Indoor fireplace

Abstract

The invention relates to an indoor fireplace 10, comprising a housing 11 open at the front, a base plate 16, and a top plate 17 opposite it, with two side plates 18 connecting the base plate 16 and the top plate 17, and with a rear plate 19 connecting all four plates. At least one candle 14 is arranged on the base plate 16 and is held in at least one candle holder 13, which has retaining elements 25 for receiving the at least one candle 14. The candle 14 comprises a fuel body 26 and at least one plate-shaped wick 27, which is arranged in the fuel body 26, with an upper portion of the plate projecting from the fuel body 26. The plate-shaped wick 27 has a horizontal width B, a vertical height H, and a horizontal thickness D to form a horizontally linear flame.

Description

The invention relates to a fireplace with open flames, which comprises the features according to the main claim and is suitable for use in a privately or commercially used building. Such a fireplace for use in a building is referred to herein as an indoor fireplace or in-house fireplace. Such indoor fireplaces are typically installed in a wall niche or in a frame in front of a wall, enclosed by a housing. The open fire is often a wood fire. However, the disadvantage of a wood fire is the danger posed to the surrounding area and people present by sparks and smoke. Therefore, several candles are sometimes placed in an indoor fireplace that is no longer used for wood fires, in order to imitate the warmth and light of a natural fire. However, this is only partially successful with candles, as they do not produce a flickering or crackling fire. On the contrary, when using candles, a uniform burning is desired, meaning they burn evenly with minimal flickering and a consistent cross-section. Furthermore, even when using candles, there is a risk to users and the surrounding area. There is therefore a need for an indoor fireplace without an open wood fire, which can imitate the flickering light, the crackling of the wood fibers of a wood fire and also generate heat, the latter at least to a slightly noticeable degree. Furthermore, it is desirable that the indoor fireplace is easy to use and secure with regard to the potential spread of fire and injury to users, especially children. To solve the problem, an indoor fireplace according to claim 1 is proposed. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims relating thereto. To solve the problem, an indoor fireplace is first proposed, which includes those features that are directly related to the simulation of a fireplace with burning logs.These are: a housing open at the front, formed with a base plate and a top plate opposite it, with two side plates connecting the base and top plates and with a back plate connecting all four plates; an arrangement of at least one candle on the base plate; wherein the at least one candle is arranged in a candle holder which has holding elements for receiving the candles; wherein the at least one candle comprises a wax body and at least one plate-shaped wick which is arranged in the wax body such that an upper area protrudes from the wax body; wherein the plate-shaped wick has a horizontal width B, a vertical height H and a horizontal plate thickness D, to form a horizontally linearly extending flame. According to the invention, the fire is generated by means of at least one candle, optionally two, three or more candles. The number of candles can be chosen according to the size of the fire pit and / or the size of the candles and the resulting light effect. Such an indoor fireplace, hereinafter also referred to simply as a fireplace, which is intended to resemble a chimney in terms of its size and the impression of the light it produces, typically has a housing open at the front, designed to hold at least one candle. Such a fireplace can take the form of a niche integrated into a wall or installed in front of a wall, the niche itself not being part of the invention. The indoor fireplace according to the invention comprises only the lining of the niche and the further components described below. These are used to implement functions associated with a conventional fireplace and which can supplement at least one candle. This applies in particular to the design of the visible surfaces of the niche, the design of the at least one candle, its position, and securing the candle against falling out of the fireplace.The light in the immediate vicinity of the fireplace should also approximate the impression one is accustomed to from a fireplace fire. An indoor fireplace according to the invention comprises a housing. This housing encloses the at least one candle on five sides and is open at the front. Consequently, when the at least one candle is arranged in the fireplace, the back plate is located behind the candle, the side plates are on both sides of the candle, and the top and bottom plates are positioned opposite each other, above and below the candle. The housing of the indoor fireplace can be made in one piece. Other embodiments are possible. For example, two or more, or optionally all, of the aforementioned plates of the indoor fireplace can be formed separately and connected to each other in a suitable manner to form the five-sided enclosed housing. The housing is evidently made of a material that cannot be damaged or deformed by the fire operating in the fireplace to such an extent that the surroundings of the fireplace are harmed.The housing cannot be set on fire by the flames of the fireplace. For example, fiber-reinforced magnesium oxide (MgO), such as with glass fibers, has proven to be a suitable material for indoor fireplaces. This material is fire-resistant to the extent required for such applications and protects the surrounding area should the fire spread within the fireplace. At least one candle is positioned on the base plate of the housing by means of a candle holder. The candle holder includes, for example, a mounting plate to accommodate one or more candles. To secure the candle against falling over and damage in and around the fire, the candle holder incorporates retaining elements. These elements are designed according to the shape and construction of the candle to hold it securely in place, even if the candle is shaken or bumped. For example, the candle may be contained within a glass or plastic container, preferably translucent, or be formed directly within such a container, so that the container provides additional security and the retaining elements are adapted to the shape and material of the container. When using multiple candles, the candle holder can be designed to accommodate candles of different sizes and / or at different heights, so that the light from the multiple candles approximates that of a burning woodpile. The candles can have a circular or an elongated cross-section. In the latter case, the width of the candle, running parallel to the front view of the indoor fireplace, is greater, optionally by several times (e.g., a single-digit number of times), than its depth measured perpendicular to its width. According to the invention, the candle is formed with a wax body in which a plate-shaped wick is arranged such that a section of the plate protrudes from the wax. A plate is generally considered to be a flat piece of a solid material whose two opposite sides, the top and bottom, are each bounded by an extended surface and an edge surface that connects the top and bottom. The distance between the top and bottom, i.e., the thickness D of the plate, is many times smaller than the extent of the top and bottom surfaces. The thickness of the plate is often uniform across its entire surface, but can also vary, with these variations being many times smaller than the average thickness of the plate.The geometry, or top and bottom surfaces, can be the same and, for use in the fireplace according to the invention, has a shape that is at least triangular, preferably quadrilateral or polygonal, and optionally ellipsoidal, so that a linear flame can be ignited above the wax. Such a flame can also be produced by means of a corrugated plate, so that the flame appears as a wavy line. Further embodiments with more than one such wick are also possible. Regardless of the dimensions described, for the sole purpose of clearly defining the geometry, the maximum horizontal width of the plate in the application will be designated B, and the vertical height perpendicular to it will be designated H, with the maximum height again determining the value of H. The width B and height H of the wick are evidently adapted to the shape of the candle, so that the burning of the wick correlates with that of the fuel. This implies that the wick extends vertically over the entire height of the fuel and a portion beyond. A wick is generally understood to be a fibrous structure with capillaries, immersed in fuel. Due to this structure, liquid fuel can be continuously supplied to the burning end of the wick by capillary action, where it is combusted by a flame. Coarse fibrous braids, which can be used to produce a pinpoint flame, are well known. It is also well known to ignite the flame at the free end of the wick, which is either saturated with fuel during the wick's manufacture or by a previous, extinguished flame. Solid or liquid fuel can be used for the fireplace according to the invention, as is generally known for candles or other wick-based lamps. After ignition, the fuel is transported up the wick by capillary action and burned at its upper end.In candles, the fuel is a natural, fossil or non-fossil wax with wax acids (esters of fatty acids) as the main component, or a synthetically produced wax (hydrocarbon wax), or a semi-synthetic wax derived from a wax known to have been chemically and / or physically modified based on a natural wax or wax composition to achieve preferred properties. The wax preferred for the invention is solid at room temperature and liquefies at the top of the wick due to the heat generated by the flame. Furthermore, it is desirable to adjust the odor of the wax so that it is perceived as pleasant for the intended application, particularly in a residential setting. Wax is a fuel suitable for use as a wick, as described above. Due to its diverse and varied chemical composition, wax is defined by its mechanical and physical properties. Its consistency and solubility are highly temperature-dependent. It can be polished with light pressure. At room temperature, it is solid, malleable to brittle, and exhibits a coarse to fine crystalline structure. Within this temperature range, it is translucent to opaque, but not glassy. Wax melts above 40°C without decomposing. It is liquid even at temperatures just a few degrees above its melting point. According to a definition by the German Society for Fat Science, a substance is not considered a wax if it lacks more than one of the aforementioned properties. According to a preferred embodiment, the flat wick is made of wood. Unlike a wick made of fibers, the wooden wick produces the crackling sound familiar from a wood fire. Furthermore, a wooden wick produces a more dynamic flickering of the light, similar to that of a fiber wick. The crackling and flickering effect of the wooden wick can be enhanced by a composition of natural and / or semi-synthetic waxes. A mixture of paraffin and at least two other types of wax has proven advantageous in this regard. According to a further embodiment, the indoor fireplace includes a candle holder that secures the candles against tipping forward. This can be achieved in various ways, alone or by a combination of the following measures: a horizontal retaining plate with openings whose number and / or geometry are adapted to the number and cross-section of the one or more candles, so that the latter protrude downwards through the openings, preferably with a proportion of less than 20%, more preferably less than 15%, more preferably less than 12%, more preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 8%, more preferably less than 6%, based on the height of the candles before they are lit; retaining elements arranged on the front of the candle holder, which can be comb- or grid-like, preferably resembling a grate used for a wood-burning fireplace.Such holding elements can extend vertically upwards from a horizontally arranged mounting plate and have a height that is preferably about half as high as the candles before they are lit: - fixing the candle holder, for example with at least one of the feet of the candle holder to the housing of the indoor fireplace, - a design of the holder, for example the size of said openings and / or the height of the feet such that the candles have a distance from the ground, whereby the light phenomenon approximates that of a wood fire on a fireplace grate; - a multi-part design at least of the mounting plate such that a variable, optionally also multi-row arrangement of several candles is possible, wherein the several parts of the mounting plate can be positioned and fixed relative to each other by means of suitable connecting means, optionally also in variable arrangements. Furthermore, the candle can be arranged in a heat-resistant, transparent candle container, in particular made of glass, wherein the outer surface of the container can terminate in an arc-shaped transition in the base surface, so that the insertion of the candle container into an opening in the retaining plate is facilitated. In another embodiment, two or more candles are used, preferably an odd number, which are arranged at different heights in the candle holder. In this way, the light from the indoor fireplace can be approximated, for example, to that of a woodpile. Both the number of candles and their positioning relative to each other can differ from the embodiment described below. Furthermore, the multiple openings in the holding plate can have different diameters and / or at least one candle holder can have a diameter that increases slightly from bottom to top, for example by a single digit, whereby the multiple candles can be held at different heights. In another embodiment, the safe use of an indoor fireplace is enhanced by the use of a protective grille. This grille consists of a mesh-like, transparent wall positioned in front of the candle holder. The grille can be located inside or in front of the fireplace. It can be designed and positioned to prevent unintentional contact with the fire, for example, by children or animals. The grille is large enough to ensure that at least the candles are completely enclosed behind it. Optionally, the open front of the fireplace can be completely or almost completely covered by the grille, positioned to protect the surrounding area from fire damage. The grille can also be securely attached to the fireplace to prevent it from being accidentally removed, for example, by being knocked over.For example, the protective grille can be attached to the housing or to the spark plug holder. The latter is facilitated by the spark plug holder's ability to be fixed to the housing, as described above. In any case, the attachment appears to be designed to be detachable, allowing the protective grille to be removed without tools. This can be achieved, for example, with click or snap-in elements, protrusions that engage in corresponding openings, or other fastening devices. In a further embodiment, at least one, preferably all, of the interior surfaces of the surrounding housing facing the fire, i.e., its visible surfaces, can be designed to enhance the flickering effect of the at least one candle. The visible surfaces can be structured three-dimensionally, at least superficially and / or in sections. The surface structuring can simulate a wall design preferred for fireplaces, for example, a surface constructed of bricks or rubble stone, or other structures, for example, of smaller size and shape. The accompanying drawings serve to clarify, but not limit, the features described above by way of example. A person skilled in the art would combine the features previously implemented in the various embodiments of the invention and subsequently in the exemplary embodiment in further embodiments and make structural or logical changes as appropriate and useful as they see fit. The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments should therefore not be interpreted as limiting. Rather, the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. The drawings show in Fig. 1 the indoor fireplace in perspective view, Fig. 2 the housing of the indoor fireplace according to Fig. 1 in a perspective front view, Fig. 3 the housing of the indoor fireplace according to Fig. 1 in a perspective top view, Fig. 4 the candle holder of the indoor fireplace according to Fig. 1 in a perspective front view, Fig. 5 the candle holder of the indoor fireplace according to Fig. 1 in a perspective side view, and Fig. 6 the candle holder of the indoor fireplace according to Fig. 4 with candles in front view, and Fig. 7 an indoor fireplace according to Fig. 1 with a protective grille in front of the candle holder. The figures and the following description illustrate the invention only to the extent necessary to explain it. They do not claim to be complete or to scale. Where appropriate, identical or similar elements with the same function are designated with identical reference numerals in the figures. Fig. 1 shows the indoor fireplace 10, either installed in a wall niche (not shown) or constructed around the fireplace by cladding a wall niche. Fixing means 20, arranged laterally on the housing, serve to fix the housing to the adjacent building elements (not shown) in both variants. The fireplace 10 comprises a five-sided, open-fronted housing 11 with a base plate 16, a top plate 17, two side plates 18, and a rear plate 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 11 is formed in one piece. The leading edges 40 of the top plate 17 and the side plates 18 are set back from the leading edge 40 of the base plate 16 by a distance X, which can be adapted to a facing (not shown) of the surrounding components (not shown) as well as the leading edges 40 of the top plate 17 and the side plate 18, so that said facing and the leading edge 40 of the base plate 16 are flush. Other designs are possible depending on the adjacent components and / or the desired facing (both not shown), for example, a base plate 16 projecting beyond the adjacent components and / or facing.The aforementioned panels of the housing exhibit, at least on their visible surface, a surface structure resembling masonry. A candle holder 13, arranged and fixed (not shown) on the base plate 16, comprises, for example, three candles 14, each with a flat, rectangular wick 27. The upper section of the wick protrudes from the wax, and the lower section extends through the wax to the bottom of the respective candle 14. Optionally, the lower end of the wick 27 can be fixed in a wick holder (not shown) located at the bottom of the candle 14. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show the housing 11 according to Fig. 1 separately in perspective, in front view (Fig. 2) and with a view from above of the housing 11 (Fig. 3). Fig. 4 shows the candle holder 13 according to Fig. 1 without candles. The candle holder 13 comprises a horizontally oriented retaining plate 21, which has a raised edge on the rear side and retaining elements 25 on the front side. In the exemplary embodiment, the retaining elements 25 are comb-like and extend over the entire width of the candle holder 13. Other designs of the retaining elements 25 are possible, provided they are suitable for securing the candles against damage or tipping over. The raised edge on the rear side of the retaining plate 21 stabilizes the retaining plate 21 and is suitable for establishing a minimum distance to the back plate 19 (not shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6). The retaining elements 25 are also designed as a raised edge of the retaining plate 21. Other embodiments of the candle holder 13 and / or its components are possible.The retaining plate 21 has, by way of example, three round openings 29 evenly distributed along its length, the two outer openings 29 being of the same size, while the middle one is slightly smaller than the outer ones. Other openings 29 corresponding to the candles (Fig. 6), as well as a different arrangement of the openings 29, are possible depending on the size, shape, and number of retaining plate(s) 21. Fig. 5 shows the candle holder according to Fig. 2 in a side view. The front feet 22 and a rear foot 23 of the candle holder 13 are visible here. The former are two individual feet, the latter is a U-shaped component that supports the retaining plate 21 on both sides and rests with its lower, horizontal leg on the base plate 16, as can be seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the candle holder 13 with candles 14, the section being on the surface of the wick 27 facing the viewer. Each candle is formed with a round glass vessel 28 containing a solid, wax-containing fuel 26 as described above. A rectangular, flat wooden wick 27 is positioned vertically in the fuel 26 of each candle 14. The wick 27 is held at the base of the candle 14 by a suitable, for example, clip-like, wick holder 35 and extends through the fuel 26 so that its entire width B protrudes from the fuel 26. The glass vessels 28 have a diameter that increases slightly towards the top. All openings 29 in the retaining plate are dimensioned such that the equally sized glass vessels protrude through the openings 29 with a lower section, but the middle glass vessel 28 protrudes less than the two outer glass vessels 28 due to the smaller opening 29. The openings 29, the outer diameters of the glass vessels 28, and the height of the feet 22 are dimensioned relative to each other such that all glass vessels 28 are held at a distance from the base plate 16 (not shown). Other embodiments of the candle holder for holding the candles at a distance from the base plate 16 are possible. The candles 14 are additionally secured against damage or tipping over by fixing the feet 23 to the base plate 16 (Fig. 1) using suitable fastening means 24. In the illustrated embodiment, two fastening means 24 are designed and arranged on the rear, U-shaped foot 23 such that its lower, horizontal leg can be fixed to the base plate 16 (Fig. 1). The fastening means 24 are preferably designed for releasable fixing, for example by means of click fasteners, flexible clamps, screws or other means. Fig. 7 shows the indoor fireplace according to Fig. 1, which has a protective grille 30 formed from a rectangular frame 31 that holds a mesh or grid 32. The protective grille can be made, for example, of metal (optionally coated) or another non-combustible material. The protective grille 30 is positioned in front of the candle holder 13 in the housing 11, so that the housing leaves only a narrow opening at one edge compared to the size of the front of the fireplace 10. The protective grille 30 has fastening means 33 on both sides in its lower area, which engage some of the prongs 34 of the comb-like retaining element 25 and thus hold the protective grille 30 in its position. The protective grille 30 can therefore be easily slid onto and off the candle holder 13. Other versions of the protective grille with regard to its size and attachment to the fire are possible. Reference symbol list 10 Indoor fireplace 11 Housing 13 Candle holder 14 Candle 16 Base plate 17 Top plate 18 Side plates 19 Back plate 20 Fixing device 21 Retaining plate 22 Front foot 23 Rear foot 24 Fastener 25 Retaining element 26 Fuel body, fuel 27 Wick 28 Glass vessel 29 Opening 30 Protective grille 31 Frame 32 Mesh 33 Fasteners 34 Prongs 35 Wick holder 40 Front edge B Wick width H Wick height X Distance

Claims

Indoor fireplace comprising: a front-open housing (11) with a base plate (16) and a top plate (17) opposite it, with two side plates (18) connecting the base plate (16) and top plate (17) to each other, and with a rear plate (19) connecting all four plates to each other; an arrangement of at least one candle (14) on the base plate (16); the at least one candle (14) being arranged in at least one candle holder (13) which has retaining elements (25) for receiving the at least one candle (14); the at least one candle (14) comprising a fuel body (26) and at least one flat wick (27) being arranged in the fuel body (26) such that an upper portion of the wick protrudes from the fuel body (26); the flat wick (27) having a horizontal width B, a vertical height H, and a horizontal thickness D.to form a horizontally linear flame. Indoor fireplace according to claim 1, wherein the wick (27) is essentially made of wood. Indoor fireplace according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fuel of the fuel body (26) is a wax, comprising a mixture of paraffin and at least two other types of wax. Indoor fireplace according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the candle holder (13) is designed such that the candles (14) are secured against tipping towards the front of the indoor fireplace (10). Indoor fireplace according to claim 4, wherein the candle holder (13) has comb- or grid-like retaining elements (25) on the front. Indoor fireplace according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the candle holder (13) is designed to hold the at least one candle (14) with a distance between the underside of the candle (14) and the base plate (16) of the housing (11). Indoor fireplace according to claim 6, wherein the candle holder (13) is designed to hold several candles (14) at different heights relative to the base plate (16) of the housing (11). Indoor fireplace according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the candle holder (13) comprises at least one of the elements from the following list: at least one front foot (22), at least one rear foot (23), fastening means (24) for fixing the candle holder (13) in the housing (11). Indoor fireplace according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a protective grille (30) which is arranged in or in front of the indoor fireplace (10) in front of the candle holder (13) and can be fixed to the candle holder (13) or to the housing (11). Indoor fireplace according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surfaces facing the candles (14) of at least the side plates (18) and rear plate (19) of the housing (11) are structured three-dimensionally.

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