Flue Attachment

Abstract

A flue connection system for an appliance provides a flue connection member. The flue connection member defines an aperture and includes an extending member. The flue connection member is configured to be coupled to a flue duct and an appliance, including a fireplace. An appliance connection member may also be provided for attachment to the appliance. The flue connection member and the appliance connection member are configured to be coupled to one another with the flue connection member positioned in contact with the appliance connection member.

1 . A flue connection system for an appliance, the flue connection system comprising: 
 a flue connection member including a plate portion having a top surface and a bottom surface and defining a first aperture, and including an extending member configured to be coupled to a flue duct and extending beyond the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member;    an appliance connection member, the appliance connection member defining a second aperture, and the appliance connection member being configured to be attached to the appliance,    wherein the flue connection member and the appliance connection member are configured to be coupled to provide fluid communication between the appliance and the flue duct.    
   
   
       2 . The flue connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the extending member defines the first aperture.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The flue connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance connection member has a plate portion.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The flue connection system of  claim 1 , the appliance connection member comprising a seating member, wherein the seating member is positioned such that when the flue connection member is positioned on top of the appliance connection member, the portion of the extending member that extends beyond the bottom surface of the plate portion of the flue connection member extends into the seating member.  
   
   
       7 . The flue connection system of  claim 1 , the plate portion of the flue connection member comprising an opening, the appliance connection member comprising a tab that extends beyond a top surface of a plate portion of the appliance connection member, wherein the opening and the tab are positioned so that when the flue connection member is positioned on top of the appliance connection member, the tab extends into the opening.  
   
   
       8 . The flue connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance connection member comprises at least one latching member that is movably mounted, wherein the latching member is positioned so that when the flue connection member is positioned on top of the appliance connection member, the latching member can be moved so that it extends over a top surface of the flue connection member to couple the flue connection member to the appliance connection member.  
   
   
       9 . The flue connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a fireplace.  
   
   
       10 . The flue connection system of  claim 9 , wherein the fireplace is a slant back type fireplace insert.  
   
   
       11 . An appliance, the appliance comprising: 
 a combustion chamber;    a combustible source that produces exhaust gases;    a vent system for venting exhaust gases from the combustion chamber to outside of the appliance, the vent system including a vent opening in the appliance; and    a flue connection member, the flue connection member including a plate portion having top and bottom surfaces and defining an aperture formed in the plate portion, and including an extending member configured to be coupled to a flue duct and extending beyond the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member,    wherein the flue connection member is further configured to be coupled to the appliance to substantially align the aperture of the flue connection member with the vent opening of the vent system.    
   
   
       12 . The flue connection system of  claim 11  wherein the extending member defines the aperture.  
   
   
       13 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The flue connection system of  claim 11 , the appliance comprising a seating member, wherein the seating member is positioned such that when the flue connection member is positioned in contact with the appliance, the portion of the extending member that extends beyond the bottom surface of the plate portion of the flue connection member extends into the seating member.  
   
   
       16 . The flue connection system of  claim 11 , the plate portion of the flue connection member comprising an opening, the appliance comprising a tab that extending outward from the appliance, wherein the opening and the tab are positioned such that when the flue connection member is positioned in contact with the appliance, the tab extends into the opening.  
   
   
       17 . The flue connection system of  claim 11 , wherein the appliance comprises at least one latching member that is movably mounted to the appliance, wherein the latching member is positioned such that when the flue connection member is positioned on top of the appliance, the latching member can be moved so that it extends over a top surface of the flue connection member to couple the flue connection member to the appliance.  
   
   
       18 . The flue connection system of  claim 11 , wherein the appliance is a fireplace.  
   
   
       19 . The flue connection system of  claim 18 , wherein the fireplace is a slant back type fireplace insert.  
   
   
       20 . A flue connection system for an appliance, the flue connection system comprising: 
 a flue connection member, the flue connection member defining an aperture and including an extending member, and the flue connection member being configured to be coupled to a flue duct,    wherein the flue connection member is further configured to be coupled to the appliance to substantially align the aperture of the flue connection member with a vent opening in the appliance.    
   
   
       21 . The flue connection system of  claim 20  wherein the extending member defines the aperture.  
   
   
       22 . The flue connection system of  claim 20  wherein the flue connection member has a plate portion.  
   
   
       23 . The flue connection system of  claim 22  wherein the plate portion of the flue connection member has a top surface and a bottom surface, and the extending member extends beyond the top surface and the bottom surface of the plate portion, 
 wherein the extending member that extends beyond the top surface is configured to be coupled to a flue duct and the extending member that extends beyond the bottom surface is configured to be coupled to an appliance.    
   
   
       24 . The flue connection system of  claim 20 , wherein the appliance is a fireplace.  
   
   
       25 . The flue connection system of  claim 24 , wherein the fireplace is a slant back type fireplace insert.  
   
   
       26 . A method of coupling a vent system to an appliance using a flue connection member, the appliance including a vent panel having a primary surface and defining a vent aperture, and the flue connection member defining a first aperture and including an extending member aligned with the first aperture, the method comprising the steps of: 
 coupling the vent system to the extending member;    moving the flue connection member in a direction non-parallel to the vent panel primary surface to align the first aperture with the vent aperture; and    coupling the flue connection member to the appliance.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the appliance further includes an appliance connection member defining a second aperture, the method further comprising aligning the second aperture with the vent aperture and the first aperture, and coupling the appliance connection member between the appliance and the flue connection member.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the flue connection member includes a plate portion having top and bottom surfaces, and the extending member extends beyond the top and bottom surfaces of the plate member, and coupling the flue connection member to the appliance includes inserting a portion of the extending member into the vent aperture.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the vent panel further defines an inlet aperture and the flue connection member further defines a third aperture, and the moving step includes moving the flue connection member to align the third aperture with the inlet aperture.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the vent panel further defines an inlet aperture, the flue connection member further includes a third aperture, and the appliance connection member defining a fourth aperture, the moving step further including moving the flue connection member to align the third aperture with the inlet aperture, and the aligning step further including aligning the fourth aperture with the inlet aperture and the third aperture.