US 6,109,257 AGranted

Modular chimney

OwnerDeborah L. Hodge, James Roe Hodge, Jr.inventors

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Abstract

The present invention encompasses a modular chimney having a fireplace, a smoke chamber, and a plurality of modular blocks, forming at least one stack of blocks, the stack of modular blocks defining a chimney passage that is in fluid communication with the smoke chamber for the passage of combustion products. Alternatively, in a second embodiment, the modular chimney may also include a plurality of angled blocks, forming at least one angled stack of angled blocks, the angled stack of angled blocks defining an angled chimney passage that is in fluid communication with the smoke chamber and the chimney passage. The modular chimney may also have a top plate that is disposed onto the upper surface of the smoke chamber and, upon which, the stack of modular blocks or the stack of angled blocks may be disposed, and the chimney may also have a ledger block, interposed between two stacks of modular blocks, so that a desired exterior surface treatment may be supported when it is applied to the exterior of the modular chimney. The modular sections of the top plate, the modular block, the angled block, and the ledger block are engaged in a nesting relationship that serves to orient the respective modular sections, to provide structural support to the modular sections and the modular chimney, and to provide a physical obstruction to the passage of flame, hot gases, and smoke through the joints of the modular sections when the sections are physically joined and mortared together.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A chimney for use with a fireplace having a smoke chamber, the smoke chamber having an upper surface defining an exhaust opening, the chimney comprising:

a. a plurality of modular blocks forming at least one stack, each modular block having a first cross-sectional width, a block top surface, and an opposed block bottom surface, wherein the block top surface and the block bottom surface are substantially planar and parallel to each other, each modular block defining a bore having a first diameter extending therethrough between the block top surface and the block bottom surface of each modular block, wherein the block top surface of one modular block is sized to complementarily engage the block bottom surface of one adjacent modular block so that the modular blocks can be sequentially stacked in a nesting relationship in which the bore of each modular block co-axially aligns with the bores of the modular blocks in the stack to form a chimney passage extending through the stack of modular blocks, the chimney passage in fluid communication with the exhaust opening of the smoke chamber;
and
b. a ledger block having a second cross-sectional width that is greater than the first cross-sectional width of the modular blocks, a ledger block upper surface and an opposed ledger block lower surface, the ledger block defining a ledger block bore having a ledger block diameter substantially the same as the first diameter of the modular block, the ledger block bore extending through the ledger block between the ledger block upper surface and the ledger block lower surface, wherein the plurality of modular blocks includes a first modular block and a second modular block, wherein the ledger block lower surface is sized to be disposed onto and complementarily engage the block top surface of the first modular block and the ledger block upper surface is sized to receive and complementarily engage the block bottom surface of the second modular block that is stacked onto the ledger block, so that the ledger block is in a nesting relationship with the adjacent first and second modular blocks and so that the ledger block chimney bore is in substantial co-axial alignment with the first block bore and the second block bore, and wherein, when the block bottom surface of the second modular block is stacked onto the ledger block, a ledge having a substantially horizontal ledge surface is defined, wherein the ledge extends circumferentially about the chimney at a distance below a roof structure, the ledge surface allowing desired decorative surfacing to be structurally supported when placed onto the ledge surface.

A chimney for use with a fireplace having a smoke chamber, the smoke chamber having an upper surface defining an exhaust opening, the chimney comprising:

a. a plurality of modular blocks forming at least one stack, each modular block having a first cross-sectional width, a block top surface, and an opposed block bottom surface, wherein the block top surface and the block bottom surface are substantially planer and parallel to each other, each modular block defining a bore having a first diameter extending therethrough between the block top surface and the block bottom surface of each modular block, wherein the block top surface of one modular block is sized to complementarily engage the block bottom surface of one adjacent modular block so that the modular blocks can be sequentially stacked in a nesting relationship in which the bore of each modular block co-axially aligns with the bores of the modular blocks in the stack to form a chimney passage extending through the stack, the chimney passage in fluid communication with the exhaust opening of the smoke chamber;
and
b. a plurality of angled blocks forming at least one angled stack, each angled block having a angled top surface and an opposed angled bottom surface, the angled top surface and the angled bottom surface are substantially planer and parallel to each other, each angled block defining an angled bore extending therethrough between the angled top surface and the angled bottom surface and having an angled bore diameter substantially the same as the first diameter of the block, the angled bore of each angled block extending at an acute angle relative to an axis perpendicular to the angled top and bottom surfaces, wherein the angled top surface of one angled block is sized to complementarily engage the angled bottom surface of one adjacent angled block so that the angled blocks can be sequential stacked so that the angled bore of each angled block co-axially aligns with the angled bores of the angled blocks in the angled stack to form an angled chimney passage extending through the angled stack of blocks, wherein the stack of modular blocks is matingly engaged to the angled stack of angled blocks so that the angled chimney passage is in fluid communication with the chimney passage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.