Electric Fireplace Heater Having LED Flame Simulator

[0016]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric fireplace heater having an LED flame simulator in accordance with the present invention includes a main body 1, a light-guide unit 2, a roller unit 3, a plurality of LED light sources 4, and an electric heating device 6.

[0017]The main body 1 is a case made of wood or metal plate. The main body 1 includes a frame 11 and artificial logs 12 disposed at a bottom of the frame 11. The artificial logs are made of plastic or other translucent material. The light-guide unit 2, the roller unit 3 and LED light sources 4 are disposed inside the main body 1. A cover 5 is mounted at a back of the main body and seals the light-guide unit 2, the roller unit 3 and LED light sources 4 in the main body 1.

[0018]The light-guide unit 2 is disposed behind the artificial logs 12 and divides the space inside the main body 1 into a front space and a rear space. The artificial logs 12 are disposed in the front space and the roller unit 3 is disposed in the rear space. The light-guide unit 2 includes a light-guide plate having a transparent plate 21 and a matte translucent film 22 attached to a back surface of the transparent plate 21. The transparent plate 21 is transparent or translucent. The transparent plate 21 may be made of glass or acrylic glass.

[0019]The roller unit 3 is disposed inside the main body 1 and behind the light-guide unit 2. The roller unit 3 includes a rack 31, a motor 32, an axle sleeve 34 mounted on an axle of the motor 32, a fixing cap 35 and a cylinder 33. The rack 31 is a narrow U shaped frame and made of metal. The rack 31 includes a pair of brackets 311. The axle sleeve 34 is ring shaped and includes a plurality of ribs at the circumference thereof. The diameter of the fixing cap 35 is slightly larger than that of the cylinder 33, and the fixing cap has an engaging notch (not shown in the figures) at the center thereof. The cylinder 33 is a transparent tube wrapped in a red glassine and a yellow glassine which generate the color of the flames. A thick sheet of glossy paper or plastic, which includes various patterned apertures 331 to simulate flames, is wrapped around the glassiness The patterned apertures may be in thunderbolt shapes or in S shapes. The light-guide unit 2 may be dyed in red, yellow, or other colors similar to the color of the flames to replace the glassiness

[0020]The LED light source 4 includes a rod 41 and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED's) 42, which are mounted on the rod and connected with electric wires and a switch. The switch can turn on and off and control brightness of the LED's 42. The colors of the emitted light by the LED's 42 can be any colors.

[0021]Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the U-shaped rack 31 is mounted on the main body 1 and behind the light-guide unit 2. The axle sleeve 34 is tightly fitted into one end of the cylinder 33 and the ribs of the axle sleeve 34 are contacted with the inner surface of the cylinder 33. One end of the LED light source 4 is tightly fitted into the notch of the fixing cap 35, and the rod 41 faces the light-guide unit 2 at a 45-degree angle. The motor 32 is then mounted on the rack 31. The axle of the motor 32 passes through the brackets 311 and is connected with the axle sleeve 34, which is fitted into the cylinder 33. Thus, a first end of the cylinder 33 is connected with the motor 32. The LED light source 4 tightly fitted into the fixing cap 35 is inserted into a second end of the cylinder 33. The fixing cap 35 loosely covers the second end of the cylinder 33 and stays stationary without rotating with the cylinder 33. The fixing cap 35 is then fixed on the bracket 311 by screws. Therefore, the roller unit 3 and the LED light source 4 are assembled together. The LED light source 4 is stationary and the cylinder 33 can be driven to rotate by the motor 32.

[0022]The electric heating device 6 is mounted on the main body 1. The electric heating device 6 includes a blower to send out the warm air from air outlet 61 and a control panel 62 to control the speed and temperature setting of the warm air.

[0023]When the electric fireplace heater having the LED flame simulator according to the present invention is in operation, the axle of the motor 32 drives the axle sleeve 34 to rotate. Because the axle sleeve 34 is tightly fitted into the cylinder 33, the cylinder 33 is driven to rotate. When the LED light source 4 is turned on, the light emitted by the LED's 42 is projected onto the light-guide plate through the patterned apertures 331 on the cylinder 33. Thus, the shapes of the patterned apertures are cast to form flame images on the light-guide unit 2. Because the rod 41 faces the light-guide unit 2 at a 45-degree angle, the images cast on the light-guide unit 2 are larger than those at other angles. The rotating cylinder 33 makes the images of the flames projected on the light-guide unit 2 to move to and fro. Thus, it looks like flickering flames. Referring to FIG. 2, the LED light source 4 disposed under the artificial logs 12 illuminates the light-pervious artificial logs 12, which simulates real blazing logs and makes the simulated flames more realistic. The brightness of the LED light sources 4 behind the light-guide unit 2 and under the artificial logs 12 can be controlled synchronized. The multiple cylinders 33 are possible. The fireplace heater may include a plurality of cylinders 33, thereby interlacing the flame images from various cylinders 33. The images of the flames will be more realistic.

[0024]Referring to FIG. 4, the electric fireplace heater according to the present invention includes the main body 1, the artificial logs 12 disposed inside the main body 1, the light-guide unit 2 behind the artificial logs 12 and the electric heating device 6. When the electric fireplace heater is in operation, the heater presents the simulated red burning artificial logs 12 and flickering flame images on the light-guide unit 2, and blows out warm air from the electric heating device 6. Therefore, the electric fireplace heater having the LED flame simulator according to the present invention flickers and glows like the real thing, and brings warmth to the room.

[0025]Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.