assembly  30  and help cool the surrounding elements of fireplace  10  as well as the supporting surfaces of the fireplace. Due to the generally open lower frame member  12   a , airflow can enter from the bottom and out the gap between the burner pan and the table top, as shown at  81 . In one embodiment, the fireplace of the present invention includes or is positioned on legs that create an airspace for air to rise from below the fireplace, as shown by the dashed arrows  84 . It will further be appreciated that the present invention further facilitates helpful ventilation when incorporated with handle members  80  as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , such that drafting may proceed-either in or out of the handle members  80  as shown by arrows  82 .  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 1  and discussed above, the tank platform has an open  40   a  position and a closed  40   b  position, with the open position being when the platform  44  is movably extended along the roller assembly  42  to a position outside of the housing defined by the frame walls and upper and lower bases. In one embodiment, the present invention allows the platform to extend approximately an additional one-third of the closed length of the fireplace, and is dimensioned and constructed such that when the platform is in the open position, the fireplace maintains its stability with or without a fuel tank in place. This allows the present invention to maintain a low profile while maintaining the ability to manageably interchange a fuel supply. In a particular embodiment, the present invention provides for secure and stable operation while maintaining a low profile and having a length to height ratio of at least 3-to-1 in the platform open position. The length to width ratio and the height to width ratio are also important in maintaining the stability of the fireplace of the present invention, especially in counterbalancing the tank weight when the fireplace is in the open position and a tank is in place on the platform. In one embodiment, the present invention can maintain stability while accommodating a length to width ratio of at least 3-to-1 in the platform open position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows an alternative oval embodiment of the fireplace  10  of the present invention having wall  14 , top  16 , burner assembly  30  with burners  31 , tank  40  and tank support  44 . Also shown in  FIG. 7  are hinge members  50  which can be used to open top  16  to remove tank member  40 .  
         [0025]     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims of the application rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.