CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/178,130, filed May 14, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates generally to the field of fire pits. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a portable fire pit assembly that is expandable.
Traditionally, individuals create a fire pit by digging a hole in the ground or by creating a circle of rocks to surround a fire. The hole and circle of rocks serve to maintain the fire in the enclosed space, prevent the fire from spreading, and/or protect the fire from being extinguished by wind. Digging a hole or creating a circle of rocks, however, has a number of undesirable aspects. For example, digging a hole and/or creating a circle of rocks can be labor intensive and cumbersome.
A variety of campfire related devices have been disclosed that attempt to eliminate the undesirable aspects of creating a fire pit. Such known campfire related devices include portable metal fire rings for encircling a fire. These known fire rings, however, are bulky; permanent; have limited adjustability and versatility; are complicated to assemble and disassemble; have components that are prone to damage after repeated use; and/or are complicated to manufacture.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a fire pit assembly that is portable, adjustable, versatile, simple to assemble and disassemble, durable, and easy to manufacture.
SUMMARY An expandable fire pit assembly including a first and second planar member. The first planar member and the second planar member include an upper edge, a lower edge, a first end having a tab member, and a second end having a slot. The tab member of the first planar member engages the slot of the second planar member and the tab member of the second planar member engages the slot of the first planar member, thereby interlocking the first planar member and the second planar member together forming a ring. The fire pit assembly can also include a gas burner connected to one of the planar members and is attachable to a gas supply source.
An advantage of the present disclosure is that the fire pit assembly is expandable, portable, easy to assemble and disassemble, durable, and easy to manufacture.
Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fire pit assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view of an interlocking segment of the fire pit assembly of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a side view of four interlocking segments of a fire pit assembly coupled together, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a top view of a fire pit assembly having various numbers of interlocking segments and dimensions, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fire pit assembly having a square configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fire pit assembly having a triangular configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fire pit assembly having a gas burner coupled thereto, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the fire pit assembly of FIG. 7 connected to a fuel source, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged top view of a key hole of the fire pit assembly of FIG. 8, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a front view of a key hole of the fire pit assembly of FIG. 8, according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring generally to the FIGURES and in particular to FIG. 1, a fire pit assembly 10 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The fire pit assembly 10 includes a plurality of interlocking segments or members 12. In this example, the fire pit assembly 10 includes four interlocking segments 12. It is contemplated, however, that any number of interlocking segments 12 can be used. The four interlocking segments 12 are coupled together end to end to form the fire pit assembly 10 in the shape of a metal ring.
Referring now to FIG. 2, an interlocking segment 12 having a body defined by an upper edge 16, lower edge 18 and opposing first and second ends (or edges) 20, 22 is shown. The first end 20 includes a tab (or male member, or extension, or the like) 24 and the second end 22 includes a plurality of slots (or female members, apertures, holes, slits, openings, or the like) 26. Although each segment 12 is shown having one tab 24 and a plurality of slots, the segment may have any number of tabs 24 and slots 26, such as two tabs 24 and one slot 26, or the like. Moreover, the tabs 24 and slots 26 may be on either end or both ends 20, 22. The tab 24 is generally L-shaped and extends outwardly and upwardly from the edge of either the first end or the second end 20, 22. The L-shaped tab member includes an extension or lip portion 25 that prevents the tab 24 from detaching from a slot 26. The tab 24 may also have other shapes and/or designs as needed and/or desired. For example, the tab 24 may have T-shape or hook-shaped design, or the like. The slots 26 are cutout from the middle of the body 14 and extend from the upper edge 16 to the lower edge 18 of the body 14. The slots 26 are generally rectangular in shape, but may have other shapes, such as, oval, or the like. The slots 26 may be positioned in various arrangements, such as, in parallel alignment with one another, or the like. Moreover, the slots 26 may be spaced apart at various predetermined distances, such as, equidistant from one another, or the like. Each interlocking segment 12 is punched or laser cut from a sheet or piece of material, such as, stainless steel, steel alloys, metal, steel, alloy, or the like. The segments 12 are generally planar and rectangular, but may have any suitable and/or desirable dimensions that provides for sufficient flexibility, durability and function. For example, each segment 12 can have a length of twenty-eight inches from the edge of one end 20 to the edge of the second end 22, a height of eight inches from the upper edge 16 to the lower edge 18, and have a thickness of 0.030 inches. Each interlocking segment 12 can also includes a plurality of apertures or holes 28 that are generally located near the lower edge 18 of the body 14 and extend from the edge of one end 20 to the edge of the second end 22. The apertures 28 are designed to allow for optimum airflow to enable burning of material, such as, wood, natural logs, faux logs, or the like. Although the apertures 28 are generally circular in shape and have a diameter of approximately 0.5 inches, the apertures 28 may have any shape and/or diameter. The interlocking segments 12 may also include various decorative laser cut shapes cutout from the body 14 of an interlocking segment 12, such as, deer, fish, camp sites, mountains, or the like. The interlocking segments 12 may also include one or more securing members, such as, stakes, spikes, rods, or the like, for insertion into a surface (e.g., ground, platform, etc.) to secure the fire pit assembly 10 in place and prevent the fire pit assembly 10 from moving. The securing members could be attached (e.g., welded, bolted, clipped, etc.) to and/or formed integrally with the interlocking segment 10 such that the securing members extend/protrude from the interlocking segment 12 (e.g., extending from the bottom/lower edge of the interlocking segment, etc.). Alternatively, the interlocking segments 12 may also include attachment members (e.g., clip, brackets, etc.) for attaching to a surrounding structure (e.g., wall, stonework, etc.).
Referring now to FIG. 3, four interlocking segments 12 of a fire pit assembly 10 coupled together end-to-end 20, 22 is shown. The tab 24 of the second segment 12b is inserted into one of the slots 26 of the first segment 12a such that the second segment 12b is interlocked with the first segment 12a; the tab 24 of the third segment 12c is inserted into one of the slots 26 of the second segment 12b such that third segment 12c is interlocked with the second segment 12b; and the tab 24 of the fourth segment 12d is inserted into one of the slots 26 of the third segment 12c such that the fourth segment 12d is interlocked with the third segment 12c to thereby form a linear chain or band of four interlocked segments 12. The chain or band of four interlocked segments 12 is then flexibly wrapped into a circle or ring and the tab 24 of the first segment 12a is inserted into one of the slots 26 of the fourth segment 12d such that the fourth segment 12d is interlocked with the first segment 12a, thereby forming a fire pit ring 10. The diameter of the fire pit ring 10 may be adjusted as needed and/or desired by inserting the tabs 24 into the different slots 26 of a segment 12. For example, the diameter of the fire pit ring 10 may be expanded to approximately 35.5 inches by inserting the tabs 24 into the first slots 26a of a segment (i.e., the slot 26 on a segment 12 located farthest from the tab 24 located on the same segment 12; or the slot 26 on a segment 12 closest to the second end 22 of the same segment 12). Conversely, the diameter of the fire pit ring 10 may be decreased to approximately 21.5 inches by inserting the tabs 24 into the last slots 26d of a segment 12 (i.e., the slot 26 on a segment 12 located closest to the tab 24 located on the same segment 12; or the slot 26 on a segment 12 closest to the first end 20 of the same segment 12). The fire pit ring 10 may also be adjusted to any other diameter by simply adjusting which slots 26 the tabs 24 are inserted into.
Referring now to FIG. 4, several fire pit assemblies 10 having different numbers of interlocking segments 12 and different fire pit ring dimensions are shown. For example, fire pit assembly (a) includes two interlocked segments 12 having a pit measuring approximately 16.63 inches; fire pit assembly (b) includes 3 interlocked segments 12 having a pit measuring approximately 24.94 inches; fire pit assembly (c) includes 4 interlocked segments 12 having a pit measuring approximately 33.26 inches; fire pit assembly (d) includes 5 interlocked segments 12 having a pit measuring approximately 41.58 inches; fire pit assembly (e) includes 6 interlocked segments 12 having a pit measuring approximately 49.89 inches; fire pit assembly (f) includes 7 interlocked segments 12 having a pit measuring approximately 58.21 inches; and fire pit assembly (g) includes 8 interlocked segments 12 having a pit measuring approximately 66.53 inches. The diameter of the fire pit ring 10 may be adjusted (e.g., expanded, decreased, etc.) even further by simply adding interlocking segments 12 or removing interlocking segments 12. For example, an even smaller fire pit ring diameter may be formed by coupling three or two interlocking segments 12 together. It is even possible to wrap one interlocking segment 12 on itself wherein the tab 24 from a segment 12 is inserted into one of the slots 26 of the same segment 12 to still further decrease the diameter of the fire pit ring 10. Conversely, the diameter of the fire pit ring 10 may be infinitely expanded by adding interlocking segments 12 to allow for an even larger fire pit ring 10.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show a fire pit assembly 10 having different configurations. Although the fire pit assembly 10 has been disclosed as having a generally circular, round or ring configuration, the fire pit assembly 10 may be assembled into other configurations. For example, the interlocking segments 12 may be coupled to one another in a perpendicular manner to form a fire pit assembly 10 having a square/rectangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the interlocking segments 12 may be coupled to one another at acute angles to form a fire pit assembly 10 having a triangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 6. Still other configurations are possible depending on the number and/or manner of coupling the interlocking segments 12 to one another. The fire pit 10 may also be used as a permanent fire pit 10 wherein the user assembles the fire pit 10 in a desired location and may then build a surrounding structure, such as, stonework, a deck, or the like, to enclose the fire pit 10 and add decorative features therein as needed and/or desired.
Referring generally to FIGS. 7 through 10, a fire pit assembly 10 having an optional gas burner (plenum) 30 coupled thereto is shown. The gas burner 30 has a body portion 32 that is generally circular in shape and includes a number of apertures or holes 34 located around the circumference of the body portion 32 and serve as an outlet for the fuel (e.g., propane gas, etc.). The gas burner 30 is generally located in the center of the fire pit ring 10, but may be placed and/or coupled to another suitable and/or desirable location on and/or in the fire pit ring 10, such as, on the side, or the like. The gas burner 30 also includes tubing or tube members (i.e., tube, hose, pipe, etc.) 36 that are coupled at one end to the body portion 32 of the gas burner 30 and coupled at their second end to a key hole 38 located on the fire pit ring 10, such as, on an interlocking segment 12, or the like. Each end of the tubing or tube members 36 includes a crimp at a predetermined distance, such as one inch, so that each end of the tubing or tube members 36 may be placed into a key hole (slot) 38 to thereby support a faux log set, or the like. The tubing 36 may be telescoping such that each end may be extended and/or retracted as the diameter of the fire pit ring 10 is adjusted. The tubing 36 may extend beyond the fire pit ring 10 so that it may be conveniently and/or comfortably attached to a fuel source (e.g., outlet of a propane tank), as shown in FIG. 8. Although the gas burner 30 is shown as being generally circular in shape, the gas burner 30 may be of any suitable and/or desired shape, size, etc. The gas burner 30 and/or hose 36 are made from stainless steel, but may also be made from any suitable and/or desirable material, such as, stainless steel, steel alloys, metal, steel, alloy, or the like.
Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claim, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.
