Emberbed assembly for use in electric fireplace

Abstract

An electric fireplace that is configured to look more realistic, i.e. more like a traditional wood-burning fireplace, includes a grate and an emberbed. The grate has a substantially horizontally-oriented middle section. The emberbed is positioned substantially directly below the middle section of the grate. Additionally, the emberbed is positioned spaced apart from the grate by a bed gap. The bed gap can be between approximately one-half inch and four inches. Additionally, the emberbed can be selectively coupled to the grate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric fireplace comprising:
 a grate having a substantially horizontally-oriented middle section; and   an emberbed that is positioned substantially directly below the middle section of the grate, the emberbed being positioned spaced apart from the grate by a bed gap.   
     
     
         2 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  wherein the bed gap is between approximately one-half inch and four inches. 
     
     
         3 . The electric fireplace of  claim 3  wherein the emberbed is selectively coupled to the grate. 
     
     
         4 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  further comprising an assembly base that is formed together with the emberbed as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         5 . The electric fireplace of  claim 4  wherein the emberbed and the assembly base are selectively coupled to the grate. 
     
     
         6 . The electric fireplace of  claim 4  wherein the assembly base provides a flat surface that extends laterally away from the emberbed. 
     
     
         7 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  further comprising an assembly light source that is positioned directly underneath the emberbed, the assembly light source being selectively activated to create a glowing effect for the emberbed. 
     
     
         8 . The electric fireplace of  claim 7  wherein the assembly light source includes a plurality of LED light bulbs. 
     
     
         9 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  wherein the emberbed is formed from at least one of vacuum-molded plastic, pour-molded resin, injected plastic or paper pulp. 
     
     
         10 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  wherein the emberbed is formed from vacuum-molded plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  wherein the grate is formed from metallic materials. 
     
     
         12 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  further comprising at least one simulated log that is positioned on top of the grate. 
     
     
         13 . The electric fireplace of  claim 12  wherein the at least one simulated log is formed from a molded resin material. 
     
     
         14 . The electric fireplace of  claim 1  further comprising a fireplace housing, wherein the grate and the emberbed are positioned substantially within the fireplace housing. 
     
     
         15 . An electric fireplace comprising:
 a grate; and   an emberbed assembly that is selectively coupled to the grate.   
     
     
         16 . The electric fireplace of  claim 15  wherein the emberbed assembly includes an emberbed and an assembly base that are formed together as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         17 . The electric fireplace of  claim 15  wherein the grate includes a substantially horizontally-oriented middle section, and wherein the emberbed assembly includes an emberbed that is positioned substantially directly below the middle section of the grate. 
     
     
         18 . The electric fireplace of  claim 17  wherein the emberbed is spaced apart a bed gap from the middle section of the grate. 
     
     
         19 . The electric fireplace of  claim 18  herein the bed gap is between approximately one-half inch and four inches. 
     
     
         20 . The electric fireplace of  claim 17  further comprising an assembly light source that is positioned directly underneath the emberbed, the assembly light source being selectively activated to create a glowing effect for the emberbed. 
     
     
         21 . The electric fireplace of  claim 20  wherein the assembly light source includes a plurality of LED light bulbs. 
     
     
         22 . The electric fireplace of  claim 15  wherein the grate is formed from metallic materials, and wherein the emberbed assembly is formed from vacuum-molded plastic. 
     
     
         23 . The electric fireplace of  claim 15  further comprising at least one simulated log that is positioned on top of the grate. 
     
     
         24 . The electric fireplace of  claim 23  wherein the at least one simulated log is formed from a molded resin material. 
     
     
         25 . The electric fireplace of  claim 15  further comprising a fireplace housing, wherein the grate and the emberbed assembly are positioned substantially within the fireplace housing.