Topdown simulated flame

Abstract

The present invention includes an apparatus and method of simulating a flame. The apparatus and method provides a top down projection of a simulated flame. The simulated flame may include a multilayered flame effect and may be viewed from both the front and the rear so as to provide a realistic uninterrupted flame with varying color. One embodiment may include a light source, a gobo with a flame pattern formed therein, a rotating disc that spins on a motor, and a lens. The light is formed into a flame pattern by the gobo transmitted through the disc such that the refraction and intensity of the light transmitting therethrough is constantly altered as the disc rotates. The lens focuses the flame pattern. In one embodiment the present invention may include a generally see-through viewing screen onto which the flame pattern is projected.

1 . An electric fireplace with a flame simulating apparatus comprising:
 a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, opposed side panels, and a front panel defining a viewable interior chamber;   a simulated fire log set positioned on the bottom panel; and   an apparatus for projecting an image of a flame on one or more of the panels of the interior chamber and the fire log set including:   a housing;   a light source mounted within the housing;   a gobo with a flame pattern therein mounted in the housing and in the path of the light from the light source;   a motor operably mounted to the housing; and   a disc with surface features on at least one side thereof operably attached to the motor so as to spin about an axis, the light from the light source transmitting through the disc such that the refraction and intensity of the light transmitting therethrough is substantially altered.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a screen removably inserted into the interior chamber wherein the image of the flame is projected onto the screen. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the screen is sheer and wherein the flame image is projected onto and through the screen. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the disc is translucent. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a lens for focusing the simulated flame image. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the lens includes at least one of a double convex lens and a dual plano convex lens. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light source includes at least one of a standard light bulb, an LED, a halogen light bulb, and an incandescent lamp. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a filter operably positioned near the light source to color the light emitted from the light source. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gobo is a thin plate with a flame pattern cut therein. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gobo is a transparency. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the disc is formed of one or more of glass, hammered glass, cathedral glass, plexiglass, or plastic. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a variable speed motor. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein disc further comprises one or more sections that includes coloring in or on the disc. 
   
   
       16 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the image of the flame is also projected on the simulated fire log set. 
   
   
       19 . A method of producing a simulated flame pattern on a screen comprising:
 emitting light from a light source;   directing the light through a means for shaping the light into a flame pattern;   passing the flame patterned light through a rotating disc, the rotating disc continuously distorting and refracting the flame patterned light; and focusing the flame patterned light onto an at least partially see-through screen wherein a flame pattern is created that is constantly changing to enhance the illusion of a flame.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein passing the flame patterned light through the rotating disc further comprises passing the flame patterned light through a rotating disc with an at least one section of colored area. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein directing the light through a means for shaping the light further comprises directing the light through a gobo. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein passing the flame patterned light through a rotating disc further comprises passing the flame patterned light through a cathedral glass disc with a series of random surface patterns on at least one side. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein focusing the flame patterned light further comprises focusing the flame patterned light with a double convex lens. 
   
   
       24 . A apparatus for simulating a flame in a fireplace comprising:
 a light source;   a gobo with a flame pattern formed therein, the light from the light source being transmitted through the gobo and shaped by the flame pattern; and   a disc operably attached to a motor so as to spin about an axis and operably positioned in the path of the light transmitted through the gobo, the disc including random surface features on at least one side thereof;   a sheer screen operably positioned in the path of the transmitted light onto which the simulated flame is projected,   wherein the flame patterned light from the gobo is transmitted through the disc such that the refraction and intensity of the light transmitting therethrough is constantly altered as the disc rotates.   
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the sheer screen is at least partially see through such that the flame pattern is also at least partially projected through the screen. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the light source is one of a standard light bulb, an LED, a halogen light bulb, or an incandescent lamp. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a filter operably positioned near the light source to color the light emitted from the light source. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the gobo is a thin plate. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the gobo is a transparency. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the disc is formed of one or more of glass, hammered glass, cathedral glass, plexiglass, or plastic. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the motor is a variable speed motor. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein disc further comprises one or more sections of colored area. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the colored areas are one or more of orange and black. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the disc further comprises random surface features.