Fireplace cavity insert

Abstract

A fireplace cavity insert provides still and video images appearing to emanate from within the insert.

Claims

1. A system comprising: monitor or television or projector, dichroic reflector, and a black back surface within the enclosure; the monitor is located toward the top of the enclosure; the dichroic reflector is located so that part of the dichroic reflector it is within the line of site of a viewer outside the enclosure looking towards a viewer opening located in a front side of the enclosure; wherein the black back surface is located within the enclosure on the opposite side of the dichroic reflector from the viewer opening; wherein the monitor, dichroic reflector, and black surface are arranged relative to one another so that an image displayed on the monitor is reflected by dichroic mirror generally towards the viewer opening; wherein the black back surface prevents or inhibits light from behind the dichroic mirror from reflecting towards the dichroic mirror.

2. The system of claim 1 where the net result of these effects is that an image displayed upon the monitor appears to exist within the enclosure and the visibility of the dichroic mirror is minimized.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising diode lights within the enclosure that provide a lighting effect to the visible interior surface of the fireplace enclosure.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the diode lights comprise: (1) LED fire effects simulation light; and (2) EC1 Flicker Effects Control for LED lighting for flame simulation.

5. The system of claim 1 in which the monitor's surface providing an image is canted relative to the horizontal so that the monitor projects an image down and towards the back of the enclosure and the dichroic mirror is canted up and toward so that it projects the image impinging its surface generally out of the viewer opening.

6. The system of claim 1 in which the dichroic mirror provides a substantially uniform reflection coefficient at 45 degree angle of incidence from 450 nanometers to 650 nanometers.

7. A fireplace cavity insert, comprising: (1) an enclosure defining an enclosure cavity having an enclosure aperture; (2) an image projector such as a monitor, a television, or a projector; (3) a relatively transparent specular reflector comprising a dichroic mirror in the enclosure cavity; (4) wherein the image projector and relatively transparent specular reflector are positioned and oriented such that an image projected by the image projector that impinges the relatively transparent specular reflector is reflected through the enclosure aperture from inside the enclosure to outside the enclosure; and a black back surface within the enclosure that is positioned to prevent or inhibits light from behind the dichroic mirror from reflecting towards the dichroic mirror.

8. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, wherein the image projector is located within the enclosure cavity.

9. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, wherein the image projector is located at a position within the enclosure cavity at a location that is not along a line of sight originating outside the enclosure and passing through the enclosure aperture and which line is perpendicular to the plane defined by the enclosure aperture.

10. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, the image projector is not visible to a person outside the enclosure viewing the interior of the enclosure.

11. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, wherein the interior surfaces of the enclosure cavity along a line of sight originating outside the enclosure and passing through the enclosure aperture and which line is perpendicular to the plane defined by the enclosure aperture are colored black.

12. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, wherein the interior surfaces of the enclosure cavity that are visible to a person outside the enclosure cavity are colored black, so as to minimize their reflectivity in the visible spectrum.

13. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, wherein the dichroic mirror reflects at least 30 percent of visible light for light incident at 45 degrees.

14. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, wherein the dichroic mirror reflects at least 40 percent of visible light for light incident at 45 degrees.

15. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, wherein the dichroic mirror reflects at least 50 percent of visible light for light incident at 45 degrees.

16. The fireplace cavity insert of claim 7, further comprising a memory device storing video image of a flame, and wherein the fireplace cavity insert is configured to have the image projector display the video image of the flame, so that the image of the flame appears to emanate from within the fireplace cavity insert.

17. A method of using a fireplace cavity insert, comprising: (1) an enclosure defining an enclosure cavity having an enclosure aperture; (2) an image projector such as a monitor, a television, or a projector; (3) a relatively transparent specular reflector comprising a dichroic mirror in the enclosure cavity; (4) wherein the image projector and relatively transparent specular reflector are positioned and oriented such that an image projected by the image projector that impinges the relatively transparent specular reflector is reflected through the enclosure aperture from inside the enclosure to outside the enclosure, and wherein a black back surface within the enclosure that is positioned to prevent or inhibits light from behind the dichroic mirror from reflecting towards the dichroic mirror, the method comprising: (1) connecting the fireplace cavity insert to a source of electrical power; and (2) controlling the image projector to display the video image of a flame, so that the image of the flame appears to emanate from within the fireplace cavity insert.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the dichroic mirror reflects at least 30 percent of visible light for light incident at 45 degrees.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising controlling the image projector to display a different video image than the video image of said flame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of components of the first embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

(3) FIG. 1 shows fireplace cavity insert 100 including an enclosure 200, dichroic mirror 8, simulated firewood 12.

(4) Enclosure 200 comprises enclosure top panel 1; enclosure bottom panel 2; enclosure right panel 6; enclosure left panel 7; and enclosure back panel 3. Enclosure back panel 3 is indicated by an arrow because it is not visible in FIG. 1.

(5) Enclosure back panel 3 extends between the rear sides of enclosure top panel 1; enclosure bottom panel 2; enclosure right panel 6; and enclosure left panel 7.

(6) Enclosure top panel 1 forms a ninety degree bend so that enclosure top panel comprises one relatively flat top region 300 and one relatively flat top panel front facing region 301.

(7) Enclosure right side panel 7 has a bend so that enclosure right side panel 7 has one relatively flat enclosure right side panel right facing region 303 and one relatively flat enclosure right side panel front facing region 304.

(8) Enclosure left side panel 6 similarly has a bend so that enclosure left side panel 6 has one relatively flat left side panel left side region 305 that is hidden from view and one relatively flat enclosure left side panel front region facing 306.

(9) Enclosure bottom panel 2 extends between a lower edges of enclosure right panel 6; enclosure left panel 7; and enclosure back panel 3.

(10) Top panel relatively flat front facing region 301 has a lower edge that extends from enclosure right side panel side facing region 303 to enclosure left side panel front facing region 306.

(11) Enclosure right side panel front facing region 304 extends from a right side portion 307 of a front edge of enclosure bottom panel 2 to a right side portion 308 of a lower edge of top panel front facing region 301.

(12) Enclosure left side panel front facing region 306 extends from a left side portion 309 of a front edge of enclosure bottom panel 2 to a left side portion 310 of a lower edge of top panel front facing region 301.

(13) Inner edge 311 of enclosure right side panel front facing region 304; inner edge 312 of enclosure left side panel front facing region 306; lower edge 313 of enclosure top panel front facing region 301; and front edge 314 of enclosure bottom panel 2 connect to define a perimeter of enclosure aperture 315. Enclosure aperture 315 is an aperture into enclosure 2.

(14) The front surfaces of: enclosure right side panel front facing region 304; enclosure left side panel front facing region 306; and enclosure top panel front facing region 301 are generally planar, defining a plane extending perpendicular to the major surfaces of enclosure bottom panel 2.

(15) Dichroic mirror 8 defines a front surface whose lower edge 316 is approximately parallel to the front edge 314 of the enclosure bottom panel 2. Dichroic mirror 8 is canted so that its upper edge is further away from the front than lower edge 316. Dichroic mirror 8 is canted preferably at about 45 degrees relative to the plane extending perpendicular to the major surfaces of enclosure bottom panel 2.

(16) Enclosure top panel 1 defines mounting apertures 317 for mounting image projector (monitor, television, or projector) 13 with mounting bracket 14 (see FIG. 2).

(17) Enclosure right side panel front facing region 304 retains touch sensitive controller 318.

(18) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of fireplace cavity insert 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows top panel 1; bottom panel 2; back panel 3; right dichroic mirror mount channel 4; left dichroic mirror mount channel 6; enclosure left panel 7; dichroic mirror 8; locking bracket 9; electrical connector 10; electrical connector 11; hot air heater 12; image projector (monitor, television, or projector) 13; image projector mounting bracket 14; bracket 15; and rubber edge trim 16. The dichroic mirror mount channels are fixed in place to the enclosure's side panels by fixtures (not shown).

(19) FIG. 2 shows that monitor, television, or projector 13 is in the preferred embodiment a TV or monitor having a display surface 17 (hidden from view) that faces the canted surface of the dichroic mirror. Display surface 17 may be parallel to the surface of dichroic mirror 8.

(20) TV or monitor 17 is secured by bracket 14 to enclosure upper panel 1. TV or monitor 17 has a lower surface that is above the lower edge 313 of enclosure top panel front facing region 301 and therefore is generally hidden from view to anyone outside of enclosure 200. Bracket 15 is designed to hold a single board computer, which includes control circuitry for the device.

(21) In the preferred embodiment, the fireplace cavity insert includes memory storing video image data, such as images of fires in fireplaces, and suitable user interface for allowing a person to control via the single board computer which still or video image to have the image projector project.

(22) In the preferred embodiment, lower edge 316 of dichroic mirror 8 is proximate aperture 315. Alternative preferred embodiments have lower edge 316 displaced further into enclosure 200 to limit azimuthal angles at which a viewer has line of sight to dichroic mirror 8.

(23) While the preferred embodiment has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, variations that do not depart from the novel concepts of the invention are contemplated. The size and shape of the enclosure are not essential. However, a size large enough to simulate the area of a conventional fireplace is desirable. So the preferably, the enclosure aperture is not smaller than one foot in any direction. The displacement of the dichroic mirror further into the cavity is not essential. The preferred angle of the relatively transparent specular reflector (such as a dichroic mirror) for the preferred embodiment is 45 degrees. However, relatively transparent specular reflectors can be designed to have high reflectivity that is relatively wavelength independent across the visible spectrum for angles other than 45 degrees, and therefore canting the dichroic reflector at 45 degrees is not essential. Further the image generated by the TV, monitor, or projector, may project to the dichroic reflector at various angles and still be reflected out of the enclosure aperture to viewers.

(24) The orientations and cants of the relatively transparent specular reflector (such as a dichroic reflector) and TV, monitor, or projector, could be inverted. The TV, monitor, or projector, may reside in a recess in the bottom of the enclosure and project an image upwards, and the relatively transparent specular reflector could be canted so that its bottom edge was closer to the back of the enclosure than to the enclosure aperture, so that the relatively transparent specular reflector would reflect light emanating from the TV, monitor, or projector out of the enclosure aperture.

(25) The novel fireplace cavity insert may be made by assembling components into an enclosure, by assembling the TV, monitor, or projector into a space within the enclosure that is generally not visible from outside the enclosure, such as specifically within the enclosure and proximate the inner surface of the top panel front facing region 301 and above the lower lip 313 of the top panel front facing region 301. And placing relatively transparent specular reflector having a high reflectance that is relatively constant across the visible spectrum in the enclosure positioned to reflect light out of the enclosure aperture. And blackening the inner surface of at least the portion of the cavity defined by the enclosure along a line of site passing through the relatively transparent specular reflector.

(26) Preferably, the interior surfaces of back panel 3; top panel 1; bottom panel 2; right panel 6; left panel 7; are blackened.

(27) The invention also includes the method of using the device, by providing electrical power to the device to power the image projector, ancillary lighting, and sound, and by controlling the device by selecting a still or video image from a library of visual images stored in a memory device for projecting from the image projector, and by controlling the fireplace cavity insert to generate hot air, and turn on and off, on command, at predetermined specified times.