Fireplace mantel assembly

Abstract

An electric fireplace includes a mantel enclosure, flame simulating assembly and a mantel shelf light source. The mantel has a shelf with an opening on the top surface extending into the mantel enclosure. A light transmitting panel is provided in the opening of the top surface of the shelf. A light source is positioned in the mantel enclosure to direct light upward through the light transmitting panel to illuminate objects and surfaces on, near or above the mantel shelf. A light reflector element is positioned to redirect light from the light source upwards through the light transmitting panel. The mantel shelf light source is connected to the flame simulating assembly electrical supply connection with control circuitry to allow operation of the mantel shelf light independent from the flame simulating assembly.

1 . A fireplace mantel assembly comprising: 
 a mantel for a fireplace having a shelf for placing objects, said shelf having a top section and a hollow cavity, said hollow cavity is located below said top section, said top section having an opening extending into said hollow cavity;    a removable light transmitting display panel disposed at said opening, said light transmitting display panel having strength to support objects placed on top of said light transmitting display panel;    at least one light source disposed within said hollow cavity to direct light upwards through said light transmitting display panel; and    a support means located at said opening for supporting said light transmitting display panel;    whereby light from said at least one light source is directed from within said mantel assembly upward through said light transmitting display panel illuminating objects placed on, near or above said light transmitting display panel.    
   
   
       2 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 1  wherein said at least one light source is selected from the group of lights consisting of halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, light emitting diodes, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 1  further comprising at least one reflector element with at least one reflective surface disposed in said hollow cavity to direct light from said at least one light source upwards through said light transmitting display panel for providing increased illumination of objects placed on, near or above said light transmitting display panel.  
   
   
       4 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 1  further comprising a light transmitting heat shield disposed between said at least one light source and said light transmitting display panel.  
   
   
       5 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 1  further comprising at least one ventilation passageway in flow communication with said hollow cavity and the room in which said mantel is situated.  
   
   
       6 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 5  wherein said at least one ventilation passageway is a gap between said light transmitting display panel and said opening in said top section.  
   
   
       7 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 1  further comprising a switch means for providing control of said at least one light source.  
   
   
       8 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 1  wherein said light transmitting display panel is translucent and obscures from above the view of objects below said light transmitting display panel.  
   
   
       9 . A fireplace mantel of  claim 1  further comprising at least one opening in either the front, side, rear or bottom sections of said shelf wherein light from said at least one light source is directed downward through said at least one opening in said front, side, rear or bottom sections into the room in which said mantel is situated.  
   
   
       10 . An electric fireplace assembly comprising: 
 a front section, top section, and side sections for forming a decorative mantel with a substantially hollow cavity, said front section having a first opening extending into said hollow cavity, said top section functioning as a mantel shelf having a second opening extending into said hollow cavity;    a flame simulating assembly including an electrical supply connection disposed at said first opening and extending into said hollow cavity;    a light transmitting display panel disposed at said second opening, said light transmitting display panel having strength to support objects placed on top of said light transmitting display panel;    a support means disposed at said second opening for supporting said light transmitting display panel and objects placed on top of said light transmitting display panel;    at least one mantel shelf light source operatively connected to said electrical supply connection disposed within said cavity to direct light upwards through said light transmitting display panel; and    a control means coupled to said electrical supply connection for independently and selectively operating said flame simulating assembly and said at least one mantel shelf light source.    
   
   
       11 . An electric fireplace assembly of  claim 10  whereby said at least one mantel shelf light source uses any number of lights selected from the group of lights consisting of halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, light emitting diodes, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . An electric fireplace assembly of  claim 10  further comprising at least one light reflector element with at least one reflective surface disposed in said hollow cavity to direct light from said at least one mantel shelf light source upwards through said light transmitting display panel.  
   
   
       13 . An electric fireplace assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a light transmitting heat shield disposed between said at least one mantel shelf light source and said light transmitting display panel.  
   
   
       14 . An electric fireplace assembly of  claim 10  further comprising at least one ventilation passageway in flow communication with said hollow cavity and the room in which said mantel is situated.  
   
   
       15 . An electric fireplace assembly of  claim 10  wherein said light transmitting display panel is translucent and obscures from above the view of objects below said light transmitting display.  
   
   
       16 . An electric fireplace assembly of  claim 10  further comprising at least one opening in said mantel wherein light from said at least one mantel shelf light source is directed downward through said at least one opening in said mantel to objects and surfaces below said top section.  
   
   
       17 . A shelf with an integral light source comprising: 
 a shelf member for displaying objects having top, bottom, front and side sections, said shelf member having a hollow cavity located below said top section, said top section having an opening extending into said hollow cavity;    a removable light transmitting display panel disposed at said opening, said light transmitting display panel having strength to support objects placed on top of said light transmitting display panel;    a light source disposed within said hollow cavity positioned to direct light upward through said light transmitting display panel; and    support means disposed at said opening for supporting said light transmitting display panel;    whereby light produced from said light source is directed upwards through said light transmitting display panel illuminating objects placed on, near or above said light transmitting display panel.    
   
   
       18 . A shelf of  claim 17  further comprising at least one light reflector element with at least one reflective surface disposed in said hollow cavity to direct light from said light source upwards through said light transmitting display panel.  
   
   
       19 . A shelf of  claim 17  further comprising at least one ventilation passageway in flow communication with said hollow cavity and the room in which said shelf is situated.  
   
   
       20 . A shelf of  claim 17  further comprising a light transmitting heat shield disposed between said light source and said light transmitting display panel.