Repositionable Fireplace Assembly

Abstract

The present invention is a freestanding and relocatable fireplace assembly having a unitary body including: a base, and a firebox, and a flue, wherein the fireplace can be assembled from a kit of parts, and once constructed, the fireplace is able to free stand upon its base on any suitable substantially level outdoor surface. A void is created between the bottom of the firebox and the base, which helps to insulate the region of the surface that the fireplace is placed upon, from the heat generated by a fire in the firebox. The bottom of the firebox includes a sloping floor that slopes towards the front of the fireplace, and at least the sidewalls of the firebox slope inwardly. When the fireplace needs to be relocated, it may be moved either as a whole, or in pieces, or is fully disassembled for easier storage and transportation. The fireplace assembly includes attachment means for a variety of accessories that can be used for cooking, heating or drying purposes. The fireplace assembly has at least some of its parts fabricated form a suitable sheet metal, and non-metallic parts may be fabricated from a suitable fire resistant fabric.

1 . A freestanding and relocatable fireplace assembly having a unitary body including:
 a base, and   a firebox, and   a flue,   
       wherein the fireplace can be assembled from a kit of parts, and once constructed, the fireplace is able to free stand upon its base on any suitable substantially level outdoor surface, and a void is created between the bottom of the firebox and the base which helps to insulate the region of the surface that the fireplace is placed upon, from the heat generated by a fire in the firebox, and wherein the bottom of the firebox includes a sloping floor that slopes towards the front of the fireplace, and at least the sidewalls of the firebox slope inwardly, and when the fireplace needs to be relocated, it may be moved either as a whole, or in pieces, or fully disassembled for easier storage and transportation. 
     
     
         2 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein at least the rear of the firebox is double skinned so that an interstitial void is formed between the skins to thereby provide insulation. 
     
     
         3 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 2  wherein the interstitial void is filled with a suitable material to give at least the rear of the firebox either greater heat energy reflectivity or greater heat energy absorption, depending on the type of material selected by the user to fill the void, and when a heat energy reflective material is selected, more of the heat energy produced in the firebox is reflected forward of the fireplace, and when a heat energy absorptive material is selected, the heat energy is absorbed and stored in the material, and the stored heat energy is able to radiate out of the fireplace for a desired period of time after the fire in the firebox has diminished or died out completely, or been extinguished. 
     
     
         4 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 3  wherein the heat energy reflective material used to fill the interstitial void is vermiculite, and the heat energy absorptive material used to fill the interstitial void is sand. 
     
     
         5 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 4  wherein the flue extends upwardly from the top of the firebox to a sufficient height to ensure the smoke is directed away from people located in the vicinity of the fireplace. 
     
     
         6 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 5  wherein a throat is located at the top of the firebox where the firebox interconnects with the flue, and a smoke chamber is formed in the vicinity immediately above the throat in the lowermost portion of the flue. 
     
     
         7 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 6  wherein the rear wall of the firebox is hinged at its base so that the angle of the inward slope can be adjusted by a user, and the angular adjustment enables the user to increase or decrease the size of the opening of the throat, and also enables the user to adjust the amount of heat energy either reflected out of the front of the fireplace, or absorbed, by the material used to fill the void in the rear of the firebox. 
     
     
         8 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein the firebox includes a rack that is hingedly connected and can be swung into proper orientation with the firebox so that is can be used when a suitable elongate shaped fuel is used, such as firewood, to orientate the fuel into a substantially vertical orientation between the ribs of the rack, both before and during combustion, for as long as possible, so that the burning efficiency of the fuel is optimized, and when the rack is not needed, it can be swung out of the way about the hinge. 
     
     
         9 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 8  wherein attachment means are included that enable a user to optionally attach a selection of accessories to a suitable location on the fireplace assembly, and the user is able to select the optional accessory depending on requirements such as food or beverage warming or cooking, and/or drying for example. 
     
     
         10 . A fireplace assembly where as defined in  claim 9  wherein at least some of the parts used in the construction of the assembly are fabricated from a suitable sheet metal. 
     
     
         11 . A fireplace assembly as defined in  claim 10  wherein the parts not fabricated from a suitable sheet metal are instead fabricated from a suitable fire resistant fabric.