GB2573093A

GB2573093A - Improvements in or relating to fires and fire trims

Info

Publication number: GB2573093A
Application number: GB1803469.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charlton Barry
Original assignee: Charlton and Jenrick Ltd
Current assignee: Charlton and Jenrick Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-05
Filing date: 2018-03-05
Publication date: 2019-10-30
Also published as: GB201803469D0

Abstract

A fire 10 comprises a firebox 12 with a trim body 16 framing the firebox against a fixture. The fire trim 14 has illumination means (figure 3, 18) on a fixture facing surface (figure 3, 20) to illuminate the fixture without direct illumination of the firebox. There may be a plurality of light sources (figure 3, 36a-c) directly projecting onto the fixture. The trim may comprise a shield means (figure 3, 42a-c) to shield the firebox from the illumination means. The light source may comprise a deflector shield, which may be an opaque deflector / reflector sited between the light source and firebox. It may comprise a plurality of frame length 22a-c defining a frame or part frame, with locating formations (figure 3, 44a-c) for light sources and may comprise a lip defining the trim outer edge (figure 2, 28a-c) that may have openings to radiate light. There may be fixing means to locate the trim to the fixture, which may be releasable. There may be a space between the frame and the fixture. The light sources may be independently operable and may provide a plurality of lighting effects. A fire trim is also claimed.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FIRES AND FIRE TRIMS

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to fires and fire trims.

The invention has application in relation to electric fires, gas fires and solid fuel fires such as multifuel, coal or log burning fires and stoves that are inset in or located against a fixture such as a chimney breast or wall.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fire trim comprising a trim body in the form of a frame or part-frame and beatable around a fire box located in or against a fixture to frame or partially frame the firebox against the fixture, and illumination means mounted on an in-use fixture-facing surface of the trim body to provide for illumination of the fixture behind the fire trim without or with no substantial direct illumination of the firebox framed or partially framed by the fire trim.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fire comprising a firebox beatable for use in or against a fixture and a fire trim having a trim body in the form of a frame or part-frame located around the firebox to frame or partially frame the firebox against the fixture, and illumination means mounted on an in-use fixture-facing surface of the trim body to illuminate the fixture behind the fire trim without or with no substantial direct illumination of the firebox.

The illumination means may be spaced from the firebox.

The illumination means may comprise one or more light sources, the or at least some of which may project light directly onto the fixture in or against which the firebox is located, in use.

The or each light source is configured on the trim body so as not to project light directly onto the firebox. The or each light source is spaced from the firebox, connected thereto by the trim body.

The fire trim may comprise shield means to shield the firebox from light from the illumination means.

The or at least one of the light source(s) may comprise shield means to deflect light away from the firebox.

The shield means may comprise one or more opaque deflectors and/or reflectors sited between the or each light source and the firebox to prevent light from the light source(s) directly illuminating the firebox.

The shield means may be heat resistant, so as not to be prone to distortion or other adverse effects as a result of experiencing heating from the firebox, when in use.

The shield means may comprise one or more of plastics material, metal, resin or other suitable material or combinations thereof.

The trim body may comprise a plurality of frame lengths that define the frame or part-frame. A frame may comprise at least three, conjoined lengths which when the frame is located around the firebox, frame the firebox against the fixture in or against which the firebox is located for use. A frame may comprise four, conjoined frame lengths that define a quadrilateral frame, such as a rectangular or square frame around the firebox. A trim body in the form of a part-frame may comprise at least three, conjoined frame lengths configured to define an open frame, such as a three sided square or rectangular frame, which may be located around the firebox with the open side against or facing a floor, hearth or similar surface on which the firebox is located.

The frame lengths may be conjoined at right angles or substantially right angles.

Some or all of the frame lengths may have a locating formation on or against which one or more light sources are located.

The locating formation may comprise a lip, which lip may define, at least in part, an outer edge of the trim body, which edge may be decorative.

Fixing means may be provided to fixably locate the trim body around the firebox.

The fixing means may secure the trim body to and around the firebox.

Alternatively or in addition, the fixing means may secure the trim body to the fixture.

The fixing means may be a releasable fixing to enable the selective removal of the trim body from location around a firebox.

The fixing means may comprise one or more of mechanical fixings, such as clips, screws, pegs, pins, catches, tape, hook and fleece fastenings, tabs, holes, magnetic fixings, adhesive, friction-fit fixings.

The fixing means may secure the trim body so that when the firebox is located for use the trim body is spaced from the fixture, at least in part, to enable the light from the illumination means to radiate from one or more outer edges of the trim body onto the fixture, whereby to give an illuminated glow around at least part of the trim body reflected from the fixture.

The fixing means may secure the trim body so that the lip, particularly when the lip defines the outer edge of the trim, is spaced from the fixture.

The lip may comprise one or more openings, through which light may radiate out from the outer edge of the trim body to illuminate an area or areas of the fixture adjacent to the trim body and on the outside of the fire.

One or more such openings may be provided in one or more of the frame lengths.

The illumination means may be selected from LED, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent light sources and may be mounted on an in-use fixture-facing surface of one or more of the frame lengths of the trim body, and may extend along some or all of the length of the or at least one of the frame lengths.

The or at least one of the light source(s) may comprise an elongate light source, such as a strip light, an LED strip, incandescent strip, halogen strip, fluorescent tube that extends along at least part of the length of one or more of the frame length(s).

An elongate light source may extend along substantially the whole internal length of a frame length.

Where the illumination means comprises a plurality of light sources, some or all of the light sources may be independently operable.

The or at least some of the light sources may be selectively operable to provide a plurality of lighting effects, which may include colour variation, intensity variation, periodical and/or cycled colours and/or intensity and/or flickering and/or fading and/or on/off cycling variations.

The lights source(s) may in certain embodiments be selectively or controllably switched or cycled between clear and opaque lighting.

The illumination means may be controlled remotely, such as by a wireless remote control unit, a wireless remotely sited switch or controller, a tablet computer, a smartphone, by voice and/or other sound activation, movement activation, gesture activation, by a digital assistant, or by any other suitable means.

Alternatively or in addition, the illumination means may be operated by way of a wired switch or other manually operable control which may be located on the fire, adjacent the fire or in any other suitable location.

The firebox may be an electric fire unit, a gas fire unit and/or a solid fuel fire unit.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 is a front view of a fire according to the present invention;

Fig 2 is a front view of a fire trim according to the present invention;

Fig 3 is a rear view of the fire trim of Fig 2;

Fig 4 is a perspective front view of the fire of Fig 1;

Fig 5 is an enlarged detail view of the area V of Fig 4;

Fig 6 is a perspective enlarged detail view of the area VI of Fig 3;

Fig 7 is a perspective front view of a fire according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 8 is an enlarged detail view of the area VIII of Fig 7; and

Fig 9 is a front view of a fire according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention provides a fire 10 comprising a firebox 12 beatable for use in or against a fixture F and a fire trim 14 having a trim body 16 in the form of a frame or part-frame located around the firebox 12 to frame or partially frame the firebox 12 against the fixture F, and illumination means 18 (Fig 3) mounted on an in-use fixture-facing surface 20 (Fig 3) of the trim body 16 to illuminate the fixture F behind the fire trim 14 without direct illumination of the firebox 12.

The invention also provides a fire trim 14 comprising a trim body 16 in the form of a frame or part-frame and beatable around a firebox 12 located in or against a fixture F to frame or partially frame the firebox 12 against the fixture F, and illumination means 18 mounted on an in-use fixture-facing surface 20 of the trim body 16 to provide for illumination of the fixture F behind the fire trim 14 without direct illumination of the firebox 12 framed or partially framed by the fire trim 14.

The firebox 12 can be an electric fire unit, gas fire unit and/or a solid fuel fire unit such as a multifuel, coal or log burning fire or stove which, in use, is inset (wholly or partially) in or located against a fixture F such as a chimney breast or wall.

With reference to Figs 1 to 8, the trim body 16 comprises a plurality of frame lengths 22a, 22b, 22c that define the frame or part-frame, each frame length having a respective fixture-facing surface 20a, 20b, 20c which between them define the fixture facing surface 20.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 to 8, the trim body 16 is in the form of a part-frame with the three frame lengths 22a, 22b, 22c conjoined and configured to define an open sided square or rectangular frame, which is located around the firebox 12 with the open side against or facing the floor, hearth or similar surface S on which the fire 10 is located for use.

The trim body 16 typically provides for decorative framing of the firebox 12, and therefore is of suitable decorative nature and materials according to desired decorative effect sought. For example, the trim body 16 can be of plain or ornate metal, including polished metal. Alternatively or in addition, the trim body 16 can be of other materials, such as stone, wood, imitation stone, imitation wood, or any other suitably decorative material. In embodiments where the trim body 16 will or could experience sufficient heating effects from the firebox 12 when in operation, the trim body 16 will be of suitably heat resistant material.

Fixing means in the form of magnets 24 (Fig 3) are provided on the fixture-facing surfaces 20a, 20b, 20c to magnetically fixably locate the trim body 16 to and around the firebox 14. Alternative fixing means may be used, such as one or more of mechanical fixings such as clips, screws, pegs, pins, catches, tape, hook and fleece fastenings, adhesives, tabs, holes, friction-fit fixings, and others that will be known to those skilled in the art, but the preference is for the fire trim 14 to be securely yet selectively releasably fixably located around the fire box 12.

This allows replacement or alternative fire trims 14 to located around a firebox, such as to replace damaged fire trims 14 or to install fire trims 14 of alternative design, including different illumination means and illumination effects (as will be discussed).

It will be appreciated that the type, quality and location of the fixing means can be varied according to preference, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

With particular reference to Figs 4 and 5, the fixing means 24 fixably locate the trim body 16 so that when the firebox 12 is located for use in or against the fixture F, the trim body 16 is spaced from the fixture F by a gap G running along the lengths of the frame lengths 22a, 22b, 22c to enable the light from the illumination means 18 to radiate through the gap G onto the fixture F whereby to give an illuminated glow G (illustrated diagrammatically in Fig 1) around or at least part of the trim body 16.

As illustrated in Figs 4 and 5, the fixing means secures the trim body 16 so that the outer edges 28a, 28b, 28c of the respective frame lengths 22a, 22b, 22c of the trim body 16 are all spaced from the fixture F.

Figs 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment where the outer edges 28a, 28b, 28c are cut away along the majority of their length to define a respective space or opening 26a, 26b, 26c (26a cannot be seen) defined between upper, lower and lateral projections 32, 34 that extend to abut and locate the fire trim 14 against the fixture F, with the openings 26a, 26b, 26c defining with the fixture F, respective gaps G through which light can radiate onto the fixture F.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various configurations of openings, slots and apertures and the like can be formed in some or all of the outer edges 28a, 28b, 28c of the fire trim 14 to provide the requisite gap(s) for light to radiate out through the outer edges of the fire trim 14 to illuminate the neighbouring areas of the fixture F.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the illumination means 18 comprises three light sources 36a, 36b, 36c as illustrated in Fig 3, each elongate and extending along substantially the entire length of a respective one of the frame lengths 22a, 22b, 22c.

Each light source on the trim body 16 does not project light directly onto the firebox 12 framed by the fire trim 14. In the main it is preferred that no light from the light source(s) radiates directly onto the firebox 12, but in certain embodiments some limited amount of direct illumination can occur or be tolerated.

With reference to Figs 3 and 6, shield means 42a, 42b, 42c in the form of an opaque strip is located along the length of each respective light source to be sited between that light source 36a, 36b, 36c and the firebox 12. In preferred embodiments the illumination means 18 is spaced from the firebox when the trim body 16 is located around the firebox. The shield means 42a, 42b, 42c prevent light from the light sources from shining directly inwardly on the firebox, when the fire trim 14 is in position framing or partially framing the firebox against the fixture F.

The shield means 42a, 42b, 42c are heat resistant when used in embodiments where they are or may be exposed to heat from a firebox in use. Such heat resistant properties will help prevent distortion or other adverse effects as a result of experiencing heating from the firebox 12, when in use.

Typically, the shield means 42a, 42b, 42c comprise a strip or one or more strips of plastics material, metallic material, resinous material or any other suitable material or combination thereof that is opaque or generally opaque to the transmission of light therethrough. The shield means 42a, 42b, 42c can reflect light away from the firebox. Alternatively or in addition shield means 42a, 42b, 42c can act to deflect light away from the fire box.

In the embodiments illustrated the shield means is attached to the illumination means 18, but in other embodiments the shield means is spaced from the illumination means 18, sited between the illumination means 18 and the firebox, in use, to prevent or substantially prevent light radiating from the illumination means 18 directly onto the firebox 12.

Each light source 36a, 36b, 36c is securely located against a location formation 44a, 44b, 44c in the form of a lip that extends along the outer edge 28a, 28b, 28c of a respective frame length 22a, 22b, 22c.

In the embodiment shown in Figs 7 and 8 the respective light source 36a, 36b, 36c may be located along the respective outer edge 28a, 28b, 28c, to be visible by an onlooker observing the side of the fire 10 and the fire trim 14, or alternatively the light source 36a, 36b, 36c may be set back from the outer edges 28a, 28b, 28c so as not to be so visible or readily so visible.

The light sources 36a, 36b, 36c in the embodiments illustrated are in the form of elongate strip lights, such as LED strip lights, but those skilled in the art will be aware of the type of light sources that would be suitable as alternative or as additional illumination means in the context of the present invention, such as incandescent strip, halogen, fluorescent tube.

In certain embodiments the illumination means 18 comprises one or more non-elongate light sources such as one or more of LED, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent or other suitable light source.

In certain embodiments, where the illumination means comprises a plurality of light sources, such as the embodiments illustrated, some or all of the light sources may be operable independently of the others. So, for example the light source 36b can be independently operable to the light sources 36a and 36c to enable the selective illumination of the sides of the firebox 10 without illumination of the top, and vice versa.

The or some of the light sources can in certain embodiments be selectively operable to provide a plurality of lighting, such as one or more of colour variation, intensity variation, periodic and/or cycled colour and/or intensity and/or flickering and/or fading and/or on/off cycling variations.

The lights source(s) is/are in certain embodiments selectively or controllably switched or cycled between clear and opaque lighting.

In certain embodiments the illumination means is controlled remotely, such as by one or more of a wireless remote control unit, a wireless remotely sited switch or controller, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or by voice and/or sound activation, movement activation, gesture activation by a digital assistant, or by any other suitable means that will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Alternatively or in addition, the illumination means in certain embodiments is operated by way of a wired switch, or other manually operable control (not shown) which may be located on the fire 10, adjacent the fire 10 or in any other suitable location.

With reference to Fig 6, the lower end of the light source 36a is illustrated with a diagrammatic representation of the electrical wire connection 38 that provides for power to all three of the light sources 36a, 36b, 36c.

The electrical supply can be a supply fed specifically to the fire 10 or fire trim 14 or alternatively the supply could be taken from another electricity supply to the fire 10, particularly where the firebox is an electric fire. A detachable connection is provided in certain embodiments to allow disconnection and removal of the fire trim 14 from location around a firebox 12.

In use, the fire 10 and the fire trim 14 of the present invention provide for illumination of a fixture F, such as a chimney breast or wall in or against which the fire 10 or a fire on which the fire trim is located, in an area behind the fire trim 14. This illumination serves a primarily decorative or aesthetic purpose that can be enjoyed by an observer whilst the firebox 12 is in operation, or when the firebox 12 is not in operation, but an attractive light source is needed or desired.

Providing the illumination means 18 on in-use fixture-facing surface(s) 20 of the trim body 14 has a number of advantages.

First of all, it enables the illumination means 18 to be configured using the shield means 42a, 42b, 42c, so that there is no or substantially no direct illumination from the illumination means onto the firebox 12. This is considered to provide an improved visual effect, as the radiated light from the illumination means is only visible on the outer of the fire trim 14, on the fixture F.

Secondly, it means that the illumination means 18 and the trim body 16 are wholly comprised on the fire trim 14, which enables selective removal or replacement of the fire trim 14, including the illumination means, to provide for replacement or alternative fire trims fixably located on and around a firebox 12.

This in turn means the main firebox can remain a standard component for non-illuminated versions enabling a reduction in manufacturing variants to be realised and therefore costs and complexity lowered and a reduction in stock holdings requirements.

The illumination means can be easily tailored to suit particular firebox design, construction and/or function and visual preferences or illumination needs, without requiring changes to press tooling or other complex and expensive changes.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The trim body may comprise four, conjoined frame lengths that define a quadrilateral frame, such as a rectangular or square frame around the firebox. Such a trim body would be useful to frame an inset firebox that is located up and spaced from the floor, ground or other surface S on which the fixture is sited, to enable framing and illumination around all sides of such a firebox. Fig 9 illustrates such an alternative fire trim 116, in which features that correspond to features in the embodiments of Figs 1 to 8 are given the same reference numerals, prefixed Ύ.

In still further embodiments, the illumination means is configured to radiate light from just some of the sides of the fire trim, such as the two upwardly extended sides, the one or two generally horizontally extending upper and lower sides, or indeed any combination. Indeed, the illumination means can be adjusted or programmed to provide many variations in the illumination pattern.

The trim body can have one or more openings and/or areas of transparency or translucency on one or more side and/or user-facing (typically the front-facing) surface(s) of the trim body to allow illumination through the front and/or side(s) of the trim body.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

(SLAMS

1. A i:re comprising a firebox locatable for use in or against a fixture and a fire trim baying a trim body in the form ofaframe or pa rt-frame located around the firebox to frame or partially frame the; firebox against the fixture, and illumination means mounted on an in-use: fixture-facing surface of the trim body to illuminate the fixture behind the fire trim without or with no substantial direct illumination of the firebox,
2. A fire as claimed: in claim f, in which the ilumihalbn means is,speed from the firebox.
3. A fire is elaimed in olaim 1 or claim 2:, in which the llumfnation means comprises one or mom light' sources,;; the or at least: some of: Which projects light.directly onto: ibeifixture in er apinsfi which the J'fpdX is located;, in use.
4. A fire as claimed in claim 3, in which the or each light source is configured on the trim body so as not to project light directly onto the firebox,
5. A fire as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the or each light source is spaced from the firebox, connected thereto by the trim body,
8. A fire as claimed in any preceding claim,; in which the fire trim comprises shield means to shield the firebox from light bom the illumination means, f. A fire as claimed in claim 8, in which the or at least one of the light source(s) comprises shield means to deflect light away from the firebox; 8. A: fire as claimed In claim 8: or claim 7f in which the shield means comprises One or more opaque deflectors ancPdr reflectors sited:: between the or each light: source and the firebox to prevent light from the light source(s) directly illuminating the firebox
9. A fire as claimed in any preceding date, in which the trim body comprises a plurality of fmme iengihsihatdefinetheframe or part-frame.
10. A fire as claimed in claim 9, In which a frame comprises at least three, conjoined;: lengths which when the frame is loeafed around the firebox, frame the firebox against the fixture in or against which the firebox; is located for use.
11. A fire as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10. in which a frame comprises four, conjoined frame lengths that define a quadrilateral frame, such as a rectangular or square frame around the firebox*
12. A fire as claimed In dalm 10 or claim 11, in which a trim body in the form: of a part-frame comprises: at feast three, conjoined frame lengths configured to define ah open frame, such as a three sided square or rectangular frame, which locate around the firebox with the: open side against or facing: a floor, hearth or similar suriace on which the firebox is located,
13. A fife as claimed in any of claims $ to 12, in which: seine: or all of the frame lengths have a locating formation oh Or against which one or more light sources are located.
14. A fire as claimed in claim 13, in which the locating formation comprises 1 lip which defines, at least in pari, an outer edge of the trim body.
15. A fire as claimed in claim! 14, in which: the outer edge is decorative, 18,: A fire as claimed: in any preceding claim, in which fixing means is provided to fixabiy locate the trim body to the fixtu re , 1¾ A fife as claimed in claim 16, in which the fixing means is a releasable fixing to snails the selective removal of the trim body from location around a firebox;,
18. A fife: is claimed in any of claims 18 to 17, In which the fixing means secures the trim body so that when the firebox is located for use the trim body is spaced: from the fixture, at least in parti to enable the light from the illumination means to radiate from one: or more outer edges of the trim body onto the fixture:, whereby: to give an illuminated glow around at least [part of the: trim body: reflected from the fixture. liy A fire as claimed in any of claims 16 to 18, in which the fixing means secures the trim body sc that the: ilp, particularly when the lip defines the outer edge of thelrim,, Is: spaced from: the fixture,
20. A fire as claimed ih any of claims i*$ to 19, in which the lip comprises one or more openings, through which light may radiate out from the outer: edge of the trim body to illuminate an area or areas of the fixture adjacent to the trim body and on theoutside of thelife.
21. A fire as Claimed In any preceding claim, in which the illumination means is mounted on an in-use fixture-facing surface of one or more of the frame lengths of the trim body to extend along some or ail of the length of the or at leas! one of the frame lengths.:
22. A fire as claimed in any of eiairrt 3 to claim 21, in which the or at least one of the light source(s) comprises an elongate light source, such as a strip light, an LED strip, incandescent strip, halogen strip, fluorescent tube that extends along at least part of the length of one or more of the frame iengfh(s).
23. A ire as claimed in any of claims 3 to 22, ip which the iilumination morms comprises a plurality of light sources, some or all of the light sources: being independently operable. 24. A: fre: as claimed in any of claims 3 to 23, in which the or at least some of the light sources are selectively operable to provide a pin rally of lighting effects, which may include colour variation, intensity variation, periodical and/or cycled colours and/or intensity and/or flickering and/or fading and/or 2S:; A fire trim comprising a trim body in the form of a flap© or parhffame and beatable around a firebox: located in or against a fixture to frame or partially frame the firebox against the fixture, and illuminationmeans mounted on an In-use: liitufs^facing surface: of the trim body to provide for illumination of the fixture behind the fire trim without or with: no substantial direct Illumination of the firebox framed or partially framed by the fir© trim.