The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2000
Kristoffer Hess, Cambridge, CA;
Martyn R. Champ, Cambridge, CA;
Dimplex North America Limited, Cambridge, CA;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a simulated fireplace formed, at least partially, from a compressible material, and to a method of forming a simulated fireplace from a compressible material that has a surface that simulates surfaces found in real fireplaces. In particular, this invention forms a simulated fireplace using a compressible material, such as wood, wood composites, or plastics. A pattern is pressed into a surface of the compressible material forming a sculptured surface. The surface is also coated. In one embodiment of the invention the surface is coated with a solvent based coating, for example, a sealer, a primer, and a finish that can include color and/or gloss. In another embodiment of the invention the surface is coated with a powder coating, such as a low temperature epoxy. In yet a further alternative the surface is coated with a polymer film. By pressing a pattern into the material surface and coating the surface with an appropriate coating, a variety of surfaces found in real fireplaces can be simulated, for example, cast-metal or masonry surfaces.