GB2377270A

GB2377270A - A multi-panelled fire surround

Info

Publication number: GB2377270A
Application number: GB0104421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Bloodworth
Original assignee: Be Modern Ltd
Current assignee: Be Modern Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-22
Filing date: 2001-02-22
Publication date: 2003-01-08
Also published as: GB0104421D0

Abstract

A back panel 2 for a fire surround has releasably interconnected sub-panels 4,6,8. The panels are preferably rectangular with flanged edges 10 and comprise two side panels 4, 6 and a top 8 panel linked by spring clips 14. A fire surround may comprise a back panel and hearth (16, fig 2) releasably interconnected with flanged margins and spring clips. The hearth may have a metal top plate (22, fig 2) and support the back panel which preferably stands upon it. The hearth is assembled from a frame and top plate designed to enclose the components of the fire surround when disassembled. A mantel may also be included which comprises two side members and a top member releasably interconnected and designed to fit within the hearth when disassembled. The invention facilities transportation and storage of a fire surround reducing the risk of damage to the structure.

Description

IMPROVED FIRE SURROUND This invention relates to an improved fire surround, and more particularly to such a fire surround comprising a hearth and a back panel.

Conventional fire surrounds comprise a hearth on which the associated fire is supported, and a back panel upstanding from the hearth and apertured to receive therein the associated fire.

Heretofore, back panels have been of single piece construction, and therefore of substantial dimensions whereby storage, handling and transportation can pose problems, and the panels are prone to damage during storage and transportation.

It would be desirable to be able to provide a fire surround, and in particular a back panel, capable of easier handling and transportation than heretofore.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a back panel for a fire surround, the back panel including a plurality of sub-panels releasably interconnected together.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fire surround comprising a hearth and a back panel, the back panel including a plurality of subpanels releasably interconnected together.

Conveniently the back panel comprises two side subpanels and a top sub-panel each of rectangular shape, the sub-panels being interconnected by spring clips.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each subpanel is defined by a peripheral flange therearound, the flanges on the top sub-panel and on the side sub-panels at the regions of interconnection therebetween being aligned, spring clips engaging over the aligned flanges to maintain the interconnection between the sub-panels.

Preferably the hearth includes a metal top plate having a rear edge thereto, the arrangement being such that, with the back panel seated on the hearth to be upstanding therefrom, the peripheral flanges on the lower edges of the side sub-panels seat on, to be aligned with, the rear edge of the hearth top plate, spring clips engaging over the flanges on the side sub-panels and on the rear edge of the hearth top plate to retain the back panel on the hearth.

Conveniently the hearth comprises a peripheral frame on top of which seats the top plate, the bottom of the frame being open.

With such an arrangement, the dimensions of the hollow interior of the hearth frame, and the external dimensions of the sub-panels of the back panel are preferably such

that the disassembled sub-panels can be stored in the hearth frame.

The fire surround may further include a mantel, which mantel preferably comprises a pair of side members and a top member releasably interconnected with one another and whereby the mantel can be transported in a disassembled form for assembly at the site of the associated fire.

By way of example only, the aspects of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the sub-panels of a back panel surround according to the first aspect of the invention about to be interconnected; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through part of a hearth and part of a back panel of a fire surround according to the second aspect of the invention; Fig. 3a, b and c are, respectively, a plan view from above, a front view and a side view of a hearth of a fire surround according to the second aspect of the invention; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the component parts of a disassembled fire surround according to the second aspect of the invention, and Fig. 5 is a section through the component parts of a disassembled fire surround according to the second aspect of the invention as transported.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated fire surround comprises a back panel indicated generally at 2 which includes a pair of side sub-panels 4,6 and a top subpanel 8.

Each sub-panel 4,6, 8 comprises a rectangular sheet of metal the edges of which are bent at right angles to the remainder of the sheet to form peripheral flanges 10 surrounding each sub-panel.

Secured to the rear of each metal sheet is a fireproof board 12 to complete each sub-panel 4,6, 8.

The back panel 2 is assembled by locating the subpanels 4,6, 8 as shown in Fig. 1 with the top flanges 10 on the sub-panels 4,6 abutting the lower flange 10 on the subpanel 8. Spring clips 14 are then pressed over the abutting flanges 10 as indicated to interconnect the subpanels 4,6, 8 to complete the panel 2.

The fire surround further comprises a hearth indicated generally at 16 which includes a rectangular hearth frame 18, a fireproof board 20 on top of the frame 18, a metal hearth plate 22 covering the board 20, and a central cross support 24, these components being shown separately in Fig.

4 and as assembled in Fig. 2.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the hearth plate 22 includes a rear edge 26 thereto projecting rearwardly of the board 20. The fire surround is completed by standing the

assembled back panel 2 on the rear edge 26 of the hearth plate 22 and securing the lower flanges 10 of the side subpanels 4,6 to the rear edge 26 of the metal hearth plate 22 by spring clips 14 one of which is shown in Fig. 2.

It will be appreciated that the described fire surround is particularly convenient to store, handle and transport as is apparent from Fig. 5. In this drawing it can be seen that the hearth 16, when inverted, defines within the frame 18 and above the board 20 a hollow interior in which can be located the three separate subpanels 4,6, 8 of the disassembled back panel 2. Thus the maximum dimensions of the fire surround for storage and transportation purposes are defined by the width, the length and the height of the hearth 16.

The compact nature of the assembled fire surround considerably reduces the potential for damage during storage and transportation. On delivery to the site of the associated fire, the sub-panels 4,6, 8 are removed from the hearth 16, the back panel 2 is assembled, the hearth 16 is located in its upright operative position, and the assembled panel 2 is positioned on and secured to the hearth 16.

The fire surround may further include a mantel (not shown) which may itself comprise three separate components, namely two opposed side members and a transverse top member

which can be assembled on site to complete the mantel. The three-part construction of such a mantel facilitates storage, handling and transportation of the mantel, the members conveniently being aligned with, for storage, handling and transportation with, the packaged hearth and back panel.

Clearly the precise construction of the back panel 2 of the first aspect of the invention and the hearth 16 of the fire surround of the second aspect of the invention may differ from those described and illustrated. In particular means other than spring clips 14 may be used to interconnect the sub-panels 4,6, 8 and to connect the assembled back panel 2 with the hearth 16.

Other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A back panel for a fire surround, the back panel including a plurality of sub-panels releasably interconnected together.

2. A back panel as claimed in claim 1 and comprising two side sub-panels and a top sub-panel each of rectangular shape, the sub-panels being interconnected by spring clips.

3. A back panel as claimed in claim 2 in which each sub-panel is defined by a peripheral flange therearound, the flanges on the top sub-panel and on the side sub-panels at the regions of interconnection therebetween being aligned, spring clips engaging over the aligned flanges to maintain the interconnection between the sub-panels.

4. A fire surround comprising a hearth and a back panel, the back panel being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A fire surround as claimed in claim 4 in which the back panel is releasably interconnected with the hearth.

6. A fire surround as claimed in claim 5 together with a back panel as claimed in claim 3 in which the hearth includes a metal top plate having a rear edge thereto, the. arrangement being such that, with the back panel seated on the hearth to be upstanding therefrom, the peripheral flanges on the lower edges of the side subpanels seat on, to be aligned with, the rear edge of the hearth top plate, spring clips engaging over the flanges on the side sub-panels and on the rear edge of the hearth top plate to retain the back panel on the hearth.

7. A fire surround as claimed in claim 6 in which the hearth comprises a peripheral frame on top of which seats the top plate, the bottom of the frame being open.

8. A fire surround as claimed in claim 7 in which the dimensions of the hollow interior of the hearth frame, and the external dimensions of the sub-panels of the back panel are such that the disassembled sub-panels can be stored in the hearth frame.

9. A fire surround as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8 and further including a mantel.

10. A fire surround as claimed in claim 9 in which the mantel comprises a pair of side members and a top member releasably interconnected with one another and whereby the mantel can be transported in a disassembled form for assembly at the site of the associated fire.

11. A back panel for a fire surround substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

12. A fire surround substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.