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US 8,136,276 B2Granted
Apparatus for producing an optical effect
AssigneeBasic Holdings
InventorNoel O'Neill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to apparatus for producing an optical effect, and in particular to an apparatus for producing an optical effect resembling flames and smoke. More especially, the invention relates to flame effect electric fires, such as for domestic use, which may or may not include means for space heating and which include and optical effect to resemble burning solid fuel.
Claims24
A simulated burning fuel apparatus comprising:
- a simulated fuel bed;
- a plurality of smoke apertures defined in the fuel bed through which simulated smoke may pass;
- a plurality of colored light sources located below the fuel bed;
- a source of simulated smoke provided separate to the plurality of light sources;
- means for conveying the simulated smoke from said source through said smoke apertures, so that the smoke rises from said smoke apertures above the simulated fuel bed;
- the light sources being configured operatively to direct light onto the smoke rising from said smoke apertures to selectively and/or locally illuminate the smoke rising from the fuel bed,
- wherein the means for conveying the simulated smoke from said source comprises a fan;
- and the fan, the plurality of colored light sources and source of simulated smoke are arranged relative to one another such that simulated smoke operably leaves the source of simulated smoke below the fuel bed and prior to being illuminated by the plurality of colored light sources, the color of the colored light sources and the
- selectively and/or locally illumination of the smoke rising from the fuel bed providing the illusion of flames.
6 more elements
A simulated burning fuel apparatus comprising:
- a simulated fuel bed;
- at least one aperture defined in the fuel bed;
- at least one light source;
- a source of simulated smoke horizontally displaced away from and provided separate to the at least one light source;
- and
- means for conveying the simulated smoke from the source of simulated smoke past the at least one light source and through at least one aperture, so that the simulated smoke rises from at least one aperture above the fuel bed;
- wherein at least one light source directs light through at least one aperture to operatively selectively and/or locally illuminate the rising simulated smoke above the fuel bed, said at least one aperture defining an optical path between the light source and smoke rising from the fuel bed such that the light passing through said at least one aperture selectively and/or locally illuminates the smoke rising from the fuel bed to provide the illusion of flames above the fuel bed.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.