Electric fireplace and a transparent projection medium for use therein

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric fireplace configured for providing an impression of a burning fire, comprising: a fireplace box having a front side and a back side, opposite to the front side, wherein a fire simulation space is defined within the fireplace box, a display device arranged at a side of the fire simulation space and configured for projecting a video into the fire simulation space, a planar projection medium arranged within the fire simulation space and at an angle with respect to the display device such that the video of a fire projected by the display device is projected onto the planar projection medium, wherein a transparent viewing sheet is arranged at the front side of the fireplace box, thereby allowing a user to look into the fire simulation space and at the planar projection medium, and wherein an anti-reflective coating is provided on at least a part of at least one side of the planar projection medium.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention relates to an electric fireplace for providing an impression of a burning fire. Furthermore, the invention relates to a transparent projection medium for use in an electric fireplace.

[0002] Such an electric fireplace is known in the prior art. The known electric fireplace comprises a fireplace box having a front side and a back side, opposite to the front side, wherein a fire simulation space is defined within the fireplace box, and a display device arranged at a side of the fire simulation space and configured for projecting a video, for example, of a burning fire or a fire simulation into the fire simulation space. A planar projection medium is arranged within the fire simulation space and at an angle with respect to the display device such that the video projected by the display device is projected onto the planar projection medium. The front side of the fireplace box is at least partially manufactured from a transparent material, thereby allowing a user to look into the fire simulation space and at the planar projection medium. As the video is projected onto the planar projection medium, the user is enabled to see the projection of the video via the transparent material at the front side of the electric fireplace. The electric fireplace applies the pepper's ghost principle for creating the illusion of a burning fire.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The electric fireplace, for example, may be installed in a recess in a wall of a living room, for example, in order to give the impression of a burning fireplace, such as a wood or gas burning fireplace. The inventors have found that a person looking at the illusion of the burning fire sees a single projection of the video, when the eyes of that person are approximately at the same height as the fire simulation space. This might be the case when the person, for example, is sitting on a couch in the living room. When the eyes of that person are at a height above the height of the fire simulation space, that person sees a duplicate projection of the video. A disadvantage of the known electric fireplace is, thus, that the primary projection of the video may be disturbed when a person is look at it from a height different from the height of the fire simulation space.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention ameliorate or to eliminate one or more disadvantages of the known prior art, to provide an improved electric fireplace or to at least provide an alternative electric fireplace.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the invention provides an electric fireplace configured for providing an impression of a burning fire, comprising: a fireplace box having a front side and a back side, opposite to the front side, wherein a fire simulation space is defined within the fireplace box, a display device arranged at a side of the fire simulation space and configured for projecting a video of a fire into the fire simulation space, a planar projection medium arranged within the fire simulation space and at an angle with respect to the display device such that the video of a wood fire projected by the display device is projected onto the planar projection medium, wherein a transparent viewing sheet is arranged at the front side of the fireplace box, thereby allowing a user to look into the fire simulation space and at the planar projection medium, and wherein an anti-reflective coating is provided on at least a part of at least one side of the planar projection medium.

[0006] During use of the electric fireplace according to the invention, a user may look into the fire simulation space via the transparent viewing sheet to look at an optical illusion of a burning fire realized in the fire simulation space. The optical illusion of the burning fire is realized by the display device displaying a video of a burning fire, which video is projected into the fire simulation space. The projected video collides onto the transparent projection medium, thereby generating the optical illusion of the burning fire by using the pepper's ghost principle. The inventors have surprisingly found that providing an anti-reflective coating on at least a part of at least one side of the planar projection medium reduces the intensity of the duplicate projection of the video. This is advantageous as the duplicate projection of the video will be less visible to the user, in particular when the eyes of that person are at a height above the height of the fire simulation space. The projection of the video, therefore, becomes less disturbed, such that the optical illusion of the burning fire becomes more realistic.

[0007] In an embodiment, the planar projection medium is arranged at an angle with respect to the transparent viewing sheet. In an embodiment thereof, the planar projection medium is angled upwards in a direction from the front side to the back side of the fireplace box. An advantage of this embodiment is that the optical illusion is appearing in approximately the middle of the fire simulation space.

[0008] In an embodiment, the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the planar projection medium facing towards the transparent viewing sheet. In an alternative embodiment, anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the planar projection medium facing away from the transparent viewing sheet. Preferably, the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the planar projection medium facing towards the transparent viewing sheet, and on the side of the planar projection medium facing away from the transparent viewing sheet. The inventors have surprisingly found that providing the anti-reflective coating on both sides of the planar projection medium advantageously leads to a significant decrease of the intensity of the duplicate projection of the video, such that the optical illusion of the burning fire is less disturbed.

[0009] In an embodiment, the anti-reflective coating is arranged in an area, in particular a lower area, such as in a band, of the planar projection medium. In an embodiment thereof, the anti-reflective coating is arranged at or near an edge of the planar projection medium. Preferably, the anti-reflective coating is arranged at or near the edge of the planar projection medium facing towards the transparent viewing sheet. By arranging the strip-shaped anti-reflective coating at or near the edge of the planar projection medium facing towards the transparent viewing sheet, the intensity of the duplicate projection of the video of the wood fire may be decreased significantly, while the primary projection of the video of the wood fire remains substantially unaffected.

[0010] In an embodiment, an anti-reflective coating is arranged at at least a part of a side of the transparent viewing sheet. In an embodiment thereof, the anti-reflective coating is arranged at a complete side of the transparent viewing sheet. In an alternative embodiment thereof, the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing away from the fire simulation space, or the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing towards the fire simulation space. Preferably, the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing away from the fire simulation space, and on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing towards the fire simulation space. The inventors have surprisingly found that providing anti-reflective coating on both sides of the transparent viewing sheet and on both sides of the planar projection medium results in an almost complete disappearance of the duplicate projection of the video of the wood fire, such that the optical illusion of the burning fire is substantially undisturbed

[0011] In an embodiment, the transparent viewing sheet is manufactured from a transparent glass sheet or a transparent plastic sheet. In an embodiment thereof, the projection medium is manufactured from a transparent glass sheet or a transparent plastic sheet, in particular a transparent tempered glass sheet.

[0012] In an embodiment, the anti-reflective coating has one or more of the following optical properties: transmission T vis > 98%, in case of double-sided coating; transmission T vis > 94%, in case of single-sided coating; reflexion R vis < 1%, in case of double-sided coating; and / or reflexion R vis < 5%, in case of single-sided coating.

[0013] In an embodiment, the display device is selected from the group comprising: LED-LCD TV, LCD TV, LED TV, and OLED TV. Use of such display device may provide a reliable electric fireplace, thereby resulting in a long lifetime of the electric fireplace.

[0014] In an embodiment, the electric fireplace further comprises a heating device configured for providing warmth to the surroundings of the electric fireplace. In an embodiment thereof, the heating device comprises a heating air blower and an air outlet arranged such that the heating device is enabled to blow warm air along the transparent viewing sheet at the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing away from the fire simulation space. By providing the electric fireplace with a heating device, the electric fireplace advantageously provides a realistic feeling to the user thereof such that it appears like a real fire is burning in the fire place.

[0015] In an embodiment, the fireplace box has a first side panel and a second side panel opposite to the first side panel. In an embodiment thereof, the first side panel and / or the second side panel are at least partially transparent. An advantage of this embodiment is that the electric fireplace, for example, may be placed against a wall such that a user may look into the fire simulation space from three different sides of the electric fireplace.

[0016] In an embodiment, the side of the back side facing towards the fire simulation space is at least partially provided with a paneling.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the invention provides a transparent projection medium as described and / or defined in relation to the electric fireplace according to the first aspect of the invention for use in an electric fireplace according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0018] The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an electric fireplace according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the electric fireplace of figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a detailed view of a part of the cross-sectional view of figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An isometric view of an electric fireplace 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 1. In particular, the shown electric fireplace 1 is an electric fireplace for applying holographic projection, based on the pepper's ghost principle, for exposing a holographic display of flames. The electric fireplace 1, for example, is intended to be arranged into a living room of a user, such that the electric fireplace 1 may have a positive influence on the atmosphere within the living room and provide warmth to the living room. Alternatively, the electric fireplace 1 may be arranged in a hotel lobby, kitchen, bedroom, etc.

[0021] The electric fireplace 1 comprises a fireplace box 3 having a front side 4, a back side 5, a first side panel 6 and a second side panel 7. The fireplace box 3, further, has an upper portion 9 and a lower portion 10 arranged on top of each other, wherein each of the front side 4, the back panel 5, the first side panel 6 and the second side panel 7 also have an upper portion and a lower portion. In the lower portion 10, a fire simulation space 11 is defined in which flames are stimulated. The lower portion of the front side 4 comprises a transparent viewing sheet 12, such as a glass sheet, to close off the fire simulation space 11, while allowing users and / or passersby to look into the fire simulation space 11 to see the flames simulated therein.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment, the back side 5, the first side panel 6 and the second side panel 7 are manufactured from a non-transparent material, as the electric fireplace 1 is intended to be installed into a recess of a not shown wall such that only the transparent viewing sheet 12 of the front side 4 is visible to users and / or passersby. In an alternative embodiment, the first side panel 6 and / or the second side panel 7 may be at least partially transparent, such that a user may look at the optical illusion of the burning fire from three different directions.

[0023] As shown in figure 1, a viewing frame 15 is arranged at the front side 4 of the fireplace box 3, which viewing frame 15 encloses the transparent viewing sheet 12 of the fireplace box 3. The viewing frame 15 has four frame slats 16 that are connected to each other to form a quadrangular viewing frame 15, wherein each of the four frame slats 16 extends away from the front side 4 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front side 4.

[0024] In the fire simulation space 11, a planar projection medium 20 is arranged. The planar projection medium 20 is a transparent projection sheet 21, such as a glass or plastic sheet, that is arranged in the fire simulation space 11 at an angle with respect to the front side 4 of the fireplace box 3, in particular with respect to the transparent viewing sheet 12. As shown in figure 1, the transparent projection sheet 21 is at least partially supported by a supporting edge 24 provided at the inner surface 23 of each the first and second side panels 6, 7.

[0025] As shown in figure 2, which shows a cross-sectional view of the electric fireplace 1 as shown in figure 1, a display device 30, in particular a TV screen 31, such as a LED-LCD screen, OLED screen, QLED screen, etc., is arranged at the top side of the fire simulation space 11. The TV screen 31 is suspended within the top portion 9 by means of a suspending mechanism 32. The suspending mechanism 32 has a suspending portion 33 that is fixed to the inner surface of the fireplace box 3, and a bracket portion 34 that is hinged to the suspending portion 33 and to which the TV screen 31 is fixed. The TV screen 31, in this exemplary embodiment, is arranged at an angle to the transparent projection sheet 21. During use, the TV screen 31 displays a video, for example, of a wood fire, which video is projected onto the transparent projection sheet 22, such that an optical illusion of a burning fire is created within the fire simulation space 11 that may be viewed by a user via the transparent viewing sheet 12.

[0026] The electric fireplace 1 is further provided with a heating device 40 that is arranged at and within the top portion 9 of the fireplace box 2. The heating device 40 has an air outlet 41 that is arranged at the upper edge of the transparent viewing sheet 12 and such that it debouches at the side of the transparent viewing sheet 12 facing away from the fire simulation space 11. During use, the heating device 40 is configured for blowing hot air into the space in which the electric fireplace 2 is installed, such that heat comes off the electric fireplace 2 as if a real fire is burning within the electric fireplace 2.

[0027] In another not shown embodiment, the electric fireplace 1 is provided without heating device 40.

[0028] As shown in figure 1, a support platform 42 is arranged within the fire simulation space 11 at the bottom thereof. The support platform 42 is configured for supporting one or more not shown artificial wood logs that may be placed within the fire simulation space 11 in order to create a realistic burning fire illusion within the fire simulation space 11. Additionally, the inner surface of the lower portion of the back side 5 of the fireplace box 3 is provided with a paneling 43.

[0029] Furthermore, although not shown, the electric fireplace 2 comprises a controller for controlling operation of the electric fireplace 2.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a detailed view of a part of the cross-sectional view of the electric fireplace 1, in which a part of the transparent viewing sheet 12 and a part of the transparent projection sheet 22 are shown. It is clearly shown in figure 3 that the transparent viewing sheet 12 is provided with a coating 50, in particular an antireflective, AR, coating at the side facing away from the fire simulation space 11 and at the side facing towards the fire simulation space 11.

[0031] Additionally, the transparent projection sheet 22 is provided partially with the coating 50 at the side facing towards the transparent viewing sheet 12 and at the side facing away from the transparent viewing sheet 12. In particular, a lower area of the transparent projection sheet 22 is provided with the coating 50 at both sides of the transparent projection sheet 22.

[0032] It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Electric fireplace configured for providing an impression of a burning fire, comprising: a fireplace box having a front side and a back side, opposite to the front side, wherein a fire simulation space is defined within the fireplace box, a display device arranged at a side of the fire simulation space and configured for projecting a video into the fire simulation space, a planar projection medium arranged within the fire simulation space and at an angle with respect to the display device such that the video of a fire projected by the display device is projected onto the planar projection medium, wherein a transparent viewing sheet is arranged at the front side of the fireplace box, thereby allowing a user to look into the fire simulation space and at the planar projection medium, and wherein an anti-reflective coating is provided on at least a part of at least one side of the planar projection medium, wherein the anti-reflective coating is provided on a side of the planar projection medium facing towards the transparent viewing sheet, and on a side of the planar projection medium facing away from the transparent viewing sheet, and wherein the anti-reflective coating is arranged in a lower area, such as in a band, of the planar projection medium and at or near the edge of the planar projection medium facing towards the transparent viewing sheet.

2. Electric fireplace according to claim 1, wherein the planar projection medium is arranged at an angle with respect to the transparent viewing sheet.

3. Electric fireplace according to claim 2, wherein the planar projection medium is angled upwards in a direction from the front side to the back side of the fireplace box.

4. Electric fireplace according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an anti-reflective coating is arranged at at least a part of a side of the transparent viewing sheet.

5. Electric fireplace according to claim 4, wherein the anti-reflective coating is arranged at a complete side of the transparent viewing sheet.

6. Electric fireplace according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing away from the fire simulation space.

7. Electric fireplace according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing towards the fire simulation space.

8. Electric fireplace according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the anti-reflective coating is provided on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing away from the fire simulation space, and on the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing towards the fire simulation space.

9. Electric fireplace according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transparent viewing sheet is manufactured from a transparent glass sheet or a transparent plastic sheet, and / or wherein the projection medium is manufactured from a transparent glass sheet or a transparent plastic sheet, in particular a transparent tempered glass sheet.

10. Electric fireplace according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-reflective coating has one or more of the following optical properties: transmission Tvis > 98%, in case of double-sided coating; transmission Tvis > 94%, in case of single-sided coating; reflexion Rvis < 1%, in case of double-sided coating; and / or reflexion Rvis < 5%, in case of single-sided coating.

11. Electric fireplace according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device is selected from the group comprising: LED-LCD TV, LCD TV, LED TV, and OLED TV, and / or wherein the electric fireplace further comprises a heating device configured for providing warmth to the surroundings of the electric fireplace.

12. Electric fireplace according to claim 11, wherein the heating device comprises a heating air blower and an air outlet arranged such that the heating device is enabled to blow warm air along the transparent viewing sheet at the side of the transparent viewing sheet facing away from the fire simulation space.

13. Electric fireplace according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fireplace box has a first side panel and a second side panel opposite to the first side panel.

14. Electric fireplace according to claim 13, wherein the first side panel and / or the second side panel are at least partially transparent, and / or wherein the side of the back side facing towards the fire simulation space is at least partially provided with a paneling.

15. Transparent projection medium as described and / or defined in one of the preceding claims for use in an electric fireplace according to any one of the preceding claims.

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