PORTABLE FIRE PIT SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable fire pit to be used in conjunction with particularly sized fuel blocks, whereby these fuel blocks are manually positioned in a square-shaped configuration around ventilation holds provided through the base of the fire pit. Alignment flanges on the base provide a positioning and alignment brace structure for the fuel blocks, which are fitted into an abutting relationship with the alignment flanges and one another on the base. The ventilation holes are formed to align with an inner chimney formed by the positioning of the fuel blocks. This chimney is formed over the ventilation holes to allow the fire to burn from the chimney outwardly through the blocks and thereby provide an efficient burning of the fuel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/437,064, filed Jan. 28, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to fire pits. More particularly, the present invention relates to an outdoor backyard fire pit configured to receive fuel blocks having a particular shape. Specifically, the present invention relates to such a fire pit which is configured to receive and hold fuel blocks in a desired placement around a vent opening to allow an efficient burning of the fuel.

2. Background Information

The general concept of a fire pit can physically vary from a pit dug into the ground to an elaborate gas burning compilation of stone, brick, and metal. The common feature of fire pits is that they are designed to contain a fire and prevent it from spreading. Pre-made fire pits are the most common form of fire pits and typically mass-produced and purchased from a store. These are made mostly of metal and can be either wood or gas burning. Unlike traditional fire pits, these fire pits are portable and may contain a screen or cover to prevent cinders or floating ash from escaping and starting a fire outside the pit.

Heretofore, wood burning manufactured fire pits have all suffered from the same inefficiencies. Namely, the placement of wood or fuel is typically haphazard and therefore the space inside the fire pit is not fully utilized, and the fuel itself burns inefficiency. Furthermore, many fire pits do not include ventilation beyond a simple bowl-like structure which only allows air to be supplied from above the fire. Therefore, there is a great need in the art not only to use the available pit space more efficiently, but to burn the fuel more efficiently as well.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fire pit to be used in conjunction with particularly sized fuel blocks, and align these fuel blocks in a square-shaped configuration around ventilation holes provided through the base of the fire pit. The base is formed from a plate having a plurality of alignment flanges extending upwardly therefrom. The alignment flanges provide a positioning and alignment brace for the fuel blocks, which are fitted into an abutting relationship with the alignment flanges and one another while on the plate. After the first layer of fuel blocks is formed, multiple horizontal layers of fuel blocks may be disposed on one another to provide a sufficient vertical length of fuel for a fire. It is a primary feature of the invention that the ventilation holes are disposed generally in the center of the base and align with an inner chimney or air shaft formed by the positioning of the fuel blocks. This chimney or air shaft is formed by the fuel blocks over the ventilation holes to allow the fire to burn from the chimney outwardly through the blocks and thereby provide an efficient burning of the fuel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the lid attached to the fire pit;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the base of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the base and a first layer of fuel blocks;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, showing a second layer of fuel blocks and whereby the first layer of fuel blocks are disposed on the base;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the present invention showing the hook device and the elongated nut secured thereto;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fire pit having the grill disposed thereon;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 10; and

FIG. 11 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 10 and showing the grill positioned over the base in solid and outwardly from the base in phantom.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The portable fire pit system of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-11 and is indicated generally at 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, fire pit system 1 includes a fire pit 2 which extends generally from an upper end 3 to a lower end 5 and includes a lid 7, a spark guard 9, and a base 11. Lid 7 includes a wire mesh portion 13 which defines a plurality of openings 14 and extends from an annular ring 15. Annular ring 15 is sized to removably and snuggly fit around an annular ring 17 having a slightly smaller diameter and disposed on spark guard 9. Spark guard 9 further includes a wire mesh portion 19 extending from annular ring 17 to a lower end 21, and is formed in a generally cylindrical overall shape. Wire mesh portion 19 defines a plurality of openings 20 for allowing air to pass therethrough and to prevent cinders or floating ash from escaping and starting a fire outside the pit.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, base 11 includes a plate 23 having an upper surface 22, a lower surface 24 (FIG. 7), an annular ring 25 extending outwardly from upper surface 22 and around the periphery of plate 23. Base 11 further includes a pit area 18 defined by upper surface 22 and annular ring 25, and plurality of legs 27, shown as three legs 27, extending outwardly from lower surface 24 and in the opposite direction from annular ring 25. A plurality of air flow apertures 29 are defined by plate 23 and disposed generally proximate the diametrical center of plate 23.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of alignment flanges 31 extend outwardly and generally perpendicularly from upper surface 22. Flanges 31 are arranged to define a generally square-shaped (FIG. 3) fuel containment area 33 within pit area 18 and having apertures 29 disposed proximate the center of the square. Each flange 31 is a straight, flat, rectangular-shaped fin-like structure which includes an inner surface 35, whereby each inner surface 35 faces towards apertures 29. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, flanges 31 are sized and positioned to align a plurality of fuel blocks 37 in a particular horizontal and vertical alignment around apertures 29, thereby defining an air shaft or chimney 39 extending from apertures 29 through fuel blocks 37. Common atmospheric air is intended to flow up through apertures 29, through chimney 39, and outwardly away from the top layer of blocks 37. Thus, a fire 41 (FIG. 7) ignited inside chimney 39 will burn through fuel blocks 37 efficiently from chimney 39 outwardly through blocks 37, due to the proper airflow ensured by apertures 29 and chimney 39.

Fuel blocks 37 may be comprised of any ignitable substance commonly used with fire pits, including highly compacted sawdust, which may be free of chemical binders or other additives. As shown in FIG. 4, fuel blocks 37 are formed in a hexahedron or cuboid shape with six generally flat sides which extend generally at 90 degree angles to one another to form a block shape. Each fuel block 37 includes a generally similar length L and a generally similar width W. As discussed above, four fuel blocks 37 are arranged around apertures 29 disposed in plate 23 to form chimney 39. The block-like nature of fuel blocks 37 facilitate such a configuration, and further allow stacking of multiple layers of blocks.

With primary reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the positioning and relative placement of blocks 37 is described in greater detail, with specific reference to blocks 37A and 37B. Each block 37 includes a top side 70, a bottom side 72, a right side 74, a left side 76, a rear side 78, and a front side 80, corresponding to the six sides of the hexahedron shape of blocks 37. Right side 74 and left side 76 are of length L, while front side 80 and rear side 78 are of width W. Top sides 70 and bottom sides 72 extend generally horizontally when properly positioned in fire pit 2, and right side 74, left side 76, rear side 78, and front side 80 extend generally vertically. To achieve the specific configuration of blocks 37 which forms chimney 39 around apertures 29, each of the four blocks 37 are placed on base 11 whereby bottom side 72 is adjacent upper surface 22, such that right side 74 of each block 37 abuts a corresponding alignment flange 31, and each rear side 78 abuts another corresponding alignment flange 31. This braces and holds blocks 37 in place on two of the four vertically extending sides. The other two vertically extending sides are braced and held by positioning front side 80 of each block 37 such that front side 80 abuts left side 76 of an adjacent block 37, thereby bracing the other two of the four vertically extending sides. As shown in FIG. 4, front side 80 of block 37B abuts left side 76 of block 37A. It will be readily understood from the above description and with reference to FIG. 5 that inasmuch as five of the six sides of blocks 37 are firmly abutting adjacent elements, blocks 37 are firmly positioned and held in place on plate 23. Once positioned in this manner, blocks 37 may generally only be moved in the vertically upward direction. As such, blocks 37 are firmly secured in a “puzzle-like” configuration which defines chimney 39 over apertures 29. As shown in FIG. 4, in order to achieve this specific configuration and alignment of fuel blocks 37 on plate 23, each parallel alignment flange 31 is spaced a distance X apart, where X is generally equal to length L plus width W of fuel blocks 37. Thus, each parallel alignment flange 31 can receive the length L of a fuel block 37 and the width W of a fuel block 37 therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 5, a first layer 38 is formed and disposed directly on plate 23 and thereafter a second layer 40 is formed and disposed directly on first layer 38. Top sides 70 of blocks 37 in first layer 38 abut bottom sides 72 of block 37 in second layer 40. As shown in FIG. 6, first layer 38 and second layer 40 are formed in a general cross-sectional square shape with a void in the center of the square which allows air to flow through apertures 29. This allows an efficient stacking of fuel with no wasted space disposed therein, which fully utilizes fuel containment area 33. As such, air flows upwards through plate 23 and through chimney 39 formed by fuel blocks 37, thereby providing a long, even output of heat energy as fire 41 burns from chimney 39 outward through fuel blocks 37 and towards flanges 31. As a result of the efficient burning of fuel blocks 37, the overall size of portable fire pit 2 may be dramatically reduced, as less fuel is needed to produce generally the same amount of heat energy as a traditional fire pit. This reduction in the overall size of fire pit 2 allows for the reduction in material costs and shipping costs, and allows for increased portability of the device.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, flanges 31 are arranged to align first layer 38 of fuel blocks 37 around apertures 29. Each side of the square is braced by flanges 31, which are disposed in pairs around the periphery of the square. As shown particularly in FIG. 7, flanges 31 extend generally at a 90 degree angle with respect to upper surface 22 of plate 23, thereby forming a complementary structure to receive the 90 degree angled sides of fuel blocks 37 therein.

In addition to aligning fuel blocks 37, flanges 31 further provide bracing support to each fuel block 37 disposed in first layer 38. As fuel blocks 37 in first layer 38 burn, the material breaks down and may shift without proper support. Inasmuch as first layer 38 provides a base upon which to build second layer 40, if first layer 38 shifts or moves, second layer 40 may collapse and thereby close off or partially block chimney 39. Therefore, even as fuel blocks 37 in first layer 38 burn, blocks 37 maintain their position due to flanges 31. Furthermore, fuel blocks 37 are reinforced and braced by one another, as each block 37 abuts two other blocks 37, as can be seen in FIG. 5. The abutting relationships between adjacent blocks 37, as well as the abutting relationships between blocks 37 and alignment flanges 31 thereby ensure chimney 39 remains intact throughout the burning process. As such, it is one of the primary features of the invention that each fuel block 37 is abutting or adjacent to at least one flange 31, and each fuel block 37 is vertically abutting or adjacent to two other fuel blocks 37.

As shown in FIG. 8, fire pit 2 may also include a hook device 59 engagable with an elongated nut 65 as a means for locking lid 7 and spark guard 9 to base 11. Hook device 59 includes a hooked end 61 and a spaced apart threaded end 63, with a shaft 60 extending therebetween. Hooked end 61 is formed to engage openings 14 of wire mesh portion 13 of lid 7 whereby shaft 60 is positioned to extend towards base 11. Threaded end 63 of hook device 59 thereby extends through one of apertures 29 and outwardly from lower surface 24 of plate 23. Elongated nut 65 includes an opening 67 defined by a threaded surface 69 configured to engage threaded end 63 and hold it securely therein. Elongated nut 65 is formed in a slightly concaved shape extending from a first end 71 to a second end 73, whereby opening 67 is defined proximate first end 71. As shown in FIG. 8, when first end 71 is secured to hook device 59, second end 73 is thereby positioned to press against lower surface 24 of plate 23, which braces hook device 59 and in turn holds lid 7 and spark guard 9 securely to base 11. As elongated nut 65 is turned in the direction of Arrow C, threaded surface 69 guides nut 65 along shaft 60, which draws second end 73 closer to lower surface 24. Once nut 65 is sufficiently threaded upwards on shaft 60, second end 73 firmly abuts lower surface 24 and holds hook device 59 in position. To remove elongated nut 65, a user simply turns nut 65 in the direction of Arrow B to unscrew nut 65 off shaft 60 and thereby release hook device 59. When elongated nut 65 is released from threaded end 63, hook device 59 may thereby be removed from engagement with openings 14 of wire mesh portion 13 of lid 7.

Inasmuch as fire 41 burns directly under lid 7 during use of portable fire pit system 1, lid 7 may become extremely hot and untouchable to the user. However, as fuel blocks 37 burn away and need replaced or moved, a user may wish to access pit area 18. Therefore it is desirable to remove lid 7, yet lid 7 may be extremely hot. In addition to locking lid 7 on base 11, hook device 59 may be also used to remove lid 7 from spark guard 9 when the user wishes to manipulate fuel blocks 37. Hook end 61 of hook device 59 is extended into one of openings 14 of wire mesh portion 13 and used as a gaff to pull lid 7 off of spark guard 9. The user holds generally the area around threaded end 63 of hook device 59, which allows the shaft 60 and hook end 61 to move close to the flames of fire 41 during removal of lid 7, while keeping the user's hand a safe distance away from the heat.

As shown in FIG. 10, fire pit 2 may also include a grill system 42, which includes a positioning rod 45 and a grill 49. Positioning rod 45 is a rod shaped cylindrical beam which extends from an upper end 46 to a spaced apart lower end 47. Grill 49 includes a screen 51 disposed on an arm 53, whereby the arm extends from a connection bracket 55 having a rod aperture 57. Grill system 42 further includes a peg 43 disposed on base 11 and extending outwardly away from upper surface 22 of plate 23. Peg 43 is sized to be received in an opening (not shown) disposed proximate lower end 47 of positioning rod 45. An upper end 46 of positioning rod 45 is sized to be received in rod aperture 57 of bracket 55, whereby screen 51 is positioned at a particular level above plate 23 extending generally parallel with upper surface 22 of plate 23. Bracket 55 is shown frictionally engaging positioning rod 45 by way of rod aperture 57 to maintain the desired distance between plate 23 and screen 51. However, the present invention encompasses any means common in the art which may be used to engage grill 49 with rod 45.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, grill 49 is pivotable about positioning rod 45 by way of connection bracket 55. Grill 49 maintains the same general plane during this pivoting operation. Grill 49 is movable within this plane to selectively expose food (not shown) placed on screen 51 to fire 41 as well as remove it as desired.

As shown in FIG. 11, grill 49 is movable between a first position, shown in solid lines, and a second position, shown in phantom. As positioning rod 45 has a generally circular cross-sectional shape, grill 49 may pivot in the direction of Arrows D or E to move grill between the first and second position, and any intermediate position therebetween and desired. In addition to the pivotable nature of grill 49, as the connection between rod aperture 57 of connection bracket 55 and positioning rod 45 is a simple frictional engagement, grill 49 may be placed at any horizontal position along rod 45 as desired by the user. This allows the user more control over how much heat from fire 41 reaches food placed on screen 51. Therefore, as discussed above, grill system 42 is adjustable in both the horizontal and vertical directions to provide the user maximum control over the cooking operation.

In operation, a user typically transports or stores fire pit system 1 in a locked state, whereby lid 7 is locked to base 11 by way of hook device 59. Hook end 61 of hook device 59 extends through one opening 14 of wire mesh portion 13 with shaft 60 extending through another opening 14 and downwardly through one aperture 29 of plate 23, thereby locking hook end 61 onto wire mesh portion 13.

Located proximate threaded end 63, elongated nut 65 is removed by manually unscrewing elongated nut 65 in the direction of Arrow B (FIG. 8). After elongated nut 65 is removed from threaded end 63, the user simply removes hook device 59 from fire pit 2 thereby releasing lid 7 from base 11. The user then manually removes lid 7 which exposes pit area 18 and fuel containment area 33. The fuel blocks 37 may be transported inside fire pit 2 for convenience. The user places fuel blocks 37 within fuel containment area 33 in an abutting relationship with at least one alignment flange 31 as well as two vertically adjacent fuel blocks 37, as shown in FIG. 5, to form a generally square-shaped cross sectional configuration. First layer 38 is disposed on upper surface 22 of plate 23 and thereafter second layer 40 is disposed on top side 70 of each block 37 in first layer 38, thus defining chimney 39 therein (FIG. 6). As shown particularly in FIG. 7, fire 41 is formed by the user within chimney 39 and efficiently supplied with common atmospheric air through apertures 29, whereby air enters chimney 39 through apertures 29 in the direction of Arrow A. Thus, fire 41 burns efficiently from chimney 39 outwardly through fuel blocks 37 in the direction of alignment flanges 31. As such, the entirety of fuel blocks 37 is consumed by fire 41.

After fire 41 is burning within chimney 39, a user may wish to remove lid 7 from annular ring 17 of spark guard 9, or alternatively, a user may wish to place lid 7 on annular ring 17. However, due to fire 41 burning and releasing heat upwardly from pit 18, the area where lid 7 resides on annular ring 17 as well as lid 7 itself may be extremely hot. Therefore, hook device 59 may be used to remove lid 7.

Hook end 61 is extended into lid 7 through openings 14 of wire mesh portion 13 to hook lid 7 thereby allowing the user to remove lid 7 without physically touching the hot portion.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 9-11, while lid 7 is removed from base 11, a user may wish to use grill system 42 to grill various food items. As such, lower end 47 of positioning rod 45 is lowered into the inner area of spark guard 9 towards base 11 and connected therewith through peg 43. Grill 49 is then connected with upper end 46 of positioning rod 45 through rod aperture 57 of connection bracket 55 disposed on grill 49. As shown in FIG. 11, a user may then swing grill 49 outwardly away from spark guard 9 to place the food items onto grill 49 without the hot flames of fire 41 burning underneath. After food is placed thereon, grill 49 is then rotated in the direction of Arrows D or E to dispose the food and grill 49 over flames of fire 41. It will be readily understood that heat from fire 41 cooks the various food items disposed on grill 49. When the food is sufficiently cooked, grill 49 is then rotated in the direction of Arrows D or E to remove food from flames of fire 41. Thus, an efficient and safe method for cooking food is provided by portable fire pit system 1.

It will be understood that any of the foregoing steps may be amended, reversed or rearranged to allow a user to utilize all of the features of portable fire pit 1 as desired.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A portable fire pit system comprising:

a plurality of fuel blocks, each having a length and a width; and

a portable fire pit having a plate with a central area, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the plate, a first alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate, and a second alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate.

2. The portable fire pit system of claim 1, wherein the first alignment flange extends generally parallel to the second alignment flange.

3. The portable fire pit system of claim 2, wherein the first alignment flange is spaced generally at a distance from the second alignment flange, and wherein the distance is generally equal to the length plus the width.

4. The portable fire pit system of claim 3, wherein the plate includes a plurality of ventilation apertures disposed generally intermediate the first alignment flange and the second alignment flange.

5. The portable fire pit system of claim 4, further comprising a third alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate and a fourth alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate, wherein the third alignment flange extends generally parallel to the fourth alignment flange, and wherein the third alignment flange extends generally orthogonally to the first alignment flange.

6. The portable fire pit system of claim 5, wherein the third alignment flange is spaced at the distance from the fourth alignment flange.

7. The portable fire pit system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of fuel blocks are comprised of compressed sawdust.

8. A portable fire pit system comprising:

a plurality of hexahedron shaped fuel blocks;

a base having a plate with a general central area, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the plate, and a plurality of alignment flanges extending upwardly from the plate and spaced apart from the central area for abutment with at least one of the plurality of fuel blocks;

a spark guard having a plurality of openings disposed therein and configured to engage with the base;

a lid having a plurality of openings disposed therein and formed to cover a portion of the spark guard; and

a plurality of ventilation apertures defined by the plate in the central area.

9. The portable fire pit of claim 8, further comprising a hook device configured to removably secure the lid, spark guard, and base together.

10. The portable fire pit of claim 8, wherein the plurality of alignment flanges define a fuel containment area for receiving the plurality of fuel blocks therein.

11. The portable fire pit of claim 10, wherein the plurality of fuel blocks define an air shaft therebetween when the plurality of fuel blocks are received in the fuel containment area.

12. The portable fire pit of claim 11 wherein the air shaft is aligned with the plurality of ventilation apertures to enable air flow through the chimney.

13. The portable fire pit of claim 12, wherein the alignment flanges are fin shaped.

14. The portable fire pit of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of alignment flanges extends at a 90 degree angle from the plate.

15. The portable fire pit of claim 14, further comprising:

a peg extending from the plate;

a positioning rod having a first end engageable with the peg and a second end; and

a grill engageable with the second end of the positioning rod for positioning the grill over the plate.

16. A method for burning a plurality of fuel blocks comprising the steps of:

forming each of the plurality of fuel blocks to be generally similar in size having a similar length and a similar width;

arranging the plurality of blocks on a raised plate, wherein the blocks are arranged to define an air shaft therebetween;

igniting at least one of the plurality of blocks in an area adjacent to the air shaft; and

allowing air to flow through the plate and through the air shaft to supply air to the ignited area.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

forming each of the plurality of fuel blocks to include an end surface and a side surface; and

arranging the plurality of fuel blocks in a series, whereby the side surface of each of the plurality of fuel blocks abuts the end surface of each successive one of the plurality of fuel blocks.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the air shaft is defined by a portion of each of the side surfaces of the plurality of fuel blocks.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

disposing a first set of alignment flanges on the plate, wherein each alignment flange in the first set is located a distance apart, and wherein the distance is generally equal to the length plus the width; and

disposing a second set of alignment flanges on the plate, wherein each alignment flange in the second set is located the distance apart.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of compressing an amount of sawdust to form each of the plurality of fuel blocks.