Fireplace

Abstract

 The invention relates to a fireplace, in particular for burning gas or wood, at least comprising a combustion space (100) made up of a rear wall (20e), a bottom wall (20a), an upper wall (20b) and two side walls (20d), which combustion space can be closed on a first, front side by means of an at least partially transparent panel (10).
According to the invention, the panel is clampingly accommodated in the open side of the combustion space, whilst at least one of the side walls can be swung aside for removing the panel from the fireplace.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fireplace, in particular for burning gas or wood, at least comprising a combustion space made up of a rear wall, a bottom wall, an upper wall and two side walls, which combustion space can be closed on a first, front side by means of an at least partially transparent panel.

[0002] A fireplace as referred to in the introduction is generally known and is commonly used as an insert fireplace for burning gas or wood to be installed in an outside wall. The gas or wood files that are currently known all have a glass door or panel provided with an iron frame. Said frame functions to enable the glass to pivot with respect to the fireplace or the combustion space and to hide the seal between the glass panel and the fireplace from view.

[0003] At present, the technical efforts in developing new fireplaces for burning gas or wood are aimed at creating a maximum view of the fire for the user. This means that the glass panel, which is pivotally connected to the fireplace, must have a maximum glass area and a metal (steel) frame of minimum dimensions.

[0004] Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a fireplace of the above kind which comprises a nearly frameless glass panel.

[0005] According to the invention, the panel is clampingly accommodated in the open side of the combustion space, whilst at least one of the side walls can be swung aside for removing the panel from the fireplace.

[0006] By clampingly accommodating the panel in the open side of the combustion space, the need for additional retaining means, such as suspension or pivot points or frame parts, is obviated. Thus, the fireplace can be designed to have an open side of maximum dimensions, which provides the user with a maximum view of the fire. In order to be able to remove the panel from the open side in a simple manner yet for cleaning or maintenance purposes (sweeping the chimney), at least one of the side walls is mounted in the fireplace in such a manner that it can be swung aside. In this way space for manoeuvring and removing the panel can be created in a simple manner.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the side wall is pivotally connected to the rear wall.

[0008] According to the invention, in order to make it possible to clampingly accommodate the panel in the open side, the bottom edge of the panel can be received in a bottom groove provided near the bottom edge. Similarly, the upper edge of the panel can be received in an upper groove provided near the upper edge, said upper groove being provided with a space for receiving the upper edge of the panel in the upper part thereof. Said additional receiving space in the upper groove allows movement of the panel in upward direction for the purpose of removing the bottom edge of the panel from the bottom groove.

[0009] More specifically, means are provided for swinging the side wall aside, and according to one embodiment of the invention said means comprise a pivoted pawl supported on the side wall.

[0010] Said pivoted pawl is pivotally connected to the fixed structure of the fireplace.

[0011] According to a specific embodiment, in order to make it possible to swinging the side wall aside, said pivoted pawl is slidably accommodated in a slot formed in a pivot plate connected to the side wall. Said pivot plate may be provided with a flanged end edge.

[0012] More specifically, an opening is provided above the upper groove and the upper wall for moving the pivot plate and the side wall by hand. This makes it possible to swing aside the pivot plate and the side wall by hand, with the pivoted pawl swinging aside while moving through the slot. By swinging the side wall aside, additional space is created for the panel, which can be removed from the bottom groove and subsequently from the open side of the fireplace after being moved upwards and subsequently sideways.

[0013] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a fireplace according to the prior art;

Figures 2a-2c are partial view of an embodiment of a fireplace according to the invention;

Figures 3a-3b are farther partial views of an embodiment of a fireplace according to the invention;

Figures 4a-4b are still further partial views of an embodiment of a fireplace according to the invention;

Figures 5a-5c are still further partial views of an embodiment of a fireplace according to the invention.

[0014] For a better understanding of the invention, like parts will be indicated by identical numerals in the description of the Figures below.

[0015] In Figure 1 a front side is shown of an embodiment of a fireplace according to the prior art. The fireplace is built into a hearth and comprises an at least partially transparent panel 10, in particular a glass panel. Said glass panel 10 closes the open front side 20f (see Figures 2-5) of the combustion space of the fireplace. The glass panel 10 is pivotally connected to the fireplace in two points 10a-10b. To realise a sound, aesthetic placement of the fireplace in the hearth, use is made of a framework 16. Furthermore, the currently known gas or wood burning fireplaces comprise a glass door or panel 10 provided with a metal frame. In this case the frame is made up of frame section members 11 a-11 b-11 c.

[0016] At present the technical efforts in developing new fireplaces for burning gas or wood are aimed at creating a maximum view of the fire. This means that the glass panel 10, which is pivotally connected to the fireplace, must have a maximum glass area and a frame 11a-11b-11c of minimum dimensions, or no frame at all.

[0017] Figures 2-5 show various (partial) views of an embodiment of a fireplace according to the invention comprising a frameless glass panel 10. The fireplace does comprise the framework 16, which is made up of frame members 16a-16d.

[0018] Figures 2a-2b-2c show a front view, a top plan view and a detail view, respectively, of a fireplace according to the invention. As is the case in the prior art, the fireplace is made up of a bottom wall 20a, an upper wall 20b, a rear wall 20e and two side walls 20d, which jointly form the combustion space 100. The open front side 20f of the combustion space 100 is closed by a substantially transparent panel 10, in particular a glass panel. Not only is an adequate smoke seal for the outside environment realised in this way, but in addition the user of the fireplace is provided with an optimally realistic view of the fire.

[0019] For the sake of clarity, parts which are relevant to the proper functioning of the fireplace but less relevant to a correct understanding of the invention are not shown in the Figures. Think in this connection of an ashpan or a grate, for example, but also of air supply means and flue gas discharge means. The connection to a flue duct, for example, is not shown, either.

[0020] According to the invention, the glass panel 10, which is not provided with a frame, is mounted in the first opening 20f by being clamped between the framework 16 and the bottom wall 20a, the upper wall 20b and the two side walls 20c-20d. As a result of the clamping engagement of the glass panel 10 between the framework 16 (frame members 16a-16d) and the walls 20a-20b-20c, not only a smoke-tight closure of the combustion space 100 is realised, but in addition a maximum area of the panel 10 can be utilised for providing the user with a maximum view of the fire.

[0021] According to the invention, the panel 10 can be simply removed from the front opening 20f in that according to the invention one or both side walls 20c-20d can be swung aside into the fireplace. To that end each side wall 20c-20d may be pivotally connected to the rear wall 20e via the edge 20c'-20d'.

[0022] To construct or mount the side walls 20c-20d in the fireplace 1 in such a manner that they can be swung aside, adjusting means 30 are provided, which make it possible to swing aside the side wall 20c and/or 20d.

[0023] One embodiment of such adjusting means 30 is shown in Figures 2b-2c and 3a-3b, whilst another embodiment is shown in Figures 4a-4b. The adjusting means 30 comprise a pivoted pawl 31, which is pivotally connected with a first end 31 a to the fixed structure 40 of the fireplace 1. The other end 31 b is supported on the side wall 20c. More in particular, in the embodiment shown in Figures 3a-3b the adjusting means 30 further comprise a so-called adjusting plate or pivot plate 32, which is connected to the swing-aside side wall 20c. The pivot plate 32 is provided with a slot 33, in which the end 31 b of the pivoted pawl 31 can be slidably accommodated. The pivot plate 32 is furthermore provided with a flanged end edge 34.

[0024] According to the invention (see Figure 2a), a narrow opening 50 is furthermore provided just above the upper wall 20b, between the upper wall 20b and the framework 16, so that the pivot plate 32 and the side wall 20c connected thereto can be moved sideways via the upright end edge 34, which can be done by hand or by means of an elongated tool. Upon said movement, the side wall 20c moves into the space 41 present between the combustion space 100 and the casing or fixed structure 40 of the fireplace.

[0025] This situation is shown in Figures 3b and 4b, with the side wall 20c moving clear of the front panel 10, so that it is no longer clamped against the framework 16, therefore.

[0026] As a result of the side wall 20c (and optionally also the opposite side wall 20d, see Figure 2a) being swung aside, the front panel 10 comes to be positioned completely clear, in which position it is only clamped between the framework 16 and the bottom wall 20a and the framework 16 and the upper wall 20b.

[0027] In another embodiment, the support plate has been substituted for a link rod (not shown), which is connected to the swing-aside side wall 20c (20d) on the one hand and to the pivoted pawl 31 on the other hand.

[0028] Figures 4a-4b show another embodiment of the adjusting means 30, with numeral 32 indicating a flange hook connected to the respective side wall 20c, in which the end 31 b of the pivoted pawl 31 can be received in the space 33 thus formed.

[0029] Figure 5a is a detail view of the front panel 10 as it is clamped between the framework 16 and a bottom groove 42 at the location of the bottom wall 20a. The bottom groove 42 is provided with a fire-resistant seal 43, which, in addition to an adequate retainment, also forms a smoke seal between the combustion space 100 and the outside environment.

[0030] Figure 5b shows the front panel 10 as it is locally accommodated in an upper groove 44, which, in this embodiment, is also provided with two fire-resistant seals 45a-45b.

[0031] To ensure that the adjusting means 30 shown in Figures 3a-3b and 4a-4b, respectively, will swing one or both side walls 20c-20d to a position within the space 41 between the combustion space 100 and the fixed structure 40 of the fireplace, the upper groove 44 must be moved upwards by hand via the opening 50. Following that, the side wall 20c can be pivoted sideways, so that the upper groove 44 comes to be supported on the flanged portion 32a of the adjusting plate 32. Thus, the upper groove 44 cannot move downwards any more (after being released), and the panel 10 is only accommodated in the bottom groove 40 (see Figure 5c). As is clearly shown in Figures 3b and 4b, the front panel 10 is no longer retained via its side edges by the side wall 20c-20d, the lateral seal 35a and the retaining edge 21 forming part of the side wall 20c and the upper groove 44 at that moment, but a sideways movement into the space 41, in the direction of the swung-aside side wall 20c, can be imposed on the front panel 10.

[0032] In this way the side edge 10d of the panel 10 is moved clear of the side wall 20d and the frame member 16d, as is clearly shown in Figure 2b. When the panel 10, which has been moved into the space 41, is subsequently moved upwards in a second step, the bottom edge 10a of the panel 10 is moved clear of the bottom groove 40. This upward movement is possible because the upper groove (see Figure 5c) has also been moved upwards as a result of the side wall 20c being swung aside, so that also the upper edge 10b of the panel 10 has been moved clear of its groove.

[0033] The panel 10, which was previously clamped between the bottom wall 20a, the upper wall 20b, the side walls 20c and 20d and the frame members 16a-16d of the framework 16, can thus be removed from the front opening 20f of he combustion space 100, for example for cleaning and/or maintenance of the combustion space.

Claims

1. A fireplace, in particular for burning gas or wood, at least comprising a combustion space made up of a rear wall, a bottom wall, an upper wall and two side walls, which combustion space can be closed on a first, front side by means of an at least partially transparent panel, characterised in that the panel is clampingly accommodated in the open side of the combustion space, whilst at least one of the side walls can be swung aside for removing the panel from the fireplace.

2. A fireplace according to claim 1, characterised in that the side wall is pivotally connected to the rear wall.

3. A fireplace according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the bottom edge of the panel can be received in a bottom groove provided near the bottom edge.

4. A fireplace according to claim 3, characterised in that the upper edge of the panel can be received in an upper groove provided near the upper edge, said upper groove being provided with a space for receiving the upper edge of the panel in the upper part thereof.

5. A fireplace according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that means are provided for swinging the side wall aside.

6. A fireplace according to claim 5, characterised in that said means comprise a pivoted pawl supported on the side wall.

7. A fireplace according to claim 6, characterised in that said pivoted pawl is pivotally connected to the fixed structure of the fireplace.

8. A fireplace according to claim 7, characterised in that said pivoted pawl is slidably accommodated in a slot formed in a pivot plate connected to the side wall.

9. A fireplace according to claim 8, characterised in that said pivot plate is provided with a flanged end edge.

10. A fireplace according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that an opening is provided above the upper groove and the upper wall for moving the pivot plate and the side wall by hand.

Drawing