VENTED CAMPFIRE TARP

Abstract

A vented campfire tarp is provided that includes a base portion and a plurality of vents formed in the base portion, wherein each vent allows for air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vent from one side of the base portion to the other. The vented campfire tarp also includes securing devices to couple the base portion to a ground surface over a campfire. In use, the vented campfire tarp covers a campfire and controls a burn rate of wood of the campfire in response to controlling airflow through the plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to camp fire cover and more particularly to a vented camp fire tarp.

State of the Art

Campers, outdoor enthusiast and the like often go camping to enjoy the outdoors and spend time in nature. One consistent aspect of camping is the use of a campfire. Often times, a campfire ring exists as a designated spot to build and light a campfire. Campfires serve several purposes. Two of the most common purposes are to provide heat to the campers and the second is for cooking. Because of the fear of an unintentional start of a wildfire from a large ember escaping the campfire and igniting a wildfire, it is commonly required for the camper(s) to put out the fire completely prior to leaving camp for hiking, fishing, or the like or prior to the camper falling asleep. Currently, common methods of extinguishing a campfire involve the use of water or dirt or a combination of both. This makes it more difficult to start a new fire. Currently, there is not a device that can be used to protect the campfire from spreading while still allowing the campfire or coals from the campfire to burn and remain hot. There is also not a way to control the burn rate of the wood operating as fuel for the campfire. Because there is not such a device, a new campfire must always be started each time a camper has doused the flames and coal.

Accordingly, there is a need for a vented campfire tarp that allows controlling the burn of the fuel of a campfire while preventing large embers from escaping the campfire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vented campfire tarp for use over a campfire or a campfire ring. The vented campfire tarp includes vents that may be located over a campfire within the campfire ring when securing the vented campfire tarp over the campfire and/or campfire ring. The vents allow air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through openings of the vent to control the burn rate of the fuel of the campfire, such as, but not limited to, controlling the burn rate of wood used to make the campfire.

An embodiment includes a vented campfire tarp comprising a base portion; a vent formed in the base portion, wherein the vent allows for air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vent from one side of the base portion to the other; and securing devices, wherein the securing devices couple the base portion to a ground surface when the vented campfire tarp is placed over a campfire.

Another embodiment includes a vented campfire tarp comprising a base portion; a plurality of vents formed in the base portion, wherein each vent allows for air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vent from one side of the base portion to the other; and securing devices, wherein the securing devices couple the base portion to a ground surface when the vented campfire tarp is placed over a campfire.

Further, another embodiment includes a method of using a vented campfire tarp, the method comprising covering a campfire with the vented campfire tarp, wherein a plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp are located over the campfire; coupling the vented campfire tarp to a ground surface adjacent the campfire ring to secure the vented campfire tarp over the campfire ring; and controlling a burn rate of wood of the campfire in response to controlling airflow through the plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a vented campfire tarp, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a top view of a vented campfire tarp with a flap in a closed position, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a top view of a vented campfire tarp with all flaps in a closed position, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section view of a vented campfire tarp coupled over a campfire ring, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of method of using a vented campfire tarp, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a vented campfire tarp for use over a campfire ring. The vented campfire tarp includes vents that may be located over a campfire within the campfire ring when securing the vented campfire tarp over the campfire ring. The vents allow air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through openings of the vent to control the burn rate of the fuel of the campfire, such as, but not limited to, controlling the burn rate of wood used to make the campfire.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 depicts a vented campfire tarp 10 in accordance with embodiments. The vented campfire tarp 10 includes a base portion 12, securing devices 14, a plurality of vents 16, and a plurality of flaps 18. The vents 16 may be coupled to the base portion 12. The vents 16 allow air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vents 16 from one side of the base portion 12 to the other. The vents 16 may be a mesh formed of the same material as the base portion 12. Each vent 16 that is mesh prevents embers larger than ⅛ inch in size to pass through the vent 16. The securing devices 14 couple the base portion 12 to a ground surface when the vented campfire tarp 10 is placed over a campfire ring.

The flaps 18 may be coupled to the base portion 12. Each flap 18 corresponds to one vent 16. Each flap is moveable between an open and closed position. The open position exposes the vent 16 and allows air, smoke, and carbon dioxide to pass through the vent 16. The closed position covers the vent 16 and inhibits air from passing through the vent 16. The vented campfire tarp 10 may also include a flap fastener 20 for releasably coupling the flap 18 to the base portion 20 to retain the flap 18 in the open position. Further, the flap 18 is coupled to the base portion 12 with a hinge 17. In some embodiments, hinge 17 is a seam, wherein the flap 18 is pivotable or foldable about the seam 17. As shown in FIGS. 2a-2b, each hinge 17 may be located along an edge of the corresponding vent 16. Further, as shown and in accordance with embodiments, the vent 16 is triangular in shape and the corresponding flap 18 is also triangular in shape. In operation, the hinge 17 operates to rotate the flap 18 with respect to the base portion 12 in one direction to move the flap 18 into the closed position and to rotate the flap 18 with respect to the base portion 12 in an opposite direction to move the flap 18 into the open position.

In embodiments, the securing devices 14 are loops in the base portion 12 and a corresponding stake to insert through the loop and secure in the ground surface. In other embodiments, the securing devices 14 are apertures in the base portion and a corresponding stake to insert through the loop and secure in the ground surface. It will be understood that any type of securing device 14 may be utilized to secure the vented campfire tarp 10 to a ground surface over a campfire.

Referring to the drawings further, FIG. 4 depicts a method 30 of using a vented campfire tarp 10 in accordance with embodiments. The method 30 comprises covering a campfire ring with the vented campfire tarp, wherein a plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp are located over a campfire within the campfire ring (Step 32); coupling the vented campfire tarp to a ground surface adjacent the campfire ring to secure the vented campfire tarp over the campfire ring (Step 34); and controlling a burn rate of wood of the campfire in response to controlling airflow through the plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp (Step 36).

The method 30 may further include preventing embers larger than ⅛ inch from escaping the campfire ring, preventing rain from entering the fire ring through the vent corresponding to the at least one flap in response to moving the at least one flap from the open to the closed position, and resisting heat up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.

The method 30 may also include removing the vented campfire tarp and utilizing the campfire. Further still, the method 30 includes controlling airflow through the plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp in response to moving one or more flaps of a plurality of flaps corresponding to the plurality of vents between an open and closed position, wherein the open position exposes the vent and the closed position covers the vent.

Accordingly, the components defining any vented campfire tarp may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a vented campfire tarp. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, the components defining any vented campfire tarp may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled together. However, any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components. Other possible steps might include sand blasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, and/or painting the components for example.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3-16. (canceled)

17. A method of using a vented campfire tarp over a campfire to control a burn rate of fuel of the campfire, the method comprising:

covering the campfire with the vented campfire tarp, wherein the vented campfire tarp comprises an adjustable venting system, the adjustable venting system comprising one or more openings forming a vented area through which air can pass, the size of the vented area being adjustable to control the burn rate of the fire;

positioning the vented campfire tarp on a ground surface adjacent a campfire to locate the vented campfire tarp over the campfire; and

adjusting the size of the vented area of the adjustable venting system, wherein adjusting the size of the vented area comprises selecting the size of the vented area to achieve a desired burn rate of fuel of the campfire such that the campfire continues to burn and remain hot under the vented campfire tarp during a variable period of time.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising preventing embers larger than ⅛ inch from escaping the campfire ring.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising preventing rain from entering the campfire ring through at least one vent of the plurality of vents corresponding to at least one flap, wherein the at least one flap is moved from the open to the closed position.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the vented campfire tarp resists heat up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising removing the vented campfire tarp and utilizing the campfire.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling airflow through the plurality of vents of the vented campfire tarp, wherein one or more flaps of a plurality of flaps corresponding to the plurality of vents is moved between an open and closed position and wherein the open position exposes the vent and the closed position covers the vent.