US 5,590,641 AGranted

Adaptor for installing flue liners to direct vent fireplace inserts

AssigneeCFM International Inc.

InventorLuu Q. Duong

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Abstract

A method and adaptor assembly are provided for installing a direct vent firebox, such as a gas fireplace insert, into an existing fireplace. An exhaust flue liner and inlet flue liner are installed in the chimney of the existing fireplace. A plate flue collar is aligned above a fastener plate flue collar. The lower ends of the exhaust flue liner and inlet flue liner are connected to the fastener plate flue collar above an exhaust opening and inlet opening formed in the fastener slider plate, respectively. Slider brackets are provided on the top panel of the firebox and the plate flue collar is slidably engaged with the slider brackets while the firebox is inserted into the existing fireplace until the exhaust opening formed in the plate flue collar and the exhaust opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar are aligned with the exhaust opening formed in the top panel of the firebox and the inlet opening formed in the plate flue collar and the inlet opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar are aligned with the inlet opening formed in the top panel of the firebox.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of installing a direct vent gas fireplace insert, an exhaust flue liner and an inlet flue liner in an existing fireplace with a chimney, the direct vent gas fireplace insert comprising a firebox, a top panel defining an exhaust opening and an inlet opening formed in the top panel, and means for slidably receiving a plate flue collar, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting the exhaust flue liner and inlet flue liner into the chimney whereby a lower end of the exhaust flue liner and a lower end of the inlet flue liner are accessible from the fireplace;
(b) aligning the plate flue collar on a fastener plate flue collar whereby an exhaust opening formed in the plate flue collar is above an exhaust opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar and an inlet opening formed in the plate flue collar is above an inlet opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar;
(c) coupling the lower end of the exhaust flue liner and the lower end of the inlet flue liner to the fastener plate flue collar, whereby the coupled lower end of the exhaust flue liner is over the exhaust opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar and the coupled lower end of the inlet flue liner is over the inlet opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar;
and
(d) slidably mounting the plate flue collar onto the means for slidably receiving the plate flue collar while inserting the fireplace insert into the existing fireplace until the exhaust opening formed in the plate flue collar and the exhaust opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar are substantially aligned with the exhaust opening formed in the top panel and the inlet opening formed in the plate flue collar and the inlet opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar are substantially aligned with the inlet opening formed in the top panel;
and
(e) forming a seal between the fastener plate flue collar and the top panel to seal the inlet opening from the exhaust opening.

4 more elements

An adaptor assembly for installing a direct vent gas fireplace insert, an exhaust flue liner and an inlet flue liner in an existing fireplace with a chimney, the gas fireplace insert comprising a firebox, a top panel defining an exhaust opening and an inlet opening formed in the top panel, the adaptor assembly comprising:

(a) a plate flue collar defining an exhaust opening and an inlet opening formed in the plate flue collar;
(b) a fastener plate flue collar defining an exhaust opening and an inlet opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar;
(c) first means for coupling the fastener plate flue collar to a lower end of the exhaust flue liner whereby the lower end of the exhaust flue liner is over the exhaust opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar;
(d) second means for coupling the plate flue collar to a lower end of the inlet flue liner whereby the lower end of the inlet flue liner is over the inlet opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar;
(e) means operative for mounting on the top panel of the fireplace insert for slidably receiving the plate flue collar, whereby when the plate flue collar is fully received, the plate flue collar is aligned above the fastener plate flue collar and the exhaust opening formed in the top panel is in substantial alignment with the exhaust opening formed in the plate flue collar and the exhaust opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar and the inlet opening formed in the top panel is in substantial alignment with the inlet opening formed in the plate flue collar and the inlet opening formed in the fastener plate flue collar;
and
(f) seal means located between said fastener plate flue collar and said top panel to seal said exhaust opening from said inlet opening.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.