Abstract:
A fireplace assembly comprises a base defining a recess and an electric fireplace having wheels which are received in the recess when the fireplace is mounted on the base. The electric fireplace is removable from the base so that the fireplace can be rolled on its wheels to other locations. The base is typically configured to serve as a functional piece of furniture when the fireplace is removed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/479,918, filed Jun. 8, 2009; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to an electric fireplace mounted with cabinetry. More particularly, the invention relates to an electric fireplace which is removably secured within a mount having cabinetry. Specifically, the invention relates to a removable electric fireplace which can easily be secured and removed from a number of cabinetry based mounts to provide the appearance of a non-modular unit and the function of a modular unit. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Fireplaces are a common way of providing heat within the home. However, the installation of a fireplace requires substantial investment in the home as well as planning during construction or significant remodeling. Further, once the fireplace is installed, the look and feel of the room is difficult to change since the fireplace cannot be moved. 
         [0006]    In an effort to remedy the concerns of providing heat along with the maneuverability of a portable fireplace, electric fireplaces have been developed. The electric fireplace provides the appearance and heat of a traditional fireplace with the additional benefit of being portable. Since the fireplace is portable, the fireplace can be moved from room to room or repositioned within a room with very little effort. 
         [0007]    Fireplaces are also known to be combined with shelving and storage equipment in addition to having the appearance of a traditional brick or wood accented look. In particular, the electric fireplace may include bookshelves on either side, or storage compartments above the fireplace to provide storage capacity proximate the electric fireplace. While the storage capacity is beneficial, the additional material increases the weight of the fireplace assembly and does not provide for adapting the fireplace assembly to the room. Since the fireplace assembly is a single unit, the appearance of the fireplace assembly cannot be changed and must be replaced if a different look or feel is required. Since replacing the fireplace is expensive and a difficult process due to weight of the unit and associated costs, there is a long-felt need for a suitable replacement. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a fireplace assembly comprising: a base which defines a recess; an electric fireplace comprising a housing and a plurality of wheels mounted on the housing; wherein the fireplace has a first position in which the housing rests on the base with the wheels extending into the recess and a second position in which the fireplace is removed from the base so that the wheels provide rolling movement of the fireplace. 
         [0009]    The present invention also provides a fireplace assembly comprising: a base which defines a recess and comprises a top wall and a pair of side walls extending downwardly from the top wall, the top wall having an upwardly facing top surface defining a top of the recess; an electric fireplace comprising a housing and a plurality of wheels mounted on the housing; wherein the fireplace has a first position in which the housing rests on the base with the wheels extending into the recess and a second position in which the fireplace is removed from the base so that the wheels provide rolling movement of the fireplace. 
         [0010]    The present invention further provides a method comprising: providing a base which defines a recess and an electric fireplace which comprises a housing and wheels which provide rolling movement of the fireplace when the fireplace is separated from the base; and forming a fireplace assembly by moving the fireplace from a first position in which the fireplace is separated from the base to a second position in which the wheels are received in the recess and the housing rests on the base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a fireplace located within a base. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first preferred embodiment fireplace and base. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the first preferred embodiment fireplace assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment fireplace assembly taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the first preferred embodiment rear upper plates being secured to a pair of side assemblies and a prop rod. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the dowel pin connections of the side assemblies and the rear upper plate. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment fireplace assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connection between the prop rod and the rear upper plate. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the first preferred embodiment fireplace assembly. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment fireplace assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the second preferred embodiment fireplace assembly. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a rear elevational view of the second preferred embodiment fireplace assembly. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the second preferred embodiment fireplace assembly taken along lines  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12  with portions shown in section. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged bottom plan view of the second preferred embodiment fireplace assembly as indicated in  FIG. 13  with portions shown in section. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. 
         [0028]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices and materials are now described. 
         [0029]    A first embodiment of the fireplace assembly of the present invention is indicated generally at  20 , as is particularly shown in  FIGS. 1-9 . As particularly shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first preferred embodiment fireplace assembly includes an electric fireplace  22 , a base  24 , a first side assembly  26 , a second side assembly  28  and a rear upper plate  30 . Electric fireplace  22  includes a housing  32  surrounding fireplace  34 . Electric fireplace  22  is a traditional fireplace with heated coils and may include a blower motor to expel the heated air from the unit. Housing  34  includes side walls  36 , a front wall  38  and a bottom wall  40 . Fireplace housing  32  also includes a top wall  42  which extends beyond side walls  36  to form an overhang. Further, side walls  36  and front wall  38  terminate proximate one another and form bottom surface  44  at a lower end of housing  32 . 
         [0030]    In accordance with one of the main features of the present invention, base  24  includes a front wall  46 , a pair of side walls  48  and a rear wall  50 . Front wall  46  and side walls  48  are preferably arranged to form a top surface  52  that extends around three sides of the base. Rear wall  50  is preferably shorter than the front wall  46  and side walls  48  to allow the electric fireplace to easily rest on base  24 . Further, front wall  46 , side walls  48  and rear wall  50  form and define a cavity  54  therein. Each of side walls  48  include holes  56  extending from cavity  54  through their respective side wall. Base  24  is preferably shaped complimentary to fireplace housing  32 , and top surface  52  is preferably identical to bottom surface  44  in width and length so that the fireplace housing fits on top of base  24 . 
         [0031]    First side assembly  26  includes an inner side wall  58 , a top wall  60  and an outer side wall  62 . Inner side wall  58  and outer side wall  62  are generally arranged to provide a triangular shape, with top wall  60  resting on the upper edges of side walls  58  and  62 . At the bottom of inner side wall  58 , a pair of holes  64  are formed therein and arranged to be aligned with holes  56  of base  24 . Further, top wall  60  includes an aperture  66  for receiving a dowel pin, while inner side wall  58 , top wall  60  and outer side wall  62  and form a cavity  68 . First side assembly  26  may also include a shelf  70  for separating cavity  68  into several usable sections. Having described the first side assembly, a second side assembly is identical to the first but is merely mirrored to attach to base  24  at the opposite side wall. To that end, second side wall assembly  28  includes the same numbering as first assembly side wall  26 . 
         [0032]    The first embodiment fireplace assembly also includes a rear upper plate  30  and a prop rod  72 . Rear upper plate  30  includes a pair of dowel pins  74  extending from the front periphery of the plate and a hole  76  formed in the back portion of the plates. The rear upper plate is generally triangular in shape and sized such that dowel pins  74  fit within respective aperture  66  of first side assembly  26  and second side assembly  28 . Prop rod  72  is preferably the same height as fireplace  22  and first base  24  such that the prop rod maintains the height of rear upper plate  30  at the height of top wall  42  of housing  32 . Advantageously, prop rod  72  includes a dowel pin  78  arranged to fit within hole  76 . Since rear upper plate  30  has a thickness approximately equal to top wall  42  of housing  32 , the rear upper plate and the fireplace top wall create the appearance of a continuous top surface. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3-8  illustrate attachments of the various components of the first embodiment fireplace assembly. Initially, side assemblies  26  and  28  are located proximate base  24  and secured to the base with nuts  80  and bolts  82  through holes  56  and  64  respectively. As seen in  FIG. 5 , once side assemblies  26  and  28  are secured to base  24 , a cavity  84  is formed between base  24  and particularly side walls  58  of the first and second side assemblies. Cavity  84  is preferably sized similar to housing  32  in order to removably secure the fireplace housing within the cavity. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 5-8  also illustrate the interaction between rear upper plate  30  and side assemblies  26  and  28 . After the side assemblies are bolted to base  24 , rear upper plate  30  and particularly dowel pins  74  are each located proximate aperture  66 , while prop rod  72  and dowel pin  78  are aligned proximate hole  76  in the rear upper plate. Dowel pin  74  and rear upper plate  30  are inserted into aperture  66  of side assemblies  26  and  28 . Next, prop rod  72  is located proximate the back of rear upper plate  30  and dowel pin  78  is inserted into hole  76  of the rear upper plate. As seen in  FIG. 7 , the rear upper plate is flush with top wall  42  of fireplace housing  32  to provide the appearance of a continuous surface. 
         [0035]    In accordance with another main feature of the invention, after base  24 , side assemblies  26  and  28 , and rear upper plate  30  are assembled as a single unit, electric fireplace  22  and fireplace housing  32  can then be inserted within cavity  84 . Electric fireplace  22  also includes a plurality of wheels  86  where one set of wheels is preferably a caster style to allow the wheel to swivel while the other set of wheels is preferably fixed direction style wheels. Wheels  86  extend from bottom wall  40  of fireplace housing  32  and are attached between bottom surface  44 . The wheels protrude below the bottom surface to permit the wheels to contact the ground and facilitate movement of the fireplace when outside of the fireplace assembly. Accordingly, when electric fireplace  22  is inserted within cavity  84 , wheels  86  are located within cavity  54  of base  24  and no longer in contact with the ground. Since the wheels are located within base  24 , the electric fireplace is securely mounted within the fireplace assembly and bottom surface  44  of housing  32  rests directly on top surface  52  of the base. 
         [0036]    After the electric fireplace is inserted within cavity  84 , the fireplace may be enjoyed along with additional storage within cavities  68  and utilize top wall  42 , rear upper plate  30 , and top walls  60  of side assemblies  26  and  28  as a mantle to support pictures or other objects. When the owner desires to change the look of fireplace assembly  20 , the objects are removed. Next, the owner either lifts electric fireplace  22  and fireplace housing  32  upwards and out of cavity  84  or leans the fireplace housing forward and then pulls the fireplace housing out of cavity  84 . The owner can then roll the fireplace housing on wheels  86  to another room or a different location. Thus, the fireplace housing  32  can easily be inserted and removed multiple times from cavity  84  in fireplace assembly  20 . 
         [0037]    Having described the structure and operation of the first embodiment, a second embodiment will now be described in greater detail. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various embodiments. 
         [0038]    A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally at  88  as is particularly shown in  FIGS. 10-14 . As specifically shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the second preferred embodiment fireplace assembly includes a top plate  90  with a top surface  92 , a bottom plate  94 , and a plurality of side walls  96  arranged perpendicular to both the top plate and bottom plate. Further, side walls  96  separate top plate  92  and bottom plate  94  to form a cavity  98  therein as seen in  FIG. 12 . Side walls  96  also include a front side wall  100  which includes an opening  102  arranged to receive a cabinet  104  for additional storage below the fireplace. 
         [0039]    In accordance with yet another main feature of the invention, top plate  90  includes a pair of apertures  106  extending through top surface  92  and top plate  90 . Apertures  106  are shaped and sized to each receive a pair of wheels  86  of fireplace housing  32 . An alignment system  108  extends from top surface  92  and includes a pair of tabs  110  proximate apertures  106 . Tabs  110  preferably have rounded corners and are generally circular in shape to locate fireplace housing  32  and ensure that wheels  86  extend into aperture  106 . 
         [0040]    Electric fireplace  22  and housing  32  are located on top surface  92  of top plate  90  and housing front wall  38  is located proximate tabs  110  as seen in  FIG. 13 . Further, housing side walls  36  are also located proximate tabs  110 . Alignment system  108  acts to locate housing  32  so that wheels  86  are disposed within apertures  106 . Specifically, housing  32  is pushed backwards or from side-to-side after being set on top surface  92  of top plate  90  so that tabs  110  are each disposed in a corner between respective housing side walls  36  and housing front wall  38 . When fireplace housing  32  is located on top surface  92 , and tabs  110  are disposed in their proper corners, the housing is perfectly aligned and wheels  86  are located within apertures  106 . 
         [0041]    When fireplace housing  32  is located atop top plate  90 , wheels  86  extend through apertures  106  and into cavity  98 . However, due to the height of fireplace housing  32 , wheels  86  extend only slightly through apertures  106  and into cavity  98 . In particular, wheels  86  extend within cavity  98  a short enough distance to still permit full function of cabinet  104  while disengaging the wheels. When the owner desires to change the fireplace assembly, the owner lifts housing  32  upwards to release the alignment system from the housing as well as remove wheels  86  from cavity  98 . Once again, the owner can roll housing  32  to another room or may locate the housing within fireplace assembly  20  or fireplace assembly  88 . 
         [0042]    Thus, fireplace assemblies  20  and  88  provide an aesthetically pleasing and functional mounts to secure an electrical fireplace while still permitting interchangeability and adaptability within a room. In particular, the fireplace assembly can be adapted with the changing requirements of the room without the additional expense of purchasing a large and cumbersome product. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that a variety of changes can be made that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, any particular fireplace assembly mount may be used so long as the electric fireplace is removably secured to the mount and provides the appearance of a single unit. 
         [0043]    Accordingly, the electric fireplace assembly is an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device that achieves all the enumerated objectives of the invention, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior art devices, systems, and methods, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art. 
         [0044]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0045]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
         [0046]    Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the electric fireplace assembly is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.