Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Electro-acoustic audio transducer – Having acoustic wave modifying structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-20
2001-11-06
Le, Huyen (Department: 2643)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Electro-acoustic audio transducer
Having acoustic wave modifying structure
C381S061000, C126S500000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314191
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to fireplace accessories and more particularly to a fireplace accessory that includes a heat resistant housing having a hollow interior in connection with the exterior thereof through a scent dispensing aperture and a sound emitting aperture, a sound generating mechanism for generating the crackling sound of a burning fire positioned within the heat resistant housing, a scent dispensing mechanism for dispensing a scent similar to the scent of a burning wood fire positioned within the heat resistant housing, and a parabolic sound reflector constructed of a material with sufficient heat resistance to allow the parabolic sound reflector to withstand the heat from a gas fire in a fireplace when the parabolic sound reflector is placed within a fireplace between gas fireplace logs and a back wall of the fireplace; the parabolic sound reflector having a parabolic shaped concave surface for reflecting and directing sound waves in a desired direction; the scent dispensing mechanism having a scent dispensing nozzle positioned in the scent dispensing aperture of the heat resistant housing for dispensing a non-volatile scent agent from the scent dispenser to the exterior of the heat resistant housing; the sound generating mechanism including a sound generating chip, an audio amplifier circuit, a volume control circuit including a volume control adjustment knob, an infrared detector for detecting the heat from a fire burning in a fireplace and a speaker assembly mounted on a rotating gimbal and positioned with respect to the sound emitting aperture formed through the heat resistant housing such that the sound generated by the speaker can be directed toward the parabolic concave surface of the parabolic sound reflector by orienting the speaker using the rotating gimbal; the sound generating chip generating a crackling fire sound in response to a fire detected signal from the infrared detector; the scent dispensing mechanism further including a timer responsive to the infrared detector for triggering scent dispensing events; the scent dispensing mechanism operating when the infrared detector outputs a fire detected signal and not operating when the infrared detector does not output a fire detected signal.
BACKGROUND ART
Gas fireplace logs are increasingly being installed in fireplaces as the result of pollution control regulations and the convenience to the user. Although gas fireplace logs burn cleanly, produce little pollution and generate no ashes to remove, they are deficient in certain esthetic qualities because they do not generate the crackling sound or the slight smoke scent normally generated by burning natural logs in a fireplace. Because the sound and smell of burning logs is desirable to many fireplace users, it would be a benefit to have a fireplace accessory for use with a gas log fireplaces that included a crackling sound generating mechanism for simulating the sounds of a log fire and a scent dispensing mechanism for simulating the slight smoke scent of a log fire. Because it would be desirable to have the fireplace operate as naturally as possible, it would be further benefit if the fireplace accessory included an infrared heat sensor in controlling connection with the sound generating mechanism and the scent dispensing mechanism such that when a fire is burning in the fireplace, the sound and scent generating mechanisms are in operation. Because electronics typically will not stand the heat generated within a fireplace and the crackling fire sound would be most realistic when emitted from the fireplace, it would be a further benefit if the fireplace accessory also included a parabolic sound reflector that could be positioned within the fireplace so that the crackling fire sound could be generated outside of the fireplace and then directed toward the parabolic sound reflector positioned within the fireplace which would reflect the crackling fire sound out of the fireplace such that the crackling fire sound would appear to originate from within the fireplace.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a fireplace accessory that includes a heat resistant housing having a hollow interior in connection with the exterior thereof through a scent dispensing aperture and a sound emitting aperture, a sound generating mechanism for generating the crackling sound of a burning fire positioned within the heat resistant housing, a scent dispensing mechanism for dispensing a scent similar to the scent of a burning wood fire positioned within the heat resistant housing, and a parabolic sound reflector constructed of a material with sufficient heat resistance to allow the parabolic sound reflector to withstand the heat from a gas fire in a fireplace when the parabolic sound reflector is placed within a fireplace between gas fireplace logs and a back wall of the fireplace; the parabolic sound reflector having a parabolic shaped concave surface for reflecting and directing sound waves in a desired direction; the scent dispensing mechanism having a scent dispensing nozzle positioned in the scent dispensing aperture of the heat resistant housing for dispensing a non-volatile scent agent from the scent dispenser to the exterior of the heat resistant housing; the sound generating mechanism including a sound generating chip, an audio amplifier circuit, a volume control circuit including a volume control adjustment knob, an infrared detector for detecting the heat from a fire burning in a fireplace and a speaker assembly mounted on a rotating gimbal and positioned with respect to the sound emitting aperture formed through the heat resistant housing such that the sound generated by the speaker can be directed toward the parabolic concave surface of the parabolic sound reflector by orienting the speaker using the rotating gimbal; the sound generating chip generating a crackling fire sound in response to a fire detected signal from the infrared detector; the scent dispensing mechanism further including a timer responsive to the infrared detector for triggering scent dispensing events; the scent dispensing mechanism operating when the infrared detector outputs a fire detected signal and not operating when the infrared detector does not output a fire detected signal.
Accordingly, a fireplace accessory is provided. The fireplace accessory includes a heat resistant housing having a hollow interior in connection with the exterior thereof through a scent dispensing aperture and a sound emitting aperture, a sound generating mechanism for generating the crackling sound of a burning fire positioned within the heat resistant housing, a scent dispensing mechanism for dispensing a scent similar to the scent of a burning wood fire positioned within the heat resistant housing, and a parabolic sound reflector constructed of a material with sufficient heat resistance to allow the parabolic sound reflector to withstand the heat from a gas fire in a fireplace when the parabolic sound reflector is placed within a fireplace between gas fireplace logs and a back wall of the fireplace; the parabolic sound reflector having a parabolic shaped concave surface for reflecting and directing sound waves in a desired direction; the scent dispensing mechanism having a scent dispensing nozzle positioned in the scent dispensing aperture of the heat resistant housing for dispensing a non-volatile scent agent from the scent dispenser to the exterior of the heat resistant housing; the sound generating mechanism including a sound generating chip, an audio amplifier circuit, a volume control circuit including a volume control adjustment knob, an infrared detector for detecting the heat from a fire burning in a fireplace and a speaker assembly mounted on a rotating gimbal and positioned with respect to the sound emitting aperture formed through the heat resistant housing such that the sound generated by the speaker can be directed toward the parabolic concave surface of the parabolic sound reflector by orienting the speaker using the rotating gimbal
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