BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many masonry fireplaces that are constructed in new homes include a built-in log box (or firewood box) as part of the masonry structure. The log box consists of a recessed chamber with sufficient depth to allow a supply of firewood to be stored convenient to the fireplace without the need to stack wood on the hearth or the floor near the fireplace (or the stove insert). In many homes, the stocking of firewood involves carrying wood through substantial portions of the interior of the home, with the resulting dirt, bark, water, snow or ice littering the floors and carpets. In many home designs that include a fireplace in a formal living room, the provision of a nearby door is not practical. The invention relates to a door or doors that is provided in the masonry structure of the fireplace permitting the log box (or firewood box) to be stocked from the exterior of the log box rear wall. Three door configurations are described: 1) The case where the door is installed in the exterior wall of the fireplace structure and the log box is open to the interior of the house; 2) The case where the door is mounted in the interior wall of the masonry fireplace structure and the log box is open to the exterior of the house. Firewood would be stocked in the log box from the exterior while the interior door is closed and firewood would be removed for use in the fireplace by opening the interior door as needed; and 3) The case where both exterior and interior doors are provided and the log box is stocked with firewood through the exterior door while the interior door remains closed. Similarly, the firewood is removed for use through the interior door while the exterior door remains closed. This "airlock" approach would be particularly appropriate in severe winter climate areas. In all cases, the doors would be sealed with gaskets and insulated for energy efficiency. The door would be sturdy and lockable to prevent unwanted entry.

The invention includes the following features and variations: 1) The case where the door(s) are hinged at the top, bottom, left or right side; 2) The case where the door(s) are split in the middle, hinged on both sides and locked in the middle ("French doors" or double doors); 3) The case where the door(s) are rectangular, square or other shape; 4) The case where the door is drilled and tapped to accept a decorative panel and the case where it is fitted with a decorative panel. Also, the case where the door is painted with a decorative exterior or provided with a decorative decal or other ornamentation.

The invention also includes a second embodiment wherein the fireplace and the log box are non-masonry units and wherein a common building extension is provided as an enclosure for each of these units which may be a pre-assembled non-masonry fireplace and a pre-assembled log box frame which receives pre-hung doors at either or both ends of said log box frame for permitting exterior loading and interior unloading as desired.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

A search of the issued United States Patents reveals the following inventions relating to devices for passing firewood through the wall of the residence: U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,163 discloses a wall-mounted chute that utilizes a hinged "V" shaped hopper that pivots between an external horizontal opening (with door) and an interior opening, also horizontal. Unlike the instant invention, this invention is not an integral part of the fireplace structure and does not use vertical doors mounted on the interior and/or exterior of the fireplace structure. Further, the instant invention does not utilize a moving or pivoting hopper, but allows the firewood to be placed into a fixed log box.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,762 discloses a log dispenser that has both an interior log box and an exterior log box. By virtue of a sloping or "inclined" floor connecting the interior and exterior portions of the dispenser, logs "roll" from the exterior chamber to the interior chamber as logs are removed for use. The current invention does not employ inclined floors, nor does it rely on gravity and firewood that has a round or near-round cross-section for the firewood to "roll" from an exterior chamber to an interior chamber. The present invention does not include an exterior log box and does not utilize a bell crank or lifting arm to actuate the door.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,956 discloses a track-mounted, moveable log box that is secured to an opening in the exterior wall of the building. The log box is loaded with firewood through a horizontal top opening door while the box is in a position outside the building. The loaded log box is then pushed through an opening in the wall on its track and the firewood is subsequently removed through the same horizontal door. The current invention utilizes a fixed log box (rather than moveable log box) which is an integral part of the fireplace structure and vertical door(s) for loading and unloading firewood. The log box does not move from the interior to the exterior of the building or vice versa.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,776 discloses a pass-through drawer for passing food or other items through the wall to the exterior of a building. The invention includes a mechanically-actuated, sliding floor to move the item to the exterior position. The invention does not incorporate a storage area, but rather is intended for moving individual items through the wall for immediate removal. The current invention does not utilize a sliding floor and does include an integral storage volume (log box) so that the firewood can be removed, as needed, over a long period of time.

In view of the many deficiencies of the prior art as outlined above, applicant has designed a unique fireplace/log box arrangement wherein firewood can be loaded into a log box from the exterior of the building and readily removed therefrom in the interior of the building in a convenient and debris free manner.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a masonry fireplace and a built-in masonry log box wherein the log box is provided with an exterior access door for loading thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a masonry fireplace and a built-in masonry log box wherein the door controlling access to the log box is an interior door located at the front of the log box.

Another object of th invention is to provide a masonry fireplace and a built-in log box wherein the log box is provided with a pair of access doors for loading the log box, i.e. an exterior door and an interior door.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a masonry fireplace and a built-in masonry log box wherein access doors are provided with appropriate sealing and security features to prevent unwanted access.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a non-masonry pre-assembled fireplace and a built-in pre-assembled non-masonry log box having various interior and exterior door combinations as set foth above.

A final object of the invention is to provide a masonry fireplace and a built-in masonry log box which is inexpensive, convenient to use and provides an enjoyable fireplace using experience.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other object and features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a masonry fireplace and an adjacent built-in masonry log box in partial section with access doors located at the front and rear of the log box.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane 2--2 of FIG. 1, showing the built-in log box and the locations of the access doors.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane 3--3 of FIG. 1, illustrating the interior of the log box with both the front and rear doors in the open position.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the non-masonry embodiment showing the pre-assembled fireplace and log box with side of the log box omitted to show the interior thereof.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane 5--5 of FIG. 4, illustrating the log box and its relation to the framing members.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane 6--6 of FIG. 4, illustrating the non-masonry log box and its supporting members with the rear and one of the front doors open.

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of masonry embodiment showing the exterior of the residence, fireplace chimney and the log box access door.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the non-masonry embodiment showing the exterior extension which encloses the pe-assembled fireplace and pre-assembled log box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the above embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective partially cut-away view illustrating a masonry fireplace 50 extending inwardly from a first opening 11 in frontal masonry wall 10 which is located in the interior of a residential room. Spaced from frontal wall 10 and parallel thereto is an exterior wall 20 which is part of the exterior masonry forming the fireplace chimney. Frontal masonry wall 10 is provided with a second opening 12 which extends rearwardly to an aligned third opening 13 in exterior masonry wall 20 which receives a pre-hung frame 13 and rear door 14 for controlling access to log box 40. Rear door 14 is provided with lockable latching means 15 for protection against unauthorized entry. Second opening 12 has a base 16, a pair of opposing side walls 17 and 18 which are capped by decorative arch 19. Received in second opening 12 are prehung doors 21 and frame 26 which include latching means 22 for securement of doors 21. The log box chamber 40 is formed by base or floor 16, side walls 17, 18 and arched overhead 19 for holding a plurality of logs 23 for future use.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a horizontal sectional view looking down into log box 40 wherein pre-hung frame 13 for rear door 14 is comprised of a plurality of angle iron type members 13A, 13B, 13C with one leg overlapping the exterior brickwork and the other leg anchored on the inside by a plurality of lag bolts 30. A fourth frame member 13D is not visible in this view. Rear door 14 is provided with a plurality of hinges 24 and a lockable handle 25 which controls latch 15.

Front doors 21 are similarly mounted in front opening 12 by a pre-hung door frame 26 comprising a base member 26A, a pair of side members 26B, 26C and a fourth top member 26D not visible in this view. Latch means 27 and handle 28 complete the arrangement for front doors 21. Although double doors 21 are shown along with rear door 14, optionally rear door 14 could be eliminated, leaving only front doors 21, in which case doors 21 would be adequately sealed to prevent unwanted draft leakage through the doors. Another option would be to eliminate front doors 21, leaving only rear door 14 to control access, in which case rear door 14 would be adequately sealed to prevent air leakage therearound.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a vertical sectional view taken through the center of log box 40 wherein one of the front doors 21 is open and rear door 14 is also open and partially illustrated, Left side wall 17 and arched overhead 19 are also partially shown. Left frame member 26C is shown attached to side wall 17 by means of anchors 30 and base frame member 26A is shown secured to the masonry floor. Left frame member 13C for rear door 14 is also shown anchored to side wall 17 by lag bolts 30.

Referring now o FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment of the fireplace and log box arrangement of FIGS. 1-3, in this embodiment prefabricated or pre-assembled fireplace and log box units are utilized. In this view, log box 33 is constructed of metal, fiberglass or other rigid material other than masonry and is enclosed in an extension 45 which extends rearwardly and outwardly form the building structure. Wood framing members 34 and 36 are used in forming extension 45. Exterior siding 40 constructed of wood, aluminum siding or other exterior building material finishes off the exterior of extension 45. Positioned within extension 45 is log box frame 35 which is welded or bolted to interior and exterior door frames 21F and 14F, respectively, which are in turn, secured to front and rear framing members 34 and 36 by screws or bolts 37 or other appropriate securing means. Firewood 23 is stacked into log box 33 through rear exterior door 14 and subsequently removed as needed, through interior door/doors 21. The hinged exterior door 14 is fitted with a locking mechanism 15 and hinged interior doors 21 are provided with latches 22 and knobs or handles 21A for opening and closing same.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a horizontal sectional view looking down into log box 33 which is formed by frame 35. Log box frame 35 is supported by a plurality of framing members 34, 34A, 36, 37, 38 which provide additional support for interior door frame 21F and exterior door 14F to allow pivotal movement of the doors thereon. Latches 22 secure interior doors 21 while lockable latch 15 secures exterior door 14.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane 6--6 of FIG. 4 illustraing log box 33 with exterior door 14 and interior door 21 in their open position. Additional framing members 37 and 38 are shown providing additional support to log box 35.

FIG. 7 is an exterior illustration of the masonry fireplace and masonry log box showing how they tie-in exteriorly with the fireplace chimney.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of extension 45 for the non-masonry fireplace and non-masonry log box showing its relation to the remainder of the building structure.

While the embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in their preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.