Solar Cooking System

Abstract

An easily transportable solar cooking system that is capable of effectively utilizing available sunlight in locations having obstructed views of the sky. A plurality of support members upon which one or more reflective elements may be mounted, may be independently placed adjacent to an object to be heated. A user may manually adjust the angle of each reflective element, a concave mirror in the preferred embodiment, with respect to the support member so as to reflect a focused beam of light onto the object to be heated. The reflective elements may be mounted via a separable ball and socket joint such that the reflective elements and support members may be disassembled and compactly stored for easy storage and transport.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a system for heating objects and, particularly, to an easily transportable solar cooking system having a plurality of reflective elements that may be individually placed adjacent to an object to be heated and manually adjusted so as to reflect focused rays of sunlight onto the object.

2. Description of the Related Art

Solar cooking systems are well known in the prior art. It is often desirable to utilize solar cooking systems by persons who cannot or who prefer not to utilize cooking systems powered by electricity, fossil fuels, or other energy sources. By harnessing the sun's rays, solar cooking systems allow for an inexpensive and nonpolluting means for cooking and heating substances such as food or liquids.

The prior art is replete with various solar cooking system configurations. Many such prior art solar cooking systems are configured to utilize reflectors having a parabolic or spherical dish form that reflect sunlight to a focal point located on, or directly adjacent to, a cooking container. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,229 to Tarcici (the “Tarcici '229 patent”) discloses a solar cooker having a parabolic reflector. The Tarcici '229 patent teaches that a support rod may be connected to the reflector such that the support rod extends outward along the reflector's principal axis to support a cooking container located adjacent to the reflector's focal point and thus, allowing for a focused reflection of light onto the cooking container.

Rather than using a single reflective structure, other solar cooking systems found in the prior art teach the use of a plurality of mirrors that are all affixed to a structure such as a frame. The mirrors of some such prior art systems have been pivotally attached to the frame allowing the user of the system to independently position the angle of each mirror. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 681,095 to Baker (the “Baker '095 patent”) teaches the use of a plurality of mirrors pivotally mounted on a standard. The angle of the mirrors of the Baker '095 patent may be adjusted to optimally direct light on a cooking oven.

Given that sunlight is required to utilize any solar cooking system, most solar cooking systems are used in locations having unobstructed views of the sky such as locations with few trees or other obstructions that would block the sun's rays. However, in some locations such as forests, it is difficult or impossible to locate areas that allow for unobstructed views of the sky. In such locations, it may not be possible to adequately utilize the solar cooking systems found in the prior art as the amount of light that is reflected off of the system's reflective surface or surfaces may not provide sufficient heat with which to cook.

For example, in a forest where only a small amount of the sun's rays penetrate the forest's canopy, a parabolic reflector or array of mirrors on a frame, may be placed under the canopy and yet only reflect an insufficient amount of light onto a cooking vessel. As will be recognized by those with ordinary skill in the art, the size of the reflectors or mirror arrays of prior art solar cooking systems would be required to be impractically large to reflect an adequate amount of light onto an object for cooking purposes. Therefore, a need exists for a solar cooking system that is capable of efficiently utilizing available sunlight in locations having obstructed views of the sky.

Solar cooking systems are also often used by persons who must transport the system to the location where it will be used. For example, persons on camping trips often transport a solar cooking system to a campsite for use. The difficulty with which the prior art solar cooking systems may be transported is a significant drawback for persons who must transport a system before and/or after its use. It is difficult or impractical to transport large nodular reflective structures or mirror arrays, particularly by persons who must transport the systems without the use of motorized vehicles such as is often the case for those who camp long distances from roads or who do not own a motorized vehicle. Therefore, a need exists for a solar cooking system that is easily transportable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, there is provided herein, an easily transportable solar cooking system that, in its preferred embodiments, is capable of effectively utilizing available sunlight in locations having obstructed views of the sky.

In one aspect of the invention, a solar cooking system having a plurality of reflective elements, such as mirrors, may be placed adjacent to an object to be heated for the purposes of reflecting sunlight onto the object. Each reflective element is attached to and supported by a support member, such as rod, that may be placed at any location adjacent to the object to be heated by inserting one end of the support member into the soil. A user may independently place each support member and attached reflective element in any place where sunlight is not obstructed and can be adequately directed to the object to be heated.

In another aspect of the invention, each reflective element is pivotally attached to the support member in any manner that will permit the angle of the principal axis of the reflective element to be adjusted with respect to the support member. The reflective element may be adjusted by the user to sufficiently direct the light from the sun onto the object that is to be heated.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the reflective elements are concave mirrors having different focal lengths. Depending on the distance between the position of the object to be heated and the position at which sunlight penetrates to the level of the reflective element, a particular reflective element to be utilized in cooking an object may be chosen with respect to the focal length of the reflective element. For example, if the invention is being utilized to heat an object under a forest canopy and sunlight penetrates approximately thirty centimeters from the object to be heated, a reflective element having an approximate focal length of thirty centimeters may be chosen from a plurality of reflective elements having different focal lengths, and placed approximately thirty centimeters from the object. The angle of the reflective element may then be further adjusted by the user to obtain an optimum reflection of sunlight onto the object to be heated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the solar cooking system of the present invention nay be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a solar cooking system of the present invention having a plurality of reflective elements attached to and supported by support members that may be independently positioned by a user adjacent to an object that is to be heated;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the solar cooking system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the support member and a removably attached reflective element of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the support member and connected reflective element of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention having a base structure upon which a plurality of support members and attached reflective elements are supported.

Where used in the various figures of the drawing, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific magnification, weight, length, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.

Preferred embodiments of the solar cooking system according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a side view of a preferred embodiment of the solar cooking system 100 of the present invention, a plurality of reflective elements 102 are each attached to a support member 104. The support members 104 are each partially insertable into and supported by the soil 105 surrounding an object to be heated. The reflective elements 102, which include concave mirrors in the preferred embodiment, reflect and focus sunlight 110 onto an object such as a cooking vessel 106 supported by a means for supporting the object to be heated, such as a tripod 108 or cooking stand. It is important to note that the present invention is capable of heating any object or substance, whether in solid, liquid, or gas form.

Although FIG. 1 shows the presence of five reflective elements 102 for illustrative purposes, it is contemplated that any number of reflective elements 102 may be utilized to heat an object. Many variables should be considered in choosing the number of reflective elements 102 to be utilized. The amount of sunlight 110 available to be reflected may limit the number of reflective elements 102 to be utilized if only a small amount of the sun's rays 110 penetrate to the ground level where the present invention is to be used. Additionally, the mass and type of object to be heated must be considered when choosing how many reflective elements 102 to utilize. For example, the thermal conductivity of a cooking vessel 106 and the amount of food to be cooked will both enter into the user's determination of how many reflective elements to utilize. Additionally, the precision to which the user can position each reflective element to produce a focused beam of light directed on the object to be heated will affect the number of reflective elements 102 that must be utilized.

An embodiment of the present invention having forty-four reflective elements was implemented in accordance with the teachings herein. A maximum temperature reading of six-hundred and twenty five degrees Fahrenheit (625° F.) was indicated by a temperature sensor during testing of the embodiment of the system.

As there are too many unknown variables that will be involved in calculating how many reflective elements 102 must be utilized, the user of the present invention should determine the number of reflective elements 102 to utilize by trial and error, that is, by continuously adding and positioning reflective elements 102 until a sufficient amount of heat is generated. In this manner, the user is able to determine the how many reflective elements 102 must be utilized for a particular location, type and size of food, and type of cooking vessel. The solar cooking system is capable of grilling, frying, baking, and steaming food, and heating liquids.

When using the present invention in locations that do not provide unobstructed views of the sky, the support members 104 and attached reflective elements 102 can be independently placed in positions adjacent to the object to be heated, where the sun's rays 110 penetrate through to ground level. For example, when an embodiment of the present invention is used to cook food under a forest canopy 112, the sun's rays 110 may penetrate the leaves of the trees 112 in a limited number of places. A user can place reflective elements 102 at those places where the sunlight 110 penetrates, thus maximizing the amount of heat that can be directed to the cooking vessel 106. The foregoing attribute of the present invention provides an advantage over prior art solar cookers having reflective dishes and mirror arrays because such systems cannot capture the equivalent amount of sunlight as the present invention unless they are configured to have impractically large reflectors/mirror arrays.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reflective elements 102 are positioned around the cooking vessel 106 and cooking stand 108 in an approximately circular fashion. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 has been configured in a manner whereby the reflective elements 102 encircle the cooking vessel 106, it is contemplated that the reflective elements 102 of alternate embodiments may be positioned in any manner such that a sufficient amount of light is reflected onto the cooking vessel 106 for the purposes of cooking an object.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of a support member 104 and a removably attached reflective element 102 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The reflective elements 102 of the preferred embodiment are concave mirrors such as are commonly sold as a “magnifying mirrors” by many mirror suppliers. The mirrors of the preferred embodiment are classified as having “3×” or “5×” magnification. The reflective surface of each of the mirrors is circular in shape, having a diameter of approximately fifteen centimeters. However, it should be noted that alternate embodiments of the present invention may include reflective elements 102 of any type, including, but not limited to, plane mirrors and other metallic surfaces having reflective surfaces of any shape or size. Further, while it is preferable to utilize concave reflective elements 102, it is not essential that the reflective elements 102 are concave. However, the use of non-concave reflective elements may greatly increase the number of reflective elements necessary to sufficiently heat an object. Moreover, when utilizing concave reflective element 102, the reflective elements 102 may be configured so as to have any degree of magnification in various alternate embodiments of the invention. It is contemplated that the system may be configured to include a combination of reflective elements having differing degrees of magnification as occurs in the preferred embodiment. As those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, it may be necessary for a user of the system to place reflective elements 102 of differing degrees of magnification, at differing distances away from the object to be heated as the focal length varies with respect to magnification.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the reflective element 102 is attached to the support member 104 by means of a separable ball 300 and socket 302 joint, the ball 300 being connected to the reflective element 102 via the distal end of a neck 304, the proximal end of the neck 304 being attached to a non-reflective side of the reflective element 102, and the socket 302 being integrally attached to the support member 104 on the end most distal to the end inserted into the soil 105. Separable ball 300 and socket 304 joints such as that which is present in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 7,296,771 to Kalis et al., entitled “separable Ball and Socket Assembly for Electronic Device Mounts,” which describes such prior art separable ball and socket joints, is incorporated by reference herein.

It is contemplated that one or more reflective elements 102 may be attached to a single support member 104. A support member 104 adapted to support more than one reflective element would be configured for mounting a plurality of reflective elements 102 thereon. For example, such a support member 104 would include a plurality of sockets 302 and/or a plurality of support arms (not shown) upon which to mount multiple reflective elements 102.

Although the support members 104 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are a cylindrical shaft composed of plastic and having one sharpened end adapted for insertion into soil, and a second end having an integrally attached plastic socket 302, it is contemplated that alternate embodiments may include any means for supporting the reflective element 102 and may be composed of any material or combination of materials.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the support member 104 and attached reflective element 102, the reflective element 102 is attached to the end of the support member 104. A portion 400 of the support member 104 is flexible, allowing a user to adjust the angle of the reflective element 102 with respect to the support member 104 to which it is mounted. The flexible portion 400 of the support member may be composed of flexible plastics or metals. The flexible portion should allow for adjustment of the angle of the reflective element 102 by a user, yet be rigid enough to maintain the reflective element 102 in the position in which it is placed by the user. Although the reflective element 102 shown in this alternate embodiment (FIG. 4) is integrally attached to the support member 104, other alternate embodiments of the reflective element 102 and support member 102 may be removably coupled. For example, the end of the support member 104 to which the reflective element 102 is to be attached may be formed with threads that are configured to engage a correspondingly threaded recess in the reflective element 102.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention having a base structure 500 upon which a plurality of support members 104 and attached reflective elements 102 are supported. It may be impractical or undesirable for the present invention to be utilized directly upon soil. For example, the present invention may be utilized in locations having muddy soil, or on backyard patios or rocky terrain where it would be difficult or impossible to utilize the preferred embodiment as described above. In such locations, a base structure 500 having a top surface upon which the support members 104 may be mounted may be utilized.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that any type of support structure 502, such as a cooking tripod, cooking stand, or other such support means, may be utilized to support the object to be heated. For example, an alternate embodiment of the cooking stand 502 is shown in FIG. 5, and includes a void through which a cooking vessel 106 may penetrate to receive the focused rays of sunlight 110 reflected from the reflective elements 102.

The capability of the present invention to be easily stored and transported provides an advantage not seen in prior art solar cooking systems. Because the reflective elements 102 of the preferred embodiment may be removed from the support members 104, they may be compactly stored and transported along with the support members 104. Large prior art solar cooking systems are unwieldy in comparison and impractical for use by those who must transport a solar cooking system over large distances without the use of a motorized vehicle. The present invention may be disassembled, compactly stored, and carried by multiple persons as separate parts, thus easing the difficulty with which the system may be transported.

It will now be evident to those skilled in the art that there has been described herein a solar cooking system that is easily transportable and is capable of effectively reflecting sunlight that penetrates through obstructions to adequately heat an object. Although the invention hereof has been described by way of a preferred embodiment, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover any and all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.

Claims

1. A solar cooking system comprising:

(a) a plurality of reflective elements, each reflective element being attached to a support member; and

(b) a means for supporting an object to be heated,

wherein said support members are capable of being independently placed adjacent to said object and said reflective elements are capable of being positioned so as to reflect light onto said object.

2. The solar cooking system of claim 1 wherein said reflective element is a mirror having a concave reflective surface.

3. The solar cooking system of claim 1 wherein said reflective element has a flat reflective surface.

4. The solar cooking system of claim 2 wherein at least one end of each of said support members is adapted for insertion into soil.

5. The solar cooking system of claim 4 wherein said support member further comprises a flexible portion.

6. The solar cooking system of claim 4 wherein one or more reflective elements is attached to a support member via a separable ball and socket joint.

7. The solar cooking system of claim 6 wherein said object is a cooking vessel.

8. The solar cooking system of claim 7 wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a tripod.

9. The solar cooking system of claim 7 wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a cooking stand having at least one surface upon which to support a cooking vessel, said surface including a void through which said cooking vessel partially extends to expose a portion of said cooking vessel to light reflected from said reflective elements.

10. A solar cooking system comprising:

(a) a base structure having a top surface upon which a plurality of support members are mounted;

(b) a plurality of reflective elements, one or more of said reflective elements being attached to one of said support members; and

(b) a means for supporting an object to be heated,

wherein said support members are capable of being independently mounted adjacent to said object and said reflective elements are capable of being positioned so as to reflect light onto said object.

11. The solar cooking system of claim 10 wherein said support members are removably mounted on said base structure.

12. The solar cooking system of claim 11 wherein said reflective element is a mirror having a concave reflective surface.

13. The solar cooking system of claim 10 wherein said reflective element has a flat reflective surface.

14. The solar cooking system of claim 12 wherein one or more reflective elements is attached to a support member via a separable ball and socket joint.

15. The solar cooking system of claim 12 wherein said support member further comprises a flexible portion.

16. The solar cooking system of claim 14 wherein said object is a cooking vessel.

17. The solar cooking system of claim 16 wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a tripod.

18. The solar cooking system of claim 16 wherein said means for supporting an object to be heated is a cooking stand having at least one surface upon which to support a cooking vessel, said surface including a void through which said cooking vessel partially extends to expose a portion of said cooking vessel to light reflected from said reflective elements.