Electric fireplace assembly and method of assembling same

Abstract

A decorative electric fireplace comprising a housing defining a window aperture and a rear interior surface opposite the window aperture, a support base, a light source, and decorative logs, each of the decorative logs being configured to be secured to the support base via a corresponding one of fastener-receiving apertures in an assembled upright configuration, wherein, when the decorative logs define a substantially conical log arrangement at least partially concealing the light source, the light source is configured to emit light which emanates through interstices formed between adjacent ones of the decorative logs of the substantially conical log arrangement to produce a primary observable glow through the window aperture of the housing, and wherein the rear interior surface of the housing is characteristic in that light propagating within the housing is reflected onto the rear interior surface to produce a secondary observable glow through the window aperture of the housing.

Description

ELECTRIC FIREPLACE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAMECROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.K. Patent Application No. 2317738.9 filed on November 20, 2023, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to electric fireplaces and, more particularly, to a decorative flameless fireplace, and a method of assembling same.BACKGROUND

[0003] Traditional fireplaces emit gases which include harmful pollutants and contribute to creating ozone. Some of these gases can be carcinogens, including benzene and formaldehyde. For at least these reasons, jurisdictions have increasingly prohibited the use of traditional fireplaces in urban environments in an attempt to reduce health risks as well as pollutants.

[0004] In response, electrically powered, flameless decorative campfires, fireplaces, and woodstoves have grown in popularity and have become widely commercially available through physical and online stores. These flameless decorative campfires, fireplaces and woodstoves are particularly useful for safely and substantially closely recreating a warm looking atmosphere, as if emanating from a real wood burning campfire, fireplace or woodstove.

[0005] Flameless decorative fireplaces and the likes that are available on the market typically include a decorative unit assembly that attempts to replicate the general look and feel of their respective real wood burning counterpart. In some case they are also portable.

[0006] The decorative unit is further visually animated through one or more incandescent lamps or light emitting diodes (LED's) selectively disposed behind and / or within elements of the decorative unit, so as to radiate a warm shimmering glow in an attempt to recreate a similar warm atmosphere typically generated by a real wood burning fireplace or the likes.

[0007] While these known flameless decorative campfires, fireplaces, woodstoves and the likes can generally fulfill the main objective of providing a relatively warm looking atmosphere similar to the one generated by a real wood burning campfire, fireplace or woodstove, they also generally have one or more of the following disadvantages.

[0008] For instance, these flameless decorative fireplaces are typically sold in a fixed configuration. Namely, the decorative fireplaces can be configured to replicate a relatively small outdoor campfire, an indoor fireplace typically positioned against, or fully integrated, into a wall of a living room or bedroom, or a classic woodstove on legs.

[0009] Moreover, traditional flameless decorative fireplaces incorporate an exposed light arrangement configured to simulate the light of a flame. However, the resulting glow of exposed the light arrangement fails to simulate the glow of a genuine wood burning stove. Traditional flameless decorative fireplaces further fail to emit sounds typically associated with real fireplaces including, for instance, the crackling of wood, which further limits the impression of realism.

[0010] These flameless decorative campfires, fireplaces and woodstoves of the prior art are furthermore generally made of pitch black metal panels or, otherwise, a low cost assembly of plastic moldings that are poorly replicating the warm look of any real wood burning campfire, fireplace or woodstove.

[0011] Finally, traditional electric fireplaces can be difficult to assemble and / or cumbersome to transport

[0012] There is therefore a need for an assembly or system that would overcome or alleviate at least one of the above-identified drawbacks.SUMMARY

[0013] According to one aspect, there is provided an electric fireplace usable for safely and user selectively recreating a realistically warm looking atmosphere as if emanating from one of a real wood burning campfire, a fireplace or a woodstove, including their respective crackling fire sounds.

[0014] The electric fireplace comprises a housing including housing top and bottom walls, opposed housing side walls, and opposed housing front and rear walls defining a housing interior space.

[0015] The housing front wall defines a housing front window opening covered with a transparent sheet of material.

[0016] Furthermore, a lower rear end portion of the housing defines a power cord aperture for allowing a power cord to extend there through.

[0017] Each wall of the housing may be represented by substantially flat and pale type wooden panels.

[0018] Preferably, the different components involved in the assembly of the housing are suitably configured so as to be easily assembled at home by the end user, using common hand tools such as an Allen key or a screwdriver.

[0019] The electric fireplace further comprises a decorative campfire assembly. The decorative campfire assembly is suitably sized and configured so as to be capable of being wholly enclosed within the housing interior space.

[0020] The decorative campfire assembly includes a campfire support base, a lamp socket mounted through a substantially centered upper surface portion of the campfire support base, and an arrangement of decorative campfire wood logs mounted along an upper surface portion of the campfire support base that is located at least partially in front of the lamp socket. An LED lamp mounted in the lamp socket and is suitably configured to irradiate a substantially warm and gently shimmering campfire glow.

[0021] The electric fireplace further comprises a sound emitting means mounted along an underside portion of the campfire support base and includes a loudspeaker, and a wireless communications means capable of communicating wirelessly with a remote communication device such as, but not limited to, a mobile phone or a tablet.

[0022] The electric fireplace further comprises a power cord and switch arrangement. The power cord and switch arrangement includes an elongated 110 VAC rated power cord and a power switch operatively connected along a suitable longitudinal portion of the power cord so as to be easily accessible outside the housing.

[0023] The three-in-one portable flameless fireplace further comprises a decorative woodstove chimney tube.

[0024] Furthermore, the housing top wall has a substantially planar, panel-like configuration defining opposed first and second top wall surfaces.

[0025] The housing top wall is configured so as to be user removably mounted on the housing with either one of the opposed first or second top wall surface facing upwardly.

[0026] The first top wall surface defines a substantially planar surface that may be used as a typical fireplace mantel top surface.

[0027] The second top wall surface includes an attachment arrangement that is suitably sized and configured for user selectively and removably engaging thereon a lower end portion of the decorative woodstove chimney tube.

[0028] At least the housing front wall defines a plurality of relatively small circular or narrow slot shaped auxiliary openings along at least a bottom portion thereof for allowing sounds from the sound emitting means to radiate substantially outwardly therefrom. The auxiliary openings further allow for a suitable ventilation of the heat generated by the LED lamp.

[0029] A method of assembling the three-in-one portable flameless fireplace in a user selected one of three decorative configurations, namely, a typical campfire, fireplace and a woodstove standing on legs.

[0030] Other advantages, novel features and alternate embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following drawings and detailed description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an electric fireplace, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the electric fireplace of FIG. 1 ;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a right-side elevation view of the electric fireplace of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the electric fireplace of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the electric fireplace of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an electric fireplace, in accordance with another embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the electric fireplace of FIG. 6;

[0038] FIG. 8 is a front plan view of an exemplary user interface of a mobile phone application usable by a user;

[0039] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an electric fireplace assembly, in accordance with an embodiment, shown in a partially assembled state;

[0040] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the electric fireplace assembly of FIG. 9 shown following a subsequent step of the assembly;

[0041] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the electric fireplace assembly of FIG. 10 shown following a subsequent step of the assembly;

[0042] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the electric fireplace assembly of FIG. 11 shown following a subsequent step of the assembly;

[0043] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a housing front wall assembly of the electric fireplace of FIG. 9, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0044] FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the electric fireplace assembly of FIG. 12 shown following a subsequent step of the assembly;

[0045] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the electric fireplace assembly of FIG. 14 shown following a subsequent step of the assembly;

[0046] FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the electric fireplace assembly of FIG. 15 shown following a subsequent step of the assembly;

[0047] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of the electric fireplace assembly of FIG. 16 shown following a subsequent step of the assembly;DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] It will be appreciated that, for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements or steps. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, thisdescription is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way but rather as merely describing the implementation of the various embodiments described herein.

[0049] For the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several references numbers, not all figures contain references to all the components and features, and references to some components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and features of the present disclosure which are illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and / or dimensions shown in the figures are optional, and are given for exemplification purposes only.

[0050] Moreover, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as “above”, “below”, “top”, “bottom”, “forward”, “rearward” “left”, “right” and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of the figures and correspond to the position and orientation in the window assembly and corresponding parts when being used. Positional descriptions should not be considered limiting.

[0051] FIGS. 1 , 6 and 17 illustrate various aspects of an embodiment, according to the present invention, of an electric fireplace 100 usable for safely and user selectively recreating a realistically warm looking atmosphere as if emanating from one of a real wood burning campfire, a fireplace or a woodstove, including their crackling fire sounds.

[0052] In certain embodiment, the electric fireplace 100 comprises a housing 102. The housing 102 can include opposed housing top and bottom panels 104 and 106, opposed housing side walls 108, and opposed housing front and rear walls 110 and 112 respectively, thus defining a housing interior space 114 (as best illustrated in FIG. 14). It will be understood that, in other embodiments, the housing 102 of the electric fireplace 100 can be configured in any other suitable manner.

[0053] In certain embodiments, the housing front wall 110 can define a housing front window aperture 118 shaped and dimensioned to enable a viewing of the content within the housing 102. In the illustrated embodiments, the window aperture 118 extends across a majority of an upper portion of the housing front wall 110. It will be understood that, in other embodiments, the window aperture 118 can be configured to include any other suitable shape and dimension.

[0054] As best illustrated in FIG. 13, in certain embodiments, the housing front wall 110 can include a transparent sheet of material 119 configured to extend across the window aperture 118. The sheet of material 119 can include, for instance, Plexiglas, transparent Vinyl, window glass, or the likes. In other embodiments, the sheet of material 119 can be made of a semi-transparent or opaque material.

[0055] Referring now to FIG. 5, a lower rear end portion of the housing 102 can define a power cord aperture 116 for allowing a power cord to extend therethrough. For example, the power cord aperture 116 may be defined through a rear portion of the housing bottom panel 106, or the housing rear wall 112 (as illustrated).

[0056] As is exemplified in the figures, the housing 102 may have a substantially square box configuration. But it is to be understood that the housing 102 may adopt any other suitable shape configuration well known in the art of woodstoves and indoor fireplaces, either real or decorative, such as for example, a substantially wide and low-profile rectangular shape, a vertically standing cylindrical shape, or the likes.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the top and bottom panels 104, 106 of the housing 102 may be represented by a substantially flat wooden panel. Similarly, each of the housing side walls 108, and opposed housing front and rear walls 110 and 112 can be represented by a substantially flat wooden panel.

[0058] In certain embodiments, the walls 108, 110, 112 of the housing 102 may be joined to one another with four assembly posts 120. Each of the assembly posts 120 can define a pair suitable slots 112 for engaging therein respective panel edges of the opposed front, rear and side housing panels 110, 112 and 108. The assembly of the housing 102 may then be consolidated through the opposed top and bottom housing panels 104 and 106 using suitable wood screws, or equivalent. It is to be understood that other configurations of panels and associated assembly well known in the art of home furniture assembly may be used without departing form the present invention.

[0059] As best illustrated in FIG. 11 , in certain embodiments, the housing 102 further includes a suitable arrangement of support legs 124, or equivalent, such that the housing bottom panel 106 is located at least slightly in a spaced apart relationship above a support surface such as a floor, a coffee table, or other indoor or outdoor furniture, on which is resting the electric fireplace 100. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the housing bottom panel 106 may rest directly on the support surface without any support leg arrangement.

[0060] In certain embodiments, the different components involved in the assembly of the housing 102 are suitably configured so as to be easily assembled at home by the end user, using common hand tools such as an Allen key or a screwdriver. Thus, the electric fireplace 100 may be economically shipped in a relatively compact post mail package.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 15, the electric fireplace 100 further comprises a decorative campfire assembly 130. The decorative campfire assembly 130 is suitably sized and configured so as to be capable of being wholly enclosed within the housing interior space 114.

[0062] The decorative campfire assembly 130 includes a campfire support base 132 suitably configured and sized so as to be capable of being freely downwardly inserted in a substantially snug fit relation between the opposed housing side, rear and front walls 108, 112 and 110 respectively, and stably rest on the housing bottom panel 106.

[0063] The campfire support base 132 defines a support base upper surface 134 located at least slightly in a spaced apart relationship above the housing bottom panel 106 via a set of spaced apart legs 136, or equivalent, thus defining a support base underlying space 138.

[0064] The decorative campfire assembly 130 further includes a lamp socket 140 mounted through a substantially centered upper surface portion of the campfire support base 132 and configured to receive a lamp 144.

[0065] In certain embodiments, the decorative campfire assembly 130 further includes an arrangement of decorative campfire wood logs 142 mounted along an upper surface portion of the campfire support base 132, and located at least partially in front of the lamp socket 140 to at least partially conceal the lamp 144.

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the decorative campfire wood logs 142 can be suitably configured so as to be easily mounted on top of the campfire support base 132 by the end user using common hand tools such as an Allen key or a screwdriver, as exemplified in the figures. Thus, the electric fireplace 100 may be economically shipped in a relatively compact post mail package.

[0067] As best exemplified in FIG. 9, a lower end of each of the decorative campfire wood logs 142 can be secured to the campfire support base 132 using a fastener so as to retain the respective one of the decorative campfire wood logs 142 in an upright configuration, / .e., with a longitudinal axis of the respective one of the decorative campfire wood logsextending substantially upwardly at an angle from the campfire support base. As best shown in FIG. 9, the decorative campfire wood logs 142 can be fastened to the campfire support base 132 through corresponding fastener-receiving apertures 135 defined within the campfire support base 132.

[0068] In certain embodiments, the fastener-receiving apertures 135 can be arranged within the campfire support base 132 to define a substantially conical arrangement of the decorative campfire wood logs 142, when the campfire assembly 130 is assembled.

[0069] The decorative campfire assembly 130 further includes a lamp 144 mounted in the lamp socket 140. In certain embodiments, the lamp 144 can include an LED light bulb configured to irradiate a substantially warm and gently shimmering campfire glow.

[0070] In certain embodiments, when the campfire assembly 130 is assembled within the housing 102, the decorative campfire wood logs 142 of the decorative campfire assembly 130 can be arranged to partially allow light emitted from the LED lamp 144 to project substantially forwardly outwardly through interstices formed between adjacent ones of the decorative campfire wood logs 142 when assembled to form a primary observable glow of light when viewed through the housing front window aperture 118.

[0071] In certain embodiments, at least a portion of an interior surface of the housing 102 can be made of a relatively pale material including, for instance, a pale type natural wood or the like. The use of such pale type natural wood results in a significantly enhanced warm and gently shimmering campfire glow of the LED lamp 144 that is reflected along the adjacent interior surfaces of the pale type natural wood surrounding the LED lamp 144, compared to known portable flameless fireplaces and woodstoves. In particular, said interior surface of the housing 102 is further characterized in that light propagating within the housing 102 is reflected out of the housing aperture 108 to produce a secondary observable glow of light, being less prominent than the primary observable glow. Accordingly, the realistic warm atmosphere of a real wood burning fireplace is substantially wholly replicated by the electric fireplace 100 disclosed herein.

[0072] Still referring, for example, to FIGS. 9, 10 and 12, the electric fireplace 100 can further include a sound emitting means or sound emitting device 150. In certain embodiments, the sound emitting means 150 can be mounted along an underside portion of the campfire support base 132 and can include a loudspeaker, and a wirelesscommunication means capable of communicating wirelessly with a remote communication device such as, but not limited to, a mobile phone or a tablet.

[0073] The sound emitting means 150 can include audio playback capabilities of numeric audio files streamed from the remote communication device, or stored locally on the sound emitting means 150.

[0074] As is well known in the field of sound emitting means, the sound emitting means in the present invention may be represented by a custom-made sound emitting means 150 or any suitably sized commercially available Bluetooth portable speaker, or equivalent.

[0075] Referring, for example, to FIGS. 3, 5, 9 and 12, the electric fireplace 100 can further include a power cord and switch arrangement 160. The power cord and switch arrangement 160 includes an elongated 110 VAC rated power cord 162 having a sufficient length dimension so as to extend between the housing interior space 114, and a 110 VAC power outlet adjacent the electric fireplace 100.

[0076] In certain embodiments, the power cord and switch arrangement 160 can further include a power switch (not shown) operatively connected along a suitable longitudinal portion of the power cord 162 so as to be easily accessible outside the housing 102. In certain embodiments, the power cord aperture 116 of the housing 102 is sufficiently sized for allowing the power cord and switch arrangement 160 to be easily inserted in and extended manually therethrough. Other well-known configurations for the power cord and switch arrangement 160 are also possible.

[0077] In other embodiments, a power cord support means (not shown in the figures) may be mounted along a rear or underside surface portion of the housing 102 so as to allow the electric fireplace 100 to be autonomously powered through integrated power batteries in the LED lamp socket 140 and sound emitting means 150.

[0078] Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, the electric fireplace 100 can further include a decorative woodstove chimney tube 170. The decorative woodstove chimney tube 170 can include an elongated configuration extending substantially vertically upwardly, followed with at least sufficiently laterally distally so as to end substantially vertically in register with one of the housing rear or opposed side walls 112, 108.

[0079] Thus, the tubular upper open end 172 of the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170 may abut flatly against an adjacent wall of a room in which the electric fireplace 100 is installed and, hence, replicating a realistic appearance of a real woodstove completewith a chimney tube extending upwardly rearwardly outside through an adjacent wall partition.

[0080] In certain embodiments, an interior surface of the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170 can include a at least partially reflective material wood configured to redirect the warm and gently shimmering campfire glow that is reflected within the housing interior space 114 towards the surface of the adjacent wall to further provide a realistic warm atmosphere of a real wood burning fireplace. In other words, said interior surface of the chimney tube 170 is further characterized in that light propagating within the housing 102 is reflected out of the upper open end 172 of the chimney tube 170 to produce a tertiary observable glow of light on the surface of the adjacent wall.

[0081] In certain embodiments, the housing top wall 104 has a substantially planar, panellike configuration defining opposed first and second top panel surfaces 176, 178. In certain embodiments, the housing top panel 104 can be further configured so as to be user removably mounted on the housing 102 with either one of the opposed first or second top wall surfaces 176, 178 facing upwardly.

[0082] In certain embodiments, the first top wall surface 176 can define a substantially planar surface that may be used as a typical fireplace mantel top surface. The second top wall surface 178 can include an attachment arrangement 180 that is suitably sized and configured for user selectively and removably engaging there on a lower end portion 174 of the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170.

[0083] In certain embodiments, at least the housing front wall 110, but preferably the housing front wall 110 and opposed side walls 108 can each define a plurality of relatively small circular or narrow slot shaped auxiliary openings 182 along at least a bottom portion thereof.

[0084] The auxiliary openings 182 are suitably configured for allowing sounds from the sound emitting means 150 to radiate substantially outwardly therefrom. The auxiliary openings 182 can further allow for a suitable ventilation of the heat generated by the LED lamp 144.

[0085] A method of assembling the electric fireplace 100 of the present invention will now be described.

[0086] Initially, the housing 102 can be assembled except for its housing top wall 104 and decorative woodstove chimney tube 170. Furthermore, the decorative campfire assembly130 and its power cord arrangement 160 can be assembled except for the decorative campfire logs 142.

[0087] In a first step, the user can complete the assembly of the decorative campfire assembly 130 by mounting the decorative campfire logs 142 on the campfire support base 132.

[0088] Thereby, a first usable embodiment of the electric fireplace 100 is completed in the form of a typical campfire, as illustrated in FIG. 10, that can be used outdoors or indoors.

[0089] Optionally, in a second step, the user slidably inserts the power cord arrangement 160 of thus completed decorative campfire assembly 130 through the power cord aperture 116 of the housing 102, followed with slidably inserting downwardly the decorative campfire assembly 130 through the upper open end of the housing interior space 114 so as to rest on the housing bottom panel 106 thereof. Next, the user assembles the housing top wall 104 on the housing 102 such as to have the first top wall surface 176 facing upwardly.

[0090] Thereby, a second usable embodiment of the electric fireplace 100 is completed in the form of a typical indoor integrated fireplace, as illustrated in FIG. 6, having its rear side positioned closely against a wall.

[0091] Alternatively to the housing top wall 104 having its first top wall surface 176 facing upwardly, as described above, the housing top wall 104 can have its second top wall surface 178 facing upwardly, followed with engaging the lower end 174 of the decorative chimney tube 170 with the attachment arrangement 180 thereof.

[0092] Thereby, a third usable embodiment of the electric fireplace 100 is completed in the form of a typical indoor woodstove, as illustrated in FIG. 17, complete with its chimney tube 170 extending upwardly and rearwardly into a wall.

[0093] Thus, advantageously over known flameless fireplaces and woodstoves of the prior art, the electric fireplace 100 of the present invention allows a user to selectively and substantially easily configure the latter in one of three possible embodiments, namely a typical campfire (FIG. 10), a fireplace (FIG. 6), or a woodstove (FIG. 1), that may be more easily suitable for different contexts of use.

[0094] Further advantageously over known flameless fireplaces and woodstoves of the prior art, the electric fireplace 100 may be economically shipped through postal mail sinceat least portions, if not all the components of the latter may be relatively easily assembled by the end user.

[0095] In some embodiments, the lamp socket 140 and / or LED lamp 144 can further include a lamp power controller, and wireless communication capabilities with a suitable remote handheld device such as a mobile phone or tablet executing a suitable mobile application.

[0096] The lamp power controller is suitably configured so as to allow a user of the handheld device to remotely control the power, as well as vary the power level and shimmering pattern of the LED lamp 144, for a custom ambiance effect.

[0097] Referring more particularly to FIG. 16, in some embodiments of the invention, the attachment arrangement 180 for user removably engaging the lower end portion 174 of the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170 on the second top wall surface 178 of the housing top wall 104 includes a top wall cavity 190 extending at least partially inwardly downwardly relative to the second top wall surface 178.

[0098] The top wall cavity 190 is suitably sized and configured for slidably engaging therein a relatively small circumferential lower edge portion of the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170.

[0099] The attachment arrangement 180 further includes a ballionnette engaging arrangement 192 between the circumferential inner sidewall of the top wall cavity 190 and the tubular circumferential lower end edge of the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170.

[0100] Thus, the lower end of the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170 may be user selectively and substantially firmly engaged on the second top wall surface 178. Other well known user selectively removable attachment arrangements 180 between the decorative woodstove chimney tube 170 and the second top wall surface 178 are also possible.

[0101] The electrical power source of the electric fireplace 100 is at least one of an external electrical power source such as, for example, an external 110 VAC power source from a wall outlet, an external DC power source through a USB power source, or equivalent, or an internal power source such as rechargeable batteries.

[0102] These power sources or power source combinations for powering a lamp or a sound emitting means are well known in the art.

[0103] Referring, for example, to FIG. 17, in some embodiments of the invention, a lower edge portion of at least the housing front wall 110, and preferably the housing front wall 110 and each opposed housing side walls 108, define a horizontal slot 194 located substantially parallelly proximally above the housing bottom panel 106. Each horizontal slot 194 is sufficiently dimensioned to allow a commonly sized mobile device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, to be slidably inserted in the slot and conveniently stowed therein. In particular, the horizontal slot 194 can be configured to retain the mobile phone or tablet in a configuration to position a speaker of said mobile device outwardly of the horizontal slot 194. When configured in this manner, the mobile device can be configured to output a predetermined sound, music and / or audio books that are accessible through file directories of the mobile application including, for example, various crackling fire sounds, soft music, lullaby songs, an audio story book for children, riddles, and the likes.

[0104] In certain embodiments, the housing front wall 110 can define a first horizontal slot 194 dimensioned to slidingly receive a mobile telephone, and each one of the opposed housing side walls 108 can define a second horizontal slot 194 dimensioned to slidingly receive a tablet device. Accordingly, the housing 102 may be configured to receive devices having multiple sizes while retaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0105] In certain embodiments, the housing 102 can further define an electronics equipment compartment 107 shaped and dimensioned to receive the sound emitting device 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronics compartment 107 is defined between the campfire support base 132 and the housing bottom panel 106 although it will be understood that, in other embodiments, the electronics equipment compartment 107 can be defined within any other suitable volume of the housing 102. When received within the electronics equipment compartment 107, the sound emitting device 150 can, in certain embodiments, remain concealed when viewing the assembled electronics fireplace 100 thereby improving an aesthetic appearance of the electronics fireplace 100. In certain embodiments, the electronics equipment compartment 107 can be a sealed electronics equipment compartment 107 configured to render the sound emitting device 150 or other electronic equipment stored therein substantially impervious to external conditions.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 8, in some embodiments of the invention, the electric fireplace 100 further comprises a suitably configured mobile application executed on a handheld device 300 having wireless communication capabilities, such as through a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi wireless communication, or equivalent.

[0107] The mobile application includes various sounds, music and / or audio books selections and playback capabilities that can be wirelessly streamed to the sound emitting device 150. The list of default numeric files of sound, music and / or audio books that are accessible through file directories of the mobile application are non limitatively, for example, various crackling fire sounds, soft music, lullaby songs, an audio story book for children, riddles, and the likes.

[0108] With the lamp socket 140 and / or LED lamp 144 suitably provided with a lamp controller and wireless communication capabilities as described further above, the mobile application is further suitably configured for allowing a user to selectively turn on or off the LED lamp 144, and a real time adjustment of its intensity and shimmering pattern.

[0109] While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and / or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to be illustrative and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A decorative electric fireplace comprising: a housing defining a window aperture and a rear interior surface opposite the window aperture; a support base defining a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures; a light source mounted to the support base; and decorative logs, each of the decorative logs being configured to be secured to the support base via a corresponding one of the fastener-receiving apertures in an assembled upright configuration; wherein, when the decorative logs are in the assembled upright configuration, the decorative logs define a substantially conical log arrangement at least partially concealing the light source; wherein the light source is configured to emit light which emanates through interstices formed between adjacent ones of the decorative logs of the substantially conical log arrangement to produce a primary observable glow through the window aperture of the housing; and wherein the rear interior surface of the housing is characteristic in that light propagating within the housing is reflected onto the rear interior surface to produce a secondary observable glow through the window aperture of the housing.

2. The decorative electric fireplace of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing top panel defining a top wall cavity, the decorative electric fireplace further comprising a decorative chimney tube configured to be secured to the top wall cavity.

3. The decorative electric fireplace of claim 2, wherein an interior surface of the decorative chimney tube is characterized in that light propagating within the housing is reflected within the decorative chimney tube and out of an upper open end of the decorative chimney tube to produce a tertiary observable glow of light onto a surface being adjacent of the decorative electric fireplace.

4. The decorative electric fireplace of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a reversible housing top panel, the reversible housing top panel comprising a first side defining a top wall cavity configured to receive a lower end of a decorative chimney tube, and a second side opposite the first side defining a planar surface.

5. The decorative electric fireplace of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a bottom panel, a top panel and assembly posts extending between the bottom and top panels.

6. The decorative electric fireplace of claim 5, wherein the housing further comprises a front wall, a rear wall and side walls, each of the assembly posts defining at least one slot, and wherein pairs of slots of adjacent ones of the assembly posts are configured to slidingly receive one of the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls.

7. The decorative electric fireplace of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support base and decorative logs define a campfire assembly configured to be removably mounted to the housing to define a decorative woodstove fireplace.

8. The decorative electric fireplace of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a sound emitting means, the sound emitting means being configured to output one or more of crackling fire sounds, soft music, and lullaby songs.

9. The decorative electric fireplace of any one of claim 1 to 8, wherein the housing defines a slot dimensioned to slidingly receive a mobile device, the slot being configured to retain the mobile device in a configuration to position a speaker of said mobile device outwardly of the slot.

10. The decorative electric fireplace of claim 9, wherein the slot is a first slot dimensioned to slidingly receive a mobile telephone, the housing further defining a second slot dimensioned to slidingly receive a tablet device.

11. The decorative electric fireplace of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the light source comprises an LED lamp provided with a lamp controller and wireless communication module, the LED lamp being configured to enable an adjustment of an intensity and a shimmering pattern of the LED lamp.

12. The decorative electronic fireplace of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the housing and the support base define a electronic equipment compartment configured to house and conceal a sound emitting device, the sound emitting device being configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile device.

13. A method of assembling a decorative electric fireplace, the method comprising: providing a support base defining a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures; mounting a light source to the support base; and securing decorative logs to respective ones of the fastener-receiving apertures to form a campfire assembly, the decorative logs being assembled in an assembled upright configuration to form a substantially conical log arrangement at least partially concealing the light source.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising assembling a housing and mounting the campfire assembly within the housing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein assembling the housing and mounting the campfire assembly within the housing comprises: providing a housing bottom panel; securing assembly posts to respective corners of the housing bottom panel; mounting at least one of a front panel, a rear panel and a side panel to an adjacent pair of the assembly posts to define a housing interior space; and inserting the campfire assembly within the housing interior space.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein mounting the at least one of the front panel, the rear panel and the side panel to the adjacent pair of the assembly posts comprises sliding the at least one of the front panel, the rear panel and the side panel within a pair of slots defined by the adjacent pair of the assembly posts.

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising securing a housing top panel to at least one of the assembly posts, the front panel, the rear panel and the side panel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein securing the housing top panel comprises securing the housing top panel in one of a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration being associated with a top wall cavity being positioned on an upper side of the housing top panel, and the second configuration being associated with a planar surface being opposite the top wall cavity being positioned on the upper side of the housing top panel, the top wall cavity being configured to receive a lower end of a decorative chimney tube.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising securing the housing top panel in the first configuration and securing the lower end of the decorative chimney tube to the top wall cavity.

20. The method of any one of claims 13 to 19, further comprising slidingly inserting a mobile device within a slot defined within the housing to output one or more of crackling fire sounds, soft music, and lullaby songs from the decorative electric fireplace.

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