Adjusting Device of Imitation Flame of Electric Fireplace

Abstract

An electric fireplace includes a casing, a screen, a flickering unit, a light emitting device, a flame imitation board, and an adjusting device. The casing includes a receiving chamber. The screen is disposed vertically in a front end of the receiving chamber. The flickering unit is disposed in the receiving chamber and behind the screen. The light emitting device is disposed in the receiving chamber and is configured to emit light towards the flickering unit. The flame imitation board is disposed in the receiving chamber and between the flickering unit and the screen and is movable in a vertical direction. The flame imitation board includes a central portion having a plurality of light transmitting portions. The adjusting device is configured to move the flame imitation board in the vertical direction and to change a height of the plurality of light transmitting portions.

Claims

1. An electric fireplace comprising: a casing including a receiving chamber; a screen disposed vertically in a front end of the receiving chamber; a flickering unit disposed in the receiving chamber and behind the screen; a light emitting device disposed in the receiving chamber and configured to emit light towards the flickering unit; a flame imitation board disposed in the receiving chamber and between the flickering unit and the screen and movable in a vertical direction, wherein the flame imitation board includes a central portion having a plurality of light transmitting portions; and an adjusting device configured to move the flame imitation board in the vertical direction and to change a height of the plurality of light transmitting portions.

2. The electric fireplace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting device includes an operating shaft, a second motor, two gears, and two interlocking seats, wherein the operating shaft is pivotably received in the receiving chamber and extends in a horizontal direction, wherein the second motor is connected to the operating shaft and configured to drive the operating shaft to rotate, wherein the two gears are securely mounted on two ends of the operating shaft, respectively, wherein the two interlocking seats are securely mounted on two sides of the flame imitation board, respectively, and wherein each of the two interlocking seats includes a rack meshed with one of the two gears.

3. The electric fireplace as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two interlocking seats includes a guiding plate having a rectilinear guiding groove receiving the operating shaft.

4. The electric fireplace as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjusting device further includes two positioning blocks and two positioning switches, wherein the two positioning blocks are disposed on upper and lower portions of the flame imitation board, wherein the two positioning switches are in electrical connection with the second motor and are securely mounted in upper and lower portions of the receiving chamber, respectively, and wherein the second motor is stopped when one of the two positioning switches contacts with one of the two positioning blocks.

5. The electric fireplace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing includes two sidewalls, and wherein two rectilinear lateral mounting plate are respectively disposed on inner sides respectively of the two sidewalls and abut two sides of the flame imitation board.

6. The electric fireplace as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper mounting plate is disposed on a lower side of the top wall and abuts an upper end of the flame imitation board.

7. The electric fireplace as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receiving chamber includes a connecting portion on a lower end thereof, wherein a light shielding plate is disposed on top of the connecting portion, wherein the flickering unit includes a shaft, a first motor, and a plurality of reflective plates, wherein the shaft is pivotably mounted in the receiving chamber, extends in a horizontal direction, and is located behind the screen, wherein the first motor is connected to the shaft and is configured to rotate the shaft, wherein the plurality of reflective plates is disposed on the shaft, and wherein rotation of the shaft causes a change in a reflection angle of each of the plurality of reflective plates.

8. The electric fireplace as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a controller in electrical connection with the first motor and the second motor, wherein the controller is configured to control a rotating speed of the first motor and forward and reverse rotation and a rotating period of the second motor.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a partial, exploded, perspective view of an electric fireplace of an embodiment according to the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric fireplace of the embodiment according to the present invention after assembly.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the electric fireplace of the embodiment according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the electric fireplace according to the present invention, with a flame imitation board in a lower position.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the electric fireplace according to the present invention, with a flame imitation board in a higher position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, an electric fireplace of an embodiment according to the present invention comprises a casing 1, a screen 2, a flickering unit 3, a light emitting device 4, a flame imitation board 5, and an adjusting device 6. The casing 1 includes a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12, and two sidewalls 13 disposed on left and right sides and connected to the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. The casing 1 includes a receiving chamber 14 in a central portion thereof. The receiving chamber 14 includes a connecting portion 15 on a lower end thereof. A light shielding plate 151 is disposed on top of the connecting portion 15. Two rectilinear lateral mounting plates 16 are respectively disposed on inner sides respectively of the two sidewalls 13. An upper mounting plate 17 is disposed on a lower side of the top wall 11.

[0018] The screen 2 is disposed vertically in a front end of the receiving chamber 14. The flickering unit 3 includes a shaft 31, a first motor 32, and a plurality of reflective plates 33. The shaft 31 is pivotably mounted in the receiving chamber 14, extends in a horizontal direction, and is located behind the screen 2. The first motor 32 is disposed on one of the two sidewalls 13. The first motor 32 is connected to the shaft 31 and is configured to rotate the shaft 31. The plurality of reflective plates 33 is disposed on the shaft 31. Rotation of the shaft 31 causes a change in a reflection angle of each of the plurality of reflective plates 33.

[0019] The light emitting device 4 includes a plurality of light emitting members 41 disposed on the connecting portion 15 of the casing 1 and configured to emit light towards the plurality of reflective plates 33. The light shielding plate 151 assures that the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting members 41 will not be directly reflected to the flame imitation board 5, such that the light projected onto the flame imitation board 5 can be reflected by the movable reflective plates 33, thereby providing a better dynamic effect.

[0020] The flame imitation board 5 is in the form of a planar plate and is disposed in the receiving chamber 14. The flame imitation board 5 is disposed between the flickering unit 3 and the screen 2 and is movable in a vertical direction. The flame imitation board 5 includes a central portion having a plurality of light transmitting portions 51. Two sides of the flame imitation board 5 abut the lateral mounting plates 16, respectively. An upper end of the flame imitation board 5 abuts the upper mounting plate 17.

[0021] The adjusting device 6 is configured to move the flame imitation board 5 in the vertical direction and to change the height of the plurality of light transmitting portions 51. The adjusting device 6 includes an operating shaft 61, a second motor 62, two gears 63, two interlocking seats 64, two positioning blocks 65, and two positioning switches 66. The operating shaft 61 is pivotably received in the receiving chamber 14 and extends in a horizontal direction. The second motor 62 is disposed on one of the two sidewalls 13, is connected to the operating shaft 61, and is configured to drive the operating shaft 61 to rotate. The two gears 63 are securely mounted on two ends of the operating shaft 61, respectively. The two interlocking seats 64 are securely mounted on two sides of the flame imitation board 5, respectively. Each of the two interlocking seats 64 includes a rack 641 meshed with one of the two gears 63. Each of the two interlocking seats 64 includes a guiding plate 642 having a rectilinear guiding groove 643 receiving the operating shaft 61. The two positioning blocks 65 are respectively disposed on upper and lower portions of the flame imitation board 5. The two positioning switches 66 are in electrical connection with the second motor 62 and are securely mounted on upper and lower portions of one of the two sidewalls 13 of the receiving chamber 14, respectively. The second motor 62 is stopped when one of the two positioning switches 66 contacts with one of the two positioning blocks 65.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the plurality of light emitting members 41 of the light emitting device 4 emits light, and the first motor 32 is activated to rotate the shaft 31 and the plurality of reflective plates 33, such that the light is reflected to the flame imitation board 5 and transmits through the plurality of light transmitting portions 51 to the screen 2. Thus, a dynamic flame effect can be displayed on the screen.

[0023] The second motor 62 of the adjusting device 6 is activated to drive the operating shaft 61 and the two gears 63 to rotate. The two gears 63 interlock with the racks 641 to move the plurality of light transmitting portions 51 of the flame imitation board 5 between a lowest position A (see FIG. 4) and a highest position B (see FIG. 5). The height of the plurality of light transmitting portions 51 is, thus, changed. Furthermore, the shapes and positions of the flames (as indicated by S1, S2 in FIGS. 4 and 5) projected onto the screen 2 can be changed to provide a more lively dynamic flame effect. According to the present invention, the plurality of light transmitting portions 51 of the flame imitation board 5 can be located in any location between the lowest position A and the highest position B or displaced to present a set height and a set range of flame shapes. Furthermore, when the flame imitation board 5 reaches the lowest position A or the highest position B, one of the two positioning switches 66 contacts with one of the two positioning blocks 65, thereby stopping the second motor 62. This provides more stable movement.

[0024] When the flame imitation board 5 according to the present invention moves in the vertical direction, the guiding grooves 643 receiving the operating shaft 61 assure rectilinear movement of the flame imitation board 5. Furthermore, the two sides of the flame imitation board 5 abut the lateral mounting plates 16, and the upper end of the flame imitation board 5 abuts the upper mounting plate 17, providing more stable movement in the vertical direction.

[0025] The first motor 32 and the second motor 62 are in electrical connection with a controller 7. The controller 7 is configured to control a rotating speed of the first motor 32 and forward and reverse rotation and a rotating period of the second motor 62. Thus, through control of the rotating speed of the first motor 32 and the rotational angle in the forward or reverse direction and the rotating period of the second motor 62, continuous presentation of different flames at different heights can be provided, thereby providing a more dynamic flame effect.

[0026] In view of the foregoing, the present invention enables the electric fireplace to provide a better and lively imitation of flames and provide better movement stability.

[0027] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.