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EP-4741705-A1 - ARTIFICIAL FIREPLACE

EP4741705A1EP 4741705 A1EP4741705 A1EP 4741705A1EP-4741705-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an artificial log set comprising an arrangement of at least two artificial logs ( 30.1, 30.2) that are partially translucent and arranged one above the other. A lighting device and an optical unit having a plurality of optical elements are adapted to illuminate the interior of the logs and to produce variable reflection of light from the at least one light source (40.1), wherein a control device (54) is constructed and configured to control the at least one light source ( 40.1) and the optical elements of the optical unit. To create a natural-looking fireplace, the arrangement of the logs is formed by at least one housing that encloses the lighting device and the optical unit. In addition, the housing is structured in such a way that the shape of individual logs and the surface structure of wood are simulated, the housing comprising a front side (33), a rear side (37), two sides (36), a bottom side (35) and a top side (34), of which the rear side (37) and the bottom side (35) are open at least in sections. The invention also relates to a fireplace comprising the log set.

Inventors

  • BOT, Bogdan-Andrei
  • POPESCU, Marian
  • MALANCUS, Serban Gabriel

Assignees

  • PeFoc.ro SRL

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241106

Claims (15)

  1. Artificial log set, comprehensive - an arrangement of at least two artificial logs (30.1, 30.2), which are translucent in sections and arranged one above the other, - an illumination device with at least one light source (40.1) which is designed to illuminate the inside of the logs (30.1, 30.2), - an optical unit with a plurality of optical elements which are designed and arranged for variable reflection of the light from the at least one light source (40.1), also described here as a reflector device (42), and - a control device (54) being constructed and configured to control the at least one light source (40.1) and optical elements of the optical unit, characterized in that - the log arrangement (13) is formed by at least one housing which encloses the illumination device and the optical unit, - the housing comprises a front surface (33), a rear surface (37) opposite the front surface (33), two side surfaces (36) laterally connecting the front surface (33) and the rear surface (37), as well as a bottom surface (35) and a top surface (34), the rear surface (37) and the bottom surface (35) being open at least in sections, and - the housing wall (32) is structured in such a way that the shape of separate logs (30.1, 30.2) and the surface structure of wood are simulated.
  2. Artificial log set according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (31) of the log arrangement (13) is structured in such a way that a lower log (30.1) forms the base of the log arrangement (13), in which the at least one light source (40.1) and the reflector device (42) are arranged.
  3. Artificial log set according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the illumination device comprises at least one further light source (40.2) which is arranged in the at least one upper log (30.1) and/or the structure of the front surface (33) of the housing (31) has at least one opening (38) which is designed in such a way that it simulates a crack in a log (30.1, 30.2) or a sectional distance between two logs (30.1, 30.2).
  4. Artificial log set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical unit comprises at least one further optical element from the following list: - a radiation shield (48) for limiting the radiation angle of the at least one light source (40.1, 40.2), - diffusing or focusing lenses, - optical prisms, - absorbing filters which absorb the light of at least one light source in the visible spectral range in a wavelength-dependent manner or in this entire spectral range.
  5. Artificial log set according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said at least one upper log (30.1) is closed on the back with a material which is opaque to the light of the further light source (40.2).
  6. Artificial log set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one open region of the rear surface (37) or the bottom surface (35) of the housing (31) is closed with an optical filter which is transparent in the wavelength range of orange to red light inclusive.
  7. Artificial fireplace, comprising an outer casing (11) open at the front, with a base plate (16) and a top plate (17) opposite thereto, with two side plates (18) connecting the base plate (16) and top plate (17) to one another and with a rear plate (19) connecting all four plates to one another, characterized in that an artificial log set (12) according to one of the preceding claims is arranged on the base plate (16).
  8. Artificial fireplace according to claim 7, characterized in that the artificial fireplace (10) comprises a fire bed (15) which is which is located below the log arrangement (13) and on the base plate (16) of the artificial fireplace (10) and is illuminated by the illumination device of the artificial log set (12).
  9. Artificial fireplace according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the surfaces of at least the side plates (18) and the rear plate (19) of the outer casing (11) facing the artificial log set (12) are three-dimensionally structured, with the exception of a section of the rear wall (24) which extends above the artificial log set (12), said section being free of the three-dimensional structures.
  10. Artificial fireplace according to claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a further illumination device is arranged in the top plate (17), the at least one light source (40.2) of which is directed onto an area in front of the artificial fireplace (10).
  11. Artificial fireplace according to claim 10, characterized in that said control device (54) or a further control device is constructed and configured to control the light source (40.2) of the further illumination device and to adjust the illumination intensity of at least one of light sources (40.1, 40.2) of the first illumination device and/or the further illumination device.
  12. Artificial place according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the at least one light source (40.2) of the further illumination device comprises at least two adjacent emitters (52.1, 52.2) which emit white light and orange light with overlapping light cones, the latter in the wavelength range from 590 nm to 700 nm.
  13. Artificial fireplace according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that at least one open area of the housing (31) and/or the at least one light sources (40.1, 40.2) of at least one of the illumination devices includes a diffuser (47).
  14. Artificial fireplace according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the artificial fireplace (10) comprises a sound device including a sound generator (49) and two loudspeakers which are directed in different directions.
  15. Artificial fireplace according to any one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that the artificial fireplace (10) comprises a hot fan (53) which blows heated air onto an area in front of the fireplace (10).

Description

The invention relates to an artificial fireplace with the features according to the general term of the main claim, which is designed for use in particular in the living area or in the commercial area instead of a fireplace with an open fire. Such artificial fireplaces are regularly installed in a wall niche or in a frame in front of a wall by means of a housing. For the purpose of differentiation, this housing is hereinafter referred to as "external housing" in relation to the invention. The known devices have light sources, often several LEDs, to produce the desired lighting effects. The lighting effects are produced in conjunction with simulated logs of wood, the light sources being directed at the logs or arranged in or between them. To simulate their apparent burning, the logs are usually made of a transparent plastic that glows yellowish to orange when exposed to light. Such an artificial fireplace is known, for example, from WO 2022/251298 A1. It describes an "artificial flame" arranged in a fireplace-like housing, which is to be achieved by an arrangement of interconnected artificial logs by illuminating them with a light source. The light source is arranged below the logs. In order to achieve a flickering appearance similar to a flame, the light is directed in two different directions by means of a "flame generator". An arbitrary change between the two directions is realized by a reflector with several reflective elements, which is arranged above the light source and below the log arrangement. The reflecting elements rotate and consequently emit light in different directions and thereby randomly through the two openings. The description of the printed matter uses the term "three-dimensional simulated flame" for this appearance, although only the light passing through the logs and possibly light reflected from the rear wall of the fireplace and from a simulated fire bed simulates a glowing effect. The impression of a glowing log of wood or a fire cannot be simulated in this way. From US 2012/0070583 A1 a simulated fire bed is known, which comprises logs that are cast in the mold, whereby the inner surface of the mold and thus the surface of the log resembles the structure of a log of wood. The material of the simulated logs of wood is translucent at least in sections and colored in such a way that a colored light source or several of them arranged in the log gives the impression of a glowing log of wood. In addition, other publications describe lighting systems that are intended to generate ambient light and optionally create flickering effects in the opening of a fireplace (US 2009/0126241 A1). The impression of the known artificial fireplaces is obviously that of artificial materials that are illuminated with artificial light. Even the color of the light, the surface structures of the artificial logs and the temporally and locally varying light intensity cannot eliminate the impression of an artificial fireplace. There is therefore a need for an artificial log set and an accordingly equipped artificial fireplace that are better suited to a natural fireplace. This applies in particular to the lighting effects associated with a natural fire, including the flickering light that occurs in the vicinity of the fireplace. In this way, the different light at different locations in and around the fireplace and the different flickering should be better reproduced than is known from the prior art. This applies, for example, to the rear wall of the fireplace, the area of the cavities between the individual logs and the floor area in front of the fireplace. It is also desirable to incorporate the heat and noise perceived in natural fireplaces into the overall impression of the artificial fireplace. To solve the problem, an artificial log set according to claim 1 and an artificial fireplace according to claim 9 are proposed, the latter comprising the artificial longest of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the related dependent claims. To solve the problem, an artificial log set is first proposed which comprises those features which are directly associated with the simulation of burning logs of wood. These are: Unless expressly described otherwise, the term "light" is intended here to include the spectral range of the light sources used, but in particular the spectral range of visible light. Insofar as optical properties of optical elements, such as reflection, transmission or others, are described, these properties also refer to the spectral range of the light sources used. The terms "top" and "bottom" refer to gravity, the terms "side" surface, "rear" surface and "front" surface refer to the usual viewing direction towards the hearth. According to the invention, the artificial log set comprises a log arrangement comprising at least two artificial logs, optionally three, four or more logs. These are formed one above the other, as is known from natural fireplaces. This also includes one or more upp