Burner system incorporating flame and light

A heating appliance, comprising:

• an enclosure defining a combustion chamber;
• an ember support member defining an ember support surface;
• a plurality of translucent artificial embers disposed upon but separable from the ember support surface;
• a first burner coupled to a source of combustible fuel and configured to generate a flame, the first burner being positioned adjacent to the ember support member and at least partially concealed from view by the embers, the first burner having a tube shape;
• a light source positioned vertically below the ember support member and the tube burner, the light source producing light that passes through the ember support member to illuminate the embers;
• and
• a reflective member positioned rearward of the embers in the combustion chamber to reflect light produced by the light source and the flame, the reflective member being spaced frontward of a rear panel of the combustion chamber and having a height that extends within a lower vertical halve of the combustion chamber.

A method of increasing viewable light in a heating appliance, the heating appliance including an enclosure that defines a combustion chamber, and an ember support member, a plurality of transparent embers, a light source, and a burner member positioned in the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:

• supporting the embers on a support surface defined by the ember support member, the embers being separable from the support surface, the support surface including a plurality of apertures sized smaller than the embers;
• positioning the burner member adjacent to the support surface, the burner being configured to generate a flame that produces light in the combustion chamber;
• surrounding a portion of the burner member with the embers to at least partially conceal the burner member from view;
• and
• positioning the light source vertically beneath the support surface, the light source providing light that passes through the plurality of apertures to illuminate the embers and produce light in the combustion chamber.

A method of generating viewable light, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a support member, a plurality of transparent embers, a light source, a tube burner, and a reflective panel;
• supporting the embers on the support member, the embers being separable from the support surface;
• positioning the burner member adjacent to the support member, the burner being configured to generate a flame that produces light;
• surrounding a portion of the burner member with the embers to at least partially conceal the burner member from view;
• positioning the light source vertically beneath the support surface, the light source providing light that passes through the support member to illuminate the embers;
• and
• positioning the reflective panel adjacent to at least some of the embers, the reflective panel being configured to reflect light produced by the flame and the light source, the reflective member being substantially vertically oriented and having a height that extends no more that about 6 inches vertically above the embers.