Patent Publication Number: US-6666206-B1

Title: Fireplace insert

Description:
The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document No. 507,352. There have been no previously filed applications, nor any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a fireplace insert, and more particularly, to an improved fireplace insert for transmitting heat into a surrounding area. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional fireplaces or hearths have been used in buildings and homes for hundreds of years. The fireplaces have been designed for multiple purposes, but the two primary purposes are to provide heat in the building and to provide an aesthetic light source. While fireplaces have well served the purpose as an aesthetic light source generating a desirable ambiance, they are often inefficient as a heat source, in that the heat is dispersed into multiple directions. 
     Although wood-burning fireplaces have aesthetic appeal to consumers, various investigations have shown that conventional fireplaces may actually remove more heat from a house than they produce, such that their heating efficiency is quite low. It has been reported that a typical, vertical-back fireplace with an open front is at best ten percent efficient in converting wood to energy and delivering it into a surrounding room, with the remaining portion of the heat energy being discharged through the chimney. In addition, fireplaces may also pull cold air into the house from small gaps around windows and doors. At the beginning and at the completion of the burning of the fire, these convective heat losses are larger than the radiant heat provided by the fire. The large mass of masonry that makes up most fireplaces are poor thermal insulators and readily conduct room heat to the outdoors in cold weather. 
     To solve the problems provided by conventional fireplaces, several types of accessories have been designed to moderately improve the heating efficiency of the traditional fireplace. In particular, the conventional fireplace insert is known to be the best device to make a significant difference in heating efficiency. The conventional fireplace insert, also known as a convection wood stove, was developed to provide an even and effective heat that warms the surrounding area. Fireplace inserts are appliances that are typically fueled by wood, pellet, or gas, with the fireplace insert fitting into a conventional open fireplace. Some models extend onto the hearth, while others stay flush with the front of the fireplace. 
     While fireplace inserts provide better heating efficiency, they nonetheless fail to solve related problems, such as having an aesthetically appealing appearance or ease of installation. Although some inserts include aesthetic features such as decorative tile, cast iron, glass doors, or brass trim and handles, they nonetheless often fail to generate the same pleasing aesthetic appearance as the traditional fireplace. In addition, installing a fireplace insert in a chimney can be quite difficult, and moving an insert to clean the chimney or liner can also be difficult, such that it is often best to hire a professional chimney sweep rather than self clean the apparatus. 
     What is desired, then, and not found in the prior art, is an improved fireplace insert that is easily installed and used in a conventional fireplace and that is able to provide an improved heating efficiency for the area surrounding the insert. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace insert for distributing heat into the area surrounding the fireplace insert. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace insert that is able to draw in cool air and propel warm air into a surrounding area. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace insert that is able to efficiently heat the area surrounding the fireplace insert while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the fire. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace insert that is portable as needed by the user. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace insert that provides a placement arm for holding food cooking devices over the fire. 
     The present invention for an improved fireplace insert may be used in a conventional hearth having a standard opening below a chimney with an andiron positioned in the opening to hold fuel to be burned to generate heat. The preferred embodiment of the fireplace insert is positioned in the opening of the hearth to substantially surround the andiron such that the fireplace insert will be proximate the heat source. 
     The fireplace insert includes an arcuately-shaped conduit that is able to substantially surround the andiron on multiple sides. The conduit includes an inhaling end and an exhaling end. In addition, the conduit may be preferably divided into three sections: an intake channel or duct, a base channel or duct, and an outtake channel or duct. Moreover, the intake channel includes a proximal end and a distal end; the base channel includes a first end and a second end; and the outtake channel includes a proximal end and a distal end. In the preferred embodiment, the proximal end of the intake channel is substantially perpendicularly connected to the first end of the base channel, and the proximal end of the outtake channel is substantially perpendicularly connected to the second end of the base channel. As a result, the conduit has an arcuate or substantially convex shape, or a significantly U-shape. 
     The fireplace insert further includes an intake air filter that is mounted to the inhaling end of the conduit and an outtake air filter that is attached to the exhaling end of the conduit. Moreover, a fan is mounted or positioned inside the conduit proximate the intake air filter. The fan is operable to draw air into the inhaling end of the conduit through the intake air filter. Furthermore, the fan will propel the air through the conduit and out through the outtake air filter into the area that is surrounding the fireplace insert. The outtake air filter will thereby prevent undesired debris from passing through the conduit. The fan is a conventional blower fan that has a conventional electrical power source, such as a battery. 
     The fireplace insert additionally includes a series of front legs that are connected proximate the inhaling end and the exhaling end of the conduit, and a series of rear legs that are preferably connected to the base channel of the conduit. In the favored embodiment, the length of the front legs is shorter than the length of the rear legs so that, when the fireplace insert is positioned on a ground surface, the intake channel and the outtake channel will each have a gradual incline. 
     The fireplace insert is positioned inside the opening of the conventional hearth. The andiron and fuel are placed proximate the base channel of the conduit between the intake channel and the outtake channel. The fan is then activated such that air is drawn into the intake channel and circulated through the conduit. The fuel is then burned so as to generate a high temperature. In the preferred embodiment, the fuel is conventional firewood, although any other form of combusted fuel, such as coal or gas, or any other heat source, could be incorporated into the present design to create the desired high temperature. 
     The combusted fuel will then act as the heat source for the surrounding area. The heat generated will be transmitted to the conduit, such that both the conduit and the surrounded air will be warmed from the heat source. Moreover, the stream of air produced by the fan through the conduit will be heated quickly. Consequently, the air that is expelled by the outtake cylinder will be warmed significantly to be transmitted into the desired surrounding area. Moreover, the stream of heated air will be propelled with a desired thrusting force as determined by the fan to warm a greater surrounding area than a sole combusted fuel in a conventional fireplace. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An improved fireplace insert embodying the features of the present invention is depicted in the accompanying drawing which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention positioned in a traditional chimney; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 9 is a partially exploded view of the improved fireplace insert of the present invention as illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Looking now to FIG. 1, the present invention for an improved fireplace insert  10  is illustrated. The fireplace insert  10  may be used in a conventional hearth  12  or fireplace having a standard opening  14  below a chimney  16 , with an andiron  18  or grate positioned in the opening to hold fuel  20 . The preferred embodiment of the fireplace insert  10  may be positioned in the opening  14  of the hearth  12  to substantially surround the andiron  18  such that when the fuel  20  is combusted to provide a source of heat, the fireplace insert  10  will be heated as well. 
     Looking now to FIGS. 2 through 4, the fireplace insert  10  includes a substantially convex conduit  22  that is able to substantially surround the andiron  18  on approximately three sides. The conduit  22  includes an inhaling end  24  and an exhaling end  26 . In addition, the conduit  22  is preferably divided into three sections: an intake channel  28 , a base channel  30 , and an outtake channel  32 . Moreover, the intake channel  28  includes a proximal end  34  and a distal end  36 ; the base channel  30  includes a first end  38  and a second end  40 ; and the outtake channel  32  includes a proximal end  42  and a distal end  44 . In the preferred embodiment, the proximal end  34  of the intake channel  28  is connected to the first end  38  of the base channel  30  such that the intake channel  28  is offset, and possibly even substantially perpendicular, to the base channel  30 . Likewise, the proximal end  42  of the outtake channel  32  is connected to the second end  40  of the base channel  30  such that the outtake channel  32  is offset with respect to the base channel  30  at an angle similar to the intake channel  28 , such that the outtake channel  32  may also be perpendicular to the base channel  30 . As a result, the conduit  22  has a substantially convex shape, or a significantly U-shape. 
     Looking now to FIG. 9, the fireplace insert  10  further includes an intake air filter  42  that is mounted to the inhaling end  24  of the conduit  22  and an outtake air filter  46  that is attached to the exhaling end  26  of the conduit  22 . Moreover, a fan  44  is mounted or positioned inside the conduit  22  proximate the intake air filter  42 . The fan  44  is operable to draw air into the inhaling end  24  of the conduit  22  through the intake air filter  42  in the direction as indicated in FIG.  3 . Furthermore, the fan  44  will propel the air through the conduit  22  and out through the outtake air filter  46  into the area that is surrounding the fireplace insert  10 . The outtake air filter  46  will thereby prevent undesired debris from passing through the conduit  22 . The fan  44  is a conventional blower fan that has a power source that is known in the art, such as a conventional battery or an electric motor. In the preferred embodiment, the speed of the fan  44  and the force of the wind produced by the fan  44  is variable according to the desire of the operator. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 8, the fireplace insert  10  includes a series of front legs  48  that are connected proximate the inhaling end  24  and the exhaling end  26  of the conduit  22 , and a series of rear legs  50  that are preferably connected to the base channel  30  of the conduit  22 . The front legs  48  and the rear legs  50  are used to support the conduit  22  such that conduit  22  is positioned near the heat source or fuel  20  so that the conduit  22  will be warmed. In the favored embodiment, the length of the front legs  48  is shorter than the length of the rear legs  50  so that, when the fireplace insert  10  is positioned on a ground surface, the intake channel  28  and the outtake channel  32  will each have a gradual incline. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1 for description of the method of operation of the present invention, the fireplace insert  10  is positioned inside the opening  14  of the conventional hearth  12 . The andiron  18  and fuel  20  are placed proximate the base channel  30  of the conduit  22  between the intake channel  28  and the outtake channel  32 . The fan  44  is then activated such that air is drawn into the intake channel  28  and circulated through the conduit  22  to be expelled through the outtake channel  32 . The fuel  20  is then combusted so as to generate a high temperature. In the preferred embodiment, the fuel  20  is conventional firewood, although any other form of combusted fuel  20 , such as coal or gas, or any other heat source, could be incorporated into the present design to create the desired high temperature. Because of the position of the fireplace insert  10 , the hearth  12  will be protected from the heat source. In particular, the rear portion and sides of the hearth  12  will be protected from damage caused by the flames of the heat source. 
     The combusted fuel  20  will then act as the heat source for the surrounding area. The heat generated will be transmitted to the conduit  22 , such that both the conduit  22  and the surrounded air will be warmed from the heat source. Moreover, the stream of air produced by the fan  44  through the conduit  22  will be heated quickly. Consequently, the air that is expelled by the outtake cylinder  32  will be warmed significantly to be transmitted into the desired surrounding area. Moreover, the stream of heated air will be propelled with a desired thrusting force as determined by the fan  44  to warm a greater surrounding area than a sole combusted fuel in a conventional fireplace. 
     The conduit  22  may be made of any material that is able to be heated without destruction of the conduit  22 . Preferably, the conduit  22  will be made of a metal that is able to be heated quickly by the proximate heat source. Such a material will heat the surrounding air in a more immediate fashion than other conductive substances. 
     The fireplace insert  10  may additionally include a slot (not illustrated) and that is positioned in the upper surface of both the intake channel  28  and the outtake channel  32 , with the slot sized to hold a dish  54 . The dish  54  will extend through the slot and into either the intake channel  28  or the outtake channel  32 . Consequently, the user will be able to fill the dish  54  with water, which will thereby be heated conductively by the conduit  22  itself and convectively by the air within the conduit  22 . The heated water will then provide to steam so that the fireplace insert  10  will further act as a humidifier for the surrounding area. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, a pair of positioning arms  56  are attached to the top surface of the conduit  22  as shown in FIG.  9 . The positioning arms  56  are preferably substantially L-shaped, and they are pivotally mounted to the top surface of the conduit  22  to be able to hold a variety of items above the heat source to heat the specific item. For example, a common use of these positioning arms  56  is to hook a pot or other cooking device to the free end. The user is then able to hang the cooking device (not illustrated) on the positioning arm  56  and be supported above the heat source such that the contents of the pot will be heated as desired by the user according to the particular contents. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful IMPROVED FIREPLACE INSERT, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.