Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
314 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate for supporting burning materials in a fireplace, said grate comprising: a single, inlet-manifold duct to extend from front to rear of said fireplace for receiving cool air introduced into said fireplace grate, said single, inlet-manifold duct having an inlet opening for receiving said cool air, and at least three exit openings positioned along the length thereof for releasing air laterally thereof; a single, exhaust-manifold duct to extend from front to rear of said fireplace for receiving all warm air in said fireplace grate prior to its expulsion from said fireplace grate, said single, exhaust-manifold duct having an exhaust opening positioned at the end thereof so as to be at the front of said fireplace when said grate is positioned in said fireplace and a number of inlet openings corresponding to said exit openings of said inlet-manifold duct positioned along the length thereof for receiving said warm air laterally thereof; a separate cross duct interconnecting each of said exit openings of said inlet-manifold duct with a respective one of said inlet openings of said exhaust-manifold duct, said cross ducts being approximately equally spaced, one from the other, and extending from side-to-side of said fireplace when said fireplace grate is positioned in said fireplace, said inlet-and exhaust-manifold ducts and said cross ducts thereby defining elongated hot-ash retaining spaces therebetween surrounded by ducts; legs attached to some of said ducts and extending downwardly from said ducts to support said ducts a substantial distance from the floor of said fireplace; a single, individual hot-ash retaining cross-grille bar attached directly to said manifold ducts and extending longitudinally of, and across the bottom of each of said hot-ash retaining spaces so as to retain large amounts of hot ashes falling from said burning materials in said hot ash retaining spaces prior to its falling to the floor of said fireplace while allowing efficient fire-supporting ventilation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
314 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate for supporting burning materials in a fireplace, said grate comprising: a single, inlet-manifold duct to extend from front to rear of said fireplace for receiving cool air introduced into said fireplace grate, said single, inlet-manifold duct having an inlet opening for receiving said cool air, and at least three exit openings positioned along the length thereof for releasing air laterally thereof; a single, exhaust-manifold duct to extend from front to rear of said fireplace for receiving all warm air in said fireplace grate prior to its expulsion from said fireplace grate, said single, exhaust-manifold duct having an exhaust opening positioned at the end thereof so as to be at the front of said fireplace when said grate is positioned in said fireplace and a number of inlet openings corresponding to said exit openings of said inlet-manifold duct positioned along the length thereof for receiving said warm air laterally thereof; a separate cross duct interconnecting each of said exit openings of said inlet-manifold duct with a respective one of said inlet openings of said exhaust-manifold duct, said cross ducts being approximately equally spaced, one from the other, and extending from side-to-side of said fireplace when said fireplace grate is positioned in said fireplace, said inlet-and exhaust-manifold ducts and said cross ducts thereby defining elongated hot-ash retaining spaces therebetween surrounded by ducts; legs attached to some of said ducts and extending downwardly from said ducts to support said ducts a substantial distance from the floor of said fireplace; a single, individual hot-ash retaining cross-grille bar attached directly to said manifold ducts and extending longitudinally of, and across the bottom of each of said hot-ash retaining spaces so as to retain large amounts of hot ashes falling from said burning materials in said hot ash retaining spaces prior to its falling to the floor of said fireplace while allowing efficient fire-supporting ventilation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 1 wherein said manifold ducts and said cross ducts have rectangular cross-sectional shapes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 1 wherein said legs extend vertically downward from said ducts to which they are attached, to the floor of said fireplace to impinge upon said floor directly beneath the points of attachment with said ducts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 1 wherein there are four cross ducts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 4 wherein said inlet-and exhaust-manifold ducts and said cross ducts form a combustible-material supporting surface on the top surfaces thereof which is unobstructed at the sides thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as claimed in claim 5 wherein is further included a vertical support extending upwardly from the front of said combustible-material supporting surface to prevent said combustible material from falling forwardly from said surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 4 wherein is further included an inlet transfer duct for furnishing air to said inlet-manifold duct, said inlet transfer duct being reversible between said inlet- and outlet-manifold ducts so that said manifold ducts functions can be thereby reversed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 7 wherein the position of the outer end of said inlet transfer duct toward and away from said cross ducts is adjustable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 8 wherein is further included an outlet transfer duct for transporting heated air away from said exhaust opening of said exhaust-manifold duct, the position of the outer end of said exhaust transfer duct being adjustable relative to said cross ducts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 9 wherein the positions of said inlet and outlet transfer ducts are adjustable by means of a telescoping structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 4 wherein the positions of said inlet and outlet transfer ducts are reversible so that the functions of said inlet- and outlet-manifold ducts can be thereby reversed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 11 wherein the positions of said inlet and outlet transfer ducts relative to said cross ducts are adjustable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 12 wherein said inlet- and exhaust-manifold ducts and said cross ducts form a combustible-material supporting surface which is unobstructed at the sides thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 1 wherein is further included a vertical support extending upwardly from said combustible-material supporting surface to prevent said combustible material from falling forwardly from said surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as claimed in claim 14 wherein said support is angled toward the front of said fireplace.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 1 wherein is further included an inlet transfer duct for furnishing air to said inlet-manifold duct, said inlet transfer duct being reversible between said inlet- and outlet-manifold ducts so that said manifold ducts functions can be thereby reversed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 16 wherein the position of said inlet transfer duct toward and away from said cross ducts is adjustable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 17 wherein the positions of said inlet and outlet transfer ducts are adjustable by means of a telescoping structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 1 wherein is further included an inlet transfer duct for furnishing air to said inlet manifold duct, the position of an inlet transfer duct being reversible so that said functions of said inlet- and outlet-manifold ducts can be thereby reversed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A forced-air heating fireplace grate as in claim 19 wherein is further included as outlet transfer duct for transporting heated air away from said exhaust opening of said exhaust-manifold duct, the position of the outer end of said exhaust transfer duct being adjustable relative to said cross ducts.