Patent ID: 8136276

Claim:
A simulated burning fuel apparatus comprising: a simulated fuel bed; a plurality of smoke apertures defined in the fuel bed through which simulated smoke may pass; a plurality of colored light sources located below the fuel bed; a source of simulated smoke provided separate to the plurality of light sources; means for conveying the simulated smoke from said source through said smoke apertures, so that the smoke rises from said smoke apertures above the simulated fuel bed; the light sources being configured operatively to direct light onto the smoke rising from said smoke apertures to selectively and/or locally illuminate the smoke rising from the fuel bed, wherein the means for conveying the simulated smoke from said source comprises a fan; and the fan, the plurality of colored light sources and source of simulated smoke are arranged relative to one another such that simulated smoke operably leaves the source of simulated smoke below the fuel bed and prior to being illuminated by the plurality of colored light sources, the color of the colored light sources and the selectively and/or locally illumination of the smoke rising from the fuel bed providing the illusion of flames.