Fireplace damper operating mechanism

Claim 2

Fireplace damper operating mechanism for a fireplace of the type having a firebox and chimney flue including: a. a damper plate pivotally mounted within the chimney flue for swinging movement between open and closed positions; b. connecting rod means extending generally vertically downwardly from the damper plate, said connecting rod means having upper and lower ends with said upper end being operatively connected to the damper plate; c. grate means located generally beneath the damper plate within the firebox; d. latch means mounted on the front portion of the grate means; e. generally L-shaped control rod means having first and second leg portions with said first leg portion being rotatably mounted on the grate means and extending generally horizontally centrally beneath the grate means between the front and rear of the firebox; f. link means operatively connecting the rear end of said first leg portion to the lower end of the connecting rod means; g. the second leg portion of the control rod means being located centrally in front of the grate means and adapted to swing through an approximate 90° arc between damper closed and open indicating positions, said second leg portion extending generally vertically upwardly in front of and above the grate means when in closed damper indicating position and extending generally horizontally along the front of the grate means and engageable with the latch means when in damper open indicating position to latch the control rod means in damper open position; and h. movement of the second leg portion through the 90° arc rotates the control rod means to move the connecting rod means vertically to swing the damper plate between open and closed positions through the link means connection.

Claim 3

The mechanism defined in claim 1 in which plate means is mounted on the upper end of the second leg portion of the L-shaped control rod means; and in which printed indicia pertaining to the damper position is displayed on said plate means.

Claim 4

The mechanism defined in claim 1 in which the link means includes a link bar having first and second ends; in which said first end is rigidly mounted on the rear end of the first leg portion for rotating the link bar upon rotation of the control rod means; and in which the second end of the link bar is engaged with the lower end of the connecting rod means for vertically moving said connecting rod means upon rotation of the control rod means.

Claim 5

The mechanism defined in claim 1 in which the connecting rod means is formed in sections; and in which sleeve means telescopically join the sections to permit adjustment of the length of the connecting rod means.

Claim 6

The mechanism defined in claim 1 in which a pair of spaced bracket means are mounted on the grate means having plate portions extending vertically downwardly from the grate means; in which horizontally aligned openings are formed in the vertically extending plate portions; and in which the first leg portion of the control rod means extends through said plate openings to rotatably mount said control rod means on the grate means.

Claim 7

A damper operating mechanism for mounting in an existing fireplace of the type having a firebox, a fuel supporting grate located within the firebox, and a damper plate pivotally mounted for opening and closing a flue opening formed at the top of the firebox; said operating mechanism including: a. bracket means adapted to be mounted on the swinging end of the damper plate; b. connecting rod means attached to said bracket means on the swinging end of the damper plate to swing said damper plate between open and closed positions, said connecting rod means extending generally vertically downwardly from the damper plate; c. L-shaped control rod means having horizontal leg and vertical handle portions; d. second bracket means adapted to be mounted on the grate for rotatably mounting the horizontal leg portion of the control rod means centrally beneath the grate and extending horizontally between the front and rear of the grate; e. link means having first and second ends extending between and operatively connecting the control rod means with the connecting rod means; f. the link means first end being rigidly fixed to an end of the horizontal leg portion of the control rod means at the rear of the grate for imparting swinging movement to the second end of the link means upon rotation of the control rod means; g. the handle portion of the control rod means being adapted to be located centrally in front of the grate when the control rod means is mounted on the grate and to swing between generally horizontal and vertical positions for opening and closing the damper plate, said handle portion being adapted to extend generally vertically upwardly in front of and above the grate when the damper is in closed position obstructing placement of fuel on the grate, and extend generally horizontally along the front of the grate when the damper plate is in open position; and h. latch means adapted to be mounted on the front of the grate and engageable with the handle portion for securing the control rod means in horizontal position when the damper plate is in open position.

Claim 8

A damper operating mechanism for mounting in an existing fireplace of the type having a firebox, a fuel supporting grate located within the firebox, and a damper plate pivotally mounted for opening and closing a flue opening formed at the top of the firebox; said operating mechanism including: a. bracket means adapted to be mounted on the swinging end of the damper plate; b. connecting rod means attached to said bracket means on the swinging end of the damper plate to swing said damper plate between open and closed positions, said connecting rod means extending generally vertically downwardly from the damper plate; c. L-shaped control rod means having horizontal leg and vertical handle portions; d. second bracket means adapted to be mounted on the grate for rotatably mounting the horizontal leg portion of the control rod means centrally beneath the grate and extending horizontally between the front and rear of the grate; e. link means having first and second ends extending between and operatively connecting the control rod means with the connecting rod means; f. the link means first end being rigidly fixed to an end of the horizontal leg portion of the control rod means at the rear of the grate for imparting swinging movement to the second end of the link means upon rotation of the control rod means; g. the handle portion of the control rod means being adapted to be located centrally in front of the grate when the control rod means is mounted on the grate and to swing between generally horizontal and vertical positions for opening and closing the damper plate, said handle portion being adapted to extend generally vertically upwardly in front of and above the grate when the damper is in closed position obstructing placement of fuel on the grate, and extend generally horizontally along the front of the grate when the damper plate is in open position; and h. latch means adapted to be mounted on the front of the grate and engageable with the handle portion for securing the control rod means in horizontal position when the damper plate is in open position.

Claim 9

The mechanism defined in claim 6 in which the control rod means is a solid metal cylindrically-shaped bar with the horizontal leg and handle portions being integrally joined at right angles.

Claim 10

The mechanism defined in claim 6 in which the latch means includes a latch plate adapted to project outwardly from the front of the grate; in which notch means is formed in the latch plate; and in which the handle portion of the control rod means is engaged within the notch means when said handle portion is in a horizontal position.

Claim 11

The mechanism defined in claim 6 in which the second bracket means includes front and rear bracket assemblies; in which each of said bracket assemblies has a bottom right-angle plate with integrally joined horizontal and vertical sections, and an upper clamping plate; in which fastening means are adapted to mount the clamping plates and angle plates on a grate; and in which the vertical sections of the angle plates are formed with horizontally aligned holes, with the horizontal leg portion of the control rod extending through said holes to rotatably mount the control rod means on a grate.