PORTABLE FIRE PIT
A portable fire pit includes a base for supporting and containing combustible material, a plurality of legs for supporting the base above the ground or other surface, and a plurality of fire screens movably mounted to the base for movement between a first, compact position for transport and storage of the portable fire pit and a second, extended position in which the screens are substantially upright to contain the fire. Each of the fire screens comprises a frame and a wire screen mounted therein. Additionally, the fire screens are movably mounted to the base using sliding hinges and guides such that in the second, extended position the fire screens are maintained in the upright position by the guides.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/194,123 filed Jul. 29, 2005, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/592,661 filed Jul. 30, 2004. This application also claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/110,371 filed Oct. 31, 2008. The specifications of these three prior applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a fire pit, and more particularly to a portable fire pit that can be transported easily and stored compactly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany people enjoy an open, outdoor fire, such as at a campground. In many situations, however, it is necessary or desirable to provide good protection against the fire spreading. It is commonly known to use a fire ring or fire pit to help contain the fire. Such a conventional fire ring often consists of nothing more than a ring or hoop of metal placed upon the ground to allow combustible material, such as wood or charcoal, to be placed in the middle of the ring. While this works well at a campground, the fire ring is not particularly well-suited for use in one's backyard or for moving from place to place. It is also not well-suited to use, for example, on the back deck of a home.
As an alternative to the simple fire ring, one can build a fire pit with substantially upright sides to provide the kind of protection that might be desirable for use near homes. In such a construction, the fire pit typically includes metal screens located in the sides to provide protection against the fire spreading, while still allowing people to enjoy seeing the fire through the screens. Unfortunately, this type of construction can be somewhat bulky, can be difficult therefore to move from place to place, and can take up excess of space in storage.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists in the art for a portable fire pit which can provide good protection against the spread of a fire, which can be transported easily from place to place, which can be made compact for storage or transport, and yet which can provide significant fire protection for use near homes. It is to the provision of such a portable fire pit the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly described, in a first preferred form the present invention comprises a portable fire pit having a base for supporting and containing combustible material and a plurality of (optional) legs for supporting the base above the ground or other surface. The portable fire pit further comprises a plurality of fire screens movably mounted to the base for movement between a first, compact position for transport and storage of the portable fire pit and a second, extended position in which the screens are substantially upright to contain the fire. Each of the fire screens preferably comprises a frame and a wire screen mounted therein. Preferably, the fire screens are movably mounted to the base using sliding hinges and guides and in the second, extended position the fire screens are maintained in the upright position by the guides.
Described in another way, the portable fire pit of the present invention comprises a base for supporting and containing combustible material and a plurality of fire screens movably mounted to the base for movement between a first, compact position for transport and storage of the portable fire pit and a second, extended position in which the screens are substantially upright to contain the fire.
Optionally, the screens are rotatably mounted to the base. In a preferred form, the screens are rotatably mounted to the base using sliding hinges or similar. Advantageously, guides can be mounted to the base to support the screens in the extended, upright position. Also, the portable fire pit can be fitted with a plurality of folding legs mounted to the base for supporting the base above the ground or other surface.
The portable fire pit can also be provided with an ash removal door mounted to or formed in the base to allow the convenient removal of accumulated ash. The portable fire pit can be a polygon in overall shape, wherein, for example, the base is rectangular with four sides and wherein the plurality of screens comprise four screens, with each screen comprising a screen frame supporting a wire screen therein.
The present invention has numerous advantages, including the compactness and the suitability for transport and storage. Also, while the fire pit encloses the fire with a plurality of fire screens for preventing the fire from spreading, the fire pit also has legs for preventing the fire pit from burning a surface beneath it. Moreover, the fire pit can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily without the use of fasteners or tools.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
Referring now to the drawing figures, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views, preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example embodiments. It is to be understood that the embodiments described and depicted herein are only selected examples of the many and various forms that the present invention may take, and that these examples are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the claimed invention. Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
In the depicted embodiment, the base 12 itself has sidewalls 30, 32, 34, and 36, for creating a generally rectangular, pan-like structure for containing combustible material, such as wood, charcoal, or other suitable combustible material for providing a fire therein. Thus, in the depicted embodiment, the base 12 resembles an open, rectangular box with four corners. Preferably, the base is constructed of a fire-resistant or fireproof material, such as for example, a metal such as cast aluminum or sheet steel, although those skilled in the art will understand that various other non-combustible materials can be employed as well. In one exemplary embodiment, the base has dimensions of approximately 20″×20″×4″, although those skilled in the art will understand the base can have various shapes and/or sizes without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Optionally, the base 12 includes an ash removal door 40 for releasing ash built up by the fuel as it is consumed, as seen more clearly in
As shown in
For ease of compactness and portability, the legs 14, 16, 18, and 20 can be pivotally mounted to the base 12 or constructed to fold up under the base. For example, the legs 14, 16, 18, and 20 can be configured similar to the legs of a folding card table, having a hinge that locks the legs in place in an extended position. Optionally, the legs can be extendible so that they provide more or less clearance between the base 12 of the fire pit 10 and the surface beneath it. Those skilled in the art will understand that legs can have various other configurations and still be in the scope of the present invention.
In the depicted embodiment, four panels or fire screens 22, 24, 26, and 28 are movably mounted to the base 12 for movement between a first, compact position for transport and storage of the portable fire pit and a second, extended position in which the screens are substantially upright to contain the fire. Preferably, each screen is sized and shaped to fit within the base 12 of the fire pit so that they can lay substantially flat in their compact, folded position and to contain embers within the fire pit when they in the extended, generally upright position. The fire screens or panels can be generally rectangular, with dimensions approximately equal to the dimensions of the base so that the screens can lay substantially flat in the base.
As best seen in
Preferably, the fire screens are movably mounted to the base 12 using sliding hinges 70, which include guides 72 mounted to or formed within the base of the fire pit 10, such that when the screens are in an extended position, the fire screens are maintained in the upright position by the guides. As seen more clearly in
Preferably, the guide 72 is constructed of a durable, fireproof or fire-resistant material such as steel, and welded to the base 12, although those skilled in the art will understand that the guide can be constructed of various materials and secured to the base in a variety of manners. Additionally, the guide 72 can have various other configurations so as to hold a fire screen in an erect or upright position.
The pin 62 rotates about a pivot axis 78. Additionally, this pivot axis moves translationally with the pin as the pin is moved towards or away from the shelf 76. Thus, to move a fire screen, such as fire screen 22, from its compact position to its upright position, the screen, while remaining generally parallel to the base 12, is moved upwards towards the shelf 76 until the pin 62 engages the shelf. The screen 22 can be rotated about the axis 78 until the shoulder 60 of the frame 50 clears the top of the guide 72. The portion of the screen above the shoulder 60 can slide down into the channel until the shoulder 60 rests on the shelf 76. Thus, gravity helps secure the frame of the fire screen in its upright position, as shown by screen 26 in
Preferably, there are a total of eight guides 72 within the base 12 of the fire pit 10, two of which are located at each corner as depicted in
Optionally, the fire pit 10 includes a lid 80. The lid 80 is a generally rectangular box-like structure for enclosing the top of the fire pit 10. In one example embodiment, the lid has dimensions of approximately 24″×24″×2″, although those skilled in the art understand that the lid can be of various shapes and sizes, and still be within the scope of the present invention. Preferably, the lid 80 includes a pair of removable handles 82 and 84. The lid 80 can include tracks or channels on opposing sides for inserting and locking handles 82 and 84 therein. For example, the lid 80 can be placed on the ends of the upright screens so as to enclose the fire pit, and when the lid is to be removed, the user can insert handles 82 and 84 into their respective tracks to lift the hot lid without using “potholders” or some other insulating device to protect the user from the heat of the lid.
Additionally, when the screens are in the compact position within the base 12, the lid 80 can slide over the base 12 so as to provide a compact box for securely containing the contents during transport and storage of the fire pit. Optionally, the lid 80 includes a locking mechanism for securing the lid to the base 12 in the compact position. Also optionally, the handles 82 and 84 can be mounted to the lid 80 so as to provide an easier way for the user to carry the compact unit.
Thus, to configure the fire pit 10 from its compact arrangement, the user removes the lid 80 of the compact unit from the base 12. The user also unfolds the legs 14, 16, 18, and 20 of the base 12 if so desired and sits the fire pit 10 on the desired surface. The user lifts the top fire screen panel 22 up, while keeping the panel substantially parallel to the base 12, until the pin 62 abuts the shelf 76. The user rotates the panel about 900 and then slides the frame 50 of the fire screen 22 down into the channel 74 of the guide 72 until the shoulder 60 rests on the shelf 76. The user repeats these steps with the other three fire screens. Once erected, the user can make a fire in the fire pit 10. Optionally, the user can place the lid 80 on the upper ends of the fire screens so as to keep debris from getting into the fire.
When the fire pit 100 is in this assembled or erected configuration as shown in
When the fire pit 100 is fully erected, a top screen 130 rests atop the free edges of the fire screen panels 112, 114, 116, and 118 to form a generally enclosed structure. Preferably, the rear fire screen panel 118 is hingedly connected to the top fire screen 130 with one or more hinges 132. As depicted in
Preferably, each hinge 132 includes a flange 134 extending from the top fire screen panel 130. The flange 134 itself has a hole (not shown) extending therethrough. The hinge 132 further includes a pin 138 received in a receiver sleeve 135 attached to the rear fire panel screen 118. The pin 138 mates with the hole in the flange 134 to create a pivot axis 139 about which the top screen 130 can pivot. Thus, the top screen 130 can pivot in towards the inner surface of the rear panel 118 or out away from the inner surface of the rear panel 118. However, those skilled in the art will understand that other suitable hinges can be employed as well. For example,
As best seen in
Optionally, the base 102 can include an ash removal door (not shown) for releasing ash built up by the fuel as it is consumed. The ash removal door can be substantially similar to the ash removal door 40 of the first exemplary embodiment. Those skilled in the art will understand that various other forms of doors or openings within the base 102 can be employed as well so as to remove the ash from the fire pit 100 without having to turn the pit upside down to dump out the ash.
As shown more clearly in
For ease of compactness and portability, the legs 104, 106, 108, and 110 can be pivotally mounted to the base 102 or constructed to fold up under the base. As shown in
Thus, when in the folded configuration, the legs 104, 106, 108, and 110 are completely housed within the base 102. Alternatively, the legs 104, 106, 108, and 110 can be partially housed within the recesses 160, 162, 164, and 166 of the base. Additionally, other suitable locking mechanisms can be employed as well. For example, a locking mechanism 170 can include a pair of spring clips 172′ and 174′ housed within the interior of the base 102 that lock the legs both in the extended and in the collapsed positions, as shown in
Alternatively, the legs 104, 106, 108, and 110 can be configured in a manner similar to the legs of the fire pit 10 of
Preferably, each fire screen panel is sized and shaped to fit within the base 102 of the fire pit 100 so that they can lay substantially flat in their compact, folded position. The fire screen panels can be generally trapezoidal in shape, with dimensions approximately equal to or less than the dimensions of the base 102 so that the panels can lay substantially flat in the base.
In the depicted embodiment, at least three fire screen panels 112, 114, and 118 (i.e., the side and rear panels) are movably mounted to the base 102 for movement between a first, compact position for transport and storage of the portable fire pit 100 and a second, extended position in which the screens are substantially upright to contain the fire. Preferably, the rear fire screen panel 118 is movably secured to the base in both the compact and the upright positions with a pair of nonsliding hinges 180, 182. As shown in
Preferably, the side fire screen panels 112 and 114 are movably mounted to the base 102 using sliding hinges 200 or cam lock type-mechanisms, as shown in
Preferably, the guides 202 and channels 206 are constructed of a durable, fireproof or fire-resistant material such as steel, and welded to the base 102, although in alternative embodiments, the guide and shelf can be constructed of various materials and secured to the base in a variety of manners. Additionally, the combination of the guide 202 and channels 206 can have various other configurations so as to hold a fire screen in an erect or upright position.
When erecting or collapsing the side fire screen panels, the pin 194 rotates about a pivot axis 210. Additionally, this pivot axis 210 moves translationally with the pin 194 as the pin is moved within the slot. Thus, to move a side fire screen panel, such as fire screen panel 114, from its compact position to its upright position, the panel, while remaining generally parallel to the base 102, is moved upwards until the pin 194 engages the end of the guide 202. The panel 114 can be rotated about the axis 210 until the hook 198 of the fire screen panel engages and mates with the groove 206 of the base 102.
In an alternative embodiment, the rear fire screen panel 118 is removably mounted to the base with one or more sliding hinges of the type used with the side fire screen panels. Thus, in such embodiment, the rear fire screen panel 118 is connected to the base in a similar manner as the side fire screen panels.
Optionally, one or more of the fire screen panels 112, 114, 116, and 118 can include fasteners for releasably securing the panel to adjacent panels. For example, the rear fire screen panel 118 can optionally include one or more retaining pins 212 that engage and mate with one or more receiving holes 214 of one or more flanges extending from the side fire screen panels 112 and 114, as shown in
As shown in
Additionally, the fire pit 100 of the present invention includes a lid 220, as shown in
Thus, to configure the fire pit 100 from its compact arrangement, the user removes the lid 220 of the compact unit from the base 102. The user also unfolds the legs 104, 106, 108, and 110 from the base 102, if so desired, and sits the fire pit 100 on the desired surface. In a typical commercial embodiment, the removable front fire screen panel 116 is on top, so the user removes that panel. The user then lifts the top most fire screen panel up (typically a side fire screen panel) and rotates it about 90° and then slides the panel down until the catch 198 engages the shelf 206 with the lip 208. The user repeats these steps with the other side fire screen panel that is movably attached to the base. The user lifts up and rotates the rear fire screen panel 118 with top fire screen panel 130 attached thereto out and manipulates the side, rear, and top fire screen panels into position. The user positions the front fire screen panel 116 such that the handle 120 is located on the exterior of the fire pit, and slides the pins 220 of lower portion of the screen panel into the cooperating receivers 222 of the base 102. Once all four panels are erected, the user then manipulates the top screen 130 onto the upper ends of the generally upright fire screen panels, which prevents debris from getting into the fire. Once erected, the user can make a fire in the fire pit 100.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A portable fire pit comprising:
- a base for supporting and containing combustible material;
- a plurality of legs for supporting the base above the ground or other surface;
- a plurality of fire screens movably mounted to the base for movement between a first, compact position for transport and storage of the portable fire pit and a second, extended position in which the screens are substantially upright to contain the fire, wherein each of the fire screens comprises a frame and a wire screen mounted therein,
- wherein the fire screens are movably mounted to the base using sliding hinges and guides and wherein in the second, extended position the fire screens are maintained in the upright position by the guides.
2. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the legs are pivotally mounted to the base.
3. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an ash removable door positioned in the base for removing accumulated ash from the portable fire pit.
4. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a lid for enclosing the fire pit.
5. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lid includes pair of removable handles.
6. The portable fire pit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid is hingedly secured to one of the fire screens.
7. The portable fire pit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fire screen removably attached to the base.
8. A portable fire pit comprising:
- a base for supporting and containing combustible material; and
- a plurality of fire screens movably mounted to the base for movement between a first, compact position for transport and storage of the portable fire pit and a second, extended position in which the screens are substantially upright to contain the fire.
9. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the screens are rotatably mounted to the base.
10. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the screens are rotatably mounted to the base using sliding hinges.
11. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 9 further comprising guides mounted to the base to support the screens in the extended, upright position.
12. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of folding legs mounted to the base for supporting the base above the ground or other surface.
13. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 8 further comprising an ash removal door mounted to or formed in the base to allow the convenient removal of accumulated ash.
14. A portable fire pit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the base is rectangular with four sides and wherein the plurality of fire screens comprise four screens, with each screen comprising a screen frame supporting a wire screen therein.
15. A fire pit, comprising:
- a base; and
- a plurality of screen panels secured to the base that can be assembled into a substantially upright configuration from a substantially flat, folded configuration within the base,
- wherein the plurality of screens are maintained in the substantially upright configuration without the use of fasteners.
16. The fire pit as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of guide elements mounted to or formed within the base for maintaining the plurality of screens in the substantially upright configuration.
17. The fire pit as claimed in claim 16 wherein gravity helps to hold the screens in place in their substantially upright configuration.
18. The fire pit as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one screen panel is removably secured to the base and at least one screen panel is movably secured to the base.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 9, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2009
Inventors: Christian FITZGERALD (Atlanta, GA), Russell Carbonara (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 12/351,242
International Classification: F24B 1/181 (20060101);