Simulated combustible fuel element

Abstract

A simulated combustible fuel element 100 comprises a body 110 which is coloured and formed to resemble a solid combustible fuel element; the body has a cavity 200 dimensioned to receive a light source

Description

The present invention relates to a simulated combustible fuel elements of the type that are typically provided in flame or fire simulating assemblies. Such simulated combustible fuel elements typically adopt the geometrical form of a log or coal. Where a plurality of such simulated combustible fuel elements are provided, they are typically arranged within the fire simulating assembly to replicate a fuel bed. The invention more particularly relates to simulated combustible fuel elements that incorporate internal lighting, power to which is provided by a magnetic electrical connector. Background Electric fires are well known in the art. Such fires typically include a heating element in for example the form of a fan heater or the like and operably provide for the generation of heat. Such fires have traditionally been provided to replace real combustion fires. As part of this replacement of the real fire it is known to provide electric fires with a flame simulating assembly which can be used to generate flame effects within an interior of the electric fire such that a user gets the visual impression of a fire burning within the fire. Such flame simulating assemblies are typically combined with a fuel bed which provides for a simulation of the combustible material that is employed within the electric fire. The fuel bed is typically shaped to replicate the geometric form that one might expect from a real fuel bed. Some examples include a single piece integrally moulded fuel bed where individual logs or coals are identifiable within the overall construct of the fuel bed. To enhance the simulation affect, it is known to illuminate such fuel beds. Early approaches to this illumination included providing a light source below the fuel bed to effect a colouring of the fuel bed from below. Such lighting, particularly when coupled with a judicious colouring and shaping of the fuel bed does provide pleasing results. Other approaches have included providing individual simulated combustible fuel elements which are then arranged relative to one another to build the final geometric form of the fuel bed. This provides greater flexibility and personalisation of the final form of the fuel bed. Again, separate lighting can be provided to enhance the final effect. More sophisticated approaches have included providing a recess or hollowed inner portion within the individual simulated combustible fuel elements and then locating one or more light elements within those recess. If the simulated combustible fuel elements are at least partially transparent then the activation of the light elements causes an internal illumination of the simulated combustible fuel element which more closely resembles the effect that one might expect from a burning log or coal. However, given that these light elements require power, this does create a requirement for power leads to be provided to the individual fuel elements. This does present challenges in that evidently the power leads need to have a certain length to allow flexibility in placement of the fuel elements. This provided flexibility also means that the length is often chosen generously so as to avoid a stretching of the power lead, where the chosen position is further from the power source than might have been anticipated by the fire manufacturer. It also means that oftentimes there is an exposed length of power lead that is visible within the fuel bed. The visibility of these power leads can detract from the overall simulation effect that is desired. In the event that the lead is too short, there is a possibility that the lead can be stretched and damaged in the course of the placement of the fuel elements. There therefore continues to be a need to provide improvements in simulated combustible fuel elements. Summary These and other problems are addressed by a simulated combustible fuel bed element in accordance with the teaching of the present invention. Such a simulated combustible fuel element comprises a body which is coloured and formed to resemble an entire solid combustible fuel element, the body having at least one cavity defined therein. The at least one cavity is dimensioned to receive at least one fuel light source which, when activated, emits light from within the cavity that is visible externally of the simulated combustible fuel element. The at least one fuel light source is coupled to an electrical lead that terminates in a magnetic electrical connector, which when mated with a corresponding magnetic electrical connector provides power and optionally a data signal to the at least one fuel light source. The electrical lead of the simulated combustible fuel element has a length such that the magnetic electrical coupler is provided adjacent to the body of the fuel element. Desirably the body has an in-use orientation and such that when the simulated combustible fuel element is located in a fuel bed of an electrical fire, the magnetic electrical connector extends from the cavity from a lower surface of the fuel bed element and as such is not visible from above. The body may include a recess shaped to receive the magnetic electrical connector, and the recess is desirably formed in a lower surface of the body. The present teaching also provides an electrical fire comprising a fuel bed formed from a plurality of individual combustible fuel bed elements. A plurality of the individual combustible fuel bed elements will typically each include a light source provided in a cavity therein, and are each provided with their own magnetic electrical connector. As such power, and optionally a data signal can be provided independently to each of the fuel bed elements. The fuel bed itself provides a fuel bed support for the individual combustible fuel bed elements such that they can be arranged relative to one another to form the final geometric form of the fuel bed. The fuel bed support also provides a plurality of apertures through which a plurality of fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors are presented. The apertures are dimensioned to allow the fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors to pass through the support so as to be available for mating with corresponding ones of the fuel element magnetic electrical connector. The location of the apertures may be fixed, or at least a location of a subset of the apertures may be varied dependent on the desired ultimate location of the fuel bed magnetic electrical connector. For example, a plurality of apertures may be provided. Each of the apertures may be dimensioned to receive a fuel bed magnetic electrical connector such that selection of an appropriate aperture location can judiciously allow the choice of which fuel bed magnetic electrical connector can be used to provide the mating to the fuel element magnetic electrical connectors. These apertures may be pluggable such that removal of a plug provides access to the aperture. In other configurations, a series of channels may be provided such that a fuel bed magnetic electrical connector is slideable within the channel so as to provide a plurality of potential ultimate mating locations. By providing a plurality of potential mating locations within the support, the length of exposed cable that terminates in the fuel bed magnetic electrical connector can be minimized. This ensures that when a fuel bed is fully assembled by providing a plurality of fuel bed elements relative to one another, there is less risk that there will be exposed power cables visible. It also can reduce the likelihood that any one cable is stretched during placement of the fuel element. The use of a magnetic connectors is particularly advantageous in the context of the present teaching in that the two connectors - the fuel bed magnetic electrical connector and the fuel element magnetic electrical connector- can be mated to one another without requiring user visibility to the connectors during the mating process. As the two connectors will magnetically attract one another, the physical presentation of one proximal to the other causes a magnetic attraction of the two into a mated orientation. This is particularly advantageous in the scenario where the fuel element magnetic electrical connector is provided on a lower portion of the fuel element, such that it is occluded from view during a positioning of the fuel element on the support. The self-alignment and mating through the magnetic attraction of the two connectors to one another achieves an electrical coupling with minimal user intervention which eases in an assembly of the fuel bed itself. Accordingly, there is provided a simulated combustible fuel element as defined in claim 1. Advantageous features are in the dependent claims. There is also provided a fuel bed as defined in the independent claim. These and other features of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following drawings. Brief Description Of The Drawings The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view from above of a fuel bed element in accordance with the present teaching. Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows in schematic form how a fuel bed element such as that of Figure 2 can be presented to and mated with a fuel bed magnetic electrical connector so as to provide electrical power to light elements within the fuel bed element. Figure 4 is a plan view showing various locations for individual fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors as defined in a support of a fuel bed. Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembled fuel bed within a housing of an electric fire, the fuel bed including a plurality of individual fuel bed elements. Figure 6 is a perspective view of an assembled fuel bed showing how the location of the fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors can be varied. Detailed Description Of The Drawings Exemplary arrangements of a simulated combustible fuel bed element provided in accordance with the teaching of the present invention will be described hereinafter to assist with an understanding of the benefits of the present invention. Such a fuel bed element will be understood as being exemplary of the type of fire that could be provided and is not intended to limit the present invention to any one specific arrangement as modifications could be made to that described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Where aspects or features are referenced in any one Figure, and those aspects or features are then referenced in another Figure, it will be understood that the same reference numerals may be used. As shown in Figure 1 the present teaching provides a simulated combustible fuel element 100 comprises a body 110 which is coloured and formed to resemble an entire solid combustible fuel element, in this example a fuel log. The body 110 may also have a defined texture 120 provided on the outer surface of the body, the geometric form of the texture preferably adopting that corresponding to an outer surface of a log or branch - such as mimicking bark that may be found on real wood. As shown in Figure 2, the body 110 has at least one cavity 200 defined therein. The at least one cavity 200 is dimensioned to receive at least one fuel light source 210 which, when activated, emits light from within the cavity 200 that is visible externally of the simulated combustible fuel element. This is typically provided by having the material forming the element at least partially translucent. In other configurations, one or more apertures could equally be provided so as to define a light path from the outer surfaces of the fuel element to the cavity. In a preferred arrangement the at least one fuel light source 210 comprises a plurality of individual light elements 220 which, if provided, are typically provided in an array. The individual light elements 220 are typically provided by light emitting diodes, LEDs, which can be powered using a low voltage power supply. The colour emitted by individual ones of the LEDs may, in certain configurations, be varied. This variation, if provided, can typically be effected through use of microcontroller configurations such that the colour sequence can be programmed or varied through user intervention. The individual light elements may be controlled, with a data signal from the microcontroller, to emit distinct colours from another of the individual light elements. The at least one fuel light source 210 is coupled to an electrical lead 230 that terminates in a fuel element magnetic electrical connector 240. The magnetic electrical connector is of the type which forms one part of a mating pair of connectors. As such it is configured to mate with a corresponding magnetic electrical connector. When the two parts of the mating pair are presented to and provide a mated pair, electrical power and optionally a data signal can be provided to the at least one fuel light source. The electrical lead 230 of the simulated combustible fuel element 100 has a length such that the fuel element magnetic electrical coupler 240 is provided adjacent to the body 110 of the fuel element. Desirably the body 110 has an in-use orientation such that when the simulated combustible fuel element is located in a fuel bed of an electrical fire, the fuel element magnetic electrical connector 140 extends from the cavity from a lower surface 260 of the fuel bed element and as such is not visible from above, or from a viewer’s perspective. The electrical lead 230 desirably extends through the body 110 from the cavity via a channel 250 defined in the body. As shown in Figure 2, the length of the lead that extends or projects beyond the body 110 is minimal, typically less than the length of the lead that is present within the cavity 200. The body 110 may include a recess shaped to receive the magnetic electrical connector, and if provided the recess is desirably formed in a lower surface of the body. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the present teaching also provides an electrical fire 500 comprising a fuel bed 510 formed from a plurality of individual combustible fuel elements 100. A plurality of the individual combustible fuel elements will typically each include a light source provided in a cavity therein, and are each provided with their own magnetic electrical connector. As such power, and optionally a data signal, can be provided independently to each of the fuel elements. It will be understood that the fuel bed 510 may include one or more elements which are not internally lit, and it is not intended to limit the present teaching to any specific layout of fuel elements or other media as defining the fuel bed. As shown in Figure 3, using the example of one fuel element, the fuel bed itself provides a fuel bed support 300 for the individual combustible fuel bed elements such that they can be arranged relative to one another to form the final geometric form of the fuel bed. Figure 4 is an example in plan view of one exemplary arrangement for a fuel bed support. It can be seen that the fuel bed support 300 also provides a plurality of apertures 305 through which a plurality of fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors 310 (per Figure 3) are presented. The apertures are dimensioned to allow the fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors 310 pass through the support 300 so as to be available for mating with corresponding ones of the fuel element magnetic electrical connector. Typically, and as seen in Figure 3, the fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors 310 will project proud of the support 300 so as to be available to form a mated pair with a corresponding one of the fuel element magnetic electrical connectors 240. The mated pair formed from the respective two connectors is desirably a self-mating connector. In this way a co-Iocation of the two connectors proximal to one another effects, through magnetic interaction between the pair, a self-alignment and coupling arrangement without requiring manual user handling of the connectors. Per Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 the location of the apertures may be fixed in location so as to predefine the mating locations of the fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors to the fuel element magnetic electric connectors. Evidently choice of which of these apertures are used for providing the mated electrical connection will affect the ultimate placement of the fuel bed elements. Figure 6 shows a variation where further choice in placement can be provided dependent on the desired ultimate location of the fuel bed magnetic electrical connector. In this arrangement a plurality of apertures 610 which are fixed in location may be provided. These apertures may be pluggable apertures such that the removal of a plug provides access to the aperture. In this way, when not being used the presentation of a plug into the aperture effects a blocking of the apertures and makes them less visible. Of course, the presence or otherwise of the plug may not be required, and series of open apertures may also be provided. In other arrangements, fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors may be covered using decorative media elements when not used. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, a series of channels 620 may be provided such that a fuel bed magnetic electrical connector 310 is slideable within the channel so as to provide a plurality of potential ultimate mating locations for the presented fuel element magnetic electrical connector 305. The channels 620 in Figure 6 are exemplary of the type of channel, and its orientation, that can be provided. For example, a longer channel could be provided. Alternatively, the channel could extend from the front of the fire housing 500 to the rear, as opposed to from side to side as shown in Figure 6. Indeed, the channel could have multiple dimensions to facilitate multiple changes in mating locations. By providing a plurality of potential mating locations within the support 300, thre is increased choice provided for ultimate placement of the fuel elements whilst at the same time the length of exposed cable that terminates in the fuel bed magnetic electrical connector can be minimized. This ensures that when a fuel bed is fully assembled by providing a plurality of fuel bed elements 100 relative to one another within a housing 500, there is less risk that there will be exposed power cables visible. As shown in Figure 3, each of the fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors 310 are coupled to a respective power and optionally a data lead 320 that is located, in the main body, below the support 300. The power leads 320 are coupled to a power control or distribution hub 330 which may include a microcontroller or the like which may facilitate individual control of one or more of the light sources in individual ones of the fuel bed elements independently of others. Examples of this type of control include variation in intensity, colour, or sequence of activation. It will be appreciated that exemplary arrangements of a simulated combustible fuel element comprising a body which is coloured and formed to resemble an entire solid combustible fuel element have been described. Per the present teaching the element comprises at least one fuel light source which is coupled to an electrical lead that terminates in a fuel element magnetic electrical connector, which when mated with a corresponding magnetic electrical connector provides power to the at least one fuel light source. Whilst exemplary arrangements have been described modifications can of course be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is limited only insofar as deemed necessary in light of the claims that follow. The words comprises / comprising when used in this specification are to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A simulated combustible fuel element comprising a body which is coloured and formed to resemble an entire solid combustible fuel element, the body having at least one cavity defined therein, the at least one cavity being dimensioned to receive at least one fuel light source which, when activated, emits light from within the cavity that is visible externally of the simulated combustible fuel element, and wherein the at least one fuel light source is coupled to an electrical lead that terminates in a fuel element magnetic electrical connector, which when mated with a corresponding magnetic electrical connector provides power to the at least one fuel light source.

2. The fuel element of claim 1 wherein the electrical lead of the simulated fuel element additionally provides a data signal when mated.

3. The fuel element of claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical lead of the simulated combustible fuel element has a length such that the magnetic electrical coupler is provided adjacent to the body of the fuel element.

4. The fuel element of any preceding claim wherein the body has an in-use orientation such that when the fuel element is located in a fuel bed of an electrical fire, the magnetic electrical connector extends from the cavity from a lower surface of the fuel bed element and as such is not visible from above or from a viewer’s perspective.

5. The fuel element of claim 4 wherein the body includes a recess shaped to receive the magnetic electrical connector.

6. The fuel element of claim 4 wherein the recess is formed in a lower surface of the body.

7. The fuel element of any preceding claim wherein the at least one fuel light source comprises an array of individual light elements.

8. The fuel element of claim 7 wherein the array of individual fuel elements comprises light emitting diodes, LEDs.

9. The fuel element of claim 7 or 8 wherein the individual light elements are configured to provide a multi-coloured light output.

10. The fuel element of any preceding claim wherein the individual light elements are individually addressable, and can be configured to provide distinct colours or brightness from any other individual light element.

11. The fuel element of claim 10 wherein the individually addressable light elements receive a data signal to control the brightness and multi-colored light output.

12. The fuel element of any preceding claim wherein the at least one fuel light source is a low voltage light source.

13. The fuel element of any preceding claim wherein the magnetic electrical connector is a self-mating connector.

14. An electrical fire comprising a fuel bed formed from a plurality of individual simulated combustible fuel elements as claimed in any preceding claim, the plurality of individual simulated combustible fuel elements configured so as to be arrangeable relative to one another to form a final geometric form of the fuel bed.

15. The fire of claim 14 wherein each of the plurality of individual simulated combustible fuel elements include a respective light source and each ofthe plurality of individual combustible fuel elements is provided with its own magnetic electrical connector.

16. The fire of claim 14 or 15 wherein the fuel bed provides a fuel bed support for the individual simulated combustible fuel bed elements.

17. The fire of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors, and wherein the fuel bed support defines a plurality of apertures through which the plurality of fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors are presented.

18. The fire of claim 17 wherein the apertures are dimensioned to allow the fuel bed magnetic electrical connectors pass through the support so as to be available for mating with corresponding ones of the fuel element magnetic electrical connectors.

19. The fire of claim 17 or 18 wherein the apertures are fixed in location, or wherein at least a location of a subset of the apertures may be varied dependent on the desired ultimate location of the fuel bed magnetic electrical connector.

20. The fire of claim 19 comprising a plurality of pluggable apertures wherein the pluggable apertures are configured such that the removal of a plug provides access to a corresponding aperture.

21. The fire of claim 19 wherein the support defines a series of channels therein, and wherein a fuel bed magnetic electrical connector is slideable within a channel so as to provide a plurality of potential ultimate mating locations.

22. The fire of claim 21 wherein by providing a plurality of potential mating locations within the support, the length of exposed cable that terminates in the fuel bed magnetic electrical connector can be minimized.

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