Patent Publication Number: US-2013239946-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for creating an insulated barrier within a fireplace

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to energy conservation and insulation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating an insulated barrier within a fireplace. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fireplaces are commonly found in homes, offices, and many other types of buildings. Fireplaces are architectural structures that are capable of containing a fire for heating a room or other area within a building. A fireplace includes a firebox and the firebox typically contains the fire and any material that is used to create the fire. The firebox is typically found on the interior of the building that contains the fireplace. A fireplace also typically includes a chimney or other flue that allows gas and other exhaust to escape the fireplace. The chimney or flue typically extends to the exterior of the building that contains the fireplace to allow the gas and other exhaust to escape to the outside of the building. 
     A fireplace also usually includes a damper. A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside the fireplace. The damper may be used in the chimney of the fireplace to close off the chimney. The damper may also be partly closed to control the rate of combustion when a fire is occurring in the firebox. However, the damper is not designed to act as an insulator. The fireplace is directly connected to the exterior of the building, so naturally occurring drafts entering or exiting through the fireplace may allow conditioned air to escape through the chimney or may allow outside air to enter the room that contains the fireplace. Because the damper is not designed to act as an insulator and because no other features of a typical fireplace are designed to act as an insulator, there is a need for providing an insulator in a fireplace to prevent the naturally occurring drafts in a fireplace. There is also a need to create a greater temperature differential between the chimney or flue and the living space. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method and apparatus for creating an insulated barrier within a fireplace are described. A compressible insulator may be placed in a fireplace. Within the fireplace, the compressible insulator may be placed above a lintel on the inside of a firebox opening. The compressible insulator may also be placed below a damper. The compressible insulator may be used to insulate a fireplace and increase the temperature differential between the living space and air trapped between the compressible insulator and the damper. The trapped air may also increase the temperature differential between the living space and the chimney. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows an example of a fireplace structure; 
         FIG. 2  shows an example cross-section view of a compressible insulator; 
         FIG. 3  shows another view of a compressible insulator; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an example method of installing a compressible insulator; 
         FIG. 5  shows an alternate view of a fireplace structure; 
         FIG. 6  shows an overhead view of a fireplace structure; and 
         FIG. 7  shows an example of a compressible insulator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The fireplace insulator described herein may be placed in a fireplace. The fireplace insulator may be a compressible insulator. The compressible insulator may insulate the fireplace and increase the temperature differential between the living space and the air trapped between the compressible insulator and a damper. The trapped air also creates a secondary layer of insulation to further increase the temperature differential between the living space and the chimney. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of a fireplace structure  100 . The fireplace structure  100  includes a chimney  104 , a damper  106 , a lintel  108 , a compressible insulator  110 , a smoke chamber  112 , a firebox  114 , a firebox opening  116 , and a hearth  118 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other features, not shown, may be included the fireplace structure  100 . However, these features are not shown in  FIG. 1  for clarity. 
     In a typical fireplace structure  100  without a compressible insulator  110 , air may escape from or enter through the chimney  104 . Placing the compressible insulator  110  in the fireplace structure  100  may provide a variety of advantages, as will be explained in detail below. The compressible insulator  110  may be placed above the lintel  108  on the inside of the firebox opening  116 . The lintel  108  may be a steel lintel. The compressible insulator  110  may also be placed below the damper  106 . The damper  106  may be in a closed position when the compressible insulator  110  is placed below the damper  106 . The compressible insulator  110  may create an insulated barrier within the fireplace structure  100 . The insulated barrier provided by the compressible insulator  110  may increase the temperature differential between the living space in a room and the air trapped between the compressible insulator  110  and the damper  106 . Further, the air trapped between the compressible insulator  110  and the damper  106  may also serve as an additional layer of insulation between the living space in a room and the chimney  104  or an exterior space. Thus, the compressible insulator  110  may increase the temperature differential between the living space in a room and the chimney  104  or area outside of the chimney  104 . The temperature differential may be a result of both the insulation within the compressible insulator  110  as well as the insulation provided by the air trapped between the compressible insulator  110  and the damper  106 . Accordingly, an advantage of the compressible insulator  110  described herein is two layers of insulation resulting from adding a single layer to the fireplace structure  100 . 
     The compressible insulator  110 , upon being installed, may provide sufficient lateral force against the sides of the interior of the firebox opening  116  to remain in place without any additional force or structures. Additionally, the compressible insulator  110  may seal off any gaps or imperfections within the firebox  114 . The compressible insulator  110  may remain in any fixed position without the use of additional supports or adhesives. The compressible insulator  110  may be in the fixed position anywhere within the fireplace structure  100 . The positioning and ability to remain fixed may be due to the structure, size, shape, and/or dimensions of the compressible insulator  110 . 
     The compressible insulator  110  may also limit the amount of air drawn up and towards the chimney  104 . In a typical fireplace structure  100 , air may be drawn up and towards the chimney  104  due to a naturally occurring draft inherent in the design of the chimney  104 . A downdraft may also be created based on differential pressures between the room in which the fireplace structure  100  is located and the outside climate. The inclusion of the compressible insulator  110  into the fireplace structure  100  may prevent the loss of air from within the room in which the fireplace structure  100  is located. The air within the room may be conditioned to a particular temperature, so retaining the conditioned air may be an additional advantage of using the compressible insulator  110 . Further, retaining the conditioned air may increase the overall energy efficiency of the room or the building in which the fireplace structure  100  is located. 
     As explained above, the installed compressible insulator  110  may create a seal within the firebox  114 . The installed compressible insulator  110  may not be visible from a viewing angle looking directly at the fireplace structure  100  from within the room in which the fireplace structure  100  is located. Thus, the compressible insulator  110  may also provide the additional advantage of aesthetic appeal. 
       FIG. 2  shows an example cross-section view  200  of the compressible insulator  110 . The compressible insulator  110  may include a top sheet  204 , a core layer  206 , rivets  208 , ribbons  210 , handles  212 , and/or a bottom sheet  214 . The compressible insulator  110  may also include other features that are not shown in  FIG. 2 . The top sheet  204  may be positioned such that it faces the upper portion of the fireplace structure  100  and the chimney  104 . The top sheet  204  may be any length or width. For example, the top sheet  204  may be between 3 mm and 10 mm thick. The top sheet  204  may be laminated to the core layer  206 . The top sheet  204  may be composed of, for example, polyethylene or polyurethane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the top sheet  204  may comprise any material capable of producing the desired properties described herein. 
     The core layer  206  may comprise compressible material. The core layer may be any length or width. For example, the core layer  206  may have a total thickness between 1 inch and 3 inches. The compressible material used for the core layer  206  may be, for example, polyethylene, polyethylene foam, polyurethane, or other materials with similar properties. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the core layer  206  may comprise any material capable of producing the desired properties described herein. 
     The bottom sheet  214  may be positioned such that it faces the lower portion of the fireplace structure  100  towards the firebox opening  116 . The bottom sheet  214  may be any length or width. For example, the bottom sheet  214  may be between 3 mm and 10 mm thick. The bottom sheet  214  may be laminated to the core layer  206 . The bottom sheet  214  may be composed of, for example, polyethylene or polyurethane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the bottom sheet  214  may comprise any material capable of producing the desired properties described herein. 
     Handles  212  may be attached to the compressible insulator  110 . For example, the handles  212  may be attached to the top sheet  204 , the core layer  206 , and/or the bottom sheet  214  of the compressible insulator  110 . The handles  212  may be attached to the compressible insulator  110  by, for example, ribbons  210 . The ribbons  210  may be nylon ribbons. The ribbons  210  may be threaded through the top sheet  204 , the bottom sheet  214 , and/or the core layer  206 . The ribbons  210  may be inserted through the handles  212 . The ribbons  210  may be attached using, for example, rivets  208 . The rivets  208  may be, for example, plastic rivets. The handles  212  may comprise plastic. Alternatively or additionally, the handles  212  may be attached without ribbons  210  or rivets  208 . 
       FIG. 3  shows another view  300  of the compressible insulator  110 . The view  300  shows the top sheet  204  of the compressible insulator  110 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the compressible insulator  110  may be trapezoidal in shape. The rivets  208  may be placed on or fastened to the top sheet  204 . The ribbon  210  may also be used on the top sheet to secure the handles  212 . The location of the handles  212  is also shown in  FIG. 3 , although the handles may be located anywhere on the compressible insulator  110  and may not be located on the top sheet  204  of the compressible insulator  110 . Based on the above description of  FIG. 3 , it will be appreciated that  FIG. 3  may also show an example of the bottom sheet  214  of the compressible insulator  110 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an example method  400  for installing the compressible insulator  110 . The firebox opening  114  just above the top of the lintel  108  may be measured  402 . The firebox opening  114  may be a trapezoidal shape. 
     The measured dimensions may be used to properly size  404  the compressible insulator  110 . The sizing may include, for example, adding ⅛ inch to the measured dimensions in each direction to size the compressible insulator  110 . The compressible insulator  110  may be trimmed  406  to the desired dimensions. The damper  106  may be closed  408  before insertion of the compressible insulator  110 . The compressible insulator  110  may be inserted  410  into the firebox  114 . The compressible insulator  110  may be placed, for example, just above the lintel  108 . The optional ⅛ inch added to the measured dimensions may allow the compressible insulator  110  to be held in place under the force of the compression. The compressible insulator  110  may block access to the chimney  104 . Thus, the compressible insulator  110  may be removed via the handles  212  prior to opening the damper  106  to allow access to the chimney  104 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternate view  500  of the fireplace structure  100 . The alternate view  500  shows the firebox  114  as well as the lintel  108 , the compressible insulator  110 , the damper  106 , and the smoke chamber  112 . In this alternate view  500 , some features of the fireplace structure  100  are not shown so as to provide an interior view of the lintel  108 , the compressible insulator  110 , the damper  106 , and the smoke chamber  112  within the fireplace structure  100 . A portion of the front of the fireplace structure  100  is not shown in  FIG. 5  to allow for a better appreciation of the relative locations of the lintel  108 , the compressible insulator  110 , the damper  106 , and the smoke chamber  112  within the fireplace structure  100 . The compressible insulator  110  is shown above the lintel  108 . The compressible insulator  110  may not be visible from a viewing angle facing the firebox  114 . The damper  106  is shown above the compressible insulator  110 . The smoke chamber  112  is shown above the damper. An air space or trapped air may exist between the compressible insulator  110  and the damper  106 . As explained in detail above, the compressible insulator  110  may provide a first layer of insulation and the air trapped between the compressible insulator  110  and the damper  106  may provide a second layer of insulation. 
       FIG. 6  shows an overhead view  600  of the fireplace structure  100 . The firebox  114  is shown as a trapezoid in  FIG. 6 . A firebrick layer  602  may surround a portion of the firebox  114 . A space  604  may be located on the outside of the firebrick layer  602 . The hearth  118  is also shown. Although features of the fireplace structure  100  are shown in a particular order and with particular shapes for exemplary purposes, the features of the fireplace structure  100  may be in any order or layout and may be of any shape or size. 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of the compressible insulator  110 . The compressible insulator  110  shown in  FIG. 7  is a trapezoidal shape. The compressible insulator  110  shown is for exemplary purposes only and one skilled in the art will recognize that the compressible insulator  110  may be any shape that would fit within a fireplace structure  100 .  FIG. 7  also shows a dotted line  702  within the compressible insulator  110 . As explained in detail above, the inside dimension of the firebox  114  may be measured to fit the compressible insulator  110 . The compressible insulator  110  may be sized to include, for example, an additional ⅛ inch in each direction in addition to the measured dimensions of the firebox  114 . Thus, the dotted line  702  may represent the actual dimensions of the inside of the firebox  114 . The area between the dotted line  702  and the outside of the compressible insulator  110  shows the optionally added dimensions (for example, ⅛ inch) that may be added to the compressible insulator  110 . The ⅛ inch shown in this example is for exemplary purposes only and one skilled in the art will recognize that any additional dimension may be added to the measured dimensions, or that no additional dimension may be added, before installing the compressible insulator. 
     Table 1 shows the results of testing performed with the use of the compressible insulator  110  in the fireplace structure  100 . Table 1 includes the date, the outside temperature, the living space temperature, the temperature of the air space between the compressible insulator  110  and the damper  106 , and the temperature in the chimney  104  above the damper  106 . The daily maximum temperature and the daily minimum temperature are shown for each of the temperature measurements described above. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Compressible Insulator 
               
               
                 Temperature Readings 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Air Space 
                 Chimney 
               
               
                   
                 Daily 
                   
                 Living 
                 Temperature 
                 Flue 
               
               
                   
                 Max/ 
                 Outside 
                 Space 
                 Between 
                 Temperature 
               
               
                   
                 Min 
                 Tem- 
                 Tem- 
                 Insulator 
                 above 
               
               
                 Date 
                 Temp. 
                 perature 
                 perature 
                 &amp; Damper 
                 Damper 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Jan. 20, 2011 
                 min 
                 31 
                 69.6 
                 51 
                 41.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 44.5 
                 72.5 
                 57 
                 45.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 21, 2011 
                 min 
                 29.3 
                 69.2 
                 54.6 
                 41.9 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 45 
                 73.5 
                 60 
                 46.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 22, 2011 
                 min 
                 11.5 
                 67.6 
                 46 
                 28.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 31 
                 71 
                 47 
                 30.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 23, 2011 
                 min 
                 6 
                 63 
                 37 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 44 
                 72 
                 51 
                 36 
               
               
                 Jan. 24, 2011 
                 min 
                 22.5 
                 69 
                 41 
                 28.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 44 
                 72.5 
                 42 
                 29.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 25, 2011 
                 min 
                 21.5 
                 63.5 
                 40.5 
                 27.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 43.5 
                 70.5 
                 44.5 
                 34.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 26, 2011 
                 min 
                 28 
                 63.5 
                 43.5 
                 33.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 34.5 
                 70.5 
                 51.5 
                 39 
               
               
                 Jan. 27, 2011 
                 min 
                 29.5 
                 64 
                 50 
                 38 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 35 
                 70 
                 49.5 
                 38 
               
               
                 Jan. 28, 2011 
                 min 
                 23.2 
                 64.5 
                 45.5 
                 33.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 35 
                 70.5 
                 48.5 
                 37.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 29, 2011 
                 min 
                 24.5 
                 63.5 
                 46 
                 33.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 36 
                 71 
                 52 
                 39.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 30, 2011 
                 min 
                 24 
                 63.5 
                 45 
                 33 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 48.5 
                 71.5 
                 55 
                 43.5 
               
               
                 Jan. 31, 2011 
                 min 
                 12.5 
                 63.5 
                 45.5 
                 29.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 53 
                 72.5 
                 48.5 
                 40 
               
               
                 Feb. 1, 2011 
                 min 
                 25 
                 63 
                 46 
                 33.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 32 
                 71.5 
                 52 
                 39.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 2, 2011 
                 min 
                 27.5 
                 64 
                 47 
                 35.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 38.5 
                 72 
                 57 
                 44.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 3, 2011 
                 min 
                 20 
                 65.5 
                 45.5 
                 37 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 39.5 
                 71 
                 55.5 
                 42.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 4, 2011 
                 min 
                 14 
                 63 
                 43.5 
                 28 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 40 
                 69 
                 53.5 
                 39 
               
               
                 Feb. 5, 2011 
                 min 
                 23 
                 63.5 
                 44 
                 32 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 36.5 
                 71 
                 54 
                 42.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 6, 2011 
                 min 
                 32 
                 69.5 
                 56 
                 46 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 54.5 
                 72 
                 58 
                 49.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 7, 2011 
                 min 
                 28.5 
                 64 
                 49 
                 39 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 51.5 
                 71.5 
                 55 
                 47 
               
               
                 Feb. 8, 2011 
                 min 
                 21.5 
                 69 
                 58.5 
                 42.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 41.5 
                 72 
                 61 
                 48.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 9, 2011 
                 min 
                 26.5 
                 68.5 
                 47 
                 34.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 44.5 
                 71.5 
                 54 
                 41 
               
               
                 Feb. 10, 2011 
                 min 
                 23 
                 66.5 
                 47 
                 34.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 45.5 
                 73.5 
                 55.5 
                 43.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 11, 2011 
                 min 
                 23.5 
                 68.5 
                 48 
                 37 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 52.5 
                 72 
                 52 
                 42.5 
               
               
                 Feb. 12, 2011 
                 min 
                 16.5 
                 63.5 
                 43.5 
                 29.5 
               
               
                   
                 max 
                 46 
                 70 
                 57 
                 45 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The fireplace structure and the compressible insulator described herein are for exemplary purposes only. The sizes, shapes, and dimensions shown in the examples described above are also for exemplary purposes. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that fireplaces and compressible insulators may come in various sizes and shapes and the descriptions of the compressible insulator described herein may be applied to a fireplace of any size or shape. Further, the compressible insulator described herein may be used in any product or structure to prevent a draft and increase temperature differential, and is not limited for use only in a fireplace. The use in a fireplace explained herein is for exemplary purposes only. 
     Although features and elements are described above in particular combinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each feature or element can be used alone or in any combination with the other features and elements.