Panel for use in electric fireplace and fireplace incorporating the same

Abstract

A panel for simulating a firebox for use in an electric fireplace and an electric fireplace incorporating the same. The electric fireplace includes housing with a grate, a plurality of artificial firelogs positioned on the grate and an ember bed positioned under the grate. A light source is positioned to transmit light through a plurality of apertures in a rotatable cylinder that is disposed rearwardly of the firelogs. The panel is a planar member that is positioned in the housing between the cylinder and the firelogs. The panel includes a pattern thereon which represents a firebox of a wood-burning fireplace. The pattern is formed by silk-screening, painting or etching a pattern of a flat wall of firebricks, a recessed wall of firebricks, stones, logs or any other markings that represent a firebox found in a fireplace. The light source preferably transmits light through flame-shaped apertures in the rotatable cylinder, thereby projecting flame-shaped images onto the panel or onto a screen that is positioned forwardly of the panel.

1 . An electric fireplace comprising:
 a housing having a top, a bottom, opposing sides and a back;   a grate positionable on the bottom of the housing;   a plurality of artificial firelogs positionable on the grate;   an ember bed positionable under the grate and fireplace;   a light source provided in at least one of the bottom and back of the housing;   at least one rotatable cylinder having a pattern of a plurality of apertures formed therein; wherein light from said light source is transmitted through the apertures in the cylinder during rotation of the same;   a panel positionable in the housing between said cylinder and the firelogs on the grate; and wherein said panel includes a pattern thereon, said pattern being a representation of an interior of a firebox of a wood-burning fireplace.   
   
   
       2 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a flat, planar sheet. 
   
   
       3 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the panel is at least partially one of one of opaque, translucent and transparent. 
   
   
       4 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is a representation of one or more of a flat wall of bricks, a three-dimensional recessed wall of bricks, stonework and a three-dimensional recessed or protruding logset. 
   
   
       5 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the pattern is formed on the panel by one or more of silk screening, painting and etching. 
   
   
       6 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 5 , wherein pattern is produced at least partially in color. 
   
   
       7 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the apertures in the cylinder are flame-shaped; and wherein the panel further includes a second pattern thereon, said second pattern being a projected image of a plurality of flames formed by the light transmitted from the light source through the flame-shaped apertures in the cylinder. 
   
   
       8 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the projected second pattern is positioned on the panel so that when the fireplace is viewed from a front end, the images of the flames begin behind an upper portion of the firelogs in the housing and extend upwardly and outwardly away therefrom. 
   
   
       9 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a screen positioned between the panel and the grate with the firelogs thereon. 
   
   
       10 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the screen includes a second pattern thereon, said second pattern being a plurality of flames. 
   
   
       11 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the apertures in the cylinder are flame-shaped; and wherein the second pattern is a projected image of the plurality of flames formed by light being transmitted from the light source through the flame-shaped apertures in the cylinder. 
   
   
       12 . The electric fireplace as defined in  claim 1  wherein the panel is integrally formed with a logset that includes one or more of a plurality of artificial firelogs, a grate and an ember bed. 
   
   
       13 . A panel for use in an electric fireplace, said panel comprising a member having a pattern formed thereon, said pattern being a representation of a firebox of a wood-burning fireplace. 
   
   
       14 . The panel as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the pattern is a representation of one or more of a flat wall of bricks, a three-dimensional recessed wall of bricks, stonework and a three-dimensional recessed or protruding logset. 
   
   
       15 . The panel as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the pattern is formed on the panel by one or more of silk screening, painting and etching. 
   
   
       16 . The panel as defined in  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the pattern is formed in color. 
   
   
       17 . The panel as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the panel is a diffuser screen. 
   
   
       18 . The panel as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the panel is at least partially one of opaque, translucent and transparent. 
   
   
       19 . The panel as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the panel is a flat, planar sheet. 
   
   
       20 . The panel as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the panel is integrally formed with a logset that includes one or more of a plurality of artificial firelogs, a grate and an ember bed.