Abstract:
A rust proof indoor-outdoor convertible fireplace is provided with an open side having access into the combustion chamber box. The combustion chamber box is provided with an inclined bottom panel to drain water from rain and snow products from said combustion box. Support structures are provided on or above said inclined bottom panel for supporting a ceramic floor in a horizontal plane juxtaposed and above said inclined bottom panel. The inclined bottom panel is provided with a hole or aperture and forms the top panel of a water tight box that is used to house a gas control valve and electrical controls when the outdoor fireplace is converted from wood burning to a gas burning fireplace.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to prefabricated sheet metal wood burning fireplaces for use in an exposed outdoor environment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rust proof and weatherproof outdoor fireplace for burning wood and for conversion to burning gas. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Wood burning stoves and wood burning fireplaces are well known in the prior art and are classified in Class 126 subclasses 77, 85, 92, 193, etc. 
     Prefabricated fireplaces for burning wood are known to be designed for conversion to burn gas with the addition of a gas burner and controls for supplying proper gas flow to the gas burner. Such fireplaces have heretofore been installed inside of a house in a protective environment even when placed in a wall where they can be seen from the outside. 
     It would be desirable to provide a fireplace with an attractive outer enclosure which could be used completely outside of a house such as placed on a patio or deck and be immune to hostile adverse weather conditions such as rain, sleet, snow and ice accompanied by heavy wind and yet always be ready for use as an outdoor fireplace. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a universal outdoor fireplace capable of stand alone use outside of a house or for being placed in or against an outside wall of a house. 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a wood burning fireplace for outside use that may be converted to a gas burning fireplace. 
     It is primary object of the present invention to provide a wood-burning fireplace that may be left outside in hostile weather conditions. 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide an outside universal wood burning fireplace that is rust proof and convertible to an outside gas burning fireplace and can be used as an outside/inside fireplace. 
     According to these and other objects of the present invention there is provided a prefabricated fireplace having an outside rust proof ornamental shroud or cover attached to a double panel inner fireplace unit. The inner fireplace unit comprises a combustion chamber box that is lined with ceramic material at the vertical sides and at the floor. The ceramic floor s supported in a horizontal plane juxtaposed the floor panel of the combustion chamber which is inclined from rear to front to prevent water entrapment. A novel waterproof compartment is constructed below the floor panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a section in side elevation of a preferred embodiment convertible wood burning fireplace; 
     FIG. 2 is a section in side elevation of the fireplace of FIG. 1 converted to a gas-burning fireplace; 
     FIG. 3 is a section in plan view taken through the vertical panels of the fireplaces of FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing the exhaust stack and damper above the section line; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the rear support bracket shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for supporting a ceramic floor insert; and 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail of the front drip edge of the fireplaces of FIGS.  1  and  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Refer now to FIG. 1 showing a present preferred embodiment wood burning fireplace  10  which has two air spaces  11  and  12  formed between the panels  13 ,  14  and  14 ,  15  respectively. The outer back panel  13  is connected to outer side panels  16  and  17 , all of which connect to outer top panel  18  which has bleeder holes  19  surrounding the stack  21 . Bleeder holes  22  are provided in some or all of the outer panels  13 ,  16  and  17  so that air entering holes  22  passes through air space  11  and along the side air spaces and exits through bleeder holes  19 . 
     Middle panel  14  is connected to middle side panels  23  and  24 , all of which are shorter than panel  13  and start above holes  22 , thus, air space  12  also communicates with holes  22 . In the preferred embodiment, top middle panel  25  connects to middle panels  14 ,  23  and  24  and need not be made air tight so that air leaks into air space  26  and out bleeder holes  19 . As will be explained hereinafter, the side air spaces (like rear air spaces  11  and  12 ) are closed at the front so that no moisture from the front enters the aforementioned air spaces  11 ,  12  and  26  or side air spaces. 
     A gas line access or knock-out hole  27  is provided in a side or back outer panel below bottom panel  28  which forms a panel in a water tight closure  29  accessible by a round or rectangular hole  31  surrounded by an upward extruded flange  32 . The gas valve and burner controls (not shown) are placed in closure  29  when a gas conversion fireplace is implemented. In the wood burning fireplace  10  shown, the dense ceramic concrete floor  33  is supported on four sides by formed shapes  34  and  35  and by side supports such as angle shapes (not shown). The floor and side ceramic insert panels  36 ,  37  are preferably held by mechanical fasteners as will be explained. 
     A punch out plug  38  is shown in the side of panel  37  and coincides with a knock-out hole in a middle side panel or back panel for use in gas conversion units as will be explained hereinafter. 
     In the wood burning fireplace there is provided a raised grate  39  supported on floor  33  for supporting wood logs  41 . An ash or burner pan  42  is shown positioned below the logs  41  and is readily removable from the front which is preferably left open but may be provided with double glass doors  43  supported by side hinges  44 . Note that an air space  45  is provided below the glass doors. 
     Exhaust gas produced by burning logs  41  passes through a formed hole  46  in top panel  47  and into exhaust stack  21 . A horizontal damper  48  is mounted in the stack  21  on pivot  49  and may be opened or closed manually by control rod  51  pivotally mounted thereon at counterweight/stop  52 . 
     A thick panel of fiber insulation  53  is mounted below outer top panel  18  and held in place by fastening means such as spot nails  54 . Insulation  53  has a hole larger than stack  21  so that the bleed holes  19  are exposed to air space  26 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fireplace  10  is built into a chase which abuts the outer wall of a house or alternatively mounted through a wall of a house and extends into an insulated chase inside of a house. In either event, rules and regulations applicable to wood burning fireplaces require that the stack  21  extend two feet above any part of the house within ten feet of the vertical stack extension. The unit  10  may be supported by wooden or metal or masonry supports resting on legs  55 . 
     Refer now to FIG. 2 showing a gas burning fireplace  10 A conversion using most of the fireplace  10  structure. Elements in this fireplace  10 A which are the same as those described in FIG. 1 are numbered the same and will not require additional explanation. A gas line  56  is shown passing through hole  27  and through a hole in bottom panel  28 . Gas line  56  is connected to a gas control valve  57  which supplies gas via line  58  and a water tight lid or cap  59  into a gas burner system  61  mounted into a raised floor panel  62  spaced above panel  63  and forming a chamber  64  for combustion air there between. A grate  39 A is positioned over burner system  61  and supports artificial logs  41 A. The conventional gas burner system  61  may be replaced with a set of logs  41 A that are hollow and act as burner elements. Such burners are shown and described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/705,845, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,195 for Hollow Ceramic Fiber Burner Log Element(s) assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and is incorporated by reference herein. Other conventional gas burners may be used. Such burners may be supported directly on the cap  59  so that floor panel  62  and its support brackets are not required This permits the grate  39 A to rest on slanted floor panel  63 . 
     Refer now to FIG. 3 showing a plan view in section taken through the fireplace  10  or  10 A and damper  48  superimposed thereon. The rear air spaces  11  and  12  are shown connecting into side air spaces  11 S and  12 S. Bleeder holes at numeral  22  and knock out hole  27  provide access into air space  11 S. Side panels  23 ,  24  do not extend downward past panel  28  so that air which enters air space  11 S also passes into air space  12 S. Both air spaces  11 S and  12 S are sealed along the front by panels  65  and  66 , respectively. However, as explained hereinbefore, air entering bleeder holes  22  which enters air spaces  11 S and  12 S is allowed to exit via bleeder holes  19 . The double air chambers  11 ,  11 S and  12 ,  12 S form an insulation barrier for the hot combustion chamber and permit the fireplace to be mounted directly against a wall or wooden structure. 
     On the left side of the FIG. 3 fireplace there is shown a strip of siding  67  mounted on a siding board  68  mounted on a wooden stud  69 . If the siding  67  has an open end, a trim piece  71  is mounted over the end and the gap at the wall and fireplace is sealed with resilient caulking such as silicone sealer  72 . 
     On the right side of FIG. 3 a masonry or brick wall facing  73  in front of a stud or framing  74  is aligned next to the fireplace and is sealed with grout  75  as well as a resilient seal  75 S behind the grout  75 . When the surface of the edge of the fireplace is prepared with a grid or mesh, the grout  75  alone will form a permanent seal. 
     Refer now to FIG. 4 showing an enlarged partial section in elevation of a support bracket  34  for supporting the floor  33  at the rear. The shape shown is intended to prevent entrapment of water on panel  63 ; thus, numerous other formed shapes are equally feasible. 
     Refer now to FIG. 5 showing an enlarged partial section in elevation of a support bracket or brackets  35  and retainers  78  having a “Z” shape and held in place by screws  79 . It will be understood that brackets  35  and retainers  78  are either perforated or discontinuous so that water formed on inclined panel  63  is free to flow out of the bottom of the fireplace  10  and  10 A. 
     Having explained a fireplace that is intended to be left open to the elements, this does not conflict with the preferred installation where only the front opening of the fireplace is exposed to outside elements and a chase or decorative structure surrounds the remainder of the fireplace and water can not get into the bleeder holes  19  or through the top of panel  18 . The preferred embodiment fireplace is designed for stand alone installation on patios and decks and may be ordered with stainless steel stacks  21  which have a protective cover (not shown) which fits over the stack and bleeder holes  19  and prevents direct entry of water into the air spaces or combustion chamber. 
     Panels of stainless steel will insure that the fireplace will remain rust proof, however, steel coated with rust proof metallic coatings are an alternative when some of the panels are not exposed to the outside environment. The compartment  29  that may house the gas control valve  57  should be water tight if not substantially air tight and only control valves and electronic modules that are rated for outside temperature conditions should be used. 
     When a gas conversion unit is installed, it is also preferred to install an on-off switch  81  for activating the burner system. An expensive alternative would be to incorporate a RF remote actuated control unit on the gas valve. Manual controls may be placed above or below the cap  69  where they can be reached, but should not present a leak in the watertight system. 
     The grates, gas burners and artificial logs used in conversion units merely supplement the basic convertible fireplace and preferably are usually sold and installed after the basic wood burning fireplace which is operable as a stand alone fireplace before or after partial or full custom enclosures are added.