GB2290865A - Electric fire with simulated flame effect - Google Patents
Electric fire with simulated flame effect Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2290865A GB2290865A GB9412498A GB9412498A GB2290865A GB 2290865 A GB2290865 A GB 2290865A GB 9412498 A GB9412498 A GB 9412498A GB 9412498 A GB9412498 A GB 9412498A GB 2290865 A GB2290865 A GB 2290865A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- reflecting surface
- fire
- simulated
- real image
- flame
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F24C7/00—Stoves or ranges heated by electric energy
- F24C7/002—Stoves
- F24C7/004—Stoves simulating flames
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
An electric fire has a simulated flame effect and comprises a simulated fire grate (10) simulating the appearance of burning coals or wood (11) in a real fire. A simulated flame object generator (18) is located out of an normal line of sight when the fire is viewed when installed. An optical system produces a real image (29) of the simulated flame object located at least partly above the coal or wood of the simulated fire grate. The real image is produced by a combination of a partially reflecting surface (23) located between the flame object generator and the desired location of the real image (29) so that a virtual image of the flame object would appear reflected in the surface at this desired location, and a reflecting surface (25) on the same side of the partially reflecting surface as the flame object generator to produce the real image transmitted through the partially reflecting surface. <IMAGE>
Description
ELECTRIC FIRE WITH SIMULATED
FLAME EFFECT
The present invention relates to electric fires and particularly to electric fires which attempt to provide a simulation of a real fire with glowing and coals or wood and flames.
Many attempts have been made to design electric fires which simulate real fires. It is generally relatively straight forward to provide the effect of glowing coals or wood, and even to superimpose on the glowing effect some moving shadows, for example by providing freely rotating fans mounted above an incandescent bulb providing the light source so that the fans are rotated by rising convection currents from the lamps. There are also flame effect fires on the market which attempt to simulate the appearance of flames rising from the glowing coals or wood. Hitherto such flame effect simulations have been provided by projections of light and shadows on to a frosted glass screen or the like. These flame effect simulations are by no means fully convincing and there is a considerable demand in the market for a more genuine looking flame effect on an electric fire.
According to the present invention, an electric fire having a simulated flame effect comprises a simulated fire grate simulating the appearance of burning coals or wood in a real fire, a simulated flame object generator located out of a normal line of sight when the fire is viewed when installed, and an optical system producing a real image of said simulated flame object located at least partly above the coals or wood of the simulated fire grate.
By projecting with the above optical system a real image of the simulated flame object at a desired position substantially above the coals or wood of the simulated fire grate, the effect is created of a flame-like object floating in space over the coals or wood, fairly realistically simulating real flames.
In a preferred example, the optical system comprises a partially reflecting surface located between the flame object and the desired location of said real image so that a virtual image of said flame object would appear reflected in said surface at said desired location and a retro-reflecting surface on the same side of said partially reflecting surface as the flame object to produce said real image transmitted through the partially reflecting surface.
In order to obtain a better understanding of this preferred optical system, it is most convenient to refer to EP-A-0460873. In this European patent specification, an optical system is described including a beam splitter (or partially reflecting surface) and at least one and preferably two retro-reflecting surfaces. By arranging the retro-reflecting surfaces to reflect back to the beam splitter partially reflected light from the beam splitter, it can be seen that a real image can be formed on one side of the beam splitter of an object located on the other side. In fact the real image is created where the virtual image of the object would appear to be if viewed in the beam splitter from the same side thereof as the object in question.
Preferably, said flame object generator comprises a plurality of strips of reflecting foil, a blower to produce an air flow over said strips so they flutter and a light source to illuminate the fluttering strips.
Then, in a particularly effective arrangement, at least one of the strips is mounted by one end so as to be directed at that end against the direction of the air flow, the strip being bent back on itself adjacent to said end so that the major part of its length can flutter freely in the air flow, the strip having sufficient resilience where it is bent back that its length in the direction of the air flow varies as the strip flutters.
By this arrangement, the height of the simulated flame formed by the real image of this strip appears to bounce up and down, giving a realistic impression of a real flame.
An example of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view in side elevation of an electric fire embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the fire of Figure 1 along the line of arrow A;
Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a flame object for use in the fires of Figures 1 and 2 or 3; and
Figure 5 is a cross sectional side view of the flame object of Figure 4.
Considering firstly Figure 1, this is a cross sectional side view of an electric fire. The left hand side of the fire would be the side facing into the room to be heated. In the illustration of Figure 1, the electric heating elements themselves are not shown but these might comprise the usual radiant elements, or enclosed hot elements providing a flow of hot air by convection or fan assistance.
In any case, the fire includes a simulated fire grate shown generally at 10 which may comprise artificial coals or logs of wood 11. These coals or wood logs 11 may be illuminated in a manner known for such electric fires, for example by means of an incandescent lamp 12 located beneath the coals or logs 11 and providing illumination via slots 13 through a base support 14.
The fire includes a facia 15 which surrounds an opening 16 which is bounded at the bottom by the support 14 and coals or logs 11. At the upper edge of the opening 16, a screening wall 17 extends inwardly for a distance approaching half the total depth of the fire. A simulated flame object generator is illustrated in Figure 1 schematically by the parallel lines 18 and is located towards the rear of fire slightly above the level of the screening wall 17. The flame object generator 18 and the screening wall 17 are arranged so that the flame object generator 18 cannot generally be viewed directly through the fire opening 16.
Referring briefly to Figure 3, the flame object generator 18 comprises a plurality of strips 19 of reflective foil material. The strips 19 are each supported at one end 20 so that they can flutter freely in an air flow directed from the end 20 towards the free ends of the strips. The air flow is provided by an electric fan which is not shown in the drawing.
The fluttering strips 19 are illuminated by lamps 21 and 22 located near the ends 20 of the strips so as to illuminate the underneath surfaces of the strips.
Referring back to Figure 1, a partially reflecting surface 23 is mounted between the flame object generator 18 and the opening 16 of the fire and extends downwards from an inner end of the screening wall 17 to the base 24 of the fire, as well as horizontally across the full width of the fire. The surface 23 is parallel to a front edge of the fire, but is angled with respect to the vertical so that an upper edge of the surface 23 is closer to the front opening 16 of the fire than the bottom edge of the surface 23.
In fact, the angle of the surface 23 to the vertical is carefully arranged so that, from the same side of the surface 23 as the flame object generator 18, a virtual image of the flame object would appear reflected in the surface 23 located above the coals or logs 11 in the front opening 16 of the fire.
In addition to the partially reflecting surface 23, which may be made for example as a partially silvered glass mirror, a retro-reflecting surface 25 is also provided behind the surface 23, from the front opening 16, and extending vertically from the bottom edge of the surface 23 up to immediately beneath the flame object generator 18. The angle and location of the retro-reflecting surface 25 is not critical, but preferably the bottom edge of the surface 25 should be as close as possible to the bottom edge of the partially reflecting surface 23, and the upper edge of the surface 25 should be as close as possible to that part of the flame object generator 18 which is furthest away from the partially reflecting surface 23.
Materials which may provide the retro-reflecting surface 25 are known and examples are described in the above referred EP-A-0460873. Such materials are commonly used for highly reflective road signs. The retro-reflecting surface 25 should have no self colour or patterning. An example of retro-reflector which may be used is that available from Reflexive Inc.
As can be seen in Figure 1, a cone of light rays 26 from a point 27 on the flame object generator 18 is partially reflected in the surface 23 towards the retro-reflecting surface 25. From the retro-reflecting surface 25, the rays in the cone 26 are retro-reflected back on themselves, so that those retro-reflected rays passing through the partially reflecting surface 23 are focused back to a point 28 above the coals or logs 11 near the front opening 16 of the fire. It can be seen, therefore, that the combination of the partially reflecting surface 23 and the retro-reflecting surface 25 produces a real image 29 of the flame object generated by the generator 18. The real image 29 is in fact located at the position of the virtual image of the flame object 18 as would be seen reflected in the surface 23 from the same side of the surface as the object 18.
By suitably positioning the flame object generator 18 and angling the partially reflecting surface 23, the real image 29 of the flame object can be located as desired immediately above the coals or logs 11 of the simulated fire grate, thereby producing a realistic flame effect in space in the front opening 16 of the fire.
It is desirable to ensure that the partially reflecting surface 23 does not produce any unwanted reflections when viewed from the room being heated through the front opening 16 of the fire. Accordingly, the height of the front opening 16 in relation to the angle and positioning of the partially reflecting surface 23 are carefully selected so that only the rear surfaces 30 of the coals or logs 11 and the inner surfaces 31 of the box containing the illuminating lamp 12 could be seen reflected in the partially reflecting surface 23. These surfaces 30 and 31 are coloured matt black and care is taken to ensure that no light from the illuminating lamp 12 can escape towards the partially reflecting surface 23.
It will be understood that if the partially reflecting surface 23 is arranged to reflect 50% of the incident light, then the amount of light forming the real image 29 cannot be more than 25% of that originally leaving the flame object generator 18, and even this assumes 100% is retro-reflected from the retro-reflecting surface 25. In order to increase the proportion of the light from the flame object generator 18 which is projected to form the real image 29, a second retro-reflecting surface 32 may be provided as illustrated on the same side of the partially reflecting surface 23 as the front opening 16 of the fire. With this arrangement the maximum proportion of light forming the real image 29 can theoretically be increased to about 50%. As can be seen in Figure 1, the second retro-reflecting surface 32 is located so as to be out of sight from occupants of the room to be heated.
Referring now to Figure 2, this Figure illustrates the way in which the real image of the flame object is formed for different viewing positions relative to the front opening of the fire. In Figure 2, the fire is viewed from above along the line of arrow A shown in
Figure 1 from a position in the plane of the partially reflecting surface 23, so that the surface 23 is represented in Figure 2 by a line 23 extending across the width of the fire between side walls 33 and 34.
Considering firstly the lower ray 35 of the cone 26 of rays from the point 27 on the flame object 18 as illustrated in Figure 1, this ray 35 is shown in Figure 2 emanating from the point 27 on the right hand end of the flame object 18 as viewed from the front of the fire. For convenience the ray 35 is shown in Figure 2 emanating from point 27 at a slight angle to the normal 36 to the partially reflecting surface 23. As can be seen, the ray 35 is reflected in the surface 23 back towards the retro-reflecting surface whence it is reflected back along itself from a point 37 on the retro-reflecting surface (see also Figure 1). The retro-reflected ray then emerges through the partially reflecting surface 23 to pass through the point 28 on the real image which lies on the normal 36.It can be seen therefore that the ray 35 from the point 27 on the flame object corresponds to a viewing angle relative to the point 28 on the real image which is slightly to the left of normal (above the normal line 36 as shown in Figure 2).
The path of the ray 35 as illustrated in Figure 2 does, however, show that the position of the point 28 in the real image corresponding to the point 27 of the flame object does not move in the plane of the real image as the point of view moves from side to side across the front of the fire. However, the point 37 on the retro-reflecting surface 25 from which the relevant ray is reflected back is displaced from the normal line 36 in accordance with the angle of view. In order, therefore, for any particular point on the real image to be viewable over a substantial range of angles, the retro-reflecting surface 25 should be wider than the region of the coals or wood of the simulated grate above which the real image is to be produced.
For example, considering the ray 38 in Figure 2 emanating from point 27 on the flame object, this corresponds to a viewing angle considerably to the right of the normal (below the normal line 36 as shown in Figure 2). The point 39 on the retro-reflecting surface 25 from which ray 38 is reflected back to the viewer at this angle is, as shown, quite near the opposite side of the fire.
If a central point 40 of the real image of the flame, corresponding to a central point 41 of the flame object is viewed from the same angle or position, substantially to the right of the front of the fire, it can be seen that the ray 42 from the point 41 on the flame object when reflected in the partially reflecting surface 23 strikes the side wall 33 of the fire before impinging on the retro-reflecting surface 25.
In order to render the point 40 of the real image still visible from this viewing angle, both side walls 33 and 34 of the fire are formed as respective plane mirrors perpendicular to the retro-reflecting surface and extending therefrom towards the location of the real image. With these mirrors at the side walls 33 and 34, it can be seen that the ray 42 reflected in the partially reflecting surface 23 is again reflected in the side wall 33 to impinge at 43 on the retro-reflecting surface, from which point 43 the ray retraces its path to pass through the partially reflecting surface 23 and form the real image point 40 as required.
It can also be seen in Figure 2 that so long as the mirrors forming the side walls 33 and 34 extend far enough forward in the fire, even a point 44 at the left hand edge of the real image of the flame, corresponding to point 45 of the flame object, can still be viewed from the same angle. Then, a ray 46 from the point 45 on the flame object is first reflected in the side wall mirror 33 back to the partially reflecting surface 23 where it is reflected again to the retro-reflecting surface at a point 47 before turning back on itself to pass through the partially reflecting surface 23 and impinge again on the side wall mirror 33 to be reflected back to the point 44 in the real image. It can be seen, therefore, that the provision of the mirrors 33 and 34 can greatly extend the viewing angle of the real image.
Instead of mirrors the side walls 33 and 34 may be formed as retro-reflecting surfaces. Then the ray 42 is retro-reflected from the side wall 33 directly back to the partially reflecting surface 23 to form the real image point 40. The retro-reflectors forming the side walls 33 and 34 should extend only as far forward as the partially reflecting surface 23. If increased viewing angle is required, e.g. to allow real image point 44 to be viewed from the viewing angle illustrated in Figure 2, then the side walls 33 and 34 must be formed as mirrors in front of the partially reflecting surface 23.
Figure 3 illustrates an alternative arrangement in which a single curved retro-reflecting surface 60 is provided behind the partially reflecting surface 23. The curved surface 60 extends substantially to the side edges of the partially reflecting surface 23, so that ray 42 for example is retro-reflected as required.
Considering again the flame object generator illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the foil strips 19 forming the individual flame objects are arranged in two rows as shown in Figure 4. The rows may comprise shorter strips 50 interspaced between longer strips 51. The longer strips 51 are preferably mounted at a fixed end 52 so as to be directed at this end towards the oncoming air flow as shown by the arrow 53. The strip 51 is then folded back on itself over an additional support 54 so that the free end of the strip 51 is able to flutter in the air flow. Because the strip 51 is made of a foil material which has some resilience, the fold of the strip near the fixed end 52 tends to tighten and loosen in the air flow causing the length of the strip extending downstream in the air flow to vary.In the resulting real image of the flame object produced by the apparatus of this invention, the effect is for the flame image to appear to bounce realistically simulating the activity of a real flame.
As shown in the Figures, the strips 50 and 51 are mounted in a housing 55. The housing 55 comprises a flat rectangular tube open at opposite ends 56 and 57 and having a window 58 of transparent material on a lower face 58 through which light from the flame objects or strips 50 and 51 can pass to be reflected in the partially reflecting surface 23.
The air flow required to cause the strips 50 and 51 to flutter to produce a life like flame effect is conveniently generated by a fan which is not illustrated.
As mentioned above, the strips are illuminated by lamps 21 and 22 located inside the casing 55 and directing light onto the undersides of the strips. Preferably, the light from the lamps 21 and 22 is coloured using, for example, yellow and/or orange filters to give a realistic coloration to the resulting flame effect.
Claims (9)
1. An electric fire having a simulated flame effect and comprising a simulated fire grate simulating the appearance of burning coals or wood in a real fire, a simulated flame object generator located out of a normal line of sight when the fire is viewed when installed, and an optical system producing a real image of said simulated flame object located at least partly above the coals or wood of the simulated fire grate.
2. An electric fire as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said optical system comprises a partially reflecting surface located between the flame object and the desired location of said real image so that a virtual image of said flame object would appear reflected in said surface at said desired location and a retro-reflecting surface on the same side of said partially reflecting surface as the flame object to produce said real image transmitted through the partially reflecting surface.
3. An electric fire as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the retro-reflecting surface is wider than the region of the coals or wood of the simulated grate above which said real image is produced.
4. An electric fire as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the optical system includes, on each side of the retro-reflecting surface, a respective plane mirror perpendicular to the retro-reflecting surface and extending therefrom towards the location of the real image.
5. An electric fire as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the retro-reflecting surface extends towards the lateral edges of the partially reflecting surface to increase the maximum angle at which said real image can be viewed.
6. An electric fire as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the simulated grate includes a light source to illuminate the coals or wood, and is arranged to prevent light from said source being reflected by said partially reflecting surface back out into the room being heated.
7. An electric fire as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 6 wherein all parts of the simulated grate, including the coals or wood, which could be viewed reflected in said partially reflecting surface are matt black.
8. An electric fire as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said flame object generator comprises a plurality of strips of reflecting foil, a blower to produce an air flow over said strips so they flutter and a light source to illuminate the fluttering strips.
9. An electric fire as claimed in Claim 8 wherein at least one of the strips is mounted by one end so as to be directed at that end against the direction of the air flow, the strip being bent back on itself adjacent said end so that the major part of its length can flutter freely in the air flow, the strip having sufficient resilience where it is bent back that its length in the direction of the air flow varies as the strip flutters.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9412498A GB2290865A (en) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-06-22 | Electric fire with simulated flame effect |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9412498A GB2290865A (en) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-06-22 | Electric fire with simulated flame effect |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9412498D0 GB9412498D0 (en) | 1994-08-10 |
| GB2290865A true GB2290865A (en) | 1996-01-10 |
Family
ID=10757120
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9412498A Withdrawn GB2290865A (en) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-06-22 | Electric fire with simulated flame effect |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2290865A (en) |
Cited By (24)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2325733A (en) * | 1997-05-31 | 1998-12-02 | Burley Appliances Ltd | Apparatus for simulating flames |
| US6047489A (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 2000-04-11 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly and components therefor |
| US6050011A (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 2000-04-18 | Dimplex North America Limited | Assembly for producing an illusory effect |
| WO2000057109A1 (en) * | 1999-03-23 | 2000-09-28 | Aarrow Fires Limited | Apparatus for simulating a flame and method for simulating a flame |
| US6162047A (en) * | 1998-03-04 | 2000-12-19 | Dimplex North America Limited | Simulated fuel bed for fireplace |
| EP1199526A2 (en) * | 1996-04-30 | 2002-04-24 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly and components therefor |
| US6385881B1 (en) | 1999-02-19 | 2002-05-14 | Dimplex North America Limited | Synchronized flicker device |
| GB2376292A (en) * | 2001-06-06 | 2002-12-11 | Focal Point Fires Plc | An apparatus for simulating flames in an electric fire place |
| US6564485B1 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2003-05-20 | Dimplex North America Limited | Fire simulating assembly |
| US6615519B2 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2003-09-09 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| US7194830B2 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2007-03-27 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| US7236693B2 (en) | 2005-03-22 | 2007-06-26 | Globaltec Fireplaces, Inc. | Flame simulator for use in an electric heater |
| US7673408B2 (en) | 2004-01-20 | 2010-03-09 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| GB2464305A (en) * | 2008-10-10 | 2010-04-14 | Valor Ltd | Fuel effect apparatus giving increased depth and realism to the simulated fuel bed |
| US7770312B2 (en) | 2004-01-20 | 2010-08-10 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame stimulating assembly |
| WO2010094156A1 (en) * | 2009-02-18 | 2010-08-26 | 义乌市安冬电器有限公司 | Electric fireplace with flame screen |
| WO2010094159A1 (en) * | 2009-02-18 | 2010-08-26 | 义乌市安冬电器有限公司 | Electric fireplace flame screen with fixed carbon bed |
| WO2010094158A1 (en) * | 2009-02-18 | 2010-08-26 | 义乌市安冬电器有限公司 | Three-dimensional adjustable carbon bed and electric fireplace with the three-dimensional adjustable carbon bed |
| EP2211113A3 (en) * | 2009-01-27 | 2012-09-19 | Valor Limited | Apparatus for simulating moving flames |
| US8361367B2 (en) | 2004-11-17 | 2013-01-29 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| GB2502814A (en) * | 2012-06-08 | 2013-12-11 | Basic Holdings | A fireplace with means for simulating flames by combining images of a fuel bed and flames using an optical element |
| US8661721B2 (en) | 2001-09-12 | 2014-03-04 | Kristoffer Hess | Flame simulating assembly |
| EP3473934A1 (en) * | 2017-10-23 | 2019-04-24 | John De Smecht | Electric fireplace |
| EP4001765A1 (en) * | 2020-11-19 | 2022-05-25 | Flamerite Fires Limited | Simulated flame effect apparatus |
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| GB427412A (en) * | 1933-10-21 | 1935-04-23 | Premier Electric Heaters Ltd | Improvements in imitation fires |
| GB414280A (en) * | 1933-12-13 | 1934-08-02 | Simplex Electric Co Ltd | Improvements in or relating to electric fires |
| GB490365A (en) * | 1937-02-10 | 1938-08-10 | Herbert Henry Berry | Improvements in or relating to imitation solid-fuel fires |
| GB1024047A (en) * | 1963-11-22 | 1966-03-30 | Frost & Company Ltd H | Improvements in electric illumination devices |
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Cited By (33)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1199526A2 (en) * | 1996-04-30 | 2002-04-24 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly and components therefor |
| EP1199527A2 (en) * | 1996-04-30 | 2002-04-24 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly and components therefor |
| EP1199527A3 (en) * | 1996-04-30 | 2002-07-17 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly and components therefor |
| EP1199526A3 (en) * | 1996-04-30 | 2002-07-17 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly and components therefor |
| US6047489A (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 2000-04-11 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly and components therefor |
| US6050011A (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 2000-04-18 | Dimplex North America Limited | Assembly for producing an illusory effect |
| US6269567B1 (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 2001-08-07 | Dimplex North America Limited | Diffusing screen with matte region |
| GB2325733A (en) * | 1997-05-31 | 1998-12-02 | Burley Appliances Ltd | Apparatus for simulating flames |
| GB2325733B (en) * | 1997-05-31 | 2000-11-29 | Burley Appliances Ltd | Apparatus for simulating flames |
| US6162047A (en) * | 1998-03-04 | 2000-12-19 | Dimplex North America Limited | Simulated fuel bed for fireplace |
| US6385881B1 (en) | 1999-02-19 | 2002-05-14 | Dimplex North America Limited | Synchronized flicker device |
| WO2000057109A1 (en) * | 1999-03-23 | 2000-09-28 | Aarrow Fires Limited | Apparatus for simulating a flame and method for simulating a flame |
| US7194830B2 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2007-03-27 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| US6564485B1 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2003-05-20 | Dimplex North America Limited | Fire simulating assembly |
| US6615519B2 (en) | 2000-08-29 | 2003-09-09 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| GB2376292B (en) * | 2001-06-06 | 2003-08-20 | Focal Point Fires Plc | Flame simulation apparatus |
| GB2376292A (en) * | 2001-06-06 | 2002-12-11 | Focal Point Fires Plc | An apparatus for simulating flames in an electric fire place |
| US8661721B2 (en) | 2001-09-12 | 2014-03-04 | Kristoffer Hess | Flame simulating assembly |
| US7673408B2 (en) | 2004-01-20 | 2010-03-09 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| US7770312B2 (en) | 2004-01-20 | 2010-08-10 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame stimulating assembly |
| US8361367B2 (en) | 2004-11-17 | 2013-01-29 | Dimplex North America Limited | Flame simulating assembly |
| US8480937B2 (en) | 2004-11-17 | 2013-07-09 | Dimplex North America Limited | Method of forming a simulated combustible fuel element |
| US7236693B2 (en) | 2005-03-22 | 2007-06-26 | Globaltec Fireplaces, Inc. | Flame simulator for use in an electric heater |
| GB2464305A (en) * | 2008-10-10 | 2010-04-14 | Valor Ltd | Fuel effect apparatus giving increased depth and realism to the simulated fuel bed |
| EP2211113A3 (en) * | 2009-01-27 | 2012-09-19 | Valor Limited | Apparatus for simulating moving flames |
| WO2010094158A1 (en) * | 2009-02-18 | 2010-08-26 | 义乌市安冬电器有限公司 | Three-dimensional adjustable carbon bed and electric fireplace with the three-dimensional adjustable carbon bed |
| WO2010094159A1 (en) * | 2009-02-18 | 2010-08-26 | 义乌市安冬电器有限公司 | Electric fireplace flame screen with fixed carbon bed |
| WO2010094156A1 (en) * | 2009-02-18 | 2010-08-26 | 义乌市安冬电器有限公司 | Electric fireplace with flame screen |
| GB2502814A (en) * | 2012-06-08 | 2013-12-11 | Basic Holdings | A fireplace with means for simulating flames by combining images of a fuel bed and flames using an optical element |
| EP3473934A1 (en) * | 2017-10-23 | 2019-04-24 | John De Smecht | Electric fireplace |
| EP3473933A1 (en) * | 2017-10-23 | 2019-04-24 | John De Smecht | Electric fireplace |
| BE1025658B1 (en) * | 2017-10-23 | 2019-05-21 | Smecht John De | ELECTRIC FIREPLACE |
| EP4001765A1 (en) * | 2020-11-19 | 2022-05-25 | Flamerite Fires Limited | Simulated flame effect apparatus |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9412498D0 (en) | 1994-08-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |