Flame simulating assembly
View Patent ↗The invention provides a flame simulating assembly having a simulated fuel bed, a light source, and a screen. The light source is operable to produce an image of flames appearing to be emitted from the simulated fuel bed. The screen has a front surface disposed behind the simulated fuel bed for transmitting the image of flames through the front surface. A pattern is included in the screen for simulating the appearance of firebrick to a viewer of the image of flames.
1. A flame simulating assembly for providing an image of flames, the flame simulating assembly comprising:
a simulated fuel bed;
a light source for providing light to produce the image of flames;
a flicker element for causing light from the light source to flicker, to produce the image of flames;
a screen comprising a front surface disposed behind the simulated fuel bed and positioned in a path of flickering light from the light source, for transmitting the image of flames through the front surface; and
the screen additionally comprising a pattern imprinted on the front surface through which the image of flames is transmittable for simulating a firebrick wall such that the pattern gives the illusion of depth, the simulated firebrick wall appearing to be spaced apart from and behind the image of flames transmitted therethrough.
2. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 1 in which the front surface is partially reflective for reflecting an image of the simulated fuel bed, the screen additionally comprising a back surface disposed behind the partially reflective front surface for diffusing and transmitting light from the light source through the front surface.
3. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 2 in which the partially reflective front surface has a non-reflective matte region, the non-reflective matte region being disposed distal from the simulated fuel bed, and the portion of the front surface not covered by the non-reflective matte region comprises a generally reflective region, such that the simulated fuel bed is substantially the only object reflected in the front surface.
4. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 3 wherein the front surface further comprises a transition region which is partially reflective and partially non-reflective, the transition region being disposed between the non-reflective matte region and the reflective region.
5. A flame simulating assembly for providing an image of flames, the flame simulating assembly comprising:
a simulated fuel bed;
a light source for providing light to produce the image of flames;
a flicker element for causing light from the light source to flicker, to produce the image of flames;
a screen comprising a front surface disposed behind the simulated fuel bed and positioned in a path of flickering light from the light source, for transmitting the images of flames through the front surface; and
the screen additionally comprising a pattern imprinted thereon through which the image of flames is transmittable for simulating a firebrick wall, the pattern providing an illusion of depth such that the simulated firebrick wall appears to be spaced apart from and behind the image of flames transmitted therethrough.
6. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 5 in which the front surface is partially reflective for reflecting an image of the simulated fuel bed, the screen additionally comprising a back surface disposed behind the partially reflective front surface for diffusing and transmitting light from the light source through the front surface.
7. A flame simulating assembly comprising:
a simulated fuel bed;
a light source;
a screen positioned in a path of light from the light source and adapted to provide an image of flames transmitted through the screen; and
the screen comprising a pattern imprinted thereon through which the image of flames is transmittable for simulating a firebrick wall, the pattern being drawn to provide an illusion that the firebrick wall is spaced apart from and behind the image of flames transmitted therethrough.
8. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 7 in which the front surface is partially reflective for reflecting an image of the simulated fuel bed, the screen additionally comprising a back surface disposed behind the partially reflective front surface for diffusing and transmitting light from the light source through the front surface.
9. A flame simulating assembly comprising:
a simulated fuel bed;
a light source;
a screen comprising a partially reflective front surface disposed behind the simulated fuel bed for reflecting and transmitting light, and a diffusing back surface disposed behind the partially reflective front surface for diffusing and transmitting light;
a flicker element positioned in a path of light transmitted from the light source to the diffusing back surface, to produce an image of flames;
light from the light source being transmittable through the front surface to provide the image of flames;
the partially reflective front surface comprising a non-reflective matte region, the non-reflective matte region being disposed distal from the simulated fuel bed, and the portion of the front surface not covered by the non-reflective matte region comprising a generally reflective region, such that the simulated fuel bed is substantially the only object reflected in the front surface; and
the screen additionally comprising a pattern printed on the front surface of the screen through which the image of flames is transmittable, for simulating a firebrick wall spaced apart from and behind the image of flames transmitted therethrough.
10. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 9 wherein the front surface further comprises a transition region which is partially reflective and partially non-reflective, the transition region being disposed between the non-reflective matte region and the reflective region.
11. A flame simulating assembly according to claim 10 in which the pattern is positioned in the non-reflective matte region and extends into the transition region and at least partly into the reflective region.