Patent Publication Number: US-2011048402-A1

Title: Fireplace

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a fireplace. More particularly, this invention relates to a fireplace using liquid fuel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A fireplace serves heating and decorative purposes. Most people nowadays live in apartments and houses where installation of a chimney is not possible, which in turn makes installation of a conventional fireplace with a chimney not feasible. As a result, a fireplace using liquid or gas fuel has become popular. 
     Accordingly, an object is to provide improvements to a fireplace unit which uses liquid fuel. The fireplace unit further provides an easy and safe access to the liquid fuel for refilling and igniting. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, briefly stated, a fireplace unit comprises:
         a) a housing in which a liquid fuel is to be combusted, having at least one aperture for air flow;   b) a front plate; and   c) a burner for holding the liquid fuel having an adjusting means for adjusting the intensity of the flame.       

     Preferably, the fireplace unit further comprises a drawer adapted to hold the burner. 
     A closing means may be provided to cover the burner such that the flame is extinguished when the closing means is closed. 
     Preferably, the adjusting means is configured to close when the drawer is pulled out. 
     It is an option that a security means is provided to prevent the drawer from being pulled out when the closing means is open. 
     Preferably, the drawer further includes a reservoir for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel. 
     It is preferred that the front plate is transparent or translucent. 
     Optionally, an aperture is further provided on the housing or the front plate for igniting the liquid fuel. 
     The fireplace may further comprise a convection chamber, in which air is drawn from an inlet into the convection chamber to be heated by a heat exchange from the burner and exits from an outlet. 
     Preferably, the liquid fuel is methanol liquid alcohol, ethanol liquid alcohol or alcohol gel. 
     It will be appreciated that the fireplace unit may be installed almost anywhere, for example, mounted on a wall, or placed on a floor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred features will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fireplace unit; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a drawer of the fireplace unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the fireplace; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an internal portion of the fireplace unit of  FIG. 1  with a closing means in an open position; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an internal portion of the fireplace unit of  FIG. 1  with a closing means in a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is presented a preferred embodiment of a fireplace  10  having a housing  20 , a front plate  30  and a drawer  40 . Housing  20  includes apertures  60 ,  70  for air flow. A drawer  40  is configured to contain a burner  80  for easy access to the burner for refill of the liquid fuel. Burner  80  is in a form of a container for containing liquid fuel. Burner  80  has an adjusting means  90  and a handle  100  adapted to control the adjusting means  90  which in turn adjusts the intensity of the flame. Adjusting means  90  is slideable and controlled by the handle  100 . When the adjusting means  90  is closed, the flame will be extinguished. 
     The adjusting means  90  may be configured to automatically cover the burner  80  when the drawer  40  is pulled out. A latch (not illustrated) may be used to cause the adjusting means  90  to slide and cover the burner  80  when the drawer  40  is pulled out. A person skilled in the art would have the knowledge in applying a suitable mechanism to achieve the purpose. 
     Alternatively, regardless of whether the adjusting means  90  is open or closed, a closing means  210  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  may further be provided to cover the burner  80  and extinguish the flame when the closing means  210  is closed.  FIGS. 4 and 5  show the internal mechanism of closing means  210  and security means  220  in relation to burner  80 . Closing means  210  may be in the form of a block, pivotally controlled by a handle (not illustrated) outside housing  20 . When closing means  210  is open as shown in  FIG. 4 , the flame is exposed. When closing means  210  is closed as shown in  FIG. 5 , burner  80  is covered and the flame is extinguished. 
     Alternatively, security means  220  may further be provided to refrain drawer  40  from being pulled out when closing means  210  is open. The security means may be in the form of a latch configured to lock drawer  40  when closing means  210  is open and unlock drawer  40  when closing means  210  is closed, in a usual fashion. For example,  FIG. 4  shows that closing means  210  is opened. Security means  220  is configured to refrain drawer  40  from being pulling out of the fireplace, by means of end  230  of security means  220  interlocking with part of the fireplace. In  FIG. 5 , closing means  210  is pivotally placed in a closed position causing security means  220  to rotate which in turn causes end  230  of security means  220  to lie within the edge of drawer  40  unlocking part of the fireplace such that drawer  40  can be opened. A person skilled in the art shall have the knowledge in applying a suitable mechanism to achieve the purpose. 
     The front plate  30  has an aperture  50  through which a fire-lighter is used to ignite the liquid fuel. Alternatively, the aperture  50  may be located on the housing  20 . A reservoir  120  is provided within the drawer  40  for holding over-filled or leaked liquid fuel. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of fireplace unit  10  is shown having a convection chamber  150  at the back defining a pathway  160  for air drawn from an inlet  140  into the convection chamber  150  to be heated by heat exchange from the flame of burner  80  (as described above) and to exit from an outlet  130 . The inlet  140  may be located at the front, bottom, or sides of the housing. This embodiment of fireplace unit  10  may further include the features of drawer  40  and the locking and latching mechanism as described above (not illustrated). 
     The embodiments described above relate to preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are given by way of illustration. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes, modifications and variations may be made to the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.