Storage case for protable gas ranges

Disclosed herein is a storage case which stores a portable gas range therein and has a function of protecting flames of a portable gas range from wind while cooking food outdoors. The storage case of the present invention includes a body, which stores the portable gas range therein, with an opening formed in one side of the body, and a cover plate, which is foldably coupled to the body at an end of the opening. The storage case further includes a catch which is provided on the body, and a hook which is provided on the cover plate and removably coupled to the catch. The storage case further includes a plurality of windscreen plates foldably coupled to a front end of the cover plate. Therefore, while cooking food, the windscreen plates are unfolded to protect flames generated by the portable gas range from wind, thus ensuring a stable cooking condition.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to storage cases for portable gas ranges and, more particularly, to a storage case for portable gas ranges which has a function of protecting flames of a portable gas range from wind while cooking food outdoors, such that the flames are stably maintained, and which makes it convenient for a user to store and carry the portable gas range which was previously used.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, portable gas ranges are used outdoors to cook food. Such a portable gas range is stored in a separate storage case to allow a user to carry it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional storage case for portable gas ranges includes a body 10, which has on an upper end thereof an opening 11 through which a portable gas range (R) is inserted into or extracted from the body 20. A cover 12 is foldably coupled to an edge of the opening 11 of the body 20. A handle 13 is provided at a predetermined position on an outer surface of the cover 12. A hook 15 is provided on a front edge of the cover 12 so that the hook 15 is locked to or unlocked from a catch 14 provided on a front surface of the body 10.

However, the conventional storage case for portable gas ranges has only a function of storing a portable gas range. Therefore, when cooking is executed outdoors using the portable gas range, the storage case or a typical cardboard box itself is placed around the portable gas range to protect flames of the portable gas range from wind. This is a fire hazard. In addition, there is a problem in that the storage case or the cardboard box may fall down due to wind. Meanwhile, a separate steel windscreen may be used for protecting flames of the portable gas range from wind. However, in this case, it is required to separately carry the steel windscreen. Furthermore, there is a disadvantage in that a separate support for supporting the steel windscreen in a standing position is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a storage case for portable gas ranges which may be used as a windscreen, thus escaping the danger of fire, and reducing the time required to cook food, and which makes it convenient for a user to store and carry the portable gas range which was previously used.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a storage case for a portable gas range, including: a body defining a storage compartment therein to store the portable gas range with an opening defined on a side of the body leading to the compartment; a cover plate foldably extending from an edge of the opening of the body; a catch provided on the body, and a hook provided on the cover plate so that the hook is locked to or unlocked from the catch; and a plurality of windscreen plates sequentially and foldably coupled to a front end of the cover plate.

In a storage case for portable gas ranges according to the present invention, a plurality of windscreen plates is sequentially unfolded to protect flames of a portable gas range from wind, thereby ensuring a stable cooking condition while cooking food. Furthermore, in the present invention, because the windscreen plates can be maintained in a stable standing state, fire is prevented from occurring due to the windscreen plate falling down while cooking food. As a result, the time required for cooking food is markedly reduced. Furthermore, the present invention makes it convenient for a user to store and carry the portable gas range after use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional storage case for portable gas ranges;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage case for portable gas ranges, according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state of being unfolded;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a process of folding the storage case of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a side plan view of the storage case in which a portable gas range is being stored; and,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage case for portable gas ranges according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage case for portable gas ranges, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the storage case of the present invention includes a body 20. The body 20 defines a compartment 24 for storage therein. The body 20 further defines at a side thereof an opening 21, through which a portable gas range (R) can be inserted into or extracted from the body 20. Furthermore, a handle 22 is provided on an upper surface of the body 20. Two catches 23 are provided on the upper surface of the body 20 at both sides of the handle 22 while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

A cover plate 30, which serves as a windscreen and protects the portable gas range (R) placed in the body 20, is integrally coupled to an edge of the opening 21 of the body 20. The cover plate 30 is foldable around a folding line 31 formed between the cover plate 30 and the body 20. The cover plate 30 is sized and shaped to cover the opening 21 when the cover plate 30 is folded to the opening 21, and the opening 21 is exposed when the cover plate 30 is unfolded away from the opening 21. Two hooks 32, which can be locked to or unlocked from the catches 23 of the body 20, are provided on an upper end of the cover plate 30 at positions corresponding to the catches 23.

A first attachment member 33 is provided at a predetermined position on an inner surface of the cover plate 30.

Furthermore, a plurality of windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 is sequentially coupled to a front end of the cover plate 30 so as to be foldable around folding lines 41, 51 and 61. The storage case can have a plurality of windscreen plates. For purposes of illustration, an embodiment having three windscreen plates, namely, a first windscreen plate 40, second windscreen plate 50, and third windscreen plate 60 is shown in the figures. FIG. 2 shows the cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50, 60 in an unfolded position. The cover plate 30 has a first folding edge 76 at the front end, and the first folding edge 76 is opposed from the connection of the cover plate 30 to the edge of the opening of the body. The first windscreen plate 40 is foldably coupled to the first folding edge 76 of the cover plate 30, and the first windscreen plate 40 has a second folding edge 77 opposed from the folding line 41 formed at the connection of the first windscreen plate 40 to the cover plate 30. The second windscreen plate 50 is foldably coupled to the second folding edge 77 of the first windscreen plate 40, and the second windscreen plate 50 has a third folding edge 78 opposed from the folding line 51 formed at the connection of the second windscreen plate 50 to the first windscreen plate 40. The third windscreen plate 60 is foldably coupled to the third folding edge 78 of the second windscreen plate 50, and the third windscreen plate 60 has a bottom edge 80.

It is preferable that each of windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 have a height lower than a predetermined height of the cover plate 30 such that they are easily inserted into the body 20 after being folded.

The windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 may be integrally connected to each other and integrally coupled to the cover plate 30. Alternatively, the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 may be manufactured through a separate process and be separately used. In this case, plurality of windscreen plates 40, 50, and 60 is removable from the cover plate 30 and can be separately stored in the body 20 after being folded. As a further alternative, the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 may be manufactured through a separate process and be sequentially and foldably coupled to the cover plate 30.

Meanwhile, a second attachment member 52, which is attached to or detached from the first attachment member 33 of the cover plate 30, is provided on an outer surface of one of the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60. At least one of the first and second attachment members 33 and 52 can be a permanent magnet, and a remaining one can be a magnetically attractable material which can a metal, such as steel, to be attracted to the magnet. In the illustrations shown, the second attachment member 52 is provided on an outer surface of the second windscreen plate 50. The second attachment member 52 is removably attached to the first attachment member 33 when all the windscreen plates 40, 50, and 60 and cover plate 30 are folded together as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Furthermore, a support plate 62, which provides support when the storage case is unfolded on the support ground, is foldably coupled to a lower edge of at least one of the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60. In the illustrations shown, the support plate 62 is foldably coupled to the bottom edge 80 of the third windscreen plate 60.

The support plate 62 and the body 20 provide stability and vertical support to the unfolded cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 in standing positions when the storage case is placed on the support ground. Thus, when unfolded to surround a portable gas range (R), the cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 protect flames generated from the portable gas range (R) from wind, such that the flames can maintain a stable state while cooking food.

In this embodiment, the body 20, the cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 may be made of synthetic resin, metal, such as aluminum, or paper, such as cardboard.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, three windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to these. That is, the number of windscreen plates may be less or more than three. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5 illustrating another embodiment, additional folding lines 70, 71 and 72 may be formed at medial positions in respective windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60, such that each of the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 is foldable. In this case, arrangement of the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 can be varied more easily. Of course, in this case, the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 may also be manufactured through a separate process, so that they can be separately stored in the body 20 and can be appropriately used depending on surrounding conditions.

To use the portable gas range storage case having the above-mentioned construction according to the present invention, the hooks 32 of the cover plate 30 are first unlocked from the catches 23 of the body 20. Thereafter, the cover plate 30, having closed the body 20, is opened. Subsequently, the portable gas range (R) is extracted from the body 20 to cook food.

At this time, the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60, which are coupled to the cover plate 30, are unfolded to surround the portable gas range (R), as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 and the cover plate 30 protect flames of the portable gas range (R) from wind, thus ensuring stable cooking conditions.

Here, the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60, which have been attached to the cover plate 30 by magnetic force of the first and second attachment members 33 and 52, can be easily detached from the cover plate 30 by applying outside force to them.

Furthermore, when placed on a support ground, the cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 are supported at a side thereof by the body 20, which touches against the surface of the support ground, and are supported at the other side thereof by the support plate 62, which is spread from the windscreen plate 60. Thus, the cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 can stably maintain the standing state.

Also, because the folding lines 41, 51 and 61 are formed between the cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60, the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 can be folded with respect to each other without restriction. Therefore, arrangement of the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 can be easily adjusted in desired shapes.

As such, in the present invention, cooking can be conducted by the portable gas range (R) in a stable condition using the body 20, the cover plate 30 and the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 without being affected by wind. After the cooking has been completed, the portable gas range (R) is inserted into and stored in the body 20.

For this, as shown in FIG. 3, the user sufficiently cools the portable gas range (R) before putting the portable gas range (R) into the body 20 through the opening 21. Subsequently, the user folds the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 inwards and attaches the second attachment member 52 of the windscreen plate 50 to the first attachment member 33 of the cover plate 30.

Thereafter, the cover plate 30 is positioned adjacent to the opening 21 of the body 20 while the windscreen plates 40, 50 and 60 are attached to the inner surface of the cover plate 30. The support plate 62, which extends from the lower edge of the windscreen plate 60, is thereafter folded inwards. Subsequently, the support plate 62 is inserted into a lower position of the body 20 and, simultaneously, the cover plate 30 closes the opening 21 of the body 20. The hooks 32 are thereafter locked to the respective catches 23. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the cover plate 30 is maintained in the state of being coupled to the body 20. In this state, the user can simply hold and carry the portable gas range storage case using the handle 22.

As described above, in a storage case for portable gas ranges according to the present invention, a plurality of windscreen plates is sequentially unfolded to protect flames of a portable gas range from wind, thereby ensuring a stable cooking condition while cooking food. Furthermore, in the present invention, because the windscreen plates can be maintained in a stable standing state, fire is prevented from occurring due to the windscreen plate falling down while cooking food. As a result, the time required for cooking food is markedly reduced. Furthermore, the present invention makes it convenient for a user to store and carry the portable gas range after use.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A storage case comprising:

a body defining a storage compartment therein, said body defining an opening formed on a side of the body, said opening providing access to the storage compartment;
a cover plate foldably connected to an edge of the opening of the body, said cover plate sized and shaped to close said opening of said body when said cover plate is folded to the opening and expose the opening of said body when said cover plate is unfolded away from the opening, said cover plate having a first folding edge opposed from the connection of the cover plate to the edge of the opening of the body; and,
a plurality of windscreen plates sequentially and foldably coupled to the first folding edge of the cover plate.

2. The storage case as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a catch member provided on the body; and,

a hook member provided on an edge of the cover plate for engagement with the catch member when said cover plate is folded to close said opening of said body.

3. The storage case as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a first attachment member provided on an inner surface of the cover plate; and
a second attachment member provided on at least one of the windscreen plates, so that the second attachment member is removably attached to the first attachment member when all the windscreen plates and cover plate are folded together.

4. The storage case as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the windscreen plates has a height lower than a predetermined height of the cover plate; and,

the storage case further comprising a support plate foldably coupled to a lower end of at least one of the windscreen plate.

5. The storage case as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of windscreen plates is removable from the cover plate.

6. The storage case as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first attachment member is a magnet and the second attachment member is a magnetically attractable material.

7. The storage case as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of windscreen plates has a folding line extending vertically therethrough so that each of the plurality of windscreen plates are foldable along the respective folding line.

8. A storage case comprising:

a body defining a storage compartment therein, said body defining an opening formed on a side of the body, said opening providing access to the storage compartment;
a cover plate foldably connected to an edge of the opening of the body, said cover plate sized and shaped to close said opening of said body when said cover plate is folded to the opening and expose the opening of said body when said cover plate is unfolded away from the opening, said cover plate having a first folding edge opposed from the connection of the cover plate to the edge of the opening of the body;
a first windscreen plate foldably coupled to the first folding edge of the cover plate, said first windscreen plate having a second folding edge opposed from the connection of the first windscreen plate to the cover plate;
a second windscreen plate foldably coupled to the second folding edge of the first windscreen plate, said second windscreen plate having a third folding edge opposed from the connection of the second windscreen plate to the first windscreen plate; and,
a third windscreen plate foldably coupled to the third folding edge of the second windscreen plate, said third windscreen plate having a bottom edge.

9. The storage case as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a catch member provided on the body; and,

a hook member provided on an edge of the cover plate for engagement with the catch member when said cover plate is folded to close said opening of said body.

10. The storage case as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a first attachment member provided on an inner surface of the cover plate; and
a second attachment member provided on an outer surface of the second windscreen plate, so that the second attachment member is removably attached to the first attachment member when all the windscreen plates and cover plate are folded together.

11. The storage case as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the first, second, and third windscreen plates has a height lower than a predetermined height of the cover plate.

12. The storage case as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a support plate foldably coupled to the bottom edge of the third windscreen plate.

13. The storage case as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first, second, and third windscreen plates are removable from the cover plate.

14. The storage case as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first attachment member is a magnet and the second attachment member is a magnetically attractable material.

15. The storage case as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the first, second, and third windscreen plates has a folding line extending vertically therethrough so that each of the first, second, and third windscreen plates are foldable along the respective folding line.

16. A storage case comprising:

a body defining a storage compartment therein, said body defining an opening formed on a side of the body, said opening providing access to the storage compartment;
a cover plate foldably connected to an edge of the opening of the body, said cover plate sized and shaped to close said opening of said body when said cover plate is folded to the opening and expose the opening of said body when said cover plate is unfolded away from the opening, said cover plate having a first folding edge opposed from the connection of the cover plate to the edge of the opening of the body;
a first windscreen plate foldably coupled to the first folding edge of the cover plate, said first windscreen plate having a second folding edge opposed from the connection of the first windscreen plate to the cover plate;
a second windscreen plate foldably coupled to the second folding edge of the cover first windscreen plate, said second windscreen plate having a third folding edge opposed from the connection of the second windscreen plate to the first windscreen plate;
a third windscreen plate foldably coupled to the third folding edge of the second windscreen plate, said third windscreen plate having a bottom edge;
a first attachment member provided on an inner surface of the cover plate; and,
a second attachment member provided on an outer surface of the second windscreen plate, so that the second attachment member is removably attached to the first attachment member when all the windscreen plates and cover plate are folded together.

17. The storage case as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a catch member provided on the body; and,

a hook member provided on an edge of the cover plate for engagement with the catch member when said cover plate is folded to close said opening of said body.

18. The storage case as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a support plate foldably coupled to the bottom edge of the third windscreen plate.

19. The storage case as set forth in claim 16 wherein the first attachment member is a magnet and the second attachment member is a magnetically attractable material.

20. The storage case as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of the first, second, and third windscreen plates has a folding line extending therethrough so that each of the first, second, and third windscreen plates are foldable along the respective folding line.

Patent History
Publication number: 20060144386
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2006
Inventor: Young Cho (Lawrenceville, GA)
Application Number: 11/322,291
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 126/38.000
International Classification: F24C 5/20 (20060101);