Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Electric fireplace heater having led flame simulator

Electric fireplace heater having led flame simulator description/claims

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heater having an apparatus for simulating flames, and in particular to an electric fireplace heater having an LED flame simulator.

2. The Prior Arts

An electric fireplace heater brings warmth and a cozy feeling to a room. The conventional electric fireplace heater is designed to look like a traditional wood burning fireplace, but does not actually burn wood. However, regular bulbs in the conventional fireplace heater illuminate aluminum pieces on a rotating twisted rod to generate flickering flame images, and artificial logs to generate the appearance of burning logs, thereby closely simulating the real flames.

This type of conventional fireplace heater uses regular bulbs to illuminate. The light bulbs are gradually reducing their light output, and the flame images generated by the light are gradually darkening. In another respect, the light bulbs are operated at high temperatures after long time use. It shortens the life of the light bulbs and lowers the efficiency of the light bulbs. Moreover, the flame is simulated by reflecting light from aluminum pieces on the rotating rod to a screen. The flame images are monotonous and boring. Therefore the practicability and aesthetics limit the application of the conventional fireplace heater.

In order to improve the unrealistic and boring simulated flames of the conventional fireplace heater, a fireplace heater according to the present invention provides bright and realistic simulated flames, simulated burning logs and blown-out warm air.

The solution of the present invention is to provide an electric fireplace heater having an LED flame simulator, which includes a main body, a light-guide unit, a plurality of LED light sources, and a roller unit. The main body is a case and includes a frame and artificial logs disposed inside the frame. The light-guide unit includes a light-guide plate disposed in the main body and behind the artificial logs. The LED light source includes a rod, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED's) that are mounted on the rod and are connected with electric wires. One set of LED light sources is disposed beneath the artificial logs. The roller unit includes a rack disposed inside the main body and behind the light-guide plate, and a hollow cylinder with patterned apertures. One end of the cylinder is connected with a motor mounted on the rack. One of LED light sources is mounted on the rack and enclosed inside the cylinder.

When the motor drives the cylinder to rotate, the light emitted by the LED's is projected onto the light-guide plate through the patterned apertures on the cylinder. The artificial logs are also illuminated by the LED's. Thus, the flickering flame appears on the light-guide plate and the artificial logs look like burning woods. In order to make the flame more realistic, the cylinder according to the present invention can be a transparent tube wrapped with a red glassine, a yellow glassine and a sheet of paper. The paper includes patterned apertures shaped in flame-like S, lightning bolt, etc. The white light and/or other color light emitted by LCD's are projected through the patterned apertures of the cylinder and the shapes of the patterned apertures are projected onto the light-guide plate, thereby generating the images of flickering flames. Otherwise, the light-guide plate dyed red, yellow or other colors similar to the flame can replace the glassines wrapped on the cylinder, and achieve the same simulated effect of the flickering flames.

In addition, a heating device is mounted on the main body. The heating device includes heating wires, a switch and a blower to deliver heat to the environment. Thus, the fireplace heater according to the present invention provides a realistic simulation of flickering flames and has warm air blown out just like a wood burning fireplace.

The electric fireplace heater having an LED flame simulator according to the present invention has the following advantages. First of all, the fireplace heater according to the present invention has a heating function similar to that of a real wood burning fireplace. The fireplace heater can be placed in the fireplace or any place in the room. Secondly, the fireplace heater use LED's as light source. The LED's produce more light per watt than regular light bulbs, save energy and have a long life span. Thirdly, LED's project light upon artificial logs made of translucent material from below, thereby presenting a more realistic burning log appearance. Fourthly, LED's project light through the patterned apertures of the cylinder upon the light-guide plate, thereby present simulated flickering flames. The simulated flickering flames and red hot logs generate a wood burning image. Fifthly, components of the fireplace heater are modularized. It is easy and convenient to repair or replace a damaged module. Sixthly, the components of the fireplace heater are environmental friendly.

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric fireplace heater having an LED flame simulator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the electric fireplace heater in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial view showing the electric fireplace heater in operation; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the electric fireplace heater placed in a fireplace.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws